The Electrified Al Gore

One can hear anything one is predisposed to hear. Al Gore is running. Al Gore is not running. Al Gore is biding his time to see if one of the three top-tier Democratic candidates stumbles, leaving an opening for him to jump into the race. This he can do as late as October. But will he?

The ambivalence of Al Gore is maddening to those of us who breathlessly wait for The Man Who Should Be President to show us his political hand.

Ah, but he's lost his passion for politics he has told us more than once. As we in Washington sometimes do, let us ask what is the definition of the "political"? Webster's defines that word as follows: "pertaining to politics, or to a nation or state; derived from government." The singular word "politic" is further defined by this same authority as "adapted to promote the welfare of the State: n. plural. the art of government or the administration of public affairs, political opinions; party management or control."

So, what is the subject of The Assault on Reason -- the book Al Gore is currently releasing? The promoters of his work quote it as follows:

“At the time George W. Bush ordered American forces to invade Iraq, 70 percent of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was linked to 9/11. Voters in Ohio, when asked by pollsters to list what stuck in their minds about the campaign, most frequently named two Bush television ads that played to fears of terrorism.

“We live in an age when the thirty-second television spot is the most powerful force shaping the electorate's thinking, and America is in the hands of an administration less interested than any previous administration in sharing the truth with the citizenry. Related to this and of even greater concern is this administration's disinterest in the process by which the truth is ascertained, the tenets of fact-based reasoning -- first among them an embrace of open inquiry in which unexpected and even inconvenient facts can lead to unexpected conclusions.”

Blasting the boondoggling of George W. Bush as well as the media, Al Gore has obviously lost his passion for politics, hasn't he?

Perhaps the political fatigue weighing down Al Gore is merely the gamesmanship in which a candidate must indulge in order to run on the road to the White House. His word for that game is "toxic." True, toxic is the game but his passion for the welfare of the state, the art of government, and the administration of public affairs must have driven him to author this book. His love of this earth must have forged promulgation of An Inconvenient Truth."

Lost his passion for politics? Perhaps his penchant for the game to campaign for political office lies in the Supreme Court gutters, but his love of Country as well as all of this earth shine brighter than the stars above this earth at night. It is spellbinding.

Today, a critic remarked these "publicity stunts" are not a run-up to a 2008 campaign for President but a diabolical plan to make money. That word "diabolical" is simply defined as "devilish" or "outrageously wicked." Al Gore devilish? Al Gore wicked? How outrageous a word -- diabolical -- to use when describing the former Vice President and winner of the Presidential Election 2000 popular vote.

Al Gore is electrified in his passion to tell us the simple truth about our government, our political system, our media and the state of our earth.

He will be in Washington, D.C. May 29 to introduce his new book, The Assault on Reason and I will be there to hear him speak. Call me a devil worshiper if you are a cynic, but I am merely a citizen on a pilgrimage to pay homage to The Man Who Should Be President, praying for a miracle that he still just might be ....

Comments?

Al Gore will always be a leader to many people whether or not he holds an elective office. He's in a class by himself. But if you read the Time Magazine article yesterday, in his own words, he admitted the enforcement end of his environmental goals were best served by the elected officials. He can lead in that arena, but the President along with the Congress, enforces.

I do not know if he will ever sit in the Oval Office, but I am sure from where ever he speaks, the public will listen.

I'm not talking about U.S. domination...I'm talking about respect throughout the world as a thoughtful, humane society. We're a super-power...do we want it to be based on military (iffy these days) and nuclear might...or do we want other countries to look to us for intelligent, peaceful answers to questions that plague all of us. If the latter, then Gore is perhaps our best hope.

Perhaps I have just become too cynical these last seven years, but I look out at the entire political field running in the 2008 Presidential race, and I do not see ANYONE who begins to compare favorably with Gore. I don't see even a shadow of an Al Gore. We would not be sitting here discussing this subject now over the Internet if it weren't for Al Gore.

In his 25 years of service in the government, he just excelled in so many different areas. Consistently. His talents are multi-faceted. And the more he matures, the better he becomes. I think these last few years have seasoned his communication abilities to the point where his speeches arouse even his political opponents.

Do you see that commodity in any of the other candidates? Talk about world leaders, that's a priceless talent in one. And another is one who serves by example -- not just lip service.

I think we are in trouble if Gore does not run, but as I said, perhaps I have just become too cynical in these Bush* years.

Politics is a God-awful, dirty business, and it takes real fortitude to get shredded up in that process, and still come out alive. Gore is a good, sweet, honest man. Except for a questionable campaign speech at a Buddhist temple (btw, I love Buddhist principals), and a nerdy personality, this guy has been totally vetted...no dirt there. Yet, it's his humility as a human that keeps him from jumping in. Unfortunately, we Americans want star-quality candidates. If only we could vote on qualifications and intellect...fuck, it's not a homecoming queen/king contest.

