News Columns
Conservative Voice: Al Gore- Is he falling off the wagon?
By Mark Carroll Jan 26, 2006, 17:11 GMT
Al “the little wooden boy” Gore, in his never-ending quest to grab the occasional headline and prove that he is cured of his trademark stiffness, made a weak attempt at humor before delivering a speech on the evils of domestic spying.
"I used to be the next president of the United States," he said, drawing a roar of laughter from the gathered lynch mob. "I don't find that to be very funny (which is somewhat of a relief because it was actually quite scary instead of funny),” he retorted. "I'm a recovering politician." We are all behind you, Al. We have been hoping and praying that you would make a full recovery and so much the more after reading your comments concerning global warming. “Terrorism is extremely serious,” he said, “but on a long-term global basis, global warming is the most serious problem we are facing.” Yes, we certainly hope he fully recovers from any and all political ambitions.
In other absurd news, according to an Associated Press article, a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals volunteer, Michelle Cho, protesting in Madison, Wisconsin “dropped her robe to reveal pasties and a pair of bikini bottoms. Her skin was marked with a butcher's description of meat. Her back, for example, was divided into ‘chuck,’ ‘rib,’ and ‘loin.’” She sat on the sidewalk for about 10 minutes, in a 21-degree wind chill, holding a sign that read "Have a heart. Go vegetarian." In an apparent show of their support for the vegetarian lifestyle, “men in the crowd snapped pictures of her with their cell phone cameras. The point was to show that animals can suffer the same as humans, said PETA campaign director Chris Link.” This was enlightening to me since the point was just beyond my grasp. Thanks, Chris.
Let’s look at another protestor and try to discern what the point of his protest might have been. According to an article on PETA’s website, a 19-year-old PETA staff member decided “to make a statement every time he’s asked for or signs his name.” The protester formerly known as Chris Garnett has legally changed his name to KentuckyFriedCruelty.com, the same name as PETA’s website that gives the lowdown on KFC’s alleged chicken abuses. With no words of wisdom from the PETA director to guide me, I will venture that the point of this protest is to insure that no sane female will ever look in his direction. Hopefully, this will prevent his genes from being released into the general population. My hat is off to him for making such a noble sacrifice.
What does the man who invented the internet, the lady who will definitely be on it, and the young man named after a website all have in common besides a loose grip on reality? They are all apparently unable to find any real issue to latch onto. Now before you grab your bucket of red paint or climb onto your soapbox to sing the praises of Gore, let me ask you a question. How disturbed are you about global warming? Do you lay awake at night hoping that the polar ice caps stay frozen until morning? While I do believe that cruelty to animals should not be tolerated, the buffet line at KFC is a wonderful place to visit.
I have a little difficulty biting the hand that feeds me. Are there not more important issues that need to be addressed? What about the fact that a new literacy study found that more than one half of students at four year colleges and at least seventy-five percent at two year colleges, lack the literacy to handle complex, real-life tasks such as understanding credit card offers or the arguments of newspaper editorials? What about the fact that the number of uninsured Americans rose to 45.8 million during 2004? Does anyone care that every day more than 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes? One child dies every five seconds. How about the fact that teen/youth suicide rates have tripled since 1970. There are far too many important issues to list them all here, but any one of them is more relevant an issue than the fact that Alaska has warmed by an average of four degrees Fahrenheit since the 1950’s. We should put our energy into things that really matter like keeping Al Gore on the wagon. He could fall back into political life at any time. There’s a thought that might keep you up at night.
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Older Talkback
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Gore gave a very good speech. At least a few public figures in America adhere to enlightenment
Gore creeps me out. He looks and acts like a victim in one of those bad alien movies where they replace a human with an 'exact' replicate except the replacement doesn't appear human at all. They look human. They talk like a human. They dress like a human. But something just isn't right about them.
Creepy. Like John Kerry. He bears a shocking resemblance to Frankenstein.
