Yes Conservatives, Inflated Tires Beats Coastal Drilling

The latest conservative lie -- regarding Sen. Barack Obama and fuel efficiency -- actually has a great amount of truth to it.

On Thursday, conservative radio host Sean Hannity claimed Obama said, "All you need to do is inflate your tires. That's all you need to do. If every American would join in this effort, of inflating one's tires, then it's all going to be fine. And we can still import 70% of our oil from Saudi Arabia. Just keep those tires inflated."

Conservatives -- lovers of childish mockery over substantive ideas -- later today are apparently planning to distribute tire gauges at an Obama energy event.

And earlier today on MSNBC's Morning Joe, conservative hack economist (who does not hold an economics degree) Larry Kudlow, a very loud advocate of coastal drilling, said of Obama's comments about tires, "That's not really much of a policy."

No, it's not. That was Obama's point.

Obama's actual comment last week was:

...we could save all the oil they're talking about getting off drilling, if everybody was just inflating their tires, and getting regular tune-ups. You could actually save just as much.

He was decidedly not saying "all you need to do" is inflate your ties, or "my entire energy policy" is inflating your tires.

(Obama has a much larger energy plan -- articulated in a sweeping speech today -- centered on investment in renewable energy and fuel efficiency technology. Similarly, it would not be fair to say Sen. John McCain's "entire" energy policy is coastal drilling, when he is also advocating loosening regulations on nuclear power and a contest to promote battery technology.)

Obama was observing that coastal drilling would save us so little oil and so little money even twenty years from now, that you can actually save more money immediately by doing "simple things" such as keeping your tires properly inflated.

Where did he get that crazy idea? From George Bush's Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency. (hat tip: Get Energy Smart! Now!)

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.

In their knee-jerk mockery, conservatives are flying closer to the truth then they intend to.

Inflating your ties does not amount to an energy policy. It's just more of a policy than coastal drilling, since unlike drilling for a tiny amount of oil, it would at least save us some money now.

A real energy policy would provide us consumers with a energy choice besides buying huge amounts of increasingly expensive oil. Maybe if conservative Senators stopped filibustering every proposal that would help provide such choices, and force their Big Oil donors to face some competition, we could get somewhere.

Check out Campaign for America's Future Making Sense alerts on coastal drilling and gas prices for more.

Follow Bill Scher on Twitter: www.twitter.com/billscher

Comments

[bannorhill]

It has been 30 tears since the US built a new refinery. In those 30 years our population has grown 35%. Our country and population will continue to grow over the next 10 years by at least 10%. As our population grows so will our energy and oil needs. Our current oil production level only supports 30% of our oil demands. If each person reduces their oil demands by 4% (the amount saved by Obama's proposal) we will fall another 6% behind (because of the population growth) without any increased production. "Inflating tires and getting tune-ups" does NOT solve the problem. Since the oil crises of the 1970's we have been working on alternate energy sources for automobiles. In those 35 years only the hybrid has proven to be economically feasible. Other technology is being developed but without a huge reduction in cost they will be to expensive for anyone except Bill Gates to afford.

The only proven way to meet our needs and reduce oil imports in 10 years is to increase production. It is time we stop putting our heads in the sand and start putting oil wells in the ground.

[chumleypotts]

There are other steps we can all take to save fuel - car antennas can rob as much as 3 milies per gallon, rear view mirrors also impede gas mileage tremendously, as do protruding plastic hubcaps that can actually catch air and slow the vehicle down. I have removed all the above items from my sub-compact and I am sure this will result in much improved gas mileage. Another tip is to keep your car clean at all times - some say dirt can actually add a significant amount of weight to the car. There has always been a dispute as to whether better mileage is achieved with the windows up or down, or the a/c on or off, but I have found that keeping the windows up and the a/c off is the best solution for frugal driving. Of course, I have also inflated my tires to 55 lbs (though the manufacturer suggests no higher than 35 lbs), and the car does seem to ride harshly since this, but I know the steps I have taken should result in at least 70 mpg.

[PurplePhase]

With all the knowledge and expertise we have on tires and rubber, why don't they develop tires that don't need air?

[UltraClassic]

You are completely wrong. You have no idea how much oil lies in areas that eviromental types have marked as off limits to drilling. These enviro-leftist talking points are getting old. Face it, the saint made a fool out of himself and his stance on drilling likely will be the beginning of his downfall.

OK, so inflate your tires. I do and so does anyone with any sense. It's a very small piece of a large puzzle and sure did make the "saint" look stupid (which seems to be occuring more and more these days).

[lisakaz2]

One -- where is your source on this oil bonanza -- in your head?
Two -- how is this supplying immediate and future needs? (there is a backlog on obtaining the equipment to drill)
Three -- subsequently, how does this bring prices down?
Four -- why aren't oil companies drilling where they already have leases?
Five -- why did Republicans block legislation to compell them to drill in these areas or potentially lose said leases?

You are the one who is wrong.

[RememberTheAlamo]

Hi lisakaz2,

Let's see . . .

(1) There are huge fields offshore . . . I have seen the work-ups . . . These fields far exceed MMS estimates (primarily since they don't use geophysical work to make estimates . . .and even if they did . . . they don't have access to the seismic).

