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(27,509 posts) Thu Jul 16, 2015, 09:10 AM Jul 2015

Al Gore criticizes Obama on climate change and 'insane' Arctic drilling [View all]

Source: Guardian

The former US vice-president and climate champion Al Gore has made a rare criticism of Barack Obama as Royal Dutch Shell prepares to drill an exploratory well in the Arctic Ocean, denouncing the venture as “insane” and calling for a ban on all oil and gas activity in the polar region.

With Shell planning to begin drilling in the oil-rich Chukchi Sea within days, Gore said in an interview with the Guardian that Obama was wrong to ever allow drilling in the Arctic.

<snip>

“I think Arctic drilling is insane. I think that countries around the world would be very well advised to put restrictions on drilling for oil in the Arctic ocean,” Gore told the Guardian in Toronto, where he was passing on his techniques for talking about the climate crisis to 500 new recruits from his Climate Reality Project.

<snip>

“I think the Deepwater Horizon spill was warning enough. The conditions are so hostile for human activity there. I think it’s a mistake to drill for oil in the Arctic. I think that ought to be banned,” Gore said.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/16/al-gore-obama-climate-change-arctic-drilling

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Al Gore criticizes Obama on climate change and 'insane' Arctic drilling [View all] bananas Jul 2015 OP

"Insane" works for me. So does "corrupt." Scuba Jul 2015 #1

Also "double standardism" and "hypocrisy" ananda Jul 2015 #2

The "Obama Bashing" group meets on Sunday's in the basement. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #7

I thought they changed the name to Blasphemy. Fuddnik Jul 2015 #34

7 P.M. Please do not be late. Remedial Spelling meets at 8. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #36

Does putting an unnecessary apostrophe on the word Sunday above count as remedial grammar? nt Guy Whitey Corngood Jul 2015 #72

You're kind. One poster's unnecesary apostrophe is another's erroneous use of the apostrophe. merrily Jul 2015 #80

This guy, the fucking balls on Guy Whitey Corngood Jul 2015 #82

I know you're only quoting DeNiro, but the alert squad may call that an OTT personal insult. merrily Jul 2015 #83

That's exactly how it was meant. But I agree that it may be Guy Whitey Corngood Jul 2015 #85

Well, if it does go to a jury, maybe they'll see these posts, too. merrily Jul 2015 #86

Your turn to bring the Nobama Donuts. nt Adrahil Jul 2015 #42

We are expecting a big turnout this week, Obama is on a spectacular roll - hope there is enough in the coffee kitty. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #56

We must be willing to criticize the President when he's wrong. It isn't bashing. Enthusiast Jul 2015 #50

Let me correct you about the fact Obama has long know Arctic Ocean oil was never going to be viable? Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #57

Why open pandora's box? Enthusiast Jul 2015 #63

Let me further critique these two exploratory wells: Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #65

There is a perfect certainty they will find oil. Enthusiast Jul 2015 #91

Don't you have to find the box first? Open it, if you find it, get stuff out and transport it? Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #93

It's called democracy.. haikugal Jul 2015 #79

Folks need to take it easy on the Obama Outrage Juice for a few days, it is a new world this morning. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #3

Nice analogies and aphorisms - and unfortunately they are correct. erronis Jul 2015 #10

Those damn inconvenient truths. GeorgeGist Jul 2015 #21

It's a good thing that I'm a democrat and capable of nuances..... daleanime Jul 2015 #44

Insane?!! Let's face it: Gore is just a racist and a hater RufusTFirefly Jul 2015 #4

Gore is also "corrupt"! Indeed, if Gore was a DU member, long time or not, I would alert also!! Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #5

Cynthia McKinney called Al Gore a racist. geek tragedy Jul 2015 #26

That was a nice slight of hand on your part Capt. Obvious Jul 2015 #61

Thats not hateful to 'take a side', take a stand and speak your mind. Sunlei Jul 2015 #31

My apologies. My response was satirical and deliberately over the top. RufusTFirefly Jul 2015 #53

/big hug Sunlei Jul 2015 #54

.. RufusTFirefly Jul 2015 #71

Here is an article on the President's reasoning. Objectively speaking I would say the Presidents still_one Jul 2015 #6

I thought we were going to have wind and solar power? What's this oil thing? Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2015 #8

I think his argument is based on the premise that a transition is necessary to get off fossil fuels. still_one Jul 2015 #9

We started the transition in the 70's. That's just subterfuge to help the other Republicans. n/t jtuck004 Jul 2015 #12

no argument from me still_one Jul 2015 #23

President Obama has set-aside, protected more land from oil drilling then any president in history. Sunlei Jul 2015 #43

That is the argument he is making. Personally, I don't think it justifies the arctic oil drilling still_one Jul 2015 #64

Barack Obama will be the greatest president in HISTORY and "white tears" are being shed... Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2015 #11

