Comments on: Bush: U.S. on verge of energy breakthrough http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html Car news, reviews, and specs for the auto-industry Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:08:07 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: american revolution http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4313 american revolution Wed, 22 Feb 2006 04:31:56 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4313 Evening, Bushbashers. Again to my point, with the technology we have, billions being poured into research, and finally a huge demand for alternative fuels, I would be surprised to not see a breakthrough of some sort in that area in the very near future. Can Bush take full credit? That is preposterous. Did he make such claim to fame? I think not. However, he is putting newfound emphasis on the issue, none too soon. Evening, Bushbashers.

Again to my point, with the technology we have, billions being poured into research, and finally a huge demand for alternative fuels, I would be surprised to not see a breakthrough of some sort in that area in the very near future. Can Bush take full credit? That is preposterous. Did he make such claim to fame? I think not. However, he is putting newfound emphasis on the issue, none too soon.

]]> By: joeboater http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4307 joeboater Wed, 22 Feb 2006 02:43:03 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4307 And we're supposed to believe this from the same guy who told us there were WMDS, that he was a compassionate conservative, and there are no US torture chambers? And we’re supposed to believe this from the same guy who told us there were WMDS, that he was a compassionate conservative, and there are no US torture chambers?

]]> By: lars ulrich http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4304 lars ulrich Wed, 22 Feb 2006 02:15:17 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4304 I cant believe people take Bush seriously, and I say that as a die-hard Republican. I cant believe people take Bush seriously, and I say that as a die-hard Republican.

]]> By: Scott Anderson http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4287 Scott Anderson Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:10:52 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4287 Yes, I have heard of economies of scale.... our industry works on it. However, it takes a certain volume to make it effective, else it becomes a diseconomy of scale. The economic theory is great, however, it does not tap into the intagible factors of consumer sentiment, mood and psyche, which makes volume go up in the first place. AKA, until there is enough market pressure to make Hybrids, which will take some time, (People will not ante a full $26,000 until thier current car needs to be replaced -- no matter WHAT the gas prices are). My point was that Bush is knee-jerking to improve his approval rating, and taking credit for research that was started LONG BEFORE he arrived in office. By the time people get fully bought into Hybrids, gas prices will have fallen again relative to income, the economy will boom, and Bush will be back on his ranch muling over the big words his press agents gave him, and we will be no further along, because gas will still be in cheap, allowing consumers to choose the cheaper gas option, and his LIP SERVICE - LATE TO THE PARTY policies will have done NOTHING to help "economies of scale" on Hybrids because there are NO MONETARY DETAILS to his plan! AKA Just like everything else his regime has done, his words will not be backed in fact, or action that is reasonable, such as actually funding the ailing Detroit Insustry with, not bailouts, like he claims Detoit wants, but with dollars that fund automotive research into alternative fuels, as do German, Japanese and Korean governments with thier respective auto industries. Which brings us back to the simple conceot of economies of scale: It is much easier to reach the critical volume to make "economies of scale" positive, when all your COSTS (are you familiar with the notion of subsidized costs -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidy are supported by your government, which is what all those crazy Midwestern Politicians and auto industry people keep refeering to when they say "level the playing field"... Let's get real here, auto execs are not stupid, slow and dinosaur like, as everyone thinks. They ahve not been in business for 100 years "jus cawze they gawt lucky" sheez. If economies of scale were the only problem here, Detoit would just shoot some commercials and use product placement to make Hybrids hip...oh wait, Toyota already did that by giving cars to Movie stars, so they could actually make enough sales to profit off thier subsidized goods. Yes, I have heard of economies of scale…. our industry works on it. However, it takes a certain volume to make it effective, else it becomes a diseconomy of scale. The economic theory is great, however, it does not tap into the intagible factors of consumer sentiment, mood and psyche, which makes volume go up in the first place. AKA, until there is enough market pressure to make Hybrids, which will take some time, (People will not ante a full $26,000 until thier current car needs to be replaced — no matter WHAT the gas prices are). My point was that Bush is knee-jerking to improve his approval rating, and taking credit for research that was started LONG BEFORE he arrived in office. By the time people get fully bought into Hybrids, gas prices will have fallen again relative to income, the economy will boom, and Bush will be back on his ranch muling over the big words his press agents gave him, and we will be no further along, because gas will still be in cheap, allowing consumers to choose the cheaper gas option, and his LIP SERVICE – LATE TO THE PARTY policies will have done NOTHING to help “economies of scale” on Hybrids because there are NO MONETARY DETAILS to his plan! AKA Just like everything else his regime has done, his words will not be backed in fact, or action that is reasonable, such as actually funding the ailing Detroit Insustry with, not bailouts, like he claims Detoit wants, but with dollars that fund automotive research into alternative fuels, as do German, Japanese and Korean governments with thier respective auto industries. Which brings us back to the simple conceot of economies of scale: It is much easier to reach the critical volume to make “economies of scale” positive, when all your COSTS (are you familiar with the notion of subsidized costs — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsidy
are supported by your government, which is what all those crazy Midwestern Politicians and auto industry people keep refeering to when they say “level the playing field”…

