Gore Tells Silicon Valley Leaders He's Not Running

[RestoreGore]

However, those who claim to be in the "know" of course want us all to believe he is a just a liar and a sneak using the climate crisis for a bigger personal agenda. ::::rolling my eyes:::: Geez, can't people at these events actually ask ABOUT GLOBAL WARMING? No wonder he rolled his eyes. I would dare say that he is getting very tired of the same question every day everywhere he goes, especially since I KNOW he would much rather hear sincere questions about this crisis and how we can work to solve it, because that is truly the only time during these question and answer sessions when he is animated. I wish I had been there, I would have asked about the explosion of solar energy research taking place there. Do people really give a damn or is this really all political? I really am beginning to wonder.
~~~

http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2007/02/02/n/...


UPDATE: GORE SPEECH FOCUSES ON GLOBAL WARMING
02/02/07 4:50 PST
SAN JOSE (BCN)

Former Vice President Al Gore told a group of Silicon Valley leaders today that he is not running for president but is "involved in a different kind of campaign'' to convince the public to deal with the inconvenient truth of global warming.

Gore delivered the keynote address at the annual Joint Venture: Silicon Valley Network State of the Valley conference. Following his speech he responded to a few questions that conference participants had text-messaged onto a large screen behind the stage where he stood. At the first question on the list -- "Will you run for president?" -- Gore rolled his eyes and thanked the sender before giving what has become his standard answer in recent weeks.

"I don't have any plans to run for president,'' Gore said.

Gore's told the audience of Silicon Valley industrialists and government figures that developing clean and green technologies presents an opportunity to not only help the environment but also to make a lot of money for technology developers. He said he believes Silicon Valley can play the same role for clean and green technology that it did for the personal computer and the Internet.

"The world faces an unprecedented challenge and Silicon Valley can make an unprecedented contribution towards meeting that challenge,'' Gore said. Gore called the increase in carbon dioxide levels that is linked to global warming a "crisis in the relationship between human civilization and planet earth.''

"We are now pressing against the limits of the earth's resources,'' Gore said.

Humanity's major role in global warming is now an accepted fact, Gore said, referencing today's release in Paris of a United Nations-sponsored report confirming that the burning of fossil fuels is most likely the cause of the phenomena. One scientist put the level of certainty at the "99 percent'' level, according to Gore. "There's always a 1 percent chance the world is flat,'' Gore noted dryly about those who deny the link between carbon-based fuel consumption and global warming.

Gore called Silicon Valley a "second home'' because of his business interests in the region, including his roles as senior advisor to Google and on the board of Apple. He peppered his talk with only-in-Silicon-Valley wonky references to "Galilean discoveries,'' complexity theory, and Belgian chemist and Nobel laureate Ilya Prigogine. However, he aimed his speech not just at the scientists and engineers in the audience but also at the entrepreneurs.

"It's abundantly obvious that clean tech, green tech ventures will be a new pathway that attracts a lot more energy and time and investment,'' Gore said.

The former vice president and early Internet proponent encouraged both groups.

"Keep the pressure on, keep the research coming, keep the development at the pace we are now reaching,'' Gore said.

[catgirl]

1. Your anti Gore for prez posts are getting tiresome

maybe that's just a stupid question to ask him
at these talks. If he decides to run, he'll make a
formal announcement.

[RestoreGore]

3. Then Don't Read It

No one is forcing you. I'm just reporting on what he did after being asked that same question for the one hundredth millionth time in lieu of a question that actually focuses on what I know he would rather discuss, and agreeing with his sentiment. So again, if you don't like it, don't read it.

[Mojambo]

2. If he doesn't want the questions then he'll stop leaving the wiggle room

He doesn't have plans, but that doesn't mean he can't or won't MAKE plans at some point.

[RestoreGore]

4. Well, I hope he does it soon

There are those of us out here who support him now and would also just like to watch or read one presentation without it intejected.

[Apollo11]

5. If you are right

and Al Gore only wants to talk about the climate crisis for the rest of his life, then I guess his next book - "The Assault on Reason" - is all about the climate crisis - right?

Nobody here is saying that Al Gore is lying about his intentions.

