Al Gore: Leader of the Courage Wing of the Democratic Party

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/9282

Al Gore: Leader of the Courage Wing of the Democratic Party
by Brent Budowsky | Aug 10 2007


snip//

Goreism is a pro-American energy policy that promotes safer and renewable sources; the protection of the planet that inevitably follows from those safer energy sources; avoidance of unwise wars and the use of diplomacy to avoid them when possible; integrity and truth in public debate; a reduction of the corrupting influence of money in politics and respect for the rule of law, and constitutional Americanism.

Bush embodies the exploitation of fear; many Democrats embody their own fears in their repeated surrenders to fear; Al Gore embodies the politics of courage, the clarity of conviction.

Begin with Bush's premise, we end with Bush's tactics, policies, unwise wars, corruptions, and abuses of constitutional rights while the planet is polluted. Begin with Gore's premise, we end with honest public debate, political reform, less pressure for unwise wars, far more equitable distribution of wealth, far more respect for the rule of law, while the planet is protected.

With Bush, there is a synergy between lying and misrepresenting intelligence to promote war, lying to buy science to fraudulently deny the risks of global warming, and pressure to censor Administration science that is based on truth.

With Gore, there is a synergy between telling the truth to educate the world about global warming and knowing the truth about why we should have avoided a disastrous war in Iraq.

This is a clash of civilizations, a war of the worlds, between the world of Bush and the world of Gore, between competing visions of America, competing aspirations for the earth, competing ideals of integrity in politics, competing values of reason versus ideology and delusion, competing visions between reverence for the Constitution and the rule of law, versus contempt for American traditions that were previously accepted with near universal consensus since Jefferson put pen to paper in 1776.

Democrats in Washington should close down the fear and surrender caucus in the capital, listen to what Gore is saying, and do what Gore is doing.

[marmar]

1. And goodness knows the courage wing needs more members.....

to balance out the coward wing, also known as the Blue Dogs.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

18. Gore has "courage" now because he's not running.

When he ran in 2000 he was just as cowardly as is custom in the Democratic Party.

[Cha]

19. Gore's evolved since then..wish

I could say the same for everybody.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

20. If he were to decide to run, my bet is that we see that old Gore of 2000 again.

When I saw him on Larry King a few months ago he was already starting to moderate himself.

[Cha]

21. I don't agree..Gore's come

a long way and I'm thinking one of the reasons he's not running is because he knows he can't fit into a political mold.

No way would he go "2000" again. Gore's thing is the Environment now and his advisors undoubtedly told him to shut up about it in 2000.

[closeupready]

23. I think so, too.

He's a lot bolder.

[Cha]

26. A whole lot

of Boldness!

[ms liberty]

2. K&R - We need Al Gore. n/t

[rosesaylavee]

3. Recommended.

All good points. Looking forward to an announcement run any day now, Mr. President. This time we will go ahead with the inauguration. :patriot:

[malaise]

4. Run Al Run!!

K & R

[RestoreGore]

5. Too bad people can't listen to Mr.Gore's words on the whole

Based on their merits and not just use them as a political platform, and understand that to him the climate crisis is not a partisan political issue. And it is a clash between us and our planet now, and unless we make people of all political stripes realize this, politics will be futile in its ability to make any changes that will matter in time.

[bread_and_roses]

6. Good luck getting the Republocrat Free-Marketeers to do anything

that cuts into their bottom line, no matter what they "realize." It is indeed a partisan political issue, but the sides are common humanity against the owners, our Corporate Masters. Gore seems well on his way to creating a power base outside the bought and sold Party structure of corporate stooges, which is why, IMHO, he is our best hope in this moment in history.

That power base, which I believe is you and me and ordinary people around this country and the globe can best exercise that power under a Gore presidency - UNLESS - he is willing to step into the mold of a MLK or Gandhi and call people into the streets against the War-Prison-Industrial complex and it's global predation. That might be even more effective. But I don't see any signs of his stepping into that role. It seems to take a certain combination of social forces and personality for that sort of figure to emerge, and perhaps we haven't reached that tipping point and/or his is not the right sort of personality.

Barring other developments, Gore is our best hope as President. Run, Al, run!

