Is McCain's tire-gauge ridicule wrong?

Properly inflated tires won't just save you gas, it can save your life or that of someone you love. The ability to manuever, and brake, especially on slippery roads are a result of many things operating properly on your vehicle. And it's not just your vehicle, it's the vehicles around you.

Why john McCain ridicules this is a mystery to me, unless it's because he's out of touch with average Americans and hasn't been responsible for a safe vehicle in years?

McCains reasoning behind his ridicule, simply to take advantage of the middle and lower class's lack of proper education on conservation matters. I have known about properly inflated tires, to save gas, for years. McCain is nothing but a joke! At least Obama is showing an effort to address this issue in a pragmatic way rather than in a comedic and insulting manner such as McCain.

John McCain wouldn't know a good idea if it poked him in the eye. This guy has lived a charmed life, for most of his life. His service to our country, like some many hundreds of thousands of men and women, including myself, have served this country, proudly. As for his misfortunate stay as a prisoner-of-war, it was unfortunate, but I wish he wouldn't try to cash in on it. To continually promote this unfortunate mishap as a license to senselessly attack a fellow U.S. Senator, Senator Obama, is not Senatorial and not very American. Yet, he continues with mindless and meaningless distortions, showing nothing but contempt and disrespect for a fellow Senator. If America wants a President that has no respect for his fellow elected officials, the institution of the Senate, than, by all means, vote for more incompetency, vote Republican !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

McCain is just upset that it wasn't HIS idea ...

John McCain is fast becoming an empty can.

The issue is not conservation. The issue is the incomparable ignorance and naivete of Obama, to suggest that tire inflation and tune-ups (which haven't been a necessity for most cars built in the past 20 years) could substitute for large increases in domestic oil production. Everyone says Obama's the Messiah, but he's far too stupid to fill the bill.

If McCain is serious about a conservation piece to his energy plan, he is being dishonest by singling out individual energy-saving steps for ridicule. All this does is play to, and reinforce, the ignorance that makes conservation such a non-existent part of American life. That's not leadership.

Another media pass on Obama. Maybe next we can debate his statement about sitting around in air conditioned houses? Take him to task already for the short-sighted answer of releasing gas from the strategic reserve, proposals to increase taxes in a shaky economy, among other misguided policies.

Old Man McCain never drives a car. He rides in a gas-guzzling bus. Remember America, vote McCain and you will have 4 more years of the same crap and worse. Out of touch with average America, friend only to the extreme wealthy who care only about stepping on your neck while you are down.

Proper tire inflation can save you gas mileage. But this is only a very small part of other things that need to be done to save fuel. Obama still has no realistic energy policy to reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and stop the transfer of wealth to the Middle East. To be fair McCain's energy policy will solve only a small part of the problem. I do not think Obama and some of his fellow Democrats have a clue on how to confront this serious problem that our country faces. Both parties need to get their act together and stop playing political games on this issue.

"...to suggest that tire inflation and tune-ups (which haven't been a necessity for most cars built in the past 20 years)..."

That's hilarious!

Is it true that Obama is teaming up with Barney Fife to get the word out on Mayberry's Inflate Your Tires Day? I don't want The Messiah lecturing me on inflating my tires, or telling me what kind of car I should drive and or where I should set my thermostat. Of course, Obama has always lacked substance. November can't come soon enough to rid ourselves of this pathetic con man Obama.

I can see the TV ads now. Wheelchairs, walkers, bottles of Viagra, nursing home patients and pictures of old John McCain. The tag line, "He used to be ready."

Team McCain can manage to do one thing and one thing only: ridicule others.

It's not an attractive talent, and it's certainly not a reason to elect him President.

What is amazing this year is how many people have bought the fundamentally childish notion that, if you don’t the way things are going, the answer is to write a blank check for generic “change,” empowering someone chosen not on the basis of any track record but on the basis of his skill reading someone else's words from a teleprompter. Obama is a supreme lightweight. Thanksfully, he won't come close to fooling enough Americans to flirt and smirk his way into the presidency.

McCain this, McCain that - McCain is too old, blah, blah, blah. Or is it Baa, baa, baa, like all of the sheep voting for someone with no experience and no record, someone who can't even provide a birth certificate to show that he was born in the US (Hawaii) as he claims, instead of Kenya where most believe he was was spawned.

If McCain had made the tire inflating comments, he would have been ridiculed beyond belief. Because the One Obama made the comments, they have suddenly become the solution to our energy problems. Meanwhile it doesn't put a single drop of American oil in our economy and keeps it coming in from countries who hate us. I have never seen the media rush so quickly to defend and diffuse a dumb comment like this, when in the past they would have destroyed whoever made it. Funny too, most gas stations in Chicago charge 50 cents to a $1.00 to use the air, so that would cover most any savings that there would be, but why would anyone want to mention that.

BTW, anyone notice the tumble in price of oil lately?? Go ahead libs, keep knocking drilling for our own oil, keep saying it will take 10 years for it to impact pennies. The mere mention of us drilling along with the Republican stand in the House has contributed significantly to the decrease in price. It's not the only factor, but it has contibuted.

Do you remember when the GOP disrespected our veterans when they wore bandages with purple hearts on them to ridicule John Kerry's military service, which included the Purple Heart (several, I believe) and the Silver Star? The Republicans have no good idea, all they do is sit in the back of the room and throw spit balls at the adults. Anyone who votes Republican is seriously lacking in common sense, and respect for America.

I think we need a Federal Department of Tire Inflation to inspect all tires before we drive. Think of all the good it would do. Save Gas. Save Lives. Thank God Obama is here to save our planet!

Frank James actually "defending" Senator Obama?? Has hell frozen over??!!

McCain has not taken care of a car since the Great Depression...while Sen. Obama has, until very recently, not only kept his car, but pumped gas....

When was the last time you did that, McCain? Get a grip! Who is the real elitist???

The media rallies around the would-be boy king once again. The tire inflation gaffe is an issue because that is all Obama had offered as an energy strategy -- no drilling, no nukes, no coal, etc. Note to media: the more you try to shove this lightweight down our throats, the more we will reject him.

Jack, it's selfish people like you that gives America a bad name and shows your disregard for the future of our planet and livlihoods. So go ahead, waste all you want and when the time does come that you will be forced to turn your thermostat down, get rid of your gas guzzling SUV, and get a blow-out on the highway, don't come crying to me! Oh wait, you'll blame president Obama for your excessive waste of energy to accomodate your selfish lifestyle!

McCain's point was that Obama's "plan" is not enough, that limiting energy policy to "inflating tires" will not get us out of the energy crisis. I think that a lot of you guys are being intentionally obtuse.

"So if conservation is so vital to the national well-being, as McCain says, why ridicule a conservation method as simple but effective as proper tire inflation? "

Because it sounds like something your wife would suggest.

The whole Republican mantra is based on being tough, so anything that sounds mild-mannered is to be ridiculed.

"Is it true that Obama is teaming up with Barney Fife to get the word out on Mayberry's Inflate Your Tires Day? I don't want The Messiah lecturing me on inflating my tires, or telling me what kind of car I should drive and or where I should set my thermostat. Of course, Obama has always lacked substance. November can't come soon enough to rid ourselves of this pathetic con man Obama.

Posted by: Jack | August 5, 2008 10:32 AM

In other words, it's all about you. You'll drive your 10 MPG gas guzzler until they pry the steering wheel out of your cold dead hands, and someone damn well better find you the gas to guzzle. Why the hell should you sacrifice for the good of anyone else or the stupid planet?

Am I about summing you up right? Please, continue to vote Republican.

Senator Crabby McCentury must've had another senior moment and been referring to the solid rubber tires on his flivver. There's no other explanation since everyone who drives a modern car knows that proper tire pressure saves fuel.

This is just the newest iteration of Jimmy Carter telling us to put on a sweater.

Here's just a couple of paragraphs from experts on the issue -- you can read the entire article via the link. So, who's off the mark on this one?????

Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc., marketer of AirAware(TM) TPMS
systems, components and tools, supports National Tire Safety Week April 20-26
with
a reminder to drivers that proper tire inflation can help save fuel and money.
With properly maintained tires, the average driver could save as much as two
weeks' worth of gas every year -- a significant savings with fuel prices at
current levels.

