Ads present SUVs in a different light
DETROIT, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- What some call a Muppet on steroids is part of a $30 million campaign to convince young U.S. males that sports utility vehicles are not invincible.
The beast-like SUV, named Esuvee, is part of a campaign mostly funded by the Ford Motor Co. through a settlement of a lawsuit brought by 50 state attorneys generals, the Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday.
The campaign shows people riding on the beefed up Muppet to illustrate the point that drivers need to treat SUVs differently than cars, because they sit higher than cars, making them more prone to roll over in an accident.
The ad campaign is part of a $52 million settlement reached with Ford after the company depicted its SUVs as safe, USA Today reported.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller research shows people in SUVs feel "kind of invincible."
"It's a huge challenge to try and reach the right population -- young males -- and pierce through the invincibility factor here," he said.
U.N. electoral chief pleased with Iraq vote
UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The chief U.N. electoral official has expressed satisfaction concerning the success of Sunday's election in Iraq.
"I have participated in many elections in my life," Carina Perelli told reporters at U.N. World Headquarters in New York, "and this was probably one of the most moving elections I have ever seen."
Perelli, who has overseen voting in regions as far apart as the Palestinian territories and East Timor, said, "We are extremely, extremely pleased in the Electoral Assistance Division and our team in the field about how well (Iraq's) Independent Electoral Commission was able to live up to its mandate and basically be able to deliver the quality of the election they were able to deliver last weekend."
While not being triumphal about the balloting because it was just the beginning of a long process, Perelli said, "A people walking towards the polls is still one of the centerpieces of what this house, the United Nations, stands for."
Senate Dems back off Gonzales filibuster
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Senate Democrats backed away Tuesday from their threat to block the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to become attorney general of the United States.
Senate Democratic aides said Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., decided against the move, which clears the way for the outgoing White House counsel's likely approval by the Senate Thursday.
Senate Democratic Whip Richard Durbin of Illinois and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., reportedly pushed Democrats to examine the move Tuesday, but even with at least 31 Democrats expected to vote against the nomination, Democratic leaders were short of the votes needed to sustain a filibuster of Gonzales' nomination.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, called Democratic opposition to his nomination an "obstruct and smear" campaign.
Bush to seek increase in IRS enforcement
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush is to seek $500 million in additional money for IRS enforcement activities during the 2006 federal budget.
Treasury Secretary John Snow issued a statement Tuesday saying Bush will seek an increase of 7.8 percent over current funding levels.
"Americans who play by the rules and pay their taxes deserve confidence that others pay their fair share as well," said Snow. "Increasing enforcement not only catches tax cheats, but discourages others from avoiding paying their taxes."
The specifics will be included in Bush's proposed budget, which will be released Feb. 7
