Live Blogging: Al Gore To Appear This Morning At Netroots Nation Convention
Live Blogging: Al Gore To Appear This Morning At Netroots Nation Convention
“Former Vice President Al Gore is scheduled to speak this morning to more than 2,000 bloggers and others meeting at the Netroots Nation convention. His appearance here has been kept hush hush, with word only that a mystery guest would be coming on stage after a question-and-answer session with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House.” Watch a live stream of the conference here.
11:08 AM ET: Moderator Gina Cooper asks Pelosi a question about Gore’s goal to shift America from fossil fuel to renewable energy in 10 years. Pelosi then pretends to check her Blackberry and says that she had recently received an e-mail from the vice president. As a recording of his voice comes on — “In relationship to this question on energy, Dear Nancy, Thursday I issued a challenge to reset our energy commitment…” — Gore walks onstage to a standing ovation and long, sustained applause.
11:18 ET: Gore comments on the absurdity of increased drilling to address global warming. He compares it to an old remedy for a hangover: “the hair of the dog that bit you.” “They’d recommend just going in and having another drink in the morning. That’s sort of what that reminds me of,” said Gore. “When you’re in a hole, stop digging.”
11:25 ET: Dave Roberts at Grist is live-blogging too. He notes Gore argues that “defenders of status quo are the ones who got us in this mess. Ridiculous to open a few more areas for drilling to produce oil in 10 years that will be sold to China. Makes about as much sense as responding to an attack from Afghanistan by invading some other country.”
11:27 ET: Gore praises Netroots Nation, commenting on the excitement of the event: “You will tell them that this was the beginning of an effort that was the start to reclaim the integrity of American democracy.”
11:31 ET: Gore responds to a question about whether he would be willing to serve in the next administration:
I am really honored by the suggestion that some have made that I consider taking a position of some kind in the next administration, and I want to convey my respect for the idea, even as I explain to you why that’s not the best thing for me. … I feel the highest and best use of the talents and experiences I’ve gained in my life is to enlarge the political space for elected officials and cabinet members to address this climate crisis. I’ve seen first hand how important it is to have a base of support for these bold changes. … I’m devoting my life to bringing about a sea change of public opinion across party lines that supports the truly massive policy change that we have to have.
11:35 ET: Gore puts it bluntly: “The idea of turning coal into liquid fuels for our cars is insane.”
11:37 ET: Responding to a question on technology, Pelosi thanks Gore for his work on the issue, stating, “Without him, there would be no Netroots Nation. We would not have the technology. You know that.” Gore jokingly responds, “I think I’ll refrain from saying that.”
11:43 ET: Ari Melber and the Northwest Progressive Institute are also live blogging.
11:56 ET: Gore talks about the economics of renewables: “When demand for oil and gas goes up, the price goes up. When the demand for solar and wind goes up, the price goes down.”
12:03 ET: Pelosi responds to a question about Maliki’s comments this morning endorsing Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-IL) plan for withdrawal from Iraq:
On the one hand, the administration is saying that everything is great, security has been achieved in Iraq. On the other hand, we can’t bring our troops home. How does that makes sense? [...]
So with the prime minister saying it’s time for you to go, I think it’s time for our country to sit down with the Iraqis and work that plan out. [We need to be] respectful of what the prime minister says, and respectful of the will of the American people, who have been against this war for a long time. … And we owe it to our troops who are there, and we owe them so much more as we discussed early. … [We should] have a high-level meeting with the Iraqis to work out the terms of our deployment out of iraq. … So, the end could be in sight.
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34 Responses to “Live Blogging: Al Gore To Appear This Morning At Netroots Nation Convention”
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Thanks Al!
July 19th, 2008 at 10:55 amThat's cool!
I hope y'all give Nancy a raft of shit. She has some nerve calling Bush a failure -- glass houses...
July 19th, 2008 at 11:02 amHaha, what an entrance they gave him
July 19th, 2008 at 11:09 amIf anyone is interested in live blogging the thing, that would be cool. :)
My connection sucks...
July 19th, 2008 at 11:15 amYay!! TP is sort of live blogging!
July 19th, 2008 at 11:24 amRead Hunter and/or Amory Lovins' material from the Rocky Mountain Institute. They have been thinking about and doing work on these issues for the last 30 years. He was on one of the NPR talk shows last week, or maybe it was Amy. He's/they're so devastating because they answer the pollutocrats and oiligarchs in their own language, finance, markets, investment, etc. Check it/'em out.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:33 amThe elected President of the United States is articulate and intelligent. I hope the rest of the world realizes this.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:34 amAl's right. He's good doing what he's doing. As a politician, he doesn't take those shots at government and other politicians. As an environment guy, he does.
We need that from him.
