I agree that former vice president Gore has thick skin. You need that thick skin to be a polictican. Yes he is use to the critics, but if everyone can prove that he is not following what he preaches then he will be considered a failure for the global warming front. I do have an interesting question...Why didn't anyone say anything about Mr. Gore's energy usage until he won an Oscar?

I love how you quoted "nonpartisan"...our resident right-wingers are not going to like that. Of course, if you click on their link, you'll notice that they are a conservative organization attempting to give themselves legitimacy by hiding behind the facade of being "nonpartisan."

I love that whenever something critical of liberalism/leftism is released by a 'non partisan' outfit, the word 'non-partisan' is in 'quotes'.

But when a full blown, kool-aid drinking conspiracist like Olbermann 'reveals' something - their 'partisanship' isnt mentioned.

Its a very, very subtle manner by which 'journalists' (note the quotes - it implies that they arent 'real' journalists) imbue their stories with bias.

The truth is - whatever that tennessee organization's partisanship is - the numbers came directly from the utility companies, and are correct. Al Gore is a huge hypocrite.

Basically, its no different than a conservative Christian preacher being caught with a hooker. After all, the 'Goracle' as he's now called by his environmentalist followers - DID say that cutting CO2 emissions is a moral issue, didnt he?

Oh, and it should be noted... Gore 'paying extra' to use so-called 'green' energy is a cop-out. Regardless of what he's paying, the electricity he's pulling from the grid comes from a common supply, and includes electricity from 'dirty' sources such as coal fired plants. This notion of 'paying for green' power, or buying carbon credits, is nothing more than a means by which guilty, gluttonous 'environmentalists' can assuage their personal guilt for being giant hypocrites. What a perfect solution for today's wealthy liberal, isnt it? Just write a check to terrapass or pay extra for 'green' power, and viola, your sins are forgiven. Didnt the Church offer that kind of scheme to forgive sins back in the middle ages?

When the 'Goracle' starts peddling around on his bike, and doing his Oscar acceptance speeches via teleconferencing instead of taking a jet to Hollywood, then maybe I'll think differently about him. But its hard to take him seriously when he uses 20x the electricity the average person does... for a house he's in maybe a 3rd of the time.

Hypocrisy has nothing to do with the truth of one's statements. We can mock the hypocrite for laughs, but that in no way absolves us from a moral obligation.

This is about far more than the thickness of Al Gore's skin.

Al Gore knows full well -- as does anyone who will look at the evidence -- that this adminstration manipulated the electoral process to put itself in office, and lied about virtually every political initiative they've put forward since taking office. These criminals, for the first time in US history, initiated a war and invaded a sovereign nation in an attack that can only be described as an attempt to impose the will of the Cheney/Bush administration on a foreign nation. ALL of the claimed "reasons" for going to war have proven to be false or lies.

Since then, this same administration winked as millions of dollars were spent on flagrant lies, such as those epitomized by the "swiftboat" episode, and billions of dollars have been simply squandered -- such as the FOUR BILLION DOLLARS in hard cash that the Federal Reserve ferried to Baghdad between December 12, 2003 and June 25, 2004 ("U.S. sent $4 billion cash to Iraq").

In 2000, Gore made the mistake of listening to his handlers -- even when his gut and instincts told him otherwise.

I doubt that neither he, nor the Democrats, will make the same mistake again. Kerry's fireworks in the hearings on the Sam Fox appointment are just the beginning. Kerry, like Kennedy, is not running for higher office. He is, therefore, able and more than willing to speak the truth as it needs to be spoken.

There is no doubt that the corrupt corporate interests that are so threatened by an energized environmental movement and a culture that is paying attention -- finally -- to the lies it is being fed will fight back.

I think a major test will be, in fact, whether those corrupt corporate interests will accept their inevitable political defeat without bloodshed. Anyone who knows very much about the history of, for example, corporation efforts to stop the labor movement knows full well the lengths to which corporate thugs will go -- whether those thugs are upstairs in the corner office or torching buildings filled with women and children in Calumet, Michigan.

Whether we examine the horrific human tragedy unfolding in Iraq, the brutal disregard for human suffering in the post-Katrina gulf coast, or the brazenly corrupt scandals of Foley, Abramoff, and DeLay, this right-wing political movement that loves to preach about "morality" has shown, in its actions, just what sort of morals it practices.

