Former Vice President and current global warming crusader Al Gore has taken the world by storm. He's not the old, stiff Al or the Al who supposedly was sung "Look for the Union Label" by his Mom when he was in his twenties. No, this is newest incarnation of Al Gore. He is the go-to guy when it comes to all things environmental.
Sadly, as with most heroes, when you find out how they really are, it usually clashes with their public personae. Al Gore is no different. You would think that the recently deemed "Goracle" would live in an abode that had wind mills, a roof full of solar cells and would in essence be a house built by someone like this person. You would be dramatically wrong:
Armed with Gore's utility bills for the last two years, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research charged Monday that the gas and electric bills for the former vice president's 20-room home and pool house devoured nearly 221,000 kilowatt-hours in 2006, more than 20 times the national average of 10,656 kilowatt-hours.
"If this were any other person with $30,000-a-year in utility bills, I wouldn't care," says the Center's 27-year-old president, Drew Johnson. "But he tells other people how to live and he's not following his own rules."
20 times the national average? Say it ain't so, Al. I mean, you won, like, an Oscar the other night and stuff.
This is typical liberal behavior of course. John Edwards talks of two Americas yet lives in a house roughly the size of one of them. Now we have Al Gore sucking up enough energy for a small hospital.
The Gore camp is on the offensive over this issue with statements such as "I think what you're seeing here is the last gasp of the global warming skeptics..." or my personal favorite; " the bottom line is that every family has a different carbon footprint. And what Vice President Gore has asked is for families to calculate that footprint and take steps to reduce and offset it."
Okay, for the sake of argument, let's say this is the "last gasp" of us skeptics, the next logical question would be that if a man that has made global warming a religion chooses not to live by that religions ways, is he any different than Jimmy Swaggart or Ted Haggard who breeched the mores set forth by their church? Liberals had a collective field day calling Haggard a hypocrite. In organized religion, is one who forsakes their religion an apostate? In the religion of global warming, would Gore not be known as the ultimate apostate, or at the very least, a seriously sinful person? Either way, his opinions would be largely discounted if he were a sinner in a church.
As for the whole reducing the carbon footprint garbage. The "carbon footprint" scenario was something made up by liberals to assuage their guilt over flying in private jets around the world (something Al Gore knows quite well). They invented the term to avoid being labeled what they truly are; hypocrites. Perhaps we can coin a new term: racial credits. Liberals can use this term to feel better when they pay their immigrant housemaids minimum wage. They can offset that by using racial credits, which can be acquired by supporting the rights of illegal immigrants.
This is not Gore's first foray into hypocrisy, remember Tipper's crusade against violent or sexual lyrics in music (a crusade Frank Zappa eviscerated on the CD Mothers of Prevention using the voices of Al and Tipper as well as several Senators)? Weren't the same people She and Al railed against the same ones who they were rubbing elbows with on Sunday evening?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Sounds like a case of the politician telling us "do as I say, not as I do."
Steve Bonomo at 8:32PM on Feb 27th 2007
2. It figures, typical politician. Just proves they all suck!
Bill Hipkins at 9:19PM on Feb 27th 2007
3. Reads like Blogger Scott RECENTLY had his mother recently singing anything she could think of that might sound good about any republican.
I write this only because most of the BABY BLOOGERS have only recently stopped wearing, "Huggies," and now seem to know everything there is to know from majoring in political science, and only graduating within the past year or so.
What a pathetic bunch.
Ross Smith at 12:10AM on Feb 28th 2007
4. Al Gore has bucks and a big house. Since when was this a problem for the right-wing, survival of the fittest, offshore account, export jobs, sell-out America, protect our global interests with your childrens' lives crowd.
Pete Baumann at 6:36AM on Feb 28th 2007
5. In the Vice-Presidents' Office in DC, there is a desk, used by all the former Veeps for the last century. In the center drawer of this desk are the initials of all the former Vice-Presidents, including Al Gore. When Gore lost to Bush, he carved "GORE" across all the other V-P's initials, destroying a national treasurer. He is a small, petty and vindictive man.
