So the daylong, globe-spanning Live Earth spectacular is in its final moments; the last chords of the almost implausibly star-studded roster of musical acts soon to be played by Sting and the recently reunited Police. It's been an exhausting ten hours, as the thinning ranks of our press cohorts attests. The crowd in the stadium, though, soldiers on, and when the moment came for a beaming Al Gore to introduce homegrown favorites Bon Jovi, the Meadowlands shook louder than it had for any of the series of multi-platinum artists who played the second half of the show.

But the true stars of the day -- no offense to Kanye, Kelly, and Jon -- were the likes of Robert Kennedy, Jr., whose rousing call for Live Earthers to take their eco-consciousness to the voting booth was one of the day's more exciting moments; and, of course, Gore himself, who was greeted with wild cheers every time he took the stage. Kennedy wasted no time before laying into "the oil industry and the coal industry and their indentured servants" on Capitol Hill, and reminded the crowd that while the little things done around the house can help, "the most important thing you can do is get involved in the political process and get rid of these corporate toadies." "This is treason," he said with a growl, "and we need to start to treating them like traitors."

In keeping with the evening's trend -- more substance, less bullet points -- Sting opted to forego his moment at the press tent lectern, handing over his allotted time (announced as the only opportunity to interview him) to his wife, who talked about her participation in an ongoing class-action lawsuit to prevent a massive oil company from spoiling the rainforests of Ecuador, and with them, the habitat of some 30,000 indigenous people. The suit claims the oil to be gained will only amount to twelve-days-wroth of daily-global usage, while the loss of habitat will be immeasurable. To learn more, head to www.chevrontoxico.com

Gore, not suprisingly, has been all over the place. He began the day at a last-minute concert at the National Museum of the American Indian on the Mall in Washington, D.C., before hopping on an Acela Express train to the New York concert. On the way, he batted away inevitable questions about his presidential ambitions, reminding reporters that he's now "involved in a different kind of campaign, to deliver this message to people all over the U.S. and all over the world."

And with all that's gone on over the last twenty-four hours, we have to believe that message has gotten across loud and clear. It's easy to sneer at flashy concerts-for-a-cause and celebrity preaching, but there's no denying the urgency of the message behind even the day's showier moments. As Gore put it recently, "the climate crisis offers us the chance to experience what few generations in history have had the privilege of experiencing: a generational mission; a compelling moral purpose; a shared cause; and the thrill of being forced by circumstances to put aside the pettiness and conflict of politics and to embrace a genuine moral and spiritual challenge." ‘Nuff said. Thaddeus and I are going to go sneak in to The Police.

Comments (34)

1. "Kennedy wasted no time before laying into "the oil industry and the coal industry and their indentured servants" on Capitol Hill, and reminded the crowd that while the little things done around the house can help,"

   Somebody might remind Bobby Jr. that BIG things around the house...or in his case, The Compound at Hyannisport, could help too.

   Like the Cape Wind wind farm project that he and Uncle Ted killed, which would have provided clean, renewable energy...but sadly disrupted the view from the old beach mansion of the Kennedys.

   Posted by Mask at 07/07/2007 @ 10:32pm

2. I think the real message is, DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO, from ALGORE and Bobby Jr. with their mansions,private jets and SUV's.....

   Let's face it, music fans are tuning in for the music, not the message....It'll be remembered along with other great moments in Rock n roll, like the concert for Bangladesh, live aid, farm aid and We are the world.........But It won't give ALGORE the leadership mantra he needs to satisfy his ego......As a consolation, he'll probably allow himself to be drafted by a deadlocked Dem convention, after Barry OH! and Hillbillary thrash each other beyond all recognition, or so he calculates....

   Remember, you read it here first.

   Posted by davebarlett at 07/08/2007 @ 12:31am

3. all you hamsters

   help stop global warming and you'll get rich (tax free) and we'll send someone else's kid off to fight the war

   Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 12:35am

4. help stop global warming and you'll get rich (tax free) and we'll send someone else's kid off to fight the war

   Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 12:35am

5. help stop global warming and you'll get rich (tax free) and we'll send someone else's kid off to fight the war

   Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 12:36am

6. help stop global warming and you'll get rich (tax free) and we'll send someone else's kid off to fight the war

   Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 12:36am

7. we need to put that one on U-tube

   Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 12:36am

8. on one big loop

   Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 12:37am

9. Live Earth was a joke...a bigger joke than the Fraud at large..ALGORE..who also be soon forgotten..what a clown.

   Yawn...

   Posted by john maasch at 07/08/2007 @ 02:34am

10. No JoMa, you're the joke-- but you just keep sticking around for everyone to keep laughing at your clownish comments.