If the right-wingers among us want to challenge Al Gore's stance on "moral issues", they -- like their own Ted Haggard or Mark Foley -- might begin by taking a good long look in the mirror.

Global Warming, only the biggest scam in the 21st Century. Just because there are hipocrats like AL Gore bringing attention to a trival .7 degree temperature increase, does not mean that humans are causing global warming. If we cannot even accurately predict the current weather, say... 5 days out, how the heck can someone say what the weather will be like in 100 ... 200 years from now, AL GORE is on a power trip and people need to open their eyes and see the underlying political and social agenda. And yes, AL GORE is one of the biggest HIPOCRATS! (what about roaming about the globe in his Carbon emitting private jets, leaving a larger CARBON FOOTPRINT in one round trip than 10,000 SUVs do in a life time)

I think it is time to upgrade from a ford EXPLORER to a DC-10!

Hipocrisy is ruining America.

Is it moral to use this issue to try and terrify people into believing the earth will be destroyed within 50 years? Is it moral to exploit this issue for political gain? Cut through all the political rhetoric and you get a politician who's using this for political purposes only. Why didn't Gore present the other side of the issue? Why won't the media give us the other side of the issue? It would be great if the meteorologists of AccuWeather would do something novel, like drop the politics associated with this and present the FACTS from both sides! Is it wrong to pollute? Yes. Should we cause mass hysteria making people think the earth is going to boil.. ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!

You forgot to mention that the Gores use 20 times the energy of the average american family at ONE of their homes. (this does not include his non-biofuel personal Jet) It will take my little family about 1000 years to use as much energy as the Gores. Perhaps he could allow me a little indulgence now and then. A ride in an SUV perhaps.

I found another article on a politician's home. This home is the model home for any environmentally friendly tree hugging hippy/conservationist... and it is President G. W. Bush's Crawford, TX Ranch!!! Who talks the talk and who walks the walk?
http://www.canadafreepress.com/2007/global-warming022807.htm

In the first place...the criticism wasn't that he uses renewable energy. The problem is that in spite of his use of renewable energy sources AND purchasing so called "carbon offsets" he still uses 20 times more energy than the normal household. That is only one of the 2 or 3 other homes he ownes.

Didn't he just have all the trees removed at one of his homes? (I love trees...just not in my neighborhood?) So much of planting trees! He also flies around the country on private jet that produces even more greenhouse gunk.

Global warming is the new religion of our time. Gore's method and message can be compared to a traveling salvation show, only the evangelist isn't practicing what he is preaching.

The point is..if your going to be speaking to people about the evils of second hand smoke you better not be smoking when you do it.

Al Gore is your typical politician or idiot. Makes a ton of statements, and in his case really stupid one's. He of all people should not be telling people how to live, or how to make moral decisions.

Lol, Tom you need to take a chill pill dude or a big deep breath.

Mark,

You are to politically blind to see the difference. How non-partisian are CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, CNBC, CSPAN, NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times, NPR, should I go on? More often than not, they bash President Bush and push the global warming theory. They are not fair 50/50 in presenting both sides to the arguement and they don't seem to care. Why would they? Is it any wonder there are so many brainwashed in this country? Media knows this and will not relent with the partisian garbage. It's all political.

I assume that you are a liberal. Have you ever listened to Hannity or Fox News for more than 5 minutes? Don't worry, they probably wouldn't change your political view. I feel they are the best 1 place without switching channels for us to get more fair arguements. I'm not saying that they are 50/50, but closer than the above mentioned liberal media outlets. Did you know that at times, they openly disagree and question the administration? Why? Common sense. Most of their audience are intelligent, successful, have good common sense and are not easily influenced. They wouldn't be the highest rated shows/networks if they were just simply the opposite of liberal media. They present both sides to an arguement, they use many soundbites and quotes, they resort to items that have been set on the record, all geared to help their audience make a better informed decision. They use humor to entertain, but of course they are right wingers and push right wing ideology. Most listeners recognize this, trust me. We listen to hear both sides, something that we don't fairly get from liberal media outlets. CNN is close to recognizing that this is the way to go, with Glenn Beck. However, after his one hour, they go back to the same old same old. They need to be more fair for the more than 1 hour a day, if they want more viewership. But they don't. I feel that they care too much about pushing liberal beliefs. Most viewers/listeners recognize when we are being lead towards one sided belief. We just want all the info, both sides. These outlets are currently the best place for us to get that.

