Al Gore SLAMS the Bush Regime

[kpete]

Al Gore SLAMS the Bush Regime
by GeckoBlue
Tue Nov 06, 2007 at 07:17:49 AM PST

Rolling Stone published a wide-ranging interview with Al Gore in its latest issue, covering the climate crisis, his (lack of) plans in the presidential race and his view of the Bush administration. When the interview turned to Gore's view of the Bush regime, he issued a stinging condemnation:


RS: If you were a historian, how would you describe the Bush administration from that point of view?

Gore: They have done so much damage to the spirit of America, to the worldwide reputation of America, to the morale of our people, to the core belief that we're capable of managing our fears without sacrificing our freedom. But nobody's going to be surprised to hear me give a thumbs-down rating to Bush and Cheney.

RS: What's the worst damage they've done, other than the climate crisis?

Gore: They have promoted the idea that freedom and security are mutually exclusive, that you can have one only to the extent that you've sacrificed the other. That is an un-American idea. When our founders framed the Constitution, they understood the reality of war. When the Declaration of Independence was written, it was written by Americans who were in danger of being hung. They had reason to fear for their very lives, every single one of them, but they insisted on the protection of habeas corpus and freedom of speech and freedom of the press and freedom of assembly and freedom of religion, and the separation of self-government from the establishment of a religious dogma as an official set of beliefs. They had real courage that bridged their devotion to freedom and their need for security.

But instead of courage, this administration has used fear to undermine the system of checks and balances and the carefully balanced relationship between separate branches of government and the principle that all of the operations of our self-government should be accountable to the people. The arrogance and unaccountability of absolute power is corrupting, and our founders knew that so well. They embodied in our nation a universal principle derived from a millennium and a half of history, from Athens to Rome through the Enlightenment to the American Revolution. But all of that has been blithely ignored by this administration because of their lust for power.

............

Gore added:

It's not just the excesses of Bush and Cheney -- it's the failure of our Congress, our courts, our free press, and all of us, to speak up and prevent this degradation of the American idea.


more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/6/8261/56194
Full article starts at page 54:
http://www.rollingstoneextras.com/rsdigitaledition/editionLg.php

[Uncle Joe]

1. I believe Al Gore sees the big picture

better than anyone else.

Thanks for the thread,kpete.:thumbsup:

[harun]

4. He seems to always be ahead of the curve, a real visionary (n/t)

[Occulus]

6. History will regard his failure to run as a lost opportunity

of absolutely tragic proportions.

[Lucinda]

13. No it won't

It will honor him for his efforts to save mankind from itself

[Samantha]

23. I agree - eom

[Duncan]

72. I already do. nt.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Yes, and where there is no vision the people perish, personally I don't mind dying,

I just don't want the rest of humanity to join me in some ritual mass suicide, call me a geek, a trekkie or whatever, but I would like to see humanity survive long enough to branch out and spread beyond our solar system.

[ima_sinnic]

58. humanity has done more than enough damage to this ball of dust

and does need to inflict the same crimes on the rest of the solar system. I doubt the species will survive long enough to get off its own planet--and that's a good thing, for the solar system.

[Uncle Joe]

76. I don't view humanity as static,

we do learn from our past mistakes, but there is an going struggle with the corrupt that come to power from time to time that wish to dumb us down, all to serve the purposes of their own narrow minded agenda. Staying on one planet only insures ultimate destruction of the species, you may hate humanity but I prefer to put the odds in our favor for survival.

Regarding balls of dust, that is literally what we're made of and that includes the entire universe, whether you believe in the Big Bang Theory, or you believe in the stories of creation, or a combination of the two, so returning to the stars is only natural. We can't really damage the Earth itself beyond it's ability to eventually recover, we can only damage it to point of us not being able to survive on it. The challenge is to find a way to long term sustainability with our home planet as we branch out in to space.

[Martin Eden]

2. K&R for the man who should be president

America needs to understand what Gore pointed out in that interview.

