Al Gore Just Lost My Vote -- And Should Lose Yours

Speaking of Al Gore ... (0.00 / 0)

I've had some difficulty uploading his complete comments from yesterday's event, but will have them up soon, I hope.

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by: JRB @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 08:25:55 AM CDT

Get over yourself (4.00 / 1)

I've been born and raised in New Jersey for my 20 years.  I understand that New Jersey gets the shaft a lot when compared to New York.  When the Red Bulls became the NY Red Bulls, even though they play in NJ, it makes us angry.  Not to mention the NY Giants and NY Jets, who both play in the Meadowlands.

Yes, New Jersey is the Rodney Dangerfield of states, but with the marketing power of New York City across a river, what can you do.  But when you have a concert series - and really a worldwide event - contingent on getting as many viewers as possible for a positive message to fight global warming, you have to do whatever to get the most sponsor dollars and the most worldwide viewers.

I'm not insinuating you have said these next things, but I assume you also believe that Al Gore would make an excellent President.  Right now I'm in the Edwards camp, so you can't accuse me of being a "Gore or nothing" guy, but I think Gore would bring the nation together and lead on many pressing issues, the most pressing of which being global warming.

To be honest, if you wouldn't consider voting for Al Gore, who is running second in polls in New Hampshire and not even officially running, because he called the New Jersey Live Earth event a New York event, then that's pretty sad.

"Give me a lever long enough... and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

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by: mconvente @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 09:17:58 AM CDT

Get some pride for yourself (0.00 / 0)

I made mention of this last night over on my blog as well.  I'm not getting into the Gore thing, but seriously, this site wasn't called Blue New York the last time I checked. 

They would have had the sponsors if they called it NJ.  They would have had the viewers if they called it NJ.  How many of the artists are going to get up there and say "Hello, New York!  Hello, world!"?  I'm hoping it's less than half, but Bon Jovi may be the only one not to do it.  I won't be able to see it all until the rebroadcast, but watch and see how many do it.

NY either didn't welcome this thing or couldn't pull it off, NJ did and could.  It's time people stop slouching their shoulders and saying what are you going to do.  This was an opportunity to recogonize our state's continuing commitment to the environment.  They blew it.

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by: rmfretz @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 09:55:09 AM CDT

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Rah! Rah! Go New JERSEY! (4.00 / 1)

Rah!  Rah! 

Seriously.  I love this blog, and I love NJ, but you're taking this NJ pride thing a little too far!  Starting to sound like a wingnut.

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by: Outrageous @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:43:00 AM CDT

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Such is life (0.00 / 0)

I'm pretty sure that's the first time I've been called a wingnut.  There are so many great things about our state that it irks me that we've gotten the global shaft once again.  I wouldn't go so far as Sarlo to try and legislate respect, but if we don't vocally stand up for ourselves nobody else will.

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by: rmfretz @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 12:12:20 PM CDT

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No, you're not a wingnut (0.00 / 0)

And I didn't say you were a wingnut.  I said you were starting to sound like one.  C'mon hunny, I love your blog, but this one is just over the top.  I thought for sure that once you slept on this, you'd realize just how silly pulling a vote would be because of something like this when the country is otherwise going up in flames.  I share your love of NJ.  I brag about "us" all the time.  For instance, did you know that NJ has the greatest concentration of scientists and engineers on the entire planet? And that we have more diners per square mile than any other state?  There is so much to love about NJ.  I get your pride, I really do.

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by: Outrageous @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 12:21:01 PM CDT

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So you really think ... (0.00 / 0)

Using New York instead of New Jersey doesn't get any more eyeballs on the show, unless you think things like this happen:

Johnny: "Oooooh, we can watch the Smashing Pumpkins and Jon Bon Jovi on TV today from the Live Earth concert in New York!"

Walter: "It's not in New York.  It's in New Jersey at Giants Stadium."

Johnny: "Well, fuck that then!  I ain't watching no concert from New Fucking Jersey!  Let's go see if the paint dried yet."

And there's no one in France, India, China or anywhere else who is going to watch or not watch based on the York/Jersey thing. 

The show sold out, so they don't need extra marketing for selling tickets.

So why go with NY instead of NJ?  'Cause it's easier.  But it also hurts my state and my pride, so screw it.