Let’s get real here, auto execs are not stupid, slow and dinosaur like, as everyone thinks. They ahve not been in business for 100 years “jus cawze they gawt lucky” sheez. If economies of scale were the only problem here, Detoit would just shoot some commercials and use product placement to make Hybrids hip…oh wait, Toyota already did that by giving cars to Movie stars, so they could actually make enough sales to profit off thier subsidized goods.

]]> By: Thesandman http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4243 Thesandman Tue, 21 Feb 2006 19:27:15 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4243 The man's father was "startled" by a scanner in a grocery store. I can only imagine what would "startle" him...conservation? Behaving as a responsible steward of our planet? This is all P.R. He is doing virtually nothing to push this other than talking about it. He gets the media push from sounding concerned, but doesn't ante up. The man’s father was “startled” by a scanner in a grocery store. I can only imagine what would “startle” him…conservation? Behaving as a responsible steward of our planet?
This is all P.R. He is doing virtually nothing to push this other than talking about it. He gets the media push from sounding concerned, but doesn’t ante up.

]]> By: nikivee http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4210 nikivee Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:27:45 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4210 Breakthrough? really? News to me. Breakthrough? really? News to me.

]]> By: Jerry Mahoney http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4207 Jerry Mahoney Tue, 21 Feb 2006 13:13:40 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4207 The only breakthorugh I really see happen is euro diesel technlology combined with biodiesel and a sensibilizaton campaign for smaller cars combined with weight saving technologies. I can't wait for the new EPA rules re: mpg The only breakthorugh I really see happen is euro diesel technlology combined with biodiesel and a sensibilizaton campaign for smaller cars combined with weight saving technologies.

I can’t wait for the new EPA rules re: mpg

]]> By: BAC http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4200 BAC Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:15:15 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4200 Hey Scott, ever heard of the economies of scale? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economies_of_scale Hey Scott, ever heard of the economies of scale?