(2) What backlog on equipment are you talking about? We aren't drilling. It isn't like the industry is pressed to the limits on capacity. Most of these fields, where the exploration work is complete, could be brought online within 24-36 months . . . many sooner . . . some longer. (But this presumes the environmentalists don't fight and add five years of court to the timelines)

(3) Added supply ALWAYS brings oil prices down . . . it is like arguing against gravity

(4) Oil companies do drill where they have leases . . . but they don't always lease where the oil is . . . frequently we lease "off-structure" to evaluate prospects or mislead the competition.. . and many producible leases are stopped by environmental court action.

(5) Leases are contracts . . . many leases have drill or lose provisions . . . others have delay rental clauses . . . The terms were "government terms" . . . who would trust a government contract if suddenly "we changed the rules".

Use care when using "talkin points".

[joeneri]

If people walked more often instead of driving, they'd save gas and lose weight, too.

[1stThron]

Only 44.6 % of the nation's 21 million barrel per day need for oil is used for gasoline. At anytime only 23% of drivers have one or more tires deflated by 20% which is the threshhold to reach a 4% inefficiency factor. The nation uses 9.6 million barrels per day for gasoline of which 2.2 million are used by the 23% with low tire pressure wasting 88,000 barrels(4%) which is only 0.42% of the nations daily usage. Obama's numbers are off tenfold!!!! Again, liberals bring feelings and hope to a fact fight.

[Huffingtonposter231]

The problem is the left puts forward propaganda lines that are no more than inflammatory talking points as deep wisdom.

Americans can STOP DRIVING and they will not come close to solving the worlds "carbon problem" because so many millions of drviers are coming on-line around the globe.

Not to mention the fact that it's the heating and cooling of our homes and offices that really suck up the energy.

Not to mention the fact that carbon has nothing to do with global warming...it's just a convenient club the left is now able to use to pass any legislation they want....to push forward their socialist agenda.

[lisakaz2]

Then tell the fed since they are the ones citing the savings available in tire inflation.

[mjtaylor22]

This is getting out of hand
Look, the question posed to Obama by one individual, was "in what way I as a consumer can conserve/save on gas", she asked a straight question and he gave a straight answer as a way/one way that Americans can help lower our gas consumption.
The issue is that a properly inflated tire does help with gas mileage. at the high end it can increase fuel efficiency by around 3.3% at the low end it appears to fall between 1.5% and 2%---So once calculated, at the 3.3% efficiency level, it does appear that this small thing could save more gas that the drilling proposed.hummnnn I wonder if McCain checked his facts with AAA before he started mocking Senator Obama..........No he didn't and he turned it into a fund raising issues as well. Overcharging his donors for tire gauges. He asked for a 25.00 donation for a .89 cents gauge.....Sounds a lot like Bush to me

[cluelessinSD]

I was watching Countdown last night and he had a tape of McSame saying that Obama was right. So whats all the fuss about. Inflate your tires, don't inflate your tires. The gas you save may be your own.

[Huffingtonposter231]

Decades of far left anti US energy policy have brought us to this point and now you folks tell us our salvation is in a pressure gage? Sorry, you folks should accept responsibility for high gas prices and let America get at it's own oil and gas.

We need nuclear power plants, we need coastal drilling, we need Alaska drilling we need our own shale. we need solar. we need hydro. we need wind. We need to abandon the false religion of "carbon creates global warming"..­....becaus­e it doesn't. We need to free ourselves of the rabid left that keeps us from getting at our own cheap energy sources because they feel America lives too well, has too much, and must live a lower life style. We don't need a president that tells us we can drive where we want to, can't heat our houses where we want them, can't eat what we want to. He can take his religion of "America deserves less" and stuff it.

[joeneri]

When George Bush took office oil was $28 a barrel. Pretty far left, huh?

[jotunloki]

Some far left energy policy - the executive branch (which controls both the epa and the energy department) has been under control of neo-conservatives for all but 8 years since 1981.

[metogamekun]

I bet if there was a "Tire Inflation Lobby" handing out money on capital hill, the GOP would be right on board.

[Blueraidertwo]

There is! I saw that ExxonMobil ran an op-ed advertisement yesterday talking about things people could do to get better fuel efficiency and the first thing that advertisement talked about what proper tire inflation.

An they are evil as we all know from reading blogs here.

[SharonWantsToTalk]

I remember a public service add years ago with Bush senior telling people to keep their tires properly inflated to save oil. Some one needs to find that add and forward it to the Obama campaign.

[UnbiasView]

If this is a party lines issue and not just a stupidy issue with the left . . . I encourage all Dems to ignore their car manual and fill their tires up to the PSI on the side of the tire . . . then enjoy a nice road trip with the family and hopefully your tires don't blow.

Have you ever seen the tire shreds on the freeway? Those are over inflated tires. The pressure rises with heat from the air and heat from running them on the roads . . . then boom.

[Guynemer]

Sorry, those are blown retreds, typically used by long-haul truckers and have nothing to do with over inflation.

[mesmerize]

If people want to sit back and wait for that GAS TAX HOLIDAY (wink,wink) let them. Which idea is actually possible?

[530Rose]

Too bad much of semi illiterate America is willing to accept his rhetoric. John McSame is "Just Like Us!" Remember these are the same people who voted for Bush - TWICE!

[KillTheMessenger]

They are trying that. Desperately. But it doesn't seem to work very well. Because many of those who voted for Bush are now dead... and the young voters are nothing like "them".

[DallasMike]

And if everyone just ate an apple a day to stay healthy then we won't need universal health care
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.