Pat Sharpe at 7:19AM on Feb 28th 2007
6. You know, he's got a perfectly good explanation for using all that juice...
Jim Treacher at 11:45AM on Feb 28th 2007
7. Do you really think the libs want to do anything but tell us little folks how we all should live. Run down the list of big name socialists and they all live a little too good for thier rhetoric. Hillary forgets to disclose a $5million tax write off for 6 years (a senate requirement) ,while the eco-nut god runs around in private jets to thier enormous walled in pollution estates. Socialists have a great plan for us to do with less... as long as they can continue to live like the royalty they think they are. The dems in the senate as a whole are by far richer than the republicans on the other side of the isle, and they plan to keep it that way. We are only pawns in that liberal tyranny.
The infinately stupid democrats keep electing them on a platform of we will all "share the pain" It's a negative belief that raises them up on everyone elses shoulders. They are better than us, just ask them.
joe m at 8:06PM on Mar 1st 2007
8.
Media Ignore Al Gore’s Financial Ties to Global Warming
Posted by Noel Sheppard on March 2, 2007 - 09:58.
As NewsBusters reported here, here, and here, there are huge dollars to be made from global warming alarmism. However, conceivably no one is better positioned to financially benefit from this scam than Dr. Global Warming himself, former Vice President Al Gore, a fact that the media will surely not share with Americans any time soon.
Yet, if America’s press would take some time out of their busy schedules covering the earth-shattering details surrounding Anna Nicole Smith’s demise, they might find a deliciously inconvenient truth about the soon-to-be-Dr. Gore that is significantly more fascinating and diabolical than anything likely to emerge from that courtroom in Broward County, Florida.
As reported by Dan Riehl (emphasis mine throughout):
Former Vice President Al Gore has built a Green money-making machine capable of eventually generating billions of dollars for investors, including himself, but he set it up so that the average Joe can't afford to play on Gore's terms. And the US portion is headed up by a former Gore staffer and fund raiser who previously ran afoul of both the FEC and the DOJ, before Janet Reno jumped in and shut down an investigation during the Clinton years.
Think Katie, Charlie, or Brian will be all over this tonight? Regardless, that was just the tip of the questionably melting iceberg as reported by Bill Hobbs in Nashville, Tennessee:
[H]ow Gore buys his "carbon offsets," as revealed by The Tennessean raises serious questions. According to the newspaper's report, Gore buys his carbon offsets through Generation Investment Management:
Gore helped found Generation Investment Management, through which he and others pay for offsets. The firm invests the money in solar, wind and other projects that reduce energy consumption around the globe...
Gore is chairman of the firm and, presumably, draws an income or will make money as its investments prosper. In other words, he "buys" his "carbon offsets" from himself, through a transaction designed to boost his own investments and return a profit to himself. To be blunt, Gore doesn't buy "carbon offsets" through Generation Investment Management - he buys stocks.
Fascinating. So, as Dr. Global Warming travels the world in his private jet while spending 20 times the average American on energy for his home, all the time telling us its okay because he’s buying carbon offsets, he’s actually purchasing these investments from himself.
Furthermore, and maybe more important, Gore stands to benefit financially in a potentially huge way if more and more people buy into this junk science.
Isn’t that special?
Yet, it is not clear that Gore’s money is going to purchase carbon offsets at all. Riehl reported:
Here's a list indicating what it takes to make money along with Al. Funds associated with these companies have placed millions of dollars under Al Gore's control. And, as you'll see below, Gore's selection for the US President of GIM might raise a few eyebrows as well.
AFLAC INC - AQUANTIVE INC - AUTODESK INC - BECTON DICKINSON & CO BLACKBAUD INC - GENERAL ELECTRIC CO - GREENHILL & CO INC - JOHNSON CTLS INC - LABORATORY CORP AMER HLDGS - METABOLIX INC - NORTHERN TR CORP - NUVEEN INVTS INC -STAPLES INC - SYSCO CORP - TECHNE CORP - UBS AG - VCA ANTECH INC - WATERS CORP - WHOLE FOODS MKT INC
According to their own documents, GIM intends to invest in, or buy companies poised to cash in on Global Warming concerns.
