# Al Gore sells out to Al Jazeera **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080 "2013-01-04T17:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/1 "2013-01-04T17:15:03Z")
I haven’t seen this mentioned on the Dope yet. Al Gore has [sold his Current TV channel](http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/al-jazeera-said-to-be-acquiring-current-tv/) to Al Jazeera for $500 million. Really? Al-fucking-Jazeera, the terrorists’ favorite mouthpiece? By all accounts, Al Jazeera isn’t interested in any of Current TV’s content; they just want a US cable channel so they can broadcast their own content. I’ve read one report which says that Time Warner dumped Current TV from it’s lineup immediately after the sale. I think whatever respect I still had for Al Gore has evaporated. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/2 "2013-01-04T17:23:16Z")
Terrorist mouthpiece? You might want to realize that many people outside the US have reasonable grievances with the US before you make judgement statements. This doesn’t make all of them terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/3 "2013-01-04T17:25:08Z")
I don’t see much difference between Al Jazeera starting a new cable channel and buying a near-ignored one like Al Gore’s. Many US cable networks may refuse to carry it anyway, although I’d look forward to having it available on TV. You can always skip over that channel if you don’t like it. There have been times in the past when I went to the Internet to find Arabic views, not that I trust everything from those sources, but it does provide another perspective from domestic ones. Does everyone think that the only truth in world news comes from the Voice of America? Besides, Communism has lost its luster for the mandatory 2 minute hate. Maybe Muslims will replace it and Congress will spawn a neo-McCarthy. Should be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/4 "2013-01-04T17:25:48Z")
Yeah, I was under the impression that Al-Jazeera was the best place for information to issues with the Middle East. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/5 "2013-01-04T17:33:51Z")
It is more likely that TWC dumped Current as to get more money from the new owners. This should be in the “my claim to fame thread”, but I happened to be one of the 127 people in America who watched the channel, and one of the 3 who put it in my list of favorites. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/6 "2013-01-04T17:38:31Z")
The English language channel of Al Jazeera is actually pretty good about presenting perspectives on the Middle East that you don’t get from other news sources (apart possibly from the BBC). I’ve been told that the Arabic language channel is a different kettle of fish, but as I don’t speak Arabic I can’t confirm or rebut that view. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/7 "2013-01-04T17:40:49Z")
I watched Al Jezeera online several times during the “Arab Spring.” It just seemed like the BBC to me (everyone talking in British accents!) ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/8 "2013-01-04T17:42:11Z")
So does this confirm that Al Gore is a capitalist? ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/9 "2013-01-04T17:47:02Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > So does this confirm that Al Gore is a capitalist? Not only that, but an islamist who hates America. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/10 "2013-01-04T17:50:15Z")
There’s a “Jews control the media” joke in here somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/11 "2013-01-04T17:51:04Z")
[Tipper] F#ck! [/Tipper] ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/12 "2013-01-04T17:53:55Z")
I’d take Al-Jazeera over Sky News any day but France 24 or Euronews are better again imho. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/13 "2013-01-04T18:01:54Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > [Tipper] > F#ck! > [/Tipper] I am **Dee Snider** , and I approved this message. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/14 "2013-01-04T18:02:19Z")
I like AJE, it has a very different perspective. I also know not to take ANY news source at face value as everyone has a bias intended or not. The best part… I am sure FOX is going nuts about this… Al Gore Sells out to Terrorists!!! Or some such bs **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![FeAudrey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7feea3/32.png) [@FeAudrey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FeAudrey)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/15 "2013-01-04T18:03:25Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > The English language channel of Al Jazeera … I’ve been told that the Arabic language channel is a different kettle of fish, but as I don’t speak Arabic I can’t confirm or rebut that view. MEMRI offers translations of such material: > **[MEMRI](https://www.memri.org/)** > > MEMRI bridges the language gap which exists between the West and the Middle East, providing timely translations of Arabic, Persian, Urdu-Pashtu, Turkish, Chinese, and Russian media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological,... ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/16 "2013-01-04T18:12:21Z")
_Shrug_ I like Al Jazeera as a news source. At least they look like they try to do actual journalism most of the time. My main problem with them is them maintaining editorial independence, being owned by the Qatari royal family. Then again, I have the same concerns about media owned by mega-corporations, too. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/17 "2013-01-04T18:15:26Z")
I thought Al Jazeera was a guy who had a couple of popular hits in the 80s. Turns out it’s some Islamic news channel. What a whacky world we live in. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/18 "2013-01-04T18:53:30Z")
Al Jazeera are not terrorists. They are a responsible news network trying to get better. “Al” in Arabic means “the”. Al Queda is the tiniest fraction of the population, and then even smaller. They have news networks for the rest of the people. The OP is racist and stupid. And good on “The” Gore for taking profits. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/19 "2013-01-04T19:06:16Z")
The only thing I ever enjoyed on Current was the Rotten Tomatoes Show w/ Ellen Fox and Brett Erlich, but after that got cancelled I don’t think I’ve watched it once. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080/20 "2013-01-04T19:06:17Z")
I like Al Jazeera in general and think it is a good thing that Americans will have the opportunity to be exposed to new ideas. The OP’s misunderstanding of the network and knee jerk fear of foreign ideas is exactly why the expansion of Al Jazeera into more homes in the US is a good thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/al-gore-sells-out-to-al-jazeera/646080.md?page=2)