Did you happen to count the limos at the Sundance film festival? Or every other red carpet Hollywood event? Did you happen to catch the pics of Gore stepping out of the Suburban on his way to the enviro conference in California a few months ago? Ever wonder how much fossil fuel gets blown every time these guys jet to their 'pat me on the back' conferences? Hmm...as inventer of the internet, shouldnt Gore be aware by now of the capabilities of teleconferencing? of course...it wouldnt get the same gladhanding response...would it.
On the 'domestic spying' front, considering the clandestine behaviors of the Clinton/Gore administration, isnt this a bit of the pot calling the kettle black?
Also...since we know the 9/11 hijackers came here in the 90's and we have pretty reasonable suspicions that they arent alone, and since nothing was done during the 90's to combat this problem, just how do you propose to solve the problem? I mean...other than carping about other peoples solutions...
The FISA courts are wonderful...if you know your target. We dont know how many are here or who they are (a big thanks to the Clinton/Gore team for cutting the nations intel abilities are due here...WTG fellas!). We DO know they are buying disposable and untrackable cell phones and we DO know they are communicating. However...in order to get a warrant you have to have a target and reasonable doubt.
Now...if you have the ability to monitor phone traffic into and out of the country, and if you KNOW you have a viable terrorist threat within our borders, how do YOU propose to fight the problem? And BTW...how many people can you point to as innocent victims of the federal international wiretapping probes? 10? 5? 1?
Is it any wonder democrats cant be trusted to govern? their response to world issues...blame, rhetoric, raise taxes.
And while we are at it...just a little civics discussion...3 branches...remember? Executive, legislative, judicial. So...where is the Democrat legislation proposals to save social security? to fund education? to fight terrorism? ANYTHING other than naming streets and holidays?
'Is it any wonder democrats cant be trusted to govern? their response to world issues...blame, rhetoric, raise taxes.'
Very amusing. Bill Clinton delivered a balanced budget and a surplus. What happened to all that? Well, The Onion predicted it all on Jan. 17, 2001.
Bush: 'Our Long National Nightmare Of Peace And Prosperity Is Finally Over' | The Onion - America's Finest News Source
[Excerpt]
'My fellow Americans,' Bush said, 'at long last, we have reached the end of the dark period in American history that will come to be known as the Clinton Era, eight long years characterized by unprecedented economic expansion, a sharp decrease in crime, and sustained peace overseas. The time has come to put all of that behind us.'
Bush swore to do 'everything in [his] power' to undo the damage wrought by Clinton's two terms in office, including selling off the national parks to developers, going into massive debt to develop expensive and impractical weapons technologies, and passing sweeping budget cuts that drive the mentally ill out of hospitals and onto the street.
During the 40-minute speech, Bush also promised to bring an end to the severe war drought that plagued the nation under Clinton, assuring citizens that the U.S. will engage in at least one Gulf War-level armed conflict in the next four years.
Jules...lets be honest shall we (and BTW...citing 'The Onion' is fine...but its not exactly real, honest, or unbiased, is it?)?
Clinton 'signed' a balanced budget amendment forced on him by a republican congress. He fought it every step of the way. He also 'signed' welfare reform which he also fought every step of the way. Neither ideas were his, neither proposal was his. He signed them because he knew if he didnt the congress would shove them down his throat.
But THAT doesnt really answer the question I posed, does it? Where are the democrat legislative proposals to curb government spending, to fix social security, to resolve national security issues, to deal with terrorism, to resore the nations inteligence networks, to fix the education system, etc. ect. etc.
Kerry lost the last election not because everyone loves Bush (not exactly MY idea of a dream president BTW) but because all he and Dean and all the rest ever did was complain. His big response to problems? 'I have a plan.' OK...so what was the plan again? (that sound you hear is the quiet calm of crickets chirping)
In your response you did EXACTLY what I proposed democrats do...carp, complain, moan...ANYTHING but come to the table with anything that might actually resemble a plan or solution.