The U.S. Energy Department estimates that every pound per square inch of
tire under-inflation wastes four million gallons of gas per day in the
U.S.Tires that are under-inflated by five to seven pounds per square inch can
increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent, or two to three miles per
gallon, while reducing tread life as much as 15 percent.

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS198791+16-Apr-2008+MW20080416

And then there's this from the EPA:

http://www.epa.gov/OMS/consumer/17-tips.pdf

This is hilarious. Another boneheaded Obama gaffe becomes policy. Senior Obama apologist Frank James attempts to spin this as whether it is true that keeping tires inflated will increase mileage. I have no doubt it would have a marginal impact. That's not why it was a boneheaded comment. It was boneheaded because it is obvious. Next, Obama will tell adults that if they don't want to fall down, they should keep their shoes tied. Then Frank James will defend him with another inane article that it actually is true. Your chances of falling with your shoes untied is increased. Fantastic work, Frank.

Patrick wrote: "Anyone who votes Republican is seriously lacking in common sense, and respect for America."

Oh give me a BREAK!!! Do you really think voting for a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist like the Boy Wonder is a demonstration of good sense? You need to grow a sense of proportion, big guy.

Zook you would ridicule McCain for anything that comes off the swamp.
I had tried reducing speed on the expressways, slow stops and start ups, and using nuetral, as well as tire pressure. It gave me all of 2 more miles to the gallon. Which amounts to maybe 30 more miles on a tank of gas. So, if you consider tire pressure as 1/4 of the increase in gas you are talking 7 1/2 moe miles on a tank. What did save about 45 cents on a tank. Whoppie, way to go Obam. I also just put nitrogen in all 5 tires. This is supposed to increase mileage. We shall see. It also is supposed to increase tire life. Have you done any of the above ZOOK?

To the swamp I have made about 7 comments in the past day. Have not seen any of them in print.

I should never have to sacrifice. I'm an American. We rule the world. Conserve? Never!! I'll send our troops to die first. The rest of the world exists soley to meet my desires. If I want to waste energy, the rest of the world will provide or pay the consequences. Why should I conserve, when all the oil on the planet is rightfully mine?

How the race could be virtually tied escapes me! I can only think that the same people (stupid people) who elected Bush TWICE are still the gullible nitwits even though Republican policies and actions work against them religiously. The dumbing down of America is evident with all this McCain nonsense.

Agree onthe tire infalation as it helps me with gas milage-
Obama has been living off of the fat of Chicago Politics makes him ignorant on conservatism-

Neither candidate has a credible energy policy. Neither have the "testicular fortitude" to speak strongly on the issue. Not sure I blame them, as it could be electoral suicide. We need to change the way we live, and that is not a popular thing to say.

There is no magic bullet, it requires a lot of bullets. Yes, tire pressure is one of them, and probably the easiest to do. Electric (including hydrogen) cars are not the sole answer either, but they could help. Wind power is not the sole answer, but it will help. Biking, walking, public transport, fuel efficient cars are all part of the solution too. More clothes during the winter (Jimmy Carter's sweater) and less during the summer will help. The list goes on and on, they are all part of the solution.

Of the big plans, the Pickens Plan makes the most sense to me, but again, just part of the solution.

Conservation in everything we do is the key, it all adds up.

The problem with Obama is that he wants to count the tire inflation idea as part of his energy policy. A policy has to be measureable on a large scale and is enforceable with some type of accompanied laws. How in the world is Obama going to measure the saving in gas? There is no way to attribute a lower demand in gasoline to properly inflated tired. In addition, how is he going to enforce this policy? Can we get pulled over so that the police can check your tires? or do we get fined if we don't inflate our tires according to the government's guidelines? The idea itself is not silly, making it as a part of an energy policy is.

Another isssue is that do we need a presidential candidate to tell us how to take care of our cars? It's the arrogance that bugs me. If Obama ever gets elected, what kind of nanny state can we expect?

Here's the real problem. Congressional Republicans and McCain think they've latched onto an issue which is a winner for them: demand we drill everywhere in the US.

Democrats counter with the argument that oil companies currently hold leases on 68 million acres in the US onshore and offshore. 80% of the outer continental shelf is available for drilling.

From Factcheck.org:

According to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Mineral Management Service, there are nearly 68 million acres of federal lands (onshore and off) that are part of non-producing leases as of fiscal year 2007. This is in contrast to 25.7 million acres of leased lands that are producing oil.

