A few days ago, while out talking to voters about his comprehensive energy plan, a person in the audience asked Barack Obama what individual Americans could do right now – today – to help lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Obama, wanting to offer something both easily doable and relatively impactful, mentioned that people could make sure the tires on the cars are fully inflated. Doing so, he said, could cut down our nation’s oil usage by up to 3%…. And, I’m sure you can guess what happened next, right?
The McCain camp launched a massive attack against Obama, claiming, falsely, that his energy plan centered around tire inflation. They even went so far as to have tiny tire gauges made up with the phrase, “Obama’s Energy Plan,” printed on them… The message was clear – Obama’s a moron.
Obama, rightly, went on the offensive today, striking back at the McCain camp, saying they not only don’t want to talk about solutions to our problems, but that they “take pride in being ignorant.” It’s was a brilliant moment that, at least for me, put everything into clear focus. McCain is more interested in politics than he is in the welfare of the American people. If he gave a damn about what we were going through, he’d admit that Obama was right about tire pressure, but he doesn’t care. He’d rather have people laughing at the “buffoonish” Senator, and buying into the Republican fantasy that our nation floats on top of a bottomless sea of oil. Science be damned. Facts be damned.
I wonder how much it would cost to have pressure gauges made up that said, “McCain’s anti-Science,” or “anti-Reality,” or just plain “Stupid.”
29 Comments
It truly is a fantasy. CNN, which seems surprisingly pro-McCain, ran an article the other day about how rich oil holders in North Dakota are becoming, implying that all the oil we could ever need is right here in the good ol’ US of A and that all we have to do is drill for it.
Personally, I don’t understand how anyone can call themselves fiscally conservative when they drive a vehicle that gets 6 miles to the gallon.
There’s oil everywhere. I heard a local radio commentator saying yesterday that we had enough oil under the western United States to last us hundreds of years. He was also suggesting that everyone should use “more” energy, just to stick it to the Democrats.
http://www.waamannarbor.com/Thayrone.html
Don’t believe me? Call him between 4:00 and 6:00.
1-734-822-1600
I’d like to know the rest of Obama’s energy plan! Does he have one? Let’s see, no offshore drilling, no drilling in ANWAR, no more nuke plants. Am I missing anything? If you know his plan, let him know. I do agree that inflated tires do save gas, however, it is not enough to solve our dependency on foreign oil.
PS. I own a Prius and I’ll be voting for the candidate who has worked more than 143 days in the Senate!
Obama has an energy plan. You can read it online.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy
He’s also not adverse to drilling offshore. There was a post here a few days ago about it. He said that he’d be fine with drilling, as long as it was part of a comprehensive program. In other words, he knows that drilling alone isn’t a solution.
Wow, Obama is a genius! He KNOWS that drilling alone isn’t a solution! He must have figured that out during his long tenure as a Senator. He has my vote now!
Open-mindedness be damned!
Maybe someone can explain to me ytown’s “open-mindedness” comment. I’m not following.
Maybe someone can. Let me know
This link should explain ytown’s comment.
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/local_idiot_to_post_comment_on
ytown is clearly a lonely little troll. Pay it no mind. Are you even old enough to vote, little man? You want your wubby?
I am officially not voting in this election, but: I have been utterly amazed by the reaction to Obama’s comment about properly inflated tires. The clip of all those fools laughing when McCain brought up this thought was very strange. I mean, who makes fun of proven, solid, simple energy-saving ideas? I just couldn’t get past the laughter. Why do grown people laugh at good ideas? I don’t get it. Where was the joke? How is a zero-cost solution that will save more fuel than anybody could ever pull out of those offshore wells a joke? Please explain.
If we don’t do something, should we do nothing then? Would that make those people stop laughing? (If we all bought Priuses, by the way, Toyota would go out of business as they probably sell them at a bit of a loss to buy market share.)