Putting this in perspective, for years the left and their media minions have posited that George W. Bush started war with Iraq to benefit the company Vice President Dick Cheney used to run, Halliburton, as well as Bush’s oil tycoon friends. In fact, there have been times when you couldn’t swing a dead cat in any pressroom in this nation without hitting a reporter working on such a story.
Yet, as the former Vice President continues to plug global warming as a coming crisis in need of immediate attention, the same media completely ignore his obvious financial conflicts of interest.
No liberal media bias there.
However, as Riehl pointed out, this story is even juicier:
To add insult to injury, Gore chose Peter S. Knight, an old friend and colleague some are sure to recall, as the US President of GIM.
Peter S. Knight, formerly Managing Director Met West Financial, lawyer, Chief of Staff for Senator Al Gore (D-TN) from 1977-1989, and Campaign Manager for President Clinton's successful re-election in 1996, is President of Generation U.S.
This would be him: Reno Rejects Inquiry Into a Clinton Aide
Atty Gen Janet Reno decides against any further investigation of Peter Knight, Pres Clinton's 1996 campaign manager in connection with office building development in nation's capital; such an investigation could have led to naming independent counsel to look further into activities of Knight, who is also former top assistant to Vice Pres Al Gore.
Yes, thanks to Janet Reno, no one ever found out how $20,000 in stock turned up in an account for Knight's then 13 year old child.
Dispute over Democratic Party campaign-financing shifts to Zachary Knight, 13-year-old son of Peter S Knight, Clinton-Gore campaign chairman in 1996, who was given $20,000 in stock by William Haney 3d, chairman of Molten Metal Technology Inc; Republicans believe gift, which came after father was named chairman of campaign, was really payment to Knight, who had worked as $7,000-per-month lobbyist for company; Knight denies involvement in any impropriety; photo
Riehl accurately asked:
If Gore's motivation in pushing Global Warming is so altruistic, was it really necessarily for the already wealthy Gore to establish a multi-million dollar corporation in England to cash in? And given the history of Gore and Knight, are these people we should trust to drive a re-vamping of the world economy at the same time they're lining their pockets because of our much smaller carbon footprints?
Riehl marvelously concluded:
If Al Gore is successful with this latest scheme, Gore and his cronies are going to be much more $green$ than most of the earth. And the only green in this for you and me is the kind that accompanies envy as Gore trucks around on private jets putting dollars to offset his extravagance into a cash machine generating profits on the backs of the middle class with misrepresented science that doesn't deserve to be called science at all.
Meanwhile, a complacent media, rather than hounding Gore over his financial conflicts of interest, continue to shill for this conman’s junk science.
When you add it all up, this is a flimflam of epic proportions:
First, Gore sets up a company that will invest in other companies that will benefit from global warming alarmism
Second, Gore gets some Hollywood types to fund and produce a movie designed to scare the c-c-carbon out of the population
Third, Gore travels the world promoting this movie, while pushing the view that a cataclysm is imminent if the world doesn't immediately act
Fourth, an adoring media falls for the con hook, line, and sinker. Rather than debunking the flaws in the theories, the media promote every word of it while advancing the concept that Gore's views represent those of an overwhelming majority of scientists
Fifth, scared governments and citizens across the globe invest in alternative energy programs driving up the shares of companies Gore's group has already invested in
Sixth, Gore and his cronies make billions as they laugh all the way to the bank at the stupidity of their fellow citizens
America -- what a country!
