Al Gore may have changed the world today!!! I have never seen anything like this:

[Nimrod2005]

The whole world is participating in Live Earth...It is a beautiful show, and the world is watching it...To see people from all over participating, dancing, singing, sending out positive messages about how to make the planet a better place is something we very much needed.

I have had it on all day, a much needed break from the news and war...Al Gore is reminding us of the America we used to know!!!


What a show, what a great cause, I am enjoying every single moment of it.


Who said you have to be the President to be a WORLD LEADER?

[Peregrine Took]

1. Yes - the pre-Bush (41 and this one) world when we were still innocent and

loved in the world.

[Madspirit]

79. "Yes - the pre-Bush (41 and this one) world when we were still innocent"

...Would that be before or after Nixon, Reagan, Joe McCarthy, Stalin, Hitler, the Other Bush, Jack the Ripper, Ted Bundy, war, famine, slavery, dead indigenous people, child abuse, domestic abuse, pollution, tsunamis, Son of Sam, WWI, WWII, the Civil War, the Tutsis, the death penalty, Mao, Ann Frank, Columbine, the Holocaust, disease, cancer, alcoholism, Allende, Cuba, the homeless, the helpless...shall I go on?

When was this innocence? I'm 53 and I've never ever even seen a glimpse of innocence.
Lee

[Rockholm]

109. Maybe you aren't looking in the right place.

[Jawja]

148. I am 55 and I distinctly remember

when my innocence was ripped away. I was only 13 years old, but I clearly remember losing it on November 22, 1963.

[whistle]

176. It happened to me on that date as well and everyone who believed

....that the future could be better through hard work, sacrifice, hope and principle. Our innocence was the belief that everyone in the America could be made to see and believe that as well and that somehow evil would turn away from truth. I am 65 years old and believe in those ideals still, but I know that evil must be fought and driven away.

[janetle]

177. I am 54----I, too, lost my innocence that day.

The night before last, we watched the movie "Bobby" as a family. My 19 and 22 year old had no idea about the impact of that event in combination with the the other two. Seeing the footage of Bobby and remembering the hope we felt that somehow we could reclaim some of our lost innocence through him caused me to weep and weep.

Our age group is forever affected.

[Uncle Joe]

2. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread NimRod.

[graywarrior]

3. Yes. it makes me emotional

[Nimrod2005]

12. Same, very.....nt

[applegrove]

24. Yes it is a good day. Good emotions rather than the sadness that goes

with the current political situation in the USA.

[silverweb]

4. Amen to that!

Personally, I think Gore's doing far more good in his present role than he could do as President, with his attention demanded in dealing with politics and other issues.

A beautiful, world-wide event that's generating much needed positive energy and action!

[elocs]

17. The Presidency would be a prison for Gore.

Now, he can do as he likes, go where he wants and when he wants. As President he would be pulled in many different directions and would be frustrated.

[glitch]

33. I'd be happy with a President who listens to Gore, and acts on what he hears. nt;

[Seabiscuit]

82. The problem is...

If there is such a person, no one knows his or her identity yet. Sadly, there's only one Al Gore. After all, who else is smart enough to count to infinity... twice... and get the same answer both times?

Al Gore doesn't wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Al Gore pajamas.

[tblue]

102. "Superman wears Al Gore pajamas." Amen to that! nt

[alarimer]

125. None of our candidate will, that's for damn sure

Maybe Kucinich. But the rest will follow their corporate masters and we'll end up in even deeper shit.

[silverweb]

62. Absolutely right.

As I just posted in another thread, I think Gore's effecting more change and influencing more people doing exactly what he's doing right now.

Being president involves too many other duties. It would scatter his energies and his focus, despite having the "bully pulpit," and would dilute his effectiveness.

Keep on doing what you're doing Al!

:loveya:

[Samantha]

98. There's just one problem

He can want and promote the best of things for this Country as the Al Gore he now is, but he cannot acquire the power to enforce those desires without the Presidency. Think about this: all of the people who died in New Orleans would not have been abandoned by President Gore. And who knows when the next Katrina will hit? We desperately need a man who cares about the people as well as the environment to undo some of the damage Bush* has caused -- to the extent some of what Bush* has harmed can be restored -- and to set an example for generations to come what we the people should expect of our President. I feel so strongly that only Gore can set that example.

Not only has the music and the performers been wonderful, but a sub-theme of this whole day has been the promotion of our multi-cultural earth and the positive results we can achieve if we just cooperate.

We need to leave the weapons and the wars behind and make wonderful music and enrich our earth together. This concert is just one example of the kind of message Al Gore as an American would send the rest of the world, and that message is one we desperately need sent. Al Gore makes me proud to be an American again.

Why can't we just have it all, the music, the message and the man sitting in the Oval Office?

[OwnedByFerrets]

159. Not only that......

but those 700,000 dead in Iraq would still be alive and the 4 million wouldnt be displaced from their homes.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

161. Gore will be, at the very least, one of the great presidents!

Here is a post I made on this subject some months ago:

There is a meme which has emerged arguing against a Gore candidacy in 2008, namely that Gore would be more effective in his current role as a private citizen. Because I have encountered variations of that statement several times in the past few months, I want to address it. While I disagree with it, I don’t discount it out of hand. Rather, I would like to present the rationales for it, as best I understand them, along with the arguments in the other direction.

