Before New Yorkers (and others lucky enough to have reasonable transportation alternatives) go nuts, please keep in mind that there is no reasonable alternative to driving in Florida. So yes, it is as good as a statewide requirement.

In that sense, it’s a failure as it is just an empty space. Perhaps well-done, but empty.

But, yes, it’s a start.

I also saw very little politics in it. I saw it as simple advertising designed as a patriotic tear jerker and a play on the movie Gran Torino. Good ad actually. I knew I was being played and didn’t seem to mind. Actually made me want to buy an American car (this whole line of commercials seems to have the effect on me).

It is funny the way you saw this commercial. This morning on Morning Joe they talked about the ad and some saw it as a republican leaning ad. It appears that the ad is something of a Rorschach Test. I may have missed any political undertones (intended or unintended) of the ad since I knew it to be a car commercial from the outset.