Archive for Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Bush pushes energy agenda on K.C.-area auto plant tours
March 21, 2007
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Alan Mulally, left, president and CEO of Ford Motor Co., introduces President Bush to workers and others at Ford's assembly plant in Claycomo, Mo. Bush told the autoworkers that the hybrid vehicles they are producing are helping improve national security by reducing U.S. oil demand.
President Bush's visits to the area
Claycomo, Mo. — President Bush on Tuesday linked U.S. security with his push for alternative fuel vehicles and higher mileage standards as he toured two Kansas City-area auto plants.
"When you're making one of these cars, you're helping the national security of the country," Bush told approximately 300 autoworkers.
Bush's endorsement of hybrids was well-received by autoworkers, but some disagreed with his leadership.
"Overall, I don't think he has done a good job," said Rueben Johnson, of Independence, Mo. The Sept. 11 attacks "put everything in a spiral, but from there he could've handled things differently."
Bush, in what he described as "Car Day," took quick tours of the production lines of gasoline-electric vehicles at two plants: General Motors Corp. in Fairfax, Kan., and Ford Motor Co. in Claycomo.
At the GM plant, Bush examined a hybrid engine that will be used for the Saturn Aura, which will be marketed soon.
At the Ford plant, Bush was guided by a group that included Alan Mulally, Ford's CEO and president who grew up in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School and Kansas University.
Speaking to workers in Claycomo, Bush said using alternative fuels, such as ethanol made from corn, would reduce U.S. dependence on oil that often comes from areas vulnerable to terrorism.
"The more we are dependent on oil from somewhere else, the more we are vulnerable to national security issues," he said.
Plus, he added, "I'd rather be paying American farmers," for corn or other fuel products, "than people overseas."
Bush has said he would like to reduce gasoline use by 20 percent in 10 years, and replace that with alternative fuels and higher car-efficiency standards.
Car makers have touted advances in hybrids but have resisted Bush's call for a 4 percent annual increase in the federal mileage requirement to reach 34 miles per gallon by 2017.
Bush didn't speak directly about the war in Iraq, but emphasized that terrorists would like to "disrupt oil networks."
And he made no mention of the increasing controversy surrounding the alleged political firings of U.S. attorneys. Bush's top political strategist, Karl Rove, who is in the middle of that controversy, traveled with Bush. Rove spoke with some plant workers and posed for photos with them.
Bush added that his energy plan included doubling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, developing clean-coal technologies, increasing wind energy and exploring for more oil in the United States.
Bush urged Democrats to join him in trying to reduce U.S. oil imports, which amount to approximately 60 percent of the oil consumed in the nation.
"This is the kind of thing where we should be able to come together for the good of the country," he said.
Bush gave an 18-minute speech to workers, but several rows of seats remained empty or were removed prior to his talk.
"As an autoworker, I don't believe the Republican Party has done a very good job of trying to keep American jobs here," said Don Stettnisch, who lives near the Claycomo plant and listened to the president's speech.
"They keep making it too easy for the companies to take them overseas," he said.
Tom Clear, of Lee's Summit, said Bush was "doing OK." As far as his commitment to hybrid vehicles, "We'll just see what comes down the road," he said.
Jeff Bohlmeyer, of Liberty, said Bush's policies were hurting the country.
"We need to definitely have less dependence on foreign oil, but part of the problem with the price of oil right now are his policies. The war in the Middle East and the government buying any available oil doesn't help the price of oil," Bohlmeyer said.
Andrew Adkins, of Claycomo, said he was glad Bush visited the plant to see what kind of work was done, but that he wasn't impressed with Bush.
"More was done economically with President Clinton," he said.
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21 March 2007
at 5:46 a.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
Did Bush say gas guzzlers are not good for the environment or national security? The more gas we buy the more it supports terrorism as his Saudi friends continue to support their faction of choice in Iraq.
http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/st…
21 March 2007
at 7:46 a.m.
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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
Al Gore, zinc mines, check it out.
21 March 2007
at 7:46 a.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
'Global Warming - It's a matter of security.'
21 March 2007
at 9:18 a.m.
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Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…
'”This is the kind of thing where we should be able to come together for the good of the country,” he said.'
Yeah, thanks for showing up. Better one-and-a-half terms in office later than never.
(It seems Bush is where former U.N. Ambassador Bolton (“the Walrus”) got his demeanor. In his short stint as 'Ambassador to Attack the U.N.” he was famous for ignoring the weeks and months of consultations and meetings representatives went through in crafting policy until he'd arrive at the 11th hour with all sorts of changes he demanded be agreed to. When the other Ambassadors shrugged off his tardy contributions, he'd run for the tv-cameras and whine about how unresponsive the U.N. was.)
21 March 2007
at 9:33 a.m.
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couranna1 (Anonymous) says…
Bushie is a screwball.
21 March 2007
at 9:43 a.m.
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Defender (Anonymous) says…
“Al Gore, zinc mines, check it out.”
Yes, please do check it out. According to the State of Tenessee, no harm whatsoever has been done. Got any other idiotic ideas to post, snap_pop_no_crackle?