I want him in the White House...I just hate that he would have to go through our dirty political process to get there. However, I feel he would carry more weight throughout the world than any candidate out there.

I love the guy and I respect and feel he would be the best for the job. If he were elected he would really have his work cut out for him trying to straighten out the mess king george has made of things. Yet in another way I would hate to see him go through all the shit it would take to get there. I wouldn't blame him one bit for not running. And if he chooses not too run I'm sure he will still do all kinds of great things for America and Mother Earth.

was not a rigged embarrassment for Gore. That speech was originally supposed to be held in a large restaurant. At the last moment, the power failed. The only available place where the speech could be relocated on a moment's notice was the Temple. The moment that happened, the press was alerted to snap away. How convenient for Gore's antagonists....

where did i get that idea?

life's path with quiet confidence as he takes his personal journey.

It is indeed inspirational to watch a good man who was grievously wronged rise above the bitterness and anger he must have experienced, to do what he can to contribute to the good of his country, in fact, the good of mankind.

And, the RW fringe elements will be absolutely babbling and spewing about the evils of Al Gore, if he steps into the race. Hopefully, he'll just smile and do a little segment on SNL, gently laughing at the hysterics his "scary" presidency invokes.

I can't wait to hear your report! I would like to meet him more than any other public political person.

Except maybe the good doctor...who was endorsed by Gore in 2004. MKJ


MKJ

edited, posted pre spell check.

:kick: MKJ

Thank you. But I was preparing to tell you that the best thing about taking the time to write a thread and attempt to keep it hosted is reading the thoughtful responses such as yours one reaps in return. So thank you also for that thoughtful response. I truly enjoyed reading it.

:-) :toast: MKJ

I went over to DC and heard him give a speech at the DAR hall. It was great. I'd go to hear him again if I thought it would be somewhere I could get in.

On May 29, Al Gore will be in Washington, DC to speak about his new book, The Assault on Reason. The event will take place at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium.

Event: Politics & Prose at GW University Presents Al Gore
Where: George Washington University Lisner Auditorium
Date: May 29th
Time: 7:00PM (Be sure to arrive early)
Tickets can be purchased by calling Politics and Prose at 202-364-1919.

For more information please visit http://www.politics-prose.com/calendar.htm#m29b

Following his speech there will be a question and answer period and Al will sign copies of The Assault on Reason.

We look forward to seeing you there.

How can anybody prove that he is NOT going to run, sometime? You can only go by what he says now, and that is he is not running. I am undecided and I would support him, but I wish he would either run or not run and not be coy about it. I realize that there might be some advantage for Gore and his message if he is considered as a potential candidate. It's hard to tell if this is some super strategy like a jockey who holds his horse back until he makes a strategic move to take the lead or if Gore simply means what he says and he is not running. Time will tell and if he does not run we will have to get on with life and pick a Democratic presidential nominee. It's too bad that so many weren't falling all over themselves for Gore back in 2000, otherwise we wouldn't be having this conversation now.

I am not out to prove anything except to reinforce the positive contributions Al Gore gives regardless of his title. I came to this site seven years ago decrying the theft of the Presidency and I have never gotten over it. And thank God for that. I hope I never reach an apathetic stage in my life where the theft of a Presidency ceases to bother me.

I have followed Al Gore most of his adult career and admired his father as well. Gore's father practically sacrificed his Senate seat to vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and to oppose the war in Vietnam. As I am sure you know, he too served in Tennessee, nicknamed the Volunteer State for its military readiness to fight in wars, and generally regarded in the 60s as not overwhelmingly in favor of the Civil Rights Act of 1965. The political and personal sacrifice Gore's father made to vote his conscience on these two issues alone set the example for the son. From whence he came, the man we know as Albert Gore, Jr., is a shining example of what a statesman should be, as opposed to what most politicians are today.

Neither you nor I know if Al Gore will run. I believe Al Gore is ambivalent about running, as I stated in my thread. We do know anything can change in politics at any time, so his future remains to be seen.

Regards,

Sam

I mean personally. He would have to in order to maintain his sanity, otherwise it would have eaten him up. I think he has found a place and calling in his life which he feels is as valid and important for humanity as seeking the presidency. He can give all of his time and attention to his causes now. He could not do that as president or be a good president. But again, you cannot disprove a negative. The list of what Al Gore may NOT do is quite long as it would be for any of us.

That Time Magazine article said he never talks about it publicly, but in private his friends say he thinks the election was stolen. Al Gore was groomed for the Presidency by his parents, and being the statesman he is, I think the very thought that an election for the highest office in this land could be usurped, would never cease to bother him, as it does not many of us here, whether he lost the seat in the Oval Office or someone else did by that same means. I am sure (just my gut feeling) he has to speculate about the 2004 loss of Kerry's and what truly happened in Ohio, as we do all here.