Case for Gore as private citizen to combat global warming:

1. As a citizen, Gore can say what he wants. He can swing freely at the interests (big oil, right-wing think tanks, etc.) which continue to spread disinformation about the climate crisis. As president, he would have to be more circumspect in his advocacy.

2. As a citizen, Gore’s efforts are untarnished by the appearance of partisanship. As president, many elements on the right would (and corporate media elements might) make ad hominem attacks, saying his advocacy was politically motivated.

3. As a citizen, Gore can focus entirely on climate crisis. As president, he would be distracted with other important issues.

Rebuttal to that case:

1. It is true that being president does place limitations on what one can and should say. However, the presidency is the “bulliest” (no Colbert copyright!) pulpit on the planet. Whether it is JFK on the Apollo project, LBJ talking about the need for a Great Society initiative, or Dubya talking about the need to confront an “Axis of Evil,” when a president speaks, he can set the agenda in the US, or even internationally. Presidential pronouncements almost always have larger real-world consequences than that of any private citizen. We need a president who will be DEDICATED to setting the agenda on climate crisis. I believe Gore more likely than any other Dem to promulgate the presidential rhetoric needed in 2009. As president, his bullhorn will simply be much, much bigger.

2. The Dems are historically likely to take back the White House in 2008. No matter who that president is, the right wing will attack initiatives on climate crisis. In other words they will attack whomever we elect. Since that is by far the most important issue, why not have the one who is head-and-shoulders above the crowd in his qualifications to deal with the issue?

3. As president, Gore will certainly have other important issues to address. But so would any other Dem. Who is most likely to keep the necessary focus, Gore or somebody else? Gore has already proven that he can “walk and chew gum” at the same time as VP. When he held national office he was able to succeed at various initiatives in parallel. As examples, he was able to head the highly successful REGO plan (which reduced federal employee headcount to its lowest level in decades), be a strong advocate for US intervention against genocide in the Balkans, etc., and yet still save the Kyoto Accord in 1997. In other words, Gore is personally responsible (see below) for our current global framework for fighting global warming, despite his other impressive roles as Vice President.

MOST IMPORTANTLY…

It is day-and-night critical who occupies the White House, as to whether the world advances on climate change.

Example 1: The UN initiative to combat global warming, UNFCCC, is launched in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro. Bush 41 sabotages the meeting and no agreement is reached.

Example 2: At Kyoto in 1997, the talks break down and no deal is expected. On the next-to-last day, Gore flies to Japan (against the unanimous advice of his advisors: see The Prince of Tennessee by David Maraniss, pp. 287-288) and addresses the assembly, lobbies privately with key countries and gets the negotiations back on track. The result is the Kyoto Accord, implemented in 2005 and our current global framework for dealing with global warming.

Example 3: Bush 43* sabotages all efforts to combat global warming.

In other words, who is in the White House is historically VITAL to whether the world does or doesn’t make progress in treaty efforts to combat climate crisis. No American politician, Democratic or Republican, has produced a major international treaty concerning global warming… except Al Gore.

We are all experiencing the frustration of having the wrong person in the White House. Private citizens are so far unable to stop the insane escalation in Iraq. Gore, although effective to a certain degree with what he is doing on global warming, is still largely held in check by the moron currently living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, especially with respect to international treaties.

Here is my question: in 2009, would you rather that Gore be a private citizen or The Decider?

http://algoredotorg.wordpress.com/

[WillyT]

179. Admiral, I Salute You !!! - You Are Exactly Right !!!

:patriot::kick::patriot:

[Admiral Loinpresser]

162. duplicate n/t

[Webster Green]

5. I'm watching on Sundance...It is absolutely amazing!

I've been watching since 8:00 AM, and I can't get away from the tube. I'm gonna have to cancel all my normal Saturday stuff. This is too good to miss. I have the TV audio out going into the stereo, and it is cranked!

I couldn't get the MSN stream to play video (only audio).

The Sundance coverage is extraordinary though!

[amitten]

14. Is it only on Sundance? I don't get that channel...I just have

regular cable.

[roguevalley]

25. Goto BRAVO. They're carrying the whole thing.

[Turn CO Blue]

49. I was just able to buy Sundance for 1 day for $1.99

I'm still switching between TV and the feeds online.

[mzmolly]

61. A three hour special is on NBC tonight.

:hi:

[ChiciB1]

86. What Time Does That One Start?? I'm Watching Bravo Now... n/t

[lala_rawraw]

84. same here and going to neighborhood parties

[Mojorabbit]

6. Yes

I am in bed with a cold watching but I feel a glimmer of hope and happy inside. A long time since I felt this way about the world.

[SammyWinstonJack]

7. Amazing, isn't it. nt

[RadiDem]

8. I agree with everything you say - even the PSA ads are great - Thanks Mr. President!

[Nimrod2005]

10. Yes, the ads are awesome and the little interviews with people

who invented somthing is just too good, I had not known...

[poverlay]

9. Yup, this blows every benefit concert and celebration show I've ever seen out of

the water.

I've never seen so many artists and celebrities come together for one issue in my life.
It's beautiful.

