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Washington Post reporter chronicled a ride with Richardson in which he hit speeds of 100 mph. (http://www.abqtrib.com/albq/nw_local_state_government/article/0,2564,ALBQ_19859_4975165,00.html)

Kate Nash - Tribune - September 7, 2006

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2006_Mercury_Mariner_at_speed.jpg
Governor's Mercury Mariner Hybrid – what is its FE at 90 mph?

SANTA FE - Few have shared a laugh about Gov. Bill Richardson's apparent penchant for speed since a reporter rode along with him in April and wrote that his hybrid SUV was going upward of 90 mph.

At least until the debut this week of a state Republican Party bumper sticker that reads: "I'm not speeding, I'm with the governor's security."

There's been steady interest in the sticker since the party announced it Tuesday, said spokesman Jonah Cohen. The sticker is tied to the unveiling of a new party Web site, N.M. for sale

Richardson's office has denied the governor was speeding earlier this year.

Albuquerque police in June of 2005 tried to pull over Richardson's SUV after its speed caught an officer's attention. The State Police officers who were driving Richardson didn't recognize the APD vehicle because it was unmarked, and didn't pull over.

And in September of 2003, a Washington Post reporter chronicled a ride with Richardson in which he hit speeds of 100 mph. Security issues were involved, according to the Governor's Office.

Gilbert Gallegos, a Richardson spokesman, said he's hoping another bumper sticker will be printed.

"I'm waiting for the, `I'm not a socialist, I'm a teacher' bumper sticker. There are 22,000 potential voters around the state who might be interested in that sticker," he said.

The statement is a dig at Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl, who earlier this year said he thinks "most teachers in schools are of a socialist inclination."

Totally sidesteping politics, this is an excellent reason to set a good example driving a hybrid. In various forums, I've seen very crude socio-political stereotypes made about hybrid drivers, which persist even though I know the background of the hybrid driver is as diverse as the general population. It's sort of like that very dated stereotype that bikers are hoodlums.

Hybrids are one of the best fuel-saving tools ever made in cars, but it's sadly become emotional and politically-charged.

I've run across a few people at forums that routinely cruise above 80mph in their hybrids - completely defeating the clean and fuel-saving benfits. Over the long-term, they are likely headed for a world of hurt since there is more to break down.

Come to the conclusion that hybrid speeders are sort of like an alcholic that hears red wine lowers cholerstol, so they irrationally binge on it! I see this "I'll look green while acting anything but green..." behavior.

It may not be that they think they will "look" green. They may think they are green. And in a sense they still are. They are definatly poluting less than they would driving another car the same speed. So even though they aren't using the tool to the best of its ability, they are doing "something". And heck. Maybe people seeing an insight, prius, or civic going 90+mph might dispell the myth they are slow and get some people into them. Inadvertant advertising ;)