2011 CAFE STANDARD IS AN OBAMA RE-ELECTION PLAY

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that the Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standard for 2011 will compute to an "industry-wide combined average [of] 27.3 miles per gallon (a 2.0 mpg increase over the 2010 model year average)" The auto portion of the CAFE average will be 30.2 m.p.g. and the truck standard will be 24.1 m.p.g.

These numbers are undoubtedly disappointing to many of Obama's "green" contributors and supporters. The greens anticipated a steeper ramp-up to the authorized 35 m.p.g. CAFE standard. They have been encouraged by the President's rhetorical frustration and "woodshedding" of "Detroit"

The 2011 CAFE standards, however, are probably somewhat of a relief to the automakers because they do not require huge immediate changes in the fleet mix.

Moreover, the UAW and the various non-environmentalist Democratic stakeholders are probably ecstatic because it reduces the potential electorial backlash from CAFE-caused market disruptions before the 2012 elections. In other words, there is less potential for legions of small business persons, soccer moms and others that would be adversely affected by a sudden reduction in the availability of larger vehicles because of regulatory concerns, to hold Obama accountable at the ballot box in 2012.

But the 2011 fuel economy standard should not be interpreted as any long-term deviation from Obama's pursuit of draconian limits on automotive freedom. It is simply typical pragmatic incrementalism, calculated to make "change" so gradual that many will not notice.

OBAMA'S EPA STARTS PREDICTABLE LEFTIST POWER GRAB ON C02

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Just as Truth With Speedzzter told you, the radical Environmental Protection Agency, now politicized by freedom-hating, big government-loving "green" activists, is moving swiftly to impose a draconian regulatory nightmare on our automotive liberty.

The Detroit News and Autoblog are reporting that

The Environmental Protection Agency wants carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases declared a public health danger -- nearly two years after the Supreme Court gave it authority to regulate them.

If approved by the White House Office of Management and Budget, the move could set the stage for sweeping national limits on man-made carbon dioxide emissions, especially from the nation's automobiles.

Think about it: Everytime you exhale, you're a "public health danger" according to the Sierra Clubbers and Obama-appointed political hacks now running loose at the EPA.

Ever since five liberal activists on the U.S. Supreme Court discarded common sense, the checks and balances of representative government, personal liberty, and sound principles of statutory construction in the infamous Massachusetts vs. EPA decision, the "true believers" in the anthropogenic climate change faith and a legion of neo-socialist power-grabbers intent on punishing what's left of capitalism and the industrialized world have been chomping at the bit for an EPA declaration under the Clean Air Act.

Now a cadre of unaccountable, unelected bureaucrats (many former "green" activists/lobbyists or directly tied to the highly politicized international green movement) want to circumvent the legislative process and impose President Obama's radical "climate change" agenda upon America's motorists, automakers, automotive aftermarket, racers, hot rodders, tuners, collectors and enthusiasts.

Your automotive freedom is in dangerous peril.

In other words, get ready for your overpriced, government-imposed electric telephone-booth of a car and "disincentives" (taxes, fees, regulations) aimed at drying up the demand for and the supply of "dangerous" greenhouse gas emitting private vehicles (They'll broadly brand them "old clunkers" -- even if they are historically significant or would bring tens of thousands of dollars at a Barrett-Jackson auction -- and "gas guzzlers" -- even if they're seldom-driven collector cars).

It's back to the 1970s, only this time it will be even worse and more expensive.

EDMUNDS RUNS THE 2010 MUSTANG GT AGAINST CHALLENGER R/T AND CAMARO SS

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The old racing saying "Second place is the first loser" couldn't apply more to Edmunds.com's shoot-out between the underpowered 2010 Mustang GT and its pavement-ripping rivals from Chrysler and GM.

Among this power-laden bunch, the Mustang's 315 hp is like bringing a corkscrew to a jihad.

Of course the Glass House Gang is probably more occupied with "Ford Developing Fusion Replacement on Current Mondeo Platform" and saving money than the fact that Ford's most loyal customers are GOING TO GET SMOKED ON THE STREET AND STRIP BECAUSE SOMEBODY WAS ASLEEP IN TEAM MUSTANG'S ENGINE DEPARTMENT!

The only saving graces are Mustang's lighter weight and better quality. Now that's something to think about while your new pony's slinking home in defeat . . . .