In his own words from Rolling Stone Interview of November 15, 2007:
http://www.rollingstoneextras.com/rsdigitaledition/editionLg.php(Click on shortcuts, and then table of contents. It is the first article on the page, or you can click to page 54 on the other control.)
/// Al Gore/// by ja n n s . w e n n e r ///
There is a feeling abroad right now, especially with the Nobel Prize, that the presidency could be yours for the asking. Do you feel sad or guilty about saying no to that?
No, not at all.There are obviously people asking you all the time. You don’t feel an obligation to the historical moment?
Well, I understand that point of view. But I personally don’t feel as if I have to apologize for devoting so much of my life to a different kind of campaign to bring about a change in consciousness and an elevated sense of urgency about solving the climate crisis. It’s a global challenge, and I’m working around the world to try to bring about this change in thinking.You remain the vessel of a lot of people’s hopes. What do you say to those people?
Well, thank you for feeling that way about me. Please trust me to make good decisions about where I can do the most good, and don’t automatically assume that running for president again is the right thing for me to do. If you feel that way and I decide for sure not to be a candidate again – well, sorry. If I do get back involved in the political system at some point in the future – well, keep that energy stored up and let’s have a go at it then. ~~~~~~~~
I posted this because I assumed those reading this wouldn't care about what he had to say about the planet and the urgent challenge we all face now in this interview. However, this looks to me like he is totally dedicated to what is most important now, and I for one thank him and hope he stays on this course because this planet needs him and us and because I do believe he knows what is the best course of action and from what vantage point to address it. He is not being coy. He is not a political manipulator playing some twisted mindgame with people. He never asked for a draft movement. He never asked for anything but for us to be the change we wish to see in this world.
All he has done is work his ass off every day for this planet in the hopes that the message he tried to get across to the political arena that was ignored would be accepted by the people and action would follow. As far as saying he "has no plans" to run for office this cycle I believe him. He is not saying it to play with peoples' minds. He is stating it as a mature person who has learned from his experiences. I worked on a job for 17 years that I left under less than perfect circumstances. Would I ever say as a mature adult however, that I will never ever ever do that line of work again? No, because I don't think of it that way (or really at all) and I don't know what the future holds. Am I planning to work in that field now? No, because I am happy doing what I am doing. Am I going to seek work in that field now? No, because I don't want to do it now but that doesn't mean that circumstances may not change in years to come when I may have to do it. It is just a way of stating that life holds no guarantees and I have learned that...But I am not actively seeking to change what I have now and don't really want to. So I truly do not understand the dilemma so many are putting themselves into regarding that. If you support him and know his actions in the past, you then know he is a man of his word and that should be enough for you.
Right now, Mr. Gore is seeing the big picture, and thank God he is because we need someone out here who can convey the urgency of this crisis on a level ALL can understand because we MUST understand it because this is about our survival. He is the one meeting with scientists. He knows the real score regarding where this planet now stands, which is why he is breaking his ass out here trying to get people to understand this above the political and on the moral level so they will reach a higher level of consciousness to bring about a political tipping point. Do those who now attack him and tell him to kiss their ass just because he is not doing what they want TRULY understand what this planet faces now and the tremendous advantage he does have now as a Nobel Peace Prize winner to bring this to a global level? To actually change this world for the better by moving us to do it?
How can we join collectively to then help him in this now however, if people spend their days doing nothing but bitching at him for not doing what they want? Is it so hard to understand that after busting his ass for thirty years in politics to no avail on this that he now believes he is having a better effect in the private sector now? Who the hell can blame him? I certainly can't and won't. After thirty years of service to this country and after what transpired in those years, he owes anyone anything now? I don't think so.
After the fiasco of the 2000 coup that we did NOTHING about he could have crawled into a hole and vowed to never do anything to be a part of the dialogue again and he would have been justified under the circumstances. However, he didn't do that. He took the words of his father about defeat serving as well as victory to shake the soul and let the glory out and by God has he ever let his glory out. And what does he get for it now? Ridicule from those who claim to support him because he won't what? Do something he is already doing? So to those who say they are getting "angry" at him, just what do you really support? He owes us nothing. He has done nothing but work for us and this country as a leader in our Congress, our White House, as a teacher, an author, a statesman, a visionary, and the environmental global leader of our time. And he is now considered the global conscience regarding a crisis that IS the greatest challenge we will ever face. I would say that he can damn well do as he chooses now, and I support him in that.
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