Al Gore: Energy Crisis Can Be Fixed
Couric: We'll leave him out on the cutting room floor, but no. I was just curious. I thought it was such an interesting thing, to not kind of take that opportunity, when he's having a news conference, to say, you know, we all need to, you know, call sort of for the national consciousness … to get it together and to be aware of this, and mindful … of their consumption.
Gore: I think that the American people are willing to take a clear view of what our future requires. And now with these gasoline prices continuing to go up, electricity rates climbing rapidly, they know that the oil and coal are not gonna come back down in price. They're gonna continue to get more expensive.
And the new efficiency and improvements … that have been made in solar and wind are making them much more attractive. It is time now to make a national commitment, to switch over to these renewable systems, and then we can break free of the rising prices … from carbon fuels, oil and coal, and we can break free from our dependence on foreign sources like the Persian Gulf.
Couric: It really is multi-tiered, isn't it? It's a national security issue. It's an environmental issue.
Gore: Yeah.
Couric: I mean, it really covers the gamut.
Gore: One of the reasons why our country's had such a hard time dealing with this, is it does involve national security, energy, the economy and the environment. But there's a common thread that runs through all of them. The key is ending our dependence on carbon-based fuel. And if we grab hold of that thread and pull it, the other problems begin to unravel, and we got the answer right in our hands. It's the switch over from carbon-based fuel to renewable energy.
Couric: Let me ask you about, a couple quick political questions, 'cause I know you're on a tight schedule. John McCain is much more moderate on climate change than President Bush. He talks about limiting emission. He does talk about clean coal. He accepts global warming, says it exists. If elected, do you think he would keep his clean stripes?
Gore: I don't know. I've talked to him, and …
Couric: Let me just ask you it this way. Are you impressed, Vice President Gore, by Sen. McCain's commitment to the environment?
Gore: I think he deserves credit for having taken leadership position in years past, at a time when it was hard for people in his party to do that. I have to balance that with the expression of a little concern that in, during this recent campaign … he has seemed to move a little bit toward President Bush. But I give him credit.
Having made those early statements and having come up with the policies he used to advocate, he's got to have something in there that tells him what the right thing to do is there. I try to work with him. Also Sen. Obama, who … says the right things and has put out a really forward-looking plan on this. So … both of them are way ahead of the current administration.
Couric: John McCain supports lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling. Why, what's wrong with that? Why are you opposed to offshore oil drilling, if … it can be done in a safe, efficient way?
Gore: Well, that's a big "if." There are areas off California, just to take that example, where there are huge amounts of money at stake … with the use of the coastline. And they've had disasters out there with … offshore oil drilling.
Couric: In 1969 there was a big one.
Gore: Yeah, yeah.
Couric: But that was quite a long time ago. Hasn't the technology improved?
Gore: Maybe it has, but I think the state of California has the right to protect its coastline. But there's another issue involved. They've already got all these leases with … that they're not producing now. And the ones they're debating today would never be produced until 10 years from now.
So to say that is a solution to gasoline prices … is very misleading. And remember this. It's very easy to take that oil and just send it west over to China. The value of the dollar has been going down. The Chinese have been bidding up the price of oil, and they've been buying supplies that we used to get.
So if the oil companies 10 years from now, produce a little bit of extra oil out there, at the risk to the … coastlines, and then sell it to China, are we any better off? I don't think so. And that costs money. I believe that we ought to invest, instead, in renewable sources of energy, and abandon the pretense that just trying to get a little more oil is going to solve the problem of our dependence on oil.
Couric: Literally, a drop in the bucket and…
Gore: Absolutely.
Couric: … several years away, even if …
Gore: Many years away.
Couric: …even if oil … is found. Why do you believe Barack Obama is better than John McCain on climate change?
Gore: Well, his proposals … are clearly different. And much more far-reaching. You just line up the proposals side by side. It's really a stark contrast. And he's proposing to do much more, much more rapidly. Now of course, I would like to see more still. And I do give credit to Sen. McCain for having taken the positions he's taken. But if you're asking the question, which one is better on this issue? Clearly Sen. Obama is.
Couric: Sen. Obama said during the primaries season, there would be a place at the table for Al Gore, in an Obama administration.
Gore: Well, that's a very nice thing for anybody to say … and I appreciate it. I would not take a formal position in any administration. My, I see my role as trying to change the public opinion, out here in, with the American people, to create a basis of support that will sustain whoever is president, in making bold, taking bold steps to solve the climate crisis.
Couric: So you can't see yourself being, say, an environmental czar, helping to shape environmental policy or energy policy in a new administration?
Gore: Well, it's a really nice idea. I don't think that's the best way for me to serve my country. I think the real solutions to this climate crisis must involve a sea change in public opinion. So that when the American people demand solutions, the elected officials and politicians in all parties will then respond. That's what I'm trying to do.
Couric: What about the VP slot?
Gore: No, I …
Couric: Come on, help me make some news here.
Gore: I have many times said, you know, I have a personal term limit. Only two terms as VP.
Couric: So if he called you and said, "Al, buddy, listen. I really, really, really need you."
Gore: Well, I repeat. I've imposed a personal term limit of two terms as VP.
Couric: So absolutely nothing could get you to jump on board.
Gore: I … Katie …
Couric: This interview will come back to haunt you if you say it without …
Gore: This interview will not come back to haunt me. You can believe me. (laughter)
Couric: Really? No way.
Gore: This part of it won't. (laughter)
Couric: No, okay. Really quickly about the election, do you think that we're in a position to not have a repeat of Florida, in the 2008 presidential election?
Gore: (laughter) I certainly hope so.
Couric: But do you think … that things are in place? That the balloting has been improved?
Gore: I don't know. I don't know. I don't consider myself an expert on what changes have been made there in state law. I read articles from time to time. But I really don't know … what's been done there.
Couric: You don't think we're gonna see the guy with the bulging eyes, staring at the hanging chad again?
Gore: (laughter) I hope not.
Couric: Sen.Obama is about to embark on a trip to the Middle East. If you could give him any advice, what would it be?
Gore: Well, I would advise him to do what he's doing, to go and listen and learn and find out what the latest facts are. I'm impressed with his command … of these issues, and I'm impressed that he has taken the initiative to go and see for himself and learn more.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. Gore: I think that the American people are willing to take a clear view of what our future requires. And now with these gasoline prices continuing to go up, electricity rates climbing rapidly, they know that the oil and coal are not gonna come back down in price. They're gonna continue to get more expensive.
And the new efficiency and improvements … that have been made in solar and wind are making them much more attractive. It is time now to make a national commitment, to switch over to these renewable systems, and then we can break free of the rising prices … from carbon fuels, oil and coal, and we can break free from our dependence on foreign sources like the Persian Gulf.
Couric: It really is multi-tiered, isn't it? It's a national security issue. It's an environmental issue.
Gore: Yeah.
Couric: I mean, it really covers the gamut.
Gore: One of the reasons why our country's had such a hard time dealing with this, is it does involve national security, energy, the economy and the environment. But there's a common thread that runs through all of them. The key is ending our dependence on carbon-based fuel. And if we grab hold of that thread and pull it, the other problems begin to unravel, and we got the answer right in our hands. It's the switch over from carbon-based fuel to renewable energy.
Couric: Let me ask you about, a couple quick political questions, 'cause I know you're on a tight schedule. John McCain is much more moderate on climate change than President Bush. He talks about limiting emission. He does talk about clean coal. He accepts global warming, says it exists. If elected, do you think he would keep his clean stripes?
Gore: I don't know. I've talked to him, and …
Couric: Let me just ask you it this way. Are you impressed, Vice President Gore, by Sen. McCain's commitment to the environment?
Gore: I think he deserves credit for having taken leadership position in years past, at a time when it was hard for people in his party to do that. I have to balance that with the expression of a little concern that in, during this recent campaign … he has seemed to move a little bit toward President Bush. But I give him credit.
Having made those early statements and having come up with the policies he used to advocate, he's got to have something in there that tells him what the right thing to do is there. I try to work with him. Also Sen. Obama, who … says the right things and has put out a really forward-looking plan on this. So … both of them are way ahead of the current administration.
Couric: John McCain supports lifting the ban on offshore oil drilling. Why, what's wrong with that? Why are you opposed to offshore oil drilling, if … it can be done in a safe, efficient way?
Gore: Well, that's a big "if." There are areas off California, just to take that example, where there are huge amounts of money at stake … with the use of the coastline. And they've had disasters out there with … offshore oil drilling.