[Fox Mulder]

11. Agreed.

[Missy Vixen]

13. Okay, who else saw Keith Urban do "Gimme Shelter"?

Let's face it, I don't listen to country music for the most part, but he kicked ass.

I'll also be picking up Kenna's CD. I didn't even know who he was before today!

Julie

[Terri S]

15. keith ain't your typical 'country'

The boy kicks A$$!!! And that was nothing! He is hands down one of the best guitarists I've ever seen.. and MAN is he pretty!! :)

[amandabeech]

75. Urban was great!

Great fingers and really easy on the eyes.

[w8liftinglady]

16. Gimme Shelter was awesome!

[Nictuku]

18. Totally!!!

[Totally Committed]

156. I agree!

Urban and Keyes were amazing on that number!

Blew me away.

TC

[John Q. Citizen]

20. buy it as an online download. Saves the energy to transport it to your local store!

[glitch]

31. and the energy and waste of packaging :) nt

[jillan]

27. That was awesome!

Their voices blended so well together!

[ooglymoogly]

44. Imo music can come from anywhere be it ozark hillbilly (dueling banjo's)

to the grandeur of Mozart. Music is music no matter what form it takes...which leads me to the 90% absolute crap that parades as music assaulting our ears in a form of torture and for me your post is just further proof of this.

[Missy Vixen]

54. You know something?

>which leads me to the 90% absolute crap that parades as music assaulting our ears in a form of torture and for me your post is just further proof of this.<

It's too bad you can't seem to open your mind to anything other than what you deem "acceptable". I can sing. Does that mean I should tell everyone I think is tone-deaf to STFU because they're not as proficient at it as I am?

Isn't music one of the things that make us glad to be alive? Professional or not, excellent or not -- I can still enjoy and appreciate it. I thought Keith Urban did a great job with a song I've been enjoying for the past 30 years or so when I hear it on the radio.

Julie

[RaleighNCDUer]

63. Ah, Julie, I think he was agreeing with you.

About not dismissing a musical form off-hand - that quality can come from anywhere.

And he's right - 90% of all popular music is crap; for that matter, 90% of classical music is also crap, but it is a rarified market so we don't get a chance to hear the crap. 90% of EVERYTHING is crap, so you should be open to that 10% no matter where it comes from.

I personally have a great affection for crappy movies. :P

[Missy Vixen]

66. I like crappy movies, too

Loves me some "Legally Blonde" and "The Blues Brothers", for instance. What are your favorites?

I apologize to the poster. I evidently misunderstood him.

In the meantime, yeah, quality can come from anywhere. Some of the greatest music we've ever heard has been at the free "summertime" concerts in the park in our hometown, for instance. Tickets don't cost us a dime. Parking's free. We bring a lawn chair, something to eat, and watch our friends and neighbors' kids dance with abandon while the band's playing!

Julie

[RaleighNCDUer]

181. Now, those are classic --

I'm talking about the stuff that shows up on the weekly Sci-Fi channel saturday night movies. I just can't resist mutant giant bugs or genetically resurrected dinosaurs.

And yeah, there's nothing like the local amateur symphony playing in the park for the 4th of July - sometimes surprisingly good, but even when it falls a bit short it's a joy.

[ooglymoogly]

93. Thank you, that was indeed my point. ...nt

[ozone_man]

80. That was the best cover I've ever heard.

I just listened to it. Probably the best of all Stones' songs and there were so many.

[Samantha]

97. Is that the same performer who after Katrina said during a benefit

"George Bush doesn't like black people!"

Someone here probably knows. If so, that guy is great in a myriad of ways!

[JanusAscending]

127. YES, he's the ONE !!

[BlooInBloo]

101. The Stones' song?

[ChiciB1]

118. Keith Urban ROCKED! And I Don't Do Country... That WAS Not

country, but FANTASTIC!!!

[The_Commonist]

19. It really is wonderful, isn't it?

I've been all over the world today!

Unfortunately, I think the music is all pretty lame. But then I think most music is pretty lame. Except for my own, of course. So I'm not a good one to judge...

[w8liftinglady]

21. I hope some kind of album will come out of this...I'd love to have it!

[Warren Stupidity]

22. It is something beautiful. There is hope. nt.

[defendandprotect]

136. Hold onto this because . . . remember "Earth Day" . . . where is it?

[Warren Stupidity]

154. I am aware of that. nt.

[AnnInLa]

23. "Al Gore is reminding us of the America we used to know!!!"

Boy, what true words you spoke there!

Amazing, just amazing, that all parts of the world have come together for this cause. It brings tears. And, maybe hope?

The world-wide respect that Al Gore has earned is monumental...I just wish....oh well.

Just a reminder to those who were griping about Bravo...it is also running on Sundance....and will be on tonight on NBC.

How many loved the Soweto Gospel Group? (Johannesburg) They were awesome!

I didn't quite get the music from Shanghai tho, they must have a different style!

This is so much fun.

And the Indian Blues Band in Washington??? Who knew Indians played the Blues??? They were quite good and deserve to play the Blues too, I guess, lol.

