What chaps my ass is that the technology is there to use alternative fuels or at least make cars more fuel-efficient, but oil companies afraid of profit hits aren't going to push for it. And our politicians certainly aren't going to push any legislation to make anyone clean up since the oil companies meathooks are so deep.
As for Al Gore, check out this link on the esteemed environmentalist:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp