What you have here is California telling them what Congress should have told them about CAFE standards.

The fuel prices which were hardly a surprise, except to the consumer, should have been anticipated by the auto industry in AT LEAST one of their models. That way they would have had their toe in the market and a foot in the retooling of cars to meet the need for alternate fuel cars.

If the republicans want to use government to legislatively “protect” the car makers its going to have to assume the bailout function when they don't respond to the market. You can't have it both ways.

What you have here is California telling them what Congress should have told them about CAFE standards.

The fuel prices which were hardly a surprise, except to the consumer, should have been anticipated by the auto industry in AT LEAST one of their models. That way they would have had their toe in the market and a foot in the retooling of cars to meet the need for alternate fuel cars.

If the republicans want to use government to legislatively “protect” the car makers its going to have to assume the bailout function when they don't respond to the market. You can't have it both ways.

Interestingly, it was a very conservative friend of mine who's position was tremendous national investment into the retooling of our domestic auto manufacturing base to both compete in the marketplace and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I think the Republican party needs a philosophical retooling of a similar nature if they too want to compete in the political marketplace.