Um, no. First off, the Focus isn't "a piece of crap nobody wants" getting 'only' 35 mpg-- it gets 38-40 mpg highway and is everywhere you look on the American road (i.e. it's selling just fine). And in Europe it's one of the most popular cars for customizing.
Second, it's not "the Democrat controlled Congress... that's plotting." As you say, it was Republican GW Bush who opened the door to needed CAFE changes, and Congress (both D and R types) isn't 'plotting' anything now, it's just facing reality and joining the rest of the world.
Other than that, an enjoyable read.
(btw, my creds: '66 Mustang 289, '70 Torino 429, '71 Torino 351C, '73 F-250, and a long strong of Escorts (3), Explorers (2), Rangers (3), F-150s (2), Focuses (2), and an Escape. Plus a Festiva (!!), a Pinto (!!!), and a couple of misfits: '71 Challenger 440, '72 Duster 340, and the current toy, a '70 Roadrunner 383.)