Gore Speaks at Netroots Nation
Al Gore at Netroots Nation 2008, Part 1. Part 2 follows the jump.
Updated 6:58 p.m.
By Garance Franke-Ruta and Jose Antonio Vargas
AUSTIN -- Referring to himself as "the dog in this dog-and-pony show," former vice president Al Gore joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on stage today at Netroots Nation.
Gore, Pelosi said, was an early proponent of what became the Internet through his work with telecommunication legislation. "Without him," Pelosi said of Gore, "there would be no Netroots Nation."
A few seconds later, the former vice president said with a smile, "I think I'll refrain from saying that," drawing laughter and applause in the room.
Gore addressed the packed house of more than 2,000 bloggers and Democratic activists at the conference with a red-meat appeal to do more about climate change and extending deep thanks for the work the "cutting edge" activists were doing. He told them they would look back on the conference in future years as "the beginning of an effort that was historic to reclaim American democracy."
He repeated his call "to get 100 percent of our electricity from renewable sources," the subject of a speech he gave in Washington on Thursday. Gore also elaborated on scientific concerns about the 3 million-year-old North Polar ice cap melting within five years and condemned a recent proposal by President Bush to expand offshore drilling for oil as a solution to America's energy crisis.
"The idea that we can drill our way out of this is just so absurd as to not warrant," said Gore, before being interrupted by applause. "There used to be an old-timey remedy for hangovers called 'the hair of the dog that bit ya.' They'd recommend going in and just having another drink in the morning if you had a hangover. Well, that's sort, that's sort of what that reminds me of. Oh, we have a fossil fuel crisis? Oh well, let's, let's just try to go back for more!"
He added, to applause and cheers: "When you're in a hole, stop digging!"
Gore, who was appearing as an advocate for the nonprofit, nonpartisan "We Campaign," took a moment for an online plug, first joking, "I don't know the protocol - is it okay to mention the Web site of the Alliance for Climate Protection?" drawing laughs from the audience.
The group, he said, is "trying to mobilize 10 million grassroots activists" - and that's where the bloggers come in. "You represent the leading edge of that new movement to reclaim the integrity of American democracy," he told the audience early in his remarks, before concluding, toward the speech's end, "We are in this for the long haul and we need your help."
Rumor of a mystery guest's morning appearance had swirled in the conference halls the day before, and Gore made a theatrical entrance to the conference. As Pelosi concluded the question-and-answer session that followed her morning plenary speech, she said, in response to one question, "I have this e-mail from a friend and it says in relationship to the question of energy..."
Her voice trailed off as a deep and familiar voice took over the reading of the letter.
"Dear Nancy," Gore began, emerging from offstage to a standing ovation.
After Gore spoke, he took questions from the audience on liquid coal, mountaintop removal, the role of meat-eating in climate change and whether he would take a role in an Obama administration. Gore had detailed answers at the ready for all comers, but declined to say whether he would serve under a potential President Obama.
Posted at 11:01 AM ET on Jul 19, 2008
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Comments
Posted by: premier | July 22, 2008 2:48 AM | Report abuse
grnblzimtqg16a5 http://www.823428.com/266427.html > jhahasje98ggu [URL=http://www.543684.com/887351.html] re1wbpl4k6 [/URL] 25brlaai
Posted by: c21fqdsag0 | July 21, 2008 8:36 PM | Report abuse
to Mark: I dont know what statistics you use to judge that US is the no. 1 polluter . Yes, we have the largest number of automobiles, SUV in the world. We use more electricity than other nations. Should we feel guilty about that ? May be. I have live long enough to have traveled in different part of the world and saw the changes happened in this country. I feel we are living in a relatively clean country, in most places, we can still see clear sky with cloud and sun. please note the follows:
In spite of the fact our automotive are not efficient enough, they were designed so much better than decades ago. The emission control was set a level much stricter than the new cars in China. Electric and hybrid as well as public transportation may be the way to go.
Industry manufacturing is way down in US after a massive move to offshore for lower cost. This means we have moved not only jobs, but also polluters to other developing nations.
Alternative energy developments are good to pursue. but realistically, they can achieve to replace the conventional power generation by just a few percent. The current experience in wind mills in Texas, solar power developments in Germany and the bio-fuel production in the Midwest seem to indicate that. Nuclear plant can generate more power, but they have to be accident free. Overall, all these alternative developments are sophisticated and expensive. As a senior citizen, i hate to see high rise in prices of not only in gas, but also in food and electricity rate.
Posted by: austin b | July 21, 2008 10:59 AM | Report abuse
Mark---I think the republican position is based upon FEAR. There are things they don't want to see because they fear the consequences to their Financial Capital. That leaves them IGNORANT and unable to understand what will happen to OUR Natural Capital. Its both, but fear comes first.
