Ray Chavez / MediaNews
Former Vice President Al Gore shakes hands with supporters after his speech about Proposition 87, which would tax oil companies,
at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in Berkeley on Monday.
Posted on 10/24/2006 10:37:25 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Former Vice President Al Gore appeared in Berkeley on Monday to lend his celebrity and reputation as a crusader against global warming to a measure on California's Nov. 7 ballot that would tax oil companies to raise $4 billion for green energy projects.
``I'm here to change peoples' minds on the climate crisis and to support Prop 87,'' Gore called to a group of reporters after he emerged from the ``100 miles per gallon'' Toyota Prius that brought him to a noontime rally in a sun-drenched park behind Berkeley's City Hall.
His motorcade also included three motorcycles, two limousines and a Dodge Ram 1500 light duty truck.
Gore, flanked by signs proclaiming Yes on 87 and promoting the Web site of a Berkeley company that installs solar energy systems, spoke to hundreds of supporters who had passed between metal barriers and gathered in front of speakers pulsating rock and reggae music.
Organizers estimated the crowd at 3,000. Police at the scene had no estimate.
Like a candidate delivering a stump speech, Gore ranged over a wide political terrain in his 24-minute speech. He compared those who have denied the threat posed by greenhouse gas emissions and climate change to those who ignored warnings before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans.
Gore likened the global-warming crisis to having a sick child: No responsible parent would delay treatment once a diagnosis is rendered, he said.
Proposition 87 would tax oil companies for oil they take from California, raising about $4 billion for use in developing alternative energy sources with a goal of reducing the state's dependence on gas and diesel by 25 percent within 10 years.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Former Vice President Al Gore shakes hands with supporters after his speech about Proposition 87, which would tax oil companies,
at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park in Berkeley on Monday.
Al Gore is a fat, oil-rich, deranged hypocritical joke--i.e. a Democrat politician.
People in Berkeley are stupid enough not to realize that "taxing" oil companies taxes themselves, as corporations simply pass expenses on to consumers.
Did he bring an electric generator? Solar panels? Scuff across a nylon carpet? Rub a balloon on his hair?
Al Gore and Berkeley, perfect together..
Where did he find this Prius that gets 100 MPG. The sticker in the window makes no such claim.
I am impressed by the courage Al Gore showed, going to Berkeley to make a speech...not like Jeane Kirkpatrick who knew she would be welcomed with smiles and flowers.
Preaching to the choir. As if any Berzerkelyite who bothers to vote wouldn't love to vote for any tax hike.
Normal Californians look at the combo of Berkeley and Al Gore and go pssst.
It gets 100 mpg if you push it for about 50 miles.
---People in Berkeley are stupid enough not to realize that "taxing" oil companies taxes themselves, as corporations simply pass expenses on to consumers.---
They just see it as taxing all those idiot commuters. You know, all those poor schmucks that actually work for a living.
It didn't get a very good review on the car and driver show.
None of those hybrid cars do. Gutless, and expensive, for marginal fuel savings, IF you drive them like a 90 year old.
Some of the hybrids that shut off the engine I'll bet that premature (expensive)starter failure will cancel any savings to be had. Not that there was much to begin with.
There are companies in Cal that alter the Prius to run more like an electric car. Its a hybrid that you plug-in at home and they average the mpg to 100. Soooo...this just "outed" me as an evironmental wacko conservative from NJ....oh well, been called much worst.
Like most of this overhyped crap it does not perform as advertised. I'm shocked.
So what you are saying is that you make up in a home electric bill what you save in gasoline?
LOL in that case my pickup truck gets 70 MPG.
Your correct about having to drive like a 90 year old to get the mileage, but the starter is far different then what we're use to. If your at a stop, the engine (in the prius) does shut off and doesnt come back on until you reach 35(? or abouts) or if the battery runs down, so the car is already in motion and uses the electric motor/gen/transmission box to start the engine. This is about all my basic knowledge I have on this.
They did study the electric cost of a slow charge vs. gasoline costs and the electric costs where much lower. The entire electric car industry is still battling with something that produces an acceptable range for the American market. All batteries so far have just not done the job.
hehehe... That makes it very easy for me how to vote Prop 87. I must say Al is the best kept secret for big oils!!! :)
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