Why Al Gore Is Not Running For President

[RestoreGore]

And to think how maligned I was for thinking this way the entire time. He truly is a great man and I am proud to support him.

http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/1/23/165239/215/

Gore's moral obligation
Why Al Gore isn't running for president
Posted by Guest author at 4:18 AM on 24 Jan 2008

As Hillary, Obama, and Edwards continue to slug it out in the early primary states, one name is conspicuously absent among the Democratic candidates to become the next president of the United States. Where is Al Gore? The man who received more votes than George W. Bush did in 2000, who served eight years as Bill Clinton's vice president, and whose climate change evangelism has been rewarded with an Oscar and Nobel Peace Prize has resolutely refused to enter the race, even though he might well have won it.

Ever since the documentary An Inconvenient Truth catapulted Gore to international superstardom in 2006, countless citizens and opinion leaders at home and abroad have urged him to pursue the presidency. For its 2007 Person of the Year issue, Time magazine asked Gore if he did not have "a moral obligation" to run, given the unparalleled power of the White House and the urgency of the climate crisis. Gore gave much the same answer he has been giving for months now: although he had "not completely ruled out the possibility," he did not expect to run for office; the best thing he could do to fight climate change was to stay focused on "changing public opinion."

Pundits find it hard to believe that a lifelong politician could turn his back on the White House; some speculate that Gore is being coy, waiting to see if other candidates stumble. I doubt it. As someone who has covered Gore's climate activism for 15 years now, since first interviewing him at the U.N. Earth Summit in 1992, I think he sincerely believes that changing public opinion is more important than changing presidents. What's more, Gore has good reasons for this unconventional conclusion -- reasons that deserve our attention, for they suggest the kind of battles that must be fought and won if catastrophic climate change is to be avoided.

I spent two hours one-on-one with Gore just before An Inconvenient Truth was released. Much of our interview focused on an irony that seems to have escaped many of those who have urged him to run for president: the last time Gore served in the White House, he failed to deliver much progress against global warming. During its eight years in office, the Clinton-Gore administration did not pass a single major law against climate change. It did sign the Kyoto Protocol, but only after watering it down with crippling loopholes, and then it chose not to seek Senate ratification of the treaty.

snip

The lesson Gore seems to have drawn from his defeats in the White House is that being president is not enough to create real change, especially if powerful interests are against you. The only way to defeat them is to recondition the battlefield -- to build such a pervasive wave of public pressure that no matter which politicians get elected, each will feel compelled to take action, even if it means disappointing ExxonMobil and friends. As Gore told Time, the climate crisis "requires a fundamental shift in public opinion at the grassroots level to embolden members of the legislative branch to take action."

[dorkulon]

1. And here I was thinking it was because he was fat.

Just kidding, obviously. Although I'd say that being VP in the '90s and being Pres today makes a big difference in leverage and public opinion.

[gateley]

2. I would imagine that what he's doing now is so much more REAL to him.

He's got the perspective that's hard to have when you're sitting smack in the middle of Washington politics.

He brings a much greater gift to the WORLD doing what he's doing now. He must feel at peace with himself.

[RestoreGore]

7. yes, and it is necessary to him

I couldn't be more grateful to have him on our side.

[I work for workers]

3. He doesn't want to lose.

For most of the race, Clinton seemed to have it wrapped up. Gore had no reason to jump in and be the guy who lost twice. Now Clinton or Obama probably has it locked up, and Gore has little reason to jump in, abandon his party, split the vote, and give us a Republican President. If he did, he would be as hated as Nader is on this board.

Also, Gore not running is going to win me a $5 bet.

[helderheid]

4. or be assassinated. n/t

[RestoreGore]

5. He sees the big picture

Something it appears many others can't see.

[helderheid]

6. Please elaborate. The big picture is shrinking rapidly. I don't see much of a future for my kids.

[RestoreGore]

8. Then do something about it

[helderheid]

10. RG, I know we've not always gotten along. My question was sincere. Truce? Please help me.

[RestoreGore]

31. You can start here.

http://www.climateprotect.org/

[I work for workers]

9. I dont buy the whole "he can do more outside the presidency" line.

I seriously doubt anyone who wants to be president ever gives up the dream, and let's be honest, he could do a hell of a lot more as president then he can as an activist. I just don't think he wants to go through the hassle only to end up losing to Clinton (the prospect of which seems much less certain today then it did six months ago). The whole Gore can do more argument strikes me as glass half empty nonsense from disappointed fans.

[stillcool]

12. that's just not true...

I seriously doubt you have much admiration for what he has done to highlight global warming, but he could not have done that as President. There are too many corporations that have a vested interest in emphatically denying the science. His concerns with environmental issues goes back to all his time in the Senate. I think he probably knows better than you, how he can be more effective in the issues he cares about.

[I work for workers]

21. I have great respect for the man,

but it's nonsense to claim he can do more trying to influence the government from the outside rather then by leading it. Sure, he did more then anyone else to raise awareness about climate change, but imagine where we would be had 2000 turned out differently. The last eight years have been seen massive rollbacks on environmental standards, despite Gore's efforts.

[stillcool]

25. Despite Gore's efforts?

exactly.

[RestoreGore]

34. The only nonsense is coming from those who have a presidential obsession

Instead of actually giving a damn about the crisis unfolding.

