To Those People That Contend Al Gore Shouldn't Run Because He Can Best Affect Change

[Uncle Joe]

To those people that contend Al Gore shouldn't run because he can best affect change from the out side. The usual contention is that our system or government is too corrupting for his ideas, my question is does the same argument hold true for the Democratic Party?

As the Democratic Party is approximately one half of this corrupted government, this line of reasoning seems to apply as well, so are they also arguing that people with vision, and ideals should leave the Democratic Party to change it from the out side? If Al Gore can best affect change from the outside doesn't the same hold true for all men and women of conscious, vision and ideas?

I’m not suggesting people should do so, just poking holes in the "logic" of this argument. I believe people can affect government from the outside but if the government remains corrupted any changes will be short lived or of just cosmetic nature. The only other way to change it permanently is through revolution and I’m not certainly not advocating that.


P.S. If the best you can do is type "Al Gore isn't running", please don't waste your typing skills as that's not the point of this thread.

[rainy]

1. This is a great point. Al can best affect change by taking back what he already

won. I honestly believe he will run. I just don't know how he plans to enter yet.

[Uncle Joe]

6. Thanks for the reply, rainy.

:hi:

[CoffeeCat]

2. Al Gore can't affect change outside of govt...

Yes, Al Gore can make amazing speeches and inspire millions of people. I love
Al Gore. He's a dignified, intelligent and awe-inspiring man.

However, the "He can affect more change outside of the system" is a flawed statement
because the arguement asserts that we have a functioning system. We don't.

Our "system" is broken. Our current "system" has loyalties to the corporations.
"We The People" are just expendable objects that are made to feel important when
the elections come around. We are inconsequential to this government. They
don't care.

Look at the amount of recalls. I couldn't believe it when I was in Target last week.
Baby food, toys, peanut butter, pizza. The people in charge don't care about us,
and they sure as hell aren't interested in Al Gore's ideas about climate change.

They're still denying that climate change exists and if they do admit it--they
argue that these changes are normal and not man made.

How exactly would Al Gore's ideas infiltrate our current Kafkaesque-corporate-owned
government?

If Al Gore could make a difference as an outsider--within the US government--he would
have done so all ready. What's stopping him from testifying before Congress and lobbying
for tough climate-change legislation? He doesn't do it, because he knows it's not
do-able.

That may be rude and wrong, but it's the truth. I'm not happy about it either.

[Uncle Joe]

7. I agree with your analysis,

however I would say he has made a difference as an outsider, while global warming climate change still has the flat Earthers opposing it, they have become marginalized and the issue has been moved front and center. I also believe global warming climate change has become too big for the corporate media to ignore anymore. One of the network morning shows is advertising that beginning Nov. 5th they will spend the entire week going to the ends of the Earth regarding this issue, from the poles to the Amazon, we'll see how that plays out.

Thanks for your reply, TwoSparkles.

[cali]

3. I don't believe that but I also believe his ability to effect

change as president is limited somewhat. It all depends of course. If he had a Senate with say, 56 dems and a House with 255 or so dems, the odds would be greater. Still, habits of institutions die hard, and Gore would have to wrestle with that.

[JackORoses]

4. I guess he shouldn't even try then, huh?

The President of the US is the single greatest Effector of Change on Earth.

W has change the course of World History with his decisions.

It is ignorant to think that Gore wouldn't do the same, only for the better.

[cali]

5. Sure he should try. But if he's going to try

he needs to get in the fray and start fighting. He can't simply sit there and let the opportunity fade- and whether you acknowledge it or not, by Thanksgiving or so, the opportunity is gone. Talk of a brokered Convention or how Bobby Kennedy didn't get in until March of '68 are both unrealistic in the extreme.

[Uncle Joe]

8. I believe

global warming climate change, the growing power and influence of the Internet, the shredding of the Constitution, the drift toward fascism and the anchor of Cheney/Bush make a Democratic landslide within the realm of probability at this time. I don't believe this will happen should we run a Republican lite ticket.

Thanks for your reply, cali.

[Pastiche423]

9. I believe the only way Al Gore can affect the changes

the planet needs, is as president.

[Uncle Joe]

11. I agree and thanks for your reply, Pastiche

:hi:

[Milo_Bloom]

10. Just to play Devil's Advocate...

This is just a exercise for debate. I am a strong draft Gore supporter!


One COULD argue that Al Gore runs the risk of marginalizing his work on the outside by entering the nomination process. As an outsider he can weild influence to attempt to force those in power, as Al can speak effectively for millions of people.

IF Al Gore runs, he COULD set back global warming, as his candidacy would be seen as a barometer of how people feel about global warming and IF he lost, people wouldn't take the issue seriously, since they would believe "America voted against belief in global warming" and future candidates would be afraid to touch it.

Candidates become identified with their signature issue and how the candidate fares is often considered base support for the issue. The logic is idiotic, but the talking heads continue it

Now, with that said, desperate times call for desperate measures and according to many reports we are at a critical tipping point with Global warming and in reality, Al Gore can get MORE done from the white house than outside of it, so although there are risks, it appears to be a risk very worth taking.

If you check out the unity08 signature issues "Global Warming" is #7 on the list of important issues, so some might say having that as a signature issue doesn't guarantee a victory and risks the issue being marginalized. However, the #1 issue is "energy independence" and I think anyone with a brain can tie together those 2 issues quite effectively.

[Uncle Joe]

13. I understand your valid concerns,

and I believe you to be a strong Al Gore supporter.

However I do believe the issue of global warming has passed a political tipping point and will only increase in relevance over the coming year, just as a snowball rolling down hill grows in size. I believe global warming is becoming self evident to more people every day, whether it be drought, flood or fire. One of the morning shows will be dedicating an entire week to this issue starting Nov. 5th titled going to the ends of the Earth or something like that, they will be going from the poles to the Amazon.

