Tire Gauge Gate?

There is no question, to reduce our dependency on oil, it will take a lot. One thing will never fix something this huge. So, when Barack Obama said that we should make sure our tires are inflated and our cars properly tuned up, he was right. Nobody thinks that will fix everything and it is debatable that doing those two things will offset offshore oil drilling. But, it is one thing that will help.

Republicans have jumped on this. Selling $1 tire gauges for $25 to help fund the cash strapped McCain campaign is clever. I wonder how many flipflops they sold in 2004? Also, they must be getting these gauges from a defense contractor, why else would they sell something for 25 times what it is worth?


Now we know Barack Obama has probably never used a tire gauge and somebody probably told him to say this but, why mock the idea? Ask any mechanic, it can help. It will not FIX but, it will help. So will cutting down on travel, easier acceleration, carpoolings, buying more efficient cars, and much much more.

But, here is the hypocrisy, Obama spends little time talking about tire gauges. Republicans have talked about tire gauges a lot more. Republicans have also spent a ton of time on offshore drilling. Many of them are protesting in Congress right now. Congress is not in session. They should be talking to their constituents but, they are fighting for drilling. They are funded by oil companies.

Bottom Line? Neither party will get it exactly right if they keep on mocking one another as opposed to acknowledging what is helpful and what is not.

Rabbit