Archive for the ‘Commentary’ Category

You’ve probably already heard about how the U.S. will impose a controversial new 35-percent tariff on car and light-truck tires imported from China. Before they changed the topic to more important topics—like Kanye West—the talking heads on cable news sparred over whether the move will be good or bad for the economy in the end, and as they did we thought we’d bring you some straightforward information on how to make sure you’re buying American the next time you’re in the market for rubber.

Aside from looking for the simple “Made In” information on the sidewall, which most tires we looked at had, the best advice is to look at the first two...

We've heard a lot about the positives of the Cash-for-Clunkers program in recent days. It gets gas-guzzling vehicles off the road in favor of more fuel-efficient, potentially safer ones, and has brought business back to blighted dealerships and auto malls.

In an immediate sense, it looks good, right?

But many sour sides might be starting to emerge, just as the program—officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS)—was today given a second wind in the form of a $2 billion extension. We've seen several reports in recent days, including this one from the Reno Gazette-Journal, that the program is hurting the business of both...

Between Carrie Prejean and Gretchen Carlson, it's been made clear this week that you don't want to piss off a beauty queen.

Prejean's been slagged this week in the press--but championed by Fox News for her stance on gay marriage, which in part got her removed as Miss California. Now, former Miss America Gretchen Carlson is using the Fox platform to tackle General Motors, which is in the process of closing thousands of dealers across the country as it downsizes and pushes for a speedy exit from Chapter 11.

Carlson's parents own a GM dealership in Minnesota that's being identified for closure, despite making money, Carlson says. This week,...