[RestoreGore]

7. He has already called us to stand up against that complex

And we can fight it more effectively from stockholder meetings and boardrooms than from the streets at this point, although taking to the streets is not something I disagree with. However, you are making it seem as if that is the only option and it isn't. And I think he knows from where it is most effective at this point, and I say to him, follow your heart. And making it look as though Democrats are the only ones who care for the environment doesn't help the cause at all. I know Republicans who care for this planet just as much as I do, and I am reaching out to them when I can on a non political basis about this because without people across the spectrum becoming involved you won't solve anything, no matter how repulsive that might be to you. Mr. Gore has also trained Republicans in his training sessions because politics is not the prerequisite here. This planet is more important than that. Of course, those like an Inhofe won't be reached(at least not yet) but I think they are shrinking in numbers because of his and others' efforts from out here and I have EVERY confidence that his three year plan through The Alliance for Climate Protection will do much in changing hearts and minds.

[bread_and_roses]

13. I couldn't disagree with you more.

about just about everything in your post. And I am not a Democrat, btw, so hardly think that the Democrats are the only ones who care about the environment. The entire Repbulican agenda, however, is anti-sustainablility or preservation: "caring" doesn't much matter if you vote for Free Trade candidates, support war and the insane military budget, bray for lower taxes and deregulation. To call oneself a Republican and an environmentalist is an oxymoron.

Until and unless the citizenry make such a racket that they can't be ignored by politicians of any stripe, we will have inching incrementalism from the timid "representatives" - incrementalism that will be about as effective in averting disaster as putting a frog on slow instead of fast boil is in averting it's being cooked.

[rosesaylavee]

14. RG may be referring to individual Republicans

but not yet those who have power to legislate or who are part of the corporate system. I have hope for individual Republicans. I think many of the outside-the-beltway Republicans agree that something needs to be done and soon.

I agree that addressing global climate crisis has to be a non-partisan issue - and I am so appreciative of Gore reaching out to the those who are still sitting on the fence or have agreed more often than not with the other side.

Gore as President would reach a wider audience than he currently is reaching - and I think for that reason alone (hopefully restoring our constitution is another) he will announce later this fall.

[DesertRat]

8. I can't think of anyone better to lead us out of these troubled times.

Our country needs the leadership of Al Gore.

[Pastiche423]

9. I agree 100%!

As I listen to the candidates on by sides of the aisle, I hear NOT ONE address climate change.

We need Al! The world needs Al!

[RestoreGore]

12. Well then, perhaps you should tell them all that it must be covered by them

That is, if you really care about it.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

16. Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meEW8z_f514

[Pastiche423]

22. Nice speech

But Obama is no Al Gore. He doesn't have the passion, the drive, nor the urgency of what must be done that Al has.

Moreover, his healthcare stance sucks big ones.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

24. Disagree. And what sucks so much about Obama's health care plan?

Who in the race, besides Kucinich, has a better plan, and why?

[Pastiche423]

25. You disagree that Al Gore is more knowlegable than Obama

on climate change????

No need to say anything further, it might hurt your brain.

Btw, this thread is about Al Gore.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

27. This is the statement I disagree with:

"He doesn't have the passion, the drive, nor the urgency of what must be done that Al has."

Nothing there, nor anywhere in your post, says anything about Al Gore's knowledge of climate change. Even if it had, all that Al Gore has done is popularize what we in the academic community have known for a long time.

In addition, you obviously don't know why you oppose Obama's health care plan. Do you know what Gore's health care plan was in 2000?

[Pastiche423]

29. Take it to GD: Politics

This is a thread on Al Gore.

[AnotherGreenWorld]

30. You shouldn't make statements you can't support.

You: "He doesn't have the passion, the drive, nor the urgency of what must be done that Al has.

Moreover, his healthcare stance sucks big ones."

[Pastiche423]

31. You should have not hijacked this thread

As I said...

TAKE IT TO GD: POLITICS!

[RestoreGore]

11. Well, thank God we already have it

[jpgray]

10. Note he doesn't believe impeachment is the proper course of action at present

I thought that meant he was a worthless coward. Like Bernie Sanders, who has the same view. :shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

15. IMPEACH GORE NOW!!!!11!

[Larkspur]

17. Don't agree with Gore about that but Gore is still the best person to be Prez

Gore opposed Bush's pre-emptive war doctrine and invasion of Iraq when Congress was being bamboozled by Bush & Co.. Gore pointed out the gross violations of the Constitution that Bush & Co. were doing.

Gore did his job as prophet to warn us and Congress of the danger that Bush & Co. are.

Impeachment is for Congress to do and the impeachment wave is building.

[mod mom]

28. Run Al Run!

[roamer65]

32. I'm a PROUD Goreist!!!

RUN AL, RUN!!!!

[roamer65]

33. ...and safe, renewable energy means JOBS!!!

It will take people to design, test and run these new sources of energy. Jobs!

A NEW New Deal.