I also believe Al Gore has set the stage for him self as representing more than one issue, such as his compelling speeches warning against the folly of the war with Iraq, the threat to our Constitution by the unitary executive ideology of Cheney/Bush, their tacit approval of torture and he's making his stands clear on other issues such as health care through Current.com or by more conventional methods as with his bestselling Quill award winning best seller "The Assault on Reason" he also has another book due in the spring.

I do agree there is a certain amount of risk, however I believe the risk will be even greater should he not run or be drafted.

Thanks for your reply, Milo_Bloom

[Whisp]

12. Is it today that all hats, bonnets or toques

are officially thrown into the ring?

[Uncle Joe]

14. I believe we still have time but as

Yogi Berra said "it's getting late early" of course he also said "it ain't over til it's over".

Thanks for your reply, Whisp.

[RestoreGore]

15. Because he is a man who transcends rhetoric

And because above the politics that so many seem so obsessed with, he is an environmentalist who cares deeply for this planet and those who live on it, and that is what is primary to me as an environmentalist. And yes, I am happy for him that he is now unconstrained by expectations. And because of his global stature and his honorable nature and the truly great things he can now do for this world untainted by a political system that does not appreciate vision with a populace on the whole still not morally challenged enough to demand change, I would rather he not run for president at this time, though as I have always stated, I would support any decision he makes in his life.

But in light of that I would rather he not lose the incredible momentum he has on a global grassroots effort that will change the course of history and is important to our very survival. I would rather he not give in once again to the polls, the sound bites, and the pushing only designed from my perusal of many venues on the Internet simply to make this horserace more interesting for a certain group of people who are political junkies. I would rather he continue now on his present path because it is effective and because that is the main point of all of this.

And I do not believe he will give into the frivolous trappings of political campaigns that he writes about in his book The Assault On Reason because he has come full circle and that is OK with me as a supporter of his because for thirty years he did and he now knows that those things are not important in the scheme of the world in context to the larger battle that looms before us all.

And that battle surpasses the physical and goes to the very souls of who we are as human beings. It is that understanding that won him the Nobel Peace Prize, and it is that understanding that I respect him for. So in context, if that then means that in order for him to maintain that perspective it would preclude him from entering that toxic system now where that perspective will be tainted, then yes, I do believe he can contribute much to the world as a statesman and environmental ambassador, someone who influences policy, and most importantly as a man who moves the people to seek the changes we must see this year and next in order to save this planet for our children.

This is not political, it is moral on my part. I do not support any other candidate for any office at this time. I am not doing anything with my time now but writing a book on the global water crisis due in part to Mr. Gore's inspiration, supporting his current endeavors including his innovative and revolutionary station CURRENT TV, and doing all in my power to advance the message that we ALL better wake up to now instead of being so fixated on one office as to allow this climate crisis to pass the tipping point that cares not for political affiliation or campaigns, but can be mitigated by a global effort of which I see him as the leader of.

It is politics and the lack of action in that arena that has brought us to this point. Therefore, if Mr. Gore now sees fit to do this his way in order to give it the push it needs from a different vantage point, I don't believe it is for us to demand any more of less of him, it is for us to act. And I think that because I believe in him.

[Uncle Joe]

16. Cool, so if he does decide to run, you will support him,

that's what I wanted to hear. Personally I don't believe Al Gore will give in to those trappings should he decide to run or be drafted as you stated and I agree, he has transcended rhetoric, and he knows the stakes are too high. You may fear the potential loss to the message should he decide to run, while I fear the opposite.

Thanks for your reply, RestoreGore.

[pitohui]

17. i think he shouldn't run because he already had his shot

it's silly to think he can do more to make change from the outside, than he could as leader of the free world, however, when he was elected and the election stolen, he wasn't willing to fight then, so i just don't think it would be fair for him to run again

at the time you can argue that it wasn't worth a civil war to fight the "bloodless" coup, but now we see the coup was not so bloodless, when you count the lives lost in 911 that wouldn't have occurred (because gore would have been on the job instead on the ranch) and the lives lost in iraq on both sides that wouldn't be lost (because gore like clinton would continue w. sanctions rather than the current mess) and maybe even a percentage of the lives lost in katrina were lost because aid was not sent to the superdome in time

hindsight is 20/20 and you can't blame him for choosing the way of (perceived) peace but now we KNOW what's at stake, and we need someone who won't back down if they steal it -- gore will be perceived as weak and easy to push around by the enemy because he already conceded an election he shouldn't have

my two cents, probably worth what you paid for it

[Uncle Joe]

18. The last Civil War we had cost a total of 600,000+ American Lives

and we've vastly improved our killing power since then.

[understandinglife]

19. "If Al Gore can best affect change from the outside doesn't the same hold true for all men ...

"... and women of 'conscience', vision and ideas?"

And, can all such men and women of conscience use pen and ink to vote for their leader on 4 Nov 2008 as a non-violent form of revolting against the vastly corrupt, current American political apparatus?

Worthy questions at a time when it is abundantly clear that a non-violent, massive overhaul of how we proceed with the American experiment in democracy is required ... or the result is will be unequivocal failure.

Peace.

[Uncle Joe]

20. My point is I don't believe they can

affect change from the outside as effectively as from the inside. I hope and pray Al Gore does decide to run or is placed on enough state ballots in the primaries to be drafted, if not win out right, however if neither of those scenarios happen, I believe it would be a mistake to write his name on a ballot in the general election as he can't be elected because this would ensure a Republican win and I don't believe the nation can endure four more years of Republican misrule.

Thanks for your reply, understandinglife.