Ethanol production is hardly a "liberal feel good" project. It is an invention by the same mega farm folks who brought us high fructose corn syrup and its related consequences." Liberal feel good" would encourage conservation, higher density living close to public transportation, packaging reduction, wind and solar energy, and an overall approach that has us doing more with less. Ethanol, as you point out, is a misguided attempt to keep the same failing US transportation system from imploding. You can blame the liberals for lots of folly, buy this joke rests cleanly in the laps of Mr Bush and his ilk.
The Case Against Ethanol [View article]