---

As Bureau of Land Management Petroleum Engineer Bill Gewecke, who manages the onshore sites, told us, he "wouldn't say untouched, [I] would say undeveloped."

That's because these leased lands that don't contain productive drilling operations likely are not lying idle as Obama implies. There are a lot of steps and procedures involved in setting up a productive oil well on leased land, both onshore and off. The Bureau of Land Management's Web site lists the regulatory hurdles that need to be cleared as part of the larger five-step life cycle of a well.

(Oh those Democrats and their regulatory hurdles! If I had the cash I'd put an exploration rig in George Bush's front yard, in the water about 30' off Poppy Bush's dock in Kennebunkport, and up Dick Cheney's posterior.)

The path to setting up an offshore drilling operation is even longer, as shown in a large flow chart developed by the MMS.

And there is a lot of activity occurring on leased lands that does not qualify as "production."

(It would qualify as "exploration" though and they're not doing that either.)

For 2006, the BLM reported that there were 77,257 productive holes onshore in the U.S. Beyond that, there were 6,738 applications for drilling permits, 4,708 holes in which companies had begun drilling and 3,693 where drilling had ended among onshore lands. That's a total of more than 15,000 holes that were being proposed, started or finished that do not count as "productive" holes.

(Which has nothing to do with the 68 million acres they're doing nothing with.)

And that doesn't even include holes that might have been continually drilled throughout the year for exploratory reasons.

(It takes more than a year to find out if they've hit a viable field? I thought George Bush got out of the oil business.)

It's not known how much of that drilling is taking place on leases currently classified as "non-producing" and how much is taking place on leases that are already producing oil. BLM's Gewecke told us that the agency does not track acreage that is being developed or explored. And Andy Radford, an analyst with the American Petroleum Institute, an industry trade association, told us that the oil companies are "very secretive about announcing where they are testing, exploring and thinking of drilling because the industry is very competitive."

(C'mon, with today's technology oil companies know pretty darn well where oil is likely and unlikely to be found. They don't explore in the US because it's much cheaper to find and pump oil where it's closer to the surface and the politicians are cheaper to buy off so environmental protections can be ignored.)

(But the real reason they don't drill is there just isn't much return on investment drilling in the US anymore because there aren't any huge fields left to find. The USA has 2% of the world's reserves and uses 20-25% of the world's oil. If Repubs get their way we'll use up the last drops of our very expensive hard to pump sour crude before we develop alternatives. That's some real long term planning isn't it? Repubs must be really proud of themselves.)

Uh oh, can't make fun of Obama for another stupid statement.

No wonder he doesn't want to debate McCain

McCain this, McCain that - McCain is too old, blah, blah, blah. Or is it Baa, baa, baa, like all of the sheep voting for someone with no experience and no record, someone who can't even provide a birth certificate to show that he was born in the US (Hawaii) as he claims, instead of Kenya where most believe he was was spawned.

Posted by: BDD | August 5, 2008 10:39 AM
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Hey genius its posted on fightthesmears.com, maybe if u'd stop listening to Rush and all the other talking heads who spread lies you could go to the other source and actually get factual evidence. But meh, americans love their TV and what somebody else tells them more than their own brains. If McCain is elected, i'm packing up and moving to Europe, I don't want to live among other Americans that are this stupid, GOOD RIDDANCE.

Indeed, a lot of conservation amounts to common sense and is relatively straightforward.

"Common sense" isn't good for the Republican business.

"Common sense" would have led Americans to conclude that invading a nation with WMD would have resulted in tens of thousands (not 4000) American deaths and countless wounded.

But Republicans have for years counted on a lack of "common sense" to win elections. And, quite frankly, it's worked and will likely work again.

Obama is narcissistic, arrogant, elitist, naive and inexperienced and this statement highlights this. Yes tire pressure helps but drilling as part of a widespread conservation and supply regimen is what is needed.

NASCAR recommends checking tire inflation monthly as a fuel saving ideahttp://www.nascar.com/2008/auto/cct/04/22/car.care.fuel.economy/index.html

The Obama buffoon strikes again.