[helderheid]

26. Watching in HD on HDNet!

[Hissyspit]

29. Hey! I got it, too. Thanks!

[3waygeek]

43. You sure about that?

I've been switching in & out of HDNet all day, but haven't seen anything. Universal HD, however, has been carrying it since 4AM -- they appear to run the same feed as Sundance, but in HD.

[Cha]

28. Rightio! And bob geldorf..eat

your heart out!

[tinrobot]

30. Spinal Tap is on!

Yes!

One more reason to love Al.

[glitch]

35. Only Al Gore could bring back Spinal Tap ;) nt

[BlueAlert]

46. Now if he could only be like Bob Geldof

...and bring back the classic Pink Floyd lineup and not just Roger Waters

[glitch]

55. As a big Pink Floyd fan I still have to say, it's Pink Floyd's loss. nt

[BlueAlert]

115. I would have to say

It's more of a loss fothe the common pink floyd fan

[madame defarge]

107. My new mission in life...

To be a Doo-wop girl for Spinal Tap. B-)

[glitch]

119. Very cool! nt

[Peace Patriot]

32. Yeah, I was thinking today how cleverly Gore has handled the Draft-Gore movement.

He may have no intention of running whatsoever, but his magic and currency as a POTENTIAL candidate adds luster to his (and our) cause of saving our planet.

IF he's running a clever "dark horse" campaign for President, more power to him. Boy, is he playing this one well! Tease 'em for months and months. Give major policy speeches on things like Bushite torture ("How dare they?! How DARE they?!" he thundered.) Plug away at your issue--the main organizing principle of a future Gore administration: green earth--in every venue possible. Win Oscars. Win book prizes. Speak everywhere. Create a positive vision out of your alarm at the coming global catastrophe. Turn the energies of all people who know about this, and are worried and scared, in a positive direction. Watch the "politics as usual" candidates bore and enervate the public, and fight among each other for the imperial crown--and sell their souls for big backers. Let momentum build. Let it sink in that what we need is an FDR--a person of great vision, gravity and stature. Then, in some quiet moment around, oh, December '07, announce your candidacy, enter one of the primaries and blow them all away (--along with the rigged voting machines).

Brilliant.

Or, wait til the Democratic Party is in meltdown over the war (i.e., 1968), then make it quietly known that you are available as a candidate, to pull the party and the country together. And get drafted at the convention.

But even if this is NOT his plan, even if his sole purpose is mobilizing the country and the planet and the peoples of the world to solve global warming, it is nevertheless an awesome strategy for doing that, to be thought of as the person we need as President.

And maybe, in the end, it won't matter so much who is President. "Politics as usual" is over. The planet is dying. And Al Gore--like great MOVEMENT figures before him--Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Nelson Mandela--is not interested in personal political office or power, he is exclusively committed to the goal of his movement, stabilizing and saving our planetary environment.

Note: Mandela spent 30 years in jail, then was freed, and became the first black president of South Africa, but, by that time, he had far transcended ordinary politics. He became president because he was THE unifying figure, to heal the terrible wounds of apartheid. It's possible that Al Gore will have a similar function--healing the wounds of the Bush Junta, and of the Democratic Party collusion in that Junta, as president...OR he could remain outside of political divisions, more as an M.L. King figure, with a transcendent purpose.

I WISH he would run for president, because there is so much more that needs healing along with the planet. And a Gore presidency would hark back to the days BEFORE Bush/Cheney--before U.S. torture of prisoners, before the trashing of our Constitution, before the slaughter of half a million people in Iraq to get their oil, before the $10 trillion deficit these criminals have inflicted us and our children with. Gore is the president we SHOULD HAVE HAD--something that most Americans know by now. We can't go back, of course, and undo these things, as if they had never been. But we CAN imagine and IMPLEMENT a country on pre-Bush principles of the "rule of law" and rational discourse and positive political energy. And I think that Gore would galvanize that vision. Americans long for that vision--a positive vision, a can-do vision, a creative vision. But then he may do that--is doing that--without being president.

[glitch]

34. Most excellent post. nt

[burythehatchet]

45. in a word - leadership

[Peace Patriot]

92. Yes. Leadership.

I'm the first one to say, "No more knights in shining armor." Don't depend on leaders. WE are the leaders. WE are the sovereign people of this land. Maybe it comes from the bitter experience of my youth, when all my political heroes, one after another, were assassinated. Maybe it comes, too, from the terrible betrayals I've seen, by our own leaders, against we, the people. Democratic Party leaders. But...an activated, motivated, determined American people COMBINED WITH a strong and visionary leader, pursuing the right course--toward peace, justice and restoration of our planetary environment--would be awesome. We each must be a leader. But there is no question that our country needs to be re-encouraged and inspired, and, of course, it will take some strong political measures to mitigate global warming. That needs direction and organization, on a large scale, which a president can do. Possibly it will be someone else as president, and Gore in charge of environmental policy. We can do a lot as individuals, but leadership is also needed. And for a big turnaround of the country, great leadership is needed. And Americans are hungry to have their great energies and creativity put to positive use! Of that I am certain.

[burythehatchet]

96. in times like this We The People decide who we want to lead us

and I think, for the most part, we've decided. If a person seeks power he usually shouldn't have any over other people.

[Missy Vixen]

58. I wish I could recommend this post

In a nutshell, you've described the most powerful movement we may see in our lifetime. Al Gore is uniquely positioned to break up the logjam in American politics.

