Al Gore Is Not A Good Politician

And I say that with the highest regard for him, because to me a "politician" is the label I put on someone who is just part of the status quo fabric of this corrupted political system. Someone only out for their own benefit. Someone who plays the game at others' expense. Someone who does not see any higher purpose in what they do. So no, Al Gore is not a good "politician" and that is really a good thing. However, he is a magnificent statesman (regardless of whether I may agree or disagree with him on some matters,) a passionate and effective advocate for this planet, and above all to me, a man who has sworn off all of the pretense that comes with political life to see the big picture and bring it to as many people as he possibly can with a sincere purpose at heart. There is no higher achievement to me for a person than to see beyond the horizon and to keep going even when going through the fire burns you.

For many, continuing to do nothing but cajole this man to once again enter that "political" system seems to them to be the highest achievement regardless of anything else. I say that is false. Right now in this man's life he has achieved an awakening of spirit that goes beyond the platitudes and pretense and now has a burning desire to share that with the world and has made that his mission in life, and it is noble. As I have stated before, I am heartbroken at what transpired in years past and with all of my heart wished to see him take that oath of office (when I was naive enough to think it a system that actually worked for the people) and like many worked hard to see it come to pass. However, life is strange with its twists and turns and I firmly believe that some things happen the way they do because they bring you to a better place.

We will never know what really would have been... but I do know what can be, and Mr. Gore's words and passionate advocacy for this planet at a time when that is paramount for our survival have me believing that we may just have a chance, and isn;t that really our purpose on this planet? To work to make it better regardless from where we do it? I also don't know what the future holds, but I do know that from wherever Mr. Gore chooses himself to be the change he wishes to see in this world I will be right there being the change I wish to see as well. So again, not being a good politician in this day and age is not something to be too heartbroken about, because from where I sit Al Gore is an exceptional human being, and right now we need more of those to see us though this fire.
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http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2007-06-01-gore_N.htm?csp=34

Gore: I'm not good at modern politics

Al Gore's latest book, The Assault on Reason, criticizes the Bush administration and laments what Gore describes as the country's diminishing political discourse and eroding democracy.

By Beverly Keel, The (Nashville) Tennessean

NASHVILLE — Former vice president Al Gore said Friday that he still hasn't ruled out a presidential bid in 2008, but he doesn't expect to run and might not possess the skills necessary to be elected president now.

snip

"I don't want anyone to interpret that answer as throwing a little red meat out for speculation," Gore said. "I am just being candid. But I don't expect to get into this race. I have given the reasons why. I strongly prefer to serve in other ways."

"It may be easier to fix it from the outside," he said. "Again, I haven't ruled out for all time thinking about politics again. It's just that the way it works now, I don't think that the skills I have are the ones that are most likely to be rewarded within this system. It's like a washing machine that is permanently set on the spin cycle. It doesn't stop spinning. That creates real problems for a politics based on reason."

"I expect it will take a lot more time," Gore said. "I'm grateful for those who have a good opinion of me, to the point where they think I ought to run again, but I am not convinced myself that's the best way for me to serve."

snip

I don't think I'm very good at some of the things that the modern political system rewards and requires, and I've found other ways to make a difference and to serve the public interests. And I'm enjoying them."
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And I am respecting him.

Al Gore is an exceptional human being, and right now we need more of those to see us though this fire."

Run, Al, RUN!

Sorry, RG. I know how passionate you are that Gore should continue to concentrate on climate issues and that this planet and the environment is important to you. I also understand that you believe that if he were to become President too many other issues would push global warming to the back burner. But I still think you are wrong.

The way I see it, and with Bushco denying even the existance of climate change/GW while refusing scientific consensus on the subject, Al Gore would most definately demonstrate a 180° stance on the issue while simultaneously dealing with Iraq, energy issues, etc.

We need you to support Al Gore for President because, I believe, your fears regarding GW are unfounded. Besides, when he is President, and if you feel his priorities have been altered by other matters, it's only 8 years until he can get back to giving GW his undivided attention. In the meantime, we certainly do need him to "see us though this fire"...as President of the United States of America.

"We need you to support Al Gore for president." Who is we? And who are you? You can think what you want but you aren't changing my mind, so why don't you just try to respect other opinions instead of railroading people with this political bs because it doesn't fly anymore. And the only "fear" I have is that in all of this cheerleading, his message will be lost. So thanks for being part of the group that is actually feeding the media the red meat they are looking for in their campaign to dismiss his sincerity in all of this. Way to go in your "support" of the man. Oh, and should you ever see him, you tell him to his face that his fears about global warming are unfounded.

"...tell him to his face that his fears about global warming are unfounded."

I think it was on the Glenn Beck show.

I think twisting peoples' statements to suit your own purposes is part of his MO too. The poster claimed my fears about global warming were unfounded, yet they are the same fears and concerns expressed by Mr. Gore, so I suppose that poster was also saying his fears on it are unfounded. But I'm sure none of you who think that would have the guts to say you think that to his face, because you too are just playing some political game here. Perosnally, I think some of you are so caught up in the BS of the politics that you can't see the real world two feet in front of your faces. Thanks so much for once again illustrating the point of his new book so aptly.

Since when did YOU become Al Gore?

"I think twisting peoples' statements to suit your own purposes is part of his MO too."

What? Where did I "twist" your statement? Is stating my desire for and support of Al Gore as president now just a twisted MO?

Is anyone going to defend me here? Geez!

a real discussion, only to tell them how inferior they are and poo-poo any thoughts that you might have. I almost forgot, the direct, personal attacks on anyone that disagrees as well. Isn't that against the forum rules somewhere?

First, my reply to your post was delivered with a completely benign intention and was certainly not meant to be interpreted as "railroading".

Second, you of all people have no basis on which to accuse others of railroading your agenda. Who is we? WE is those of us who hope for and support Gore for President. Who am I? Who the fuck are you? What gives you the right to railroad those of us who want Gore as our President?

Why don't I just "try to respect other opinions instead of railroading people with this political bs because it doesn't fly anymore"? Who are you to decide for the rest of us what doesn't fly anymore? Why don't YOU respect our opinions?

"Way to go in your "support" of the man."? You want to question my support of Al Gore? I've supported Al Gore since he was a Senator. I've demonstrated that support from my very first day on this board. I believe he is the ONLY answer to the problems this country faces and that he can both address those problems AND mitigate global warming from the Oval Office.

"We need you to support Al Gore for President because, I believe, your fears regarding GW are unfounded." Where do I say in that statement that Al Gore's fears regarding GW are unfounded. Though the statement is poorly worded, I was trying to say that YOUR fears (not his) that GW will be pushed to the back burner with an Al Gore presidency are unfounded because I know that with an Al Gore presidency Global Warming will share top priority rather than the lack of priority it gets from the current idiot-in-chief.

Please remind me, why don't you support an Al Gore presidency?

That's why. IT NEEDS FIXING. We need REASON BACK. THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT ABIDE INTELLGENT GOOD PEOPLE LIKE AL GORE, and the mission then is FOR US TO BRING IT BACK, and that will take time as HE also stated. Are you so thick headed that you refuse to see it? Read his words and try to comprehend the WORK that must be done first and stop trying to place some BS clandestine agenda to my sincere words. If you can't then comprehend the meaning after reading what he is saying WHICH I AGREE WITH I can't help you anymore. And you did state my fears about global warming were unfounded which are the same fears expressed by him. So how are HIS fears not unfounded and MINE ARE? This is absolute BS and you know it. You are clearly here to derail my opinion imstead of discussing, so welcome now to my list.

I'm done wasting my time with you.

It's about (to coin a phrase) "the Assault on Reason," of which our indifference to GW is only a symptom. It's about the cynical manipulation of public discourse and information flow in the service of corrupt corporate interests. Hitler may be credited with inventing the Big Lie, but corporate America used a thousand Big Lies to destroy rationality and respect for wisdom. The mass media are the great equalizer, but it is a sick sort of equalization in which the mediocre is judged equal to the sublime, in which every uneducated dullard on the continent is encouraged to value his own ill-formed opinions and brutish sentiments as equal to those of the intellectual and spiritual giants of the world. In a world of hype and sound bytes, any idea that requires neural activity above the level of the brainstem is "too complicated," and an Al Gore will not be heard.

And in reading his book I am really filled with an apprehension regarding breaking this system down to a point where the people have a voice again. I fear it has gone too far. I thought that at the very least, Bush and his henchmen would never be allowed to stay where they are all of these years... yet here we are. And you are correct that we seem to put dullards on pedestals and those who truly can articulate are relegated to being "nuts." And as Mr. Gore stated one election is not going to change that, but it seems we can't get beyond that here either, and it is very frustrating.

And I want them all hunted down.

for why Gore should run for president.

That's all anyone wants to talk about. I'm not surprised some don't get the message beyond the black and white. That's why he wrote the book he did, but I can see it still falls on deaf ears. Just another "campaign" book.

That is not the impression I get from reading DUer's comments on Gore's books. I believe there are many intelligent members here who understand Gore's message and also see him as the best choice for president. Why must one thing negate the other?

And understanding the message is one thing, acting on it yourself is actually the goal.

and one I think you should also reflect on. Your posts contain very good information, but you always seem to end by demeaning others.

If people do not like opinions, they like me can ignore those they do not agree with. It is as simple as that.

I would bet that many here do both.

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

it's only mean it is
and there is a comma fault
and a missing period

you have:

The eagle can soar never more, without it's left wing

that doesn't make any sense

change it to:


The eagle cannot soar without its left wing.

I hope he runs, but I know he will make a difference whatever he does.

Look, Gore could win if the Freepers are successful in blasting Guiliani for freaking Romney or McCain, but if Guiliani runs, the only chance of beating him comes through Clinton and Obama.

Anybody else we run will be in exactly the same position Kerry found himself in --
being attacked 24x7 in the media with no way to get their message out at all.
Our record-breaking fundraising drive bought us a few minutes of time on the networks --
compared to the Repiglicans OWNING the networks and getting their talking points
broadcast for FREE as "news".
Since 2004, the Repliglicans have consolidated their ownership of the media even further.
Republican Candidate Mitt Romney has gained control of Clear Channel,
the nation's largest network of directly-owned radio stations.

Al Gore is an exceptional human being, and right now we need more of those to see us through this fire.

And that comment in my OP is exactly stated in response to his book The Assault On Reason in placing blame for that lack of reason where it belongs... on us. What is wrong with America goes so much deeper than any one candidate regardless of who it may be, and he sees that and is approaching changing it in a truly brilliant way. So from where I sit, he is doing so much more than we could have ever expected of him based on the past, and I believe nothing will change regardless of candidate unless we do it in the way in which we demand change and in the way we relate to a media that has done nothing but work against reason.

There is much we can do as citizens to get out truth. I am starting a book on the global water crisis, and even though it scares me a bit because I have never done anything like this before I feel compelled to do it. I must feel as though I am truly a part of the debate or voting in and of itself is a shallow and empty exercise in futility.

The Internet is a place of great potential for that truth, and so are the other options open to us as citizens to now become a part of the process instead of always waiting for saviors to do it for us. Al Gore will always be my president, and is a great man, and more so to me because he is doing this for the good of this country the way he now sees fit, and I am not about to apologize for how I choose to support him now to anyone.