Posted on 09/18/2014 7:25:16 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The former vice president believes the politics of global warming are changing.
Al Gore says Republicans seeking the White House in 2016 are in a bind on climate change.
Asked if it would hurt the GOP nominee to be a climate skeptic or advocate against taking action on global warming, Gore replied: "Oh, yes. Definitely."
"In a general election? At the national level, where moderate voters hold the balance? It would be extremely harmful to a Republican candidate," Gore told National Journal in an interview Wednesday.
But Gore doubts that a "pro-climate" Republican can get the GOP nod, because "carbon polluters and anti-government extremists control many of the state primaries, if not most."
Gore's comments arrive as potential 2016 Republican White House candidates are beginning to stake out turf on climate change and energy.
In a pair of appearances in Washington on Tuesday, Louisiana's GOP Gov. Bobby Jindal called for dismantling EPA's carbon-emissions rules while arguing it's still unclear whether--despite what the vast majority of scientists say--human activities are now largely driving climate change.
Yet Gore believes the national politics have shifted even since the 2012 election cycle. That year, Mitt Romney attacked EPA regulation and used his nomination acceptance speech to openly mock President Obama's 2008 vow to tackle global warming. (Obama, for his part, didn't emphasize his climate platform on the stump but has made it a second-term priority.)
"[A] lot of things have changed even since Mitt Romney ran. The prominence of the climate-related extreme weather events has caused millions of people to look at their hole cards to examine what the options really are . . . [lawmakers'] constituents are profoundly affected by this. As Bob Dylan sang, you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," said Gore, speaking in New York City on the sidelines of his annual "24 Hours of Reality" multimedia event on climate change.
Gore points to the damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy, which hit the Northeast just a week before the 2012 election, as well as extreme weather elsewhere in the nation. And there are other forces at play that are changing the politics of climate change, he argues.
"[T]to some extent, the fact that solar [photovoltaic] technology has come down so dramatically in price, you get these Republican legislatures voting against the Koch brothers and ALEC-sponsored legislation to try to hold solar back," Gore said.
"So, the fact that Mother Nature is answering the question about the reality of the climate crisis, and the technology businesses are answering the question of whether or not we can really solve it if we put our minds to it, and because individual voters now see that they can reduce their electricity bills by putting solar panels on their roof, it is a different situation," he added.
Right now, the center of gravity in GOP ranks is strongly against emissions curbs, and skepticism of human-induced global warming is common. Capitol Hill Republicans are continuing their assault on EPA climate regulations--the House is slated to approve an energy bill this week that would block EPA's carbon-emissions standards for new and existing power plants.
The former vice president, however, points out that it wasn't all that long ago that "Republican nominees have portrayed themselves as pro-climate at the national level." In the 2000 campaign, George W. Bush backed restrictions on carbon emissions from power plants, but he reversed course shortly after taking office. Sen. John McCain called for a cap-and-trade program during his unsuccessful 2008 White House campaign.
I think algore would make a fine contender for the dem candidate in 2016; he has the clown vote sewn up..
Who is this Al Gore fellow, anyway?
“Climate Skepticism Will Haunt Republicans in 2016”
ROTFLOL!
Is there ANYTHING that global warming can’t do!
BTW, here’s a little tune I wrote. It’s called “Global Warming” and it’s sung to the tune of “Monorail”
Lyle Lanley:
You know, a town with money’s a little like the mule with the spinning wheel. No one knows how he got it and danged if he knows how to use it.
(everyone laughs except Homer who at first doesn’t get the joke)
Homer:
Heh-heh, mule.
Lyle Lanley:
The name’s Lanley, Lyle Lanley. And I come before you good people tonight with an idea. Probably the greatest—Aw, it’s not for you. It’s more a Shelbyville idea.
Mayor Quimby:
Now, wait just a minute. We’re twice as smart as the people of Shelbyville. Just tell us your idea and we’ll vote for it.
Lyle Lanley:
All right. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll show you my idea. I give you the Springfield Global Warming!
(everyone gasps)
I’ve sold Global Warmings to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map!
Well, sir, there’s nothin’ on earth like a genuine bona-fide electrified six-car Global Warming! What’d I say?
Ned Flanders:
Global Warming!
Lyle Lanley:
What’s it called?
Patty and Selma:
Global Warming.
Lyle Lanley:
That’s right!
Global Warming!
Cast:
Global Warming...Global Warming...Global Warming... (continue over the following lyrics)
Miss Hoover:
I hear those things are awfully loud.
Lyle Lanley:
It glides as softly as a cloud.
Apu:
Is there a chance the track could bend?
Lyle Lanley:
Not on your life, my Hindu friend.
Barney Gumble:
What about us brain-dead slobs?
Lyle Lanley:
You’ll be given cushy jobs.
Grampa Simpson:
Were you sent here by the devil?
Lyle Lanley:
No, good sir, I’m on the level.
Chief Wiggum:
The ring came off my pudding can.
Lyle Lanley;
Take my pen knife, my good man.
I swear, it’s Springfield’s only choice!
Throw up your hands and raise your voice!
All:
Global Warming...
Lyle Lanley:
What’s it called?
Global Warming...
Once again!
Global Warming!
Marge:
But Main Street’s still all cracked and broken.
Bart:
Sorry, Mom, the mob has spoken!
All:
Global Warming...
Global Warming!!!!!!!!!
Global Warming!!
Global Warming!!!!!
Homer:
Global—D’oh!
Did Gore make his silly comments while flying on his private jet or did he make those comments from one of his mansions?
He was right he could scam his fellow Marxists out of $300 million.
Pray America wakes
Oh, wow....hurricane Sandy.
Like a hurricane NEVER hit the New York area before.
I guess Gore never heard of the hurricane in the 1930’s that was a category 3 and devastated Long Island and southern New England.
Al Gore should be in a straight jacket. He is insane.
Doesn’t algore© weigh over 300 pounds now?
If there was an ‘Animal Farm’ pig, Al’s it.
Why is he aloud to even talk in public? He should be in a prison taking one for the climate asswipe’s team!!
Gore-bull is an a-hat.
He would sell his children to a Bangladesh whor%house if the price was right.
Al, if moderate voters really held the balance, Barack Obama would still be a state senator.
When a liberal rants about the conservative idiots that don’t believe in climate change, I’ve discovered the most effective response is — “I will believe climate change is real when Al Gore, Tom Steyer, the Hollywood stars and other wealthy climate change advocates do three things. First start using public or human powered transportation exclusively. This means sell their private jets and limos and use their feet, bicycles, busses, trains, and commercial aircraft to get where they want to go. Second sell their multiple energy consuming mansions and move into a single small homes or apartments with zero carbon footprint and 100% of the energy supplied by renewable resources 24 hours per day. Third they invest 100% of their personal fortunes in companies producing renewable energy with the caveat these companies receive no direct or indirect funding or subsidies from any government body. When these wealthy advocates for climate change science walk the talk, and put their own lifestyles and money on the line, I’ll believe. “
I have yet to receive a response to the above statement .
One of my earliest memories was being pulled to the polls THROUGH THE SNOW ON A SLED by my neighbor’s mother so she could vote in the Eisenhower-Truman election in 1952. The odds are much higher that the Democrats will be haunted by such an early snow storm in 2016 than the Republicans being haunted by Catastrophic Global Warming.
Global Warming on Free Republic
Could be, I guess. I know ManBearPig certainly seems undead to me, so a haunting doesn't seem too far beyond reason.
Oh, would that it were so. I'm pretty sure it's actually lilly-livered country club surrender monkeys.
Hard to watch people go insane.
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