>And I think that Gore would galvanize that vision.<

I do, too. He's getting younger people (who did not vote in the numbers expected for the last election,) involved and engaged. He's getting the baby boomers to realize that this will affect their children and their children's children. He's also getting those who can think and reason to take a long, hard look at the things we've been told are true -- or not. It's like the butterfly effect -- how much of an effect will it have if even a fraction of those watching today make one change, and encourage their friends and neighbors to make one change as well?

Julie

[Nimrod2005]

65. Wow, well said!!! Thank you......nt

[malaise]

100. Super post

This needs its own thread.

[Uncle Joe]

131. Outstanding analysis Peace Patriot!

:yourock: :applause:

[ClayZ]

141. Yeah, well said, Peace Patriot!

K and R

[calimary]

144. Hear, hear! Just imagine it: Al Gore as America's face to the world.

It's what we need. And all of those watching around the globe today got a sample of that. He really could be the Uniter in every sense of the word. I just wish he'd decide to run, already.

[rosesaylavee]

36. Ain't it great?

Gore is one of a kind. I hope you are right that this is changing the world. Our survival depends on it.

Just watched the South African site where a speaker (didn't turn in soon enough to catch his name) equated the warming issue with poverty and called on Bush and other G8 leaders to 'wake up and smell the coffee'.

They smell the coffee and as they don't care if it burns as they have their own private pots. WE the PEOPLE need to do something about our leader. Not sure how - but we need to get him the hell out of office - impeached, forced resignation, whatever.

[otohara]

37. Many Aren't Watching

that's the bad news.

I hope it makes the rounds on the net for several days to come.

[WinkyDink]

70. How do you know this?

[tabatha]

38. Did anyone hear the plea from Africans?

Amandla should be the rallying cry!
Came after the brilliant Angélique Kidjo.

[phusion]

39. Brazil...

Soo many people! :toast:

This is cool, I've been watching all day...It's like going to a great music festival, though. I can't decide who to watch when so I keep flipping back and forth between the UK, Germany, Brazil, etc.

[Nimrod2005]

51. I really wanted to be in Brazil for this one!!! They know how to party...

[w8liftinglady]

40. AFI is a great live band,too

http://www.buzznet.com/tags/afi/

[blues90]

41. It's the first sign of hope I have seen in over 6 years .

I really hope the spirit of this hangs on for many years to come , we need reminders of a way out of this hell . Perhaps this is how we create a peaceful revolution , you know as Jefferson said , but peaceful .

[Rosa Luxemburg]

76. I absolutely agree!

there has been nothing like this for years!

[phusion]

42. Yusuf Islam on in Germany now. n/t

[Nimrod2005]

53. Who is that? Stevens?

[ribrepin]

47. What channel?

[Turn CO Blue]

50. Bravo or Sundance. I got Sundance added for 1 day for $1.99

on Comcast.

[glitch]

57. Cool, I didn't know you could do that. nt

[ribrepin]

72. Thanks, I've got it up on Bravo

[go west young man]

170. Check out the James Blunt version of "Wild World" performed

yesterday in London. It's pretty emotional as well. Live earth link: http://www.liveearth.org/event.php Click on the city name and you can watch all the performances from there.

[Skidmore]

48. I wanted to post a thread to say I that I hope Al Gore does not run

for president but was afraid I'd get flamed fiercely. I think the presidency would reduce his efficacy. He's mobilizing and leading our youth. That is so much more important than having to constantly placate the ridiculously jaded empty heads in DC now. A revolution in thinking will not come from within that Beltway. It will come from the countryside.

[Nimrod2005]

52. You may be right, or he may just right everything that has been wronged!!!

Kind of set the clock back to November of 2000! I would love to forget/erase from memory the past 7 years...

[glitch]

59. He would have the resources of the US Government though. Look at what Bush has been able to do

with our money :mad:, just think what Al could do. But, whatever he wants, as long as the next President follows his advice closely.

[dogday]

56. Gore did more today to bring the World Closer

than Bush has even tried to do in 6 years.... He is a legend....

[Rosa Luxemburg]

168. Do you think he may win a Nobel prize?

I hope so!

[dogday]

175. Yes, I believe it is very possible...

He has earned it in my book.... What a fantastic feat to bring the world together in music.... :hi:

[mzmolly]

60. Rec number 30

:kick: It's AMAZING!

[Nimrod2005]

64. Melissa was awesome, brought tears to my eyes. Then she introduced Al Gore!

Beautiful.......

[Samantha]

103. Melissa was simply stunning

What else can I say?

[KaryninMiami]

137. I was driving and it was on XM Radio- it was amazing --I was weeping. through her speech.

I almost had to pull over- then when Al Gore came on- I wept harder! I was incredible- 5 different XM stations each broadcasting the concert from a different part of the planet. There I was driving my car listening live to Rio and South Africa and the UK and New Jersey-- I was very moved and awestruck by the entire thing. I wish I had been home to watch it on t.v but even on the radio- it was incredible.

[Xenotime]

67. This is a fantastic event to save the planet.

Good job all!

