Republicans Belittling Obama's Decent, if Overstated, Energy Efficiency Idea

Republicans for Obama??? As far as I'm concerned these people never were Republicans, and obviously aren't Republicans now. At best, they are simply weak politicians with little conviction. Calling themselves
Republicans for Obama is just a transparent political P.R. ploy to make it look like even Republicans are switching over to Obama. However, as we get closer to November, Obama is sinking in the polls, and McCain is rising. And, we still don't know how many of the 18 million Clinton supporters are switching over to McCain. And we still don't know how many people who said they'd vote for Obama, will actually vote for McCain, in the privacy of the voting booth. Obama has a track record with 9 days of foreign policy, and 16 months in government, and with very little to show for it. McCain has 25 years in the military ... 20 years in government ... tons of foreign policy experience ... proven commitment to this country, as a war hero who paid dearly. If you look at the facts, instead of Obama's smoke and mirrors, it's obvious that Senator John McCain should be our next President.

Maybe i could become head of the new Department of Inflation?

1) Are the oil companies really interested in increasing supply and thereby lowering prices? The "drill now" crowd has made the assumption that oil companies will immediately drill and put that on the market. I find that to be a rather idealistic assumption.

2) If 800,000 barrels per day is accurate that is almost 6 trillion in the 20 years it will take to get the first oil out of the ocean.

Time magazine has a piece up about this very issue. A short excerpt:

"The Bush Administration estimates that expanded offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 bbl. per day by 2030. We use about 20 million bbl. per day, so that would meet about 1% of our demand two decades from now. Meanwhile, efficiency experts say that keeping tires inflated can improve gas mileage 3%, and regular maintenance can add another 4%. Many drivers already follow their advice, but if everyone did, we could immediately reduce demand several percentage points. In other words: Obama is right."

So, how many drivers out there do not properly inflate their tires or get regular tuneups? Well, it's tough to say, but I'm willing to bet it's more than one-seventh of the cars on the road, which is the break-even point in this scenario.

In the end, it doesn't much matter: offshore drilling takes 20 years to get going. Conservation measures help us right away, TOMORROW. The Republicans don't like conservation, however, because it doesn't help their buddies in the oil industry a bit. But the fact is, we simply can't drill our way to energy independence. Honestly, the right really looks foolish when they don't even get their facts straight before they call something a "gaffe".

Hey Jon, you should ask the same question of Crist and Arnold, they mentioned the benefits of proper tire inflation first.

Seems like Obama has changed his mind again, now he "might" consider drilling if the situation is right. The fact that the Gov. of CA made a speech and said something similar has nothing to do with the stupid statement of Obama. Twisting Obama's words aren't necessary, they stand on their own. Your defense of his words and condemnation of the Repbulican for what you expect them to do next is indefensible.

The 800,000 barrels per day is an estimate from Frank Verrastro, the link at the beginning of this article will let you review his methods which include proper tire inflation AND tuning up cars.

As to properly inflated tires:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 27% of cars have underinflated tires, defined by NHTSA as 8 or more psi below the recommended inflation level.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency underinflated tires reduce miles per gallon (MPG) .4% per 1 psi drop in pressure.

27% of cars would see an IMMEDIATE MPG increase of 3.2%, across the nation, a .864% reduction in gasoline consumption, for total savings of 3.28 million gallons of gasoline PER DAY by simply properly inflating the tires.

After refining, a barrel (42 gallons) of oil yields 19.6 gallons of gasoline.

It takes 172,800 barrels of oil to generate 3.28 millions gallons of gasoline.

Please cite your source for "800,000 barrels a day" due to incorrectly inflated tires. Sounds like a lot of hot air to me. If that's really the case, then why haven't 'air' checkpoints been set up and training classes to teach people who don't know what a valve stem is? I suspect it's not nearly as serious a problem as 800,000 barrels of oil a day.

