a question about Al Gore . . . can he make the necessary leap . . .

[OneBlueSky]

from symptoms to causes? . . . is he capable, in other words, of taking on the megacorps in everything from pharmaceuticals to energy to banking to agriculture to defense? . . . and, is he willing to take them on? . . .

I like Al Gore -- a lot . . . and I hope and trust that he will enter the race sometime soon . . . but I can't help wondering about how his commitment to the environment is going to translate into REAL, effective action, i.e. strict corporate regulation . . . besides being an environmentalist, he is after all the ultimate product of "the system" -- from being the son of a Senator to VP for eight years, he's been part of the government/corporate establishment . . . that is, the very institutions most responsible for global warming and most of our other critical problems . . .

as a student of global warming, Al Gore has to know and understand the role large corporations play in setting national and international policies -- policies that benefit them and screw everyone else . . . and he has to know that the only way to do anything substantive to effectively address climate change and other major problems is to strictly regulate the actions of mega-corporations . . . but his upbringing and his instincts, I'm sure, mitigate against such a "drastic" course of action . . .

I guess I'm wondering if Al Gore has the capacity -- if elected -- to become some combination of Dennis Kucinich, Mike Gravel, Bill Moyers, and Jim Hightower . . . because that's the guy we need in the White House . . .

[saltpoint]

1. If Gore jumps in he brings the experience of 2 presidential races with him.

He would also know this would be his last chance.

My guess is he'd make it count.

[man4allcats]

2. I have the greatest respect for Al Gore, but personally

I hope he doesn't enter the race and not because I don't think he'd be a good president. He got my vote when he won in 2000, and if he runs and gets the nomination I will vote for him again in 2008, but ultimately I think he's too good for the job. Nobody can do what he's doing better than he can. I once posted here that, through his environmental efforts, he'd managed to find a way to be President of the United States without actually holding the office. Nothing is more important than what he's doing. If we kill this planet as it would appear we are doing with shocking speed, nothing else will matter because we'll all be dead anyway. John and Robert Kennedy and Al Gore will always be my presidents, but for the sake of humanity I hope Al will continue his primary role as the environmentalist president for America and the world. If there is any justice, history will record that Al Gore did his best to save the planet while Bush only tried to destroy it along with everything he ever touched.

Here's to you, President Gore! You don't need my vote now. I helped elect you years ago. :thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup: :toast: :thumbsup: :toast:

[dave_p]

3. Agreed

"I think he's too good for the job"

I agree. He was certainly too good for VP - what a waste. And I suspect he's decided he's more important things to do. Not being saddled with pandering to the polls for eight years gives him the chance to make a real difference where he's decided it's essential. I hope he's celebrated when pseudo-43's an embarrassing historical footnote.