So I saw Al Gore give his "Inconvenient Truth" presentation last week

[LearnedHand]

Believe me, I'm one of those holding out hope for him to enter the presidential race. But after hearing him, seeing him give his presentation, I've come around to thinking he actually IS doing much more toward "saving" this country than he ever could in the office of the president. He's not beholding to ANYONE right now, and he can say whatever is the truth without worry.

In his own gentle way, he lambasted the bush* White House and all the ways it has ignored the climate crisis and advanced the cause of ignorance. He even said, at one point, "I'm beginning to lose patience with this White House." Got a huge laugh, of course.

Mr. Gore is a fine human being, and he would no doubt restore this country from within the presidency. But I reluctantly admit that he's doing so much more from his current position than I think he could, and we need his leadership in so very many ways. Mr. Gore, I support you in whatever choice you make. You are a true patriot.

[Cha]

1. I saw Gore give

it on April 26, 2007 and it's been one of the highlights of my life.

Gore is doing the best for the Planet right now. IMO, the corporatemediawhores need to go the way of the dino-saurs before Gore returns to the Presidency.

[LearnedHand]

3. There's so much truth in that statement, I almost can't hold it

He's so brilliant, so well-rounded in his knowledge, so poised and secure, so well-spoken. I yearn for someone of his quality to represent us in the presidency, but as I watched him, I knew he could cause so much more change where he is now than, maybe, as president. It's not what I want; more like I'm resigned to it.

Just think: we're watching a single person change the course of history. Wow.

[John Q. Citizen]

26. I think you are mistaken. As President, Gore could order the reduction of C02.

Where he is now, he can just promote it.

How much less C02 is there this year than last year?

The answer is there is more. Do you believe that there will be less next year?

If Gore was the President, he could give his presentation at prime time over all three broadcast networks. I haven't seen that happen yet, and I'm not holding my breath.

As President, Gore could do so much more than warn. He could singularly act.

[LearnedHand]

29. I know he could do that, and a lot more, were he the president

As I said, emotionally, I'm right there with you. But it's a much more complex decision than I had been willing to look at. I guess I'm confronting my own reductionist thinking by acknowledging how MUCH power he has right now. He can't order the reduction of C02 as a private citizen, but he CAN bring this country to the tipping point where the masses vote with their pocketbooks and DEMAND an eco-friendly economy.

When we vote with our pocketbooks, the corporations will inform WHOEVER is in the WH that we WILL reduce greenhouse gases. I say that with enormous cynicism, of course, but it's true. The corporations and politicians will listen to money when they listen to nothing else. It's all the power we citizenry have left, and that's where Mr. Gore is moving us.

But as I said, if he decides to run, I'm certainly not going to talk him out of it :hi:

[John Q. Citizen]

37. I think I disagree with you intellectually. And I'm not sure if agreement

between humans emotionally is even possible or desireable. That would mean if I felt mad, then you would feel mad, if I felt meloncholoy, then you would feel meloncholy, if I felt happy, then you would feel happy, etc. People can feel the same emotional states, but can they "agree emotionally." Do you mean that I'd be happy if Gore ran, and you'd be happy too, so we both emotionally agree that Gore running would makes us feel happy?

And how does that equate with your OP?

In fact, I think the whole premise of the OP is unintelligible. I'm not sure what you are saying or why you are saying it.

How can having less money in your pocket give you more buying power? Or having less power make you more powerful?

When Stalan asked "How many divisions does the Pope command," I think he made a point that you miss.

Why do we need Gore to be out of power to vote with our pocket books? I just don't get it.

[LearnedHand]

39. There was no premise to my OP. I was just musing on a change of perception I had.

n/t

[John Q. Citizen]

45. I read your OP to have the premise that Gore would have more power to

effect global warming for the better if he weren't president than if he were.

That wasn't your premise?

I can understand how Gore wouldn't want to run again for the office. Heck, he won last time and they stole it. What's to stop them from stealing it again, for instance. But I don't see not running as a choice he would make strategically because it would give him more power to not be President than if he were President.

