If Al Gore Is The Patriot I Know He Is, He MUST
Run

post from TPMCafe - The Coffee House feed on 01 January 2007 11:42:10 AM. © TPMCafe - The Coffee House feed

I woke up this gray New Years Day to this story front and center in my hometown newspaper.

And I almost immediately began thinking of Al Gore.

My immediate thought was, "this girl would not be spending her days in a cemetery if the votes had been fairly counted in 2000 or if Sandra O'Connor had done, what she had to know, was the right thing."

Of course, I am very prone to thinking of the 2000 might-have-beens.

For me, the 2000 election is right up there with Nov. 22, 1963 as a terrible watershed moment that changed everything -- although I think the 2000 election altered our futures more than JFK's death did (as earthshaking as the assassination was).

I believe 3000 dead Americans who died in Iraq would be alive if Gore had been sworn in. I believe hundreds of thousands of Iraqis would be alive too. I don't just believe these things. I know them.

In fact, I try not to think too often about the 2000 election. It is too painful. I got over the 2004 election by midnight on election day. I'm still not over 2000.

The question I have to ponder now is whether Al Gore is the leader I believe he is.

Is he worthy of all my might-have-beens?

Because I have to say that if he does not run in 2008, I have to consider that he is just a good man, not a great one.

After all, he has to know that he is the only Democrat (with the exception of Bill Clinton) who is completely qualified to serve as President.

Yes, we have some decent candidates out there. I think Obama and Edwards are both good candidates and would be good Presidents.

But neither they, nor any other potential candidate, is in Gore's league.

With 8 years experience as Vice President and with his strong leadership against this war (before it began), he is uniquely qualified. And then there is global warming, the most dangerous threat to our whole planet.

Gore has been warning us about this looming disaster -- and explaining how to fix it -- for 20 years.

I know why he probably won't run. I can hardly imagine how anyone could endure the lies and libels that the GOP would hurl at him. And I know that there is no guarantee he would defeat John McCain (as much the media's favorite as Gore is its whipping boy).

On the other hand, I think he has a better chance of winning than any other possible candidate. He is more experienced than McCain and hundreds of years younger.

He is right about the war while McCain is more wrong than any other major politician including George W. Bush.

Plus, he won once. Why would the electorate that gave him a majority in 2000 deny him one in 2008?

So it's up to him?

If he runs, I'll know that the grief I've felt over his loss (and continue to feel) is legitimate. If not, I'll still believe his loss was a disaster for America but not so much because we lost the possibility of a second FDR but because his loss brought us Bush.

There is a big difference.

He has to run. And I won't even mention that he should pick Obama as his VP. Or that I honestly believe that their sure ticket to victory is to run as a ticket in the primaries. Let primary voters know that a vote for Gore is a vote for Gore-Obama.

Unbeatable.

So the question is. Just how much of a patriot is Al Gore? America needs him. Now more than ever before.

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Al Gore: Our 44th President

post from TPMCafe - The Coffee House feed on 01 January 2007 11:42:10 AM. © TPMCafe - The Coffee House feed

I woke up this gray New Years Day to this story front and center in my hometown newspaper.

And I almost immediately began thinking of Al Gore.

Of course, I am very prone to thinking of the 2000 might-have-beens.

I believe 3000 dead Americans who died in Iraq would be alive if Gore had been sworn in. I believe hundreds of thousands of Iraqis would be alive too. I don't just believe these things. I know them.

In fact, I try not to think too often about the 2000 election. It is too painful. I got over the 2004 election by midnight on election day. I'm still not over 2000.

The question I have to ponder now is whether Al Gore is the leader I believe he is.

Is he worthy of all my might-have-beens?

Because I have to say that if he does not run in 2008, I have to consider that he is just a good man, not a great one.

After all, he has to know that he is the only Democrat (with the exception of Bill Clinton) who is completely qualified to serve as President.

Yes, we have some decent candidates out there. I think Obama and Edwards are both good candidates and would be good Presidents.

But neither they, nor any other potential candidate, is in Gore's league.

Gore has been warning us about this looming disaster -- and explaining how to fix it -- for 20 years.

