OpEdNews » It's Got to Be Gore: Part V-- What Gore Should Do

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Tag(s): 2008 Election Presidential; 2008 Election Presidential Primary; 2008 Elections; Gore Al Real President; Leadership- Leaders
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February 26, 2007 at 12:00:06

It's Got to Be Gore: Part V-- What Gore Should Do

by Andrew Bard Schmookler Page 1 of 3 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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This is the last of a series of five essays promoting the idea that Al Gore is the man best suited to provide America with the leadership it now needs. To this series, many have responded with enthusiastic support, and many have also expressed disagreement. The disagreements have mainly been of two kinds. Some do not believe that Gore has the moral and rhetorical power to do the job. Others argue that, whatever his assets, we ought not look to Gore because he's not going to run.

While my main purpose in this last series is to propose the approach I think Gore should take, I hope also along the way to address satisfactorily those two criticisms.

***************

I began this series with the notion that America needs two things from its next leadership: to help the American people understand the meaning of this era of the Bushite abuse of power, and to set about repairing the damage to American and to the world inflicted by this present regime.

With respect to the first of those two jobs, Gore can make an important contribution whether he runs for the presidency or not. And either way, here is what I would suggest he do in the coming months.

THE BASIC IDEA

Gore should make public speeches dealing directly with those pressing issues that are front and center in America at that given moment. He should weigh in on the side of what is right and what is true and what should be done NOW.

By addressing CURRENT issues, he makes his comments topical and newsworthy, part of a story that's already being told.

But each time he speaks about such topical matters, he should also go beyond the current issue to place the matter at hand into THE LARGER CONTEXT OF WHAT AMERICAN VALUES NEED TO BE RESTORED.

By connecting the specific issues of the moment to the pattern of damage this evil regime has been doing, he can educate Americans about the larger meanings of this dark era.

FOR EXAMPLE

For example, in countering the bogus arguments the Bushites are throwing out to prevent rational deliberation about our options in Iraq (cf. the piece at www.nonesoblind.org/blog/?p=486), Gore can go on to talk about the whole pattern of dishonest statements with which the Bushites have sought to manipulate the American people. And he can take the next step and speak of the need to re-establish a culture of truthfulness in our democratic processes.

For example, in supporting the efforts to tie the president's hands from single-handedly launching a whole new war (this time against Iran, cf. the piece at www.nonesoblind.org/blog/?p=442), Gore can go on to talk about the whole pattern of usurpations of power by these Bushites, and speak out for the restoration of our constitutional system of checks and balances.

For example, in talking about the challenge of climate change, he can go on to talk about the larger pattern of Bushite policy in which national policy has been twisted to enrich their cronies at the expense of the long-term health of our nation and the planet.

THE MORAL AUTHORITY QUESTION:

If I'm right about Gore's ability to project moral authority --and a couple of talks Gore gave more than a year ago that suggests I am-- then such speeches can have a powerful impact on the country whether he's a candidate or not.

If his voice has no such power, he simply will not catch hold with the public-no harm done. We have nothing to lose from testing the hypothesis.

1 | 2 | 3

Andrew Bard Schmookler's website www.nonesoblind.org is devoted to understanding the roots of America's present moral crisis and the means by which the urgent challenge of this dangerous moment can be met. Dr. Schmookler is also the author of such books as The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution (SUNY Press) and Debating the Good Society: A Quest to Bridge America's Moral Divide (M.I.T. Press). He also conducts regular talk-radio conversations in both red and blue states.

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1 comments

Mr. Bohne is a clockmaker and activist. He HATES the US Government, and without stretching the truth (reality) will do anything to dig up dirt on any of these bastards, as long as it's REAL dirt.

"the first man to raise his fists, is the first man to run out of ideas."
tedbohneMr. Bohne is a clockmaker and activist. He HATES the US Government, and without stretching the truth (reality) will do anything to dig up dirt on any of these bastards, as long as it's REAL dirt.

"the first man to raise his fists, is the first man to run out of ideas."

Al will be there.

I've the distinct feeling ole Al's gonna ride in at the last minute and take the presidency. Hell, it's his anyway. If not, then by god and sunny jesus we'll draft his wide ass!

tedbohne

by tedbohne (87 articles, 103 quicklinks, 3 diaries, 119 comments) on Monday, February 26, 2007 at 5:59:11 PM