Drilling is not an energy plan. It’s a way to give away profit from stuff that was put in the ground a bajillion years ago to a select few individuals. Nothing more. And you Obama-lovers out there: Don’t get too happy. I notice your man didn’t hesitate for a moment to suddenly include “some offshore drilling”. Hey, it was a shit idea last week and it’s a still a shit idea any way you cut it. So, a little bit is OK now, eh?
And the moral high ground sinks ever lower…
Andy C and Curt Waugh, why do you attack personally? I don’t know you, but you apparently think you know me.
Andy, that is a funny link.
Curt, why are you name calling? I am not a fan of Obama and you attack me? Real nice! Do you really think Toyota sells cars that are on a two month waitlist at a loss? Boy you really know your economics!
Typical Liberals! Insult first. Argue without facts second.
“Typical Liberals!”
Hey, what’s with the name calling?!?
Everybody has a name. It’s not called “name-calling” until you don’t like it. You must be a worthless liberal.
Trolls, when ignored, become invisible. It is what angers the little buggers more than anything.
Curt,
I don’t think that Obama “suddenly caved” on drilling. He made a strategic decision to accept “some” drilling, “if” other, more sustainable, programs were also put in place. It would have been great if he could have held the moral high ground for a little bit longer, but it wasn’t worth losing the election over. There’s too much at stake.
If I might ask, why aren’t you planning to vote?
Regards,
SM
I’m not voting because neither major party represents what I want from my government. Neither party will shrink the government. Neither party will get us the hell out of Iraq – NOW. Neither party will limit monopolies. Neither party will just leave us all alone to live our lives as we please and protect us from the powerful. The choices suck (including 3rd-parties) and I refuse to pick one loser choice over another. That’s just not logical.
ytown — I attack you because you’re an anonymous little troll who can’t think or write worth a damn. Go back to Digg. Your first statement was moronic — “I’d like to know the rest of Obama’s energy plan!” Here’s a link ya little troll:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy
Now step aside and let the adults have a conversation, please.
And Krugman writes much more eloquently that me about my original post — I am not alone:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/08/opinion/08krugman.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=login
(This might require a log-in.)
To the rest of you: Sorry about my tone with ytown. I am so f’in sick of that “well, I don’t know anything about that so it can’t be good” tone getting in the way of reasonable debate. Anybody who’s willing to do the homework should be welcome. The know-nothings should remain at the kids’ table.
I’m watching the Olympics opening ceremony and all the different countries from around the world put aside their political differences and attempt to come together as one world, one people.
Forget about all the issues with the candidates for a second, forget about who stands on which issue. Look at the character of Obama and the character of McCain and ask yourself who has the greatest human potential to bring us closer to peace, unity, and freedom throughout the world.
That’s why I believe in Obama. McCain is a good man, an honorable American, but it’s Obama’s time to lead us.
Someone should give away electric drills connected to gasoline-powered generators and call them “McCain’s Energy Plan.”
I could use both a drill and a generator.
Curt Waugh:
Ouch! You superior intellect and razor-sharp wit are no match for me. I am a beaten troll!
Seriously, lighten up dude. We have different political views, that’s all. This dialogue is what makes America great. By the way, the more personal attacks you make, the more credibility you lose.
I’m not worthy of sitting at the adult table, you go ahead and insult your way to victory.
“. . . the more personal attacks you make, the more credibility you lose.”
Hey, is that an attack?
For those not inclined to go back to the beginning of the thread, all of this started when ytown said “Obama doesn’t have an energy plan.” Pretty quickly, someone then put up a link to his plan, saying, “actually he does have a comprehensive plan.” At this point, ytown said that Obama didn’t approve of offshore drilling. Someone else then pointed him toward a previous post on this site, which quoted the candidate as saying he would accept drilling, if it was part of a long range plan to get us off of oil. Then, I think, all hell broke loose and our friend ytown stated insulting people… Such is the way with trolls.
Mark, what crawled up your ass? Typical, Mark doesn’t have his facts straight. Here is the first insult of the thread From Curt Waugh:
“ytown is clearly a lonely little troll. Pay it no mind. Are you even old enough to vote, little man? You want your wubby?”