I know why he would want to pass on another run. I can hardly imagine how anyone could endure the lies and libels that the GOP would hurl at him. And there is no guarantee he would defeat John McCain (as much the media's favorite as Gore is its whipping boy).

On the other hand, I think he has a better chance of winning than any other possible candidate. He is more experienced than McCain and hundreds of years younger.

He is right about the war while McCain is more wrong than any other major politician including George W. Bush.

Plus, he won once. Why would the electorate that gave him a majority in 2000 deny him one in 2008?

So it's up to him?

There is a big difference.

He has to run.

And while I'm at it, I have to say that he should pick Obama as his VP. Gore-Obama is a sure ticket to victory is to run as a ticket in the primaries. Let primary voters know that a vote for Gore is a vote for Gore-Obama. (Although I have to concede that Gore-Clinton has a nice ring to it too).

Unbeatable.

So the question is. Just how much of a patriot is Al Gore? America needs him. Now more than ever before.

I think he's a great patriot and the one candidate out there who would be the next FDR.

He'll run and he'll win.

Read The Full Article:
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Imagine Life Differently -- and a New Year's
Resolution

post from Daily Kos on 01 January 2007 11:39:38 AM. © Daily Kos

(Promoted from the diaries... Devilstower)

My favorite quote of the moment comes from the 2006 paperback edition of Bill McKibben's The End of Nature

The eldest President Bush was facing a reelection battle against Bill Clinton, and so advisers persuaded him to attend the world environmental summit in Rio de Janeiro, possibly the most optiistic moment in recent history. Before he went, however, he told a press conference that "the American way of life is not up for negotiation." If that's true, if we can't imagine living any differently, then all else is mere commentary.

One thing that unites Kossacks, IMO, is that we imagine a different life, a different world, a better one, a better path forward ... and we all, in our own ways, fight to achieve those visions (whether shared or not).

I am imagining life differently. One path terrifies me. am terrified at the world that we are creating at a head-long pace. Global Warming ... I am terrified at economic prospects in coming years ... Peak Oil.

And, I imagine life differently and it energizes me to fight to Energize America.

Bill McKibben's The End of Nature is one of those books that should be required reading of all Americans -- perhaps as part of High School 'global citizenship' programs that would help understand the interactions of our lives with those around us (human and otherwise), today and into the future, and how this feedbacks to affect our own lives (out into the future).

The End of Nature is about Global Warming -- published first in 1989, it was the first mass accessible book about Global Warming. "The End of Nature" refers to McKibben's (convincing) thesis that atmospheric changes due to CO2 (and related GHG) emissions have eliminated the concept of "untouched" wilderness and wrecked the notions of the constants of nature so central to core concepts of the world. McKibben calls on us (US) to think differently to try to avert the consequences he (and many experts) saw looking into the future.

In particular, my "imagine life differently" focus relates to Peak Oil and Global Warming. My casual concerns over these have, thanks to learning sparked by the likes of Jerome a Paris, turn to varying levels of fear and utter terror as I try to comprehend the world that we -- collectively -- are creating for ourselves and the future. I am learning ever more about the feedbacks and interconnections that are such a part of The End of Nature.

Bill McKibben's latest article, Energizing America, appeared in the Sierra Club magazine. McKibben, not for the first, time specifically called out the Daily Kos effort (led by Jerome a Paris) Energize America for praise (page 3)

Since Guillet's day job involves analyzing the economics of energy projects, he soon expanded his sphere to explaining the basics of the energy crisis. Before long, others on the site interested in the same issues found themselves working with Guillet to produce, revise, and then revise again a detailed 20-point plan they call "Energize America," a remarkably comprehensive energy strategy that pays full attention to political reality. Currently in version 5.0, the plan proposes ideas ranging from the Passenger Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Act and the Wind Energy Production Tax Credit Act to measures designed to boost telecommuting, experiment with state renewable energy efforts, and put solar panels on 20 million roofs. It's precisely the kind of full-blown proposal that, if adopted, might fundamentally reorient our energy future.

We -- here at Daily Kos and, in my case, the Kossacks involved in Energize America -- are striving to imagine life differently.

I am a pessimistic optimist. My pessimism envisions an extremely bleak future (sadly within far near a term future), with terrifying economic (political, global, and perhaps conflict) havoc from Peak Oil and mass damage from Global Warming capped with a horrible die off to come.