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economies_of_scale

]]> By: Scott Anderson http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4185 Scott Anderson Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:32:04 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4185 Just a note.... NONE of the things in progress right now at automakers, energy labs, or fuel companies was started by Bush. In fact, most of these important research projects were started in the late eighties and early nineties. Such as the PNGV (80 mpg sedan) project, started under Clinton's reign, which was a collegiate competition for development of Hybrid technology, and was supported by, you guessed it, "Dead Detroit" who was supposedly dead on its ass relying in SUV sales for a lifeline. Not only did "Detroit Inc" supply hundreds of college teams with sedans (Luminas, Intrepids, and Taurus's) but they also provided technological support, research funding, and hosted annual competions to see which schools were the most technically astute and practical in thier application of Hybrid Technology. All this was done WAY before the Prius, and WAY before Bush gave up his ranch to become President-- it all started in 1993! The US Auto Industry has been researching and developing hybrids long before Katrina, $75 fillups, and Bush, because it knew the market was headed there a LONG time ago. What most fail to realize, is that customers are usually reluctant to spend an average of 25% more than the median price for a car that is a hybrid vs gasoline. When you take a $20,000 car, and suddenly make it $26,000, with less room and content than a competitor, other than hybrid, the $10 per fillup you save, even at $3.50/gal, fails to pay off the $6000 in premium capital laid out for the purchase. Furthermore, what no one thinks about either are the maintenance costs, long term speaking, of the high voltage converters, batteries and motor equipment. The battery packs alone can cost upward of $10K to replace. And as far as environmental friendliness, I have yet to see an environmental activist support thowing used batteries in the dirt they get thier groundwater from when those batteries are lifeless after four years of driving. So, before we all "drink the Kool-Aid" and buy into what Toyota (who sells just as many BIG UGLY HONKING FUEL HUNGRY SUVs as GM and Ford) has turned into one of the largest PR spins in the history of the world, we should all understand that due process, and logical progression exist for a reason, so that knee jerking like this does not happen! Hybrid technology fails to make sense in a competitive marketplace, when consumers have a limited budget to deal with. Furthermore, what no one realizes, is that BOTH Toyota and Ford are only using Hybrids to balance out the sales of thier larger, more fuel hungry vehicles, that have failed to improve in economy relative to competitors. The EPA gives them free credits for every Hybrid they make (aka, when one Hybrid is made, they can sell 10 more F-150s at 12mpg due to the CAFE balance credits) Meanwhile, Dodge made all thier HEMI Rams better by 2mpg. So what's better, decieving the public with Hybrid stunts, or actually giving them better mileage on EVERY product they want to buy! I am tired of all the mis-information about Detroit and how it isn't relevant, and how Bush is going to save us from ourselves and the axis of oil evil..... wait a minute, isn't Bush an oil man? Who deals with the Bin Laden family?? OK BUSH, STOP THE BULLSHIT POLITICING to save the Republican Image. YOU ARE NO MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS RESEARCH AND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY THAN I AM... Just a note…. NONE of the things in progress right now at automakers, energy labs, or fuel companies was started by Bush. In fact, most of these important research projects were started in the late eighties and early nineties. Such as the PNGV (80 mpg sedan) project, started under Clinton’s reign, which was a collegiate competition for development of Hybrid technology, and was supported by, you guessed it, “Dead Detroit” who was supposedly dead on its ass relying in SUV sales for a lifeline. Not only did “Detroit Inc” supply hundreds of college teams with sedans (Luminas, Intrepids, and Taurus’s) but they also provided technological support, research funding, and hosted annual competions to see which schools were the most technically astute and practical in thier application of Hybrid Technology. All this was done WAY before the Prius, and WAY before Bush gave up his ranch to become President– it all started in 1993! The US Auto Industry has been researching and developing hybrids long before Katrina, $75 fillups, and Bush, because it knew the market was headed there a LONG time ago. What most fail to realize, is that customers are usually reluctant to spend an average of 25% more than the median price for a car that is a hybrid vs gasoline. When you take a $20,000 car, and suddenly make it $26,000, with less room and content than a competitor, other than hybrid, the $10 per fillup you save, even at $3.50/gal, fails to pay off the $6000 in premium capital laid out for the purchase. Furthermore, what no one thinks about either are the maintenance costs, long term speaking, of the high voltage converters, batteries and motor equipment. The battery packs alone can cost upward of $10K to replace. And as far as environmental friendliness, I have yet to see an environmental activist support thowing used batteries in the dirt they get thier groundwater from when those batteries are lifeless after four years of driving. So, before we all “drink the Kool-Aid” and buy into what Toyota (who sells just as many BIG UGLY HONKING FUEL HUNGRY SUVs as GM and Ford) has turned into one of the largest PR spins in the history of the world, we should all understand that due process, and logical progression exist for a reason, so that knee jerking like this does not happen! Hybrid technology fails to make sense in a competitive marketplace, when consumers have a limited budget to deal with. Furthermore, what no one realizes, is that BOTH Toyota and Ford are only using Hybrids to balance out the sales of thier larger, more fuel hungry vehicles, that have failed to improve in economy relative to competitors. The EPA gives them free credits for every Hybrid they make (aka, when one Hybrid is made, they can sell 10 more F-150s at 12mpg due to the CAFE balance credits) Meanwhile, Dodge made all thier HEMI Rams better by 2mpg. So what’s better, decieving the public with Hybrid stunts, or actually giving them better mileage on EVERY product they want to buy! I am tired of all the mis-information about Detroit and how it isn’t relevant, and how Bush is going to save us from ourselves and the axis of oil evil….. wait a minute, isn’t Bush an oil man? Who deals with the Bin Laden family?? OK BUSH, STOP THE BULL**** POLITICING to save the Republican Image. YOU ARE NO MORE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS RESEARCH AND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY THAN I AM…

]]> By: Mike http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4184 Mike Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:26:48 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4184 Conservative take over my friend, it's a fact... GULIANI 08' Conservative take over my friend, it’s a fact… GULIANI 08′

]]> By: Madcapp http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4182 Madcapp Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:10:05 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4182 I guess by liberal media he's referring to FOX network, and all those AM radio zealots like Rush Limbaugh who have all the answers. I guess by liberal media he’s referring to FOX network, and all those AM radio zealots like Rush Limbaugh who have all the answers.

