As Hummer photo op showed, governor can be all about appearances

[kskiska]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The moment seemed to capture perfectly Arnold Schwarzenegger's pledge to make hydrogen a viable fuel source for California's cars and trucks. The tanned and smiling governor parked a hydrogen-powered Hummer - a specially made version of his signature vehicle - and hopped out to slide a hydrogen fuel station's nozzle into the gas tank.

But the moment was all about appearances.

No fuel actually came out of the pump. The Hummer's builders would later acknowledge that it could only travel 50 miles between refueling. And despite the day's alternative-fuel theme, Schwarzenegger left in a gas-powered SUV that gets about 15 miles to the gallon.

The photo opportunity, held last month at a Los Angeles fueling station that won't open to the public for at least five years, was just one example of Schwarzenegger's knack for stagecraft.

(snip)

When Schwarzenegger arrived in the shiny blue hydrogen-powered Hummer, he did nothing to change the perception that it was one of his own.

"I promised I would turn one of my Hummers into a hydrogen Hummer. Today I drove one of those," the governor said.

Only when a reporter noted that the vehicle had been newly built by General Motors, not retrofitted, did Schwarzenegger explain the vehicle's origins.
"I wanted to turn one of my Hummers into a hydrogen-fueled car," Schwarzenegger said. "But then, General Motors was so inspired that they said, 'Wait a minute - why don't you let us build one?'"

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http://www.bakersfield.com/state_wire/story/5075228p-5122268c.html

[Dover]

1. Perception over content is prerequisite to membership in the Neocon Party

Isn't that written into Cheney's loyalty oath?

Hollow automoton tin men and stepford citizens need only apply.

[hatrack]

2. Bullshit photo-op for a bullshit governor & a bullshit energy "policy"

My, you're just so . . . visionary, Arnold.

Then again, so are plenty of opium-eaters & schizophrenics.

[DemBones DemBones]

3. Perfect analysis of the governator. And, just think,

the GOP will likely run this moron for president if they can get around that pesky Constitution again.

[oblivious]

4. Just how much of an asshole do you have to be to drive a Hummer!

[Shoeempress]

5. I just don't get why anyone would drive a car named for a BJ.