McCain Concedes: Tire Gauges Work

After days of mocking Barack Obama for promoting tire efficiency, John McCain admits that it's not a bad idea:

Republican John McCain appeared to back down on Tuesday in his dispute with his opponent Barack Obama over tire pressure. ...

The surprise came during a telephone town hall meeting McCain held on Tuesday with voters in Pennsylvania.

"Obama said a couple of days ago says we all should inflate our tires. I don't disagree with that. The American Automobile Association strongly recommends it," McCain said.

But he kept up his broad criticism of Obama on energy: "I ... don't think that that (inflating tires) is a way to become energy independent."

Obama poked fun at McCain over the admission Wednesday:

"It will be interesting to watch this debate between John McCain and John McCain," Obama said as he campaigned in Indiana with Sen. Evan Bayh, widely considered a top-tier candidate for running mate.

Comments

[research]

Send out "flip flops" sandals that say: McCain is both for and against all of the following: tire inflation, talking to Iran, drill off the coast, etc... with a web site link to prove it.

[vipersdad]

actually research - I am beginning to wonder if there is a strategy in all of these positions McCain takes and then backs away from. Just like all of the "slogans" he uses on his stump speeches. He has a different banner behind him every time I see him speak - what happened to "country first?" That only laste a short while then he was on to something else.

Feels like McCain is going to flood the conciousness of the Electorate with so many "messages" that Obama's will get lost in the morass.

[MourningDude]

Hmm. Betting it all on a reckless gamble that research will magically solve all our energy woes sometime in the next 20 years, or making tough decisions to enact a realistic, responsible, comprehensive strategy toward energy independence.

I don't even have to say which candidate falls into which category, do I? You already know.

[theMightyT]

Sure. Neither of these is Mc C ain.

Your second one is 0bama.

Glad to see you're finally in agreement with him.

[WaspStings]

Kind of like the prize idea. $300 million dollars to the inventor who can figure out how to keep repubs off of the internet.

[vipersdad]

That's easy - enforce strong passwords.

[vipersdad]

or you can bet it on continuing the reckless behavior we've engaged in since the energy crisis in the 70's......

Fool me once, shame on you... Fool me twice?

Research already HAS magically solved many of our energy woes.

Let's redirect the 150B that we treated the oil companies to in subsidies, tax shelters and incentives, and spend it putting solar everywhere we can. Make it economic for private citizens to sell power back to utilities (after all it's the free market, isn't it?), and you will see the economic obstacles to solar all but dissapear. There are new breakthroughs in Solar being annouced almost weekly these days. It's not "future technology­." It's here today and really able to generate power. The arrays I have on my roof are good for 20 years or more and by then the famous "offshore" tracts will be producing oil.

If there is a God.... by then, alternatives will have rendered it irrelevant and it will sell for $5 a barrel.

[nicholasclaxton]

I wish I had a dollar for every Rep. that went out over the last few days and checked their tires!

(besides this should be common knowledge when/before you get a driving permit - kind of like shut off your a.c. under 45 mph and roll down the windows)

[mjr]

Obama should offer his own tire gauge that says "One small step for your car, one giant leap for energy independen­ce."

[MourningDude]

Or how about "Tire gauges, the bold, irreverent, paradigm shifting idea that took off like an Eagle, then crashed like a Turkey."

ObamaCarter'08

[brantl]

Always been a numbnuts? Carter was right about energy, all along. Funny, how Johnny boy has to keep back tracking when he makes these stupid statements, isn't it? If what McSame's doing is so bright, why does he keep recanting? He always does.

[theMightyT]

how about "conservatives. Afraid of sciency stuff, and muslims too".

[JustAxin]

Hey MorningJoe- Obama NEVER NEVER NEVER said inflating your tires is equivalent to energy independence! He simply offered a truthful statement, one that your boy now seems to be backing, that inflating your tires will improve your gas mileage. What's wrong with that statement? NOTHING! It's the truth! Car guys know it. Most educated people know it. I'm sure if McCain had said the same, you'd be fine with it. But, because a 'crazy liberal' was making a valid point, you find reason to mock him. Shows your intelligence. That's the problem...­you're just smart enough to think you know everything.

