I just had the privilege of attending a wonderful event at New York City's Town Hall:
A Wired Town Hall: On the Climate Crisis, featuring Al Gore.
It was a packed house, and listening to Al, I am once again simultaneously so pumped up and so depressed: the first because he is just an amazing speaker, so in command, and articulate, but also humorous and warm; the second, because he's not our President and he should be. More on that later.
Some interesting highlights (caveat: I did my best to transcribe exact quotes in the dark, but ... I have taken some liberties while remaining as faithful as possible to the spirit if not always the exact letter):
Al opened his comments acknowledging that Tipper was in the audience, and saying that they had just spent the afternoon with their grandchildren. He then went on to say that his children don't always like to be singled out in the crowd, but he did want to acknowledge that "a long-time family friend is here, Chelsea Clinton." Applause.
He then went on to praise Hillary Rodham Clinton for the "very important speech that she gave the other day" on "energy policy."
I took that to refer to the speech she gave to the National Press Club that dday diaried
here. I was very interested that he specifically gave HRC props--
is there anything to interpret there?
In his opening remarks, he emphasized the point that we have already discussed here that global warming is not a political question, "it's a moral imperative." But he went on to say that it's important that we rise to this challenge, because
when we rise to meet challenges, we gain moral clarity, because we have transcended our limitations. And then we can understand all sorts of crises not just as political problems, but as moral imperatives.
and he went on to mention the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, world poverty and hunger, genocide, Darfur.
He reiterated the connection between addressing global warming and what is essentially a global progressive movement, by saying that having the courage to confront the "planetary emergency" of global warming increases our "moral authority and vision" to see "other crises that masquerade as political problems."
Very importantly, he emphasized that although he recognizes the "planetary emergency," he doesn't "adopt a dark vision," because
I know about political systems, and they have at least one thing in common with the climate system--they are non-linear; they have a tipping point at which there can be a rapid acceleration to change.
He also totally understands the grassroots, the netroots, and he emphasized over and over again that what Madison called "an informed citizenry" is the bedrock of our democracy that makes our tripartite system of government meaningful. In fact, he said the only thing that can break the stranglehold of the special interests, who will fight change "to the death," is this "informed citizenry, raising hell, and demanding change."
Oh, there's so much more--I was really moved when he wondered why boycotting ExxonMobile was considered impossible or inappropriate; when he emphasized that we citizens have the power through knowledge, understanding, and technology to change the world; when he talked about the importance of supporting CSAs, and pursuing a diet that could help save the planet; when he discussed the changes he and his family have made in their personal lives to strive toward "carbon neutral lives," &c, &c. ....
And on the question of a possible Presidential run? The moderator had been collecting cards from the audience with questions, and he mentioned that many of them concerned one very particular political question for Al Gore, but, ha, ha, we won't ask, blah, blah, but then, of course, at the end, the moderator said: "Well, when people ask me about a possible Al Gore run, I say ... he seems to be more interested in the power of his PowerPoint presentation than political power." After a few chuckles, Al said:
I'm under no illusion that POTUS isn't second to any position on this planet to influence the course of events. But I'm on a campaign for a cause rather tha a candidacy ... I don't like the politics of the sound bite, it's against the politicss of ideas, the political process is a toxic process, and I don't think that my skills are well-suited to it... I have found other ways to serve,and I'm not thinking about being a candidate for President ... I'm doing my best to change the minds of people, and I hope that will help make it possible for whomever is elected president, or to congress in the midterms (and I hope for a change)to do what is required to address the planetary emergency.
So there you have it, right now Al still says he's working on the politics of ideas to help reinvigorate that foundation of our democracy, the "informed citizenry."
At that, the moderator brought the evening to a close, and handed Al a particular stack, rather thick, of question cards, as a "momento of the evening."
Goddamn, Al'd be an excellent candidate this time around, and one of the best presidents ever.
If you haven't yet, pledge to see the movie this opening weekend and start to take action to reduce your carbon footprint.