Countdown: Gas Pain, John McCain And The $300 Million Battery
By Logan Murphy Monday Jun 23, 2008 11:00am
Republican Presidential Candidate, John McCain, proposed a gas tax holiday which turned out to be a non-starter with the American people, then he flip flopped on offshore drilling, and now, with his latest proposal to help end our current energy crisis, the Arizona Senator proves why voters prefer Barack Obama over him when it comes to the economy and solving the energy crisis.
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Keith Olbermann talked to Chris Hayes from The Nation on Monday's Countdown about McCain's $300 million dollar offer to anyone who can design a "Flash Gordon-y" battery, and exposes it for the joke that it really is. McCain even said he would pay the hefty sum by cutting out pork barrel projects from his budget -- which is a bit confusing as he is supposed to be the savior who will step in and put an end to all pork barrel spending.
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Speaking of gas pain: Obama Aide Claims Barack Will Benefit if Country Suffers an Attack of Flatulence
I'll bet McCain is not drilling one thing .... Cindy.
This $300 million prize just sickened me when I first heard it.
That's the typical rethuglican remedy for all that ails us: toss The Masses the illusion of a carrot and hope they think it's the real thing.
I can't wait for that old stupid-ass to disappear into the sunset with his other neo-con buddies.
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I actually already invented this mythical battery. But it has cost me $301 million to develop, so I am holding out for a bigger prize.
"Joke" isn't the word. Completely detached from reality might come close, but is probably too polite.
Improving battery efficiency is the motherlode of the goldmine of modern technology. Look at where they're used - from torches to laptops to cell phones - and look at how bulky they are, how fast they run down, how expensive they are and how hard to dispose of.
There are plenty of motives to improve batteries, including cars, but cars are not in the top 5.
Any advance in battery technology would benefit cars as a spin off, but would have made the inventor a fortune already.
(Cars don't really need batteries anyway, fuel cells would do the trick and already work)
I'm sure mccain's got all kinds of problems with gas.
Take the battery challenge for what it is - an empty promise. No funds presently exist, nor any committee to judge the entries.
So McFuzzyThinking wants your vote on the basis of a contest he isn't holding and a battery that doesn't exist. That's leadership?
I'm all for innovation and even putting the best minds in the country to work on alternative energy solutions, but I think we need to be doing this as if it were the Manhattan Project, or the WPA ... not shrug and hope someone comes up with the solution.
CarpeDiem @ 4:
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Well, he's far too inexperienced for us to know this for certain at this point. Lets give Obama a shot and see for ourselves.
McCan't in offering $300M? I say Obama should offer $301M.
It must be hard being McCain, not knowing where you left your energy policy, was it in the fridge, did you leave it in with your dentures? Maybe you left it with the keys you forgot from last week? What a clueless, meandering fool.
CarpeDiem @ 4:
Doris Day?
♠Bangkok Bob♥ @ 2:
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Electric cars with batteries are a joke.
They exist primarily to reinvigorate the nuclear power industry.
McCain wants these batteries to exist, so America will be forced to accept nuclear power plants.
Then, welcome back huge electric SUV's with 1500 pound batteries and nuclear power.
Then we will have problems.
I believe I read in Wired magazine a few years back about new battery technology, which of course was widely ignored.
McCain = doddering old fool.
Shadowgm @ 8:
Remember the reason for battery powered cars is to compel Americans to accept several nuclear power plants in each state!!!!!!!!!
Captain Obama’s Bitter Half Husein Kangaroo @ 10:
now that's what I call a "reinvigorating the economy with eBay" mindset. ;-)
Isn't there anybody minding the store up in McSame's brain ???
Why are his handlers allowing him to look like a misguided stool ??!?!
Oh yeah I forgot, his handlers are having their own 'issues' to deal with.
nebbermind.
Captain Obama’s Bitter Half Husein Kangaroo @ 10:
That's a lot for one battery.
JM's got a good point - the battery isn't really what runs the car, it's the gasoline-operated engine. Even hybrids rely on high-efficiency gasoline engines.
So in addition to a no-prize, we're trying to score a grand slam in a football game.
Might as well have a coal furnace on a gigantic SUV. Why not? Let's choke the Hell out of mankind. Let's just get it over with.
The Exotic Chico Hussein Escuela @ 5:
Don't give in Chico!
Shadowgm @ 20:
With a football bat no less!
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mccain and his people have no answer and don't care about finding an answer regarding the rising energy prices..........they're in on it......this is more of the same letting oil companies manipulate the market on the production side. i am starting to get burnt out listening to the mcBush side show.
Ron @ 19:
Circuit City has them on sale for $295 million. Check this weekend's papers...
A little off topic, but what the hell is up with Bouncy McGee (Chris Hayes)? That guy couldn't sit still if you glued him to the chair. Switch to decaff.
