Why Al Gore is Not President

Al Gore is truth. Think about it. He says what needs to be said without fear, without posturing. He leads.

He succeeds in the worlds of politics, business, and diplomacy. He reads and writes history. He has access to the smartest people on the planet. He has a loving, close-knit family who are his best friends. He rose from the politically dead in 2000, left behind by his "friends" who thought he could no longer help them, having lost an election to thieves.

Today, Al Gore quietly endorsed equal rights for homosexuals. He did not make a big announcement. He didn't hold a press conference. He didn't stand in front of a rainbow coalition. He just put up a video on his Current TV. It's vintage Al Gore: just the facts, a statement of the obvious that our politicians are too scared to address head on.

Two years ago, Al was honored by the Human Rights Campaign here in Los Angeles. He thought long and hard about whether to say that he supports the right to marriage for gay people. He shared with us his process by giving us a scintillating, unscripted history of civil rights in our country, with the inexorable conclusion put up today on Current. At the time, I wrote here that he was America's soul.

So why didn't he run? Well, why should he? Last year, he won an Oscar, an Emmy and a Nobel Peace Prize. Oh yeah, he also had a New York Times bestselling book. Again. Since 2000, he has built Current TV against the odds and against the "conventional wisdom." Current preceded YouTube by three years. The network provides edited, high quality, largely user-generated content. As with its founder, it's global in its reach and information. And it makes money.

He founded Generation Investment Management, a global asset management firm that focuses on sustainable investing. Sustainable, not just green. Sustainable means that companies invest for the very long term, that they have business models that account for people, not just for profits today. He recognizes that capitalism is the global economic system and if we are truly to change human behavior, we have to work within the markets.

While Al Gore did not invent the Internet, as Vice President he made sure that the Internet would be available to everyone, not just to a few big telephone companies or the Department of Defense. He worked closely with the founders of Google to help guide them to the prominence Google now has. He's on the board of Apple, one of the most innovative technology companies in the world. Does this mean Al has "sold out?" Quite the contrary; it means that he understands the intersections of business, the environment and technology, all keys to America's (and for that matter the world's) long-term future.

In September 2002, Al Gore spoke out against the march to war, while others were either voting to give President Bush the power to attack Iraq or cowering in fear of being labeled "soft on defense." He speaks and writes regularly on issues relating to media consolidation (read Assault on Reason if you have not), as they relate to our democracy and society and as they in turn relate to our long term future.

When I think of the qualities of a president and try to relate those qualities to anyone alive, I always return to Al. But we know why he didn't run. The day he'd have heeded the call to serve as president, he'd have been brought down. Rather than lauding a leader, the pundits and his "friends" would have asked about his shoe color or his speech patterns. Who needs it? While I think Al Gore would be one of the best presidents in modern history -- a combination of JFK and FDR at a time when we need both -- the political system in this country, ruled as it is by a punditocracy and consultantocracy, would have been threatened by someone who owes them nothing. They'd have spent night and day sharpening their knives to keep him out.

Unfortunately, this campaign shows just how silly things have gotten. Former President Clinton has made himself into a midget by serving not as statesman, but as attack dog. And while I like Senator Obama's message of hope, I want to know what's really inside, what he really believes at core and how he'll transform that upbeat message into action in one of the most complex and daunting times in our history. John Edwards has a consistent message that resonates, but unfortunately, not in the media.

Al Gore chose wisely. He has sacrificed enough. And even so, he continues to lead on all of the issues that matter to our country and our world. All of them. In a week or a few months, we'll have a nominee. We'll all be told to rally around the winner for the sake of unity and because the alternative is so horrible. I guess it's a modern fantasy to imagine we'd have a candidate for president who is not just the lesser of a few evils, but who really combines hope, experience, creativity and wisdom. I know some believe that those candidates are out there now; I hope they are right.

Whoever becomes president would best serve our nation by relying on one of the modern wise men, who lives his life according to the inscription above the Georgetown University Library (translated from the Latin): "Knowledge is Truth and the Truth Shall Set You Free."

Comments

[TrustMeImASalesman]

Let's see, why is Al Gore now the Former Vice President? Period!

Al Gore ran a pitiful campagin!
Al Gore changed formats, approachs, and positions faster than Donna Brasile could change her pantyhose!
Al Gore claimed what was not his to claim: Internet inventor etc...yada,yada, WRONG.
Al Gore is, in my opinion a huxster-con man. His position and advocating of "Carbon Tax Credits" is a ponzi scheme for a planet wide taxing upon all citizens aka America.
Al Gore talks the talk, but only after being embarassed about his own consumption, did begin to practice what he was preaching. He hasn't yet walked the walk!
Al Gore preaches "Do as I say, not what I do..because I'm above the law/crowd".
Al Gore was disliked by the Clintons. They did not support him for his run like they should have.
Al Gore was not trusted by enough American voters. He truly lost the vote in Florida.
Al Gore will not run again for President, even if asked, because he is making too much money from his new ventures/talks/seminars/endorsements.
An finally let's be thankful for Sec of State Katherine Harris in Florida! Thank you darlin, Bless your heart!!!!

[AgathaX]

Al Gore is the Democratic Party's Fred Thompson: the candidate that looks perfect so long as he's not in the melee. The reluctant one who really doesn't want to be bothered.

When will we realize that people who have to be begged to run make lousy candidates. And in a democracy, if you're a lousy candidate you will never be president at all, good, bad or indifferent.

