"Campaigns Save Energy With Hybrid Cars"

[in_cog_ni_to]

:woohoo:

Campaigns Save Energy With Hybrid Cars
By NANCY BENAC, Associated Press Writer
1 hour ago

WASHINGTON - This year's presidential candidates are trying to get good mileage out of getting good mileage. The candidates, who do a lot of talking about the need for greater energy efficiency, are not just asking who walks the walk but also, who drives the hybrid?

Democratic candidate John Edwards makes a point of telling people that after years of driving a regular sport utility vehicle, he and his wife bought a hybrid model to shuttle their kids, strollers, toys, luggage and other stuff between Washington, D.C., and North Carolina.

This month, Edwards announced his campaign would be "carbon-neutral," meaning it will do what it can to limit energy consumption and then buy "carbon offsets" to counterbalance the emissions produced by the energy it does use.

Edwards is not the only White House hopeful trying to make his own energy use part of the political equation this year.<snip>

http://www.comcast.net/news/politics/index.jsp?cat=POLITICS&fn=/2007/03/31/624639.html

[DCKit]

1. I'd feel better about it if both the Gore and Edward's new homes

Weren't five times larger than the average American home.

You either live your commitment to the environment, or you don't.

[Vexatious Ape]

2. I couldn't agree more.

Nobody needs a house that big--what the hell do they do with it all?

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. They both do more than any freakin' repuke would ever think about doing for the environment.

At least they're doing this! It's better than driving around in a damn Hummer or Suburban.

[BearSquirrel2]

5. So long as they ...

So long as they heat/cool them in an efficient manner, I have no problem with it. Democrats have never played the game of attacking people for having large homes. We attack based on their support for industries that are extreme polluters without need.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Sorry. Not on DU.

Nothing makes SOME people happy.:( They will find fault no matter what it is.

[Leopolds Ghost]

8. What about robber barons who have large homes?

And lawyers/politicians who front for them?

[BearSquirrel2]

9. IT's the robbing ...

It's the robbing I object to, not spending the spoils.

[Leopolds Ghost]

7. But they're buying "carbon offsets", thus proving that carbon credits work because Gore invented em!

So all that energy their mansions use, energy that wouldn't be consumed
if they didn't own and build mansions twice as large as Monticello,
is really green energy. :sarcasm:

Oh, and never mind the fact that they're telling us hybrid SUVs
are the "end of the line"... the highest and best use... the
ultimate green technology...

screw that electric car shit, screw those conventional station wagons that are smaller and get just as good gas mileage, let's continue to use biofuels and drive more and more bigger and bigger status symbols because our campaign contributors demand it!

[BlooInBloo]

10. I'd feel better if people minded their own business - if wishes were ponies, eh?

EDIT: Subject typo.

[Vulture]

4. If they really cared about fuel efficient vehicles...

...they would drive small-format diesels. Not only are they more fuel efficient than the current crop of gasoline hybrids, they can burn biodiesel too.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Unfortunately, you can't BUY an affordable diesel-powered vehicle

at the moment (I wouldn't put any Mercedes-Benz in the category of affordable for the average buyer). VW is supposed to have models available again next years, and other manufacturers have models in the works as well.