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.
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Photo: Clemson via flickr under a Creative Commons License
Doc Rings,
DON’T DO THAT! NEVER inflate your tires over the maximum recommended pressure! You are likely to get a blow out, which obviously could get you killed. Also be aware that as you drive your tires heat up and the pressure goes up, so if your at 44 psi cold you’re a lot higher at highway speeds.
I hope Obamaniac don’t start jacking up their tire pressure, someone’s likely to get killed…
the fuel saving and reduced emission from the entire nation running on properly inflated tires, is offset by the fuel wasted and increased pollution caused by the tolls on the Garden State Parkway alone; just one of hundreds of fuel wasting toll roads in the country.
Disgruntled-
I appreciate your enthusiasm but I don’t believe for one nanosecond that global warming is part of some grand scheme to move towards a global socialist government.
True enough about theories being based upon observable data. But I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m a climate scientist, I will defer to the climate scientists on that one. I think our readers would find it helpful if you could pass along some citations of peer-reviewed scientific papers to support your claims.
When I have time I’m sure I can. For now…
http://nzclimatescience.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=312&Itemid=1
[...] this post? Subscribe to our RSS feed and stay up to date.John McCain has again said something to cause his fellow western-state Republicans to wince at its political inexpedience [...]
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I am quite sure that on an average week, properly inflating the tires on my car would not save me any money at all. That is because I ride my bike to work.
Sure tire inflation is a good idea but it is not going to solve the problems we have. No single solution will but people need to stop thinking that if we all just hold hands and sing songs that we will solve global warming (if it can or should be solved) or dependence on foreign oil (if it can or should be solved).
It is quite easy to blame the Republicans or “Demand that ‘they’ solve the problem” but if I see one more Obama bumper sticker on an SUV as it blows by me on my bike in the rain I am going to replace all of my CFLs with incandescent heat lamps.
[...] much oil as would be produced by a proposed increase in offshore drilling if only they kept their tires inflated to recommended levels and took their cars in for regular tune-ups, Republicans mocked the claim, [...]
This is simple thing obama has suggested we do to save gas. Don’t jump on him just cause your a republican.