Thursday, August 7, 2008

McCain's Energy Plan: Improved Light Bulbs

The McCain campaign and conservative talk show hosts have been mocking Obama all week for suggesting that filling up your tires will promote fuel efficiency. Of course, it will, but the truth has never slowed these guys down before.

Many people have pointed out how silly and wrong this argument is already. Even NASCAR agrees that the right tire pressure is one of the most important elements to fuel efficiency. And I think they would know what they're talking about. Imagine the McCain car running out of gas in the last lap because they didn't bother to fill up their tires.

But I'll leave the facts to others. I'm a talk show host, so I'll counter with more mockery. I went back to a speech John McCain gave in April, 2007 (actually one of our listeners, Tim Coney, pointed it out originally) and found that, lo and behold, John McCain is also in favor of doing small things around the house to improve fuel efficiency. You don't say!

Here is my favorite part: Improved light bulbs!

"Energy efficiency by using improved technology and practicing sensible habits in our homes, businesses and automobiles is a big part of the answer, and is something we can achieve right now. And new advances will make conservation an ever more important part of the solution. Improved light bulbs can use much less energy; smart grid technology can help homeowners and businesses lower their energy use, and breakthroughs in high tech materials can greatly improve fuel efficiency in the transportation sector. We need to dispel the image of conservation that entails shivering in cold rooms, reading by candlelight, and lower productivity. Americans have it in their power today to contribute to our national security, prosperity and a cleaner environment."

I can't believe John McCain's entire energy policy is improved light bulbs! Maybe he needs to improve his own dim bulb! This is so unbecoming of a presidential candidate. He needs to have big and bold ideas, like more drilling. This light bulb idea is so small and petty. What a loser!

Now, of course, I don't believe that. It's a totally fine point made in the middle of a large energy speech. But if the press is going to take their asinine points seriously, maybe they'll take our asinine points seriously as well.

The McCain team is now going around passing out tire gauges at Obama rallies. So, let's call their tire gauges and raise them a light bulb. Let's pass out light bulbs at McCain rallies. This has the additional advantage of being perfectly emblematic of their lack of ideas. They need a light bulb over their head to get that more oil drilling is not the answer. Improved light bulbs -- exactly what the McCain team needs.

Original here

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