Here's a bold idea: Alternative Energy! Read Obama's plan. It's about as comprehensive and bold a plan as there's been. But, go ahead, keep mocking him. It just show's the repubs true colors.

I prefer a President that axes the citizenry to be proactive for their country over one that would rather us 'go shopping.'

Peace.

[Charmed]

It's like republicans and Obama haters are allergic to the TRUTH. Obama was right....(­you guys take pride in being ignorant).

[BBackSoon]

Where can I get one of those Obama tire gages?

I think the Obama campaign should start giving them out also. To remind us that change starts at home.

[bigdaddyvike]

Ebay- ten bucks!

[BrighterStar]

Another idiotic statement by Obama. The issue is not whether properly inflated tires reduces gas consumption. It issue is whether, as Obama asserted, properly inflated tires is a reasonable alternative to brining on new domestic oil sources. It is not.

[homescribe]

Um, can you provide a source on that statement?

[BrighterStar]

In Springfield, MO Obama stated by properly inflating tires we could save "all the oil that they're talking about getting off drilling." See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzZNP4tTfV0&eurl=http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/07/021122.php.

[Yasriel]

Boy O Boy! Who is the idiot here? You who refused to be educated and informed or Obama, who answered a simple question from someone who wants to know what she could do to help with the energy crisis, by offering tips on how to lower personal energy consumption.

Obama said it loud and clear, "It's like you take PRIDE in being IGNORANT!

Come back to this board when you get your GED.

McIgnoramous

[theMightyT]

0bama never said that.

geez you people... at least make your distortions somewhat accurate!

[pbridge1300]

A 3% reduction in US demand has ABRUPTLY led to an 11% drop at the pump. Maybe conservation makes sense after all, and maye it even IS one possible alternative to drilling in your back yard, rather than being idiotic? How much drilling would we have to do to come up with additional supply equal to 3% of the US demand?

Remember, Brighter, "Conserve" is the biggest part of "Conservat­ive."

[BrighterStar]

Properly inflated tires will not save any way near 3 percent of oil consumption. More drilling will. That is the point.

[truthmachine]

Typical right wing lying scum. Obama never said that inflated tires were a reasonable alternative to anything -- he simply answered a "what can *we* do?" question.

[SMP]

McCain camp delivered tire gauges to Obamas press corps last night at their hotel with a Happy Birthday Obama Note attached..­...how juvenile is that....

Obamas press corps can use them to let the "HOT AIR" out of the Straight talk express!!!!!

Is this who we want to run our country??? NOT ME

petty, juvenile, childish games.....­...thats GOP/McCain style ..........­..we are better Americans than that and in need of REAL LEADERSHIP!!!!

Obama 08/12

[Totto]

Drill here. Drill now. Use it up. Then what?

[Phil123]

So: Don't drill here; don't drill now. It might as well be used up. Then what? Inflate our tires?

How about "Let them eat cake."

[notreallyabadguy]

You inflate the tires to save a billion gallons of gas per year and save lives. (reference: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V2W-4KWTFM8-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=f948d8c8782911e143d07e195e91c93a ).

Its just one of many things we can do to help wean us off of foreign oil while we develop alternative energy sources. At T.Boone Pickens says "this isn't a problem we can drill our way out of (paraphrased)".

But if we ARE going to drill now, why not drill in the THOUSANDS of oil leases that big oil already has on public lands? The republicans are fighting legislation that would force them to drill there first and keep that oil in the US for our use. Why are they doing that, and why are you still supporting them?

[truthmachine]

"Then what?"

That was the question to you, fool.

"Inflate our tires?"

Among other things.

'How about "Let them eat cake."'