I found this interview a bit patronizing. They talk about one candidate, but personally (and I'm an Obama supporter) I don't think any president is going to be able to lower gas prices in the short term until painful sacrifices are made. A dramatic switch to alternative fuels, hybrid engines in all cars, a complete restructuring of the oil market, etc.
I want Obama in office but I can foresee Americans both republican and democratic a year from now saying "why haven't the democrats lowered gas prices? Why did we elect them?" And so on.
Brendan @ 26:
You can get a pack of 10 at Costco for $250M.
Until Republicans get themselves another 'Pearl Harbor'-like catalyst to exploit, they will have to exploit the current energy crisis instead.
I already sold my battery to ExxonMobil. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse.
I highly recommend everyyone watch the replay of yesterdays House energy and commerce subcmte. hearing to listen to many of the witness's testify about how the price per barrel could come down 25 to 50% in just one month without congress doing anything...please watch this on www.cspan.org located under "recent hearings" listed as follows...
House Energy & Commerce Subcmte. Hearing on Energy Prices: Panels Three & Four (June 23, 2008)
Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) chairs a House Energy & Commerce Oversight & Investigations subcmte. hearing to examine whether market speculation is inflating the price of crude oil, and whether Congress needs to improve regulatory oversight.
Washington, DC : 2 hr. 47 min.
Some of you people seem to be cronic complainers instead of problem solvers... The battery idea is a GREAT idea... in fact many people on the left have been asking for the government to get behind such an effort ever since 911... it is not a bad idea just because McCain said it... However it is totally bogus for McCain to bring this up just now when he is running from president instead of right after 911... He is obviously just pandering...
If we dont use our technology to create things like such a battery then what? Stay on oil? Seriously think about how stupid it is to be against using technology to make something like a super efficient battery... In fast in stead of calling it "Flash Gordon-y" maybe you should just use google... Tesla Motors has made a very good battery system and so has this company http://www.a123systems.com/... in fact there are several battery technologies being worked on all around the country... a $300 million dollar incentive can do the same thing that the DARPA robot car challenge has done... drive innovation.
Remember ... if you think this GOOD idea is bad just because McCain said it then you are just being partisan... dont give McCain credit for it because he obviously just brought this up now because he is running for president... but dont shoot down the good idea.
liberalDAPofDESTINYmoderation @ 22:
I hear Obama is offering 301mill. That'll only make me come out even.
If I can get $302 mill I might consider.
Shadowgm @ 20:
Remember, what McCain wants is battery only cars (like the Tesla) that must be charged by AC Power from the grid.
That would result in such a demand that Americans would be compelled to accept several nuclear power plants in each state.
Hybrid cars are bad because it takes on the average 100,000 miles to negate the extra carbon consumed in their manufacture.
Stop buying them!!!!!!
The Toyota Aeron gets 97mpg. That is a better transition technology.
The Exotic Chico Hussein Escuela @ 29:
Yes, ending with their unwavering support for the nuclear power industry!!!!
Underground Pirate @ 16:
More like energy generated by wind mill or backyard solar panel right into your garage electrical receptacle from which your plug-in car gets charged just like your cell phone. I'm sure that every oil CEO and oil lobbyist will tell you precisely how much has been spent and how hard they've worked over the years to make such an easy, doable scenario reality, or better yet, ask McCain, the energy expert, who's been working so hard with the energy sector to make life easier, cheaper, more practical and environment-friendly for each and every American.
oil companies and speculators on the international commodities exchange market are manipulating prices
i would like to see mccain take questions for an hour regarding oil and energy policy without people at his side answering the questions....he is becoming a joke gone bad to me. saudi king said it was speculation this guy knows..short 3 min video i recommend
http://therealnews.com/t/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&It...
With laughable and desperate tactics like this, it appears that McGrampa is trying to throw this election.
Underground Pirate @ 14:
Ever hear of something called Wind power? Solar? Quite being a partisan fool ... attacking an electric is stupid... Electric cars are NOT a joke... http://www.teslamotors.com/
Gerald Gibson @ 32:
We're being critical of McSame here mostly because he has provided no TEETH with his proposal. No funding, no technical details of what's needed, no engineering committe to determine if any submitted entries are valid and worth the prize, NOTHING. Just a simple statement aimed at the simple minds that vote Republican.
Gerald Gibson @ 39:
Nuclear power is a great option if we could build the plants economically and come up with a way to dispose of the waste.
karl @ 37:
Excellent post karl. Thanks for the link.
Dr. (Fast Eddie Hussein) Matt @ 41:
Look up Pebblebed Nuclear Reactors... no liquid radioactive waste... they do NOT blow up ... ever... If only we embarked on a Manhattan Project for safe nuclear energy... that would solve alot of issues... but we can do the same with Wind Power and Solar...
