and if they don’t as well.

The only difference between the major parties is that one is national and the other is southern

Bush’s bungling of the nation will be felt for generations to come. This is the first time in American history that the next generation will have a lower standard of living than the one before it. But at least George will be living in a multi-million dollar home that others purchased for him in Texas. Too bad millions of Americans won’t be as fortunate as he is. Now these cretins want attempt to groom brother Jeb as yet another president. If they do, the Republicans (or whatever you want to call this fractured political party) have no morals what so ever.

Shame on you Mr. Bush, Mr Cheney, Mr. Rove, Miss Rice. You took American and wiped your rears with it.

Obama sure has a mess on his hands to clean up. Good luck Mr. Obama.

And for the record, I was holding back on what I really feel about this soon-to-be unemployed criminal.

I in no way condone Bush and his moron brigade, but thinking Obama will miraculously save us all from this problem, is indeed a problem within itself.

The situation is a clusterfrak of epic proportion, and the government, regardless of who runs it will never be able to clean it up without much distress from many places.

Obama’s choices for who helps him run the country I dare say won’t be much if at all better than W’s were.

LLN:

I hate the phrase “The Bush administration.” WHO WERE THE ACTUAL PEOPLE CHARGED WITH MAKING THIS DECISION?

also, “Hopefully” means “in a hopeful manner.”

yarddog82abn: Obama is just as corrupt, with his handlers in different industries.

mayer_ray_nagin: “I hate our government.”

The structure of our government is fine. The people we elected suck.

howsmydriving: “Bush has done something that no other President has been able to do: he’s made me ashamed to be an American.” he can do that, just not to me. I’m proud of my father and maternal grandfather’s efforts to get here.

mayer_ray_nagin: “Don’t worry howsmydriving, America has been ashamed of you since you were born.”

that’s brutal!

RaineMan: “I’m with you howsmydriving. Bush has really done a lot to show the world the worst of America… and it is going to be a long hard road before we gain back the international respect that we have lost over the past 8 years.” That’s a more diplomatic way of saying what howsmydriving said — expect less backlash.

“On a more related note… consumers are voting on fuel economy standards with their wallets. We don’t need federal regulations to dictate them… in these days we simply buy the most economical cars.”

olds307, RaineMan: Yes, fuel economy is its own reward or punishment. No need for government interference.

Struggle: “He is no savior.” You’re right.

Thunder Chicken: “The problem is that as fuel prices drop people see no need to conserve.”
I think things are different.

bradleygt: “HMD, if YOU are ashamed of being an American, then do something to make it better or get the F out. ”
That’s good advice.

I voted for George Bush the first, Marreau, Clinton, a guy I worked with, Michael Moore and Palin.

“I am an independent and I’ll be damned if I let our government control or influence my quality of life or how proud I am of being an American.”

I’m about the same there. A small-l libertarian.

“Name one country that has it better in ALL aspects of freedom, ability to make $ and live without fear of violence (in most places), etc.” Ain’t one.

There are some places that are close enough — Luxembourg and Switzerland come to mind.

You are not free to drive what you want.

gugy: “I have to say that the Bush administration is the most incompetent one I have ever seem in my lifetime.” YA think?

Gundy: “Bush could have been a good President.” Uh, no.

DB9: don’t blame the CRA — blame greedy bankers and gullible or dishonest buyers.

“It was not Roosevelt’s program spending that got the US out of the depression – there is evidence to suggest it made it worse – IT WAS WORLD WAR II.” yeah, WWII pumped up the economy, but I don’t buy that the New Deal made it worse.

LQQK TwiCe: There should be a law that no one have a car that gets fewer than 260 hp.

Jon Luc: Scandanavians are the happiest — they’ve got extremely high taxes, which discourage working yourself to death. But it’s not as nice as living in the USA.

bradleygt: Europe in general just seems to be over-regulated. Missouri is my least-favorite state — first speeding ticket of my life, Clinton County.

Another problem with letting the free market decide is that the free market is too fickle. When gas was a buck a gallon everyone wanted SUV’s. Even Porsche and BMW had to start building them because that’s what people wanted. Then gas prices shot up and overnight nobody wanted SUV’s anymore. Not only did people not want them, people started blaming the manufacturers for building them (especially the big 3, even though Toyota once claimed to be the SUV company).The general cry from the public was, essentially, “I know I wanted it, but it’s your fault for building it”.

