Needlenose

(Images via Witty Comics.)

English professor and liberal gadfly Jack Gillis emailed this to me (and several others) the morning after the State of the Union address:

——————————————————–
Quote from Bush’s speech:

“A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy, which can be used to power a car producing only water, not exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.”

Let’s do some math. In 1992, Al Gore published a book in which he predicted the replacement of the internal combustion engine in 25 years (probably by a hydrogen engine), for which comment he was cruelly, deceptively and dishonestly excoriated by the GOP. 1992 + 25 = 2017.

Last night, Bush said substantially the same thing except he said “the first car driven by a child born today.” If Learner’s Permits are granted at 15 1/2 (as in most states, I think), 2003 + 15 = 2018.

So, according to the GOP logic, calling for hydrogen cars by the year 2017 is “Banning cars!” “Destroying freedom!” “Absolutely flaky!” but calling for hydrogen cars by 2018 is “Visionary!” “Brilliant!” “Bold!”

If you saw the State of the Union speech on Tuesday or any of the media analyses that followed, you may have noticed that Bush really made an effort to polish his “compassionate conservative” credentials during the speech — promising initiatives to develop cleaner hydrogen-burning cars, help AIDS victims and the children of drug addicts, etc., etc.

In other news likely to have a similar impact on future governmental policy, I farted into the wind this morning.