marklynas.orgAl Gore's renaissance 02 June 06
It’s difficult to pick up any newspaper or magazine at the moment without seeing yet another picture of or interview with Al Gore. The politician once caricatured as a wooden loser (‘Ozone Man’ in Republican taunts) has taken the world by storm with his film An Inconvenient Truth – which is breaking box office records as I write.
Everyone asks Gore the same question: will he run for president again? The answer, unfortunately, has not been a straight ‘no’. Jacob Weisberg, writing in the Financial Times (which I won’t link to, because you need a sub.), hits the nail on the head when he suggests that Gore has been far more effective in popularising the global warming issue “as a freelance professor than as a politician”. (Hat-tip – Caspar Henderson)
Take Gore’s tenure in the White House with Bill Clinton, from 1992 till 2000 – eight long years, after he’d already written his pioneering book ‘Earth in the Balance’, when nothing was done. Not a law was passed on global warming; indeed the political tide moved gradually in favour of Republican-style denial. Gore did nothing.
Then came the Bush coup in 2000 – and freed from the shackles of electoral politics, Gore came alive again. His trenchant critique of the Bush cabal has been a breath of fresh air, and his powerful slideshow on climate change (which uses a couple of my images) has captured countless thousands of hearts and minds at just the time when the official president was busy turning America into a global pariah.
As Weisberg concludes about Gore: “This advocacy has helped to transform public consciousness in a way he was never able to do in elective office. Because of this not-yet-triumphant crusade, Mr Gore may eventually have the last laugh, coming to be seen as a more important leader than the current president and perhaps even than the previous one. He may one day be regarded as the political hero of his era – the man who saved the world not by winning the presidency, but because he lost it.”
Comments
June 4th, 2006 at 04:33 PM
Candidates who have lost in the past can win in the future when the American people desire a leader who can take on the challenges.
I feel Al Gore may be the man for 2008 despite what he is saying now. If Al Gore knows people will truly elect him and the climate problem is worse, then he may rethink his position. I think Al Gore’s concern may be fear of loosing the election. It is difficult for people who have run and lost to keep doing it again. That close race with Bush would make anyone have trepidation over taking another risk running for president.
Still, the power of a US President is enormous. If Al Gore feels he will be elected and have a huge mandate from the American people, then he will do more good as President. If he is elected to 2 successful terms, we will have him from 2008 to 2016. This is the period which may determine the fate of the planet. I imagine that Al Gore would run if he thought he could prevent a climate disaster. His strength of character will force him to concede to the desires of the people and this just may be his true destiny.
If this be Al Gore’s destiny, I can think of no better come back for someone who lost at presidential politics.
As I write this line, may I suggest to all my friends here that if you ever felt you have failed or have not done enough, then rethink your feelings about your own self. Imagine Al Gore or Jimmy Carter and the emotions of loosing to the opposition. No prudent person could ever think of these 2 men as losers. They found ways to turn defeat into victory by ignoring any negative emotions and remaining steadfast to the core of their beliefs and passions. Likewise, no matter the heartache or failure we have or may be experiencing, we always have the power to reinvent ourselves. Great leaders are like that and that takes tremendous desire, faith, and courage.
I think Al Gore has a certain irresistible appeal to Americans and that they would desire to see him have another chance at getting the job. Al Gore has not lost his faithful and may be gaining additional support and a greater respect for those who may have voted against him. Americans always love a guy who never gives up! Al Gore has not done that because he never left his focus. He remains a winner!
2008? It is just too early to know right now. In any event, Al Gore, like former president, Jimmy Carter has clearly distinguished himself. If he does not run, his endorsement of another candidate may carry a lot of weight in 2008. If Al Gore does not run, he most certainly will help the one who does and this person will win!
This is my personal opinion. Before 2008, I believe we will have a paradigm shift in the American consciousness. All things are going to change.
Best Regards, Dan