Al Gore's Political Courage

What a glorious day to see Al Gore accept his Nobel medal and diploma in Oslo. The man once elected president of this great country, only to be turned out of office by dangerous Bush political operatives such as James Baker, myopic and cowardly Supreme Court justices, such as Sandra Day O'Connor and thugs posing as election officials on the payroll of Florida's governor, Jeb Bush.

Al Gore today takes his place as a true global leader. Through his important work, he demonstrates the insight and determination that was the measure of political courage yesterday, is so today and will be tomorrow. It is the necessary force for change that has constituted great political movements in this and other nations throughout human history. It is the essential combination of character and inspiration that we require in difficult times. Those qualities have typically resided in the one individual who can turn the guts, wealth and ingenuity of the USA into solutions for the world's problems. Today they reside in Nobel Prize winer Albert Gore. They used to reside in one that we call the President of the United States.

Comments

[CookieWrites]

Alec I love your work and your blogging.
As citizens we need to wake up from our materialistic slumber and stand up as human beings to confront the corporate oligarchy. Until then, the best and brightest will continue not to run.

[Advocate123]

Al Gore has perpetuated the biggest hoax on the World EVER.

In 20 years when nothing happens, will we allow Gore to make more doomsday predictions.

[talkstocoyotes]

Every time I hear some null-node claim that "it doesn't matter who's elected President", I always wonder how different the US would be today if The Chimp hadn't gotten his job the old-fashioned way. (His cronies stole it for him)

[MACS]

Gore won the election, however bush was CORINATED by the SUPREMES.

[clarkbp]

We should join Al Gore's crusade. We should purchase carbon offset credits for the energy that we use. We should sign petitions and write to congressmen and get informed about the issues. But we should not forget that the real change comes from a change in us.

http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/10/12/al-gore-or-gahndi/

[Silknspark]

Alex,
Reading your article and the subsequent blogs brings a craving for "grace and truth," into our culture.
Having had opportunity to work with a world class con artist, I learned this: They practice lying to such extent they bring it into an art form. Then, they truly "believe" their lies are truth.
We who don't lie and don't understand that art form, don't know where to attempt turning those who've converted their lies to their truth.
A priest teacher told me in 1984, that what he saw in his classrooms was the beginning of detachment from "right and wrong."
Well, here we are...23 years later, and some have taken it beyond that. Not only do far too many not recognize right from wrong, but in ways that transcend ugly, they furiously defend their wrongs as rights.
So where do we go from here?
One simple suggestion: Alex, you could start exercising good manners, do no harm to your neighbor, and lead by impeccable honesty.
Thank you.


It's sad, yes.

[SimonOne]

Al Gore has done a great job of raising the profile of the issue on glabal warming. He's been a man with a mission and he deserves the prize and recognition. There is no question that he and Kerry would both have been infinitely better Presidents than Bush has been - well, Bush hasn't been a President, has he? He's been the Emperor.
I recently read Greg Palast's book "Armed Madhouse" which includes some references to Al Gore's privileged background and political elitism. I realize that I was wrong to think that Gore would be preferable as a candidate to anyone currently in the race. Now I feel that he would, again, be part of the old establishment despite his forward thinking on environmental issues.
Only the election of President Dennis Kucinch, the only true progressive in the race, will bring about peace in the world, punish institutionalized greed, redistribute wealth in a way that guarantees a healthier USA in the future and ACTIVELY combat all the old paradigms that led to this sorry state of affairs - poverty, disenfranchisement, terrorism, torture, war. Everyone else will simply maintain the status quo (Obama or Clinton) or make things much, much worse (any of the Republicans) if that is possible to imagine.

[bodhibabe]

Why on earth would Gore want to be president now? Go in and attempt to clean up all the muck of GW. He's seems to be enjoying his life. Let's support him as the global leader Alec mentioned. He'll be much more effective that way. Sometimes that particular role inhibits one to do what actually needs to be done. Politics is not about caring about our world or anyone in it. Look at Carter--much more effective as a former president.

[chuckvw]

Al Gore's moment is NOW. If he doesn't sieze it, what a shame for him and all of us.

