What is the Carbon Footprint of McCain's Countless Homes?
I'd estimate it's about 150 tons of carbon dioxide, some 10 times that of the average American. But someone should ask Senator McCain. After all, he says he wants to require all Americans to cut greenhouse gas emissions 60% to 70% by 2050.
As probably the whole country knows by now, John McCain does not know how many homes he owns. But the number seems to be between 7 and 12, depending on whether you count his Sedona ranch as one house or six.
Given how conservatives beat up Vice President Gore for the supposed energy excesses of his one Nashville home, I can't wait until they start running TV ads attacking McCain's climate hypocrisy. [Note to self: Don't hold your breath.] After all, McCain fashions himself as a leader on global warming, just like Gore, but his combined homes have a considerably larger square footage than Gore's -- and thus presumably a much larger energy use. That said, the energy use of McCain's homes is infinitely less relevant than their greenhouse gas emissions (see "GOP Attack on Gore Makes No Sense At All").
So what is the carbon footprint of McCain's countless homes? Here is a rough estimate.According to press reports, just one of McCain's homes, his $4.66 million condo in Phoenix, is about 7000 square feet, which is three times the size of the average American home built last year. His $850,000 Virginia condo is another 2,100 square feet. Given a total estimated value of McCain's homes of $14 million, one can make a very rough estimate that McCain has 10 times the carbon footprint of the average American home, which is about 15 tons of CO2.
The rich are different from the rest of us. They pollute a lot more.
Now I seriously doubt that McCain is purchasing 100% renewable power, using state-of-the-art energy efficiency, including a geothermal heat pump, to all but eliminate his carbon footprint, as Gore is (see "Gore greens his Tennessee home"). After all, he doesn't believe such technologies work (see The real, Luddite McCain: "The truly clean technologies don't work").
So for now I'll stick with 150 tons of carbon dioxide for the carbon footprint of his homes, which are listed here (from the NYT):
Their ranch in Sedona, Ariz., where Mr. McCain is spending some down time this weekend, and its guest house and parcels, is valued at $1,766,440. (An Architectural Digest spread a few years back offers a glimpse.)
In Phoenix, two adjacent condos with a price tag of $4.7 million in 2006.In Scottsdale, Mrs. McCain also owns the Princess Medical Center, valued at $14 million, but this is not a residential property.
In Coronado, Calif., a condominium owned by Mrs. McCain's "Dream Catcher Family" corporation is valued, according to recent tax assessments, at $2.7 million. And records show another condo there as well.
In La Jolla, Calif., Mrs. McCain's trust owns another condo.
The couple also have a home in Arlington, Va., another condominium valued at $847,800 this year, according to public records.
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Now I'm truly pissed off. No one has asked the carbon footprint I impose on this planet and I am offended! My little boat is slipping in it's berth and creating some heat as it's lines chafe due to friction. Unlike it''s neighbors, the power cord is NOT connected to allow the constant A/C and lighting. My studio is solar powered and is dead in the water until I arrive and turn something ON! I have gotten damned tired of the people who feel it's inconvenient to wait 2 minutes while the a/c lowers the temperature of their 7000(!) s.q. ft house. Poor babies...
The picture you're using is of the house they recently sold on North Central above Glendale Ave. That was her family home sprawled over more than an acre....it was sold and they purchased a condo around 24th St and Camelback.
CENTRAL AIR AND HEATING SYSTEM RUNNING 24 / 7 AT 10 HOMES AND NO ONE THERE 90 % OF THE TIME !!!!!!!!!
I'm still waiting for an honest answer to how many mansions and condos and houses he has. Then I'll move on to wondering how much energy he uses.
I used to think this guy was a straight shooter, but now I see him for the clown he really is, except that clowns don't usually start wars and get people killed. Who the hell is the real John McCain? My head is spinning, I can't get over how dishonestly this guy is presenting himself.
the fact is, he pry still doesnt know... and really doesnt care.
honestly, he is so rich and is so old, what difference would it make to him now? the only reason he'd have to know it, is to answer the question. which he hasnt.
The reports I've read indicate McCain doesn't own any houses. On the other hand, his wife and her kids (via trusts or corporations they control) own several. A few of those are investment properties and some are condos, not "houses" per se. They are all part of his wife's business and financial affairs, which are entirely separate from his. So the "how many houses" question is far from the simple thing that McCain should have been able to answer off hand. Granted, he could have handled the question better, but this is clearly a case of liberals trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. It's also a sign of their desperation as BO continues to slip in the polls. The real housing story is the Rezko-Obama deal that the media continues to ignore.
WHO CARES WHO HAS WHAT AND MAYBE HOW SMART THEY ARE TO ACHIVE WHAT THEY HAVE AND THE OTHERS THAT WISH THEY HAD IT. BOTTOM LINE WITH ME IS I AM MAD AS HELL AT OUR DEMOCRAT LEADERSHIP IS ALL THEY COULD COME UP TO VOTE FOR IS OBAMA AND CLINTON. THEN WE STUCK WITH THIS GOOFY CONGRESS WITH AL GORE SICKNESS AND ENVIROMENTAL BLINDERS ON .
So you're one of us,heh?Who should have been nominated?What is Al Gore sickness?What do you mean by environmental blinders?Why are you yelling?
I DONT THINK HE CAN HEAR YOU.
While this story is a necessary balance tothe Gore story, It's a losing story for trying to actually get a change in energy policy, and to elect the better clean energy president.
It's a distraction.
Any presidential candidates "Carbon foot print" is going to by thousands of times the average persons, just from all the travel they do.
It strongly suggest we liberals, NOT engage in "ad hominem" carbon attacks.
I just think its funny that when the story on Gore's house broke, so many libs on here cried foul and how it was avoiding the real issue. Yet now, it is somehow relevant, according to this story.
Who cares how many houses he has?
This whole scandal is so trivial and reeks of old politics.
McCain is the one who wants to paint Obama as "out of touch" and an "elitist" and a "celebrity". When you throw mud at someone, do not be surprised when you get your dirty.
Both McCain and Obama are far wealthier than the average American, so perhaps they could both be a bit out of touch, though McCain is far richer than Obama. Politicians in general (with notable exceptions, like Biden) tend to be rich enough to become out of touch with the commoners they rule.
You mean like this kind of carbon footprint
Since the McCain campaign wants to talk about elitists, there's this from today's LA Times:
McCain, who huddled with advisors at his desert compound in Sedona, Ariz., said nothing in public. A nine-car motorcade took him to a nearby Starbucks early in the morning, where he ordered a large cappuccino. McCain otherwise avoided reporters.
The answer to the carbon footprint question is zero. The republicans don't believe in global warming, they just say they do so you will vote for them.
Actually , this is true and a great answer ..... but what of the carbon footprint of 75000 at a revival meeting
Does the author think McCain is any worse than any other wealthy politician? There was a news story about a year ago about the Senate having a hearing about global warming and gas independance, and the reporter doing the story made a point of going outside and found that EVERY SINGLE SENATOR, every last one, including all the supposedly outraged, green favoring Democrats, had a car idling out front while they were inside. Keep in mind the capital building is about 2 blocks from where their offices were. All but a few cars were SUVS, only 2 were hybrids. And one of those hybrids belonged to a Republican. And they weren't just parked, they were IDLING for the entire length of the meeting.
Just because Democrats have decided to pander to environmental concerns doesn't mean they ACTUALLY care. They want to impose restrictions they don't even follow, just as much as the Republicans do. They'd rather their SUVS burned gas for two hours rather than, God forbid, walking TWO BLOCKS back and forth from the meeting.
Repubs and Dems are a bunch of posers. The Repubs say they're about family values, yet it seems like every prominant Republican is an adulterer and/or on their 3rd marriage. Dems say they care about enviornmental conservation, but they almost all drive SUVS, fly private jets, have multiple enormous homes, etc.
Attribution, please.
wonder what the carbon footprint of Obama's Denver stadium revival speech will be with 75000 people driving and eating and emitting bodily functions
And who, really now, gives a hoot about "carbon footprints"?
Footprints of a Yeti or a Sasquatch Bigfoot would far more elicit excitement from Americans.
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