[xrayman]

I'm a man and I could still just cry that the presidency was taken from Al Gore and the U.S. has had to suffer the worst president in my lifetime--George W. Bush.

He and his Republican congress were the worst most miserable excuses for public servant ever.

Where would we be today if Al Gore were president?

[biggdaddy2000]

Indeed Knowledge is truth and the truth shall set you free!

Suggested reading, the Award Winning book "Death of Democracy: The Erosion of Freedom Doctrine of the Second American Revolution" by Jake Laughton
Available on Amazon.com
Target.com
createspace.com

[Purple Girl]

I certainly would be inclined to vote for Al- again.
He seems to have hit his stride and found a guiding principle that makes things more clear, thus easier to break down into resolveable issues.
Run Al, We need a Voice of Reason who can See the path forward and negotiate it effectively and efficiently.
Your Country is Calling You- Again.
Let US hear your thoughts Now.

[yourstruly]

For months I said to anyone who would listen that a Gore/Obama ticket was a sure winner. Gore for the experience, vision and integrity and Obama as his obvious successor.

But I saw Al Gore on television a few weeks ago with all his intelligence and wit on display, and you know what, he's still stiff and pompous-sounding. I think I must agree with him that he's not very good at politics; he doesn't have it in his blood like his father did or Obama or the Clintons. His skills set is in a class with any leader in government and industry you can name. But he can't dance, so I think I'll vote for Obama. And maybe he'll ask Gore to be his running mate.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I like Big Al, but he's Old Money, billionaire and all that, and he didn't 'go green' at HIS house until someone waved his electric bill in his face, so beware the high-minded hypocrisy, there.

[richw23]

You want Truth? - We Can't Handle the Truth!!!

I'm Out of Order? This Courts out of Order!!!

I'm Mad as Hell And I'm not going to take it anymore!!!

Come With Me If You Want To Live!!!

[PauCK]

Al Gore, like others before, show that some politicians do more for us than they could have if elected to office. Bill Clinton's work with charities, Jimmy "energizer bunny" Carter's work with...well everything, are fine examples. Hind sight tells me we would be in a much better world had Bush not stolen Gore's presidency. But that is done and we need a clean up crew now.

[blackjack]

I cannot leave this go, AL GORE lost because the CORP:., MAIN STREAM MEDIA wainted BUSH and his crime family in power, and his vice president pick LIE-berman which stuck a knife in his back every chance he got, you will read very little on this but I know people that was there and have said so. Another the SUPREAM COURT was FOR BUSH and his crime family. And last if he had just ONE FRIEND in the SENATE that would have STOOD with(MAXCINE WALTERS) we the people not be where we are today. I say two things time to brake up THE CORP:., MAIN STREAM MEDIA and start electing real F.D.R. and J.F.K DEMOCRATS to the SENATE AND HOUSE.

[Beolarry]

Al Gore isn't President on account of he doesn't have his own pet Ayatollan Madmen like John McCain. McCain can offer up an invasion of Iran as a solution to both our foreign and domestic problems, because an all out war with that country would put the nation's economy in high gear and unhinge our international competitors.

[CanSoc]

While Al Gore unquestionably has done much good since 2000, it's a mistake to think that therefore the same progressive and liberal imagination and courage would have informed his presidency, or have we forgotten what an unimaginative and uncourageous platform he campaigned on for the US presidency, so much so that Ralph Nader felt compelled to run against him? Al Gore is a case study of how much one must suppress one's true opinions in the search for power through election, and perhaps also how the degree of that suppression is proportional to the degree of power sought.

[sej100]

I'd love to VOTE for AL GORE.
Im not taken with Obama as Im finding his campaign tactics disingenuous. I also understand lofty speeches but they also offer so few specifics that I have no reason to vote for Mr Obama. He just repeats his talent of bringing people together. I know it didnt work with John McCain. I know he failed to vote for freedom of Speech when move on was attacked so what really does he stand for? Change is not a policy, it also does not explain how. Who sacrifices in Mr Obama's plans? Why include Bill Clinton in a speech slam him and then be offended when Bill reacts? Wasnt it baiting? Sure it was.

[CaptainObvious]

Thanks for not blaming it on Nader.

[NABNYC]

Gore isn't president for several reasons including the following:

1. He was sullied by his association with Bill Clinton. Sorry folks, but it's true. I did not care at all about Bill's sex life. But the fact is that hearing about these tacky cigar episodes, combined with Bill lying and his wife sitting next to him while he lied to the public, combined with him lying under penalty of perjury -- it just made the whole Clinton administration and everyone associated with it look tacky and sleazy.

2. Bill Clinton did tremendous harm to the Democratic party by his screwing around. Or maybe his screwing around and not bothering to be discrete about it. Or maybe his using public employees as his pimps to go out and find women for him and bring them to hotel rooms so he could wag his weenie. Screwing around is pretty much in the normal range. Having an affair, let's say -- most people understand that. But some of this other behavior really was tacky. And it rubbed on poor Al Gore just because he was there.

3. The Bush crime family (credit to Mike Malloy) stole the election. They intentionally threw people off the voting lists, rigged the system, stole the election in Florida.

4. The right-wing Supreme Court ruled based on party loyalty that Bush wins and the votes may not be counted. Such a disgrace. Nothing since Plessy vs. Ferguson has been such a disgrace to the theory that we are a nation of laws. Apparently the fact is that sometimes we are. But sometimes we're just a nation of corruption, deceit, lies, and stolen elections.