[InvisibleTouch]

68. I couldn't get any video on the web...

...but from reading here and seeing pictures, I still feel like I'm participating in some way. The event has certainly been on my mind for the last few days, and it's very exciting, even if I'm just experiencing it "in imagination."

[DutchLiberal]

69. I know.

I'm following it on Dutch tv and the BBC. It's amazing. I didn't really follow Live8 so I can't compare, but this at its own is incredible. I just saw the closing act at Wembley in London: Madonna! She, like all others, made for an exciting show!

[uberllama42]

71. I would like to note that

the President has never done anything like this. He lacks the ability to bring people together in order to bring about positive change in the world, while it would appear that Gore and his partners are capable of such. Interesting to consider. I think it's a good illustration of just how badly this President has failed us.

[ikojo]

73. I LOVE Keith Urban's shirt

Ask ?


Darn straight...ASK QUESTIONS!!!!!

QUESTION AUTHORITY, people!

[ThomWV]

74. Hopefully this WORLD LEADER Will Grace Us And Become Our President.

Because its his for the asking.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

77. It was his, but it still can be

we need you Al

[marlakay]

78. He has already started to make america look a little better

in the worlds eyes by seeing one american with such great passion to save the world...bush & co are so greedy and selfish and make us look like shit to everyone else. I have friends in Australia who think our country is nuts...they are hoping this fall to get their conservative guy out and get the labour party in.

[bdamomma]

81. Yes, this is unbelieveable there are three stations I am

bouncing on back and forward BRAVO, CNBC and NBC it's wild yes, if each of each us changed our lightbulbs can you imagine what a difference that would make?

Yes, we are trying to save the earth while others are trying to end it, but now is the time to celebrate and save our earth.

[lala_rawraw]

83. and blogged it too

google the blogs, amazing... even China

[ChiciB1]

85. Ain't It Great??? I've Been Watching Almost ALL Day...

Rerun tonight at 11:30 PM for those who missed Melissa AND AL GORE! My Goodness it felt GOOD!!!

I started a thread earlier, but it died! No matter, as long as it's getting NOTICE!!

I'm going to record later because I didn't think of it earlier!! Springstein AND Michael Stipe of
R.E.M are missing... I wonder why??

And of course JACKSON BROWNE!! My very FAVORITE

[Terri S]

90. I was thinking Springsteen and Jackson Browne too

unusual for both of them to miss this!

[ChiciB1]

94. Kind Of Strange To Me... I Don't Have An Answer, But They Were

sooooooo active before! I MISS them!

[w8liftinglady]

99. has neil young played?

[Glimmer of Hope]

87. I love Al Gore. I am so proud that he is a Democrat.

[malaise]

88. I just saw him again on NBC

and tears literally came to my eyes. I don't cry over politicians ever so he mus te doing something right. The crowd treated him like a rock star. It was mindfugging-blowing.

[Decruiter]

89. I like to think you just might be right. Our tv has been on since Sundance started

broadcasting at 4:00am CST and we've been flipping back and forth between Sundance and Bravo all day and it has been a really amazing day.

Al Gore is speaking now on Sundance.

7:45pm CST --

Reciting the Pledge.

[laruemtt]

91. i'm so high from this but

dh and i were just talking about how all the naysayers (i.e. MSM) will be coming out of the woodwork whittling away at our high, but we have to stay above it. that is the challenge. stay in our heads and hearts where we are this day.

[malaise]

95. So will all the Utube video about the Live Earth and

the messages. And so will all the progressive blogs. Seriously who do you think between 14 and 25 is actually watching MSM.

Science is on our side and Gore has taken over this one. MSM is fugged.

[Samantha]

104. Who is the artist who just sang "Tell Me About It"

Her voice is amazing -- like a blend of Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin.

[sellitman]

146. I think it was Joss Stone

She was amazing.

[Samantha]

105. Did you see that text message that just scrolled across the screen?

Chris Matthews, Falls Church, Virginia.... Could it possibly be? Of course, that's probably a very common name.

[LibDemAlways]

140. I think that's Tweety. I know a guy who is a friend of

Tweety's. He (Tweety) lives in Falls Church.

[Name removed]

106. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[illinoisprogressive]

108. There was Live Aid in the 80s that was pretty damn cool

[malaise]

122. I actually typed Live Aid instead of Live Earth

Both were great.

[Anais_98]

110. what

I'm not anti-gore. But seeing all these constant Gore posts, most of which are obssessive and ridulous, makes me want to go to think-progress. Maybe I will for the time being:)
p.s Don't accuse me of being a right-wing nut or skeptic of climate change. I am, in fact, a left-wing environmental science student who is very active in the movement.

[malaise]

111. Don't get me started on

ridulous. Your spelling suggests a lot of things.

[Anais_98]

112. oops

I come from Dan Quayle school of spelling:)- I know that my spelling is atrocious. But really, if that is the only thing you can use to discredit me, then that's pretty sad

[malaise]

113. And the Cheney school of manners no doubt n/t

[Terri S]

114. :) !! n/t

[wildhorses]

120. i suggest you quit thinking about going to think-progressive

and proceed over there forthwith...come back and report what the topic of discussion is over there tonight???

science school or scientology...i truly wonder:eyes:

[obiwan]

129. As an environmental science student...

... you should first learn how to spell. Yes, it's important, because damn few of us are psychic, and you are judged by how you speak, printed word or otherwise.

