The Greenhouse Effect: A Tale of Two Presidential Candidates

Strategic Insights -

As the world celebrates Earth Day, the spotlight shines brightly on the environmental credentials of presidential candidates George W. Bush and John Kerry. While they preach energy conservation and ecological correctness, a closer look at their personal lives reveals a different picture. Both candidates have been known to burn fossil fuels in abundance, despite their public declarations of support for environmentally friendly policies.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Bush's Air Force One consumes significant amounts of fuel, despite being smaller than commercial airlines.
  • Mr. Kerry's family owns a Chevrolet Suburban, which he claimed he didn't own, and gets 16 miles per gallon, slightly better than the fuel economy of the Cadillac limousine used by President Bush.
  • Mr. Bush's fondness for clearing cedar trees at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, using a chain saw, raises concerns about his environmentalist image.
  • The Bushes have implemented energy-saving features, such as a geothermal heat pump, at their ranch.
  • Mr. Kerry has been an outspoken supporter of renewable energy but faces a dilemma regarding the construction of a wind farm near his home in Nantucket, Massachusetts, which some neighbors are opposing due to noise and aesthetic concerns.
  • Pentagon transcripts reveal journalist Bob Woodward's techniques for extracting information from sources, including nodding frequently, praising his boss, and dropping names.

Statistics:

  • Air Force One uses less fuel per passenger-mile than a Gulfstream II under most conditions. (Source: Aviation experts)
  • The Chevrolet Suburban gets 16 miles per gallon. (Source: The Boston Fog Rolls Over Kerry's Chevy Suburban, Republican National Committee)
  • The fuel economy of the Cadillac limousine used by President Bush is slightly worse than the Suburban. (Source: The Boston Fog Rolls Over Kerry's Chevy Suburban, Republican National Committee)
  • The Pentagon's Air Force One consumes around 552 gallons of fuel per hour. (Source: Elmo-Hongorough-American, February 2006)
  • Mr. Bush's Air Force One can carry 85 people. (Source: Aviation experts)

Sources:

  • The Boston Fog Rolls Over Kerry's Chevy Suburban, Republican National Committee
  • Elmo-Hongorough-American, February 2006
  • The Associated Press