Historian Robert Conquest’s Third Law of Politics posits:
“The simplest way to explain the behavior of any bureaucratic organization is to assume that it is controlled by a cabal of its enemies.”
Malcolm Muggeridge’s Law explains that “there is no way that a writer of fiction can compete with real life for its pure absurdity.”
Hence, the P.U.M.A., the new vehicle that General Motors (or Government Motors as many are calling it these days) has teamed up with Segway to produce. It’s Iowahawk’s infamous Pelosi GTxi SS/Rt Sport Edition from November of last year come to life; (the video of which was used by permission of the Burge For Auto Czar Coaltion) despite the fact that (a) most Americans continue to buy large cars and (b) the Segway hasn’t exactly been a top-seller, despite the hype from over-eager journalists in search of a new story. (Err, like this fellow about five minutes before he started his blog in early 2002…)
This is our 30th edition of Silicon Graffiti; click here and keep scrolling through the archives for plenty of free-wheeling video action, burning down the Information Super Highway at a blazing 30 frames per second!
Related: Don Surber notes that in automobile-unfriendly New York City, “tree-huggers go to an auto show to show off their moral superiority.” Meanwhile, regarding the P.U.M.A., “Rest assured, the blur effect was Photoshopped.” Gentlemen, start your Evereadies!
More: “GM prepares bankruptcy filing, with $70B taxpayer pricetag.”
Update: Heh! Found in the comments to this post, GM is apparently testing the P.U.M.A. for military applications…
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13 Comments
1. Pajamas Media » New Silicon Graffiti Video: “P.U.M.A. Power!”:[...] Watch video here. [...]
Apr 14, 2009 - 2:38 am 2. Instapundit » Blog Archive » SILICON GRAFFITI: “P.U.M.A. Power!”…:[...] SILICON GRAFFITI: “P.U.M.A. Power!” [...]
Apr 14, 2009 - 4:47 am 3. e:I’d be wary of driving the puma in any kind of headwind. It might be strong enough to keep from flipping on its back, but I’m sure the passengers will become quite sick.
I guess motorcycles are too dangerous for the left to encourage despite excellent millage and natural stability from the rolling wheels.
Also, I don’t understand why they have to keep making cars that are ugly as sin…maybe they’d feel guilty lying if they sold you a car that didn’t scream “I’m a golf cart.”
Apr 14, 2009 - 5:54 am 4. Ian Thorpe:3.
Motor bikes are not generally great on mileage. For small bikes and scooters the power to weight ratio is an issue, for big bikes the style of riding they encourage does not make any concessions to “hypermiling.” For mid sized bikes low gearing is the problem.
All bikes are a hell of a lot of fun though. How could anyone look cool in one of GMs PUMAs. They look like the kind of thing old ladies who walk with Zimmer frames would use to get to the shops.
Apr 14, 2009 - 7:50 am 5. Vodkapundit » Required Viewing:[...] his latest Silicon Graffiti video, Ed Driscoll takes on General [...]
Apr 14, 2009 - 8:34 am 6. bgates:I guess motorcycles are too dangerous for the left to encourage
Wait until they come out with the Chemobile.
GM: Guevara Motors.
Apr 14, 2009 - 3:53 pm 7. Air2air:Has anybody seen the new military version? Not kidding! http://www.tagito.com/fj/puma.jpg
Apr 14, 2009 - 5:01 pm 8. Kent:PUMA? Not Warthog? Unicorn? Chubathingy?
Apr 14, 2009 - 7:18 pm 9. Montjoie:They should give one of these to every Democratic voter. In six months only Republicans would be left alive.
Apr 14, 2009 - 8:35 pm 10. Paul -Indiana:If you run across a picture of a wreck between a PUMA and a SUV, I’m the guy in the SUV, and still alive.
Apr 15, 2009 - 5:07 am 11. BizzyBlog » NYT: ‘Surgical’ GM Bankruptcy Would Leave $70+ Billion in Taxpayers’ and Future Generations’ Blood on the Floor:[...] UPDATE: Somehow, I don’t think this vehicle will save GM (HT Ed Driscoll). [...]
Apr 15, 2009 - 11:38 am 12. Fausta’s Blog » Blog Archive » Ed takes on the PUMA:[...] Ed Driscoll has the video, where the VP for research and development at GM boasts, “What we’re doing is reinventing the automobile.” [...]
May 15, 2009 - 2:24 pm 13. Ed Driscoll » As GM Goes…:[...] Winding down the old GM seems like a polite euphemism for the company to begin to focus on building plenty of “Little Green Cars”, to borrow from the headline of Larry Kudlow’s latest essay.
May 31, 2009 - 3:43 pmSorry, comments for this entry are closed at this time.