If he does not run, I believe he is not convinced even if he won, he would be seated in The Oval Office. The only way to circumvent that would be to win in a huge, overwhelming landslide, so huge it could not be stolen from him. That to me must be his question. It's obvious in his everyday work he has not lost his passion for politics, as that word is technically defined, or his love of this country. Equally obvious is the fact he is a natural leader.

It is indeed a sad state of affairs we find ourselves in today.

Regards,

Sam

I think 2000 will always be there for Gore, but he has moved on.

and I have a terminal case. I am guilty as charged.:)

are others who can bring change...

Gore never said he wasn't running. He's been non-commital and who can blame him?

I'm really interested that you came to this website to tell us DU'ers we weren't "falling all over" Gore in 2000.

Vice President Gore's win against Bush, and the subsequent political coup was the catalyst for this website. I voted for Gore feeling confident he would be our next president, because Bush had zero credentials and couldn't string two sentences together.

So, if you want accuse folks of not supporting Gore in 2000, I'd recommend FR, where Bushlove blooms and Gore is considered the most evil thing since washing machines. MKJ

You don't think there are a lot of people who would have ordinarily voted Democratic who voted for Nader in 2000, especially in Florida? I've never been to FR so I don't know about it, but evidently you do. I'm a lifelong Democrat who cast my first presidential vote for McGovern in 1972 and don't feel the need to present my credentials to everybody who feels the need to challenge them because they don't like what I have to say, so get over it. To accuse a member here of being a freeper or a RWer because you do not like what they have to say is the ultimate of desperation and probably a good indication that you have lost the debate if that is the best you can do.

At this moment either Gore is running and is a candidate, or he is not. As far as I know, he is not a candidate at this time. So that means at this time he is NOT running. He hasn't said he would be an astronaut either, so what are the odds on that? Ultimately, whoever is the Democrat nominee in the general election will get my vote because I am a Democrat, one who did vote for Gore in 2000.

Some people have seen the light later than others.

I do apologize for the FR comment, it was uncalled for, a knee jerk reaction.

My observation was that your post accuses the majority of posters on this site of not supporting or voting for Gore in 2000.

I disagree with your premise.

But, I'll fight to the death your right to advance it! :hi: MKJ

Keeping the hype going while not exposing his jugular yet.

Right now, Edwards is my man.

I would love to see them running together.

AND I AM SO GLAD YOU READ MY THREAD!

MIA, I guess, but to quote his or her immortal words on my last thread (his Al Gore quote):

44. you left out the other deliciously nuanced statement
"I'm running a different kind of campaign"

I bet he laughs his ass off every time he says that

:)

Wonderfully expressed; thank you.

I woke up this morning and the first thing I thought about, out of nowhere really, was this:

Gore/Kennedy

It has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Al Gore and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. I can see these two men changing the course for the better.

That does have a nice ring to it.

that would be a great ticket. I also like Gore/Obama and Gore/Feingold.

I could go into great detail about how I believe he is doing a great service for our world despite the fact that the presidency was stolen from him in a nonmilitary coup d'etat. Instead I will point out one of the more simple reasons. I am terrified of how violent the weather has become. I am horrified that our government will do nothing, even what is well within its power to curb our impact on the planet. I am terrified at how much more violent these weather phenomena will become. It really really bothers me to hear that chunks of ice the size of large states are now breaking away. That water has to go somewhere, doesn't it?

Al Gore has become a hero to me because he wants to take the steps to try to reverse our damage, which I believe is causing these horrid wretched violent super cell storms. In my view, we have Mother Nature trying to tell us to lighten up our negative impact on Earth on the one hand. And we have "Father Nature" (Al Gore) telling us to lighten up our negative impact on Earth on the other. They are both telling us the same thing. And they are right.

Let's face it. Whether he runs for president again or not, his work educating us about climatology serves an invaluable role in our world. He is serving us even without the presidency. He has earned the esteemed title of "Father Nature" in my book. In any case, I hope he continues his environmental work. That's more important to me. That's just my personal opinion.

Ever since I saw An Inconvenient Truth, I understood that Gore will run, not because he is a politician but because he understands the spiritual imperative to steward this country and our world better. He will do it because it's the right thing to do. That he will do it later rather than now only shows that his political acumen hasn't deserted him. I can't fault him for being good at the game, especially since I think he is poised to bring the greatest spiritual quest to a fairly debased America and playing the game well will bring in the win for all of us.

I'm especially glad I saw that movie because before I saw it, I was on pins and needles, nay, in agony, waiting to find out if he would run. Somewhere midway through the movie, I relaxed. He will run.

please! :hi:

Stay tuned.