I do believe if he ran and "lost" again, that he would then have less power than he currently enjoys. So perhaps that's part of the equation?

[tinrobot]

18. I saw him give it for the movie.

He was brilliant, talked for 2-3 hours without notes.

At one point, there was a technical pause during the taping and someone in the audience shouted out "You're still my president!" The audience erupted into a 5-minute standing ovation. Brought tears to my eyes. In fact, the thought of it still does.

[LearnedHand]

22. Dude! {{ bows low }} I'm SO not worthy!

I would have LOVED to have been in THAT audience. Seeing the film made me want to see him give the presentation in person. You are so lucky to have been there. Here's something funny: When I went in the auditorium, I noticed how WAY too small the screen they set up was, and I was thinking, "Wonder how the scissors lift is gonna handle that?" Then, a couple sat down behind me and wondered out loud where the lift was. WAY too funny. Amazing how powerful that image is.

[tinrobot]

30. I was sitting right under the lift...

Front row, stage right. You can only see the top of my head in the actual movie.

[LearnedHand]

35. No WAY!

Wow. I'm one degree of separation from that lift (well, sort of). :yourock:

[Cha]

24. Sweet!

"Give it for the movie"? That was filmed in California? Gore never gets tired of giving his slide shows..he only gets better.

[ourbluenation]

28. There has got to be some video of that somewhere. I'd love to see that.

[Lisa]

2. he's the sort of person who can have a positive impact no matter what he does

It would be great if he did get back into politics -- but as you say, LearnedHand, he is able to inform and inspire large numbers of people to go out, and in essence be his replacements. I saw him give a talk recently as well, and even without visual aids, he reached a large audience (including the mayor and the provincial premier). My students were also very impressed.

[LearnedHand]

4. He's amazing -- he lit up the room

He is very impressive. Gawd, I don't want to be selfish, but I just can't help WISHING he'd run. But my logical brain tells me he's exactly where he needs to be.

Which students? When I was teaching, I used to take my students to things like this, also.

[Lisa]

7. I bought tickets for a couple of the kids in my class

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=708dbe97-90a9-4bbb-a754-e1524162ff16&k=92245

Couldn't take them all, because there wasn't enough room (and I'd already given my $200 ticket in the other room to another one).

But Gore insisted on coming down to the overflow hall (with the video feed), just to thank us for coming. He was only a few feet away from me when he came in, so I got a pretty good look at him -- I'm always going to remember the way his face lit up when he saw all those students!

It had never occurred to me before that Al Gore might actually envy my job!

[LearnedHand]

9. Wow! What a great story!

He took a few written questions at the end of his presentation, and one he took was from a 13-year-old girl. When the announcer read her question and announced her name and age, she jumped up (she was a few rows in front of me) and waved both her hands high in the air. Gore saw her and spoke personally to her. It was wonderful.

[Joe for Clark]

5. Come on - if there was ever a position to battle this - it is in

the whitehouse. Nothing even can come close to that kind of power.

Joe

[LearnedHand]

8. Emotionally, I agree with you, JfC

But after seeing him, I realized how much of his current power would be stripped away be reentering the White House -- even in the #1 spot. I want him there as much as any other Gore supporters. It's just that I had a lightbulb go off in my head about how much power he has NOW outside the WH. Interesting realization, that.

[gateley]

6. I agree. He's bigger than the President of the US...

I think Gore has a greater gift to give to the WORLD that's needed more than his presence in the WH.

If he were to become President, his focus would by necessity become fractured to address the myriad of domestic, international, foreign relations, etc. issues.

None of those issues or areas will be of any importance if the current state of our earth continues on the current path. (Not stated well, but I know you know what I'm trying to say.)

Gore has the ability and capacity and intelligence and desire to help all of humanity. Can you feel how enormous that is? He can literally help save the world. I can't think of another person who could perform in this role. And we need his help in that area desperately.

