Glenn Beck, Politico's Allen tag-teamed to mock Gore's appearance
On the February 26 edition of his CNN Headline News program, host Glenn Beck and guest Mike Allen, chief political writer for The Politico, discussed former Vice President Al Gore's appearance at the previous night's Academy Awards ceremony, in which An Inconvenient Truth won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, by trading attempted quips about Gore's weight. Beck said that "after the 2000 election," Gore looked like he was "on the doughnuts and Jack Daniels diet." After Beck noted that Gore has "found himself in a place where he's like, 'Holy cow, I'm cool all of a sudden?' " Allen said: "Yeah, well, he probably doesn't appreciate the 'holy cow' references. ... [H]e was a little bit jowly." Beck replied: "Let me make the fat jokes, will you? Geez."
Earlier in the program, Beck echoed a comment he made in a January 26 Washington Post article that it is "not true" that he is a global warming skeptic. After saying that An Inconvenient Truth "could have been put into the fiction category," Beck referenced a claim by environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that Beck is "CNN's chief corporate fascism advocate" because of his comments on global warming. Beck responded: "Let me make it clear, Robert Kennedy Jr., I'm not saying climate change isn't real. I'm just wondering if we're causing it, and if we can solve it without resorting to global socialism." As Media Matters for America has noted, Beck frequently questions the cause of global warming and has cited debunked scientists to support his doubts that "we're causing" global warming.
Moreover, as Media Matters has repeatedly documented, scientific organizations such as the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) share the view that, in the words of an IPCC study presented in February, "[m]ost of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations." [Emphasis in original] Neither these organizations nor An Inconvenient Truth makes the argument that humans are completely responsible for global warming.
From the February 26 edition of CNN Headline News' Glenn Beck:
BECK: Where do I even begin? Last night's Academy Awards -- so full of incredibly annoying moments. Celine Dion sang. I can't take it. [Host] Ellen [DeGeneres] wore the same red velvet tuxedo that I think I wore to my prom. But there was one moment that was, above all, really the moment that just made me shoot blood right directly out of my eyes all over my TV set. It was Al Gore, Oscar in hand.
Here's "The Point" tonight. Al has conquered Hollywood, but he's building an army of crappy actors, doped-up starlets, and former Deaniacs, I believe, to help him take the White House maybe next year or in 2012. Here's how I got there.
Was anybody even remotely surprised that An Inconvenient Truth won the Oscar for best documentary last night? I mean, I wasn't at all. I was surprised that it was in the documentary category, since it could have been put into the fiction category.
Let me make it clear, Robert Kennedy Jr., I'm not saying climate change isn't real. I'm just wondering if we're causing it, and if we can solve it without resorting to global socialism.
Anywho, here's the good news. Al's also been nominated for a Nobel Prize. Gee, I wonder what the odds are that he'll win that one, too.
At the Oscars last night, Al Gore, you know, he did a little bit with Leonardo DiCaprio about global warming. Not really a good actor, I noticed last night. Leo, on the other hand, is a good actor, and he doesn't make me want to vomit.
[...]
BECK: You know, after the 2000 election, Al Gore -- I don't mean to be unkind, because I've been there, Al -- but you looked like you were, you know, on the doughnuts and Jack Daniels diet. Got all puffy, you grew the beard.
I think, this is just a guess, that Tipper finally told him, good heavens, man. Have some self-respect. Shave and get a hobby. So he devoted his time to global warming. This is something he's cared about for 30 years. He made a movie. And now he's the golden child of the left.
[...]
BECK: No, you know what? I think Al Gore was the only one there that didn't have butterflies in his stomach. Anybody who says, "My gosh, I'm shocked" -- I mean, you knew he was going to win.
ALLEN: The butterfly is an endangered species. I think you should be a little more sensitive with your analogies.
BECK: Right. Right. Right.
[...]
BECK: And now he's found himself in a place where he's like, "Holy cow, I'm cool all of a sudden?"
ALLEN: Yeah, well, he probably doesn't appreciate the "holy cow" references. You're right that -- he was a little bit jowly.
BECK: Let me make the fat jokes, will you? Geez.
Oh how funny these guys are! Are they grown ups? I'm so happy I haven't watched the Glenn Beck juvenile jokes show.