First insult actually came from you, ytown: “Obama, what a genius!”
Unless, of course, that wasn’t sarcasm. In which case, I’m sorry.
Ytown, I think Curt and Mark were just trying to step in and pre-emp me. They could see I was getting ready to attack. I scare them, even though we often have similar positions on many issues. I have this terrible dark side that is always threatening to launch out of it’s silo like an ICBM and blow the shit out of someone who’s comments I don’t like. They knew no matter how hostile their comments were, they would pale in comparison to the verbal ass-whipping I was about to deliver to you.
I think McCain fans should show their support by running on near flats until election day and doing this when pumping up.
3rd party insults count? If I insult Obama in the forest do Mark and Curt hear it?
They don’t hear it but they cry about it.
The beauty about Obama’s suggestion to keep our tires inflated properly is this: There WILL be a measurable energy savings (here I’m making an assumption that not everyone already checks their tires regularly); and, second, each individual will realize a personal savings, albeit small enough to maybe not be noticed by that individual.
My take on drilling: We have reached peak oil. If we haven’t reached peak oil it is less than half a decade away. From here on out, the world’s oil production is going to decrease. Surely, opening up new drilling will not do anything to help us today: That oil production won’t come on line for ten years. But, in ten years we will need that oil production. Ten years from now, oil prices are going to be much higher than they are today.
That all said, we are going to also need other sources of energy. Increasingly so as the price of oil escalates. I think T. Boone Pickens has a very good idea. I fault Pickens for one aspect of his idea though. He originally sold it as “Pickens is putting up $2B-$10B of his own money to divert NG generation of electricity to wind generation.” However, when you look at his website, it’s clear that what he’s really trying to do is to get the government to pony up the $10T (1000 times his personal investment) to make it a reality. Yes, it will take $10T to put in place the infrastructure to make his idea reality.
Our country and the world needs to invest in wind, nuclear, solar, biofuel (maybe), tide, and geothermal energy production. We will also become more dependent on coal and perhaps tar sand oil in the future, even though from the global warming perspective on this, I hope not.
Should we open up off shore drilling? I think so; but, with appropriately stringent environmental restrictions and a commitment to all the other things in the previous paragraph.
From the Onion:
“McCain’s Energy Plan Emphasizes Elbow Grease, Sleeve-Rolling-Up
HOUSTON—While campaigning in Texas Monday, Sen. John McCain delivered a speech outlining his personal energy policy, a plan that offsets rising gas prices and dependence on foreign oil with a 38 percent increase in the national get-up-and-go. “Developing an intelligent energy policy is not only an environmental concern, but a national security concern as well, which is why I have developed a comprehensive plan to make hay while the sun’s still shining,” said the Republican presidential nominee, pulling out a dustpan. “If we are going to stave off another energy crisis, it is essential for all Americans to put your shoulders into it, wipe the sand out of your eyes, and reduce our dependence on foreign oil by 20 percent over the next five years.” Sen. McCain said he has no doubt his energy plan will be successful, as he enacted a similar strategy in October when he had to clean out his garage.”
From the Onion:
“Obama Suddenly Panicked After Gazing Too Far Into Future”
“MADISON, WI—Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) fell deathly silent in the middle of a speech on education before the Wisconsin Teachers Union Tuesday, his failure of words reportedly a result of the Democratic nominee’s forward-looking tendencies suddenly bringing him a harrowing glimpse of a future world shaped by madness and horror. “And that is why we must all strive to make our own tomorrow together,” Obama said to resounding applause before stopping abruptly, breaking into a cold sweat, and bringing his trembling hands to his blanched face. “Oh, God, no. They’re sentient. Every last one of them is sentient!” While spokespeople from the Obama camp have suggested that the candidate’s recent comments about magnets being “our only hope for survival” were taken out of context, they did confirm that he has canceled all future appearances in New Mexico, especially those taking place during the month of October.”