Al Gore's Inconvenient Loot

Former Vice President Al Gore has built a Green money-making machine capable of eventually generating billions of dollars for investors, including himself, but he set it up so that the average Joe can't afford to play on Gore's terms. And the US portion is headed up by a former Gore staffer and fund raiser who previously ran afoul of both the FEC and the DOJ, before Janet Reno jumped in and shut down an investigation during the Clinton years.

As Bill Hobbs first pointed out, Gore supposedly pays for his extra-large carbon footprint through Generation Investment Management (GIM) - and if you're looking to go green, and have your wallet go along with Gore, think again - average people are too insignificant to play - verifiable from this pdf.

Generation is based in London, with its U.S. offices in Washington, DC. The firm will manage the assets of institutional investors such as pension funds, foundations and endowments, as well as those of select high net worth individuals.* Generation expects to make extensive use of long-term performance based fees. Generation will begin its investment management business in early 2005.

* like Al Gore

Gore's company, GIM was specifically established to take financial advantage of new technologies and solutions related to combating Global Warming. The Global Warming crowd has told us that just recently new science emerged confirming the alleged fact that Global Warming is man made. So, ask yourself, why is it that Gore set up his Green money machine three years ago back in 2004? Is it possible Gore knew what the science would say before it was out? And even if not, can an individual who stands to make millions from Global Warming really be trusted as an honest broker on that topic? Talk about giving the fox the keys to the hen penthouse.

Even if Global Warming did exist, in principle, what's the difference between war profiteering and this? One could justifiably argue that Gore is taking advantage of, in his opinion, a catastrophic situation to clean up - and I don't mean the environment.

Here's a list indicating what it takes to make money along with Al. Funds associated with these companies have placed millions of dollars under Al Gore's control. And, as you'll see below, Gore's selection for the US President of GIM might raise a few eyebrows as well.

AFLAC INC - AQUANTIVE INC - AUTODESK INC - BECTON DICKINSON & CO BLACKBAUD INC - GENERAL ELECTRIC CO - GREENHILL & CO INC - JOHNSON CTLS INC - LABORATORY CORP AMER HLDGS - METABOLIX INC - NORTHERN TR CORP - NUVEEN INVTS INC -STAPLES INC - SYSCO CORP - TECHNE CORP - UBS AG - VCA ANTECH INC - WATERS CORP - WHOLE FOODS MKT INC

According to their own documents, GIM intends to invest in, or buy companies poised to cash in on Global Warming concerns. If we borrow John Edward's so-called two Americas concept for a second, this all means higher prices and taxes with more regulation and an altered standard of living for people like you and me, while Al Gore sits ensconced in his other America reaping profits from each new government mandate for us, business and even government itself. It's win win, alright, but mostly for Al.

To add insult to injury, Gore chose Peter S. Knight, an old friend and colleague some are sure to recall, as the US President of GIM.

Peter S. Knight, formerly Managing Director Met West Financial, lawyer, Chief of Staff for Senator Al Gore (D-TN) from 1977-1989, and Campaign Manager for President Clinton's successful re-election in 1996, is President of Generation U.S.

This would be him:   Reno Rejects Inquiry Into a Clinton Aide

Atty Gen Janet Reno decides against any further investigation of Peter Knight, Pres Clinton's 1996 campaign manager in connection with office building development in nation's capital; such an investigation could have led to naming independent counsel to look further into activities of Knight, who is also former top assistant to Vice Pres Al Gore.

Yes, thanks to Janet Reno, no one ever found out how $20,000 in stock turned up in an account for Knight's then 13 year old child.

Dispute over Democratic Party campaign-financing shifts to Zachary Knight, 13-year-old son of Peter S Knight, Clinton-Gore campaign chairman in 1996, who was given $20,000 in stock by William Haney 3d, chairman of Molten Metal Technology Inc; Republicans believe gift, which came after father was named chairman of campaign, was really payment to Knight, who had worked as $7,000-per-month lobbyist for company; Knight denies involvement in any impropriety; photo

If Gore's motivation in pushing Global Warming is so altruistic, was it really necessarily for the already wealthy Gore to establish a multi-million dollar corporation in England to cash in? And given the history of Gore and Knight, are these people we should trust to drive a re-vamping of the world economy at the same time they're lining their pockets because of our much smaller carbon footprints?

