A remarkable interview this evening by Evan Solomon on
CBC News: Sunday. It was remarkable in two ways. First, it involved the usual probing and hard-hitting questions one sees in journalists in every nation of the developed world, save one. But Gore, pro that he is, parried commendably.
Secondly, Gore let drop a few comments that caused me to reassess my earlier conclusion that he was readying himself for a second run at the White House. Which would be unfortunate.
First, Gore used language that would be unthinkable from anyone considering occupying the office of American head of state with regard to a friendly foreign government. He accused Canada of "turning its back on its obligations" with regard to Kyoto and stated that "the current government has a...posture of passive aggression to the Kyoto Accord." Which is absolutely true, except maybe not so
passive. Still, it is language bordering on the undiplomatic with regard to America's closest ally and largest trading partner.
So my ears pricked up a tad. But they pricked up more when he said. "I have no plans to run [for president]...I have a single objective...to push people past a tipping point" where they are aware of the "planetary emergency" and will act on it. Gore described this as a "moral crusade," not a political one.
Regrettably, CBC does not have a transcript up, so you'll have to take my word for it (and perhaps the word of anyone else who saw tonight's segment). I took very careful notes. The CBC News: Sunday website is at http://www.cbc.ca/... and it is entirely possible that they'll post the video of the interview in the next day or so.
Al Gore running? Perhaps not.