A Wild Card in the 2008 campaign deck?

[longship]

We have a whole two years before the next Presidential election. That's actually a long time, as these things go. It's a good 12 months before the campaign starts getting into gear. So that leaves the country (hopefully) a whole year before we go back into full bore campaign mode.

I am only occasionally posting on all these 2008 threads. I think the media are mad as hatters for spewing all their 2008 speculations like the election was tomorrow. However, I think some discussion is helpful, as long as people acknowledge that the situation in 2008 is most likely to be entirely different than it is today. This is especially true since November 7th.

However, I think that there's a wildcard in the deck. If it's dealt, it may trump all hands. The environment! The dealer may not be any political entity. Nature may deal us the wild card, an event that shows the world just how deeply in trouble we are.

Those of us who have read scientific papers on climate change in the past twelve months may come to the same conclusions that many are fearing. Climate scientists are shaking in their boots. They are terrified that mankind may have already pushed things too far. As responsible science demands moderation they are couching these fears in softer terms like, "We might not have a decade to respond to these threats." But the fears are present and all the data points to the same possible conclusion. We may already be too late to prevent global disaster.

The climate is apparently changing must faster than anybody would have predicted even a short year ago. In spite of lunatics like Senator Inhofe, the rest of us may be forced to come to conclusion that the number one issue in 2008 will be climate change. In that case, is there anybody else you would want as our Presidential candidate other than Al Gore?

I guess I posted this to initiate a dialog with other DUers, especially those who keep up on the science.

What kind of event will it take before this becomes important to people?

What is the chance that the wild card will be dealt?

What gives you hope that we'll get a grip on things soon enough?

Any other comments would be helpful.

[David Dunham]

1. This wildcard will benefit Al Gore.

[RB TexLa]

2. And where did it rate in importance this year?

You think it's going to be important in 08?

[longship]

3. Clarification.

My presumption was "if it becomes" not "it will become".

I guess I should have written, "Nature may deal the wild card."

I'll edit the post.

[jwirr]

4. I agree, IF things continue to deteriorate in the environment

it will become so blatant the people will see that this is an issue that we MUST act on now. That could thrust it to the top of the political list and place Al Gore out front as the most qualified man to do the job. I have read several books, kept up on the environment posts here and elsewhere so it is one of my top priorities for 08.

[longship]

7. That's why I posted this.

The climate scientists are much more afraid than they are writing in the scientific literature. Some are speaking out. Many have no forum to do so.

What I've been reading is very, very scary.

[BlueManDude]

5. Gingrich will emerge as the conservative alternative to McCain

laugh all you want but he still he still scares the shit out of me.

he's smarter than all the other gopers combined.

[longship]

6. Maybe, but if things get tough environmentally...

How many people are going to vote for somebody who claims that it isn't really happening? That's why, if the climate goes more sour, Gore will sweep. Also, it may be why we desparately need Al Gore to run. In a very few years we may be regretting that we didn't force him to go for it.

[BlueManDude]

8. it's gonna take longer than 2 years

for people to wake up on that issue.

[Catchawave]

9. Look to Governors for your wildcards

in both parties, like Clinton, Reagan and Carter and :scared: Bush Jr.