[lame54]

7. RE-ELECT AL GORE...

...A Climate Change in Washington
http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Nnph3zkHNw

[Rosa Luxemburg]

3. Bush stole Gore's presidency

so he has the right

[RiverStone]

5. I can't read Gore's words without a sad sense of what might have been...

The man that would be president, no doubt.

Damn shame.

Nevertheless, I wish Al the best in his passion and mission!

[Mad_Dem_X]

61. God, if only...!

How great would it have been to have a president now who is actually INTELLIGENT and WELL SPOKEN???

[Duncan]

75. Unfortunatly

self deleted - Gore is cool.

[BrklynLib at work]

8. Eloquent is so inadequate......

[DeepModem Mom]

9. K&R

[mod mom]

10. I really believe he is the person to lead us out of gigantic neocon mess.

[DefenseLawyer]

12. I am *this close*

to being tired of Mr. Gore's act. Being coy, leaving everyone hanging, calling for bold action, then shrinking from the fight. If all he is going to do is stand on the sidelines and snipe, make a few points and make a few bucks, I am not down.

[Lucinda]

14. He has repeatedly said the enviromental crisis is at a critical stage

and I agree with him. He is uniquely positioned to do domething he considers of utmost urgency. There are others in the party than can clean up juniors mess.

He isn't ruling out a run at a later time.

He's been very clear about this.

[DefenseLawyer]

17. And exactly what is he in a position to do?

I have heard this, mostly from Clinton supporters, that he can do so much more as a "cheerleader" for global warming awareness than as president. Not in the world I live in. He is not in a position to do anything right now except talk. I happen to like what he has to say, but at some point we have to differentiate between talking and "doing something". As Eli Wallach once said, when you have to shoot, shoot... don't talk.

[Uncle Joe]

19. I believe Al Gore

is an idealistic pragmatist, after what he went through with the corporate media's continuous slander of him for the better part of two years prior to the selection of 2000, he can't trust them anymore, and with the looming catastrophe of global warming the stakes are too great to try. I believe, he believes that in 2008, the only chance he has of winning is getting in the race late to minimize corporate media slander or be drafted as a write in candidate. The Internet has grown stronger and more influential since 2000, but the corporate media is still the dominant means of information and influence for the American People. I also believe he believes, the corporate media owners and CEOs haven't changed their motivations toward him. He empowered the American People when he became the primary political champion of the Internet, thus threatening their monopoly on information, information = power, money and influence and as the Internet grew in power they came to resent him for it, I call this the Prometheus Effect. The writers' guild strike is just the latest tremor from the seismic creation of the Internet's influence.

[Lucinda]

20. May I suggest you do a little reading? I'm in dial-up land

or I'd post a bit for you.
He is involved in a large number of projects. Here are some links to start with...

http://www.algore.com/index2.html
http://www.generationim.com/
http://www.globe.gov/fsl/html/templ.cgi?about
http://www.virginearth.com/

[DefenseLawyer]

21. That's great

Bringing awareness to global warming. Talking about what we need to do. I got it. Richard Branson's global warming science project. Worthwhile I suppose, but it won't change anything. If you really think any of this stuff can have anything close to the impact the leader of the free world could have on this issue, we live on different planets and I hope things are going better on yours than on mine. Look I am a Gore guy, this stuff would be great were he not in a position to actually do something.

[Lucinda]

24. I love Gore....where we disagree is that I don't think "American Politics" is

the the best venue for solving it. The next POTUS will have his or her hands FULL just trying to clean up juniors mess. Anything remotely "earth friendly' causes blood curdling screams from the stupidest sector of the right, who refuse to look reality in the face. EVERYTHING attempted will be bogged down in political game playing, for a while anyway. This is one instance where I think action needs to be from the outside in. As it stands, Gore is a wise statesman working on something of vital importance. Elected, he becomes a politician with an agenda, for attack purposes anyway...