[Chomskyite]

135. While you're studying . . .

. . . try to find a single figure from all history who has done more to bring world attention to the issue of global warming and who has actually outlined ways EVERY human can act to cut CO2 emissions?

We'll be glad to have your answer here.

[Anais_98]

143. many

There are many environmental activists, who have devoted their entire lives to fighting climate change. Unfortunately they don't recieve the same 'mainstream' recognition because they don't have the celebrity appeal of Gore. But that is not to say they have not done as much work or that their work is less valuable.
Here are some environmentalist/climate change activists that I like- Vandana Shiva, Bob Brown, Mayer Hillman- many, many others.

[buddhamama]

149. Vandana Shiva is a treasure.

a hero of mine. for those not in the know: http://www.navdanya.org/about/index.htm

http://www.zmag.org/bios/homepage.cfm?authorID=90
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Vandana_Shiva/Vandana_Shiva_page.html

welcome to DU! :)

[earthlover]

153. could you, then, explain why people who support their cause are "ridulous"?

I am assuming ridiculous is what you meant. Then, why is this talk about Gore ridiculous?

Ah, never mind. I don't think many students of environmental science would think millions of world citizens thinking about actually doing things to help the planet and talking about it is "ridulous". That would be ridiculous!

[Laurab]

164. But wouldn't someone "active in the movement"

be happy that someone was a catalyst for giving "the movement" world wide exposure and education? No matter who the person was?

You may not be a right-wing nut or skeptic of climate change but sometimes bad spelling and disabled profiles make people think "ridulous" things.

[malaise]

166. Indeed n/t

[ChiciB1]

116. Have To Put My Two Cents In!!! Been Watching Most Of the Day AND I

have NEVER in my life experienced such a monumental coming together of people ALL OVER THE WORLD!! What Al Gore started and put together is phenomenal!! I'm MORE than impressed and overwhelmed

My only regret is that I'm UNABLE to record it. For some reason my machine just won't record. I can only hope that there will be some sort of DVD to by because I want to see it OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!

What a super super event! May we remember and KEEP this FIRE burning!! Now, it's time for the big act!!

PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL!!

[babsbunny]

117. It was beautiful!

But The Police as the grand finale?

[ChiciB1]

121. It Was The SOS In A Bottle!!! I Think That Was What They Wanted

to express. No, The Police aren't the only ones who could have done it, but it was great!!

Keith Urban back on now!! He blew me away earlier today!!

[Coexist]

123. he was amazing

I have never heard him before, I was really impressed.

And that voice on Alicia Keyes - WOW!

[alarimer]

124. Maybe I'm too cynical but I kind of doubt it will matter much

We'll have to wait and see.

[dysfunctional press]

150. same here...we've been there done that for lots of various causes...

it's not an earth-changing event.

[go west young man]

173. If the event raises consciousness on the Earth isn't that a good thing?

It may not move a mountain today but it could be a catalyst for change in the future. Both personal change and possibly political change. Gores pretty good at "seeing" these things as he was instrumental in getting the internet legislation enacted in the 80's and he was well ahead on peak oil and renewable energy. I too question all but in the end I hope we can always have optimism on our side. The media that I watched MSNBC, CNN and The BBC kept framing the whole thing as a waste of time in their coverage. I kept thinking "what if they framed it positively and put the skeptics on the defense instead of the other way round?" Wouldn't that serve the world better? A positive message instead of a cynical one. I think it's a sad state were in when sensationalism trumps possibly saving ourselves from ourselves in the long run.

[dysfunctional press]

180. but it won't.

until there's some type of sensational catastrophe that can be directly attributed to global warming(katrina doesn't count- those were mostly black folks), people aren't going to notice or care.
and by then, it will likely be way too late to stop the runaway train of our climate.

give up, sit back, enjoy the show! (consider that phrase trademarked)

[obiwan]

126. I went to a Party For The Planet Night...

Unfortunately, it was a bogus address. No doubt a troll of some sort. I'm watching as best as I can on cable at home.

There's not enough room in Hell for people who do this sort of thing...

[JanusAscending]

128. Melissa Ethredge's set, KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!!!

I cried through most of it, especially her dialogue! Anyone else catch her??

[Labors of Hercules]

130. Melissa is just all around amazing. nt

Her passion brought a tear to my eye too...

[rainy]

157. She was absolutely the best thing going. She didn't just sing old songs

she wrote a singing monologue about current events. She sang about what noble cause did my son die for, If not now when, and so much more. It brought the audience to tears as well as me. I hope we can see this again. Maybe Youtube will have it. Too good to miss.

[JanusAscending]

132. Bravo's 11.30 re-run......

just CUT Melissa Ethredge's set!!!! :wtf:

[JNelson6563]

133. I saw lots of it, it was superb!

President Gore sure knows how to throw a party! :toast::party:

[dweller]

134. I want my

i want my
i want my AL TV.

that's the way ya do it.
dp

[Kurovski]

138. It's astounding and emotionally charged,

we've been with it most of the day. The "ads" are terrific. The "unraveling the earth" film really got to me.