It's my fantasy that he would be appointed by the President in a capacity which would allow him to continue his passion with the added presence of the US behind him. Of course, in my fantasy, the President gives Gore free rein, absolute autonomy, because this is more than just a political problem. (And I have to insert here I see Biden as willing to do that -- my opinion only, of course.)

Why even drag him into Washington's embrace? Why not just stay with the current situation and let him carry on his crusade as he is now?

I heard Madeline Albright respond to a question when asked if she encountered difficulties in Muslim countries as a woman SOS: "It's easy to get people to listen to you when you arrive in a large white jet with The United States of America in huge letters emblazoned on the side."

As a rep of the US Gore could have access to any heads of state and spread his message far wider than he can now.

So I think the President needs to focus on getting our country back on track, and leave it in Gore's capable hands to help get the EARTH back on track.

You can tell I'm passionate about Gore, too -- just with a different opinion on how he can BEST help us all.

[LearnedHand]

11. EXACTLY what I'm struggling to say

He will end up functioning as a revolutionary leader, completely outside the formal power structure. And I have to tell you, I don't wish the NEXT presidential term on ANY Dem president, much less Mr. Gore, as much as I think he could singlehandedly fix things. Bush* is leaving our country, our constitution, our economy, our reputation, etc. in TOTAL shambles, and the next prez is going to come out smelling exactly like bush*.

[Duppers]

13. "outside the formal power structure"

But a political appointment is not "outside the formal power structure".

[Duppers]

12. then you're saying that he does indeed need more power

"It's my fantasy that he would be appointed by the President in a capacity which would allow him to continue his passion with the added presence of the US behind him. Of course, in my fantasy, the President gives Gore free rein, absolute autonomy, because this is more than just a political problem. (And I have to insert here I see Biden as willing to do that -- my opinion only, of course.)"

He needs Political Power. You just made my case.

Thanks.

[gateley]

16. He needs political power WITH THE FREEDOM to pursue his environmental

work and to be able to focus on it as his priority. He would not have that freedom if he were the President of the US.

Madeline Albright had political power, and she wasn't the President.

[John Q. Citizen]

40. Where does it say the President isn't free to decide what priority they care to

focus on?

That makes no sense.

bush decided to focus on enriching his posse and war mongering.

Are you suggesting he really didn't want to make those his priority, but since he was president he had no choice?

I don't follow your logic.

[gateley]

43. No that's not what I'm saying, and I apologize if that's how I made it sound.

President Gore could decide that his priority would be the environment. But as President of the United States, that couldn't be his only focus. If he concentrated that to the exclusion of everything else -- health care, education, Iraq, etc. he wouldn't be doing his job.

As Al Gore, citizen, that CAN be his only focus and he could accomplish so much more without all the crap a President HAS to deal with, regardless of the priority.

Also, I think this is really Gore's passion, and it's a much more worthwhile passion than politics.

[Duppers]

10. can you be more specific please

RE your assertion that he is doing the MOST he can in his current capacity. (You and Restore Gore are on the same page.) Please tell me to understand exactly why Al, as president, would not have a bigger role in stopping the pollution and warming, than he does as private citizen.

I need a better argument than he'd have to whore and lie to obtain the office, etc.

Thanks.

[LearnedHand]

14. Actually, Gateley's post above said it much better than I could

If he were to be elected president, he'd be very powerful, all right, but his attention would be fractured by all the OTHER woes the next president will have to clean up. Bush* royally shit the nest over the last 7 years, and if Gore were elected, he'd spend every single year for the next 8 years wiping the country's ass. (Aside: Think about that for a minute; Bush* shits the nest, but we the country get the shitty diapers. NOT EVEN SHIT clings to that poo-flinging monkey.)

As I said before, I SO want Mr. Gore to run and be elected. It's just that seeing him give his presentation was a bit of an epiphany for me; he's much freer to do WAY more good exactly where he is. Now don't get me wrong, if he decides to run, I'm not gonna try to talk him out of it. But I see the wisdom in his NOT running.