And others. **crickets**
July 19th, 2008 at 11:37 amGore puts it bluntly: “The idea of turning coal into liquid fuels for our cars is insane.”
But but but....but, coal is clean. Isn't it?
July 19th, 2008 at 11:44 am/sarc
I’m devoting my life to bringing about a sea change of public opinion across party lines that supports the truly massive policy change that we have to have.
Thank you, Al. You can be a lot more effective doing that the way you're doing it now than if you were back in political life. Good luck to you, and I wish you success.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:49 amYou know, Nancy, you could show more concern to impeaching Bush than to adding a leg of lamb to the congressional menu.
July 19th, 2008 at 11:59 amActually,
July 19th, 2008 at 12:09 pmIf the country survives the booosh coup, we will come out of it as a survivor. And, if we can then right the ship of state, we can evenntually take the mantle of an adult country, because we have basically been only an adolecent up till now. booosh and dead eye dick was our "prom", and they got to first base, second base, third base, and they have crossed home plate, but booosh is now looking to hit the umpire on the head with the bat. The brawl will start soon as Nancy is beginning to stand up, as the neo-conspirators are standing down.
I only ask though, when do we get to h-a-n-g booosh and chezey from the bleachers?
July 19th, 2008 at 12:11 pmJust wondering if it would be "post worthy" to mention Gramm quitting McCain's campaign.
Back on topic. Send all the NeoCon administrators away on an oil tanker. Kinda like in water world.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:17 pmInvading Iraq was a crime. There were no terrorists there and there were no Iraqi freedom fighters to support. We invaded for all of the wrong reasons and it was illegal.
The current change of direction by the bush administration is tacit acknowledgment of the error of their ways. They have done as they pleased despite public opinion and now they are moonwaking for political gain.
Who will pay the consequenses of this crime?
No matter how sucessful the effort turns out to be, it was still a crime and a black mark on the United States. We will wear the shame of this war just as we did after viet-nam.
The republicans have once again taken us backwards but the winds of change are blowing so strongly that even the cons can't ignore it any longer.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:20 pm"smokers" ...heh ...make sure they have plenty of cigarettes onboard...
July 19th, 2008 at 12:22 pmThe American people turned their backs on Al Gore just as they have most of our good democratic leaders in recent past.
I am surprised when these people who America not only rejected but actively joined in denegrating when spurred on by the republicans are still good patriotic Americans willing to do all they can for the benifit of our country.
Jimmy Carter: Instead of supporting him in his efforts to turn our economy around after the Nixon recessions Americans piled on Jimmy and blamed him. Jimmy Carter was a very intelligent and patriotic American who was treated like garbage by Americans yet he still works for peace on our behalf. Who do you think negotiated the peace in the mid-east under Clinton and North Korea and Ireland, ect.
Hillary and Bill Clinton: Bill who while he did some things we disagreed with for political trade ushered in the most prosperous decade in the history of the United States.
Hillary was villified for trying to improve our health care system by all Americans.....it was soundly rejected with prompting from the right...you know...big pharma, ect.
Al Gore has had enough. It took him 8 years to get all of the knives out of his back and he's not interested in playing that game any more and who could blame him.
Yep, keep joining the right in destroying our own best chances and we will see mccain as our next president.
Sorry for the rant.......had to be said.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:31 pmGore: "100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years."
- - And I though only Bush was in an alternate reality world. Gore's goal is beyond ambitious, it's unattainable. I've read that the cost would be $5 trillion (without government program cost overruns. HA!), and the GNP stands at $12 trillion.
I think Gore floated the impossible idea so we can achieve something more likely.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:35 pmIn the early 60's JFK initiated an unlikey program too. He said we could go to the moon in 10 years.....
we had nothing....starting from scratch and altering ICBM's for the purpose.
We landed on the moon in 1969 and Nixon tried to act like it was his idea.
It's a matter of will and in today's world...necessity. Otherwise Al Gore would not be in public view.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:40 pmFred: In the early 60’s JFK initiated an unlikey program too. He said we could go to the moon in 10 years…..
- - That's a true apples & oranges argument. Putting a man on the moon within nine years of getting the first American into space was obviously a staggering accomplishment. But what Gore is calling for is a challenge to all Americans - in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen."
I personally know of no one who made any sort of sacrifice so we could put a man on the moon, once or even several times. Unless you count tax dollars funneled to NASA.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:48 pmFred Says:
Yep, keep joining the right in destroying our own best chances and we will see mccain as our next president.
Sorry for the rant…….had to be said.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I, and most of the people I know, do not and did not vilify Al Gore, Jimmy Carter, or the Clintons. Since all of the people I mentioned (including myself) are Americans, I think that's a bit of a sweeping statement, Fred.