What we know for sure is that he is not ready to announce his candidacy right now.

My guess is that he hasn't yet made a final decision about what he should do.

I think he is keeping his options open. He hasn't ruled out running again.

He will watch how things unfold over the coming months and consider his position during the summer.

Either he will endorse one of the "other" candidates or he will enter the race.

Until he publicly endorses another candidate, we have to assume he is keeping his options open.

In Gore We Trust :)
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - sign the petition!
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

[BuelahWitch]

6. Good one Apollo11!

:toast:

[RestoreGore]

10. Oh yeah, he showed me...

Again, the point is missed.

[RestoreGore]

9. Did I State He Wants To Talk About The Climate Crisis ALL OF HIS LIFE

NO, I did not. I stated that when it is a discussion ABOUT THE CLIMATE CRISIS that it should include SINCERE questions on that topic instead of THAT question every single time. How many times must he be made to repeat the same thing over and over again? That was ALL I typed here. And I know full well about his new book as I wrote about it here in sincerity as well because the loss of Democratic debate in this country (as exhibited by "that" question getting more attention at his presentations than actual questions about this crisis and solutions) is responsible for the uninformed citizens regarding this crisis. Did this article even note ANY other question asked? Does anyone care what other questions were asked? What he even talked about?

The point of this posting then since you missed it was that at an event about the CLIMATE CRISIS he couldn't even get a FIRST question that was halfway intelligent or decent on the subject after giving a sincere talk on it, which is more than likely why he rolled his eyes. It's possible to me that it may just have been slipped in without his knowledge. That tells me he may be getting tired of answering it, and I wish he would just for once say, "I have answered that question many times already, next" when asked it. So you see, there was no need to preach to me to put me in my place here. I am also well within my rights to support this man any damn way I choose and make observations about his appearances. And what would be wrong if he indeed did wish to speak of this issue for the rest of his life?

[JNelson6563]

17. Because President Gore knows

that there is no more powerful, effective bully pulpit than that of the White House. In no other way could he make such a difference in matters such as global warming than from the White House. The Presidence of the United States of America (which he has won once already). Nothing beats it for getting one's message out.

:toast: Rock on Apollo11, I enjoy your posts!

Julie

[RestoreGore]

19. If that were the case he would have run in 2004

So how powerful can it be if PARTY ELITISTS have the power to keep you out? And he thinks it powerful if there is an informed citizenry behind it, and stated so in an interview at the Hay Festival last year. And I agree with him on that as well but as he has also stated and knows, we don't have that informed citizenry yet when it comes to this crisis and MANY other issues. We probably haven't had it since Thomas Jefferson's time, hence his work out here which will take in my estimation a few more years to get to that point, if we're lucky.

[JNelson6563]

27. Things were a bit different in 04

First and foremost if Gore had run in 04 it would've beena re-match. I don't think the people wanted to re-live the nightmare we went through in 2000. Inconvenient Truth wasn't out at the time and that has made a big difference.

I really think the nomination is Gore's for the taking and if he were President we'd stand an even better chance at saving the world.

Julie

[RestoreGore]

29. No they weren't....

It was only two years ago and this climate crisis was here and so was our moral duty to address it. Are you telling me you condone us losing all of this precious time just because a movie had not been made yet? Al Gore didn't even want to make this movie at first, but he sure as hell was talking about it. Why weren't others and WE concerned about it then and listening? Surely, those of us truly following his career knew how he felt about this then? I know I did, which was why I wanted it to be front and center in certain groups I then belonged to and was ignored. Why didn't his supporters pick up the mantle then as well? Why didn't they vocally back him up on it? I know the answer, because this IS only political to so many people and it is that political preoccupation over reality that has now led to where we are as well.

And please, don't even think to tell me that 2000 and all that came before it in Mr. Gore's politcal career (including picking Lieberman as his running mate) would not be front and center no matter WHEN he would announce he was returning to the military/industrial complex. It is already cited by many on this forum and others as the main reason why he needs to do this... that and to provide them with a Hillary/Gore grudge match. It will not be about the future but the past. There would be nothing on these forums but nasty backbiting threads about NAFTA, his last campaign in which he didn't use Clinton enough, his not bringing this crisis out sooner when he was Vice President, and the ever present misimpression firmly planted in people's minds that he only did this movie for political reasons so he could get revenge for 2000 which would totally seek to discredit his sincerity and the progress on this issue to this point.

