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

[wisechild]

Thanks, Alec, for another 'write-on' post! I always appreciate your clear thoughts and honesty...and I've followed your work in movies/TV with great enjoyment I must say...

I have quite a few thoughts around all of this myself. First of all, it doesn't matter if Al Gore was elected president or not. He didn't serve and I don't believe he was meant to.

I think he's doing what he is called to do and that is where we really need him. His is a powerful voice. And I would say that he has overcome quite a bit of derision, mocking and srutiny that most of us could not withstand. His place in history is assured.

I believe we got BushCo because shit has to float to the top sometimes before we can deal with it. Gore can't rescue us. We have to do that for ourselves by not falling for the MSM characterizations of who we should vote for and why. Get out the vote, get over the anger and vote to turn this country around.

The Dems have some good candidates out there getting little to no press. The Repubs have a sad and laughable lineup for President. I only wish the writer's strike was settled so all could be examined for who and what they really are!

Huckabee is leading? Surely that is the evangelical need to believe and be right. He is as flawed as they come. As for Hillary, well I prefer less baggage and more progressive thinking.

They are ridiculing Obama and Kucinich just like they do Al. Who cares if he tried drugs, who over 40 [socialized into their peer group] didn't?

Do we deserve the candidates we get? I think so as long as we fall for the scorn heaped campaigns against progressive thinking.

Yeah, I love Al and I wish things had been different but I wouldn't wish this campaign or the current climate in this country on a man who has dedicated his life to service. He has a better mission now and our futures are riding on it.

[quietcanada]

Well stumblingly said --- thanks mr Baldwin.
Do you and Stephen Weber have coffee as is wonts superstars? If so. who thinks who is smarter?

... just a gentle poke in the side for both of you

:-)

>

[marysandra]

Thank you Alec, for a much deserved tribute to a great American. I have signed on to every "Draft Al Gore" movement out there,but alas,he seems to have decided against the idea. I now have a bumper sticker that says "Re-elect Al Gore." Okay, so I'm still mad, bitter, and disillusioned, and I have moved on, but I love sending the message out to all those wild and crazy Buchanan voters,{supposedly}here in South Florida.

[minnieszoo]

There has been a Draft Al Gore Grass Roots group valiantly trying to motivate voters towards voting for the most qualified candidate.

The world respects Al Gore. Others wanting to inhabit the oval office are diminished by his accomplishments.

Maybe he just wants to stay away from the cesspool from which political hucksters spawn. Even the good candidates seem unable to escape it. Others regard cesspools as a habitat full of nutrients. (Cheney perhaps, or Rove?)

Gore is so superior to whoever is grabbing or stabbing their way to the White House. Don't we as citizens of our cherished nation deserve the best?

[YvonnefromDownunder]

Well said!
I am living in Australia.
Two weeks ago we had an election, hence a change of government.
We Aussies are all looking forward to the Labour members of Parliament making huge changes with respect to attacking the Global Warming issues.

Oh, what a better world it would have been had Al Gore become President.

Yvonne Bornstein
www.yvonnebornstein.com

[lucnyc]

Just think if Al Gore had been president for the last 8 years instead of the imbecile we got stuck with. Things would probably be much better all over the world right now.

[blueshift]

'Political courage?" excuse me? Why isn't he running then? It's his country's hour of need and he's abandoning us to Hillary.

Please, Alec. Wake up.

[NoeGold]

Draft Al Gore for President!!!

Cheers,

 
Noe Gold
noemedia

[pilarlllorona]

alec baldwin, you are indeed a wielder of words. i am so taken with your simplicity and yet brilliantly stated thoughts that challenge the minds of those who would oppose weakly, you do not always preach to the choir but state your thoughts simply and calmly so that your words don't fall like astringent upon the wounded hearts of those who are uncertain. keep up the good work! and three cheers for mr. gore and his nobel prize! Next to dennis kucinich, i would love to see him our next president!

[carbonBIGfootprint]

All of you who support the idea that the election was stolen from Al Gore need to realize two things. First, Before the election he was projected to lose the popular yet win the electoral. No one who supported him complained about that prior to the election. Second, The votes have been counted and recounted more than 80 times. Bush still wins. It seems to me that Al Gore would deserve the prize for inventing a time machine. Because him and his supporters can't get out of the past.

[Rachel36]

I hesitate to use Wikipedia as source material but here it goes. According to The Concord Monitor, "Gore was one of the first politicians to grasp the seriousness of climate change and to call for a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases. He held the first congressional hearings on the subject in the late 1970s". A well-deserved and hard-won honor!

“Quiet. A whale is in trouble. I have to go.” You go Al! Save the whales, save the Planet!

[jesusquintana]

Great post. I agree wholeheartedly.

Mr. Baldwin, could you find it in your heart to track Al Gore down and give him a Glengarry Glenross-style "motivational speech" and try to talk him into running? It can't hurt to ask..

[Bocababs]

Alec,

For the longest time, I was on the "Al Gore Bandwagon" trying to draft him to run for President in this election cycle. But having seen what he is doing, and how happy he is these days, and proud he makes me, and others who love him down here in Florida, I ask myself...why would he throw all that away to get attacked every day by the Media?

I agree with you and I am happy for him.

[cdhphoto]

“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of readiness to die.” —Gilbert Keith Chesterton
True courage requires sacrifice, for a professional warrior -- Coastguardsman, Sailor, Soldier, Airman, Marine -- that sacrifice includes living with a readiness to die, we don't get to purchase "life offsets."
Let Mr. Gore demonstrate courage through leadership and example. I don't really like him, but I'd be happy to have him move into my neighborhood. Two thousand square feet is plenty for my family, it should be for his, too.

[bgronni]

I am sure MR Schweaty balls has proof of his accusations? Oh right, of course not.
Lets just make the claim and let the goofballs go wild.
Just like Algore and his dreams of global warming.
Proof again? Na, don't need it. The fact that the earth has been through these warming and cooling cycles since it's formation doesn't mean anything. In fact we have been on a warming trend since the last ice age when the cavemen invented fire and warmed the atmosphere whith their campfires. Why else would the ice sheet that covered much of North America ever have retreated?
Schweaty balls and algore, a pair to draw to!