My optimism drives a belief that I (that we) have something to say about this future. That we have the potential to change our path as I said in my presentation at Yearly Kos 2006:

the United States is hurtling toward the cliff like Thelma and Louise , but we're in our Hummers rather than a convertible. And, we are dragging the world ... and future generations ... behind us, bound hand and foot by our dangerous habits and shaky energy structure. Energize America seeks to take us out of our obsolete, fuel-guzzling Hummers, hurtling into a dismal future, into 100+ mile per gallon (mpg), composite, flex-fuel, plug-in hybrid cars and SUVs that will allow us to turn aside from the cliff into a brighter and sustainable future.

In my life,From the Home to the Globe, I am striving to do my part to affect this change. Whether putting insulation in my roof, participating in The Climate Project (training by Al Gore on An Inconvenient Truth, with a commitment to give presentations in the future), or communicating to others (including on Daily Kos), I am striving to turn us away from that cliff.

As part of those efforts, I plan to take up dannyinla's challenge and will diligently challenge those who seek to maintain a path hurtling over that cliff, whether that is inefficient Christmas light displays, McSUVs, not recyling aluminum cans, challenging Astroturf or Global Warming enablers (like Robert J Samuelson) ... but dannyinla's challenge referred to Daily Kos and I will take up that challenge TO CHALLENGE those here who do not comprehend the reality of the threats that Peak Oil and Global Warming portend for us, US, and the future.

For example, I am absolutely fed-up with all the reactions here at DailyKos about gasoline taxes. Now, I am not a believer any longer in gasoline tax -- I want a Global Warming Impact Fee-- but, the American "Way of Life" must be open for 'negotiation' or else we are calling into question the potential for even having a 'way of life' that is worth living for tomorrow's Americans (or, the later years of today's Americans -- both are true).

But, my reaction to 'gas tax is impossible ... is immoral because X, Y, Z' is "if that is true, if we can't imagine living any differently, then all else is mere commentary." We must change and a gasoline tax might be part of the package for making the change. We can figure out how to use the revenues to fast convert charities, government, people lower on the economic scale to lower-GHG (better fuel mileage) transportation. We can use the revenue in many ways, but exemptions -- forget it, we want everyone (EVERYONE) to be seeking ways to cut their requirements for GHG-related fuels. Exemptions cut at that incentive.

And, I will be extremely happy to see the end of subsidies (direct and indirect) to oil, coal, etc ...

But, I can imagine life differently -- and I am terrified at the world that we are creating at a head-long pace. Global Warming ... I am terrified at economic prospects in coming years ... Peak Oil.

I cannot any longer leave stand any comment about 'gasoline taxes are regressive' -- not anymore. Is there any "tax" more regressive than the damage that we are doing to the globe and the dangers it creates for the potential of human life in the years ahead? Politically inconvenient? Perhaps -- but what is politics about but striving to create a better polity for all, and a better polity that is improving into the future. Without a meaningful confrontation of both Peak Oil and Global Warming, that future will not be better.

Nor can I leave stand comments about 'this is beyond us' or 'we can't do anything' or ... I refuse ... I accept dannyinla's challenge to challenge ... And, that is a subset of ... My New Year's Resolution:

Imagine Life Differently ...

Imagine it Better ...

And

Seek to create that better life ...

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/69353036/40704

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On the Bright Side

post from All Spin Zone on 01 January 2007 11:34:00 AM. © All Spin Zone

The Onion’s cover this week is about Dubya. There’s a whole bunch of stories linked there, like the one about Dubya hiding the National Report Card in the sock drawer, or the one where Bush urges Iraqis to pass an amendment against gay marriage. The issue is a compilation of all things Bush [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://allspinzone.com/wp/2007/01/01/on-the-bright-side/

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Not Just A Number

post from Firedoglake on 01 January 2007 11:30:02 AM. © Firedoglake

The US military death toll in Iraq has topped 3,000 (H/T to Barbara O'Brien posting at C&L for this link to Time), and this morning I am asking myself how long the Bush Administration and the McCain/Lieberman doctrinal supporters of escalation[...]

