Earlier today, President Obama outlined the beginning steps to his "Green Agenda".  As a Republican, I believe that the Government's first priority is to protect Americans and weaning us off of foreign oil is a huge step towards protecting our citizens.  It is for this reason that I applaud the President taking the first steps in doing this.  That was my first thought.  As much as I care about the Polar Bears and the icecaps melting, etc, I am just not completely sold on man-made global warming yet- irregardless of Al Gore's nifty slideshows.  Freeing us from foreign oil though, thats a ship I'll get on. (Don't worry Al, a sailboat, not a diesel.) 

The next thought that went through my mind though was a relief that I don't work in the auto industry.  President Obama's agenda is of course a long-term goal.  He failed to mention the short-term effects this will create.  The struggling auto industry is ill-equipped to handle these new regulations right now.  They will make it happen, but the cost of doing so will be passed on to us in the form of higher prices and more bailout money.  These new requirements will be difficult enough for the car manufacturers.  The President will now push for the State's rights to increase their auto emission standards.  I understand and agree with the mentality of "if not now, when" but setting new Federal requirements for a beaten down industry is more than sufficient for the time being.  Let's not sweep the crutches out from under their arms now by insisting on too much too soon.

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