You people are just plain stupid or selfish I cant figure it out. Obama made this suggestion was one of many ways we can help reduce our energy costs as a part of a social conscience that WE ARE ALL responsible for conserving and properly doing so. One little suggestion and you republicans are jumping out of your seats crying!! Waah Waaah!!!
If this one suggestion helps save 1 gallon or 5 gallons a tank, and we all kept our tires full, thats millions of gallons!! Every little bit helps but you republicans dont want to help you just want everything you believe is owed to you just because you are Americans. Your arrogance is the death of this once great country!

Patrick wrote: "Anyone who votes Republican is seriously lacking in common sense, and respect for America."

Oh give me a BREAK!!! Do you really think voting for a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist like the Boy Wonder is a demonstration of good sense? You need to grow a sense of proportion, big guy.

Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | August 5, 2008 10:59 AM
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How is Marxism even close to what Obama is proposing our country due? I love how uber conservatives try and smear Obama with the socialist label...its quite amusing isn't the fight against communism the reason we screwed ourselves into Vietnam? People like you vast right wing, are the people that elected Bush....nuff said.

McCain is just a hack for the oil companies, so naturally he wants to ridicule anything that will cut their profits. Every major issue we have facing us - energy, foreign policy, the environment, the economy - is all linked to oil, so after eight years of oil men in the White House, you dopes want to elect another guy whose pockets are full of money from Mobile and whose campaign staff is stocked with oil company men. Four more years of these crude policies will sink this country for good.

I'm not sure that McCain knows what a tire gauge is or how to use one. You got to kneel down to use one of those things, and something tells me that old Johnny's days doing his own work are over. Plus, as a lifetime government employee (yeah, that's "in touch" with the people!), he's probably had to do very little for himself. Elected royalty has their servants do that for them.

John McCain and the Republicans don't care about energy conservation.

McCain says conservation is important and then ridicules one of the easiest ways to save gas. He opposed the new Webb GI Bill, skips the vote, and then tries to claim credit for it. He opposed offshore drilling, then changed positions and watched the oil money flow into his campaign. He spoke about his passionate opposition to torture based on his own experiences and then promptly rolled over and voted with the Bushies. It looks like the "straight-talk-express" now specializes in u-turns.

We need to seriously consider all of our energy options and simple, low-cost conservation steps are a good place to start. McBush may not know what to do with that tire gauge, but I'm sure people who are concerned about America's energy future will be happy to provide suggestions.

I think that everyone should drink the kool-aid and listen to Obama (possibly another cult leader). Properly inflating your tires will fix all the oil problems and then leave more room for Obama to concentrate on turning the country into a socialistic government or heck maybe even communist. Freaken open your eyes, get educated...I was voting for Obama before I actually read the facts.

After reading some of the posts on this site it is not hard to get very pessimistic about the energy and fuel problems that confront the country. McCain and the Republicans believe that drilling for more oil will solve the problems, and Obama and the Democrats are clueless on the issue. If the Republicans, Democrats and the American public do not get their act together on this serious problem and quit playing silly politics on the fuel issue, we should continue to expect dependence on foreign oil, higher prices at the pump, continued transfer of wealth from the U.S. to the Middle East, and fuel shortages in the future. We need a realistic energy policy and neither Obama and the Democrats nor McCain and the Republicans have one.

Republicans have relied on common sense to win elections !!? Was it common sense that made former Senator Max Cleland unpatriotic, in spite of his loss of three limbs in Vietnam ? Was it common sense that told Bush to tell the nation that we are not in the regime change business, speaking of Iraq? No, it hasn't been common sense that has won elections for the Republicans, it has been lies and distortions and more lies !! This election is no different, in terms of the Republican lies, the only difference the voting public has caught on the their lies and distortions. I don't think they will be voting for Republican " common sense ", any time soon. They have had too much Republican ' common sense ", the last 8 years !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

My goodness, you McCain lovers are truly naive about so many things. For us "oldtimers" who lived through the gas crisis in the mid 1970s, proper tire inflation and tune-ups did indeed save on gas. Today, call it whatever you want: tune-ups or maintenance--it will, indeed save on gas as will properly inflated tires. NASCAR says it does, the governor of Florida (who, by the way is a Republican) and an informational brochure put out by the White House says the same thing, too.