Offshore drilling, which won't have results for decades, and a small result at that, gets us neither cake nor bread.

[nicholasclaxton]

how about - drill what's already approved for drilling..­.the repubs are just distracting people - there are millions of acres already approved - but if you get offshore approved then repubs and their big oil friends can get a monopoly on all us oil -- wake up!

[pbridge1300]

Just like W and M, short-sighted, and lacking in analysis. If the results of drilling are short-term and limited, and the cost of the drilling is high, either in terms of dollars or in terms of quality of life and environment, then it might as well NOT be used up. How about some analysis, before we decide to drill, drill, drill?

Next, the right will suggest that oil companies be paid to drill in previously off-limits areas. Maybe we can pay KBR & Halliburton to drill for us -- they've done a heck of a job in Iraq!

For amusement, see the backlash to natural gas drilling in TX, for example:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/city/denton/flowermound/stories/080108dnmetfmdrilling.39e1e08.html

Even Texans are opposed to drilling, when it sufficiently affects quality of life.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

What’s the matter with The OG Maverick? His fans on PMSNBC say he isn’t responsible for all that has gone wrong inside his campaign. He isn’t aware. Some D1ck Ch*eney type is calling all of the shots.

Sound familiar?

W isn’t responsible for not getting bin Laden, not finding WMD and a nuclear weapon in Eyerack, causing the Eyeracki Civil War, the failure in Afghanistan, out of control energy prices, failing economy, etc etc.

All that stuff happened when Nancy took over has SOH.

[millertime]

Tiffany,

I guess you need a little history lesson....­.the fiasco in Iraq, not finding WMD's, the civil war, the out of control energy costs, etc..all started well before Pelosi took over as SOH in 2007...mos­t of what you talk about was already well on its failed way, which is why the Dems were able to gain so many seats in Congress for the 06' elections.­..

And, I'm sorry, but McCain need to take responsibility for the Train-Wreck Express of a campaign he is running...­....if he isn't aware of what's going on in his own campaign, how can you trust him to be aware with the responsibilities that come with the job of President of the United States???

[pbridge1300]

Yo, Millertime­.... I think Tiffany was being ironic.

[truthmachine]

Too much beer destroys reading comprehension, mt.

[connorin]

McCain never said don't inflate your tires! He says that maintaining proper tire pressure will not provide us with the same amount of gas that new drilling would provide (as The One claimed).

You people act as if he suggested going out and adjusting peoples tire pressures so they are not favorable. Please point out when he stated that

[RedKnuckles]

It's not just 0bama making these claims. In Bill Scher's recent article:

"Their joint site fueleconomy.gov is loaded with fuel-saving, money-saving tips. Keep your tires properly inflated, for example, and you can save up to 12 cents a gallon.

Compare that immediate savings from that single tip, with what coastal and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling combined would get you two decades from now: 6 cents a gallon.

And that's being generous, because Bush's Energy Department says we can't expect any impact on prices from coastal drilling until the year 2030."

If you have facts instead of lies off the top of your head, feel free to enlighten us or shut up.

[theMightyT]

No, people here are acting as though mc c ain claimed that tire pressure was the sum total of 0bama's energy plan. Which is isn't.

Mc C ain and his campaign acted as though it would have no impact at all - but it does.

And finally, 0bama didn't claim anything of the sort (referencing your post above).

[estevancarlos]

You're so right. All they did was waste their time making fun of Obama by producing custom anti-obama tire gauges because apparently that was a good use of their time. Added to that they also ignored the rest of Obama's energy suggestions.

Why don't you point out something useful McCain camp has done or stated in the past several days.

[Totto]

Ridicule is all they've ever had. Remember Gore and the internet? Kerry and the purple band-aids? They must have been verbally abused as children.

[WaspStings]

Which Obama proceeds to use as a prop in his speech as he sticks it right little Johnny's place where the sun don't shine. The resultant release of gas caused little Johnny to understand what tire pressue means. Now he's for it.

