[HarleyD]

I am really riled up at Costco. Not only did they ask Al Gore to write and put his dribble environmental piece in their November Costco Connection, but there is a subtle message from the Editor David W. Fuller on page nine which states:

Let's talk about Al Gore and Glenn Beck. One of them appears on our cover this month, having penned an article for us concerning his ideas about climate change. The other's book was promoted in a full-page paid advertisement in last month's issue.

These two people have little in common in terms of politics or stature. (There is only one person I can think of who has both a Nobel Peace Prize and the title of vice president of the United States on his resume.)...

Since when does this give anyone qualifications? As we saw recently, the Nobel Prize can be awarded for doing nothing. And on top of that, they ask Al Gore for an article and Glenn Beck had to pay to have his book advertised. I would encourage all Costco members to respond to this nonsense.

[DuncanWaring]

I respond to this nonsense by shopping at Sam’s Club.

[martin_fierro]

That edition hit my mailbox today and went directly to the trash.

[Jo Nuvark]

CONTACT COSTCO...

https://costco.egain.net/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1000&PARTITION_ID=1&CMD=STARTPAGE&USERTYPE=1&LANGUAGE=en&COUNTRY=us

[Red_Devil 232]

Wow! Glad there is not a Cosco near me. Those statements should rile up a few shoppers!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Never shopped in a Costco, but I’ll boycott them anyway if Algore is their ‘spokesmodel.’ Blech!

[cabojoe]

I fixed my copy.

[headstamp 2]

Any businessman that touts the need for so-called climate change legislation deserves whatever happens to his business if it is enacted.

This moron needs to consider the amount of income his customers will be able to spend at his establishment after being raped by this garbage legislation that will address an invented “problem”.

[blastdad51]

I thought I’d take my copy next time I go there and drop it off where COSTCO would have to pick it up and dispose of it. Just giving thier trash back to them .

[afraidfortherepublic]

I was FURIOUS when I got that mag. Then, elsewhere I read that Costco is now going to accept food stamps from their customers. My question: who is paying the membership fees for the customers using food stamps?

I am considering seriously that I should discontinue my membership. I also beong to Sam’s and Sam’s has more things that I need and better hours.

As for the people shopping with food stamps, Costco is not necessarily a good investment for them. THe packages are too large for the average family, take up too much room, and often are not a bargain.

[DTogo]

Al Gore drips hypocrisy.

[ZinGirl]

Harley - thanks for this! here's "most" of our reply to Costco:

Our membership is due up tomorrow, 31 Oct. After 18 loyal years, we are not renewing.

It's not so much that it is Al Gore on the cover of your most recent magazine or that you pander to his hypocrisy....who cares?

Nope....it is Costco's condescending, insulting attitude of pretending that anyone else has an equal play: such as Glenn Beck, as in "hey, we're fair and balanced!....gosh, we let him pay for a full page ad for his book!"

We are offended by your low opinion of our intelligence. Your utter contempt in thinking we can't tell the difference solidifies our now equally low opinion of your business practice.

Oh, on the other hand....our friends and family have a HIGH opinion of our intelligence....and now a very low opinion of Costco.

18 years? the love affair is over.

[gert1]

I’ll not cut off my nose to spite my face. The greeter at the Costco here has a son fighting in Afghanistan and is as right wing as me. And the folks, most of them, are pretty friendly. I’ll keep shopping at Costco, but I am dying to see what repercussions this decision to put that overweight spokesperson on their cover has.

I wrote Costco Connection, and told them of my disgust, and let them know I’ll be buying things elsewhere when it makes economic senses.

And the money I save from shopping at Costco? It’ll go to causes I believe in, not to left wing lunatic causes.

[ZinGirl]

update to our reply from Costco:

(interesting!.....and it is my bold in the quoted text)

Thank you for your e-mail to Costco Wholesale. Thank you for sharing your opinion about our November Costco Connection Magazine cover featuring Algore. We appreciate and respect the opinion of our members.

"Algore"? from Costco? hahahahaha

[4woodenboats]

I sent an email to their editor, David Fuller.

dfuller@costco.com

I just wanted to express my disgust with your biased gushing over who, in your opinion, has more "stature", Political Scientist Al Gore, a scam artist that has been thoroughly discredited by everyone from the Filipeno scientists who had to calm a panicked populace after Gorebull Alarming washed ashore:

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48807

to the scientists that are honest enough to admit that critical data has been cherry picked and/or ignored (have you ever set aside your professional title long enough to take a humble, unbiased effort to fact check someone who you obviously worship? On the razor thin chance that you can stop gushing long enough to read).

http://igloo.atmos.uiuc.edu/cgi-bin/test/print.sh?fm=06&fd=25&fy=1999&sm=06&sd=25&sy=2008

http://www.climateaudit.org/

You gloat that Al of Girth writes for you for free, while Glenn Beck, whose ability to uncover the truth and prove his points unafraid of challenge has earned his stature, must pay to be in The Holy Grail of Journalism, a warehouse outlet coupon book.