I was really disappointed when Al Gore conceded so quickly in 2000, and thought Hillary Clinton's campaign was very poorly run for such a savvy politician -- but that's a long way from "vilifying."
July 19th, 2008 at 12:49 pmA fully serious effort to accomplish Gore's goal would indeed be costly, primarily because the endeavor would probably consume all the available political capital.
It would, therefore, probably absorb all the resources needed to institute national health care. And just about every other 'humane' government program (cuz nobody's--Obama's already said he wants to enlarge the army--gonna cut military, or national/heimatssicherheit spending for ANYTHING). It would be used as an excuse to finally loot the SS trust, you can guaran-fuukin-TEE that, cher.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:49 pmBadmoodman Says:
Gore’s goal is beyond ambitious, it’s unattainable. I’ve read that the cost would be $5 trillion...
Take $500 billion/year out of the defense department budget and supplemental war appropriations. If we are energy independent forever, we don't need a gigantic military and expensive wars for other people's oil.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:49 pm[We need to be] respectful of what the prime minister says, and respectful of the will of the American people, who have been against this war for a long time.
I feel it's just a convenient time for her to say this.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:52 pmI may be wrong, but I don't believe they've done this in the past.
Shoeless: Take $500 billion/year out of the defense department budget
- - Ummm, the Defense Dept budget for FY 2009 is $585 billion. You're apparently in favor of reducing the military capability to circa 1930's.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:55 pmA little sweeping maybe but you don't hear many people to this day saying anything good about Jimmy Carter and Hillary was shunned out of the public eye over health care in the 90's.
America at large may have been better. Still true though.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:04 pmSeems you are forgetting Bush's $120 billion/per year in supplemental appropriations for the Iraq war. That is not included in the DOD budget.
I think the Defense department will be just fine with over $200 billion/year if it doesn't have to defend and fight for other people's oil.
July 19th, 2008 at 1:06 pmForTruth Says:
Back on topic. Send all the NeoCon administrators away on an oil tanker. Kinda like in water world.
Make sure it is the one called the USS Condolezza Rice.
July 19th, 2008 at 2:02 pmBadmoodman Says:
I personally know of no one who made any sort of sacrifice so we could put a man on the moon, once or even several times. Unless you count tax dollars funneled to NASA.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
______
Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chafee would disagree with this.
July 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pmBy relying on Imported Oil for 70% of our National Consumption, We are participating in the LARGEST Transfer of Wealth in History.
We Can't Afford to NOT Act. Geothermal, Wind, Thermal Solar , Nuclear Fusion, Conservation...and a 21st Century Electrical Grid using High Voltage Direct Current to prevent Energy Loss over long distances ...All Should have Serious Government/Private Sector Focus and Funding.
My hope is that Future Generations will be alive to ask "What took us So Long??"
July 19th, 2008 at 4:11 pmI personally know of no one who made any sort of sacrifice so we could put a man on the moon, once or even several times. Unless you count tax dollars funneled to NASA.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
______
Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chafee would disagree with this.
- - Well, I said personally. And your reply is a bit flippant considering in my previous post I was referring to virtually the entire US population.
July 19th, 2008 at 9:51 pmI agree totally. I'd like to see the meme that building all of those deep sea drilling rigs are stealing resources from the renewable energy industries. The steel, copper etc, that are being used in foreign shipyards could be used in the US to build wind turbines, solar arrays, geothermal extraction, etc. Hell even canceling the use of the penny would provide the raw materials to rebuild the infrastructure of the US, with the benefit of several millions of new jobs.
July 20th, 2008 at 12:56 amBadmoodman Says:
Gore: “100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years.”
- - And I though only Bush was in an alternate reality world. Gore’s goal is beyond ambitious, it’s unattainable. I’ve read that the cost would be $5 trillion (without government program cost overruns. HA!), and the GNP stands at $12 trillion.
I think Gore floated the impossible idea so we can achieve something more likely.
It would be useful to cite a source when tossing in numbers, so we have a way to judge the credibility of the estimates.
Even if the $5 trillion number is right, I think you are missing the point of that figure as it relates to GNP. The government spending an extra dollar adds a dollar to GNP, and, if Keynes and others are to be believed, that dollar multiplies and becomes several dollars in the GNP. Further, by spending the money on construction in the United States rather than commodities overseas, it improves our employment picture and our balance of trade and likely makes the dollar stronger. So, to my mind, the expense is not a deal-breaker, it is an argument in favor.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:55 pmTo a culture which predates written language, being occupied for a few years
April 19th, 2009 at 12:48 pmsohbetor dominated for thirty by a home-grown dictator, is just a phase. Heck! They’ve maintained their identity, cetcharted their own destiny, and cast out invaders after occupations which Bedava mp3 indirlasted far longer than our nation’s entire history.