WOah. You mean you really think Gore would have really fought for any of this as President? Where was his voice in the EIGHT YEARS HE WAS VICE PRESIDENT? I've heard from hundreds of Gore apologists. . .none of it washes. The man's convictions, while strong, were absolutely subsumed by his desire to advance one last rung.

I support what he's saying, don't get me wrong. Any time someone publicly parrots Lester Brown, Sachs and the rest of them, it's a great thing. Yet, the man had his chance, had the power, had the ability to shape policy, yet he sat on his hands until the waning days of his tenure (yeah, we got some national parks at the very end).

Gore isn't the revolutionary leader that will bring about rapid change. Real revolutionaries act when given a chance. That person is hopefully out there - but I can promise you this: He or she will be an Independent.

"Because the world doesn't matter if you don't have the strength to go ahead and choose something that's really true." - Julio Cortazar, Hopscotch

Nothing is more important than global warming, not fame, fortune, nor revolution.

For Gore, the path to global warming mitigation is though political leadership.  For too many others the path to political leadership is through global warming rhetoric (or silence).

The real test will be 'that person' that can deliver congressional leadership enacting a carbon tax with flat rebates.  That is near Gore's main platform plank.

Can Exxon billions buy the public message that carbon taxes are more painful than the end of global civilization?   Can Exxon buy the next President?

I have just finished watching Al Gore's Sept 18th speech on NYU's website and wish I could have been part of the standing ovation.  Contrary to caniscandida's posting (hey caniscandida, please tell me you aren't one of those evil Republican PR people who plant subtle propaganda on the internet), I was fully-engaged and riveted for the entire speech.

WAY TO GO AL GORE!!!  

This man has such great intellect, conviction, class, and courage among other great qualities.  As a Canadian in Vancouver, my dream is to if not have Gore running this country, to at least give a half hour of guidance every week to the dumbass Bush surrogates currently running this country, assuming they would listen.  

Time to defeat the current oil economy status quo and rush headstrong into a "New new deal" built around saving life on this planet from the perils of global warming.  

That Gore actually did do ONE relatively unknown bit of work during his tenure that has been very important. Apparently, he worked very hard with U.S. intelligence and former-KGB officials to declassify information pertaining to fifty years of submarine location information and related data. This data included very detailed ocean current and temperature information from thousands of location across the globe spanning five decades. Turns out, quite obviously, that this info has been of incredible value to scientists who are working hard to understand our current climate changes. Way to go, Al. . you did do something after all! Don't know that I'd vote for you - as an unrepentant Nader voter - but I'd think about it for a second this time around. Last time, the choice was clear - you didnt' deserve my vote. Maybe, just maybe, you do now.

"Because the world doesn't matter if you don't have the strength to go ahead and choose something that's really true." - Julio Cortazar, Hopscotch

   Putting aside the past, what matters now is whether Gore can indeed put together a grand coalition of everyone to address the problem of global warming.

   I for one sure hope so.

patrick