ABC-TV News Chicago: Durbin Calls for Increased Auto Fuel Efficiency

[kysrsoze]

Senator Dick Durbin announced today that he is sponsoring a bill to make cars more fuel-efficient. He proposes raising the average MPG by 60% for all auto makers to 40mpg. Durbin said we have to decrease our dependency on foreign oil.

The topper was that the anchor mentioned how Durbin remarked it probably wouldn't pass due to 'opposition from the Bush Administration and the auto industry.' Ka-ching! Notice how he didn't mention the oil industry - he mentioned Bush instead.

Uh, where's he going with this? He seems to have come out of nowhere. I hope this proposal gets some attention.

[hedda_foil]

1. And this is absolutely doable to boot!

The technology is available in today's hybrids. All the companies need is a 2-3 year lead time to convert their entire line to meet this standard. Period.

Add a government incentive for the auto companies to beat the deadline and exceed the standard, and another incentive to consumers to buy those cars and we can put Americans to work while drastically cutting our reliance on foreign oil.

Only a Democratic president, House and Senate will pass this kind of win/win solution, of course.

[lebkuchen]

2. This will moot the invasion of Iraq

Durbin pisses off the Bushies like nobody can.

His speech and vote against Ashcroft was tops.

[Alexander]

3. Damn, Durbin's scoring big points recently

I think perhaps he's thinking of being VP of whomever gets the nod (although Dean or Kerry picking Durbin is not a great way to get Southerners on board), or maybe another Cabinet post.

8 years in the Senate sure ain't a bad stepping stone.

[Freddie Stubbs]

4. He said some interesting things about Sen. Graham's impeachment comments

But another prominent Democratic critic of the Iraq war, Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois, said Sunday that "the evidence doesn't support" Graham's comments about impeachment.

"There is absolutely no evidence that the president knowingly misled the American people," Durbin said on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer." "I've never made that charge, nor have I heard it made from any credible source.

"But it is clear that those around misled him, and misled the American people indirectly, by making certain that there were claims made that couldn't be backed up with evidence."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/07/27/graham.impeach/

[kysrsoze]

5. I don't think he wants to get into Presidential mud-slinging, because...

He said a lot of the same thing about the falsified nuke evidence (President's staff responsible, etc.). I'm sure he knows if Bush knew all about it and they roast Cheney, it won't matter anyway. His pResidency will still be a disgrace. There's no way the VP would know something the pres didn't.

[realFedUp]

6. What does Durbin have to lose...

He should push an agenda that opposes what Bush Inc. is doing.