"Thank you Al Gore" (Via Robert Parry's Consortium News)

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Posted on Buzzflash and Robert Parry's Consortium News:

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/022507a.html
http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/808

Thanking Al Gore for His Service

By Brent Budowsky
February 25, 2007

Editor's Note: Though a favorite punching bag for the Washington news media, Al Gore has built a record as one of the most far-sighted political figures in modern American history. The acclaim for his work in alerting the public to the dangers of global warming is only part of Gore's extraordinary story.

In this guest essay, political analyst Brent Budowsky takes note of those accomplishments:

Thank You, Al Gore.
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Al Gore is the most qualified person in America to bring peace between the Hollywood moguls attending the fundraisers of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Al Gore is the most qualified person in America to bring peace to the Middle East.

Imagine a world where an American President is again the leader of the Free World. Where our Commander in Chief has the experience to wage war, but the judgment to know that the best wars, are the wars wise leaders can avoid.

Imagine a world where our leaders unite our people behind social justice, shared patriotism and a common trust of protecting the planet.

My nominee for lifetime achievement award is the man known by his friends as AG, and known by the world as the passionate and powerful friend of the earth, and opponent of those who would pollute and corrupt her.

Thank you, Al Gore, for your work against the nuclear arms race during the Cold War. Some do talking points, others discuss nuclear throw weight with world leaders. Thank you Al Gore for helping to make the world safe from nuclear extermination.

Thank you, Al Gore, for the vision to see how new technology could be put in the service of humanity. There has never been a political leader in the history of America who was even close to you, as you envisioned the potential for good of the Internet. Thank you, Al Gore.

Thank you, Al Gore, for having the experience, courage and integrity to be one of the few national leaders to oppose the Iraq War when almost all others were bending to the winds of war in 2002.

Thank you, Al Gore, for having the clarity to give a resounding defense of the Bill of Rights at Constitution Hall, when others were too timid to speak so clearly.

Thank you, Al Gore, for the courage to speak against all forms of torture, while the timid were taking polls and consulting focus groups.

Thank you for a lifetime of fighting for social justice and economic fairness. Thank you for a lifetime of translating the Sermon on the Mount into public action to help the hungry, the homeless and the poor.

And thank you, Al Gore, for your passion, your commitment, your energy, your intellect, your research, your diligence, and your idealism in fighting to protect our planet long before your "An Inconvenient Truth" receives its latest honors.

Thank you for your July 7 concert that will rally environmentalists, entertainers and the world to the cause, and surely win the Grammy for the CD that will ultimately raise money as well as awareness.

My hope: that America will choose as its next leader the man who deserves the Academy Award, the Grammy and the Nobel Prize for Peace.

In any event, today we tip our hat, and offer our salute, to the leader among leaders of all American public figures. Al Gore, you have lifted the standards of our civic life, and proven how great leaders can move the world.

For a lifetime of achievement and great deeds yet to come, let's say: Thank you, Al Gore.

Brent Budowsky was an aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen on intelligence issues, and served as Legislative Director to Rep. Bill Alexander when he was Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Leadership. Budowsky can be reached at [e-mail].

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