First of all, I love the guy. He is one of the most thoughtful and courageous progressives in the planet. He is the most powerful voice struggling to bring this country back to a democracy that conducts itself based on rationality and tolerance. He will be remembered by history as one of the greatest visionaries of our time, a true international hero.
That's why I truly hope he stays as far away from the white house as humanly possible.
No, I'm not high. Hear me out.
Why do you think honest, ethical progressives that sound so inspiring and spectacular on the campaign end up betraying their principles and constituencies once they take office?
Why do we keep sending politicians to Washington, hoping and sincerely trusting that they will keep their promises and make us proud, just to be painfully disappointed afterwards?
Well, there is quite a nasty reason. David Sirota talks about triangulation, "corporate democrats" and "the money party". However, the ugly truth is that Politicians need the people for two things and two things only: donations and votes. They don't need the people to govern, they don't need the people to get their bills passed, and they don't need the people to ascend through the obscure hierarchies of power. No, we're not sovereign there, others are. Corporations are, lobbyists are, the MSM is. Big money is sovereign in the pompous halls of power.
Are most democrats much better than most republicans? Hell yes. But the fact Sirota and other progressives won't face is that the problem is not corporate-minded politicians or inherently treasonous representatives that can simply be replaced; the problem is a corporate-minded political system with an inherently un-representative nature. Every politician, progressive or otherwise, must talk the talk, walk the walk and play the game. Because in Rome, you do as the Romans do, or you get freakin' crucified.
The moment Al Gore says "I'm running for president", he instantly becomes a completely different human being. One that must measure every word, cautiously avoid offending the media, the corporate lords, the party elders, the infinite pressure groups.
This is why it took Barack Obama forever to oppose the last War bill even though he was originally against the war.
This is what happened to Pelosi, to Reid, to Webb and many many others. It will happen to Al Gore as well.
Gore's historic role will be to help mobilize the masses around environmental responsibility and a renewed valorization of rationality in the public debate. But he will only exercise this role effectively as long as he is able to speak his mind whenever he wants and wherever he wants, with no constraints and no pressures. He will only help bring the change we all want, and he wants, as long as he is a citizen and a leader; but not a politician.
He knows it, and he cares so much more about changing America than about having a personal motorcade that he hates even the idea of running.
There will be a time, rather sooner than later, when our political system will allow progressive leaders to hold power and remain loyal to their principles and constituencies at the same time. There will be a time when we the people get our sovereignty back. But now is not that time.
Let's not force Al Gore into a cage. He is way too important for that.