If Al Gore is successful with this latest scheme, Gore and his cronies are going to be much more $green$ than most of the earth. And the only green in this for you and me is the kind that accompanies envy as Gore trucks around on private jets putting dollars to offset his extravagance into a cash machine generating profits on the backs of the middle class with misrepresented science that doesn't deserve to be called science at all.

Mr. Gore starts out, ironically enough, asserting the importance of peer-reviewed science. I call this ironic because the misrepresentation that follows (a) hasn’t been peer reviewed, and (b) the peer-reviewed literature contradicts the misrepresentation.

From the Center For Public Integrity: one of the issues involving both Knight and carbon friendly Al was the installation of a hot tub and steam shower in the Master Bedroom of the VP's house. How Green is that?

Here's what the Center found about some of the most generous contributors to the foundation: Peter S. Knight...

Peter S. Knight, Gore's former chief of staff, managed Gore's first bid for the presidency in 1988. In 1989, he began lobbying for the firm Wunder, Diefendorfer, Cannon and Thelan. Given his closeness to Gore and the rest of the Clinton administration, corporations now pay Knight upward of $10,000 a month to wield his influence with Gore. With the help of his new clients, Knight soon cemented a new role for himself as Gore's "chief of fund raising."

Since 1996, Knight's various lobbying and fund-raising activity has been the subject of a Federal Election Commission investigation, a Justice Department inquiry and two House Commerce Committee probes.

Gore chose Knight to act as chairman of the foundation during Gore's first vice presidential term. Three of Knight's clients - millionaire publishing magnate Vance Opperman, Bell Atlantic and Fluor Corporation — showered the foundation with $10,000 each.

Knight also solicited $10,000 contributions from foundations run by Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), Coca-Cola Company, MCI Communications (now MCI WorldCom, Inc.), Time Warner Inc. and Microsoft Corporation (Chairman Bill Gates also contributed a $30,000 glass sculpture). Under Gore's supervision, the foundation pledged to take corporate money only through their foundations, not from corporations directly. The $10,000 paid by the Coca-Cola Company, however, came out of the corporate account.

Comments

[mightyjoeyoung]

Al Gore uses a lot of energy. Duh. Do you travel across the globe constantly? No. Does your home house a global communications network, two fully staffed offices and secret service detail? No. Comparing yourself or \"average\" person to what amounts to a sizable business is purposefully misleading. You and your readers know it too, that\'s why you\'ve moved the goalpost towards carbon credits.

\"Al was the installation of a hot tub and steam shower in the Master Bedroom of the VP\'s house. How Green is that?\"

I don\'t know. Neither do you. I guarantee it doesn\'t use as much energy as other rich people\'s hot tubs. But that\'s not your point anymore, is it? It\'s that he\'s rich and he has a big house. Rich people can\'t talk about Global Warming. They\'re Rich!!!!!!! Goal Post moved.

\"So, ask yourself, why is it that Gore set up his Green money machine three years ago back in 2004?\"

Gore wrote Earth in the Balance in 1993. I\'m sure he\'s been investing in these types of industries well before 2004. He also wrote Access America: Reengineering Through Information Technology in 1997 well before the big commercial boom of the internets. I\'m sure he\'s got some money invested in things like the google.

You see what you\'re doing? You are so filled with loathing of the man who got more votes than your king that you are actually arguing against capitalism. You are arguing against investing in the future of this great nation. Michigan will never get it\'s auto industry back until we build the next generation of clean vehicles. Why do you hate progress, and a clean environment, and people from Detroit?

Hey...we can\'t all be as altruistic as the Bushes, Cheneys and Rumsfelds who happend to have a monetary stake in what happens in the middle east. Whoops, Saddam Hussein \"defied U.N. resolutions\" time to cash in--I mean spread freedom. Oh, some poor soldier lost a leg because of an IED...Cha Ching!!!! We can just short change \'em at Walter Reed.

Funny. Walter Reed hasn\'t been mention much on this blog. Why is that Dan?

[w3]

Science H. Reason, Dan. Don't you know it's only a sin to be rich and have conflicts of interest when you're a conservative? The Goracle gets a pass and has capitalism redefined for him to boot.