Oh snap!
21 March 2007
at 10:03 a.m.
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Lifelong_Lawrencian (Anonymous) says…
Speaking to workers in Claycomo, Bush said using alternative fuels, such as ethanol made from corn, would reduce U.S. dependence on oil that often comes from areas vulnerable to terrorism.
Bush1t!!
http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/J…
21 March 2007
at 10:07 a.m.
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logrithmic (Anonymous) says…
Bush pushing energy conservation is akin to Jesus pushing Devil worship.
It's a lie folks - another in a long line!
21 March 2007
at 10:32 a.m.
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Lifelong_Lawrencian (Anonymous) says…
Is there just one positive thing that Bush has done while in office? No child left behind perhaps?
Can anyone think of anything he has done that will have a net positive result for our country and not just a select few?
21 March 2007
at 10:50 a.m.
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couranna1 (Anonymous) says…
yes he will be out of office soon
21 March 2007
at 12:18 p.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
Did Air Force One fly on a tank of soybean oil?
21 March 2007
at 12:41 p.m.
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heysoos (Anonymous) says…
“No child left behind perhaps?”
Unless you ask a teacher.
As for energy, how about some freaking CAFE standards? The auto industry has the technology to produce engines that get 50+ miles to the gallon, and in many different types of vehicles. Why isn't the President talking about that when he addresses automanufacturers?
I didn't know that Mulally was from Lawrence.
21 March 2007
at 12:47 p.m.
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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (Anonymous) says…
“I didn't know that Mulally was from Lawrence.”
He was in the St. Patties parade on Saturday with his sister and mother, who still live here.
21 March 2007
at 1:51 p.m.
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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
Al Gore, private jet, check it out.
21 March 2007
at 7:24 p.m.
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maxcrabb (Anonymous) says…
Forget mileage and engine effeciency, the biggest thing to come out of petroleum is…..
Plastic!
The computer you are reading this on, the keyboard you type with, cars you drive, clothes you wear, and all the packaging every single thing you own had to come in.
Not to mention almost every medical instrument used in Lawrence Memorial Hospital. (excluding all the stainless steel and cutlery)
Just trying to point out that oil is used in so many other ways than cars. hybrids are not the final solution, and corn ethonal is a lame attempt at covering up a gun shot wound with a band aid.
21 March 2007
at 10:20 p.m.
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hornhunter (Anonymous) says…
Ethanol, which is made from corn and lots and lots of H20
Corn, which is grown using lots and lots of H2O
Most gas burning cars that use a 10% blend of etanol get about 4-5 m.p.g less, because it burns at a lower temp and has a higher moisture content.
Corn, more corn will be produced for ethanol production, less for live stock feed, which in turn will increase feed costs, which will then lead to higher prices at our local meat markets. Not to mention the water, which will be at a limited supply. All of this for what?
nothing!!!!
Why not try something new like H2 powered cars? This
alternate fuels by-product is only H20
22 March 2007
at 7:45 a.m.
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gr (Anonymous) says…
And where do we get the H2 from?
22 March 2007
at 8:10 a.m.
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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
All the news that fits.
22 March 2007
at 8:56 a.m.
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BigAl (Anonymous) says…
And FOX News, better known as the Anna Nichole Smith network, is so far right they make Dan Rather look conservative.
People like O'Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh and most of talk radio more than trump NBC.
By the way, I watched FOX News before they let ANS be their constant lead-in story.
22 March 2007
at 9:02 a.m.
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Reality_Check (Anonymous) says…
“Bush said using alternative fuels, such as ethanol made from corn, would reduce U.S. dependence on oil that often comes from areas vulnerable to terrorism.”
Anyone who has looked at this knows corn-based ethanol is just about the worst solution there is….low in BTU's compared to biodiesel and uses more energy to make than any other alternative. But, it sure makes the farmers happy!
22 March 2007
at 10:06 a.m.
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couranna1 (Anonymous) says…
rammi, c'mon if you work real hard you'll make it out of 4th grade. come on you can do it think rammi you know the jelly that gets no use in your head use it dude c'mon try I know it hurts but after awhile you'll just be able to think and it will not hurt as much I promise rammi
22 March 2007
at 5:23 p.m.
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yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…
Bush has a case of Gore-envy. Big Al has been so well received with his principled ideas about global warming that Bush wants a piece. Anything to bring Bush's approval numbers up to near where Clinton's were when he left office.
Next thing you know, Bush is going to adopt a baby from Ghana, enter a homosexual relationship, and be impeached for lying about sex (or about politically-motivated firings of US attorneys). Anything to be as popular as Clinton.
23 March 2007
at 7:33 a.m.
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BigAl (Anonymous) says…
I'd take Clinton over Bush any day. The Clinton's didn't have us in the wrong war. Bill Clinton getting his knob polished is much, much better than our young men and women being killed in Iraq. Not you, you would support Bush at all cost. Especially as long as it isn't you being in the war zone.
Please remember, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.
“Mission Accomplished”
23 March 2007
at 7:48 a.m.
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KsTwister (Anonymous) says…
Impeach your President. He's the worst ever.