Watching Al Gore
With the field of Democratic presidential hopefuls growing, the primary race is getting off to a tentative start. Of course, the two names everyone is talking about are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Personally, I’m not too enthused with any of the candidates.
While I think it would be wonderful for Hillary to win on the grounds that she would be the first female president, the first former First Lady to be elected president, and that her husband would be both the first First Husband and the first former president to hold that title, there’s not much else I see that she has going for her. Her position on health care reform is admirable, a cause for which I’m sure she would be a great champion. But in her time as a Senator she has demonstrated that she is a play-it-by-ear politician. When Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was all over the news, she teamed up with Joe Lieberman to speak out for stricter video game regulation. When the Decider’s popularity began to plummet, she began to take verbal potshots at him. But she is so close to the middle that when pressed on divisive issues like withdrawing from Iraq, she deftly dodges the question, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with her more liberal colleagues.
Had George Bush not galvanized the nation over the past six years, Hillary might be more appealing. But I suspect that a great many Democratic voters are not going to want to put a moderate in the White House. They will want someone who is the polar opposite of Bush. The demands by Democratic party members that Congress withhold funding for the Iraq War are evidence of this. I don’t believe they are just a vocal minority.
Another great historic moment would be a victory by Obama. To be elected the first black president in a country that has yet to abolish the ignorance of racism would be a tremendous achievement. If anyone can do it, it’s Obama. He has such broad appeal to such a wide range of voters. Even Republicans say nice things about him. Well, other than conservative news channels that attempt to smear his name in the guise of technical mistakes. He also comes off as a truly honest guy, with nothing so far that damages his image. Yet, he’s only been a Senator for two years. He has no major experience with anything related to the presidency. He’s very wet behind the ears. Bush was elected to office with no foreign policy experience at all and we see how that’s turned out. I’m not saying Obama will be a Bush, but a president who lacks experience in a particular area would need to depend more upon his advisers. Experience helps a person filter out the good advice from the bad.
There are a great many things about Barack Obama that I like. His staunch opposition to the war in Iraq is one of them. But I truly would not want to see him elected to the White House at this time. He’s still young, so after another election or two, when he’s gained more experience in governing, then I would love to see him win the Presidency. In another time, maybe. But with all that Bush has wrought experience is a prerequisite for the next president. Then again, I can’t help but wonder if his entry into the primary race isn’t really just a way of jockeying himself into position for a potential vice-presidency. He would make a nice anchor to Hillary’s moderation. Though, I would rather see him pair with someone else (see below).
Since I don’t see anyone out of the current crop of candidates that I would like to put in the Oval Office, there’s one name I’m hoping to see put into the mix soon: Al Gore. There is speculation about a Gore candidacy going around. He’s certainly got the credentials. No one can say he isn’t experienced. He has strongly voiced his opposition to the Iraq War since before it began. His foreign policy experience and the diplomatic relationships he has forged over the years will be a big boon in wrapping up the war. He is the only prominent American politician to have championed the fight against global warming. After the Bush administrations blatant disregard of global environmental initiatives, we need someone who will take it on. Another big factor is that he is very well-liked abroad. Look back at foreign newspapers from the 2000 race and you’ll see that most foreigners wanted him, and not Bush, to win. Such a positive image will go a very long way in repairing some of the relationships that Bush so recklessly damaged.
In happier times, the choice between Hillary, Obama, and Gore might not be so clear cut. Any one of the three would make a great candidate in such times. But six years of Bush have changed the landscape tremendously. The world is a much darker place than it was six years ago. Anyone who blames terrorism for that is wearing blinders. Bush led us to the depths in which we find ourselves now. Bush and his cronies. A better man would have taken us to higher ground. A better man would not have led us to Iraq, tortured our prisoners, or flushed our credibility down the toilet. Now, we need such a person to rescue us from the hell in which we find ourselves. Al Gore’s experience, his understanding of the issues, his ability to understand the consequences of his actions (something Bush really, truly lacks), and the strength of his beliefs (not religious beliefs, but his opinions on the war, global warming, etc…) are exactly what this country needs right now. He’s the right person at the right time. Assuming, of course, that he throws his hat into the ring.
A ticket I would love to see is Gore-Obama. Gore would be an excellent mentor. Four years in the Senate coupled with four (or 
years as VP under Gore would certainly make Obama a much more attractive candidate.
If you would like to see Al Gore win the presidency a second time, and actually get to be sworn in this time, sign the Draft Gore Petition. Let him know that you support him.
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