I think what needs to be done is WAY too important to be a secondary concern for Gore.
I guess we're just going to have to disagree on this. :)

[Uncle Joe]

25. This is where I disagree with you,

I believe "American Politics" is the best and only venue for solving the critical issues of the day, to cede this ground to the unwilling, corrupt or weak hearted would only accelerate the downward spiral of our national interests. I contend no one is better equipped or qualified to handle the multi-pronged task of cleaning up Cheney/Bush's mess, the looming global warming climate change catastrophe, restoring our Constitution, adjusting to the information age, dealing with the proliferation of nuclear arms, and our standing around the world than Al Gore. I believe the dollar would rebound just on the news that Al Gore was reelected to the Presidency. Why anyone would want second, third or fourth best for the single most critical job in the land in beyond me, especially at this crucial juncture, but even in the good times as well!?

[Admiral Loinpresser]

73. One important data point.

You may not be aware of it, but at one major point, in 1997, Gore demonstrated his ability to accomplish the most important thing and not be distrated by his other duties:

World talks aimed at reaching a protocol on global warming seemed on the verge of collapse one week after they began in Kyoto, Japan. European wanted the United States to agree to steeper cuts in pollution emissions. The American delegates and other wealthy nations wanted developing countries to make a stronger committment to pollution controls. Gore was caught in the middle of it all. He knew that without his intervention, the Kyoto talks were likely to fail. But there was enormous pressure on him not to go. He was told that the agreement might do major damage to the economy, endangering everything that had been gained, socially and politically, over the Clinton boom years. Furthermore, whatever he did would not be enough to please the environmentalists, and the business community was strongly opposed to the talks and hoped they would collapse. His trusted consultant, Bob Squier, armed with polling data, came to him and said he was absolutely convinced that it was political suicide. "You can't go," he told Gore. "If you go, I can't help you. No one can help you. This is going to kill you."

If Squier was caution whispering persuasively in his ear, Gore was not listening this time. Before he left, he met with a dozen senior administration staffers in his West Wing Office. Only one person in the room thought he should go. That was Al Gore. During the meeting, he went around the room, asking aides one by one for their opinion. Some said that the decision was very difficult and that they would not offer a position. Others were adamant that he should not go. Thank you very much, Gore said. I'm going to think about this. There was no way he was not going to Japan. He worked on his speech on the flight over, then conferred with President Clinton from his hotel room, working out the final wording before heading over to the conference room-- cavernous, windowless and beige-- where hundreds of delegates were waiting. The room fell silent as he walked in. He said that the Americans were willing to show "an increased negotiating flexibility"-- words that refueled the talks. After meeting privately with officials from South America, Japan, China, India, Braziland Europe to broker a consensus, the treaty was kept alive. As he left, he flashed a thumbs-up sign to his aide, Katie McGinty. Go get'em, he said. Call me if you need me. On the plane back, Gore walked through the cabinpumped by adrenaline, as his staff slept in utter exhaustion.

The Prince of Tennessee, by David Maraniss, pp. 287-88.

[MagickMuffin]

26. I happen to agree with you and I guess we are living on planet earth

Al Gore can do so much more by being president. Think of how he can use every tool at his disposal.

The UN is one of the best tools he would have in his arsenal. Just think about it. Instead of using the UN as Mad king Boy George has done to bully other countries with cherry picked intel, Gore could help restore America's respect and honor. Yeah I know he would have a big mess on his hands with having to clean up after Jr, but I think it is vital to our reputation. I know he would have a better chance of having other countries help in the Global War against Climate Change.

The Mad king Boy George's war of choice in Iraq would give Gore the opportunity to bring about PEACE negotiations. Who knows what kind of impact he could have in bringing stability in that region? I think it could improve the situation. Right now the Iraqi's are not happy with the oil barons who want to steal their resources. Maybe Gore could help with that situation as well.

Here at home he could give manufacturing industry a shot in the arm with new technologies such as solar panels. Right now there is a company producing solar shingles. WOW, wouldn't that be an incentive to help with our independence from the petro industry and foreign oil? And doesn't that even sound better than clean coal, or nuke plants. I'll take solar over any of the other energy sources that are available.

He could get the auto industry to mandate higher fuel standards.

