Arnie loses car fight

Hidden away in today's media is the disappointing (but hardly surprising) news that the state of California has lost in its attempt to sue 6 major car dealers over environmental damage from their products. The legal action, the first (and presumably last) of its kind, demanded millions of dollars in compensation from General Motors, Ford, Honda, Toyota, Chrysler and Nissan. The judge ruled that the issue of whether carmarkers were accountable was a political, not legal, matter.

The Governator himself seems to have kept his head down on this one. Maybe because once upon a time Mr Schwarznegger persuaded GM to produce the avariciously thirsty civilian Hummer so that men with identity problems could play tough soldiers in suburbia.

But imagine what would have happened if the case had succeeded. A stack of copy cat actions would surely follow as the smell of money wafted around the world. The car industry could have been Terminated.

Hasta la vista, etc