Al Gore, Welfare Queen
He's rich, that Al Gore. From today's Washington Post:
The man who was within sight of the presidency 12 years ago has transformed himself, becoming perhaps the world’s most renowned crusader on climate change and a highly successful green-tech investor.
Just before leaving public office in 2001, Gore reported assets of less than $2 million; today, his wealth is estimated at $100 million.
That's a lotta dough (not quite Romney money, but still: I wouldn't say no to it.) How did he get it? By investing:
Gore charted this path by returning to his longtime passion — clean energy. He benefited from a powerful resume and a constellation of friends in the investment world and in Washington. And four years ago, his portfolio aligned smoothly with the agenda of an incoming administration and its plan to spend billions in stimulus funds on alternative energy.
The recovering politician was pushing the right cause at the perfect time.
Fourteen green-tech firms in which Gore invested received or directly benefited from more than $2.5 billion in loans, grants and tax breaks, part of President Obama’s historic push to seed a U.S. renewable-energy industry with public money.
Somehow, when Al Gore makes tens of millions of dollars by leveraging the American taxpayer, that's, you know, okay.
But if someone else builds a business, takes the risk, works the seam -- that person is "selfish," a "bad citizen," and unwilling to pay their "fair share."
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Comments:
Jan '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Ruining the Gore portfolio ... one more reason to vote for Romney.
Aug '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
His daddy taught him well . Back then people like Armand Hammer needed political strings pulled and hired people like Senator Gore. Nowadays the names may have changed but the game is the same.
Coal was the grease under the Gore family wheels then, now it's another kind of energy .
Dec '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
His investments in google are one reason I shy away from it as much as possible. Everything we do touching google enriches him more.
Sep '12
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Is America not outraged by the staggering conflict (or perhaps more accurately ridiculous coincidence) in that single statement?
We have an equivalent - Mr Tim Yeo MP - who campaigns for climate change subsidies while making big money from "green tech" firms. Sadly he is serving as a conservative MP.
Jul '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Come on Rob. His analysis of Obama's bad debate performance alone is worth a couple of million dollars. Al Gore is a national treasure. The tax payers just need to start sending him checks directly.
Jun '12
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
At least Google is an honest business, unlike Gore's other businesses.
And shying away from a business because of one of the bigwigs is exactly what the gay marriage types wanted us to do to Chick-fil-A. I prefer not to adopt the tactics I decry from my opponents.
Dec '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
ConservativeWanderer
At least Google is an honest business, unlike Gore's other businesses.
And shying away from a business because of one of the bigwigs is exactly what the gay marriage types wanted us to do to Chick-fil-A. I prefer not to adopt the tactics I decry from my opponents. · 0 minutes ago
Can't deny that google makes good products, and I'm not advocating that anyone else follow my lead. It's on personal principle that I do my utmost to not enrich those who would impoverish my children.
May '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
How did Gore know exactly which green firms were going to get government funds? Insider trading?
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
That would certainly be more efficient!
Apr '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
I am curious to see how profitable those 14 green-tech firms have been. If they have not been profitable then you have to wonder how ones builds 100 million dollars worth of wealth on unprofitable companies.
Dec '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Rob Long
That would certainly be more efficient! · in 0 minutes
And if they have to be mailed it could save the postal system.
Apr '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Rob Long:
But if someone else builds a business, takes the risk, works the seam -- that person is "selfish," a "bad citizen," and unwilling to pay their "fair share." · · 35 minutes ago
Ayn Rand Alert: that was her whole point. We've got to "check our premises" and start working against that sentiment. Nothing is going to change for the better until people that are working for their own rational self interest are viewed as good not only for the individual but for a robust society taken as a whole. It's not easy though as there are 2000 years or so worth of philosophy on the subject that has a different take. Might take awhile.
Dec '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Peter Meza:
Rob Long:
But if someone else builds a business, takes the risk, works the seam -- that person is "selfish," a "bad citizen," and unwilling to pay their "fair share." · · 35 minutes ago
Ayn Rand Alert:that was her whole point. We've got to "check our premises" and start working against that sentiment. Nothing is going to change for the better until people that are working for their own rational self interest are viewed as good not only for the individual but for a robust society taken as a whole. It's not easy though as there are 2000 years or so worth of philosophy on the subject that has a different take. Might take awhile. · 1 minute ago
We could get a long way by just convincing people that rational self interest and common good are not mutually exclusive concepts.
Jun '12
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Speaking of green energy, I've got a way to power Washington DC and most state capitols, too.
Simply install large generators in the halls of the legislature and use the hot air of the politicians therein to generate electricity.
Aug '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
A maroon like algore could only get rich on the government teat. He doesn't have the gray matter to make it in the private sector like Romney because that would mean he would have to understand the free market.
Sep '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
He convinced the government that there was a coming catastrophe that could only be stopped by giving him billions of dollars. That is on par with the super-villians from James Bond, only no one is treating him as the bad guy.
Aug '10
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Wait a minute, here's a single guy with a one hundred million and he is trying to hit (unsuccessfully) on a masseuse in a hotel room ?
I think there is a term for that...........
Feb '12
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Thank you for your eloquent summation of the whole Al Gore raid on the U.S. taxpayers and Obama's mission to help him do it.
Feb '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Greg Pollowitz has an entry up at Planet Gore that says that even though Gore profited from these business and continues to sell them to investors, he is no longer invested in them, making him hypocritical at the least.
Apr '11
Re: Al Gore, Welfare Queen
Rob! Al Gore suffers daily for us all. His life is a constant act of contrition to appease the just wrath of Gia for our Carbon sins. What ever money he way have made is beside the point. In his heart he pays his fair share, and would if only taxes were raised on him. Unlike the unscrupulous Mitt Romney who never once even felt bad about doing so well.