...and bathed in....apparently.... truebrit71 Jul 2015 #14

Indeed. And pretending not to understand Gore called Shell's plans insane is a clear sign. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #16

LOL! Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #17

Yup, apparently deliberately inflammatory language... truebrit71 Jul 2015 #24

+1 Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #30

I'd love to hear the creative stories about the historical oppression of Caucasians in America... LanternWaste Jul 2015 #84

Who said anything about whitey being oppressed? truebrit71 Jul 2015 #90

hey give a break,a cry is good. At least they're ashamed to wave their 'proud flag' Sunlei Jul 2015 #46

I despise racism. I don't care what color the purveyors or victims might be. Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #68

Exactly. Gore just can't stand that we have a black president. n/t hughee99 Jul 2015 #49

I could give a fuck about Al Gore or what he thinks. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2015 #70

Wow...talk about overestimating the quality of his Presidency: i.e., Gitmo is still open...etc. n/t xocet Jul 2015 #66

Talk to Congress about Gitmo. When Gore becomes president, let's talk. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2015 #69

No need. President Obama is CIC. He should be able to take care of things re: the military, & xocet Jul 2015 #87

Al Gore didn't become president. Again, when he is president and can solve these issues, let's talk. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2015 #88

The "greatest" is hyperbolic on your part unless you like what the President has xocet Jul 2015 #89

Al Gore has lost his credibility on this subject. Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #13

How do you figure? truebrit71 Jul 2015 #15

I figure the conclusion has been figured out by taking one unread article out of context and applying mass amnesia. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #18

You figure wrong. n/t Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #20

Al Gore is sloppy with his details and does nothing to lead the life he demands of everyone else. Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #19

I completely disagree with you. truebrit71 Jul 2015 #22

I think he's reading too much Newsmax and WorldNetDaily... Elmer S. E. Dump Jul 2015 #25

Too much is never enough once you go down that extremist RW path. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #33

newsmax, especially on a bitty, cell phone screen, with the 30 emails a day, makes people insane. Sunlei Jul 2015 #47

I hear folks even get hate-filled, paranoid "Newsmax Alerts" on their mobiles....hate is like a drug, I just say "no". Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #55

You can disagree with my evaluation of him as a messenger, but the facts are indisputable. Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #29

Burn the heretic! It is all on act by Gore. The fact Gore is Enemy #1 with Big Oil and Coal is..... Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #32

Nice try. Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #41

This case against Gore is weak sketchy Jul 2015 #37

We disagree. I have no problem with that. Buzz Clik Jul 2015 #40

Since he invests in companies that SELL offsets, I wonder if he gets "discounts" on his offsets. n/t hughee99 Jul 2015 #51

Gore also said: geek tragedy Jul 2015 #27

Al Gore would make a great President too, I like what he speaks to Obama about. Sunlei Jul 2015 #28

The President went from kicking ass to licking it real quick d_legendary1 Jul 2015 #35

Sunday's at 7 p.m., in the basement. Spread the word to those like afflicted. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #38

Where is the broken record meeting? Fuddnik Jul 2015 #48

I live in Florida. d_legendary1 Jul 2015 #58

I can't be opening up meetings everywhere, it is a new group at DU. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #59

Sadly, I will be attending every other Sunday d_legendary1 Jul 2015 #67

You really need to stop messing with those apostrophes. They really seem to be Guy Whitey Corngood Jul 2015 #73

love Al, disagree here greenman3610 Jul 2015 #39

It is WAY too expensive and demanding in so many ways for economical oil from the Arctic Ocean..Obama knows that. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #52

Yeah, it's crazy. But, every politician seems to need to pick a poison. raouldukelives Jul 2015 #45

insane it is == absolutely oldandhappy Jul 2015 #60

It's funny because in the text he actually praises Obama, criticizes Artic drilling as insane and Bluenorthwest Jul 2015 #62

which causes people to take knee-jerk pavlovian responses. geek tragedy Jul 2015 #75

Anything to relieve Obama from responsibilty for his policies, eh? [n/t] Maedhros Jul 2015 #76

Arctic drilling is small potatoes compared to his support for oil and gas fracking NickB79 Jul 2015 #74

and Hillary merrily Jul 2015 #78

And Al Gore takes his place in the ever-growing crowd under the bus. merrily Jul 2015 #77

Now Gore knows how Tsipras must feel trying to deal with the far left wing of his party. Fred Sanders Jul 2015 #94

"Far left wing." I have no idea what you mean about Gore, but merrily Jul 2015 #95

Did Gore ever think to, I don't know, ask Obama about it? randome Jul 2015 #81

I love it when Democrats don't candy ass each other Reter Jul 2015 #92

Has Gore apologized for the environmental damage caused by NAFTA? ForgoTheConsequence Jul 2015 #96

7/16/15 - Shell Sends Ship W. Key Emergency Response Gear Back To Portland, Will Proceed W. Drilling hatrack Jul 2015 #97

Message auto-removed Name removed Jul 2015 #98