Silly banter. Probably inappropriate, after all making jokes about people's appearances isn't cool. At least on TV or radio.
Here it's ok [see Coulter thread]
Al is fat. Just another Inconvenient Truth ;-)
Jeter, You are right - except that public figures get skewered all the time for their appearance and every other personal attritbute that can be mocked. They all get it, goes with the territory. They are all big boys and girls who can take it, no doubt.
And yet, not ONCE can Beck take a substantive look at the science of AIT, and make a case against (or for) it.
The fact that you seem to care about Gore's weight, and that you think it's fine to joke about it, gloriously demonstrates why we are currently ruled by an incompetent liar.
Al's girth just doesn't do for me what that Adam's apple does. it's almost creepy.
I told you to take a cold shower, Ultra. Your strange urges should go away.
Here it's ok [see Coulter thread]
I think us insulting Ann Coulter on a message board and two journalists picking on Al Gore on a nationally televised "news" program are just a little different. Don'tcha think?
There's that, and the fact that not all of us here do the appearance bashing. (I know I try to refrain, though it's easy to get caught up in it.)
I do quite a bit of appearance-bashing, but I can justify it. It's fun,and nobody can see me.
Some of the subjects of items have been here so often with their repetitive stoopidity and serial scumbaggery, and earlier posters have addressed the issues so well, that substantive comments aren't needed.
But I understand it's childish and offensive, so I try to watch it. Except for that SF radio hags catcher mitt-like face, and Brit Humes resemblance to the Grandpa in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. oops.
You mean like this?
"Did she get some botox work done? Or did she just drink the blood of a baby? Because the picture makes it look like she is actually a living person." - Bing
I think us insulting Ann Coulter on a message board and two journalists picking on Al Gore on a nationally televised "news" program are just a little different. Don'tcha think?...by Vondarrien
Um, sir or madam I do believe that's basically what I wrote.
Perhaps you better re-read my post.
As the hip-hop crowd would say, these two are just hating. The wingers do seem to be beside themselves about Al Gore's successful campaign to educate about global warming. Sure Al's gained weight and so has Tipper, but they look good and they seem so happy and relaxed.
We all know that conservatives never see the color of someone's skin, but apparently they pay a lot of attention to waistlines.
Unlike those holier than thou Liberals who would never pay attention to, or ever think to mention Limbaugh's waistline?
Oh wait, they do. Over & over & over again.
Guess that halo doesn't quite fit eh Rusty? ;-)
Insults is Rush's bread and butter, Jeetah. That blubbery POS deserves all the insults he gets.
You'd have a point, J2 - IF I had ever claimed not to notice the color of somebody's skin, or to make fun of somebody's appearance.
Well Rusty since you never mentioned you or other Liberals did such a thing...
All I read is: but apparently they [Conservatives] pay a lot of attention to waistlines.
Seems to me you might want to rephrase your remarks then?
Okay, since it's you, J2: some of them pay a lot of attention to waistlines.
You're getting closer Rusty ;-)
How about this?
Some Liberals & Some Conservatives pay a lot of attention to waistlines.
Now that's fair & balanced. Also more factual.
I didn't mention liberals at all in my original post. I was laughing at the "we're so morally superior because we're colorblind" stance of some conservatives. But if your "fair and balanced" proposal makes you feel better, you're welcome to it.
Well said Jeter.........when some liberals here do it, it's rightly deserved - if it's a conservative, it's hateful and bigoted. But certainly you're not hoping for consistency, are you?
Tommy Boy, you're consistent alright. You're ALWAYS on here.
Until I get my hands on a waterproof computer, I am outte here when bathing......so I am not always here.
Perhaps there's some sort of voice-to-print computer software available so you can post while you bathe.
In your dreams
But certainly you're not hoping for consistency, are you?...by Tommy
Nah Tommy I gave up on that ages ago.
I expect double standards & hypocrisy.
And am rarely disappointed.
Kind of mean of you to insult Tommy like that.
