Al Gore is my man. What got me on his bandwagon wasn't his fight against global warming, either. There's a chapter in Take It Back, a great book by James Carville and Paul Begala, where the authors describe what an Al Gore presidency would have been like. The man is a bonafied expert on a variety of topics (for instance, as VP he wrote the definitive paper on airport security), and the once popular portrayal of Gore is a gross exaggeration (including his phantom claim that he "invented the internet). Carville and Begala aren't Gore guys, remember, they are Clinton guys-- there's a significant difference. I didn't bring Take it Back with me to England, so I can't quote from it, but it's worth reading- especially that chapter.
My affinity for Gore has grown because of his tireless efforts for the environment, and because he was the first public voice I know of to question the Iraq invasion. Throughout his career Gore has proven to be right far more often than not, and I think he would make the best president in 2009.
However, I have come to the sad realization that Gore is probably done with politics. I hoped his denials were a savvy ploy, an attempt to wait out the hype of other candidates before making a dramatic entrance some time in the fall (right after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for which he is nominated). But it really seems like that's just not going to happen.
Gore told Larry King the other night, "I'm involved in a different kind of campaign, not for myself not as a candidate, but to change people's minds about the most dangerous crisis we've ever faced, and the greatest set of opportunities we've ever confronted to solve this climate crisis."
On the Today Show, Meredith Vieira asked Gore why he wouldn't run knowing how much of an impact the president could have on the climate crisis. He responded that those in power must have the support of the people to make it work. And that's where he sees his role.
Then Al gave his most telling quote:
"I've kind of fallen out of love with politics. ...Whatever experience and talents I've gained over the years -- I think it may well be that the highest and best use of that is to try to bring enough awareness of the solutions to the climate crisis and enough of a sense of urgency that we come together across party lines on behalf of our children."
I'm just finishing up Gore's new book, The Assault on Reason. It's a must read. For those who think that the jury is still out on man's contribution to Global Warming, check out the "Quote of the Day" post below.
Happy Al Gore Day.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Live Earth and Al Gore Day at SAM Online
Quote of the Day
"... the vast majority of the most respected environmental scientists from all over the world have sounded a clear and urgent alarm... In essence, [they] are telling the people of every nation that global warming caused by human activities has become a serious threat to our common future and must be confronted... In spite of the clear evidence available all around us, there are many who still do not believe that global warming is a problem at all. And it's no wonder, because they are the targets of a massive and well-organized campaign of disinformation pushed by the administration and lavishly funded by polluters...
Wealthy right-wing ideologues have joined with the most cynical and irresponsible companies in the oil, coal, and mining industries to contribute large sums of money to finance pseudoscientific front groups that specialize in sowing confusion in the public's mind about global warming. They issue one misleading 'report' after another, pretending that there is significant disagreement in the legitimate scientific community in areas where there is actually a broad-based consensus...
In early 2007, just as the new international scientific report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was being released, one of these front groups financed by ExxonMobil offered $10,000 for each pseudostudy or paper disputing the findings of the scientific community...
In the case of the global climate crisis, Bush has publicly demeaned scientists in his own administration who author official reports that underscore the extreme danger facing the US and the world. Instead, he has preferred a self interested and deeply flawed analysis financed by the largest oil company on the planet, ExxonMobil...
The Royal Society- the UK's equivalent of the National Academy of Sciences- formally renewed its request that ExxonMobil stop disseminating to the public 'very misleading' and ‘inaccurate’ information that is ‘not consistent’ with what is accepted in the scientific community about the climate crisis. The Royal Society also called upon ExxonMobil to stop paying millions of dollars per year to organizations that ‘misrepresented the science of climate change...'
Another organization of scientists, the US- based Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), prepared a lengthy report in 2006 showing that 'ExxonMobil has funneled nearly $16 million between 1998 and 2005 to a network of 43 advocacy organizations that seek to confuse the public on global warming science.'
'ExxonMobil has manufactured uncertainty about the human causes of global warming just as tobacco companies denied their product caused lung cancer,' said Alden Meyer, UCS director of strategy and policy. 'A modest but effective investment has allowed the oil giant to fuel doubt about global warming to delay government action just as big tobacco did for over 40 years.'"
Live- Earth Day
The Live Earth concerts are tomorrow, to raise awareness about climate change, and help reach a political and social tipping point on the climate crisis.
The concerts were organized by Al Gore and Kevin Wall, and have acts on all 7 continents (yes, that includes Antarctica where the performance of an all- scientist rock band will be broadcast via satellite).
The set list is impressive to say the least: John Mayer, Akon, Kelly Clarkson, The Police, Dave Matthews Band, Fall Out Boy, AFI, Kanye West, Melissa Ethridge, Bon Jovi, Ludacris, Taking Back Sunday, Keith Urban, KT Tunstall, Alicia Keyes, Roger Waters, and the Smashing Pumpkins... and that's just in the US. There will also be performances in London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, and Hamburg.
The NBC family of networks is broadcasting the shows live all day, culminating in the US show from 8-11pm on NBC, with limited commercial interruption.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Jogging: Brainwashing tool of the right?
I need to preface this post with two facts: First, I am 1/4 French. I have a grandmother who is full-blooded française whom I love very much. Second, I'm not small-minded or right wing or a fanatic who will attack anything French because it's different. Quite the opposite. I appreciate a lot of French things, partly because they are so different from the way we do things in the States. Still, this was just too funny to ignore.
It seems that liberals in the French media and intelligentsia have jumped on new French President Nicholas Sarkozy for his decidedly distasteful habit-- jogging.