[TheDoorbellRang]

27. You've perhaps unconsciously lowered your expectations

of what a GOOD president can accomplish by how the current idiot in the white house performs. Gore is smart (understatement of the year.) He is more than able to find the finest minds to help him, rather than the biggest donors, and delegate the many clean-up jobs to these folks. This is a guy who is not only leading the fight re climate crisis, he's also behind the new TV station Current TV, serves on the board of Apple and Google, and has managed to write "The Assault on Reason" in his spare time. Multi-task could be his middle name.

But I'll tell you what: the most important reason I want Gore in the White House is because he is the only one I trust to have the integrity to fix our broken constitution. IMO, he's the only one who has EVERY skill the next president is going to need to get our country back on track.

[LearnedHand]

31. It's not lowered expectations of what a good president can accomplish

It's because of how the MSM/Republicans Inc. can destroy everything a solitary political figure tries to do and get the stupid people in the U.S. -- which near as I can tell, is about one half of us -- to believe such an effort is actually HURTING us, or that he's soft on terrorism, or whatever asinine reasoning they come up with. It's lowered expectations about whether a president can actually conduct a reasoned conversation from the WH about something so earth-shatteringly important as global warming. Bush* has totally destroyed the institution, and the MSM/Republicans have destroyed our ability to talk to one another. I agree about Mr. Gore's skills and intelligence. I just don't want them wasted on whatever "concern" du jour the barking-mad media and Republicans hack up day after day. As a private citizen, he can totally ignore all that. He couldn't, as president.

Edited the verb I nouned in the subject line.

[John Q. Citizen]

32. Good post. Gore also supports single payer health insurance and he is the

only candidate who will unite the party.

I can't vote for these jokers who gave bush the green light to invade Iraq. And I won't. I'm too responsible to waste my vote on a bunch of pie in the sky utopian Neo-con followers.

I'll write in Kucinich or I'll write in Gore in the general if I have too. I figure it's my duty to cast my vote wisely for the good of the country instead of for my own selfish party power interests.

[LearnedHand]

36. I agree about the other candidates who have enabled Bush*

:mad: I, too, will probably write in Kucinich. Or I might vote for my Guv (Richardson). I don't know; I haven't decided, but I'm definitely distressed with this candidate field. They'd probably be awesome under any other circumstances, but in light of the damage bush* has done, none of them shine very brightly, especially agains the prospect of Mr. Gore running.

However, I still think Mr. Gore has an incredible amount of power, and that that power would be sapped and drained away were he to go into the WH. Or maybe not, but that's what I'm thinking right now.

[John Q. Citizen]

38. How does winning the White House equate to losing power? If Gore won the

Presidency, would you quit listening to what he said?

I wouldn't. In fact, many more people would be able to listen to what he said more often.

Do you believe bush could have more easily gotten us into war with Iran if he wasn't the President? I don't, not for a minute.

Or does the White House magically bestow power on war mongers, yet magically sap power from environmentalists?

Intellectually, I don't think you have a leg to stand on here. Or emotionally.

However, I am happy for you that you got to see Gore give his presentation, and a bit envios as well!

[LearnedHand]

41. Sorry, John Q. Your assertion that I don't have an intellectual

or emotional leg to stand on simply doesn't apply to my musing about my own change of perception. You don't get a vote when I'm talking about my own experience, especially when I'm not trying to persuade others to change their minds. I'm just talking about my OWN new thinking about the situation.

[John Q. Citizen]

44. Sorry, I should have prefaced that comment with IMHO. So where does

this leave us in terms of agreeing emotionally?

[LearnedHand]

46. Not sure what you're asking that we agree about emotionally

But what I'm experiencing is a deeply emotional desire that Mr. Gore run for president (and a feeling that he maybe could "save" us); coupled with a very new rational understanding that as president, he might be VERY distracted by all the other concerns this country has and by the dirty tricks of the MSM/Republicans, and that it's somewhat reductionist thinking on my part to believe we won't be saved unless Mr. Gore is president.

[melody]

15. Gore could do far more as President than he could do in any other role

There's no comparison.