Now, going back to Jimmy Carter and putting on a sweater--for all you dolts who want to maintain the heat in your house at a comfy 74 degrees and continue to waste energy, go for it. Your children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren will be paying for your ignorance for many, many years. I, like Jimmy Carter, put a sweater on and lower the thermostat!

Get a grip on reality, people!

Doesn't surprise me. McCain is just regurgitating the Republican mantra of "no government can or should tell me what to do", including to conserve fuel, buy a smaller vehicle, keep my tire properly inflated, etc. "Drill, drill, drill at any cost". Boarish, piggish, arrogant, selfish---all appropriate adjectives to describe this regressive way of thinking. We need forward thinking individuals in Washington making difficult and yes, sometimes very unpopular decisions for the good of the planet and the United States. We all should make sacrifices for the greater good. Using our limited oil supply wisely through dramatic conservation efforts, including mandating much higher CAFE standards, pouring billions of dollars into research for alternative sources of renewable energies are the only way this country will break its oil addiction.

Is Obama running for Garage Mechanic or President of the United States?

Obama also needs to speak out strongly against "jackrabbit starts" when accelerating from a red light.

What are you waiting for?

Why is it that if McCain states the obvious, he's using common sense and if Obama says that same, he's naive? If you read the owner's manual of your car, it talks about tire pressure and basic maintenance, like a tune up. Are we going to bash Obama because he reads now? Thank goodness that he went to school before No Child Left Behind took effect.

Oh, and to Zook, check the owner's manual for your car. You'll see that a "tune-up" these may not be as labor intensive as in the past, but is still necessary. It would include changing spark plugs, wires (if necessary), fuel filer, air filter and PCV valve. It also lubrication as well. These are ALL things that keep a car running efficiently so that it USES LESS GAS. That would be conservation-minded, let alone better for emissions. Make sense to you? THINK before you react to something, Zook.

McCain takes nothing as serious as making WAR. But you have to take under account that the 71 yr. old gesser is in his second childhood. Isn't he due for retirement?

Since it sounds like many of you aren't aware, Obama has a comprehensive energy plan up on his website. If you are too lazy to read it, fine. But when you don't read it and still continue to suggest that he has no plan, you are proving yourself ignorant as well as dishonest.

RFB-IL – “It gave me all of 2 more miles to the gallon. Which amounts to maybe 30 more miles on a tank of gas.”

So, let’s say your vehicle got 20 miles to the gallon. If you are getting an additional 30 more miles on a tank of gas, then, if gas is $4 a gallon, you’re saving about $6 with every fill-up. And how do you figure 7 ½ miles more is only 45 cents? If you’re saying that 7 ½ miles is ¼ of what you get per gallon, that would put you at 30 mpg. And at $4 a gallon, ¼ is $1, not 45 cents.

The Republicon's whole energy policy can be summed up in four words: "Drill here, drill now." They are so beholden to the oil companies that they will do anything to keep those millions in campaign funds coming!

CONSERVING energy is BAAAD. Since NOBODY PROFITS!

Personal responsibility is clearly just slogan fodder for the GOP. Obama has consistently asked that Americans take some personal responsibility toward making our country a better place. McCain mocks and ridicules that position. It's a pity because this election was supposed to be a great national dialog but has quickly degenerated into a series of Republican campaign gimmicks.

Kyle Roget – “ . . . basis of his skill reading someone else's words from a teleprompter.”

A -- I don't think you can name one public speaker that doesn't use some sort of notes, whether it be in the form of a TelePrompTer, note cards or typed sheets of paper.

B -- Don't tell me you've never seen McCain looking at paper at a podium or sheet music stand. And perhaps if McCain used notes a bit more, he wouldn't keep confusing his message. I voted for this. No, I never said I voted for that." Yes, that's is what I said." No, I don't know where you got that information. From me? Nope. Never.

C -- Do you honestly think McCain or Bush or Clinton or anyone else actually writes their own speeches? Wow.

"How is Marxism even close to what Obama is proposing our country due? I love how uber conservatives try and smear Obama with the socialist label..."

Um, let's see. Nationalized healthcare. Doubled capital gains tax rates. Increased income tax rates. A trillion dollars in new welfare state spending. Class warfare is your feeble mind able to grasp it yet?

