Yep, it's our good buddy John Edwards, who loves to complain about "two America's" is asking people to give up their SUV's, but is driving around in an SUV himself. John, stop acting like you're a "man of the people" when you know damn good and well you're doing the same thing Hillary Clinton is doing: Asking people to make sacrifices that you yourself aren't willing to make.
John, just a little bit of advice, if you're going to ask people to do something, make sure you do it yourself as well. Otherwise you look like a pompous asshole who thinks he's above everyone else. Idiot.
Oh and John, I drive around in a 2005 Honda Civic EX that gets anywhere from 40-45mpg. It was rated at 32mpg by Honda. I make an active effort to get that kind of gas mileage because I don't appreciate oil companies and OPEC treating me like I'm their personal piggy bank.
Travis
travis@rightwinglunatic.com
2 comments:
Travis,
I've been doing a little digging after reading your post. I see your point, but I think there might be more to the story.
1. Apparently one of the SUV's he owns -- the one he drives the most -- is a hybrid.
2. He has much less control over the vehicles that get him to and from campaign events (usually hired from local services) and these are also typical of those used by all candidates...as is the private jet (apparently commercial airlines are really not practical for campaigning given the typically erratic campaign schedules which candidates have and the security requirements involved).
3. He didn't say he would "tell" Americans they'd "have to" give up their SUV's, he said he'd "ask" Americans to sacrifice (by driving more fuel efficient vehicles). If we're going to be serious about dealing with global climate change, that doesn't seem to be too much to ask.
4. He buys carbon offsets for the CO2 his activities contribute to the atmosphere (including his vehicles, home, and private jet use). I have to wonder how many of his critics do that.
I'm not suggesting he's perfect but I think the label "Hypocrite" may be a bit unfair.
Have a good weekend...and cudos to you for driving such a high mileage vehicle.
Craig Dunkerley
P.S. I notice that Fox News didn't mention any of the above items...or at least if they did, I missed it.
Hey may very well drive a hybrid SUV, but he owns 3 SUV's. I'm willing to bet that they aren't all hybrids.
Secondly, he couldn't tell everyone they would "have to" because he's not running for King of America and basically, everyone would kindly tell him to go screw off.
Perhaps he does get shuttled around in various vehicles, but he needs to ask for hybrids more often then not if he doesn't want the appearance of a hypocrite.
So he purchases carbon offsets? Is this the same style of carbon offsets that Al Gore does when he purchases them from a company that he's a member of the board of directors on? Carbon offsets are a nice, feel good thing to do, but to really drive home the point is to lead by example. Make your home as energy efficient as possible. Use solar panels, wind energy, geothermal energy. Use hybrids at ALL times, get rid of the 2 other SUV's, don't talk about "two America's" when you're a living, breathing example to your constituents of the very thing you're deriding.
Private jets are unbelievably pollution building machines. Is there a reason why he can't take a commercial flight? If he's not having to have a secret service detail, then there's no reason why he can't fly commercially. My Representative flies commercially because he is trying to set an example.
As much as I offer these counter arguments and I do enjoy a healthy debate, what sources do you have for your arguments? I don't doubt what you say is true, I just am curious about verification.
Thanks for the kudos! I think we should do whatever it takes within reason to reduce our pollution, however when I bought my original hybrid that was totaled in an accident, gas prices were $1.75 I got tired of Middle Eastern countries bad mouthing America and I thought to myself, "If you're going to bad mouth your customer, I won't be your customer any more. Or at least I will put as little of my hard earned dollars into your hands as possible."
Agreed I didn't hear Fox News say anything either. However, if anyone should have, I imagine it would be them over me. They have WAY better researchers then I have (just me). Welcome to the site!
Travis
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