Rusty IF it makes you feel better to think I was talking about Tommy, then I won't burst your bubble ;-)
As if there were no difference between the idle chat on a message board, which everyone knows is little more than gossip, and a nationally syndicated quasi news show. You never get tired of this completely false comparison. I guess thats because ya got NOTHIN
WOW These guys are hilarious. They reek of jealousy & envy.I mean why in the world would anybody get so upset about a few seconds of Al Gore. They spent more time trying to trash Gore Than Gore spent on stage accepting the oscar..These 2 are absolutely SILLY (Men?) CNN is getting harder & harder to take seriously as a news provider when they put rightwing shills like Beck on air for an hour a night. SAD very SAD
It's interesting to note that no mention of the other doc's that were nominated by these "pundits" (Crikey, I am sick of that word, talk about psuedo legitimacy). They imply that the winning documentary won in spite of not being the best. Really? If so they need to watch all the nominated doc's and then maybe they could offer some insight into why An Inconvient Truth won rather than ridicule someone who won both the popular and electoral college to be the Vice President of the United States of America for 8 freaking years!!
Pit, you know what I'm more sick of than the word "pundit"?
The number of (heavily right-wing) "pundits" who pronounce it "pun-DINT"
What is ironic about this sophomoric banter between Beck and Allen is that after watching An Inconvenient Truth you come away with the impression that Al Gore is actually a pretty bright guy who has devoted a great deal of time to learn about a complex scientific issue. Regardless whether scientists have conclusively figured out every single aspect about the effects of global warming, which by its very nature science does not claim to do. Gore demonstrates an impressive grasp of the current state of the scientific data and the troubling conclusions and predictions drawn by a consensus of the scientific community. The ironic part is that Beck and Allen together probably couldn't change a light bulb... yet they make fun of Al Gore.
On second thought...
Perhaps "ironic" was not the correct descriptive term to use above... please substitute "pathetic" in its place.
Beck is childish. "Blood out of my eyes", "make me want to puke"... Come on. Like Gore or not, these idiots can't hold Gore's intellectual 'water'. And, that's a fact.
This is all sour grapes. Gore was fine. Even sort of funny. I think he's done quite well 'rehabbing' his persona since 2000. These pieces make me think these guys are worried Gore will run.
Hmm... I can't think of anyone I'd rather see shoot blood through his eyes than Glenn Beck. Well... Maybe Michael Savage.
And now the comedy stylings of Stale and Staler.
I think Gore should run again. I just have one question for my friends on the left. Why did your party abandon Gore in '04? The election was close. You think it was stolen. Why put Al out to pasture? Gore/Kerry ticket would have been formidable IMO.
It's ironic you would ask that within this thread. Only someone is inhuman could put up with garbage like this for ever. The man is one of the most intelligent politicians of his generation and he is constantly ridiculed by mental midgets. I am sure he will be considered for a cabinet post when the time is right. After he wins a Nobel prize for instance. Can he be ridiculed for that?
Dude! Are you kidding? They could ridicule him for anything they chose... they could ridicule George Washington if they were against him. And I'm sure some people would be dumb enough to laugh along...
I don't recall him running in 2004. A quick google turned up a site that wanted to draft him in 2004. But without digging much, I didn't turn up any candidacy info on him.
After 2000, I don't blame him for not wanting to run again. We saw the worst of politics in that election and its aftermath, and Gore was savaged from all sides.
It seems like they are almost trying to prove and demonstrate beyond doubt how stupid they are. Maybe thereby gaining fans by giving people who think they are stupid someone to identify with.
I know wild speculation.
Pithaughn, so you think he will not run, but hold out for a cabinet position? That seems like taking a reduction in rank to me. I was not ridiculing Gore at all, not sure if my post came across that way, but not the intent.
I really thought he would be the presumed front runner in '04 and was quite surprised when the Dems started to dump on him. Nixon and Reagan both were two time charlies as far as the race went. I hope (but fear) we haven't sunk to one strike and you're out for candidates.
Reagan didn't win the his party's presidential primary until 1980, the year he won the Presidency. He challenged Ford in 1976 for the nomination, but lost.
Nixon did run for President twice, though, after having lost in 1960, and again when he ran for Governor of California in 1962.
But you keep tossing around this idea that Democrats dumped on Gore in 2004. There are those that like to see someone new each time; frankly, I find those people to be the least informed of voters, generally speaking. But I don't think Gore really mounted much in the way of a campaign. I don't remember him running in any caucuses.
In fact, here it is from Wikipedia:
So let this bogus idea that "Democrats dumped on Gore" drop already.
