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OK, looking back to the 200 Election (Oh, no. not again!) and the "excuse" that a lot of Americans voted for Bush over Gore (not a majority, but enough to allow Bush to steal the election) because "he's the guy I would like to have a beer with": I know, it sounds outrageous to us here on DU, but what are these people REALLY saying? Remember, we here on DU have access to more information than the "average American" and are much more well-informed. Think about it - the Average American has dealt with one version or another of a "used car salesman". The old saying "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit" is alive and well in the USA. Al Gore is one of the smartest people on the planet. He is a true Renaissance Man, in that although he is not an "expert" in any particular field, he is wise enough to understand any expert in almost any field. Al is th Leonardo da Vinci of our time. To most of us here on DU, this is exactly what we are looking for! But, to many others in the US, he consistently "talks over their heads". So many people in the US are used to people trying to "baffle them with bullshit", they can't recognize when someone is dazzling in their brilliance.
It's not their fault.
Now, before I go any further, I am NOT defending the Republican Leadership. They are the most foul people on Earth. I am defending the victims of Republican Leadership, who are bing unwittingly manipulated by this despicable "leadership".
We are used to putting out the message, and thinking that if the Truth is known, everyone will flock to our cause.
However, the Truth is often complicated, and people tend to prefer simple explanations. They want Black and White, when the world is not even shades of grey but a veritable rainbow kaliedescope of colors. But every time someone tried to explain that to them, it sounds like another used car salesman try to "baffle them with bullshit".
The bottom line is TRUST. How do we get them to trust the guy who is smarter than the rest of us and talks over so many people's heads?
Most people trust someone that they can have a beer with or invite to their bar-be-que.
Let's also remember that Human Beings prefer to believe things that they WANT to believe. That makes it extremely difficult when you are trying to warn someone about something like Climate Change. Something that seems "over the horizon" when they want to buy an SUV and they are more concerned about how well their kid is playing in Soccor than whether or not their will be a world left when their kid becomes an adult.
Al Gore has gained a lot of credibility. He has won award after award. But, he has fallen out of love with politics, and can any of us here blame him? I am still holding out a glimmer of hope that he will still run, but even as his biggest cheerleader I have to admit that he probably won't run and I don't blame him one damn bit.
I only hope that whoever wins the Dem nomination will learn from Gore's example.
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