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by: huntsu @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:11:35 AM CDT

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P.S. (0.00 / 0)

Regarding that Archimedes quote -- the lever isn't enough.  He needs a fulcrum, too!  :-)

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by: huntsu @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:14:07 AM CDT

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Yeah I know, ... (0.00 / 0)

but it isn't as catchy!  The word "fulcrum" is  cacophonous so I don't like using it in the quotation!

"Give me a lever long enough... and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

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by: mconvente @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 12:42:40 PM CDT

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I swore I wouldn't get involved (0.00 / 0)

but the correct quote has no mention of a lever.

It is (plus or minus some minor translation variations, "Give me a place to stand, and I shall move the world."

You can look it up.

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by: NJ Liberal @ Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 16:56:03 PM CDT

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And while I'm at it... (0.00 / 0)

The fulcrum is part of the lever, not a thing of its own. A lever without a fulcrum wouldn't be a lever, it would be a stick, or a rod.

sorry.

(and by the way, I worked for years in the "new york" office  of a company, located in Englewood.)

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by: NJ Liberal @ Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 17:03:34 PM CDT

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Damn! (0.00 / 0)

I've been one-upped again.  :-)

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by: huntsu @ Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 20:36:45 PM CDT

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AMEN! (4.00 / 1)

I am sure that there was a reason that the creators of the Live Earth website chose to identify the Giants Stadium concert as the New York concert and not the New Jersey concert.

Whether this reason was a good one or not, I am also sure that Al Gore didn't have anything to do with the decision-making process.

We are living during very serious times and it would be ridiculous for us to allow our geographical self-image issues to override our priorities.

The fact of the matter is that Northern New Jersey is part of the Greater New York Metropolitan area and Southern New Jersey is part of the Greater Philadelphia Metropolitan  area and Central New Jersey is more or less stuck in between.

We are a state without an identity.  If we were annexed by New York and Pennsylvania tomorrow, I for one wouldn't shed a tear.  Personally, I would prefer it for my state to be governed by either Rendell or Spitzer than Corzine any day of the week.

I don't care what state the Jets or Giants identify themselves with and I am glad that the Yankees didn't leave the Bronx in favor of New Jersey when they had the chance to do so.

I love all of the things about NJ that huntsu mentions, but they still don't give me any more or less state pride than all of the qualities that make our country great give me some overwhelming degree of national pride.

Leave jingoistic crap like that to the Republicans and just enjoy Live Earth for what it is rather than getting torqued off over a silly geographic slight.

John Edwards probably doesn't know where he is half of the time until Elizabeth or his hairdresser tell him.  Hillary Clinton probably isn't going to bother campaigning seriously here, because Corzine et al will have her people believe that they have locked the state up for her.

So I will second mconvente's motion to tell huntsu to get over yourself.  It is a beautiful day outside and should be a great day for a concert no matter what the state that it is held in is called.

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by: rachael'sdad @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:45:50 AM CDT

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Lost in NJ (0.00 / 0)

You know, I think I just figured out why folks from elsewhere always get lost in NJ.  It's because they think they are in NY. 

Kidding aside, I guess when you think about it, NYC is really closer to us than to the rest of NY state.  Although it would be nice if they acknowledged it was NJ, you can see the NYC skyline from the
Meadowlands.

I'd still vote for Gore.  His book Assault on Reason is incredible.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 09:32:44 AM CDT

Annex NYC! (0.00 / 0)

That's great!  We'll take NYC and Long Inland, and change it's name back to New Amsterdam. 

Schweeet.

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by: huntsu @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:12:35 AM CDT

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Noooo! (0.00 / 0)

The only part of NYC you want is Wall Street.  And we seem to be getting even, in a backhanded sort of way.

While the City clearly has ammenities, as do some parts of LI, that we may want/covet, its burdens are too much to bear.

Yes, I am angry that the concert was billed as "NY," and consciously so.  Would have been nice if they shared the billing -
NY/NJ, at least as a compromise.

Meanwhile, keep protesting.  What will Gore have to say about the "Great State of New Jersey?"  This concert, after all, is not taking place in the "Great State of Tennesee."

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by: SmartyJones @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:45:06 AM CDT

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great idea huntsu (0.00 / 0)

And since we are now calling this new political entity New Amsterdam, can we also legalize marajuana too?