Obviously the agw issues is tenticled to many others in some folks minds. All one big ball of string that needs to be unraveled to get to the truth. If you could take politics out of this you may be able to get to the truth whatever that may be. Then again politics has been injected into the agw issue by Mr. Gore which acts as a catalyst for divisiveness. Mr Gore may himself BE the kitchen

Anonymous, does make some good points. We can't help but hear and see the liberal media, and these other shows, Rush, Hannity, and Glenn Beck do present a different view. Ok maybe not Rush but he gives you a different side of the liberal media.

BrooklineTom,

Since you are not supplying remedies for GW, just trying to "data overload" anyone with an opposing point of view, which I can match...let me ask you a few questions.

Please sir, think on your own and tell be....in your own words, without a zillion links, what YOU are doing to reduce GW?

What should the rest of the planet be doing to reduce GW? When will we know when global warming has been defeated?

Since we are relying on computer models to predict the future of weather patterns 20-30-50 years from now, with computers that currently are not capable of predicting with 50% certainty where a hurricane in the mid-Atlantic will land fall...please convince me that man has the data to produce algorithms of the infinite variables of our atmosphere that far out. You know as well as I do, man doesn't have that capability and where it can't, he puts in fixed data and assumptions. That is what is wrong with the hockey stick. Period. Dot.

After all, the hysterical bleating from your side are based on computer models predicting the end of the world as we know it...based on the woefully inadequate knowledge that man has about this blue ball called earth.

Please convince me we can predict the future....from the same folks that predicted the wide spread terror throughout the world during Y2K.

Excuse me if I don't wait for your answer. Anyone who dredges up a tragedy in Calumet nearly 100 years go, and finds a conspiracy to link it to current events is taking leaps of logic beyond most non linear-thinking people...or just flaunting what they learned today in history class. Bravo!! Don't forget your apple tomorrow.

Dave

If Dave has forgotten -- or never learned -- the lessons of relatively recent American US history, that problem is Dave's.

I did not use the term "conspiracy". A right-winger again attempts to put words in the mouth of someone he disagrees with.

The lies that were spread throughtout the "liberal" media in the swiftboating of Kerry were just that -- lies. Flagrant, brazen lies amplified by millions of dollars of funding from right-wing corporate interests. Do you want to make an argument that the contributors to this smear campaign were NOT right-wingers? Have you looked at the donor lists of the organizations that sponsored the ads?

Here are some examples of statements repeated loudly and frequently here that are simply and factually false:

a) There is no scientific evidence to support the claimed AGW: FALSE
b) Many thousands of respected climatologists dispute the reality of AGW: FALSE
c) Many papers skeptical of AGW have been published in current, peer-reviewed scientific literature: FALSE
d) The findings of the seminal Mann "hockey stick" paper have been refuted in the peer-reviewed scientific literature: FALSE
e) The current spike in global heat has occured frequently during recorded human history, without major or catastrophic harm: FALSE
f) Cold weather in where-ever this winter means that AGW is a hoax: FALSE
g) The energy industry has remained steadfastly neutral in its funding and publication of AGW-related research: FALSE
h) There is no evidence that human activity can have any global effect on climate: FALSE

Meanwhile, without claiming a "conspiracy", here are some observations about the right-wing GOP position on current issues:

1. Support for those who claim that Creationism/ID should be taught in science classrooms comes from the GOP right wing.

2. Opposition to stem-cell research comes from the GOP right wing.

3. Opposition to AGW research comes from the GOP right wing

4. Opposition to research into the effects of smoking and air pollution comes from the GOP right wing

5. Opposition to research into the feasibility and benefits of energy savings through increased fuel efficiency standards comes from the GOP right wing.

6. Opposition to research into the effects, costs and benefits of the "war on drugs" comes from the GOP right wing.

7. Oversight of key scientific agencies has become increasingly politicized under the control of the GOP right wing

8. High-profile intervention in the Schiavo case, disregarding scientific and medical evidence, came from the GOP right wing.

This is only the start of the list.

Please sir, think on your own and tell be....in your own words, without a zillion links, what YOU are doing to reduce GW?

First, I have written repeatedly here that amelioration and mitigation of the effects that are already bound to happen is, in my view, our most urgent priority.

The most visible things that I do to help address this issue are:

1) Make frequent contributions to forums like this, as persuasively as I am able.

