Schwarzenegger Jumps on Obama’s ‘Proper Tire Inflation’ Bandwagon
Gov. distances himself from what Obama called GOP ‘ignorance’
Two weeks ago, the presumptive Democratic candidate for President of the United States, Barack Obama had the gall to suggest that proper tire inflation could actually reduce national gasoline consumption, thereby lowering our carbon emissions and reducing our demand for oil.
GOP strategists saw an opportunity to pounce on this bold claim by Senator Obama. And they, along with their friend Rush Limbaugh, lampooned and ridiculed Obama’s tire pressure assertion as a joke. The McCain campaign even went so far as handing out tire gauges branded with the slogan “Obama’s Energy Plan” to reporters traveling with Senator Obama. Let me just say this, whomever was in charge of that “brilliant” move at McCain HQ should be canned.
Today several more groups were added to the growing list of organizations that stand behind Senator Obama’s claim that properly inflated tires can indeed reduce gasoline consumption. Speaking on behalf of these groups, and helping to launch the EcoDriving initiative were the Republican Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the Democratic Governor of Colorado Bill Ritter.
The pair were on hand in Denver on Monday (Schwarzenegger spoke via satellite link) to announce a new initiative from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the American Automobile Dealers Association called EcoDriving (EcoDrivingUSA.com), a comprehensive, nationwide effort to save consumers money at the gas pump, reduce fuel use and cut carbon dioxide emissions. The Environmental Defense Fund also participated in the launch.
By following a set of subtle and easy-to-use best practices, including proper tire inflation, for driving and vehicle maintenance, the group says a typical driver can improve mileage by about 15 percent. In addition, officials at EcoDriving claim that if just half of all drivers nationwide practiced moderate levels of EcoDriving, annual CO2 emissions could be reduced by about 100 million tons, or the equivalent of heating and powering 8.5 million households.
As part of their national campaign, automakers pledged to reach out to government, business, educators and more. Alliance members hope to engage all 50 states, as well as major consumer organizations, in EcoDriving. “We’re all in this together, so there’s a role for each one of us to play in being a part of the solution to these critical issues,” said said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
“Automakers are aggressively developing and introducing new technologies, but it takes 15 years or more for these technologies to become widespread on the road. EcoDriving helps consumers reduce carbon dioxide emissions today,” said McCurdy.
Related Posts:
- Poll: Americans More Likely to Vote for a Candidate who Supports Conservation and Efficiency
- Should President Bush be Telling Americans to Conserve Gas?
- Republicans for Environmental Protection: Ready for the Return of the Double Nickel?
Photo: Clemson via flickr under a Creative Commons License
You sir are a moron. The point is our problem is demand related and not supply. We have only 3% of known oil reserves and consume 40 percent of daily output. We are doomed to failure if we don’t find ways to cut consumption without stalling our economy. Drilling will give a small amount of oil in ten years and slightly lower the price. We should drill but we should also cut back on consumptions. One simple way to do that is to inflate our tires. I know the supply side problem is difficult for you to understand but think about it for a while.
“What Obama actually said was that if people properly inflated their tires, it would replace all the oil we could get from new drilling. That is completely ridiculous! People are looking for action so this nation can meet its energy needs, and Obama’s answer is to, once again, blame the ignorant US people.”
There is little doubt that proper tire pressure does help. Improper pressure means early tire wear and replacement which in effect does waste energy. A little common sense.
RD
http://www.decrypt.net.tc
Casey - you hit the nail on the head; I am just glad to hear someone else say it.
Nice to see that ‘Disgruntled’ just proved your point!
From Daryl, “It is not a platform for policy. I look to my leaders to provide a much larger picture…”
Daryl,
Obama’s platform for policy is not tire inflation. If you do a bit a research you would see that his stance is that proper tire inflation would be more realistic for ‘immediate relief’ than additional off shore drilling. He states that we have oil than is currently not being full used, and additional drill sites would be less efficient. His platform is to put 150 billion (taxed from big oil) over the next 10 years towards electric hybrids. That would help the US lower oil use. This would also stimulate the economy by creating tons of addition jobs. The fact that he discredits ‘immediate offshore drilling because it would help about as much as tire inflation is not his platform, it’s a well educated opinion. And for Obama flip flopping on the issue, he didn’t. He said that if we fully utilize the oil we have access to now, and still need more, he would vote for off shore drilling. But that is after his policies.
Schwarzenegger Jumps on Obamas Tire Inflation Bandwagon | politikly.com…
\r\nYesterday, several more groups were added to the growing list of organizations that stand behind…
Actually, Obama made fun of McCain for having “the gall to suggest that proper tire inflation could actually reduce national gasoline consumption” about 3 weeks ago. I distinctly remember the video clip. Funny how the brunt of the joke got switched.
Mike,
No sir you are the moron. You yourself say that we should drill for oil, so why in the world would you defend this statement:
“Making sure your tires are properly inflated – simple thing. But we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling – if everybody was just inflating their tires? And getting regular tune-ups? You’d actually save just as much!”
He didn’t just say that it would be a good idea to tune up our cars and properlt inflate our tires. I know to do that without being told, thank you very much. He clearly says that IF we did that, then demand would drop so much to make additional oil supplies unneccesary! It’s a complete joke of a response. Ignoring the issue itself and reality, and just blaming people’s ignorance. Like people all over the country were driving around on flat tires, until Obama the Great told them to put some air in them? Please…
America used to produce over half our oil usage. Now it’s like 20%. Not because oil here is running out, but because we refuse to allow for increasd production. We haev lots of oil, and even more coal, oil shale, tar sand, etc. We’re the frikken Saudi Arabia of coal. And of course we have nuclear power. We COULD be energy independent, if we wanted to.
Observer, apparently by “hit the nail on the head”, you mean that Casey shares the same “blame ignorant greedy Americans for all the world’s problems” syndrome that you, Obama, and Nancy Pelosi share. Thank YOU sir, for proving MY point.
I respect the idea, but proposing this as a solution to rising energy costs is laughable and I hope Obama chokes on it. I have an idea, lets apply our knowledge of science and physics by producing cars that consume less fuel, or even no fuel. Trying new fuel efficient designs seems to be working pretty well for Honda and Toyota, somehow Dodge remains in the dark. This has the added benefit of stimulating the economy and producing jobs. Or, we could all keep driving Suburbans and check our tire pressure a couple of times a week.
Marc-
With all due respect, you’re wrong when you suggest:
“Actually, Obama made fun of McCain for having “the gall to suggest that proper tire inflation could actually reduce national gasoline consumption” about 3 weeks ago. I distinctly remember the video clip. Funny how the brunt of the joke got switched.”
I suggest you find that video clip and watch it again. Or even better, submit the link here.
All-
I think many of you are ignoring a critical component of this whole debate. This is not just about energy independence and high gas prices. We are also talking about reducing (or at least stabilizing) our fossil fuel consumption because of the very real consequences of a warming climate. While we may be the “Saudi Arabia of Coal”, and while there may be billions of gallons locked away in western oil shale, going after either of those would only put us further behind the rest of the developed world in terms of cleaning up the byproducts of our fuel consumption.
Oh great! Now tire inflation is going to be part of the smog check.
How about “oversized” tires causing poor mileage?
How about the SUV stuck in gridlock traffic while the hybrids cruise by in the diamond lane?