Posted by: Bruce Hostetter | July 20, 2008 8:40 PM | Report abuse
Austin b wrote: Looks like Al Gore wants to spend huge resources to rebuild this nation as a super clean country to alleviate his concern for globe warming, while leaving some other worst polluting developing countries alone
Get your facts straight! America is the #1 polluter of the world, and all the other heavy polluters have already begun to do something about it. Once again we see that the Republican position is founded on IGNORANCE.
Posted by: Mark | July 20, 2008 7:50 PM | Report abuse
Al Gore is really audacious. His voice is just what we need for a really audacious problem. Those who are still not able to see the threat need not seek the protection of audacious solutions and can be content committing the planet to drown in its own denial.
I am with Gore, I think his ideas are outrageous, just what need if we are going to survive.
Posted by: Bruce Hostetter | July 20, 2008 7:23 PM | Report abuse
Looks like Al Gore wants to spend huge resources to rebuild this nation as a super clean country to alleviate his concern for globe warming, while leaving some other worst polluting developing countries alone, then allow those cash rich foreign countries to buy the properties in this country piece by piece. I doubt that Gore is sure that our current electric power generation can be totally replaced by the so call alternative energy developments.
Posted by: austin b | July 20, 2008 1:24 PM | Report abuse
Al Gore is Obama's Biotch. Please tell Obama to chill and stop lecturing down on Americans. We don't need Obama to channel Dr. King 24/7 every single day of the freaking week.
Posted by: Snuggles | July 20, 2008 12:16 AM | Report abuse
It is a real shame when people devalue someone that has helped America and keeps us on course with Global Warming. The remarks are so insulting to Al Gore. I think some of the people responding are the shortsighted losers. Maybe too republican or just like to be negative and offensive. You belong to the wrong group.
Posted by: cleanTorrance | July 19, 2008 11:38 PM | Report abuse
Obama / Gore 2008
Posted by: Don | July 19, 2008 8:40 PM | Report abuse
touche
Posted by: anon | July 19, 2008 8:40 PM | Report abuse
Re: The Media
Please hold your media bias until you know things that is really happening.
There are major problems sharing information among Whitehouse, CIA, and FBI. It is being intercepted.
Please hold on. Thank you.
Posted by: premier | July 19, 2008 8:34 PM | Report abuse
The comments here prove why newspapers are in trouble.
Posted by: lwps | July 19, 2008 2:10 PM | Report abuse
Al Bore inventor of the Internet, and now the savior of the world. Gee he's talented. Can he raise the dead, too?
Posted by: Uncle ReamedUs | July 19, 2008 2:10 PM | Report abuse
Shouldn't the title of the article be "Gore speaks to life's losers"?
Posted by: Toxic Avenger | July 19, 2008 2:03 PM | Report abuse
Gore is a teo-faced sh*tbag...touting global warming but using SUVs and keeping his house at 70º in the summer....
Posted by: Buzz Lite | July 19, 2008 1:45 PM | Report abuse
Can someone confirm whether he pushed this plan or not?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuRJkemxomw
Because, it'd be great if he had.
Posted by: LonewackoDotCom | July 19, 2008 1:40 PM | Report abuse
I guess he is "WARMING" about the dangers of "NETROOTS" and the dangers of all those "HOT KEYBOARDS" and the danger of "HOT BLOGGING" If we could only reduce all that "HOT BLOOGGING" we could bring down "GLOBAL WARMING"
VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com
Posted by: VJ Machiavelli | July 19, 2008 1:23 PM | Report abuse
Al Gore's legacy and energy challenge is definitely doable, but not to any man whose entire experiences are from teaching political science.
We need a doer who is tough like McCain to carry that vision through and to execute it on the ground.
Posted by: pete | July 19, 2008 12:48 PM | Report abuse
Though America did elect the guy who helped create the internet, they somehow ended up with the guy who thinks there is more than 1 internet. Now that guy's party wants to elect a guy who knows even less about technology.
Memo to the GOP: "Luddite" is not one of the 12 tribes of biblical Israel.
Posted by: Daniel De Groot | July 19, 2008 12:17 PM | Report abuse
Austin, Texas;
In Todays News, it is reported that Ozone Levels will be surmounted by extreme levels of Heated Air, combined with noxious emissions. The source of said hazardous by-products, a Convention Hall!
Friends of the environment do not let friends of the environment allow Big Gay Al Gore, to Bloviate! ;~)
Posted by: RAT-The | July 19, 2008 11:35 AM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
Re: My Advice to Senators Gore and Obama
I sincerely advise Senator Gore to visit China to see whether the "labor and environmental standards" that Senator Gore has been pushing hard is a realistic plan or an elitist discourse.
I also advise Senator Obama to visit China to see how China has made progress with the help of American Capitalism and to learn why it is the right thing to do to defend and promote democracy around the world.
When both senators talk about the demise of Polar Bears, millions of people around the world are dying from hunger and diseases. When both senators eat organic arugula salads, millions of average Americans do not have money to buy regular salads.
If this speech truly represents your worldviews and beliefs, then you should change the name of the Democratic Party to the Elitist Party.