The manufacturers took this to heart and started in earnest developing expensive hybrids, fuel cell cars, diesels, etc. They cancelled plans for larger vehicles and started pouring money into small ones. And just as these small, efficient cars are about to hit the road gas is at a buck and a half again. If fuel prices remain low the buying public will, in 2010, forget all about the summer of 2008 and start demanding large vehicles again – the same large vehicles that they chastised the manufacturers for making in 2008. Having CAFE standards will help eliminate this fickleness and will benefit all manufacturers in the long run because they’ll be able to plan products that will fit the market instead of taking pot shots at a moving target.

CAFE is no different than emissions laws. You don’t have the right to say “This is a free market, I’ll spew as many pollutants as I want” because emissions laws make it illegal to drive cars that don’t meet EPA (or CARB) standards. This is a fact that has been fought and won in the courts, and is well established: your right to drive whatever you want does not trump the rights of everyone else to breathe reasonably clean air. CAFE is not as strict as emissions laws, because unlike emissions laws where a car has to meet the standard or it can’t be legally sold or driven in the USA, with CAFE they CAN make cars that don’t meet the standard, they’ll just cost more.

How bout them? What makes them so much better then the USA? Do they have lower taxes? Do they have more freedoms all the way around without infringing on specific groups (Ie Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, right to bear arms, right to protest, right to travel freely, etc) does the avgerage person have the same ability to own property and/or become wealthy as we do here? I could go on, but don’t just spout out country names without giving some basis to it. WHY do you think they are so much better? So please, do go on….i be from the Show Me State originally so show me some fact to back up your beliefs or esle it nothing more then what I said and an opinion.

ps. I am not saying this is the only good country to live in, but I think overall it is the best. We have our flaws in the USA, no dought about it. But all those countries you just mentioned do as well.

Since I’m on the subject; I will add what most students and practitioners of political economy (the dismal science) generally agree on… Keynesian economic supporters lost the battle to the Monetarists back in the 70’s. It was not Roosevelt’s program spending that got the US out of the depression – there is evidence to suggest it made it worse – IT WAS WORLD WAR II.

DB9

Since becoming President Elect, Obama and his advisors have been methodically ratchetting down expectations from the election campaign rhetoric. Listen closely to what he and his team are saying… “Everyone having to make sacrifices… not going to be easy or quick… longer than one term…yadda yadda…” He has no choice he can’t deliver on the exuberant promises of the election campaign – no one could.

What most fail to realize is that in order to pay for his Keynesian style prime the pump fiscal spending (similar to Roosevelt) they have been floating the idea of a VAT – can’t wait to see what’s going to happen when that hits the fan – a 10% consumption tax anyone:-))

DB9

The cause of the current economic mess can be traced back to the late 80’s; the 70’s CRA if you want to look at sub-prime mortgages. As for the actual impact of the current or future Administration or Congressional Leadership – you’ll know in about 10-20yrs. That is the unfortunate truth that the media and the electorate at large either fail to grasp or choose not to acknowledge – at their peril sometimes. This is the reason people like Warren Buffet, George Soros, and others that bet on the long term, become Very Wealthy while the rest of society reacts with the typical knee jerk response. Oh Well; live and learn as they say – problem is most don’t:-/

DB9

U honestly think everything is going to get better just because of Obama being in office? U think the world will ‘love’ us more because of Obama? Do some research or try and remember when Clinton was in office, one of the most popular and ‘loved’ presidents we have had. There was still terorist out there, there were still millions of people who protested against the USA and we still had many issues with our economy, many of which Bush had to deal with along with the war on Terror that was forced on him because Clinton didn’t/couldn’t do more about the Taliban and Bin Laden.

Sorry to rant, but freaking grow up dude. As long as I am free enough to say F U to whoever is in office if I don’t like them, drink beer, drive what and where I want and make a living to support me and my son, I will be proud to be an American. Who sits in the White House shouldn’t make u ashamed or guilty. Be proud of who and what you are kid.

( u will find multiple spelling and grammer errors in the above post and I really don’t give a rats ass. )

With a law mandating fuel economy all manufacturers, domestic and import, are in the same boat and must meet the same goals. Just like emissions standards, which although they started before my time, likely met just as much opposition as fuel economy standards do now.

Like Obama will do better.

Give it time kids, He is no savior.

On a more related note… consumers are voting on fuel economy standards with their wallets. We don’t need federal regulations to dictate them… in these days we simply buy the most economical cars.