Bemoan those who insult Scientific Consensus and his prophet The Goracle (Carbon offsets be upon him).

[BobInStamford]

Why don't you 'patriots' go find bin Laden?

[Fred Beloit]

Hello, Bob. How's the weather in Bridgeport today? Are you traitors (to use your type of greeting) still trying to defeat the U.S. and help our enemy?

[Hard Right]

Of course the moonbats sink to Al's aid. What, no replies of HALLIBURTON? BTW, did you know Soros owns $62 million in shares of Halliburton?

[templar knight]

You boys better stop that criticism of Al Whore....uh....Gore. Right now, or there's no telling what might happen, especially in regards to redifining capitalism. Another week or two and the Left will completely accept capitalism, well, just as long as it applies to things that are "green". Forget anything else, though. Not oil. Not coal. Not nuclear.

[Legalize]

Man, you guys sure do hate Al Gore. First it was a sin to use electricty, even when that electricty is generated by cleaner energy, and is offset; now it's a sin to make a profit from the same cleaner energy production - which is pretty funny, given that one of the loony "arguments" against doing anything about global warming is that it will lead to a reduction of profits.

It's a start-up, morons. Start-ups require individuals or entities with a lot of capital to get going. The average Joe doesn't have that capital; thus the average Joe rarely has a hand in capitalization process - ever. Of course the project will become more acessible to the average investor in the furture. Are you really dense enough to believe that anyone interested in a profit wants to EXCLUDE the vast majority of investors?

You people are like spoiled teenagers whining about the smart kids getting the attention. But, you have to grow up some day.

[Kojiro Vance]

Dan - Can you try to get some information from Generation Investment Management?

The company was founded by Al Gore and David Blood. This company allegedly sold Mr. Gore carbon offsets for his carbon neutral lifestyle.

I asked if they would send me an annual report and financial statements. I was told they are a private employee owned LLP and weren’t required to share financials. So I said, OK, then can they give me a list of specific projects or investments they have funded. They wouldn’t do that either.

Very strange. I have done searches on the company and can find no press releases or other information where GIM made ANY investments. I’m not saying they haven’t or that Mr. Gore did not indeed purchase carbon offsets. There just isn’t any records that I can find.

Perhaps you can do better.

[Andrew]

Maybe you idiot cons didnt get the memo, but that moron GW is President and has been making an ass of himself and America since 1/01. You fools should go win your war on terror or something. For starters, it might be nice to actually DEFEAT and ELIMINATE the Taliban. After that, you might try either winning in Iraq (haha) or just cutting your losses and admitting that it was a BIG mistake. Either way, you clowns look bad.

[Andrew]

Oh, and to the Columbo above who wants to know more about Generation Investment Management - they are a private LLP, meaning Limited Liability Partnership and don't have to tell 'investigators' like you or the Natalee Holloway Sleuth that runs this site anything. Morons...

[David M]

Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 03/02/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.

[charles]

Andrew - the childish name calling just convinces me how right and smart you are

keep speaking that truth to power (gag) brother

[Zifnab]

Did Dan Riehl just launch a full page diatribe against the horrors of a capitalist society? Exxon pulls down a $40 billion dollar yearly profit and Dan goes off the deep end because Al Gore stands mere millions in Green Energy? They've been talking about Global Warming since the 70s and you call out Gore on some sort of insider-trading spoof in 2004? Are you fucking kidding me?

Seriously, Dan. How much is the CEI tipping you for hit jobs like this? What sort of wingnut welfare program are you on that would compel you to produce this absolute drivel?

As for Halliburton, last I checked Halliburton is war-profiteering (ie, taking in huge government no-bid contracts to support an illegal, pointless war). Tennesse Green Power is setting up solar panels over bus terminals. When Tennesse Green Power lobbies Congress to invade a third-world country, maybe we can talk. Till then, at least try to be a little less intellectually dishonest.

[Blonde Hottie from Tennessee]

I just want to say I am ashamed Al Gore has a carbon footprint in my state.

And I'm not ready to make ice.

[Gary Maxwell]

Wow Dan you must have hit a nerve with a high speed drill! They are literally falling all over themselves trying to tell you to shut up and stop picking on Big Al ( and I do mean BIG ). Keep it up, they are always great for a laugh.

