In yesterday's press conference held at the Alliance for Climate Protection, Al did not issue a Shermanesque statement regarding the 2008 elections, he did not take any questions, and he ignored inquiries about any political plans. Now, on the day he is awarded the Nobel, it is understandable to not address politics in any way whatsoever. However, if he has decided not to run, he should issue a Sherman statement shortly. Until he does, he is still very much considering what his next step should be.
It is up to us in the Draft Gore movement to keep fanning the fire and use whatever energies we have to push Al over the edge and decide to heck with the pundits, he is going to run (a different kind of campaign) and win!
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In his press conference Al said some of the following statements about the nature of the climate crisis, that it is truly a planetary emergency, it is the greatest challenge but also the greatest opportunity, it is a chance to elevate global consciousness.
To quote the most telling phrase that leaves the door to a 2008 run ajar:
"For my part, I will be doing everything I can to try to understand how to best use the honor and recognition of this award as a way of speeding up the change in awareness and the change in urgency. It truly is a planetary emergency and we have to respond quickly."
This is a carefully worded statement indicating that now that the Nobel prize has been awarded, he is going to think long and hard about how he can be most effective going forward. What can he do to go as far as possible as fast as possible?
Personally, I believe Al can be most effective serving as President. Does he want to rely on Hillary Clinton, or a Republican president, (the two most likely outcomes) to act with great urgency as is required? Answer: NO.
If we truly are in a planetary emergency, he must know that he alone is uniquely qualified to lead at this critical juncture, and that he will have far more power to be effective serving as President of the United States than as Private Citizen. As President, he can make sure we have a Global Marshall plan, a Sustainable New Deal, and other necessary measures.
I think this is the crucial point to use when you appeal to Al as he considers his next step. The only way he would brave the toxic media environment and the decaying democratic process to serve is if he concludes that is how he can most effectively lead the fight against the climate crisis.
I have two suggestions:
- Keep up the efforts to persuade Al. Step them up! The Draft efforts are huge and growing. Tell everyone you know to sign draftgore.com, send in your two cents, send back his letters that you receive, and reply to his emails. I faxed back two letters from Al that I received telling him He Must Run.
- When you contact Al, emphasize how he can more effectively advance the climate crisis solution as president than as Private Citizen. When he emailed me yesterday telling him he was deeply honored to win the Nobel Peace Prize, I responded with the following:
Al,
Congratulations on the great honor of winning the Nobel Peace Prize. PLEASE RUN! You can be far more effective as President leading the response to the climate crisis, restoring participatory democracy and the Constitution, and reversing the Unitary Executive. You are uniquely qualified to serve as President, and can be far more effective than Hillary Clinton in responding to ALL the crucial issues facing us today, as you outlined in Assault on Reason. Your service as President, rather than as a private citizen, is the most effective means for us to go as far as possible as quickly as possible, to refer to an Old African proverb. I can not even fathom how you could come to the opposite conclusion. But I trust your reason and judgment and know that you will make the right decision. I just hope that my reason leads me to the same conclusion that yours does.
With great respect,
In my mind and heart, this is what I believe. I believe he will run, because he must. But I also trust Al's reason and judgment. If he decides not to run, it will not be because he thinks Hillary is unstoppable or because the pundits will claim his entry into the race makes all his previous work political. He will not run only if he concludes he is more effective as Private Citizen than as President.
If Al is not running, I believe we will know within a week to ten days. If he is running, I believe he will either enter or drop hints within the next week or so. I have no idea if he will run. I hope deep down for the sake of all that matters in the universe that he does. Let's all help him make the decision. However we can, let's not stop now. Push Al over the edge! Al, YOU MUST RUN!