Marv, I think you missed my point, or maybe I wasn't clear. You are correct about Reagan and Nixon. I'm just pointing out that the party by and large supported both for a second helping. We will never know the machinations of the DNC and why and how they anointed or pushed certain candidates.
Just to clarify, and my post is clear, I did not state Gore ran in '04...I was making the point if he had run that a hypothetical Gore/Kerry ticket would have been strong...IMO.
I was not saying you were ridiculing Gore. I was refering specifically to Beck and his guest, and the endless ridicule he has been subjected to in general. The lies and half truths that are taken as truth now.
You are a good poster and I wish I had your poise and class. I let my anger get, get .. like apocolyptic.
I'm not sure about that one. The media beat the freakin' crap out of him in 2000. He was (is?) probably one of the biggest victums of those guys, and I think after that kind of treatment, i'm not sure he would want to run... i'm hoping he will this time around...
I dont think he will run, nor do I think he is looking for a cabinet post. I think if he DID run he would be unbeatable. I think he even knows this. He doesnt seem to have the stomach for it anymore
Like Kids In The Back Of The Bus
Glen Beck, Mike Allen, and for sentence structure, Tucker Carlson fill the airways with childish journalism that is more like a name calling session on the back of a school bus.
Plain and simple, Beck is nothing more than a bigot jock, who serves a inclusive function. He makes the bigot feels at home in the same way as Russ Limbaugh and Mike Savage and the all mighty one herself: "Ann, I hate all Liberals, Coulter."
Savage serves the dido factor. He does nothing to enlighten the listening audience. Like Beck, their points don't fall in the range of facts or truths. Their opinions are made to inflame their target in the same way as a recipient of a cheap "caping" session. You know the kind the kids engage in.
Allen has found it hard to keep a job. He's worked for many mainstream newspaper organizations. They have all let him go. I wonder is it because he cannot maintain a non partisan focus. Here is a fact Allen will soon face: He will be out of another job. Nobody is going to pay this guy big money just to here and read his right-wing talking points. Added to this is a college boy attitude that does not belong with the big boys.
Tucker Carlson is the worse of them all. he's flat out jealous and rude. Every show he host, he attacks his liberal guest for the sake of being the boss of his show. I find Carlson hard to watch for more then a minute without becoming outraged at his childish partisan politics. Carlson represents the failure of this right-wing extreme journalism. They won't let go of what America is getting tired of. In their last throws, they are left with trying to make the voters believe Democrats are the same or worse then they are. That will not work. The 2006 elections proved that.
Joseph
Just to make a point, I do object to the College Boy, since I'm going to college this summer, and more mature...
Sensitive Are We?
First off, I am a college student with a AA degree working toward a BA. Just going to college does not make you mature. However, if you think I was attacking college students, you may need to take a few remedial classes before you make a claim to being a "mature college student."
Joseph
Yes, Glenn, you really are a funny guy. I think I even heard you say 'anyhoo', which only Ned Flanders would use in a conversation. This was so pathetic it hurt to get through it. I can just imagine ol' Glenn, desperate for something to prop up his waste of air time, thinking: 'Great! Gore won, so now I have another excuse to attack anything resembling a liberal.'
Absolute piece of trash, as is his little pal there.
How could two goobers who look like that make fun of anyone's appearance? You really want to take their political commentary seriously when my Halloween pumpkins were better looking than they are yet they're making fun of Al Gore's APPEARANCE.
The righties' jealousy of Gore and "Hollywood types" is hilarious. Reminds me of some of the conservative posters around here.
When Beck said, "here's 'The Point' tonight," did he remove his hat so everyone could see it?
The other night, Beck also referred to Keith Olbermann as "McCarthy."
Which is only fitting, because I refer to beck as "Snerd."
I still recall the words of the CNN idiot who gave Beck his own show, that Beck is provocative, not divisive. CNN, meet FUX News; Fux News, CNN.
AS usual, no one seems to get the bigger picture here. Beck's point is not about Global Warming, it's about the fact that one cannot even have a rational discussion about the topic without being labeled a "wingnut" or fascist. It doesn't matter that there is a large contingent of reputable scientists who are saying, "wait a minute, this issue is not so simple". So the IPCC makes its proclamation about Global Warming and everyone agrees without question. I thought science was an ongoing quest for fact - there's no such thing as 'consensus'.
