McCain Deflates
As that Dean Baker person just said, drilling in ANWR is thought by the Gov to reduce world oil prices by between .4 and 1.2 percent. Last night on the teevee, they said keeping your tires inflated properly would reduce your gas costs by 3.3 percent, which is like, more.
Now ordinarily I'm not a fan of calls for voluntary acts of virtue as a substitute for public policy. But in this case, for anyone who cares for more drilling, they have available a personal solution that does not require the Gov to act.
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"We spoke with an expert . . . . "Good Oil News Doesn't End Debate" ABC World News 8/04/2008
Result? Obama's suggestion -- proper air pressure and tune-ups -- 800,000 barrels of oil saved per day. McCain's plan -- drill now and drill then -- 1,200,000 barrels additional oil per day.
Missing from Jake Tapper's fact checking critique? In the years it takes to bring the additional oil on board, Obama gets us 800k times 365 days times years until pumping starts.
August 5, 2008 7:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
You understate. The 1.2m barrels a day are not 'ours.' They go into the world market. The U.S. impact is simply the U.S. consumers' share of that market. By contrast, the tire effect is for any truck drivin American who takes the trouble to avail herself of it.
August 5, 2008 8:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
So if we increase our "domestic supply" international demand will likely grow along with it and drive the price up even further. That's good policy. If you're Exxon.
Hey Dr. Rotwang, how are rising commodities prices effecting the needs of at-home robot builders?
August 5, 2008 9:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
My Maria is a perfect creation who needs no further materials, just some lubricants and oils to reduce (but not eliminate!) friction in key components. So I am indifferent to the commodities spike.
August 5, 2008 10:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rotwang muß weg!
August 5, 2008 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
a perfect creation
I can smell the chemicals...
August 6, 2008 1:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Rotwang says:
Those lubricants and poils you use are hopefully synthetic.
By the way, my Sophia Loren blow up doll doesn't need them.
August 6, 2008 10:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Obama wants to hit one out of the park on this
He should buy up several thousand pressure gauges, imprint "Barack Obama for President" on them, and pass them out at his rallies, saying something like this:
More creativity, less outrage. Rope a dope.
August 5, 2008 8:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oooh, I like it!
August 5, 2008 2:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
STivo,
Great Idea.I just wrote this and did not release you had the above.If two people had thought about this chances are that many others have the same idea.Just need forward the idea in campain staff.
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/08/the-perfect-purple-middle-fing.php
August 5, 2008 9:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
Too creeped out by the avatar to comment on the obvious, but I'll try.
It's such an outright lie, that what is being asked for is more drilling, The goal is more land being held in abeyance.
August 5, 2008 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I believe it was the ABC broadcast (last evening) reporting and "admitting" that McCain took in about $30mil (?) from the oil companies within a few weeks of McCain reversing his stance on not drilling and that the oil companies now feel McCain has some good ideas.....
August 5, 2008 10:09 AM | Reply | Permalink
Being prevented from drilling in Alaska, off-shore, in environmentally sensitive areas has been driving big-oil crazy for years and years.
An oil man is about to vacate the WH - maybe. Volatile fuel prices suddenly, like practically over-night, soar at the pumps. (All of a sudden millions of Chinese and Indians are buying cars???)
Voila solution. Drill Alaska, off the coasts...Looks like a set-up to me.
August 5, 2008 10:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
In fact, they are.
That this has nothing whatsoever to do with asking Americans to do something incredibly simple and is in fact in their own interest is barely worth a comment, beyond the fact that whether they do or do not buy cars - as they are - we will be using less gas by employing just a tiny bit of good sense.
August 5, 2008 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Americans do seem to have an aversion to doing anything, even if ultimately in their own self-interest, when asked to by the gov.
People went ballistic when the speed limit was set at 55m/hr. People went equally ballistic when having and wearing seat belts was required. What, inflate my tires a little to get better mileage? Not on your life - even if it saves me money. It's a toss up. Are we just plain stupid or are we just perverse.
August 6, 2008 1:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
A bunch of years ago the Federal Government was pushing for mandatory installation of low flush toilets in new construction. Now being a conservationist of one sort I had already retrofitted the two toilets in our house with low flushers, 1.5 gallons instead of 7 gallons.
Just as the McCain camp and right wing talk radio is ridiculing the tire pressure, they also ridiculed the low flush toilets. But both items play well with the crowd they play to, the mile wide, half inch deep voter who consistantly votes against their own financial interests.
Anyone who doesn't take advantage of low flush toilets and tire pressure is simply either too wealthy to care, or too vacuous to understand a world outside of the black/white reality they inhabit.
August 5, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
No shit, and McCain wants to be a leader! He would rather win an election than give people good sound advice which would improve their situation in facing higher gas prices.
I think Americans are always going to have problems if the people who are supposed to be the leaders of our nation are more interested in party rhetoric than providing a substantial conversation on the issues.
August 5, 2008 4:09 PM | Reply | Permalink