WOW! ... Jack Cafferty's SUV rant from CNN's "On the Money" -- transcript

[Bozita]

Replay is at 3pm EST today (Sunday). -- Rant occurs at approximately 35 minutes into the show.

from the transcript:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0603/25/cnnitm.01.html

CAFFERTY: You know there's a need for some version of the SUV for the so-called soccer moms. But I hope gas prices go as high as they have to go to get the rest of these morons off the road in these big Hummers with the four wheel drive and the obscuring of the view for everybody else on the road while some middle-aged woman from the suburbs is yakking on her cell phone trying to figure out how to turn left at 49th and Broadway in the middle of Manhattan, where you've never need a four wheel drive vehicle in the 150 years this city has been here.

But enough about that. Where do you go with this stuff when these gas sucking things disappear? And why can't Detroit figure out the stuff that Toyota has already figured out? That things are changing. We had General Motors announcing the biggest corporate layoff in history while the competition is saying, hey, here's a new vehicle that will replace these SUVs. Where is America's ability to compete in some of these areas?

[napi21]

1. I heard him yesterday.. I really like Jack. He is an old grouch

cometimes, but he a pretty logical one. I'm glad CNN gave him his own show.

[TrueAmerican]

2. So what does Cafferty drive?

Did he happen to mention it on his rant?

[rfranklin]

4. Wasn't he the one that hit and ran while DUI in Manhattan...

wonder what ever happened to that?

[rfranklin]

6. Cafferty pleads guilty to hit-run

August 13, 2003

CNN's Cafferty pleads guilty to hit-run
Atlanta Journal & Constitution: CNN morning anchor Jack Cafferty pled guilty in a May 14 hit-and-run accident. According to the criminal complaint, Cafferty made an abrupt turn and hit bicyclist Billy Maldonado.

About five people tried to stop Cafferty by running after the car, according to the complaint, but the newsman continued through at least two red lights, while dragging the bicycle underneath the vehicle. Maldonado, 48, who was knocked to the ground, suffered bruises and some bone damage.

Cafferty was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving, assault and harassment. He was allowed to plead guilty to a traffic violation: Operating a motor vehicle knowing or having cause to know property damage had been caused. He was sentenced to 70 hours of community service, with six months to complete it, and a $250 fine. He also made restitution.

http://www.agonist.org/archives/006944.html

[RB TexLa]

12. Cadillac DeVille

[TrueAmerican]

13. 20 mpg in town - 26 mpg highway

Some SUVs get better gas mileage than that.

2005 models

Vehicle Name MPG (City/Hwy)* List Price
Ford Escape Hybrid 36/31 $26,830 - $28,455
Toyota RAV4 24/30 $18,750 - $20,150
Ford Escape 24/29 $19,405 - $28,435
Mazda Tribute 24/29 $19,765 - $24,600
Subaru Forester 23/30 $21,295 - $26,395
Honda CR-V 23/29 $20,195 - $25,250
Saturn Vue 23/29 $17,055 - $24,315
Mitsubishi Outlander 22/28 $17,999 - $25,479
Hyundai Tucson 22/27 $17,499 - $22,749
Toyota Highlander 22/27 $24,280 - $31,580

[RB TexLa]

14. 1989 Isuzu Trooper

I get about 15 in town and about 20 or so on the highway.

[madokie]

17. Our explorer get only on average of 18 miles per gallon but most trips are

only about 10 miles.

[Missy M]

3. There should be separate gas pumps with higher prices....

for those who drive those big monsters for pleasure. People who need the big vehicles for legitimate business should get a break.

[rfranklin]

7. No way, Jose! Because they form a sham corporation...

and use the Hummer and get another tax break. They already wrote off the $50,000 purchase price as a business expense thanks to our idiot Congress.

[godhatesrepublicans]

5. Let's send a big "Welcome to the party pal" out to Jack.

I love it when people say stuff I've been saying for ten years as if it's a bold new idea that they just had.

[LizW]

8. Cafferty should read Kevin Phillips' new book

Particularly the second chapter: "The Politics of American Oil Dependence". He takes it step by step through the rise of the United States as the oil power and the almost complete domination of American politics and policy by the oilmen. By the first price shock of the early 70's, American car companies were completely reactionary. Every regulation, and practically every facet of modern American life (for instance, the Eisenhower Interstate system and suburbia) encouraged oil and gas consumption, and the American car-loving culture was ingrained. GM is is the business of selling the cars America wants.

Carter's energy conservation measures were working, and his downfall was partially engineered by the oilmen. The Reagan era brought a backlash against conservation in the form of the SUV boom (among other things). The SUVs were exempted from existing fuel efficiency standards, they were high-profit products that kept GM afloat for a while, and they fit the mindset of conspicuous consumption and ostentatious wealth being fostered by the oilmen. Big oil is in the business of making sure that Americans think there is plenty of oil forever, and that our lifestyle does not have to change.

Of course, most intelligent people understand that we can't consume and consume forever, and the evidence is overwhelming that we must change our consumption habits and do things differently. But the oilmen who control our policies don't want that. They had to come up with some reason why we don't have to worry. I haven't gotten that far in Phillips' book yet, but I suspect that's were the apocalyptic Christian right comes in. Why conserve if we're in the end times?

[Bozita]

9. replay coming in 90 minutes

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. Reminds me of Michael Moore

when he asked recently if ANY of the American auto makers execs had even bothered to test drive a Honda or Toyota around the block to see what all the excitement was about.

[Strelnikov_]

11. The American Worker Is Competitive, Jack, It's The American CEO Class

(and their GOP enablers) that are not competitive.

[Iris]

15. My mom had 3 kids and never needed an SUV.

"You know there's a need for some version of the SUV for the so-called soccer moms."

This is bullshit because the soccer moms ARE the problem.

[cantstandbush]

16. Hope he sent a copy to Rush Limbaugh!! n/t