    What will you do when Gore is president? Never wake up most probably probably. Yet, have you ever, really.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2007 @ 03:08am

11. Once again, those without arguments attack the messenger. Here's a joke for you: How funny will you great-grandkids think it is when Canada builds a border fence to keep out the illegal aliens swarming up from the "south?"

    Posted by Beep52 at 07/08/2007 @ 08:09am

12. I'm a builder and I'm going to start offering "green" options to cash in on the global warming craze. My normal profit is about 20%, but I hope to make at least 35-40% on the green stuff. The buyers will feel better about themselves, my realtor will be happy at the higher sell prices, and I may be able to retire earlier. I just hope the crap holds up through my one year warranty period. I don't need anymore headaches.

    Posted by Person at 07/08/2007 @ 08:23am

13. Maasch-You were at the concert?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2007 @ 10:30am

14. no, maasch was rowing his dingy

    Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 10:58am

15. When it comes to oil many people behave like alcoholics and drug addicts.They freak when their supply is threatened.Getting off of oil will not only help the environment,but will get us out of the middle east and end the control that they have over us.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2007 @ 11:03am

16. Will-You mean that Maasch would pass judgment on a concert he didn't hear?

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2007 @ 11:05am

17. I think he was passing judgement on it before it started

    Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 11:19am

18. Oh OH

    http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~obs/cur_mag_na1.html

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2007 @ 3:12pm

19. I watched it for a while and found it probably the most boring concert I have ever seen. I had a much better time on the 4th of July at a concert with Blood Sweat & Tears and Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night.

    Now that rocked!

    Posted by antiliberal at 07/08/2007 @ 7:34pm

20. When it comes to oil many people behave like alcoholics and drug addicts.They freak when their supply is threatened

    Posted by I'M NOBODY 07/08/2007 @ 11:03am | ignore this person

    Anecdotally, the only people who seem to be freaking out over oil are liberals. On the right you have more of a frustration and massive annoyance over the numerous and ridiculous obstacles standing in the way of increased oil production. But I doubt you will see anyone from the right "freaking out" any time soon and protesting publicly and loudly like the liberals. I wish they would.

    Posted by Person at 07/08/2007 @ 7:58pm

21. Let's see a "Keepin' it Real Earth" concert focusing on the increased domestic production of Texas Tea! It just won't happen because the Right doesn't have it in them to "freak out." It's just not the way they work. They seem to prefer taking it up the rear from the Left.

    Posted by Person at 07/08/2007 @ 8:01pm

22. Now that rocked!

    Posted by ANTILIBERAL 07/08/2007 @ 7:34pm

    uh uh, luvvy might consider standing up for six minutes!

    Don't do it luvvy!

    Posted by Will C. at 07/08/2007 @ 9:15pm

23. Posted by PERSON

    Er, Preson, the Iraq war is a 'freaking out' and it's pretty much a new con thing about oil. I understand if you'd prefer not to think of that one though. Kinda shoots a lot of holes in your argument.

    As well there's nothing stopping you from doing what Al Gore did to help with putting on the Live Earth. Oops, sorry you wouldn't know how... your ability IS stopping you. But you do make that cash still. From taking it up the rear you say. I wouldn't ever do that, but to each his own.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/09/2007 @ 12:42am

24. I think he was passing judgement on it before it started

    Posted by WILL C. 07/08/2007 @ 11:19am

    The dismal ratings world wide were predictable....I just made a lucky guess.

    Posted by john maasch at 07/09/2007 @ 01:22am

25. do you even know what they are maasch or are you just making shit up again

    Posted by Will C. at 07/09/2007 @ 01:24am

26. the Iraq war is a 'freaking out' and it's pretty much a new con thing about oil.

    Posted by HSUBFOOLS 07/09/2007 @ 12:42am | ignore this person

    I'm still trying to figure out how in the hell Iraq has benefited the U.S. in terms of oil. Please refresh my memory on how this scam works, and calm my nerves a little.

    Posted by Person at 07/09/2007 @ 06:22am

27. er, Person, new con fantasy about controling the ME oil via Iraq foothold/permenant bases, cHeney's secret energy plan, PNAC, remember all that-- never said your new con delussions ever work, just pointing out your new con hysteria really damages everyone else. Thus new con 'freakingout' is always a short lived memory, well for new cons that is. This is and you are a perfect example.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/09/2007 @ 09:07am

28. You mean the audience was not moved by homogenized corporate entertainment? Amazing...

    Posted by John Sullivan at 07/09/2007 @ 09:32am

29. Person-People on the right are freaking out on a regular basis over the idea of losing their drug-oil.There is no reason for increased production.Oil is going the way of the horse and buggy and it's time for you folks to realize that.Oil served it's purpose,but it's time to move on.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/09/2007 @ 10:02am

30. IN WHICH AL GORE PREACHES HIS WISDOM FROM THE MOUNT

    Live Earth MC Al Gore dropped some wisdom over the weekend, apparently attempting to enlighten his scurrilous skeptics.

