We Americans live in a society predicated on lies of corruption, sloth and greed in our political institutions and in our so-called “mainstream media.” We live in a society where the best person we have to lead us in a path of redemption and survival is still mocked by millions due to the lies of the press. We live in a society on the eve of destruction from ecological holocaust.
We live in a world where civilization plays the role of a cancerous parasite, extinguishing species and habitat at a geological rate. One of our reknowned scientists, James Hansen, tells us that we may have as little as ten years to act before losing the final chance to save world civilization. We live in a world that is essentially willing to change course and walk on a path of life rather than death, EXCEPT for the United States!
That is why the upcoming American presidential election is the most important political decision in human history. Individual action on climate change is necessary, but not sufficient. Without systemic, international action we cannot succeed. Without American leadership on this issue as soon as possible, i.e. 2009, we may well be doomed.
Now to the American problem. The biggest problem, and yet our only hope, is the Democratic Party. The GOP offers no solution because it is beholden to interests dedicated to convincing misinformed citizens to vote against their own economic and survival interests. The mainstream media offer no hope because of their mendacity and corruption. Those journalists who promote the most pernicious lies and illusions (viz. Tim Russert, Chris Matthews, Brian Williams, Ceci Connolly and a host of others) are promoted and financially rewarded.
It is now left to the American people to respond to the only leader who provides hope in the most desperate hour humanity has ever faced. The people must use the vehicle of the Democratic Party to put Al Gore back in the White House.
What of the other Democratic candidates? In a normal election year, they would serve as a fine slate of candidates, but as this critical juncture, none of them is adequate. Two things have stood between necessary action: 1) raising the consciousness of the American people; and 2) a leader who is willing to place the fate of the planet above his own political fortunes. Al Gore is the only leader in America who has dedicated himself to giving the American people the knowledge necessary to make political action possible on climate change. Likewise, Al Gore is the only leader who has demonstrated his willingness to put principles above politics and risk everything to solve our global crisis. This is a key point for those who naively say that he can do more as a private citizen than as president. He has already accomplished more in the White House than he could ever do as a private citizen. The place was Kyoto. As detailed in The Prince of Tennessee, by David Maraniss, pp. 287-288, in 1997 Gore personally saved the Kyoto talks at the eleventh hour and thus Kyoto was implemented in 2005. Gore did this against the unanimous political advice of his inner circle!
Now the American people are poised to support even greater political action PROVIDED the necessary leadership is shown in the general election by raising the clarion call to put the planet on a war footing in combating global warming. Only Al Gore is willing, indeed he is locked into, making the climate crisis the centerpiece of his campaign.
There are those who say that Gore will not run under any circumstances and that we should “move on” to our other candidates. This is simply not true. In 2002, when Gore said he would not run in the last cycle he said:
“I personally have the energy and drive and ambition to make another campaign, but I don’t think it is the right thing for me to do.” I believe this is a reference to the lack of support in the Democratic Party he had at that time, which will be made clear below.
He has since made it clear that he will not rule out running in 2008. But a press corps still carrying animus against him and desirous not to have their ubiquitous lies in 2000 uncovered, still avoids him as much as possible. Tim Russert unbelievably ignored the Nobel Prize on the Meet the Press TWO DAYS after Gore’s historic achievement. Russert was a major perpetrator in the War on Gore in 2000.
The historical problem is not Gore, it is the Democratic Party. In the last critical week of his campaign in 2000, at least one major Democrat exhibited a major lack of message discipline by criticizing the Gore campaign on national television! In the immediate aftermath of the most scandalous American election in over a century, there was a deafening silence from Democratic leaders who should have been shouting their support, as in fact their counterparts were doing for the infamous George W. Bush. Then came a string of cowardly calls in November and December 2000, from Democratic leaders for Gore to concede! This at the very same time that it was being widely reported around the globe that the election had been stolen by Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris by purposely deleting tens of thousands of innocent black Floridians from the voter rolls. Only in America was this story squelched by a pusillanimous press, unwilling to speak the truth for the sake of their republic.
Then came the worst presidency in the history of the republic and 9-11. Spineless Democrats not only voted for the IWR, the Patriot Act and other crimes against humanity and the republic, but one current candidate went so far as to co-sponsor that IWR!! As election 2004 approached, many prominent Democrats publicly stated that Gore should not run. Many of those same “leaders” then went on to support candidates who voted for the war in Iraq. Mind boggling to say the least, especially in light of Gore’s courageous opposition to the invasion in 2002, for which he was mocked.
Despite all that, Gore’s resurgence has been incredible. Polls now indicate he would win a plurality of primary voters and be the most effective candidate against Giuliani, the likely nominee of the GOP. Gore has made one of the most incredible political comebacks in US history and stands poised to be the nominee we desperately need.
Are we willing to sacrifice the lives of our children (and their children) on the gamble that James Hansen is not right? Are we willing to risk everything on a candidate who may not have the commitment, skill or focus to do what only Gore has proposed? The time for cowardice and politically self-serving votes has ended. This may be our last chance to survive as a country and as a world civilization. It is time for bold, proven, visionary leadership. It is time for the Democratic Party to redeem itself from slick, vacuous, half-stepping, unworthy leaders. It is time to say no to politics as usual. It is time to end the insane war in Iraq. It is time to begin an all-out effort to save humanity from the impending apocalyptic climate crisis. It is time for the only leader who has been right all along. It is time for Al Gore.
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