I don't really see him getting as much traction just being a ordinary citizen. After a while people will tune him out, because the media probably won't give him much more attention. As president the media wouldn't have a choice. All he would have to do is hold a press conference, and insto-magick he is on the TV whenever he wants.

If he doesn't run in '08 after all the momentum he generated this past year then he is missing a wonder opportunity. I'm sure there are several more reasons he should consider. There is just so much more he could accomplish as the president.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

71. I admit I'm torn on this...

on the one hand he has said "trust me," and I feel the urge to do so.

"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."

But at the same time I want him in the race yesterday.

However I will never turn on him. He has done so much for all of us.

[MissDeeds]

62. Yes, the environment is at a critical stage

But so is humanity. We need Al Gore now.

[Cha]

46. That's your perspective..

not mine..if you have such an anathema towards him why do you still have his avatar?

[DefenseLawyer]

48. As I said, I am close

not there yet. I have great respect for his words and his deeds, but my support isn't unwavering. At some point my frustration at his current "non-position" on the election will win out I'm afraid. Not yet though, I'm still trusting that he has a reason being non-committal and I still support him 100%.

[rateyes]

15. Well, sounds like Gore is a "Dem Basher" (like me, or so I'm accused)

It's not just the excesses of Bush and Cheney -- it's the failure of OUR CONGRESS (emphasis mine), our courts, our free press, and ALL OF US, to speak up and prevent this degradation of the American idea.

Gore so needs to run!

[Cha]

49. Gore can say what ever he

wants cause he's beholden to no one and so can you!

[bluerum]

60. Dem congress - 1 year - puke congress - 12 years prior. Not that there were

no dems in congress during those 12 years, but they were held in contempt and virtually excluded by the majority. Their failure to make our voices heard then and now is the result of their cashing in the principles of the founding fathers to win election/re-election at all cost.

[me b zola]

16. k&r

[BattyDem]

18. Great article but .... ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!

:banghead:

Al ... please ... you're killing me! Enough with the "I have no plans on being a candidate but I may get back into politics at some time in the future" crap! (Yes, I'm paraphrasing.) No one is asking you to rule out politics for life. No one expects you to say, "I will never run for office again." All we want is a simple answer: "I'm not running in 2008, but that doesn't mean I'll never run again." It closes the door on 2008, but keeps it open for the future.

For those of us who are clinging to the little bit of hope your non-definitive answer gives us ... well, here's the thing ... YOU'RE DRIVING US CRAZY!!! :crazy:


A salute to the man who should be president. :patriot:

[AikidoSoul]

33. The suspense is making me crazy too

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

If Gore actually does come out and say "I'm not running in 2008...." I will get very depressed.

Very.

Honestly folks... if Gore doesn't run I don't think our country has a chance. And even if this
brilliant man should run, I'm worried that this country is too far gone to the corporatists
who will do anything to keep their access to the U.S. Treasury intact. It's the corporations
that have ruined this country.

If Gore doesn't run I may move to New Zealand. It's too painful to stay and watch this country become
so hopelessly corrupted.

[Frisbee]

50. I agree with you

that Gore is our best hope, though I put Kucinich in the same class. I just think Al is a much stronger candidate, and would be a top tier candidate from the start. Gore/Kucinich in 2008, now that would restore my faith, at least temporarily. I'm sure the Dems in Congress would find a way to burst my bubble.

[clarence swinney]

22. ATTACK ATTACK here are bullets to fire

SWINNEY LIST FOR ATTACKS

Feel free to distribute

Google search

Clarence swinney +

Democrats create wealth—(do not brag)
84 democratic accomplishments—(quiet—do not awaken Democrats)
praise Clinton (Gore gored Gore by not using this)
salute Clinton
113 good things on Clinton
good comments on Clinton by world leaders
Clinton 30 character
Hillary
Reagan scandals (eulogize this Noonan)
How to identify a republican
Reagan firsts (Mt Rushmore)
Carter versus Reagan
Bush lies
Bush waffles( read these facts and say he is sane)
Moogumboo
Bush econovomits (only man to brag on failures)
Zoom economy
Swoosh (want armageddon here you have it)
Tax & spend liberal (how dumb can D be?)
King Richard
Clinton record on terrorism awesome
Swinney fact check
Hootenanny

North Carolina Hootenannys to commence in 2008.
Party-Celebration-foot stomping-yelling—a Big Time
Good things about Democrats and bad things about Republicans
Easy—Facts/History support Democrats.
ALL-AMERICAN PARTY vs 20% PARTY

Enjoy. Feel free to publish.

