Check out this little gem from the Washington Post:
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Politics of Fuel Economy Catch Up to Automakers
War and Worries About Foreign Oil Increase Pressure

By Sholnn Freeman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 21, 2007; Page D01

The auto industry is facing one of its toughest political battles in years as shifts in the political and business landscape have eroded its defenses against stricter fuel-economy standards.

Congressional Democrats and environmental groups have new allies in the fight to mandate higher vehicle mileage, including a coalition of business executives and retired military leaders. President Bush's support of higher standards also has hampered Detroit's efforts to fend off new rules. Increasingly, the war in Iraq and related concerns over U.S. dependence on foreign oil are changing the dynamics of the debate.

Stock prices, economic forecasts and consumer confidence show that ever-more-volatile oil prices have become a barometer by which consumers, investors, corporate executives and even voters gauge the future.

"Something happened in the last five years, most likely the war in Iraq," said Mike Jackson, chairman and chief executive of AutoNation, the nation's largest chain of dealerships. "People see the connection that we went to war for the first time over oil, we stayed around over oil and we're back there over oil."

Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.) said the auto industry is confronted by a "sea change" in Washington, where lawmakers equate action on fuel economy with the issues of global warming, high gas prices, foreign oil dependence and the war in Iraq.

Attracting support from other senators on fuel-economy changes is "not an uphill push anymore," Dorgan said.
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The rest can be seen at this link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/20/AR200703...

It's fascinating that none of the politicians who would like to FORCE auto makers to sell and consumers to buy what THEY tell them to sell and buy are ever prepared to actually ENTER the marketplace and compete with their own, energy-efficient autos.

Strange, that, isn't it?

Also strange the the Founders never gave the federal government the power to regulate products like this...

Just a few things to remember...