Everyone else is wrong and nobama is right - wind powered solid wheeled vehicles with solar powered headlights is the answer. Nobama is a genius worthy of the Nobel peace prize.

Tom,

Go re-read the thread. I didn't quote myself.

Janstress wrote: "For us "oldtimers" who lived through the gas crisis in the mid 1970s, proper tire inflation and tune-ups did indeed save on gas. Today, call it whatever you want: tune-ups or maintenance--it will, indeed save on gas as will properly inflated tires. NASCAR says it does, the governor of Florida (who, by the way is a Republican) and an informational brochure put out by the White House says the same thing, too."

First of all, that was 35 years ago, and automotive technology has sufficiently evolved in the interim so as to make tune-ups all but obsolete. Second, no one disputes that tire inflation has an effect on fuel consumption. The thing that I and McCain and others take issue with is Obama's staggeringly naive and ignorant statement that these relatively trivial fuel savings could possibly substitute for the kind of increased domestic production that Republicans are championing. This is nothing less than liberals slavishly covering for yet another gaffe by the Boy Wonder. Some think he's the antichrist, but he's far too stupid to pull that off credibly.

Can anyone tell me where Obama said, or even implied, that proper tire inflation, AND TIRE INFLATION ALONE, would be the "solution" to our current energy problems?

There are plenty of reasons not to like Obama, and to prefer McCain, but anyone (including many commentors here), who think that Obama was proposing tire gauges as the SOLE solution is either (1) disingenuous, and they know it; or (2) too stupid to vote (and I pray to God they don't).

In any event, it's people who simply can't digest a candidate's simple (and true) statement that cause us to end up with people like Bush in the White House.

Personal responsibility is clearly just slogan fodder for the GOP. Obama has consistently asked that Americans take some personal responsibility toward making our country a better place. McCain mocks and ridicules that position. It's a pity because this election was supposed to be a great national dialog but has quickly degenerated into a series of Republican campaign gimmicks.
Posted by: slag | August 5, 2008 12:38 PM

THANK YOU!

With all the Repubs thinking their cheap gasoline ENTITLEMENT is going to be taken away, there's nothing they won't say in order to keep chugging away.

Along with 'personal responsibility' is the concept of a free market. Gas costs what it costs. Don't like it? Buy less.

"What is amazing this year is how many people have bought the fundamentally childish notion that, if you don’t (sic) the way things are going, the answer is to write a blank check..." to keep the Republicans in power and somehow now they'll be able to do the things right that they somehow couldn't do before.

Or in the words of Albert Einstein, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results".

Class warfare is your feeble mind able to grasp it yet?

Posted by: Vast Right Wing Conspirator | August 5, 2008 12:48 PM

We have class warfare now. The rich gaining at the benefit of everyone else. What you and the Republicans want is for the bottom 90% of Americans to surrender and to agree to live their lives soley for the benefit of the top 10%.

The problem with Obama is that he wants to count the tire inflation idea as part of his energy policy.

Another isssue is that do we need a presidential candidate to tell us how to take care of our cars? It's the arrogance that bugs me. If Obama ever gets elected, what kind of nanny state can we expect?
Posted by: Ryan | August 5, 2008 11:14 AM

I think it's called e-du-ca-tion, Ryan. Don't get so paranoid. I had to teach my husband about checking tire inflation. I agree with Tom that if McCain had mentioned this, he would be lauded for 'straight talk' and 'common sense'. Obama says it and he's arrogant. You guys really need to get over those high school self-esteem issues.

Well, Vast Right Wing Conspirator, your message says it all.

Why does McCain want America driving around on flat tires? Does he hate America?

The point is, Obama said that we could save just as much inflating our tires as all the oil that we need from over there>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzZNP4tTfV0
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His explanation of this being the solution to all the problems with needing oil shows he's not ready to lead, period>TO GREEN, and then there is of course one of the Lib MEDIA extra add of insult to injury> suggesting we need to clean out our car to save on gas ha ha. Two peas in a pod. Ignore the cries of the Majority for some rediculously insulting solutions to high fuel prices which have given us high food cost. Everything has gone up and that is what these people are going to do for us. McCAIN 08!

