Category: Uncategorized

I have always wondered why Consumer Reports and other rated VW’s below average for mechanical reliability when my experience, and that of my TDI owning friends like Michael Surls who owns two of ’em, has been nothing short of splendid reliability. Today I read this:

While Volkswagen has had a somewhat spotty record with the mechanical reliability of some its gas-engined cars over the years, the diesels are generally considered to be almost bulletproof. – Autoblog, 2009 VW Jetta First Drive

That would explain it. And that means that I really should not be going to test drive the 2009 Jetta this afternoon. Especially not knowing that my Jetta will still get me a very nice trade-in value. Don’t do it Matt. Don’t do it.

Neiman Marcus $49,426
Saks Fifth Avenue $75,063
Bloomingdale’s NY: $5,103
Macy’s Minneapolis: $9,448
Trips for kids $21,012
Losing your Hockey Mom cred:  Priceless

This years Jetta was already starting to tempt me. My Jetta TDI is now 8 years old and getting a little long in the tooth. John and Helen Taylor drove their new Jetta around the country and averaged 58.82mpg.

As a conservative, I am pleased to see the many conservatives revolting against McCain and the Republican party. Even Chris Buckley, who owns 1/7 of the National Review. Colin Powell. Conservative papers that endorsed Bush. None have said it better than The Chicago Tribune:

This endorsement makes some history for the Chicago Tribune. This is the first time the newspaper has endorsed the Democratic Party’s nominee for president.

Wow.
Continue reading “conservatives revolt, en masse”

The short version: Go read How to Get Out of This Financial Crisis. Seriously, it’s a great overview of the pickle our economy is in and what it will take to resolve it.

Finally. A great article about our $700B problem.

After explaining the necessity of the $700 billion economic rescue plan, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson goes on to say, “I wouldn’t bet against the long-term fundamentals of this country,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press. “But this is a humbling experience to see so much fragility in our capital markets, and ask how did we ever get here.”

May I propose a suggestion?

Several of you wanted to know where my iPhone app is. It is stalled at step 7. 

Does this resemble the actions of someone who has nothing to hide: Palin allies sue to halt trooper probe.

The truth of Troopergate will certainly be made public. Sarah’s supporters are hoping it be can be suppressed long enough to get her elected. I wish integrity mattered more to Americans. I’d love to hear Sarah apologize for abusing her power to meddle where wise counsel advised her she ought not meddle. I’d love to see Sarah honor the pledge she made to cooperate with the investigation. 

Now that she’s a VP candidate, the investigation she was to cooperate with is now a “witch-hunt.” We have learned that she has been systemically using personal email for official government use. How can we assume this was anything but a deliberate effort to skirt federal laws requiring the archival of government communications? This is every bit as bad as Bush’s “loss” of emails.

America, are you sure you want this woman one beating heart away from the office of President?