Fusion of Helium-3 is the answer to clean nuclear energy.
But we dont have enough of that stuff around here on Earth.
Gerald Gibson @ 43:
With a country this size, it would be wise and appropriate to invest in all three.
Joe Tseng i I noticed bouncy Chris when I saw this segment of Countdown last night. KO is finally having new faces on air, which I love. I like what Hayes has to say. I went to an event a few weeks ago where Kos spoke and said that MSM is paying attention to bloggers; viewpoints but they need people on air who are 'good at TV'. God I hate tv.
Gerald Gibson @ 43:
I've heard of those reactors...I think we're gonna need all those modes of energy to break away from coal and oil.
I just don't get why McCain keeps speculating about these things, does he think it makes him look visionary? Is it better to spout off with every idea your lobbyist friends come up with than to keep quiet until you have an idea of your own?
Also, I have to commend Keith on the new glasses and tie, although it looks a bit like he was made over by the Queer Eye guys. :P
The Exotic Chico Hussein Escuela @ 33:
Ron Paul's offering 303 mil....unfortunately, it's all in monopoly money...it's sad really.
A battery converts chemical energy into an electric charge. I don't know about you; but, I am very sketchy about using toxic chemicals to supply our energy needs. It just seems kinda dangerous and stupid.
Keith has gotta lose the pink shirt and tie. It just doesn't look good.
liberalDAPofDESTINYmoderation @ 49:
Dead-eye Dick Cheney is offering 1000 dead brown people.
I Like Pie @ 50:
the production of these batteries is in canada and china...production has a large c-foot print.......i think most of us will agree it's not the answer just part of the transition for the next/best technology........this is going to be 20-40yr. project.........right now i believe there are some technologies with promise cost and efficency.....
Hasn't anyone else noticed that about a week ago, Exxon Mobile started airing another one of their "we feel your pain ads" with a very "sciencey" looking guy, claiming that they (Exxon) had just developed a lithium ion film that would increase battery life? In fact, Sunday morning on This Week, George hosted a round table on oil....that had an oil industry spokesman..who claimed (paraphrasing here)..." we developed the lithium ion technology....".
In the movie "Who Killed the Electric Car?" there is a segment that talks about how a much more efficient lithium ion battery was developed, by an entrepreneur from somewhere in the northeast, but that after they shredded all of the EV cars in California, the patents for the battery they were using were all bought up by.......Chevron?
Anyone want to bet, who would get Mr. McSames $300 million "innovation" prize? I will give you 2 guesses....
liberalDAPofDESTINYmoderation @ 49:
Did you know that two of the bigest employers of Ron Paul doners are from Google and Microsoft? If the Ron Paul people were given a moon landing type challenge to go after they could really help to raise the money and provide the technology...
I Like Pie @ 50:
The newest batteries use not so toxic chemicals.. look it up http://a123systems.com
bdogg @ 54:
Off-topic, I've noticed them from a couple of the big pharmaceuticals lately... Wonder what they're all suddenly so worried about...
This is so stupid on so many levels....McCain = Greenwash. Simple as that.
EEStor = Supercapacitors, Lockheed Martin already bought up some shares, and has signed an exclusive deal....(google it, or wikipedia for more info...also check out Stanford nanowire battery....)
Gas Tax Holiday = McCain & Saudi Arabia love it....do the math, not so tough...
Heck, even Cheney doesn't like the idea....
McCain trying to be Green is like Bush trying to be competent....
Brendan @ 57:
Retribution Day: Jan, 12 2009
mudshark @ 42:
check this out....saudi king says speculation just a guess here that they know a lot about the crude market were getting taken on oil just like electricity when enron was manipulatingthe grid exchange...and mcBlame does this fxxking side show..i don't think it's funny some people's lives are being turned upside down because of this.
Dr. (Fast Eddie Hussein) Matt @ 52:
oooooh daaayum!
John "THE BUSH REPUBLICAN" McCain is walking a little taller these days.... it could be because he is joining neighbor BOB and taking VIAGRA...
OR MORE LIKELY......... it is because he has finally pulled these 3 IDEAS OUT OF HIS ASS...... hopefully without suffering any papercuts
karl @ 53:
Not only that - the last significant breakthrough development in batteries (what we currently have) happened in the early 1900's - Since then NO ONE - no matter how much money automotive companies, et al throw at it can get a battery to do what McCain is promising.
Gerald Gibson @ 43:
James Lovelock in his book "The Revenge of the Gaia" agrees with you (and so do I).
The only way to meet the future energy demands of the world is through nuclear energy, no other sources will meet these demands fast enough, efficiently, and safely.