Clarence swinney
President-lifeaholics of America
Burlington nc
[email protected]

new book—LIFEAHOLICS—to be published 1-15-08
Book signing and presentation in North Carolina only.

[shance]

27. It's painful to read Al's words - our true president, and an intelligent, compassionate leader.

n/t

[yurbud]

29. I saw Diane Sawyer interview Bill Clinton on TV, and even though I disagreed with him on some major

issues, I had the same feeling: here is a smart, articulate person who at least understands and acknowledges the world most of us live in.

Bush & Cheney are more and more like cartoon villains, but without the superhero smacking them down.

[yurbud]

28. one way for Gore to fix things...

is he going to do it or not?

[Liberalynn]

30. Amen and Hallelujah brother!

"It's not just the excesses of Bush and Cheney -- it's the failure of our Congress, our courts, our free press, and all of us, to speak up and prevent this degradation of the American idea. "

Given the polls I think the people are starting to get there but when the HELL is CONGRESS EVER GOING TO WAKE UP!

Sure wish Gore would have decided to run!

[AuntPatsy]

31. It makes me feel proud to have finally voted for someone who has proven

to have been more than worthy of a first vote though I am ashamed to admit that all those years before I never took that freedom seriously enough that women died and were jailed beaten and tortured for to ensure I had it.

[proud patriot]

32. Rock On Al

[AikidoSoul]

34. K & R N/T

:kick:

[ms liberty]

35. K&R. Great article...

Every time he opens his mouth, he shows us why he should be President. Vision, intelligence, integrity, and experience. We need someone in the job with the exact set of skills and experience that he has. Without trashing any of the announced candidates, I have to say that all of them fall short when compared to Al Gore.

[Kurovski]

36. "It's not just the excesses of Bush and Cheney -- it's the failure of our Congress..."

I really do wish some people here would stop accusing people at DU of "bashing Dems" who see the failures of the Dems in Congress, and point them out.

It's crazy-making.

[Kurovski]

54. Sorry for the error in grammar.

:kick:

[tom_paine]

37. K & R.

[lonestarnot]

38. Unamerican is correct Al. Unfuckingamerican!

[earth mom]

39. We're waiting Al...please please please! nt

[Beartracks]

40. K&R! n/t

[Megahurtz]

41. And "The Failure Of Our Congress"

there you go!

And "the failure of our Courts". I wholeheartedly agree with that one!

[Land Shark]

42. OK, I'm speaking up now, a little more emphatically to be sure i'm heard! ;) k&R nt

[YvonneCa]

43. "Assault on Reason"...

...by Al Gore...Great book!

[Cha]

44. This is the coup de grace'..

"Gore added:

It's not just the excesses of Bush and Cheney -- it's the failure of our Congress, our courts, our free press, and all of us, to speak up and prevent this degradation of the American idea."

Our "press"?..not so free anymore.

[L. Coyote]

45. Imagine Peace, President Gore, a world w/o 9/11, and Bush in jail for the Florida theft.

They stole far more than an election. There is no way to measure the magnitude of the crime.

[sce56]

47. I've said before and I'll say it again. It would have been President Liberman by Noon on 9-11!

How else would you explain why he was conned into accepting him as his running mate! The PNAC'ers would have taken him out that day.
Got Fascism Yet?

Fascism Accomplished!

[Tab]

51. It's the "Gore added" part that's key

We've become a TV dinner nation.

[Guaranteed]

52. *THIS* is why Gore needs to run.

He's much more than an environmentalist.