[SusaninIN]

Actually new drilling will only provide 1 - 2% increase (about 200,000 barrels a day). Correct tire inflation and proper car maintainance will increase mileage 3 -7 % (saving about 200,000 barrels a day). The problem with drilling is that it doesn't do anything to make us energy independen­t., while correct tire inflation is something that we can do for ourselves which will lower our dependence slightly. It's only one small step, but it's in the right direction.

[connorin]

Most people I know have their car serviced every 3000-5000 miles (about 3-4 months). Part of that service is adjusting the tire pressure as needed.

How many people are you assuming need to have their tire pressure adjusted? How much adjustment are you assuming these people need?

These items will really impact your 3-7% numbers. Also, whom are you relying on for the amount of barrels that would be produced information?

You do realize of course that McCain says that in addition to this we keep trying to get other potential sources of energy up and running to further impact dependence o foreign oil? right?

[PhiLLyinDaLLaS]

"It's like they take pride in being ignorant"

Connorin, maybe your boy Mccain and his repubs should do their homework before knocking somebody that clearly did.

Is it just me or does Paris Hilton have the best energy plan I've heard from both sides??

[notthistime]

Paris repeated a portion of Obama's plan.

[ColoradoAngryRU]

I guess taking pride in his own ignorance has finally settled in.

[AERO]

McCain has really turned into an empty suit.

[k6007]

Check his record, he has always been a empty suit. Well connected, but an empty suit none the less.

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

Exactly. An Affirmative Action beneficiary.

[truthmachine]

No, a money-filled suit, by way of marriage, lobbyists, and corporate donations.

[WaspStings]

If it wasn't for his daddy and his sugar momma, the sucker wouldn't even own a suit.

[BigLib]

Two points: First, even if Obama's "3 to 4 percent" claim about tire inflation were true, it would not validate his original assertion that proper inflation would equal "all the oil that they're talking about getting off drilling." That assertion was, and remains, false.

Second, Obama's claim that "every expert" says that tire inflation would "reduce our oil consumption by 3 to 4 percent" is ridiculous. No expert says any such thing. What experts do say is that properly inflated tires can improve gas mileage by approximately 3 percent compared to grossly underinflated tires. But since most people know this and inflate their tires, the actual potential savings is some much smaller amount. Moreover, the U.S. consumes around 20.7 million barrels of petroleum per day. Only about 9.3 million barrels per day are used in motor vehicles. So a 3 percent improvement in automobile mileage would correspond, at best, to a 1.3 percent reduction in total oil consumption.

Barack Obama's ignorance on the subject of energy is remarkable.

[BCubedReg]

First of all, most people don't inflate their tires any time except when they take their vehicle into be serviced or when it is noticibly flat. I don't, but maybe I will now.

Second you need to open your ears and listen to what O is said. He did not say there would be a 3 to 4 pecent reduction in oil consumption, what he did say is there would be a "3 to 4% reduction in oil consumption used in motor vehicles." State the quote not just your spin. If everyone did decide to inflate their tires and maintain properly tuned vehicles (including commercial vehicles) the substantial savings to fuel usage could be as much as 3-4%

And please remeber O was the "A" student in college and McC was the "C-" student (894th out of 899).

[SusaninIN]

Exactly! Basically correct tire inflation gives you 3 - 4 % better gas mileage, ergo less oil consumption. Anyone who is complaining about what they pay at the pump should be trying to find ways like this to get better gas mileage. The problem is that most americans don't want to have to do anything about the problem themselves, they just want someone to drill more oil so they don't have to pay at the pump. As long as this country feels that way, we will never be energy independent.

[cbates]

The comment Barack should have made in response to the mocking of the use of a tire guage to insure your car is efficient in burning gas is that John's campaign is "stuck on stupid" to quote the mayor of Richmond, Virginia.

How is it that the media allows MCcain to get away with mocking two innocent citizens in his ads to make political hey?