[mightyjoeyoung]

Can anyone explain WHY this would be a conflict of interest? I don't need to explain to you the definition of war profiteering, do I.

Why do you Commies hate Capitalism?

[T-Bone]

Actually, in the 70's the earth was going to fall prey to over-population and the coming ice age.

[iftheshoefits]

Let's see, ever since Al Gore has been caught with his "energy consumption pants down", so to speak, we see lefties now suddenly furiously defending:

Energy Investment Companies posing as false fronts for reducing atmospheric C02

A Gross personal financial conflict of interest, ostensibly defended as "capitalism at work"

A hyper-moralistic doomsday preacher who doesn't practice what he preaches

Profligate personal energy consumption of a rich white privileged American. Didn't you know that America's big energy problem is that we have 6% of the world's population, but consume 25% of the world's energy? Any idea why?

How am I supposed to convince people to switch towards using cleaner sources of energy if Al & Co. don't own up to all this crap and show a lot more transparency and honesty? Yeah, we've got big problems with overconsumption of dirty energy. (Global warming probably isn't one of them, but that's a whole 'nother topic.) Maybe a little less sanctimony, and humility towards those less enlightened, might actually move things forward a bit?

Come on guys, concede a point for once. It won't kill you. This hypocrisy doesn't pass the smell test.

[Kojiro Vance]

Imagine if KBR, a subsidiary of Halliburton, built a power plant and then purchased pollution offsets from their own privately held LLP that produces NO financial or other records.

Is there any environmentalist in the world that wouldn't be outraged at this? Is this not what Al Gore is doing?

At the end of the day all we have to prove Gore's zero carbon footprint is Al Gore's word.

[Zifnab]

"This hypocrisy doesn't pass the smell test."

Hey, whatever. Your President is in the trash, your Congress and Senate majorities are gutted. In the end, it doesn't really matter if you stick your heads in the ground and dig for slime (or just invent it - the right has such a bad track record on this its credibility is long dead).

It's just exhausting to see pro-Capitalists have a hissy fit because Al Gore is a capitalist too. Or watch people launch into diatribes about how Al Gore is wrecking America by mentioning Global Warming, when the past six years have been nothing but Terri Shavio con-games and invisible nuclear weapons.

But I guess it takes one to know one, so maybe the righties are seeing something I'm just not. Heck, maybe Al Gore is secretly processing uranium in a bunker in Tennesse. Who knows? I'm sure the Office of Special Plans will be ready with a press-release shortly.

[Gary Maxwell]

Just saw something in the vile and much maligned conservative gossip rag, AKA as National Geographic. Heard about Mars warming? Me neither. Must be all the SUVs up there.

Nat Geographic on Mars Warming, Who Knew?

[Gary Maxwell]

Hyper link did not work for some reason. Google " Mars Warming, National Geographic and February 28, 2007 you will find the article. If any knows if tags are different on TypePad than other blooger software let me know the secret.

[Dan Riehl]

"so maybe the righties are seeing something I'm just not."

You can't be taken seriously Z. If one day former VP Cheney started a company to do the same thing for advanced oil drilling techniques, then used his former office to run around promoting the need, the same people defending Gore would be screaming conflict of interest, corruption, etc.

Save it, Z - your denial doesn't add up.

[Dan Riehl]

Just paste the url GM

[Gary Maxwell]

Al Gore is not prcoessing uranium in a bunker in Tennessee, No in fact he is mining zinc in two separate mines in Carthage Tennessee. Has been for a very long time. I am sure since you are so focused on hypocricy, that this rape of Mother Earth will mobilize you into action.

[Gary Maxwell]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/02/070228-mars-warming.html

[Hard Right]

Science H. Reason, Dan. Don't you know it's only a sin to be rich and have conflicts of interest when you're a conservative? The Goracle gets a pass and has capitalism redefined for him to boot.

Bemoan those who insult Scientific Consensus and his prophet The Goracle (Carbon offsets be upon him).

You hit it right on the head. Legalize, why am I not surprised that one dirt bag lawyer is defending a dirt bag from his party? He could have gotten the money from wealthy individuals too. However he limited it to big corporations. AND he founded it in England where monopolies are allowed. The goal is big, big, money for himself. I guess he wants to be the next Soros. He hypes up a bogus threat then forms a company to make money off of it. Can you say con man boys and girls?