[opihimoimoi]

53. BushCo has lost creds and rspect...now, hardly anyone believes when he talks..WE DON'T TORTURE

Yeah...right....

Gore got creds and respect....tons of creds and respect....When Gore speaks///people LISTEN

When Bush speaks...people flip the channel

[Alexander]

55. Brilliant. And he handled himself well on NBC. I will be watching for the next two days.

After Thursday's appearances on 30 Rock and Leno, if he doesn't announce one way or the other, I'm voting Kucinich.

[orleans]

56. now RUN AL! RUN! n/t

[Swamp Rat]

57. NeoGore is "The One!"

:D

[Apollo11]

59. Gore's policy seems to be: "Don't run. Don't endorse."

Gore has said in interviews, earlier this year, that the odds are he will endorse one of the candidates seeking the Dem nomination. I guess he has toyed with the idea of endorsing someone like Obama or Edwards - who has the most ambitious plan for tackling the climate crisis.

But Gore would also be aware that if he endorses a candidate other than Hillary, the media will accuse him of being bitter towards the Clintons. And it would hurt Gore's ability to continue working with the Clintons in the future - which will be important if Hillary wins the Dem nomination.

In 2003, Gore made a big play of endorsing Howard Dean and it didn't make any difference to how the primaries played out. So I guess you could say he got his fingers burned on that one.

I guess after the primaries are done, Gore will support the Democratic ticket - as he has always done his whole life (and as we saw in 2004).

IN GORE WE TRUST :patriot:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com
www.americaforgore.org

:kick:

[Summer93]

63. His words

Gore also stated that there were things about politics that he didn't like. It seems that no one wants to remember that he said that.

We can read into that many things or speculate on what he meant. We can't deny that there many things about politics that don't work for the good of the people.

[disndat]

64. The H.C. people

are promoting the notion that Gore would be more effective as an underling to the next President than as a President himself. Gore in his interview with NBC's Meredith Vierra seemed to have shot down that idea. Logic would dictate that Gore cannot really pushed his passions for environmental and other concerns as a second fiddle, esp., under H.C. I think this interview with Rolling Stone is a real indication that Gore is ready to jump in.

[evilkumquat]

65. I Would Feel Better if Tipper...

...were not his wife, what with all her crap with the PMRC and Washington Wives back in the 1980's.

On one hand, clueless parents might have benefited from "warning labels" on music, but on the other, anything that has the danger of chilling free speech is just dangerous as hell.

One could argue that warning labels are no different than the voluntary ratings from the MPAA, except that many retailers have policies against making products with such labels available to purchase, even by adults.

I see this same ridiculous pattern forming against video games. I mean, at what point do parents surrender their own common sense and parental responsibilities to the government or industry groups?

All this is a round-about way of saying that, while I support Gore, voted for him, hated the South Park episodes that mocked him and generally feel he is one of the "good guys", his image always has a faint smudge in my eyes due to the pretentiousness of his wife.

Is it unfair to Al to judge him based on the actions of his wife? Possibly, except that no wife or husband in D.C. would be able to do what the Washington Wives did without at least the tacit support of the more powerful spouse.

Evil Kumquat

[Seabiscuit]

66. OTOH, history WILL treat Al Gore kindly.

[Z_I_Peevey]

67. And there it is in a nutshell.

All of it. The situation. The nightmare. The solution. All that is missing is the will of the American people.

Keep plugging away, people. We have no choice.

[WheelWalker]

68. k&r

[onehandle]

69. Thanks, Ralph.

90,000+ Florida voters can be wrong.

[Bryn]

70. I voted for Al in Florida

Supreme Court gave it to Bush instead!

[Pierre.Suave]

74. and LOTS more

in his recent book, The Assault On Reason.

Fantastic book, I can not understand why everyone has not read this book yet.

[Uncle Joe]

77. I second you post, jasonc,

"The Assault on Reason" is a most powerful and enlightening book, particularly for those that still believe in politics as usual.

[Pierre.Suave]

78. Absolutely

thank you for reading it and understanding it. now, we got 5 or so billion more to go...

LOL.