Al Gore Responds to Charges He's a Hypocrite When it Comes to the Environment

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Not Easy Being Green

Al Gore's office is responding to criticism over his energy consumption at his Nashville mansion by saying the former vice president is signed up for a program to consume 100 percent green power — has installed solar panels and uses compact fluorescent bulbs.

The Tennessee Center for Policy Research says Gore — whose global warming documentary won an Oscar Sunday, "deserves a gold statue for hypocrisy," because his 20-room mansion consumes more electricity every month than the average American household uses in an entire year — with an average power bill of $13,059 59 — along with a natural gas bill of more than $1,000 a month.

Sweet Charity

A family charitable foundation run by Bill and Hillary Clinton has dispensed only one-fourth of the money donated since its inception in 2001.

The Washington Post reports the Clintons have contributed $5 million to the charity — and were able to write off that money on their taxes — but have given away just $1.4 million.

This comes in the midst of a six-year period in which the Post reports the former president has earned $40 million in speaking fees. And the Post points out that recent Hillary Clinton tormentor David Geffen gives away most of the money he donates to his family foundation — about a million a year.

Repeal War Vote

Democratic Senator and presidential candidate Joe Biden says the president's congressional authorization for the war in Iraq should be repealed. Biden writes in today's Boston Globe — "We gave the president that power to destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and, if necessary, to depose Saddam Hussein. The weapons of mass destruction were not there. Saddam Hussein is no longer there. he 2002 authorization is no longer relevant to the situation in Iraq."

Here is the actual authorization for the use of force: "The President is authorized to use the Armed Forces of the United States as he determines to be necessary and appropriate in order to – one —defend the national security of the United States against the continuing threat posed by Iraq; and two — enforce all relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions regarding Iraq."

"Babydol" List

Former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes — who said during the 2004 campaign that he helped a young George W. Bush enter the Air National Guard to avoid the Vietnam draft — is back in the news.

Barnes' name appears on a list of about two dozen celebrities who allegedly did business with Hollywood madam Jody "Babydol" Gibson. The Los Angeles Times reports Barnes has no explanation why his cell phone number is in Gibson's files, and told them, "I have never met or talked to this broad in my entire life." His office later released a revised version of the statement, substituting the word "woman" for "broad."

—FOX News Channel's Martin Hill contributed to this report.