[Sydney Carton]

This is a devastating critique. This basically confirms that Gore has been marketing Global Warming as a way to convince people to buy carbon offsets or solicit from eco-friendly companies, all of which Gore's hedge fund has a stake in. The Securities and Exchange Commission forms don't lie, even though Gore might. There is no way to rebut these facts:

1. Gore's hedge fund invests in "eco-friendly" companies.

2. Gore has been flying around the world telling everyone to use eco-friendly things that those companies make, or to buy "carbon offsets" from those "eco-friendly" companies.

3. When people buy carbon offsets or shop at Whole Foods (as an example), those companies selling the carbon offsets, or Whole Foods, make money. Gore's hedge fund, as an investor, gets a part of that profit.

4. Gore ALSO makes money because he's Chairman of the investment manager to his hedge fund, which probably takes a 2.00% management fee plus a performance fee of 20% or so (standard in the hedge fund industry).

As I said, this is a devastating critique of Gore. It basically confirms he's a snake-oil salesman.

[Gary Maxwell]

He is not a snake oil salesman, he is a carbon offset salesman. At least the snake oil is a tangible product.

[Andrew]

Damn, you rednecks are dumb.

[w3]

Look, Bob, a baby wolf!

[Gary Maxwell]

Cogent argument eloquently stated or ad hom attack? Which to choose? Well if you cant do the first, settle for the second!

[Zifnab]

"You can't be taken seriously Z. If one day former VP Cheney started a company to do the same thing for advanced oil drilling techniques, then used his former office to run around promoting the need, the same people defending Gore would be screaming conflict of interest, corruption, etc.

Save it, Z - your denial doesn't add up."

Al Gore doesn't have a long history of making shit up. We don't have directly contradictory quotes from Al Gore's time in the Senate and his time as VP. Al Gore has been markedly consistant in his environmental views, so when he starts a company directly in line with those environmental views, he has a history of credibility.

Dick Cheney has been caught lying or being wrong so many times in the last 6 years that anything he does is suspect. He's been giving wholesale government handouts in the form of no-bid contracts to the company of which he was an executive officer.

The difference between Al Gore and Dick Cheney is that Al Gore isn't sucking down our tax dollars when he makes his documentaries or promotes his green initatives. Gas isn't $2-3/gallon because Al Gore invaded a foreign country to encourage renewable energy growth. Al Gore isn't doing anything wrong. And yet, with Walter Reed in shambles, with a bleeding war plunging our country into record deficits, with Wall Street at the mercy of the Chinese economy, with US saber-rattlings against Iran, you guys go into a screaming conspiracy-ladden fit over Al Gore saying we need to buy more hybrid cars.

The country is falling apart at the seems, and you guys don't give a fuck. But one man wins an Oscar over Global Warming, and you've suddenly all got backbones and missions and rightous indignation to spare.

Well spare me. Please.

[Pablo]

mightyjoeyoung,

"Does your home house a global communications network, two fully staffed offices and secret service detail?"

Wrong. Current TV runs out of San Franciso. Just take a look at where people who work there actually work. http://www.current.tv/jobs

I'd fisk the rest of that, but it's giving me a headache.

[Gary Maxwell]

Man that was funny! Did you get any on yourself?

[Pablo]

"Al Gore has been markedly consistant in his environmental views, so when he starts a company directly in line with those environmental views, he has a history of credibility."

And when he moves into a house that sucks power like a small factory, well, let's just ignore that.

Look, a carbon credit! Grab it!

[Pablo]

"But one man wins an Oscar over Global Warming, and you've suddenly all got backbones and missions and rightous indignation to spare."

Soory, Z, but that's Hollywood for ya. Gore didn't win an Oscar, Davis Guggenheim did.

http://www.oscar.com/oscarnight/winners/?pn=detail&nominee=AnInconvenientTruthDocumentaryFeatureNominee

Once again, the little people did the work and Al grabbed the glory, this time for being a frigging narrator.

[Zifnab]

"And when he moves into a house that sucks power like a small factory, well, let's just ignore that.

Look, a carbon credit! Grab it!"

