Thursday, April 27, 2006

Typical politician hypocricy

The Washington Post, which I usually find is a good source for wiping my muddy boots on, actually had a somewhat useful article today.
They talked about how various politicians had shown up to a press conference in front of a gas station where prices were sitting around $3.10 a gallon to complain that since President Bush took office, oil prices have doubled, and whine that he's too cozy with 'big oil'.
Of course, the amusing part for me (or really sad part) is how they got there and left.
Chucky Schumer (D-NY)showed up in a Hyundai Elantra (Nice to see that 'buy American' isn't just a slogan for ya Chuckie), which gets relatively good mpg, at 27/34.
However, Diane Feinstein(D-CA) showed up in a Chrysler LHS, which rates 17/24 (not so good Di). Maria Cantwell, D-WA had a staffer waiting for her in an idling Jetta, until she decided to get some sushi and sent the staffer on her way. Idling...nice....Also good to know that these staffers also believe that buying American is best.
Oh, and not to exclude the Republicans, who were at their weekly caucus. The parking lot was jammed with Suburbans (14/19), and others, some of which were left idling during the caucus.

Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) hopped in a GMC Yukon (14 mpg). Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) climbed aboard a Nissan Pathfinder (15). Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) stepped into an eight-cylinder Ford Explorer (14). Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) disappeared into a Lincoln Town Car (17). Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) met up with an idling Chrysler minivan (18).

Next came Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), greeted by a Ford Explorer XLT. On the Senate floor Tuesday, Menendez had complained that Bush "remains opposed to higher fuel-efficiency standards."

Also waiting: three Suburbans, a Nissan Armada V8, two Cadillacs and a Lexus. The greenest senator was Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), who was picked up by his hybrid Toyota Prius (60 mpg), at quadruple the fuel efficiency of his Indiana counterpart Evan Bayh (D), who was met by a Dodge Durango V8 (14).

And of course, let's not forget that most of these events were less than three blocks away from the Capital building.
Three blocks. But of course, a politician can't be expected to WALK anywhere right? God no. He/She may actually be expected to INTERACT with a real person then, and we can't have that.

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