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by: rachael'sdad @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:48:38 AM CDT

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This is nutzoid! (0.00 / 0)

Are  you kidding?  You'd not vote for Al because ads on a web site advertise for NY rather than NJ?  And you want us to dis him too?  That's nuts, man!  Really nuts.  The country is going up in flames, and you wouldn't vote for the best man to help us turn it around because of this?  As a proud NJ resident, I think that's NUTS!  Geez.  Get OVER it!

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by: Outrageous @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:38:42 AM CDT

do you really think (0.00 / 0)

Al Gore is involved in every tiny detail surrounding this 7 continent event?  I love NJ (born,raised and still here), but it's thinking like this that gets us into trouble.  After all that Gore has done to bring this issue to the forefront, you are going to "punish" for something that he may not have any part of.

I heard his speech yesterday and he said that when he is traveling around the world he will point to NJ and it's legislation as a model.

As the Eagles say "Get over it".

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by: sandy23 @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:40:26 AM CDT

I'm not going to vote for Al Gore (4.00 / 3)

because he's not going to run.

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by: Scott Weingart @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 10:55:04 AM CDT

I think everyone took the hyperbole too seriously (0.00 / 0)

Al Gore didn't lose my vote for real, guys.

It still sucks.

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by: huntsu @ Sat Jul 07, 2007 at 11:09:39 AM CDT

NJ was well represented today (0.00 / 0)

Don't worry, Kevin Bacon, Zach Braff, Jon Bon Jovi, and Sting set the record straight today at Live Earth.  Zach Braff really pointed it out in no uncertain terms.  I love that man. 

Al Gore personally wanted to introduce Bon Jovi himself.  Some of the other performers said hello to NY AND NJ.  I think a lot of the performers were very conscious of the slight and tried to soften it. 

Still an amazing show.  This venue was actually supposed to represent the ENTIRE US.  A lot of people had to drive home to Boston or Albany or Philly tonite and they are probably not home yet.  I think we should thank them for coming out to make the event a huge success.

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 01:32:09 AM CDT

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Even the Australians (0.00 / 0)

Know where New Jersey is http://www.theaustra...

One Vote. Yours. It really does matter.

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by: carolh @ Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 10:15:16 AM CDT

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Glad to hear that it was hyperbole and you haven't ditched Gore (0.00 / 0)

I took you seriously and thought you were being pretty thin skinned.

The "New York" wasn't the state, but rather a city reference, so the parallel isn't logical, anyway.

I agree in theory, but the name makes sense in the big picture.  The other sites were Tokyo, London, Johannesburg, etc., and chances are some of those sites may not be technically in their city propers, either.  This show was marketed to the whole world, so the most recognizable city names makes sense.  "Hoboken" wouldn't really have been understood by people in Finland or Bosnia or in villages in Thailand and Egypt, do you think?

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by: Jim33 @ Sun Jul 08, 2007 at 14:21:09 PM CDT

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useless information (0.00 / 0)

Oh, but we in northeast Jersey love to boast how urbane & sophisticated we  are because we live right next to Manhattan.  We're the Queens of the West, Giants Stadium just balances out Shea. Cape May?  Cute but hopelessly provincial.  Atlantic City? Everyone knows Vegas is more fun, & a better bargain. Fort Dix? Oh, that's near Great Adventure. Bruce Springsteen? Isn't Bon Jovi the New Boss? I suppose next you'll be demanding that Al Gore  know the current price of a gallon of milk, or some other fact that the rich & famous would consider useless  information.

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by: Wesleylake @ Mon Jul 09, 2007 at 19:54:09 PM CDT

I don't love to say that (0.00 / 0)

When I talk about how great New Jersey is -- and I was just doing it yesterday out of state -- I mention the pine barrens, the Delaware Water Gap, the shopping, the entertainment (yes, bon jovi and springsteen), the Shore, Cape May, our historical places like Edison's workshop and Washington's Crossing, etc. etc. etc.  I never mention Manhattan.  Ever. 

And the idea that knowing that Giants Stadium is in New Jersey is the same as knowing the price of a gallon of milk is ridiculous.  Knowing what state you are in is a pretty major thing, especially when the day before you were standing with that state's governor who signed legislation supporting your big concert's goal.

The fact is New York -- the state and the city -- could not put on this concert.  They did not have the venue, the people to run it, or any of the other things needed to do it.  New Jersey did.  Why does New York get credit when they suck and we get none when we rocked?

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by: huntsu @ Thu Jul 12, 2007 at 07:43:31 AM CDT

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