The London newspaper, The Times, has an interesting article, which reports that many on the left see jogging as encompassing many of the "worst" traits of the right.
From The Times:
"'Is jogging right wing?' wondered Libération, the left-wing newspaper. Alain Finkelkraut, a celebrated philosopher, begged Mr Sarkozy on France 2, the main state television channel, to abandon his 'undignified' pursuit. He should take up walking, like Socrates, Arthur Rimbaud, the poet, and other great men, said Mr Finkelkraut."
The article goes on to note that President Sarkozy is often seen jogging in his favorite workout gear: an NYPD t- shirt. No surprise from a conservative who has vowed to repair his country's relationship with the US.
In our country, presidential workouts are a noted past time, from the nostalgic Kennedy touch football games to President Bush's impressive 6- minute miles; however, the opposite is apparently true in France. President Mitterand kept his fondness for golf away from public view, and President Chirac tempered down his energy in public.
Jogging is also suspicious to the French because it is about "performance and individualism," and a hallmark of a "self-centered society." Like the one we have in America, no doubt. The intellectuals go the next step and question whether President Sarkozy's habit is actually part of an elaborate propaganda plan.
"The 'hypnotic' daily images of presidential running are not innocent, said Daniel Schneidermann, a media critic. Mr Sarkozy uses the video images of his jogging as 'a major weapon of media manipulation', said Mr Schneidermann."
Here's the site for the full article (the name of which is "More Rimbaud and Less Rambo"), pretty interesting stuff.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2022804.ece
Who's Barry?
Someone asked to whom I referred when I wrote:
you have to just give it up to Hillary and Barry... they've got to be two of the best fundraisers in modern political history
well, Barry is Sen. Barack Obama (D- IL). That's how he was known for much of his life, as you can tell by his high school yearbook picture above. No disrespect to the guy, just using a nickname.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Daily Quote
"Mitt Romney's Record on Gun Rights: Political Opportunism, Pandering and Flip-Flopping."
- Sam Brownback
not for nothing, but can't the same be said about Brownback on his "signature issue"?
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/dec/07/change_heart/?politics
Dems Dominate
Sites and newspapers are agog over the disparate fundraising numbers of Republican presidential candidates and their Democratic counterparts. Here's a run down:
Dems
Obama $31M
Hill $21M
Edwards $9M
Repubs
Gules $15M
Mitt $14M
The Candidate formerly known as John McCain $10M
Those were how the numbers shook out until the Camp Mitt got some great news. Out of nowhere it got a HUGE donation of $6.5M to its campaign. The source? A certain super-wealthy, Mormon, former governor, who shares his name with a piece sports equipment... yup, Cleats Cuomo. No wait, that would be Mitt Romney himself. What a generous guy.
So why are the Dems dominating the fundraising race?
It seems the Conservatives haven't really fallen in love with any of their candidates. The Dems are flawed, for sure, but their base is so jacked up for this election, they seem willing to look past it. 6 years of the Bush presidency will do that to you.
Beyond that, though, you have to just give it up to Hillary and Barry... they've got to be two of the best fundraisers in modern political history. You put two candidates with that kind of talent in this charged atmosphere, and all records are going to fall.
That's not to take anything away from the guys on the other side. Guiliani is talented, and moves people to act (and give) because his association with 9/11. Mitt looks like the real deal. And McCain, well, it seems like he's just trying to stay in the game long enough to save face.
Check out the NY Times Article for details:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/04/us/politics/04repubs.html?hp
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
He Scoots, He Scores
I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby had his 30-month jail sentence commuted. He’ll serve no time, and be responsible for a $250k fine and 2 years probation. The Scooter Libby defense fund, which was set up by supporters with ties to the Administration, will pay the fine. And it sounds like a full pardon is in the works (President Bush will probably wait until after the election for that).
I guess that means we won’t get that Libby tell-all… damn.
But it got me thinking about some of the chapter titles of that would-be bestseller (which I’m sure would be called A Man Named Scooter). Here are some ideas:
Chapter 1: What the I. stands for
Chapter 8: Actors, Athletes, and Federal Agents: Even more People who should be Outed
Chapter 12: Fried Chicken, Fried Potatoes, and Fried Gravy: Lunch with Dick Cheney
Chapter 18: Ann Coulter’s a Dude.
Chapter 23: The Truth? Valerie Plame is Kind of Hot
Chapter 26: John Edwards at Supercuts, Monkeys Flying Out of Your Butt, Me in Jail, and Other Things You'll Never See...
Daily Quote
"It is simply an insult to those who came before us and sacrificed so much on our behalf to imply that we have more to be fearful of than they did. In spite of the dangers they confronted, they faithfully protected our freedoms. It is up to us to do the same."
- Al Gore The Assault on Reason page 25
Blogging from the UK
I am in London this month for school, so I have a unique perspective on what’s going on back home, seeing it from across the pond. Also there is first hand experience on the current events in England.
For instance, the failed car bomb outside Tiger Tiger nightclub—I nearly went there that night, but opted for something closer. The next morning, the streets around my school in Trafalgar Sq. were blocked off to preserve the crime scene, it was blocks away.
The Brits have taken the attempts in stride, but it’s clear the attack is ever present in the back of Londoners’ minds; just as it's clear that radical Islamic fundamentalism is prevalent in a deadly way here.
I suppose some solace can be taken in the speed with which law enforcement tracked down five of the plotters, no doubt aided by the presence of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras on nearly every London street corner. The cameras are Orwellian, for sure, but proved their value. It’s a useful reminder that the relationship between safety and civil liberties is indeed one of balance, where conflicting goals are weighed against each other. Each has its place.
