The Pali(n)ban » get with the program

Shemp Steele to GOP Moderates: To the Back of the Bus

paul — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:37:32 +0000

The GOP seems to think that including moderates in their party means that they have to STFU. Take Michael “Shemp” Steele, for instance:

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appealed to the political middle Friday to join his party but added that the party itself wouldn’t moderate.

“All you moderates out there, y’all come. I mean, that’s the message,” Steele said at a news conference. “The message of this party is this is a big table for everyone to have a seat. I have a place setting with your name on the front.

“Understand that when you come into someone’s house, you’re not looking to change it. You come in because that’s the place you want to be.”

In other words, get on the back of the bus, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins – you’re kind aint welcome here.

Double Checkmate!

paul — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:38:58 +0000

The always entertaining Edward Current.

Obama’s Order Is Likely to Tighten Auto Standards

paul — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:10:14 +0000

Progress continues apace:

Mr. Obama directed the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the Bush administration’s past rejection of the California application. While he stopped short of flatly ordering the reversal of the Bush decision, the agency’s regulators are now widely expected to do so after completing a formal review process.

The president also directed the Transportation Department to draw up rules to implement a 2007 law requiring a 40 percent improvement in gas mileage for autos and light trucks by 2020. The Bush administration failed to write any regulations to enforce the new law.

Once the agencies act, automobile manufacturers will quickly have to retool to begin producing and selling cars and trucks that are cleaner and get better gas mileage on an accelerated schedule. The auto companies have lobbied hard against the regulations and have challenged them in court.

via Obama’s Order Is Likely to Tighten Auto Standards – NYTimes.com.

That last sentence is part of why U.S. automakers are lame: they fight innovation and technological advancement as hard as they can. The non-American automakers have outpaced the Detroit industry with their commitment to cleaner and more efficient autos.