|
some time. I've been following his speeches closely, since before '04. Boy is he running--is my feeling. And he is in such a unique position--having, like Kerry, BEEN elected and denied the office, in the view of many, many Americans (--and even more Americans think this of Gore than Kerry), he can't play the game in a normal political way. And, anyway, this is not a normal political world. This is a highly distorted and extremely dangerous political world, with all the corporate news monopolies skewed to the right, massive crimes committed by the current regime, the VP saying he will defy Congressional subpoenas, the "balance of power" way, way out of whack, the Constitution in shreds, the Democratic leadership saying "impeachment is off the table," everybody--including many Democrats--corrupt and complicit on the war, on electronic voting and on a number of other things (torture, suspension of habeas corpus, spying, tax cuts for the rich, the bankruptcy law, etc.). He has the good rep that he fought hard against the stolen election in '00. He has eight years of experience in the executive branch. He has turned into a brilliant speaker. And he has a distinct air of independence, having been out of the stinky hogpen of Washington DC for 6 years. He's re-thought a lot of things. (I hope NAFTA is one of them, but I don't know.) He has superb focus on the fundamentals of our system of government. (His speech on torture will make you cry--we are so hungry for ETHICAL leadership, and for the "rule of law not men.") As I said, he is unique. Probably, he would like to bide his time all the way to the convention--which used to be possible, but no longer seems to be, with the primary system. But it could still happen--that no one emerges as the clear frontrunner, or there is a lot of infighting and bad feeling--and Gore gets drafted as the presidential candidate, at the convention, to pull the party together.
That's a long shot, though. I think he does want it, and I think he will enter the primaries. One reason I think this is: These are not just comments in GQ. He's been making major speeches, with a thorough and detailed analysis of the Bush Junta and what is wrong with it, for more than two years now. A lot of people are only aware of his global warming activism. But he's been watching the Bushites like a hawk, and has been dive-bombing on them, from afar, for a long time. Clearly, the chief issues of national government are the main thing that has been on his mind--in addition to global warming (which is also a major national issue)--and he hasn't written a book about it! That's not what he's doing--a mere academic or educational endeavor. He's PREPARING national policy--on a range of vital issues. And it's hard for me to believe that he isn't itching to implement his ideas.
I may be wrong. Perhaps he is not ambitious that way--and simply wants to be part of the solution. Maybe he would like to be chief of energy policy, or part of some commission to revamp the government and national politics, in the wake of the disaster that is Bush.
He certainly knows how to keep people guessing--increasing their hunger for an experienced, mature, brilliant, KNOWN candidate, with no taint of the last six years on him, who will sweep into office on a landslide. That's certainly the dream he ignites.
He could also be holding back so as not to suppress debate--to get a full debate and lots of candidates and ideas stirred up. If he announced now, others might drop out in deference to him.
When I think of Gore being president in '09, no one else measures up. He's has it all over the rest of the field, in experience, "seasoning," and clear thinking. And what a vindication it would be! I think Americans would gladly--joyfully--put him in the White House. Everybody else--even the best of them--is a question mark. COULD he/she do it? Are they up to it? Can they weather the storm of rightwing abuse? Would they really make a good president? With Gore, there is simply no doubt.
For a long while, I was pushing for a full Restoration Ticket: Gore/Kerry. I want to see things put right, and order restored. Whatever my political differences with these two have been, I believe they were both elected by the American people. I want the peoples' will to be done. Because it's right, and just, and lawful. And I think the combined whammy of this ticket would create a lot of magic. But lately Kerry has been stumbling all over himself, and perhaps could only end up as the VP candidate if Gore drafted him for the purpose of RESTORATION, of putting things right. (Kerry is also a brilliant man--he would make a truly great VP.)
Anyway, I think Gore himself--and whoever he is paired with--would win big, and would be very good medicine for our troubled country. We need a steady, firm hand. We need familiarity. We need the rule of law restored. And we need hope and vision as well. Gore possesses a lot of what we need, as a nation.
We need to admit that we are electing our self-image--not just a policy-maker. Immaterial vibes are important--especially given the destructiveness of the Bush regime, which has damaged the very basis of our democratic government, and our concept of ourselves as a people. Gore has good vibes. That's what it feels like to me--and I say that having had a really very grave difference with him over predatory capital's "globalization" (and a few other things). He may even be global capital's stealth candidate. I don't think it matters. And, for me, that's saying a lot. We have to restore order and the peoples' will before we can solve anything else. And for that we need positive vibes and optimism combined with maturity.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