[AndyTiedye]

16. Gore Could Easily Beat McCain, It is Not Clear that Clinton or Obama Can

Nobody has been suggesting a 3rd-party run by Gore, including the OP. He SHOULD be in the Democratic primary race. He isn't. :cry:

We are having to make do with much weaker candidates. I hope we can pull it out in November. I wouldn't bet on it though.

If McCain wins, there will be no progress — there will be more and bigger wars instead. McCain has promised us that.

[I work for workers]

20. I agree. I don't think he thought he could beat Clinton.

It's too late for him to get the Dem nod now, so he would have to run as an independent (I don't think he would ever run in another party). As dumb as that sounds, I still see people calling for it on occasion.

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

11. Because his VP selection is endorsing McCain?

Just asking.

[gateley]

13. Read the article. nt

[ithinkmyliverhurts]

15. I did, and the irony did not escape me.

"A case in point: In December, for the first time, a Senate committee passed a major climate change bill. Many environmentalists cheered the Warner-Lieberman bill, which promised to cut greenhouse-gas emissions 70 percent by 2050. But the bill's provisions, especially one giving polluters free pollution permits, suggest that it will deliver much smaller emissions cuts than advertised. Corporate influence, it seems, remains plenty strong on Capitol Hill. Gore called the bill, which the full Senate will soon consider, "not sufficient." He urges more radical action, including a ban on new coal-fired power plants. He has even encouraged young people to blockade the bulldozers attempting to build coal plants."

[lutefisk]

14. He could be the first movie-making, grassroots activist POTUS

I think Al would kick ass as POTUS. Can you imagine an "outside the box" President Gore?.

For crying out loud, he would be the most powerful single person in the world.

[ZinZen]

17. As much as I was hoping for a Gore run

I can see why he will not. Look at all he has accomplished since being freed from politics. Candidate Gore would not have been able to be free and state he believes in Gay marriage. I hope he feels vindicated and liberated for he is doing some great work on climate crisis. Thanks Restore Gore for your consistent and postive coverage of Al Gore.

[RestoreGore]

35. You're welcome.

Perhaps one day people will be able to truly speak their hearts and minds in politics as they do out of it and actually have a chance. Perhaps when people truly get rid of corporate influence in our government that day may come. So for me I am very grateful to Mr. Gore for continuing to take part in that dialogue and love him very much for sll he continues to do as a statesman.

[LSK]

18. how about some Inconvenient Facts

In 1994 the Republicans took control of the House.

You cannot introduce legislation in the House if you are the majority party if they do not let you.

In 2006 the Democrats regained control of the House and the Senate and only NOW can introduce bills again.

The Senate cannot get much passed because of the 60 vote for cloture rule.

There is a very good chance that the Democrats will get 60 seats in 2008.

So Al Gore has a very good chance to not only be President, but also a President that would have a Congress willing to pass anything he wants.

[elizfeelinggreat]

22. thank you

These facts are often ignored in these threads.

[RestoreGore]

32. And it would mean nothing without people doing it and corporations changing

You make it all sound so simple when it isn't. It isn't just about a piece of paper. ANY Democrat then with a Democratic congress winning more seats could get the same damn thing then, but what does it mean without corporations and PEOPLE willing to make the changes and improvements necessary? And it should also be just as urgent to a Republican president with a Republican congress which is the entire point. Also, this has not reached the critical mass it needs to reach before that political tipping point can be reached. If you think FORCING laws on people would have any more of a positive effect than Bush did you are mistaken. When I see the people calling for him to run as if they know better than he does what this is all about and what he should do with his life actually doing something with their own lives to move this into the public sphere so that all candidates have no choice but to address it, then maybe I will believe those doing so really give a damn about it beyond political expediency.

[dysfunctional press]

19. Al would still be able to do more good as potus than as a private citizen.

people listen when the president talks. there's nothing stopping the president from laying out the facts about the "moneyed-interests" in a clear and concise manner directly to the american people.

and laying out the facts about global warming.

and explaining why we as a people and a country have to make drastic changes and sacrifices if our species is to survive.

and guiding us through those changes.

it's called Leadership, and i once thought that Al Gore was capable of it.

apparently he doesn't, tho...and i'm becoming more inclined to believe him.

[elizfeelinggreat]

23. I disagree

I believe he does have great leadership qualities, they just aren't the qualities that the MSM cares to discuss or even acknowledge ... just as they're doing with John Edwards, who by the way I believe could do the things you outline.

[dysfunctional press]

24. and you're entitled to your opinion.

but i honestly believe that nothing much is going to be done by anyone, until the catastrophic things start happening that indicate it's already much much too late to save the planet, as far as our survivability is concerned.

[elizfeelinggreat]

26. thanks

I do admit to preferring my glass half full and not half empty :)

[dysfunctional press]

27. i'm the half-full type as well...

but facts are facts.

[elizfeelinggreat]

29. and

opinions are opinions :) Including yours.

Have a great friday!

[RestoreGore]

33. he has already proven that theory false.

As have the last thirty years.

[ThomWV]

28. I, who have always supported him, came to the conclusion he was either lazy or a glory hound

Either way he represents a broken trust from my point of view. So he can go win his awards and hob nob with every fine person on the planet, Oh, and he can go fuck himself too.

[RestoreGore]

30. Wow, aren't we the spoiled American

Too pompous to get off your ass and do something for yourself and this planet? Don't lay that at Al Gore's feet.