LINK
http://newsbusters.org/node/11149
Allen at 8:05PM on Mar 2nd 2007
9. WE ALL ARE VERY HEAVY CARBON USERS WITH BIG FOOTPRINTS. WE COME FROM MANY GENERATIONS OF THIS PAST WITH THIS INHERITED COMPLEX. I personally forgive everyone else, if they will forgive me too ! I donot hold Al Gore's past actions as an example. HE is our leader in the worldwide campaign to change our ways and show us a better path. Together we chose to take this path or not take this path - after we become informed. Now we no longer have a 'free lunch'. The party is over and we have a great hangover called 'GLOBAL WARMING' which will not go away without active treatment and active discussion. It will take a little 'carbon wasting' to fly around campaigning to WIN the election. We hold him accountable from the FIRST DAY IN OFFICE. Same for our Senators and Congressmen. Seek those who take the pledge and you judge serious. BE AN INDEPENDENT not a party person. I like Al Gore and will vote for him if he runs, as an INDEPENDENT supporting Greenhouse Gas reduction as my NUMBER 1 issue. I am totally convinced and have been convinced since 1999 - but I thought the Republicans would come around to seeing the truth but they were completely bought off by Special Interests.
Joe St. Pierre at 2:37PM on Mar 18th 2007
10. Stop and take a look around...
Do you see what is really going on or just what this matrix is showing you?...The sheer number of sheep in this country have been herded too many times to elect the puppet politicians that big business (s)elects...
The entire planet is run by the almighty money grubbers and their special interests...Same-old, same-old...
Getting back to the present: 'take a look around'...The state of affairs hasn't been this skewed in decades. Just the indication of interest to 'want' the job this go-around, should bring suspicion. Who would want the job?...& why?...Think about it...What a mess to walk into!
The bush administration has put the USA in such a horrific arena with unprecedented debt and a world crowd that literally 'hates' us.
Only a complete fool would disagree that the impact of burning fossil fuels for the last 100 years has caused very damaging effects to the 'quite thin' atmosphere covering (protecting) the planet...There IS a direct correlation to the astronomical levels of CO2 and environmental change...IT'S A FACT!...regardless of whether it is caused by natural means or humans, the effects are the same...In a closed ecosystem, for every action there is a reaction.
Regardless of 'who' takes the job, the action that must be taken is to dramatically reduce the impact of human pollution on 'OUR' planet...
Everything else comes second and there is a huge list of 'back-burner' items that will have catastrophic consequences to the United States...
I only hope it's not too late...As the last 7 years have had the negative effects as if they were multiplied in dog-years.
SirVertual at 9:11AM on Mar 19th 2007
11. I agree with SirVertual above. All politics aside, we need to change the way we live. This isn't about Al Gore and the way he lives, its about a team of scientific researchers from around the world showing us imminent warning signs that our earth is being comprimised by our current means of living and operating. This is the earth we live on, the only one we have.
We need to start taking legislative action on the amount and types of energy we use and start punishing the polluting offenders (whether by tax or other means).
We need to start putting party affiliation and bullying politics to the side and start making decisions based on what is just and right. We need to start better protecting this world we live on, not only for ourselves, but for our future generations.
Franesa at 11:24AM on Mar 22nd 2007
12. I wonder how many folks that have commented to this site are really concerned with the future and what they are doing about it instead of just offering lip servce. What worries me is that when the lights go out and fuel costs create panic that somone out there might find that for eighteen years I have had electricity and water at zero cost. Along with that energy I have an irrigated vineyard and 75 fruit trees that supply all my sweet and alcohol needs. The water comes from a well as do all my esectrical n
jake at 6:38PM on Mar 22nd 2007
13. Didn't Al Gore, in his debate with Perot on NAFTA, borrow a few notes from Rush about how NAFTA was good for the Economy and the blessings of Capitalism? Now that Algore is talking about his Carbon Footprint and boasted about he has purchased an Indulgence from himself, ALgore is taking the side of the Environ-Mental Cases against a Good Economy and the blessings of Capitalism. How Algore speaks Ex Cathedra, that is, out of both sides of his mouth!
Fritz at 2:40AM on Apr 23rd 2007
14. Definition of Politics:
Poli - meaning many
Tics - blood sucking creatures
We will never see an inprovement in our government until we require term limits and pay limits for the people who say they represent the American people.
D.L. Brown at 2:20PM on May 1st 2007