]]> By: Tom http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4181 Tom Tue, 21 Feb 2006 05:06:56 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4181 " ... the liberal media." " ... the Katrina-driven gas price spikes ... " " ... parts of the Middle East appears to be on the verge of stability ..." " ... breakthrough technology is in very close grasp." Stop, stop it, I'm laughing so hard I can barely breath, you're cracking me up. What, there's a miracle breakthough right around the corner? Have we trtuned the corner? Is the energy crisis in its last throes? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! U-S-A! NUMBER ONE! ” … the liberal media.”

” … the Katrina-driven gas price spikes … ”

” … parts of the Middle East appears to be on the verge of stability …”

” … breakthrough technology is in very close grasp.”

Stop, stop it, I’m laughing so hard I can barely breath, you’re cracking me up.

What, there’s a miracle breakthough right around the corner?

Have we trtuned the corner?

Is the energy crisis in its last throes?

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

U-S-A! NUMBER ONE!

]]> By: captain america http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4180 captain america Tue, 21 Feb 2006 04:52:03 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4180 so you think he does understand what hes given to read in public statements? so you think he does understand what hes given to read in public statements?

]]> By: american revolution http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4176 american revolution Tue, 21 Feb 2006 03:36:49 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4176 Always refreshing to hear the Bush-haters recycle the drivel they hear from the liberal media. To think that a energy breakthrough is not imminent with our current level of technology is shortsighted. When the Green Slime vette can put out 700 HP and get better than stock mpg (search the internet; I saw it in road and track a couple of years ago), tuned by a non-factory supported individual, just imagine what is possible when millions of dollars of private and government-sourced funds are brought to bear. And thats just with conventional gasoline power. Technological development is market-driven. Even with the Katrina-driven gas price spikes, your H2-driving soccer-mom neighbor barely sneezed. But as $75 fillups continue, people begin to take a second look at the Toyota Prius, et. al. Furthermore, though in many ways parts of the Middle East appears to be on the verge of stability, the perilous position of our oil liveline is increasingly apparent. As these facts, coupled with the piling up of 2005 Tahoes at your local Chevrolet dealer, become more apparent to Detroit, they perhaps realize that the status quo may finally be on the vege of collapse. At last, the market may have matured to the level that an alternative-fuel offering is a profitable enterprise. I would maintain that breakthrough technology is in very close grasp. The research, though takes massive funding and participation by automakers. Until recently, no sufficiently lucrative enticement has existed to get the automakers on board. But with federal incentives and a market that might at last support the fielding of a true alternative fuel vehicle, I think that breakthrough is very likely close at hand. Always refreshing to hear the Bush-haters recycle the drivel they hear from the liberal media. To think that a energy breakthrough is not imminent with our current level of technology is shortsighted. When the Green Slime vette can put out 700 HP and get better than stock mpg (search the internet; I saw it in road and track a couple of years ago), tuned by a non-factory supported individual, just imagine what is possible when millions of dollars of private and government-sourced funds are brought to bear. And thats just with conventional gasoline power. Technological development is market-driven. Even with the Katrina-driven gas price spikes, your H2-driving soccer-mom neighbor barely sneezed. But as $75 fillups continue, people begin to take a second look at the Toyota Prius, et. al. Furthermore, though in many ways parts of the Middle East appears to be on the verge of stability, the perilous position of our oil liveline is increasingly apparent. As these facts, coupled with the piling up of 2005 Tahoes at your local Chevrolet dealer, become more apparent to Detroit, they perhaps realize that the status quo may finally be on the vege of collapse. At last, the market may have matured to the level that an alternative-fuel offering is a profitable enterprise.

I would maintain that breakthrough technology is in very close grasp. The research, though takes massive funding and participation by automakers. Until recently, no sufficiently lucrative enticement has existed to get the automakers on board. But with federal incentives and a market that might at last support the fielding of a true alternative fuel vehicle, I think that breakthrough is very likely close at hand.

]]> By: Madcapp http://www.leftlanenews.com/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough.html/comment-page-1#comment-4174 Madcapp Tue, 21 Feb 2006 02:48:15 +0000 http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/02/20/bush-us-on-verge-of-energy-breakthrough/#comment-4174 He must be talking about the switchgrass and woodchip propaganda that was given to him by the same marketing people who gave his dad "trickle down economics". Maybe I'm wrong about it, maybe this energy breakthrough is extending daylight savings time by 2 months instead of one. He must be talking about the switchgrass and woodchip propaganda that was given to him by the same marketing people who gave his dad “trickle down economics”. Maybe I’m wrong about it, maybe this energy breakthrough is extending daylight savings time by 2 months instead of one.

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