And once again, as he has stated many times this system is toxic and if anyone should know that it's him. So I really do not understand why people are so obsessed on these progressive forums with incessantly ONLY concentrating on 2008 and another business as usual campaign where he is concerned while diverting people from discussing the urgency of what we now face in this year by supporting that work and trying to brainwash people that the Presidency would have all the power on this while calling it dictatorial on the part of Bush to have all the power in the first place. Mr. Gore would NOT have all the power to just do as he pleases on this crisis in the White House that is now stained with the blood of millions of people and I have yet to see anyone guarantee that he will have a truly informed citizenry DEMANDING change on this. That is not happening on a massive scale now. That is why I believe with all of my heart that after his dealing with that for so many years, that now being a truthful and dedicated statesman and environmental spokesman who can use his resources in many others areas besides politics to seek a moral groundswell for change is where he believes he needs to now be and can have the most influence.

I will also never believe that 2004 was different in that regard to us being made aware of this crisis because of the time and opportunity that was already lost on the grassroots level, and I will never be made to believe it was not the year when we should have stood up enmasse to KEEP BUSH OUT at all costs. But yes, of course, political expediency always trumps moral duty in this political system. Too many people have now died and will die because of "political convenience" in this country and the games being played on all sides to this day regarding the occupation of Iraq and now this climate crisis which will only be demoted in Congress down to a partisan political campaign issue rather than a moral obligation, which is why I too have fallen out of love with it. Mr. Gore is going to speak in front of Congress this March... SPEAK. Speak? We should be passing legislation and implementing solutions in March! But I do hope he gives them an earful to make up for the thirty years they WASTED by ignoring him and others as well. So again, until I see concrete proof and GUARANTEES that this system is indeed not toxic and that he would have that informed citizenry and the moral outrage necessary to make changes from that vipers nest that people would actually implement, I'm not moving my view one inch.

[JNelson6563]

30. Wow.

This is a political message board friend, not an environmental forum. For the life of you you cannot understand why the 2008 elections are a big topic of conversation on a forum called Democratic Underground???

If you do not understand why the political environment is different now than in 04 then there is little I can say that would change that. And while you may be so one dimensional as to see little need to tend to any other issues besides the environment I can assure you that Al Gore is not. As he has been working to save the world from an evironmental standpoint by writing books, making his movie, speaking to crowds and anything else he could think of, he has also been following and speaking out on various other topics. Since 2000 he has given many speeches on many different issues. I've tried to catch each and every one of them and they were all brilliant. He's got an excellent understanding of a laundry list of issues and is intelligent enough to come up with solutions for all of them.

Don't begrudge him that. He won't fit into that tiny little box you keep trying to squeeze him into, no matter how many posts you write on DU.

Julie

[RestoreGore]

32. I was talking about politics. Try to follow n/t

[catgirl]

37. Right on!

[derby378]

7. He only said he doesn't have any plans to run...

...he did not come flat out and say he would not run. He still acts like someone who's keeping his calendar for the next ten years open to the possibility that he might wind up in the Oval Office anyway.

[RestoreGore]

14. But that question should not take precedence over the topic

That's all I'm saying.

[Crunchy Frog]

8. He needs to reword his answer to that question

if he wants people to stop parsing his words and thinking that he's just being "coy". A more firm and decisive answer would be "I will NOT be running for president", and that would put a stop to the questions. His current wording of the answer contains the implication of a "might possibly".

[RestoreGore]

13. Perhaps...

But even last night at the acceptance ceremony for the Attenborough Award he was receiving, he stated that he is not thinking about running at this time. He is not thinking about it, he is not planning, he has no intentions, he has fallen out of love with politics, it is toxic, it is tomfoolery... how does any of that translate to people that he is being coy? I do understand that he may just be saying this to keep this crisis in the forefront and if so I also see that as a sad statement on people who need that gossip to keep them interested in his work on this crisis. Therefore, if he wants to keep people guessing to keep this in the forefront, just saying, "I have answered that many times already and will give a different answer if I have anything new to add" would also work for me. I just get tired of it every day when it has been answered ad nauseum, because that seems to be all the media is picking up on, and not the real substance of his talks which people need to know.