    Prepare to be moved:

    "We are in a transition time in history when the only way we can get to where we need to be is by starting from where we are."

    The font of wisdom was bubbling up in response to pesky critics who wondered whether pollution-producing mega concerts and legions of private jets for performers were the best method to combat global warming.

    Where's the scorn? Where's the haughty laughter? Why haven't the gatekeepers of the self-defined intellectual class mocked Gore for his sheer inanity?

    A quick search at Google and Technorati showed not one liberal or progressive critique of the Tao of Gore.

    If those who make ill-considered remarks are worthy of ridicule, what about leaders who utter cluelessly pedestrian statements intended as profound insights?

    Note that Al Gore is the representative of people who consider themselves to be the intellectual elite of America. Not that I have ever believed that people like SHUBFOOLS are anything but nitwits, but really, how demonstrably obvious does this whole sham make it?

    Posted by pontificus at 07/09/2007 @ 10:56am

31. You can fool some of the people all of the time, but....

    From Rasmussen Reports:

    Skeptical of Performers' Motives, Public Tunes Out Live Earth Event Sunday, July 08, 2007 Advertisment

    The Live Earth concert promoted by former Vice President Al Gore received plenty of media coverage and hype, but most Americans tuned out. Just 22% said they followed news stories about the concert Somewhat or Very Closely. Seventy-five percent (75%) did not follow coverage of the event.

    By way of comparison, eight-in-ten voters routinely said they were following news coverage of the recent Senate debate over immigration. Fifty-four percent (54%) said they followed news coverage of the President's decision to commute Scooter Libby's sentence.

    Skepticism about the participants may have been a factor in creating this low level of interest. Most Americans (52%) believe the performers take part in such events because it is good for their image. Only 24% say the celebrities really believe in the cause while another 24% are not sure. One rock star who apparently shared that view is Matt Bellamy of the band Muse. Earlier in the week, he jokingly referred to Live Earth as "private jets for climate change."

    Only 34% believe that events like Live Earth actually help the cause they are intended to serve. Forty-one percent (41%) disagree. Those figures include 10% who believe the events are Very Helpful and 20% who say they are Not at All Helfpul. Adding to the skepticism, an earlier survey found that just 24% of Americans consider Al Gore an expert on Global Warming.

    Given a choice of four major issues before the United States today, 36% named the war in Iraq as most important. Twenty-five percent (25%) named immigration, 20% selected the economy and only 12% thought Global Warming was the top issue.

    Posted by pontificus at 07/09/2007 @ 11:02am

32. Oil served it's purpose,but it's time to move on.

    Posted by I'M NOBODY 07/09/2007 @ 10:02am | ignore this person

    Personally, I don't care what my truck runs on, so long as it runs the same or better and costs the same or less. Alternative energy, bring it on! I just don't like the idea of alternative energy being shoved down my throat when it can't deliver. Using the term "addicted to oil" is silly. It's like saying people are addicted to an operating system when they resist upgrading (usually on the PC side, of course). It would be more honest to call people out for being resistant to change. And that has as much to do with the high cost of change as anything else. It's one of the main reasons DOS based operating systems still reign supreme despite Linux being obviously better. It would cost a fortune to change businesses overnight.

    Alternative energy may or may not ever "get there." If it does, hurray for them! But let them do it organically, by the will of consenting consumers rather than legislating change on a resistant population.

    Posted by Person at 07/09/2007 @ 11:11am

33. Only 34% believe that events like Live Earth actually help the cause they are intended to serve. Forty-one percent (41%) disagree. Those figures include 10% who believe the events are Very Helpful and 20% who say they are Not at All Helfpul. Adding to the skepticism, an earlier survey found that just 24% of Americans consider Al Gore an expert on Global Warming.

    Posted by PONTIFICUS 07/09/2007 @ 11:02am | ignore this person

    Hell-o-Pete, the stated intent was only to raise awareness, and I guess they did that. So in terms of the mission statement the event was a smashing success. (Note to self: Reword your mission statement making failure impossible).

    Posted by Person at 07/09/2007 @ 11:38am

34. http://www.myspace.com/rfk_jr_for_the_usa

    http://www.myspace.com/rfk_jr_for_the_usa

    Posted by RFK Jr. 2008 at 07/10/2007 @ 09:29am