[Liberty Belle]

139. We had 80 people at our LiveEarth party, and asked our mayors to sign the climate protection pledge!

The Republican mayor of my town, who is one of 650 U.S. mayors who signed the mayors' climate protection pledge, actually showed up to speak and urge all citizens to get involved in the global warming issue!

We had petitions calling on mayors of 3 neighoring communities to sign as well.
(Ask your mayors to sign, too. Get the pledge at www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/)

We had lots of speakers, including a PBS host, a UCSD professor, a Methodist minister, an environmentalist running for Mayor of San Diego, a Supervisorial candidate speaking on "green jobs", a solar energy company owner, an engineer talking about green design, an environmental health representative, and a resident of Potrero talking about citizens holding a recall election to oust a planning board that voted to allow Blackwater to open a training camp - posing a wildfire danger heightened by global warming. Also a couple of activists just back from national conferences on this issue.

The crowd was mostly people we hadn't seen before. Some heard about it through newspapers or radio (we promoted this heavily). Others came because we passed out flyers at a free concert in the park the night before. (The restaurant where we held the event helped out a lot, offering "Happy Hour All Day" specials.)

For many, this was their first exposure to political activism, and their enthusiasm was contagious. We learned that in our conservative town, global warming is NOT a partisan issue (even though the GOP leadership nationally has stonewalled signing the Kyoto accord). We had Democrats, Republicans, Greens, Libertarians, and one newcomer who stayed the entire 6 hours, listened attentively and asked lots of questions, then handed us a membership application with a note reading "Republican, soon to be independent."

It was truly a pleasure to help wake up Americans and unite people in our community on this enormously important issue. We look forward to hosting more community forums like this - next time, healthcare!

[SexyLiberal]

142. He was my President today!

I watched most of Live Earth and it was beautiful!!

[flyarm]

145. my love of President Gore could not be deeper!! as a man , as a leader..

as a man of integrity..a man of vision, a man with incredible intelligence!!

I love this man..and he has to be my President ..again!!

RUN AL RUN!!

fly

[midnight]

147. I agree. As I was watching all I could think of what positive

actions are being put in place to make a change. No guns, Just music.

[shadowknows69]

151. Al Gore can't change the world by himself

But everyone that watched can. If they have the will to.

[Labors of Hercules]

152. Don't you mean, WE??? nt

[shadowknows69]

155. Being one that watched, I believe I'm in that group yes.

I worship our mother above all things. I've known the world is ill since I was able to open my eyes (spiritually speaking)

[Kajsa]

158. As Gore said ( and the main message throughout the evening)

if each one of us can change one thing ( like using energy saving lightbulbs)
we do in our homes and workplaces,
we CAN make a big difference.

Small steps, taken by billions of people become a large movement.

[malaise]

160. You can watch anything you missed here

http://liveearth.msn.com/le/video

[Kajsa]

167. Thanks,Malaise.

I've bookmarked this link.
;-)

:hi:

[malaise]

169. Haven't we all

:toast:

[RestoreGore]

163. We are all changing the world!

And in answer to your last question, I don't know who said it but it isn't true. Al Gore just proved that!

[waleska]

165. Leaders don't do things.. banks do n/t

[waleska]

171. It was BEYOND emotional, but..

..On Al Gore’s watch..


On the 4th of August 1997, NewsWeek readied Kathleen Willey’s story for publication and Robert Rubin, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Kenneth Lay met to discuss the global warming treaty in Kyoto. Kenneth Lay was an enthusiastic advocate of Kyoto for two reasons:
1. Cap and Trade
2. The treaty’s preference of natural gas over coal

Read Jerry Taylor’s (Cato Institute) piece in the Wall Street Journal, January 21 2002 (pg: A12) to learn a bit about the global warming con-game.

Kyoto was nothing more than an Enron welfare program

Aside from Kyoto, Al Gore may have invented the internet while InfoUSA’s Gupta was napping in the Lincoln bedroom.. but Tyco, Global Crossing, and Enron installed it.. offshore. Does India know Al Gore invented the internet?

The “inventor of the internet” also failed to back up White House email from 1996 thru 1998 and 2000

On the 18th of November 2001, Al Gore joined Metropolitan West Financial (Drexel Burnham Lambert) as vice-chairman, concentrating on biotechnology and information businesses. Drexel Burnham Lambert has that Gary Winnick (Global Crossing) and Michael Milken kind of sound to it.
As Reagan would say: “Well, here we go again”

A wise investor will foresee the next Enron (Kinder-Morgan) and remember that Al Gore is a director of Apple and a senior advisor to Google and his “blind trust” will sell these shares before you do.. just before they are intentionally collapsed.

[KoKo]

172. Have a link to the Gary Taylor article? Why should anything from CATO Institute

be believable, btw. CATO, Heritage, AEI and the others are all part of the same system that brought us Bush I and II and War. Is Gore helpful to their policies or not. If he was helpful then "Selection 2000" would not have occurred. So...I will assume that while Gore is not perfect and like all politicians has to compromise at times with unsavory characters or those he might not agree with ...the alternative is far worse.

[Name removed]

174. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[JDPriestly]

178. The world is changing. We are going to make progress.

We need to keep focusing on how much we can accomplish when we work together in peace, respecting each other's needs and hopes while maintaining our own integrity.