A Climate of Deep-Seated Doubt

onMay 22, 2006 @ 10:56 PDT

Bush snubs Gore film on global warming

Is President Bush likely to see Al Gore’s documentary about global warming?

”Doubt it,” Bush said coolly Monday

Bush has had bitter disagreements with Gore about the environment and other issues. Bush defeated Gore, then the Democratic vice president, in a disputed presidential election that was finally settled by the Supreme Court in 2000.

Gore’s documentary chronicles his efforts to bring greater attention to the dangers of climate change.

”New technologies will change how we live and how we drive our cars which all will have the beneficial effect of improving the environment,” Bush said. ”And in my judgment we need to set aside whether or not greenhouse gases have been caused by mankind or because of natural effects and focus on the technologies that will enable us to live better lives and at the same time protect the environment.”

Gore’s movie debuted at last winter’s Sundance Film Festival and opens in U.S. theaters Wednesday.

Speaking Saturday in France at the Cannes Film Festival about global warming, Gore said, ”I even believe there is a chance that within the next two years, even (President) Bush and (Vice President) Dick Cheney will be forced to change their position on this crisis,” he said. ”One can only attempt to create one’s own reality for so long. Reality proper has a way of insisting itself upon you.”