Gerald Gibson @ 55:
No...I didn't know that...one thing I can say about Ron Paul's supporters...they are very enthusiastic, and capable of raising money in a hurry. And having known a few of them personally...expert beer drinkers! They damn near drank me under the table.
The Exotic Chico Hussein Escuela @ 44:
Of course tritium is easily manufactured by bombarding Lithium with neutrons but then no one knows how to make a fusion reactor anyway so I'll stick with conventional nuclear technology as the the least environmentally destructive technology.
The oil futures market speculators have made billions and billions of dollars off of Americans with the totally unregulated electronic trades, since Bush deregulated it in January 2006. They simply buy futures contracts, which create an artificial added demand for oil on the spot market, which raises the price a little, then wait for Bush or Cheney to rattle their sabers and threaten to bomb Iran, and this jacks up the oil prices much more. This spiral of greed has been going on for at least two years now. Hedge funds, pension funds, banks, speculators and even oil companies have jumped on this greed bandwagon. Totally shut down these unregulated oil futures markets and this price of oil and gas will drop in half in a month. A few more weeks after that, the price of gasoline in the USA will be back down to about %1.75/gallon. For more info, search on terms, "oil futures speculation." With this McSame's already slim chances to be elected President will be nil/null/zilch, when Congress closes the unregulated oil futures trading markets and the price of gasoline falls in half in a month. Bush and Gramm are the causes of this speculation problem Both are tied to McCain. Cheers.
karl @ 60:
Excellent article indeed!
From it:
ANTONIA JUHASZ, AUTHOR AND OIL POLICY ANALYST: I would say that the biggest culprit right now is speculation, and not just the fact of speculation, but speculation taking place on unregulated exchanges, speculation taking place essentially in a market free-for-all, so that we definitely are seeing not only rampant speculation, but we're also seeing criminal speculation, that we're seeing a manipulation of the market, and we're seeing the price being driven further and further and further up for just one very simple reason: lots and lots of people are making money off this. When you have supply exceeding demand, yet price is still skyrocketing, there's clearly something else going on. And the reason why there is excess supply is that the oil tomorrow is worth more than oil today. So we've got oil companies and countries and others sitting on their spare supply, waiting for it to garner more money. The US regulators themselves are identifying cases of intentional manipulation of price by, among others, companies like Marathon, BP, Shell, that the oil companies themselves are involved in manipulation.
THIS should be the primary focus of oil price discussions (short term). Period.
Underground Pirate @ 34:
Hogwash, hybrid cars are not bad and it doesn't take 100,000 miles to negate the extra carbon consumed in production, especially if you are talking about the Toyota Prius. You're not quoting the widely debunked CNW Marketing Research study are you?
That said, hybrid cars aren't the answer to everything, so if you want to buy a Toyota Aeron, knock yourself out.
Keith, stop wearing glasses that make you look like a dick.
Does Keith Olbermann use scented paper?
America wants to know!
Has McCranky mentioned anything about what the rest of the world needs to do as well, or how he will bring about a multilateral policy agreement on global resources and warming? There is no way this country can do it alone, not with Asia not on board. I doubt supporting and extending Operation F**k U* in Iraq is going to impress anyone in Asia either.
Olbermann is ridiculous. He simply tries WAY too hard. He's full of himself without justification. He's neither clever nor insightful.
You don't answer Bill O'Reilly with another Bill O'Reilly. You answer it with real journalism. Simply parroting a catch phrase from Edward R. Murrow doesn't cut it.
And, Keith, Ashley Banfield called. She wants her glasses back.
http://www.blackmarketgold.com/pix/ashleigh_banfield_011703.jpg
I think KO looks fine in those glasses.
Now all he needs to do is shave the sides of his head, wear a couple of earrings, grow a wispy 6 inch long goatee, and would a couple of tattoos kill ya?
$300 million is a joke. It wont even pay just the retirement fund of just one single exon oil baron. They stand to make trillions.
Hedging, speculating, etc, it's all just a realtime Monopoly game to them.
Banks own us with their phoney paper they print at will. But even their own phoney paper is devaluating cause of their lies, speculations, manipulation, and decitefullness.
The more money we put into the hands of the few, the worse it gets. That's a fact.
Pete @ 73:
Please...Olberman is on point, certainly no O'Reilly by any means...Olbermann=truth and journalistic integrity...O'Reilly=blatant propaganda and ZERO integrity of ANY kind.
I don't always agree with Olbermann...but I can guaran-damn-tee ya I never agree with that fascist propagandist piece of SHIT falafel boy.
ysbaddaden @ 74:
Don't forget a big fat nose ring...
Can Olbermann remember for at least one second that he is supposed to be a journalist and talk about Fisa and Obama's position?
liberalDAPofDESTINYmoderation @ 77:
Don't forget a big fat nose ring...
I prefer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIXlg97E9J0
Pete @ 73: