Readers of this site may well be burnt out on talk of Gore's testimony to Congress. But if not, do check out Brad Plumer's wrap-up -- it's good.
One point I think bears emphasizing. Almost all the analysis I've seen of the event -- particularly with regard to the dust-up with Inhofe -- discusses how it's going to play to the public, as though Gore approached it as an extension of his movie, speaking for the cameras' benefit.
I think that gets it all wrong. I don't think Gore approached this as a public event. I think he approached it as what it was -- a chance to speak directly to legislators. His primary goal was to inform and influence Congress, not the public.
Viewed through that lens, the kerfuffle with Inhofe was an irrelevant sideshow. Certainly no Senators were impressed with Inhofe's theatrics.
If you go back and watch the videos, what's remarkable is that every legislator involved is really paying attention. They're asking sincere (if occasionally goofy) questions. They really wanted to know what Gore thought about possible legislation, and he really wanted to help them.
One of Gore's less-heralded activities over the last few years has been speaking directly with financial and political elites (see: Branson). This stuff goes on outside public view, but in many ways it's just as consequential as his public leadership. I see his testimony yesterday as of a piece with that, not as a principally public event.
Obama administration may (finally) offer greenhouse-gas targets
Comments
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cieldumort Posted 3:44 pm
22 Mar 2007
That is what I do believe Al Gore to have been doing. If he wanted to play to the public he most certainly would not have been laying out such impressive, real suggestions for the Senator's consideration.
As for how he handled himself with that jerk Inhofe, one can only wish to carry oneself so poised and professional in the presence of such insults and incredible stupidity.
Inhofe got what he wanted: soundbites to get replayed over on Neoconmanradio and Neoconmanvision. The "Fair and balanced" outlets, if you prefer.
In my estimation, Inhofe is so insincere that even some of their own can not help but to see right through him. With any luck he soon goes the way of the dinosaur: Momentum will have capped what he can do while still in office, and then trade him back to the people he really works for, where he will enjoy the aromatic pleasure of being among so many other fossil fuels now out of "public service."
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Delay And Deny Posted 4:33 pm
22 Mar 2007
His hearing would be "In The Zone".
And now that it's over, we can wait for a few months until he shaves his head and starts wandering up and down Sepulveda Boulevard in a white robe screaming "The End Is Neigh".
The Texeme Construct offers international text memetics construction and textcasting services. http://www.you-read-it-here-first.com
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step back Posted 8:06 pm
22 Mar 2007
To call him "insincere" is to fail to understand your fellow species mates. He is probably very sincere and well intentioned in his own misguided way.
Each of us comes to the discussion table with a suitcase full of different educational backgrounds. Inhofe comes to the table with an undying belief that the Free Markets will take care of everything and that people like Gore are Communists Incarnate. Simple as that. When he sees Gore, he sees red. His nostrils flare. He puts his horns down and charges head long at his foe. It is noble in a way.
Look here to better understand who you are dealing with and where he comes from. (Briefly: Inhofe was brain washed into the cult of the "Economics" majors. We all are brain washed to one extent or another. Don't feel smug or superior over Inhofe. We are not that much different from him.)
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step back Posted 8:28 pm
22 Mar 2007
Sometimes you amaze even yourself with what you wrote.
The more I think about the noble image of Inhofe standing there with the American flag waving over his head, with his horns down raging and charging against the Commie Red Gore, the more it makes sense.
"Freedom" means never having to say sorry to anybody about what you choose to do with your own private "property". So if I've got an SUV and I want to burn 80 gallons of gasoline driving my baby around in the Montanna back country, by gollee I'm going to do it and no Pinko Greenie Commie like Gore is going to tell me otherwise.
That's the mindset. And once you adopt it, everything Inhofe does and says kind of makes sense. Try standing in a Freedom Lover's shoes.
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yoder Posted 11:21 pm
22 Mar 2007
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act!"
-- George Orwell (Eric Arthur Blair)
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Benny Big Eye Posted 11:53 pm
22 Mar 2007
Benny Big Eye
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A Siegel Posted 1:34 am
23 Mar 2007
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GreenEngineer Posted 4:25 am
23 Mar 2007
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step back Posted 6:18 am
23 Mar 2007
America was a wide open frontier in the early days and the idea of "freedom", of "don't tread on me" quickly flourished.
What Gore is threatening to do is to tread on Inhofe and his constituents. Their negative reaction to this is understandable if you look at it from the viewpoint of an early Colonialist who wanted no govenrment intrusions on his "freedoms".
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GreenEngineer Posted 7:14 am
23 Mar 2007
The liberty/freedom meme has of course a long history in this country, but I'm pretty sure the current pernicious form rose to prominence much more recently, probably since WWII. Bugs the hell out of me, because I do believe that personal freedom and individual liberty are key values. I just realize that they come with a price attached, and I'm not talking about getting killed in war.
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