There's a lot bigger men than you in much smaller jobs, and as a long time member of Costco, I feel this would be an appropriate time to hand over your job to someone who puts the customers and the company before asinine political worship.

You have put one hell of a stain on a good store. Please leave.

[enviros_kill]

Here’s my reply to these nitwits:

The November Costco Connection with Al Gore, greatest con-man of the century, on the front cover was an affront. I have a degree in Physics and a Masters in Knowledge Management and have extensively researched and written about energy and environment topics for 15 years. Al Gore’s presence on your Connection drags Costco, a store I formerly admired, into the muck and mire of the proven unethical and corrupt man-made global warming superstition. I expected better from a store that epitomizes the tremendous benefits the free market can provide to humans. Al Gore promotes the green form of communism in which a global government, using the false crisis of man-made global warming (what a joke - the globe is cooling while CO2 increases) dictates your every purchase and action. The errors in Al gore’s science fiction slide show, An Inconvenient Truth, are cataloged here (2007)
http://scienceandpublicpolicy.org/monckton/goreerrors.html

Did you know a court in Britain found serious errors in the Al Gore slide show as well and requires a warning before it can be viewed in British schools? (2007)
http://planetgore.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NTJjYWQ5ODRhMmFhMzcxMWIxMGI2NzNmOTAxNjNjMGI=

Wake up Costco, either you are ignorant of the real motives behind the so-called ‘green’ movement or you wish to make a bed with those who despise free enterprise. Which is it?

[dfwgator]

No wonder they were featured in "Idiocracy."

[mcrichmary]

For all of you that echo the thought that Al Gore is a threat to business interests with his quackery, cancel your membership as I did. I sent a letter to costco connections and the president/ceo of costco with my disgust. How could they use Al Gore and his unproven ideas as a poster-child that if he gets his way will destroy the United States as we know it today. There are many other options, including WalMart and Sams Club.

[proudpapa]

Here’s the Official Costco response that I received...it sounds like they realize that they made a mistake...:

Thank you for your e-mail concerning the November cover story written by Al Gore. I am sorry to hear about your decision not to purchase Christmas gifts at Costco.

I want to assure you that our selection of Al Gore was in no way meant to promote a political agenda. The piece was offered to us by the publishers of Mr. Gore’s new book and we felt that it would help us sell the book. Neither Costco nor the magazine take stands on partisan political issues.

We will take greater care in the future to avoid partisanship or the appearance of it.

You were not the only correspondent to take us to task for this. In our December issue you will see a selection of the comment we have received.

Take care,

Dave Fuller

Editor

The Costco Connection

[kings9111]

Costo:

We are very disappointed in your decision to exalt Al Gore and to belittle Glen Beck in a recent article in your magazine. As a shopper in your store I would expect you to be apolitical. I frequent the book area, noticing the disproportionate number of left-leaning material. I reasoned that there was still a number of conservative selections available - concluding that Costco was making an attempt at being fair (albeit a vain attempt in light of this obvious bias in the following excerpt).

“Let’s talk about Al Gore and Glenn Beck. One of them appears on our cover this month, having penned an article for us concerning his ideas about climate change. The other’s book was promoted in a full-page paid advertisement in last month’s issue.

These two people have little in common in terms of politics or stature. (There is only one person I can think of who has both a Nobel Peace Prize and the title of vice president of the United States on his resume.)”

I always shop at your stores around the Christmas season - not this year - unless I get an apology. I don’t think I stand alone - you have a lot of people to answer to.

Their response:

At times we publish articles that may be seen as controversial to some and acceptable to others. It is our policy to let our members decide what is acceptable by what they choose to read. Our member’s opinions and views on personally controversial persons or articles are always welcome and their refusal to purchase any products or read any article for personal, political, or religious reasons is respected and honored.

In terms of the articles we publish in the magazine, our coverage has included – and will continue to include- everyone from Tim LaHaye to Howard Stern. Again, we rely on time for the balance and on each member’s judgment to choose what he or she wants to read.

We have forwarded your comments to our business executives for their review. Thank you for taking the time to share your comments with us.

Thank you for your e-mail to Costco Wholesale.

Thank you,

Judah
Costco Wholesale Corporation

[curmudgeon7]

Thanks for your post. Here’s what I sent today (via snail mail)... I truly hope others will follow!

Mr. James D. Sinegal, CEO
Costco Wholesale Corporation
999 Lake Drive
Issaquah, WA 98027

Dear Mr. Sinegal,

Upon opening our mail, I was truly dismayed to see Costco’s obvious promotion of Al Gore and his fraudulent agenda. Anyone with a modicum of common sense would realize the hypocritical Al Gore is a huckster/con-artist who is scheming to enrich himself with his “man-made global warming” hoax.

Unfortunately after being a loyal Price Club/Costco member for over 21 years, we can no longer do business with a firm that clearly promotes Al Gore’s hogwash. Therefore please cancel our Costco membership (Acct # XXXX) forthwith.
Sincerely,

Enc: Costco membership card (cut-up)