The wheels are falling off the Democrats' wagon. Watch your news tonight for the ruckus in the house today over the Dems blocking the energy vote. The Dems will lose big in November on this issue. Let's all go inflate our tires now LOL!! They've really lined up behind a loser, and sinking faster by the minute.

When the man opposes extraction of known oil reserves while new energies are discovered, yes he should be mocked for such lightweight talk.

Jake, you're wrong to claim that "[n]o one said the energy problem could be solved by this tire issue...."

Obama foolishly said it! As you quote him:
"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."

The (un)Democratic Party, by foisting this idiotic, uniformed, gaffe-machine of a candidate on us, is letting the right-wing have a field day on the oil issue.

Just when public opinion was turning in favor of seriously addressing energy and climate change issues, the Dean/Brazile/Pelosi/Reid bolsheviks endanger everything with their risky gambit of selecting Barry Dunham-Soetoro.

Wake up and nominate Hillary!

Meanwhile Obama flys to campaign events in a huge jumbo jet 757!!

Are the tires properly inflated on that flying hotel??

How many people already have the proper tire inflation?

Does Obama really believe that everyone in the US is driving around on poorly inflated tires?

Obama seems to believe that he invents these just because he says them in a speech. Plenty of people are already doing things to conserve because gas prices are very high.

He is out of touch with practical things. Does Obama even drive himself anywhere? Or does he just ride in the limo? Are his limo tires properly inflated? Has he checked?

This situation is like when he said all Americans should learn Spanish. But he doesn't speak Spanish.

This is getting ridiculous First of all it will not bring down prices at the pump, drilling will immediately bring down prices - Economics 101 people!

It is a joke!!

I wish somebody would investigate how Exxon got their huge profits. To me if they were paying increased costs to extract and acquire oil, their profits would be alot smaller.

I believe that they are relatively selling cheap to produce US oil on the world market to foreign countries at the expense of our economic future. We are not wisely managing our oil resources. We should charge more for oil exploration leases and share in profits from runs in oil prices.

I repeat that I believe Exxon makes its money by taking US produced oil and selling it to foreign countries.

Sen. Obama just announced his Emergency Economic Plan where he proposes giving families a stimulus check of $1,000 and working individuals $500, paid for, in part, by the proposed windfall profits tax on oil companies.

So Sen. Obama will buy your vote and pay for it by stealing from the oil companies. If he and the Democrats get away with this theft, could the utilities, the record industry, the movie industry and maybe even the NBA, NFL and MLB be next. Is this really the "change" you want? And some of you still deny that Sen. Obama is a Socialist!

Rodney, McCain doesn't say that drilling is enough - but he is willing to include it as PART OF the solution and that's a good thing.

Nice twist trying to reduce McCain's 25 years of senatorial experience as he personally controlling every piece of legislation passed or failed. I guess that's all you've got with Obama's piece-of-fluff resume and record of experience!

McCain - Right for America!

this is a afterthought
the last i knew it was costing arabs 2,00 yes two dollars a barrel to produce----DO YOU GET THE PICTURE.

+big oil big business china and nafta along with a unjustified war is bankrupting our country and most on here flap their mouth about some of the most silly things--and all the time our country is going down the drain---i dont know if anyone can fix the mess the last 8 years have gotten us into--but you all must insist that somerthing be done and nothing less--dont be sidetracted by kiddy nonsence.
have to go
bye

Hannity and most Republicans (until this election, I was one for 30 years) are either lying or stupid when he says:

With Obama's view of conservation Hannity whines "we can still import 70% of our oil from Saudi Arabia. " He ignores the fact that domestic oil is not kept in the USA. It is sold on the world market at world prices. I bet that most of Exxon's profits come from taking our domestic oit and selling it on the world market--there is not US only price.

If we could set up a productive oil well in Washington, DC that cost $30/per barrel to ship to the customer in Hawaii you know roughly what Exxon would charge us? $120 per barrel because that is the WORLD PRICE.

When we give Exxon cheap leases for US oil rights they make bank selling our oil to the world not to the US.

Obama '08