[AtomicKitten]

11. This isn't news.

Repeatedly chastising those of us who support Al Gore and hope he throws his hat in the ring is boorish. He will declare, or not, when he is damn good and ready, and all these armchair analyses are absurd.

[RestoreGore]

12. Then again, don't read them

because all of the BEGGING here and political armchair analysis about his intentions is even more redundant to those of us who actually APPRECIATE what he is doing now and want to discuss that.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RestoreGore]

16. I did state "those of us"

I did not insinuate it was just me. Perhaps you need to read it again. And my mission was in 2004 when it mattered the most, but as I have also written here before I learned a great lesson from it. Why do you think John Kerry really isn't running this time? Could it be he too has finally seen the truth of it all regarding what it is really like? In a way I hope so, because I would have more respect for him.

I do not want to restore Mr. Gore to this military/industrial complex system that spits on the poor, trashes the Constitution, and takes a man's soul when THE PEOPLE on the whole in this country don't seem to care about REALLY changing it first. He also doesn't deserve to have all of this put on him unless HE WANTS IT DEEP IN HIS HEART AND SOUL. If you have to pull him kicking and screaming I want nothing to do with it. If you do, have at it, but in my opinion you are doing it the backassed way.

Mr. Gore is now doing what he wishes to do the right way based on what he knows and has seen of it, and I will NOT interfere with that in any way anymore. I learned a great deal in 2004 from my own experiences and I believe Mr. Gore learned more than you or I will ever know based on his own experiences then, so I respect and believe the words that are coming out of his mouth now and truly wish to read about the substance of his talks when he gives them, not what the MEDIA only wants to print to sell a damn paper or get Internet readership. Simple as that. Now since I don't really wish to go back and forth with you any longer, I'm done.

[AtomicKitten]

18. I'm certain Mr. Gore doesn't feel pressured

by my admiration and pledged support if he chooses to run.

I understand you weren't accepted to participate in his slide show presentation campaign and I suspect that has skewed your perspective here.

Knowing he is revered by many Americans is a positive thing and not at all like you are trying to paint it. Mr. Gore is not in danger of doing anything he doesn't wish to do.

Peace out.

[RestoreGore]

20. Wow, how nasty

No, I was not selected this time out, but at least I applied... did you? And as you can see I am still supporting his endeavors here and in the REAL WORLD and I am living my life CARBON FREE. I am literally walking the walk, and actually, not being selected has only enhanced my desire to work harder to get this truth out on my own. And if his project calls for more trainees this year I will try again. So attacking my conviction on this issue thinking it scores you personal points because you can't address the points presented is really useless. And the only thing that has skewed my perspective is the REALITY of this world. You should try looking at it once in a while. Good bye.

[AtomicKitten]

21. I already told you

that I work for the slide show presentation campaign here in SF. I don't think I'm alone at DU in wondering what the hell you are up to here. Your posts are completely contradictory to your screen name and what you claim. And I'm sorry you consider it nastiness pointing that out, but I don't think that's really anybody's fault but your own.

[RestoreGore]

26. What I am up to? I think it's called expressing an opinion n/t

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

24. Restore Gore - Al's greatest fan - how come I keep seeing Kathy Bates in Misery?

Only RG sees the big picture - how complex he is and how simple the rest of us are.Don't you get it? Only she really understands him. And the size of the struggle before us. Al is too good, too pure to soil himself with the degradation that politics requires. Far better for him to remain out of the process.

Too bad that being President of the USA would give him the most powerful platform in the world to effect real environmental change.

[RestoreGore]

25. Not really true...

"Too bad that being President of the USA would give him the most powerful platform in the world to effect real environmental change."