Dude. Whatever. We can play the "solar and wind power never existed, I don't know what you're talking about" game till we're blue in the face. If you want to sing yourself to sleep with talk of "indulgences" and carbon credits, go nuts.

[Michael Evilcorn]

This never ending attack on snake oil is just more junk science. Show me a peer-reviewed study which proves that snake oil is ineffective.

[Kevin T. Keith]

This is just ill-informed nonsense.

Non-indexed investment funds are regarded by the SEC as inherently risky investments. Marketing directly to individual-level buyers risks being fined or shut down if the buyers can claim they didn't have sufficient information to evaluate their risks - which, in a speculative enterprise such as this, the average buyer does not. But "sophisticated investors" fall outside this category; the SEC assumes that they have the expertise to take their own risks. "Sophisticated investors" is a legal term that is defined to include professional money managers and "high net worth individuals" - which in turn is usually defined as having a personal net worth greater than $2 million. (Yes, by definition that makes Paris Hilton a sophisticated investor - a scary thought - but those who've actually earned that much money are assumed to know what to do with it.) Gore's fund targets sophisticated investors - as almost every clever-pants speculative investment fund does. This is industry standard practice. (The overhead cost of managing fund contributions of only a few hundred dollars at a time also means it isn't worth it to them to recruit small investors. But again, this is no more than standard business reasoning.)

As for the purpose of the fund, it brings market leverage to bear on the environmental crisis by supporting and investing in the long-term growth of businesses with sustainable business practices. You don't have to be an environmentalist to invest in their fund; you just have to believe in their ability to find successful investment targets. If you think they can make money, you have an incentive to invest with them - which means that their fund inherently puts non-environmentalists' money to work supporting environmentally sound business, out of purely economic motives alone. Isn't that the kind of "market solution" you're supposed to support?

As for founding the business three years ago - you really think that the people who are concerned about global warming only woke up to it in the last three years? You clearly have your head in the sane, but for those who are serious about this problem, setting up insitutions to deal with it has been in the works far longer than that.

The rest is just weird ranting. None of this has anything to do with "carbon footprints" or who uses how much energy. GIM is an ordinary "growth" investment fund with a particular investment strategy. It was founded for the purpose of supporting sustainable businesses, but it operates the same way all such funds do, each of which has their own pet investment theories. Gore's not making money off your carbon offsets, if you even use any, and if he did, again, isn't that the sort of thing you're supposed to support? By investing in the company that trades carbon offsets, he creates a market for such trades, and those trades support renewable energy resources. That's the kind of investment that brings social goods as well as profits, but if the investment is attractive from the profit perspective alone, isn't that an even better and more likely way to achieve the social benefit?

And as others have pointed out, there's nothing hypocritical or unusal about Gore's energy usage; what's different is that he tries to do something about it. What you can't seem to stand is that he does it in a way that uses the market for good ends.

Really, you're just bent out of shape because Gore has money and is playing your game to his own purposes - so far, successfully. Having actual no clue about the people you're attacking, you seem to assume that liberals reflexively hate the rich or business people, and that therefore it's hypocritical of them to become either of those things themselves. In fact, liberals don't hate the rich - they hate assholes. That those two categories are almost indistinguishable is not our fault.

[iftheshoefits]

"But I guess it takes one to know one, so maybe the righties are seeing something I'm just not."

Hey I'll agree with ya on that one. I've watched in disgust as church congregations I was a part of got seduced by money-grubbing televangelists, livin' the high life all the while constantly hitting up for contributions from people who really couldn't afford it. Yeah, I know what you mean, and it stinks.

Just like this whole mess. We're sorry to point out that hypocrisy is a general human failing and doesn't have a particular political calling card. So deal with it. Your cause (if it really is CO2 reduction) will be better off for it in the long run.

If that's not really your cause, then carry on, as I suppose you will. At least we all know what to do now, to get the secular "blessing".

[ZZMike]

Generation Investment Management has the same goals that Enron (under Lay and Skilling) did: to make tons of money out of tinkering with natural resource allocation. Enron tried to do it by pushing real hard for the Kyoto agreement. Generation is doing it by pushing real hard for regulations requiring "carbon trading".

Let's hope that GIM meets the same fate.