[tdterry1999]

Al Gore is the best con man in the world,I remember when Tipper and AL went after the record company's.They got a little kick back and the mission was over.Now Al is looking for a bigger pay-off.And people are falling for it.If Al could not win his home state why should he be president.We in Tenn. know all about Al.If you have the chance go by his land mining Operations in east TN.You really need to take a better look at the great Al Gore.

[wrabbitt]

Look at us, we are all grasping at straws! Hoping to get someone into the fracas that we might be able to vote for. at least he has a direction. which is more than can be said for the Usual suspects, we know his platform on global warming, and, He already knows how biased the system is,against change. And, he seems to know that congress is a roadblock to real change.(not just a speed bump). He is not living in his own dreamworld as is "W" and, his REPUBLICAN guard. Who's to know that the road not taken,is correct? especially if the road we are on now, goes off a cliff...

[garouche]

Perhaps there's another way to look at the Al Gore phenomena. That is to say, leadering [sic] in our 21st century ever-globalizing world may find a new form and Mr. Gore, along with a number of other talented, dedicated, world famous, wealthy, influential individuals have found a way to get things done and transform by "not" holding public office.

Oprah, Bono, Warren Buffet and other ultra successful folks are examples of others in his class who are putting their passion, money and time into dedicated support for key issues that need immediate attention.

Governments and their leaders are hamstrung by politics, laws, traditions, juntas, lack of funding, corruption, etc. Nowadays, they're either to slow or simply ineffectual at getting change to happen as fast as it needs to in our ever-more-rapidly-evolving world.

It also allows people like, Mr. Gore to focus on a specific issue rather than having to handle "every" issue that besets their country and our planet as the president of the U.S. and other world leaders must when they're beholding to their constituencies.

Al Gore is a life long, successful, seasoned politician and public servant, whose ideas and vision has often been ahead of his time. His personal priorities and political endeavors (pos & neg) have delivered him to his clear destiny today, as a Global Environmental Elder.

When it comes to educating, influencing and drawing together world leaders and their respective countries, Al Gore is the right man for the job.

I believe that his chances of getting global cooperation for influencing the change of our bad environmental habits to ones that protect and sustain the environment of this planet are better as a "citizen of the world" than as the President of these United States.

[Giglawyer]

Al Gore is a profile in courage. He ran and "lost." He should have run again - that would have been real courage. Tucking your tail between your legs when your country needs you is not courage.

[Spoons]

The fact that Al has found the courage to speak out forcefully with truth and justice on important issues, particularly Single Pool Single Payer health care, tells me he's not running. Had he sounded like this when he was running he would have won by a landslide, and Ralph would not have felt compelled to provide a voice for all of the Americans who were left completely out of the debates. If Al would run now, because he has found his courage and his voice, he would win by a landslide. If he won't accept the Unity '08 ticket, then I take back everything I said about his courage and implied about his civic duty. If he won't run, millions more American lives will be devastated and billions of our tax dollars wasted. The future of the world, our country, heart and soul (or lack of same) of the Democratic Party are at stake.

[booboo08]

I have to ask forgiveness for being a dissenter here, but I don't believe that Al Gore has ANY political courage. I actually think that he's a brilliant treasonous fool. Treason is defined in our constitution as providing aid or comfort to our enemies. The neo-conservative establishment has proven itself to be just that an enemy to liberty and the constitution. By NOT seeking nomination, and taking his rightful place as president of our great nation, He is indeed providing aid and comfort to the neo-conservative establishment. As the democratic party has failed to provide even one suitable candidate for this election, it was his DUTY to run. Yes, I am a bit bitter, but who can blame me. We torture, we pollute, we strip our citizens of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, and here is a man with the will, the skill, and the intelligence to undo all of the injustices that have happened over the eight years that he should have been president who will not run. I understand his passion for the environment. I applaud him for his fight to fight global warming. Tell me he could not have done more to fight against these important issues if he were in the White House where he belongs. He is quick to criticize the US for being the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, but apparently he ignores the fact that as a policy maker he could fix the problem.