And you can't prove it either...That's why Bill Clinton did so much to address it. That's why Kyoto wasn't passed...That's why he didn't run in 2004 to bring it forward. Yeah, right. You can't address it effectively if the moral urgency is not there on the part of the people to demand that change on EVERY level of government. It doesn't work from the top down, but the bottom up. That is why he has stated time and time again that that is what his mission is now, even though you refuse to listen. And yes, maybe because I have been an environmentalist all of my life and have read every book he has written on this topic I can see something more to this. I see him putting this planet first, and after thirty years of nothing from this government you think is so all powerful, I don't have faith in this federal government to do anything worthwhile on it this year, but I do have faith that as a man outside that system he can exact great influence for change by working to get people to demand it from the bottom up. So your nasty reference was uncalled for, but of course, not surprising. I will take it like I take most of the rhetoric, with a grain of salt.

[samfishX]

22. Stop saying to not read your posts.

It's a disinformation tactic.
If you're going to say that, why post about it at all?


I'm all for Gore running again. He SHOULD run again, and I'm GLAD people keep asking him if he'll run. It means other people are interested in his running again, too, and he knows it.

[catgirl]

28. Oh no one "appreciates what he's doing"?

No, not at all. He packs every venue, the world has opened it's eyes to the crisis,
his book was a top seller, An Inconvenient Truth is one of the biggest, or perhaps
IS the biggest, grossing documentaries of all time, England will show it in all of their
secondary schools, Gore's film was nominated for an Oscar, his book won the Quill award,
he was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, he's more popular than ever because of his work,
he has a growing army of supporters for a run in 2008, and the list goes on and on.

I know the thought of Gore running makes the hair on the neck stand up for all
the current White House viers, Democrats and Republicans. We should expect people
to come out and attempt to discourage Gore.

Well, guess what? His message has been heard loud and clear. Now to make the
neccessary changes in order to realize his dreams of stopping global warming,
he needs to be in the most powerful position... at the White House.

Bush used this venue to create havoc, Gore will use it to make a huge impact
on the world. So, if people are hoping and pushing him a bit, it's for the good
of the world. We should continue to push him to run.

[RestoreGore]

31. Oh yes, that position is so powerful now

If that were the case it would have been done in the eight years Bill Clinton had to do it. And it appears you are now saying that the only reason Mr. Gore now has "an army" of support is because he is now "popular." That had he not been nominated for a Nobel, or written this book and done this movie that he wouldn't have this support. That now that he is "popular" he is good enough? Is that what you're saying?

And I know very well what he has already accomplished with this message globally, and it was all done outside the beltway in a much shorter time period than Congress still beholding to their automaker and oil special interests will ever move on this. And it is not just "his dream", it is the moral imperative of all of us to make it our goal for a sustainable future which is the real point of all of this... He is asking, just what part do you play in this?

He has also stated many times that this is not about him, just as Iraq is not about Bush. You are actually making him out to be like a Bush in regards to this in that you are implying he would do ANYTHING to implement "his dream", so I think you need to be careful how you word these statements about Mr. Gore. He is no dictator, he is a man who cares about the planet which is precisely why I believe he has chosen the path he has. Would you actually however condone him being a dictator if it got you what you wanted?

And Bush wouldn't have been able to use that venue for anything if we had done our duty as Americans, so excuse me if I don't have much faith that they would do that duty no matter who is up there. When I see Bush and his cronies impeached, then I'll believe it. The mindset of this country has to change and that can only be done by truth and by people standing up, and that can only be done by doing so on a level where they will trust the information being given to them, and that then means they must trust the messenger and his or her convictions. Politicians don't seem to be too high up on that list right now, so again, by putting the issue first he is doing this the right way.

[catgirl]

33. Blah blah blah

I responded to your statement about lack of "appreciation"....

His army of support is because he is the best candidate
for the presidency. Don't put words in my mouth.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.....................................................
Sheesh!

[RestoreGore]

34. Translated: I can't refute you so I'll just make noise... Have a nice day. n/t

[catgirl]

35. Exactly my point

you're very perceptive.

[Skip Intro]

23. "No plans to run again" - ok, that's definitive. n/t

[RestoreGore]

36. In relation to the topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=81451&mesg_id=81451

because the topic IS the climate crisis.