I have no problem with Gore living in a big house, driving 12 SUVs, private-jetting all over the country. If I had that kind of money, I'd be doing exactly the same thing. But since he does live like that, he should keep his big fat mouth shut and stop telling the rest of us "little people" how to live.

[mightyjoeyoung]

\\\"this time for being a frigging narrator.\\\"

By narrator, do you mean being the entire subject of a Documentary? Muhammad Ali took the stage when When We Were Kings won the Oscar. Is he stealing credit in the movie made about him?

\\\"Current TV runs out of San Franciso\\\"

Yeah? So? Al and Tipper Gore\\\'s offices are run out of their homes. They aren\\\'t bloggers and day traders. They are two of the most influential people in American culture (whether you like that fact or not). They travel the world to spread their messages (whether you like that message or not) and they have to use a lot of energy to do so. Since we know they are taking steps to reduce their energy consumption (like working from home and installing solar panels) the only thing you\\\'ve got on them is that they are rich. Al Gore is a hypocrite because he doesn\\\'t live in a mud hut powered by potato batteries.

[mightyjoeyoung]

\\\"this time for being a frigging narrator.\\\"

By narrator, do you mean being the entire subject of a Documentary? Muhammad Ali took the stage when When We Were Kings won the Oscar. Is he stealing credit in the movie made about him?

\\\"Current TV runs out of San Franciso\\\"

Yeah? So? Al and Tipper Gore\\\'s offices are run out of their homes. They aren\\\'t bloggers and day traders. They are two of the most influential people in American culture (whether you like that fact or not). They travel the world to spread their messages (whether you like that message or not) and they have to use a lot of energy to do so. Since we know they are taking steps to reduce their energy consumption (like working from home and installing solar panels) the only thing you\\\'ve got on them is that they are rich. Al Gore is a hypocrite because he doesn\\\'t live in a mud hut powered by potato batteries.

[Purple Avenger]

These same clowns keep popping up like rust on a Ford.

[mightyjoeyoung]

Wow Kieth. You write like someone who knows a thing or two about how free markets, investments, and capitalism works.

You obviously hate America and are part of the liberal/communist/fascist/Atheist/ plot to destroy the world economy by forcing mom and pop Republican American to trade in their SUV\'s for golf carts.

[iftheshoefits]

Kevin,

Thanks for acutally trying to engage the argument. I don't agree with everything you said, but in general your analysis is on-the-mark.

I've looked at investing in publicly available "green" mutual funds, because I want to put my money where my mouth is as far as clean energy sources. And what I found out is that most of the companies that qualify as "green", are simply good, ordinary companies that have jumped through a few extra hoops to eliminate use of environmentally hazardous chemicals and the like. All well and good, I celebrate them, but most of these activities usually get criticized by environmental activists as "token", which unfortunately in many of the cases, there are.

OK, no problem so far. Nothing illegal or even unethical. But on the other hand, there's not a lot going on in these green companies to seriously reduce or replace their fossil fuel consumption, not beyond what any company would already do on its own to reduce it's costs of manufacturing.

The point is that these investments are being trumped as doing enough to offset typical (or excessive) carbon consumption by other individuals. I'm sorry, we're not convinced, we're just supposed to take Al Gore's word. You wouldn't if you were on the other side of the debate, so don't expect us to.

And if (as I strongly suspect) the balance sheets really aren't balancing with regard to carbon impact, don't people concerned about the impact of CO2 really want to know this information? Because if that's the case, then the we're all just digging ourselves deeper in the hole, maybe at a slightly slower rate.

I don't want to see environmentalists laughed out of town on this, becase I am one. I want to see Al Gore take the lead, and demand that he and all of his followers sharpen their pencils, and show us clearly and non-condescendingly how this all works. We're conservatives, I'm sorry. Y'all will have to speak slowly and repeat yourselves a lot. But it will be worth it, I promise.

If this all is "weird ranting" then so be it.

[BobInStamford]

Lets get this straight, you rednecks believe in WMDs but not global warming?? You guys crack me up. Go wave some flags, clowns.

[yyy]

I predict no one responds to Keith, his post is too far over their heads.

[Michael Evilcorn]

Wait a minute. Who says that Al Gore is purchasing his Carbon Offsets from his company generationim.com ? That company is in the business of *investing* in other companies, not selling Carbon Offsets.