Regarding the Gore jokes...Come on...its an ENTERTAINMENT show. Relax for Christ sake.
And by the way, did anyone see the report on Gore's use of electricity on his 10,000 square foot house in Nashville? 20 times the electricity of an average American household. 20 times!!! What an absolute hypocrite! How can you take this guy serioulsy anymore.
Al Gore uses a lot of electricity, so there's no anthropogenic global warming?
"Anthropogenic"...Gotta look that one up.
Neither Glenn Beck, nor I, have ever said that global warming is not happening...clearly it is. But making the leap that driving a Prius or using florescent bulbs is going to help the situation, well...that's where we differ. Of course (and this is important) that doesn't mean that I'm for pollution or irresponsible use of natural resources.
The point about Gore is that he is a conspicuous consumer of huge amounts of energy - renewable or otherwise - but preaches conservation. Look.. I don't begrudge anyone having a big house - if I could afford it, I'd have a big house, too. But don't preach about unnecessary waste of energy when your household uses 20 times the energy of a typical American household. You must see the irony in that.
I see the irony, Goodfella. It just seems to me that all this fooferaw about Gore's energy bills is a case of the righties like Beck attacking the messenger because they're incapable of attacking the message.
That, and they just hate Gore.
"Neither Glenn Beck, nor I, have ever said that global warming is not happening...clearly it is. But making the leap that driving a Prius or using florescent bulbs is going to help the situation, well...that's where we differ."
Then why do you care about Al Gore's electric bill?
Beck's point is not about Global Warming, it's about the fact that one cannot even have a rational discussion about the topic without being labeled a "wingnut" or fascist.
You call the discussion between Beck and his guest "rational"?
So if a messenger is a wretched, hypocritical sinner, we can safely ignore the message? Wow, I guess pretty much all messages can be ignored then since I hear from the "one true religion" that god had to send himself down here disguiesed as his son, because we are all ...... wait for it....... wait for it....
WRETCHED SINNERS
Hows that for twisting words?
I've heard the 'There's no concensus' routine way too often now. People on Exxon's payroll don't count, m'kay! And maybe Gore is using all that energy for something useful? Maybe he has a Cray supercomputer running climate simulations... Did it talk about what he used it for? No? Then maybe we should know that. Also, I don't see how Gore is supposed to be fat, OR how that is supposed to matter.
Since Gore has been back in the news and headlined quite a few threads on this forum, it has got me to thinking, how did we get to this point where men like Gore and Dan Quayle could be so reviled by the other side?
Coming from a big family of Democrats (my Grandpa was on the Gore bus in '88) I've watched Gore for some years now (obviously as Veep, but before then). Even though I don't agree with his politics I can respect Gore the man. Much the same argument could be made for Quayle. He was, I think, the youngest person ever elected to the Senate. Is it the VP job and playing second fiddle that pushes these guys to bridesmaid status?
I know in these 24/7 news cycles there is no room for error, and I'm sure their speaking gaffs played a part, but I think the media basically drummed two good men out of politics that could have made a difference.
Al Gore uses a lot of electricity, so there's no anthropogenic global warming?
Gore is simply paying more for new energy efficient ways to power his home. This was reported on Keith Olbermann, Washington Post and others. How is that for a phony claim? It is typical Republican bull or the tendency play politics of self destruction.
When it comes to Gore, he's a powerful speaker with a hard to counter opinion. So, what happens when you cannot beat someone with logic or truths? The Republicans attack character or engage in name calling. Added to Gore's powerful opinion is a appeal to a person inner being -- some call it the soul. Still there is not many politicians with the gift to lift, deliver, and clarify information in the way that Gore does. The closest Republican come to Gore is with the "shock jock." The hateful group of righteous right-wing radio host who has mistaken truth with hate speech.
The biggest fear the Republicans have is to have Gore running for president. They fear he will awaken is voice in the way John Kenny and Martin Luther King did. If he does not run this time around, he will be in the 2012 elections.
A voice is coming. It can be Gore, Obama, Clinton or someone with a new Democratic outlook. After being in a endless line of unchecked abuse, what will rise from the abuse is someone who knows, from being in this right-wing nightmare, how to name the problem, define the source of the problem and most important, solve the problem.
Joseph