In a diary I wrote a while ago and which almost no one read (My Own Al Gore for President Draft Fund: Gore for Sure in '08), I pondered "how different the world might be today if Al Gore had been allowed to move into the White House in 2000.
How would he have handled 9/11? Would the world be more dangerous than it was prior to the attacks, like it is now, because of Iraq?
Would the majority of the world look at our country as the new and improved Evil Empire?
Would the Taliban and al Qaeda have been destroyed completely in 2002 (like it should have been), when the world was behind us and helping in anyway they could?
More below the fold...
Saddam might still be in power, but he would be neutralized. Who would be the Presidentof Iran now? Certainly not the lunatic they elected in response to our lunatic.
How far along would Russia be in their blossoming democracy had Gore won? Would they be heading backwards as they are now? Would China be shooting satellites out of the sky?
Would Al Gore have walked away from the Kyoto Treaty? What would our renewable, clean energy polices be today had Al Gore been in office for the past 6 years?
How far along would
stem-cell research be by now had he been President? Would he have handed those marvelous possibilities over other countries because of some ignorant zealotry?
I know. I know. "Hindsight is 20/20", "but, he didn't win", "no point in asking, 'what if?'". Blah, blah, blah.
One has to ask in order to appreciate how bad things really are now and what kind of leader we need to reverse the damage our lunatic has cause, if we can.
The country is ready for a do-over. Psychologically speaking, I think most of the country would jump and the chance despite not knowing why they feel so good about it! The unconscious mind is a marvelous thing!
This past congressional election showed the establishment what it means the grass roots, with computer and credit card in hand, can accomplish from their living rooms. The days of "the needs of the few outweighing the needs of the many," are over.
I want Gore to run. I believe he is the only one who is viable not just as a Democratic candidate, but one who encompasses the best of Democratic ideals and doesn't apologize for it and has already proven it.
- He doesn't triangulate (Clinton).
- He doesn't talk the talk (Obama, so-far), he walks the walk.
- He isn't from Mars (Kucinch).
- He isn't a blow-hard (Biden).
- He isn't in bed with the banking industry (Biden, Dodd).
- He isn't a goof-ball running around with an itch is his pants (Richardson) A negotiator, diplomat, ambassador, YES. A President, NO.
- He isn't in bed with ANY special interest. I don't count global warming advocates a "special interest" - it's a human interest.
Al Gore has specific ideas as opposed to grand sweeping generalizations (Clinton & Obama) and he isn't afraid to express them or take on those who attack him.
- I know, by my definition, John Edwards looks like he fits the bill as well. And so far, I'm leaning towards him (since Gore hasn't announced). However, I'm hesitant. I don't know if I trust him, yet. Something doesn't sit right and I don't know what it is. He was great with the Coulter hate-fest and pulling out of the Nevada FOX debate was simply brilliant. For years to come, as FOX crumbles around us (and it will) it will be because of the tipping point, as it were, that he got going by saying 'no' to the no-news, noise channel. The snowball is off and rolling and it can't be stopped. I'm just not sure how that translates into a Presidency. I almost feel like he needed some outside project these past few years (since losing in 2004) like Gore has had with the global warming. Gore's passion has been his for 30 years now. Maybe his fighting for the poor is it and I'm just not seeing it for whatever reason (it isn't as public, isn't as cover in our media).
Anyway, I want Al Gore to run. I want to poll a simple question. That's really the point of this diary.
Do you want Al Gore to run for President in 2008?
I have permission to use this picture. The artist gave everyone permission during the 2004 elections. I actually turned it into a 4' x 6' banner and flew it from a flag pole (at the Gay & Lesbian store I was working at at the time) for the Republican National Convention here in NY. The artist, who was marching up 8th avenue during the big protest saw it, loved it! He eventually gave me a signed print (lithograph I think)!
UPDATE:
Here are some links to the Draft Gore sites which Kal asked me to include (and which I can't believe I didn't do on my own!: Contribute and Petition.
Also, I created my own Al Gore for President Draft Fund on ActBlue called Gore for Sure in '08.
I've sent emails to my friends and family asking them to "help me convince Al Gore to run for President in 2008" and to "donate what they can", but it looks like I have no friends, however. No one is the past 2 months it's been up has donated, expect me!
You can donate to this one or anyof the others and if he doesn't run, it will go to the DNC if I remember correctly - SO GO DONATE ;-)