"What you and the Republicans want is for the bottom 90% of Americans to surrender and to agree to live their lives soley for the benefit of the top 10%."

There are three kinds of lies: there are lies, damned lies, and ... whatever a liberal says. Okay, so maybe I didn't quote Disraeli verbatim, but the idea still applies. The truth is that, based on the latest IRS figures, the top 50% of taxpayers bear 97.1% of the tax burden, while the bottom 50% of taxpayers bear only 2.9% of the burden. This is just a teensy bit at odds with your statement, but since when did facts ever matter to a liberal?

Kenneth Ashford wrote: "Can anyone tell me where Obama said, or even implied, that proper tire inflation, AND TIRE INFLATION ALONE, would be the "solution" to our current energy problems?"

Hey Ken, it came straight out of the Boy Wonder's own mouth. Here's his quote, verbatim:

"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!"

The Messiah himself said that inflation and tune-ups would completely offset the increased domestic oil production that Republicans are proposing. Sorry, big guy, but this is just another ignorant gaffe by Mr. Transcendence.

At least it is good advice? It saves on fuel, tire-life, and sometimes your life. As the Republicans have long lost their common sense, they come out to ridicule the idea. I believe that they would rather travel on flat tires.

I guess I forgot to mention that the extra 2 miles to the gallon was not only attributable to the inflation of my tires it also include using cruise whenever possible, slowing down when approaching stop signs and lights so as not to break hard, starting up slowly, watching the RPM's and trying to keep them below 20 on start-ups, using neutral when approaching stops, putting on my seat belt and taking one more sip of coffee before starting my car, turning off my engin when it appears that I may be ideling at trains. So that means that inflating my tires is saving me 45 cents, maybe.

Mr Vast Right wing conspiratior:

Please tell us exactly how much John McCain's proposals will save you at the pump. You claim that it's far more than keeping your tires at the proper pressure, so you obviously have detailed information as to what McCain's proposals will save you. Please give us those details. Please quantify it, and link us to the supporting data and analysis form independant non-partisan sources. Thanks!

At least it is good advice? It saves on fuel, tire-life, and sometimes your life. As the Republicans have long lost their common sense, they come out to ridicule the idea. I believe that they would rather travel on flat tires.

Posted by: Johnny | August 5, 2008 3:31 PM

Ok- its a great idea...so is frequent hand washing, wearing sunscreen and maxing your 401K contributions...

The problem is that we are electing a president to lead the country- not provide public service messages that we already know are true..

The insulting part of this advice from the messiah is that he is offering this while his parties congressional leadership bailed on sticking around long enough to actually vote on real solutions..

This-qoute from another elitist asked to lead when the people are struggling;

"Let them eat cake, is there no cake?

"...chosen not on the basis of any track record but on the basis of his skill reading someone else's words from a teleprompter..."

Hmm, Sounds like Ronald Reagan.

This-qoute from another elitist asked to lead when the people are struggling;
"Let them eat cake, is there no cake?
Posted by: heartburn | August 5, 2008 6:15 PM

Actually, the Republican mantra was summed up by that hero of 'conservatism' created by Dickens:

"Are there no workhouses? No prisons?"

Heartburn,

Yes, I agree that both parties are part of the problem. I am very disappointed in the leadership of the democrats in not forcing their hand and to exert more of their constitutional powers. I think both parties are corrupt, and i think the Democratic party is the lesser evil. I believe both parties have made the situation for the common American worst by their not working on the real problems facing America today.

Johny

Hummer drivers for McCain | August 5, 2008 11:08 AM - If we are allowed to drill here, we would never need Iraq or any other Opec countries oil again. Wouldn't that end your argument that we're over there for OIL ??? You do care enough to save lives , right?

The proposal of using a tire guage instead of actually drilling oil is so incredibly assinine and moronic, it isn't funny. By Obama's own numbers, we would save 165K barrels of oil. We need TENS of MILLIONS of barrels to get back to cheap oil. We need cheap oil to keep the economy going well, which will help us develop and implement oil-alternatives. Additionally, there is NO reason not to actually use our own oil, especially when we have literally over a century of oil supply in various forms known to exist in US territory! We can't 'inflate' our way out of this, especially when modern tires are much superior to what we used to have, and most people are ALREADY keeping their tires properly inflated!