Clinton took us to war against a soverign nation. We are still there. It cost as much to prosecute the war against Serbia (oh...BTW...what was his justification for declaring war on a sovereign nation again???) as it did to prosecute the war against Iraq. Clinton also attacked Iraq 8 seperate times citing Iraqs WMD programs and Iraqs refusal to comply with UN resolutions. Is that what you meant by a 'war drought'? Oh yeah...I forgot...those werent your actual thoughts...they were someone elses. Yeah...that selective memory is a powerful tool...hang on to it.
Tell me...where do you live? Do you visit the national parks that you (I'm sorry...again...someone else) cited as being 'sold off'? I live out west...I am involved in scouting activities and visit national parks on a regular basis throught Utah, Nevado, Idaho, and Wyoming. Do you see a difference?
The Bush economy has not only survived but thrived, in spite of the fact that he has actually dealt with the problems in Iraq and Afghanistan that were either ignored or dealt with in such a way to be totally ineffective by Clinton and the other world leaders throughout the 90's. We have recovered from 9/11, natural disasters, ousted two brutal dictatorships and offered the opportunity for freedom (whether they take it or not will be determined by Iraq and Afghanistan) for the men and WOMEN (the ones generally bruatlized by those dictatorships) in two countries.
We have prevented terrorist attacks in this country since 9-11. We havent defeated the terrorists (because fighting terrorism isnt like fighting conventional enemies) but we have pushed them into caves and left them scrambling. Terrorism has been around forever...it wont stop. But for my money, Id rather have them afraid to poke their heads above ground in the mountain caves of Pakistan than have them blowing up shopping malls in America.
So...reload...try again. Your first response was pretty ineffective.
On the question of planetary climate change, given no effort to effect the necessary changes to slow the process, e.g., improving efficiency standards, sustainable alt's., and so forth you the naysayer’s and all of us have no future.
I've been kicking up dust for 66 years, you don't have a chance.
You preclude the inevitability because scientists can't say at 6:16 May 31, 2007; half the Greenland ice shelf will slide into the sea, but it is nonetheless inevitable.
The Larsen Ice shelf in Antarctica (area = to Rhode Is) faced the same degradation and was expected to remain stable a hundred years after trouble was understood. Once it began to disintegrate, it took 35 days to disappear into the sea.
Ubinhad
On this issue we can't afford to be wrong, prudence is the best path, instead of pissing away lives and our future in iraq the focus should be on preserving what we have.
page: 1
jawfishJan 26th, 2006 - 21:15:36
Ignoring the usual sniping and ridicule, your thesis seems to be:
'Global warming is just weather and lots of other important issues await our attention.'
In fact, Gore's speech was about domestic spying, and attacking the speaker and throwing up a straw man argument about global warming looks like an attempt to dodge the question.
Every citizen needs to think long and hard about what the government is allowed to know about them, and perhaps more important, how it is allowed to cross-reference the data.
Should government agencies be able to catalog individuals by reading list, credit history, job, web search and address?
Should agencies like NSA and FBI be allowed to cull through our phone calls and email looking for keywords?
Both these examples are already true. Are you satisfied? Can we still control our own government, or has it already run amok? Excuse me, I thought the sanctity of individual liberty wasn't just some silly liberal issue.
As it happens I wrote a short piece last night on www.jawfish.net about this subject. My inspiration was a piece on applefritter.com -
( http://www.applefritter.com/bannedbooks) that detailed how anyone can create a map of people in the US who have said they wish to read selected books. My point is that the NSA has listened to vast numbers of phone calls for years using computers, the FBI has contracted with credit bureaus, search engines and the like to supply data, and both agencies have the experts and budget to spy on pretty much* everyone in the US. Even without the mounting evidence, it's a reasonable assumption that they are doing just that.
Is that OK with you?
jawfish
* ok they can't spy on homeless people, criminals, and others in the underworld scene.
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