2) Actively participate in the local affairs of my community.

3) Make conscious and intentional choices to reduce my own "footprint".

4) Work very hard to ensure that my children are able to read, comprehend, and engage the scientific, technical, social, and political aspects of this issue. I think this is probably the most important thing I do, by the way.

5) Provide financial support for candidates and organizations who are sympathetic to my point of view.

BrooklineTom

There, there Tommy. Let it all out. There are therapist in your area that can help you through this,...sorry, it is what it is....conspiracy-rage you are going through. YOU don't have to say it. Your rantings make it very clear to all on the blog.

For you, there appears to be a right-wing, neo-con boogie man behind every rock. Does this help you deal with the randomness that life brings??

You still did NOT provide anything substantial that will help to reduce GH gases on the level necessary to stop GW. Your feel good remedies mean nothing compared to the apocalyptic future your buddies are predicting. Step up to the plate big-guy.

Here is what YOU and your ilk won't say:

>>Commercial airline travel will be rationed. Carriers will participate in a lottery for travel days. Carriers on off-days will ground all aircraft. There will no reservations for flights. If you want to fly, you will do so on a stand by, first come-first serve basis. Private aircraft can only fly after a "flight requisition" is applied for. Only a predetermined number of private aircraft will be allowed to fly in any 24 hour period. All violations will result in loss of aircraft.

>>Rolling blackouts will be planned throughout the country. The country will be divided into 8 equal energy-use geographic areas. They will rotate on a schedule that will require each area to reduce their energy usage by 30% for a 48 hour period every two weeks. Businesses will have energy limiters installed on their power lines to restrict usage. That will require businesses to restrict operating hours. Residential buildings will also have power restrictors installed. This will make home A/C prohibitive to use unless you have the money to buy the most efficient units.

>>Automobile use will be banned in all government-designated restricted metro areas. Mass transit will be the only form of transportation within these areas. Because of the millions using the transit system, it will be rationed by color-coded days. All interstate highways will become toll ONLY. Use of the interstate system will be rationed for individuals and commercial use will be heavily taxed. All personal vehicles will be emission certified every 6 months at the owner's expense. Vehicles that cannot be made compliant will be confiscated and destroyed. Antique and classic cars will have their engines rendered inoperable.

That's just the start folks....are YOU REALLY ready to make a difference??

Good Luck,

Dave

Brookline Tom:

The last sentence, number 5, sums you up completely. You will only support those who support your POINT OF VIEW. What you don't realize is that you are being suckered by those very organizations who only seek YOUR MONEY! Kind of like affirmative action or welfare.. it's touchy feely and makes people think the liberals are "for the little guy" when all it does is serve their interest by keeping people poor and themselves rich. I know you desperately wish to believe that the earth is being destroyed by man. Maybe you truly believe it. But here's some advice: Think for yourself, do research yourself, and know what you are talking about before posting things as "fact". I am a natural resources major, working in that field. I had a class for one Semester called Man and His Environment. I can assure you, there are many, many scientists who completely disagree that humans are the cause of global warming (you could look at the pages of references for the UNIVERSITY TEXT book to start). In fact, the class warned of the "doomsday myth" and that the politics will ultimately blind people from being rational and acting rational about polluting the environment. I assure you, we are better stewards than you think and the climate change is just that.. climate change. So, calm down, and be rational. Do what you can to teach, but don't be a doomsayer. We will accomplish more by working together, than fighting each other. And that goes for the righties as well. You can't deny that we need to protect the environment and the next generation superpower will be the one that grasps that concept and leads the world in new energy.

Bottom line Tom: By supporting only those with your point of view, you have become their political pawn spreading THEIR views.

Brookline:

Your list is a little skewed. But that is OK.

You list what your opponents are not doing right more so than what your supporters are doing right. That makes no sense. Why not tell us of the emminent benefits of the supporters.

Simply put, both of the main political wings of our society are messed up. We all know that for the most part. Difference though is that GOP'ers will point out issues with their party, DEMS typically do not.

Besides, the "swift" boat thing was not really discussed in the media as I recall. It was reported but then discounted often as being purely political. Odd you don't mention the utter nonsense that was put out against the President. Guess that was ALL true and not paid for by left leaning groups. Remember a guy by the name of Rather?

Seems to me that GOP'ers think and question, DEMS do no