I have to admit I'm a little deflated. Travis beat me to the post when it comes to rotating in on U.S. Sen. John McCain's attack on U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's remark that folks can take every-day measures to help save energy like making sure their tires are properly inflated to improve safety and fuel economy.
Under pressure, McCain and his newly energized Rovian flying monkeys pounced on Obama's remark like gleeful kids on Christmas morning. They couldn't believe the gift they'd just been handed. They started throwing around tricked out tire gauges on the McCain plane and even offered to send donors a gauge if they sent the McCain campaign $25. (Just buy one. It's cheaper).
Well, it looks like McCain's attack on tire inflation may have been way out of alignment. In fact, the roster of pro-inflation allies is very well-balanced: NASCAR, the U.S. Department of Energy (headed by President George W. Bush), Uniroyal and the Rubber Manufacturers Association, Michelin and even the U.S. Government Accountabilty Office, which issued a report last year that found:
Moreover, tires that are not inflated to the appropriate pressure result in a slight decline in fuel economy. The Department of Energy's designated economist on this issue indicated that, of the 130 billion gallons of fuel that the Transportation Research Board (TRB)[Footnote 2] estimated were used in passenger cars and light trucks in 2005, about 1.2 billion gallons were wasted as a result of driving on underinflated tires.
I will spare no one, not even Republicans, not even politicians rumored to be under consideration as a possible vice president to McCain, when it comes to making sure evrything is in balance. Yes, it's true. Even Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Florida Gov. Charlie Crist spoke of the importance of tire inflation back in June at a conference in Florida on climate change. According to a June 26 article in the Los Angeles Times, "Both governors appealed to those with the real power to make change -- average citizens -- to drive slower, keep engines tuned and tires properly inflated, to buy hybrids and lower overall consumption."
Incidentally, the Terminator took a hard shot at McCain earlier in his speech, saying that anyone suggesting offshore oil drilling could bring down gas prices was "blowing smoke," according to the report.
Well, looks like McCain just didn't accurately gauge the groundswell of support from the pro-inflationers out there. His own attack has fallen somewhat flat -- he was forced to admit at a town hall meeting yesterday that even Triple AAA supports firm tires. Did I hear a hiss in the crowd, or was that the sound of McCain's message being deflated?
McCain's three-pointer turned out to be a rim shot.