Couric: In 1969 there was a big one.
Gore: Yeah, yeah.
Couric: But that was quite a long time ago. Hasn't the technology improved?
Gore: Maybe it has, but I think the state of California has the right to protect its coastline. But there's another issue involved. They've already got all these leases with … that they're not producing now. And the ones they're debating today would never be produced until 10 years from now.
So to say that is a solution to gasoline prices … is very misleading. And remember this. It's very easy to take that oil and just send it west over to China. The value of the dollar has been going down. The Chinese have been bidding up the price of oil, and they've been buying supplies that we used to get.
So if the oil companies 10 years from now, produce a little bit of extra oil out there, at the risk to the … coastlines, and then sell it to China, are we any better off? I don't think so. And that costs money. I believe that we ought to invest, instead, in renewable sources of energy, and abandon the pretense that just trying to get a little more oil is going to solve the problem of our dependence on oil.
Couric: Literally, a drop in the bucket and…
Gore: Absolutely.
Couric: … several years away, even if …
Gore: Many years away.
Couric: …even if oil … is found. Why do you believe Barack Obama is better than John McCain on climate change?
Gore: Well, his proposals … are clearly different. And much more far-reaching. You just line up the proposals side by side. It's really a stark contrast. And he's proposing to do much more, much more rapidly. Now of course, I would like to see more still. And I do give credit to Sen. McCain for having taken the positions he's taken. But if you're asking the question, which one is better on this issue? Clearly Sen. Obama is.
Couric: Sen. Obama said during the primaries season, there would be a place at the table for Al Gore, in an Obama administration.
Gore: Well, that's a very nice thing for anybody to say … and I appreciate it. I would not take a formal position in any administration. My, I see my role as trying to change the public opinion, out here in, with the American people, to create a basis of support that will sustain whoever is president, in making bold, taking bold steps to solve the climate crisis.
Couric: So you can't see yourself being, say, an environmental czar, helping to shape environmental policy or energy policy in a new administration?
Gore: Well, it's a really nice idea. I don't think that's the best way for me to serve my country. I think the real solutions to this climate crisis must involve a sea change in public opinion. So that when the American people demand solutions, the elected officials and politicians in all parties will then respond. That's what I'm trying to do.
Couric: What about the VP slot?
Gore: No, I …
Couric: Come on, help me make some news here.
Gore: I have many times said, you know, I have a personal term limit. Only two terms as VP.
Couric: So if he called you and said, "Al, buddy, listen. I really, really, really need you."
Gore: Well, I repeat. I've imposed a personal term limit of two terms as VP.
Couric: So absolutely nothing could get you to jump on board.
Gore: I … Katie …
Couric: This interview will come back to haunt you if you say it without …
Gore: This interview will not come back to haunt me. You can believe me. (laughter)
Couric: Really? No way.
Gore: This part of it won't. (laughter)
Couric: No, okay. Really quickly about the election, do you think that we're in a position to not have a repeat of Florida, in the 2008 presidential election?
Gore: (laughter) I certainly hope so.
Couric: But do you think … that things are in place? That the balloting has been improved?
Gore: I don't know. I don't know. I don't consider myself an expert on what changes have been made there in state law. I read articles from time to time. But I really don't know … what's been done there.
Couric: You don't think we're gonna see the guy with the bulging eyes, staring at the hanging chad again?
Gore: (laughter) I hope not.
Couric: Sen.Obama is about to embark on a trip to the Middle East. If you could give him any advice, what would it be?
Gore: Well, I would advise him to do what he's doing, to go and listen and learn and find out what the latest facts are. I'm impressed with his command … of these issues, and I'm impressed that he has taken the initiative to go and see for himself and learn more.
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"how green is al gore?"
lets check his wallet..
IT''S NOT HARD! The solution doesn''t have to be massive arrays of anything. YOU DON''T HAVE TO WAIT for the government to come and save you. Work with the water heater already in your home. Work with the BTU''s already being delivered FREE OF CHARGE to the roof of your house, the concrete of your patio, the grass in your yard!
Stephanie Scarborough Ashworth
Design&Environmental Analysis, llc
ssashworthatmsndotcom
PS: I''ll be installing the device, next, that lets me run my car on water. IT''S NOT HARD!
~SA
gOp forever!!
Too bad ALGore can''t be ''FIXED''