The reach of the office itself, its position of influence, his ability to influence the commerce of a major global polluter, all these things add up to a much greater influence than merely being a high profile "ambassador" to the world.

[LearnedHand]

17. I agree there's no comparison to the total amount of influence he would have as president

But he would have an equal or greater amount of lead weights and concrete shoes as well because of the mess our country is in. When I say all these things, I hear myself argue against my own wishes, and I say to myself, "What the FUCK are you saying?" But there you are; I've come around to understanding his reluctance to become president.

[John Q. Citizen]

42. Oh, now I get it. You are supplying yourself a reason why he doesn't run, should he choose

not to run.

Well, if it makes you feel better to imagine that up is down, go for it. Self delusion is a wonderful thing, and we all practice it to varying degrees.

Gore may decide he doesn't want to run. I can live with that. But I'm not going to imagine that he will be more effective or have more power if he isn't President than if he is.

But we are all different and I won't begrudge you your right to imagine whatever you want to.

[Harper_is_Bush]

20. You have NOTHING to support that claim. Look at what he's done thus far...

...what he's done thus far is beyond any hope or expectation. He's single-handedly brought the issue to the fore.

I really resent those who act as if his contribution thus far is dwarfed by what he could do as POTUS. It's dishonest and disrespectful.

[Swamp Rat]

33. yep

As an unofficial ambassador he can only suggest change.

As President of the United States of America he can institute change.

[Harper_is_Bush]

19. Thank you for this.

Too many people here make the claim that "as POTUS he could do so much more", but they have nothing to support that.

[LearnedHand]

21. I say these things with great difficulty

I'm one of those who thinks (or thought) he could do more as POTUS. My emotions want him to step in and rescue us from ourselves. But there was something about hearing him speak ABSOLUTELY FEARLESSLY about the position we're in, the condition of, for example, the Polar ice caps, which can be gone in as little as 7 years (!!!!), what this country should -- but isn't -- doing ... it really turned around my thinking. I found myself thinking, "Wonder if he could or would say those things in that way if he were president, or would he be "hogtied" (as they say in Tennessee) by diplomatic and other concerns?

I'm thinkin' hogtied.

[Harper_is_Bush]

25. I understand, and am grateful for your honesty.

You have come to the same place I am at, and it's gratifying to see that increased understanding/exposure can bring someone there.

What really burns my buns is when people say he needs to run, or "else" ("else" being one of an assortment of things like "he's not doing his patriotic duty" or "I'll be pissed at him" or "he doesn't REALLY care about global warming")

The respect level for Gore has nosedived on DU. He's treated like he owe's people here something, and as if his efforts thus far have been half-assed because he's not POTUS.

This angers me greatly. Gore deserves absolute gratitude and reverence. He is a hero. He is a champion for all. What he has done thus far is amazing.

[LearnedHand]

34. I guess I hadn't thought of it, but there does seem to be a bit of that "he owes us" here

But I totally understand that sentiment, too. He has handled himself so well over the past 7 years, going about his business, saving the planet single-handedly. Meanwhile, we're stuck with this AMOEBA in the WH, behaving exactly the opposite of classy -- Bush* is pure trailor trash, and proud of it -- and we who elected Mr. Gore are going, "Wha'?" on a daily basis. You can understand how desparation has pushed us to the point of looking for a superhero, someone who's as much not-Bush* as it's possible to be.

Try not to be too impatient with those of us who wished for Mr. Gore to run. It's not so much as do-this-or-else-you're-not-worthy-of-our-respect. It's much more like," You're so fabulous at what you're doing right now, think of how much MORE you could do as president." (And if he DOES run, I'm signing up to work on his campaign!)

However, your point is an excellent one. If Mr. Gore does NOT run for president, we need to support his efforts even that much more! We MUST NOT abandon him, and we MUST NOT believe him to have abandoned us. After all, he's currently saving the planet all by himself (pretty much).

[ourbluenation]

23. Imagine having him in the WH and a dem congress. a girl can dream I guess. n/t