Bill Clinton getting a Hybrid

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 8 2006, 09:40 AM) [snapback]316276[/snapback]</div>

Because some people™ can't let Clinton have any good press.

(The phrase some people is a wholly owned trademark of Fox News.)

 

ya know.... average mileage for a presidential car STARTS at 9 mpg and DOWN. so 20 mpg would be a HUGE improvement.

more so, it makes a large statement imm, and i applaud it. too little, but better than nothing.

i think the biggest problem the US has is its individual feelings of inadequacy. we as individuals need to start to quantify and value our own little contributions to the economy, reversing global warming, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and making a better world for our children to live in.

 

At least he is going to have a Hybrid. That's a start.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Sep 8 2006, 07:18 AM) [snapback]316309[/snapback]</div>

That has to start with education. Making people aware of their lack of meaningful education and revamping our school systems. Have you looked into the Slow Food Movement? Its a wonderful thing and many curriculum theorists are planning and, in fact, applying the "slow food" idea to education in an effort to slow things down and give children time to experience and LEARN (slow food) something instead of memorizing it (fast food) then forgetting it later on down the road because it has no meaning. Native Americans used this idea of "teaching" and it worked very well for a long long time. I enjoy this saying "When you teach someone something, you've robbed that person of the experience of learning it. You need to be cautious before you take that experience away from someone else."

Regardless of any hidden reasons for him driving a hybrid I think it is a good idea and sets a good example for the influential types. Right now we are settign the worst example possible whith tv programs like Cribs, or Pimp My Ride and all the other crap that revolves around consumption, inflated self-image values, and disrespect for just about everything except your own s^%& because you are #1..

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 8 2006, 08:40 AM) [snapback]316276[/snapback]</div>

I thinnk it's great that he will have a hybird at his disposal, but let's admit that it's symbolic only. Will the entire secret service and staff entourage be in similar vehicles? How often will this one Mariner actually be used?

Someone asked what Al Gore drives. An Escape Hybrid? He may have one, but how often do you think they are being driven. More interesting to me, is how do these elitists that try to appear as human carbon sinks really get around. The emmissions and fuel Mr. Clinton and Mr. Gore are saving is a drop in the bucket when you consider how many private jet flights these guys take every week.

At least Arnold Schwarztenegger actually put his own money into building a Hummer hybrid conversion. But I don't let him off the hook either - I'd bet he spends more time in his jet than in the one hybird in his fleet of hummers.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(McShemp @ Sep 7 2006, 03:14 PM) [snapback]315997[/snapback]</div>

LOL! Woo Hoo! LOL!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Sep 8 2006, 04:26 PM) [snapback]316548[/snapback]</div>

What a great post.

 

I love it good for him.. Oh wait Clinton didnt buy the Hybrid it was donated by Ford Motor Co. to the Department of Homeland Security. also the Mariner will be driven by Secret Service agents. I think its all hype on Clintons part ..

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Sep 7 2006, 04:16 PM) [snapback]315956[/snapback]</div>

And it doesn't need to be bullet proof.... that's only necessary for those that win the election.

As for Clintonts plate:

Bumper sticker on top of plate "I can still get a"

Plate: HUMR

Or just: PRES HUMR

With all the weight he adds to the car for protection, he would probably get better gas mileage in a suburban. Remember, the Mariner\Escape use the old Toyota technology, now on a 4000+ pound vehicle. Leave it to Clinton..... the King of Spin.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 9 2006, 09:47 AM) [snapback]316927[/snapback]</div>

Good point! B)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wildkow @ Sep 7 2006, 05:35 PM) [snapback]315972[/snapback]</div>

The above statement is completely ignorant (but what did I expect)!

 

Bill should probably avoid getting the blue upholstery; I hear that it shows stains.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 9 2006, 07:07 AM) [snapback]316900[/snapback]</div>

So we agree it's a big "so what". Clinton will be driving a hybrid -

"So what?" It won't have any real impact on the fuel he (the whole Clinton entourage) uses or emissions he creates.

"So what?" It's symbolic. Great PR, but it doesn't really do anything. I'm OK with it. But the hype about is just that. Hype over the symbolism, as there is no real substance. We'll have to see if it sells more hybrid anythings.

If you think about. Clinton's a little late in the game, isn't he? There are republicans driving hybrids now . What the hell was Bill waiting for?

And of all car companies. The one that anounced just a month or so ago that they plan to all but scuttle their hybrid line up in favor of ethanol burners. That's fine too... Ethanol is a legitimate route to take. But if he decided to really "request" something, perhaps getting all those Surburans the secret service to follow him around to be GM FlexFuel models would be more sunstanative.

 

I guess you could say, "so what" to anyone of us getting a prius. Just because we haven't been president or governor doesn't mean we don't fly in planes or use air conditioners. All Americans leave a huge environmental footprint when it comes to consumption, some just bigger.
Americans are around 5% of the worlds population and we consume almost 50% of the worlds output. Isn't any sign of reduced consumption, no matter how small, from any person, a good move?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Sep 11 2006, 07:48 AM) [snapback]317691[/snapback]</div>

So damn true that it makes me sick sometimes.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tony Manasseri @ Sep 11 2006, 09:44 AM) [snapback]317687[/snapback]</div>

Don't get me wrong. I am not a Clinton hater - though I never voted for him. And I think it's fine that he will ride around once a week or so in a hybrid Mariner - the fact that he is willing to ride around in what amounts to a small SUV is useful.

You can say that some people's environmental foot prints are "just bigger." But we are talking about people that are huge compared to you and me. How much power do you think is going into President Clinton's house in New York, even when he and wife are gone? It would take at least three cars just to take him to Starbucks for a coffee. And some of the private jets these people (celebs, big execs, ex-president and VPs) fly on burn as much fuel climbing to cruise altitude that I ran in my old car in one year.

Some already commented on how "some people" can't allow Clinton to do anything right. Thats probably true. But many of "those people" would probably poopoo George W. Bush if he did something similar.

And you and I drving Priuses is far more significant. We made a decision to spend our own money on the car (the government didn't even buy the one Clinton is getting). And unless you move around with several secret service agent and take weekly flights on private jets, your car is probably your biggest emissions creator so your decision makes a bigger individual contribution.

I have nothing against private jets. For some people, their time has a business opportunity cost that can justify the expense, security and flexibility. But the environmental impact is huge - If I can justify such impact for some people, I am hardly going to criticize a soccer mom in a Hummer or throw a party for an ex-president for being driven around in a hybrid.