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http://www.firedoglake.com/2007/01/01/not-just-a-number/

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Let's NOT Bomb Iran In 2007

post from NewsHog on 01 January 2007 11:28:00 AM. © NewsHog

Happy New Year and welcome to 2007.

The neocon narrative for war with Iran kicked up a notch over the Christmas period (more of that later, either today or tomorrow) and as we head into 2007 my guess is that the clamor for war will only get stronger.

Let's see if we can help stop that happening.

Here's a good first step - creating a leftwing and progressive narrative on Iran which shows that bombing a nation into oblivion isn't the only way. Eteraz has a great post:

At the current time the Right has enunciated two starkly problematic approaches to Iran. The first is the military option; something mimicking Iraq. The second is the even more idealist option in which "the Iranian people" are roused to replace their oligarchs, and in the process, magically become secular liberals (who would then somehow replace their nuclear ambitions with nuclear non-proliferation and give up their regional hegemonic dreams). Fact is, there is no reason to believe that a democratic Iran would have ambitions any lesser than an oligarchic Iran. Something more has to be done.

It is patently obvious that the first strategy is simply not viable -- insert here the multifarious logistical and military reasons for why the U.S. is not capable of any kind of sustained military campaign (a little something called Iraq and Afghanistan hinder that mission). The second option is problematic because there is no such thing as "the Iranian people." Large parts of Iranian opposition to the regime comes not from the secular elites (who for the most part are in Los Angeles and Stockholm), but from ultra-traditionalist Ayatollahs like Bourojourdi who happen to disagree with the regime on theological grounds (as they believe that the Iranian state was not meant to become co-extensive with the idea of the Mahdi). The Right never asks how it will transform a society of 60+ million into one secular liberal monolith; and upon realizing that it has no meaningful answer to this conundrum, it consents to a discourse that is largely rooted in the use of arms (which some think should be total and some say surgical). None of these solutions are viable and I believe the Left can do better.

And he has some suggestions on how the Left could create its own narrative. Great stuff and a "must read".

Read The Full Article:
http://cernigsnewshog.blogspot.com/2007/01/lets-not-bomb-iran-in-2007.html

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Escalation

McCain and Lieberman don't want this family to be happy.

Read The Full Article:
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_12_31_atrios_archive.html#116766816856121761

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Universal

Krugman reminds us of just how stupid and expensive our health care system. I tend to side with him that constructing elaborate and insurance-industry-plans is likely a sucker's game, but I think what's most important is convincing enough politicians that universal health care is something they should get behind. The details, while important, are something we can fight about.

Krugman leaves out one thing - not only do we spend more than everyone in the world on health care, our government spends more than other governments spend on health care.

Read The Full Article:
http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_12_31_atrios_archive.html#116766766698358643

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Olbermann Draws the Line

The tactics of The Decider and his bully-boy administration can't be summed up any better than this, the essay Keith Olbermann delivered last night on MSNBC, "There is no line this President has not crossed."

Take a moment to watch and listen.

The GOP should be brought to account for their behavior. We can curb their Congressional excesses and corruption, and hopefully.... "Scandals Alone Could Cost Republicans Their House Majority".... is a bellwether, signaling the end of the GOP total grip, and reckless use, of power.

November.... vote!

Read The Full Article:
http://whathappenedtomycountry.blogspot.com/2006/11/olbermann-draws-line.html

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Haggard.... Heal Thyself

So, are we to have a tearful Jimmy Swaggart "I have sinned" moment from another influential Baton Rouge-bred evangelical pastor?.... "Church Leader Resigns After Gay Sex Claim" .... and there is more. Drug use, methamphetamine to be exact.

The pastor is Ted Haggard, the Colorado Springs megachurch, president of National Association of Evangelicals, Bush White House insider, that Ted Haggard.

Fed up with Haggard's outspoken opposition to same-sex marriage, paid gay escort Mike Jones revealed that he had a three-year sexual relationship with Haggard and witnessed the pastor using meth, and has voice-mail and other proof of the relationship.

After initial denials, an associate pastor at Haggard's New Life church now relates that Haggard has admitted to some of the charges.

Hypocrisy is nothing new in the sanctimonious evangelical world, but Haggard may have taken it to a jaw-dropping realm.

To quote Haggard, "If a person has homosexual tendencies... they need to practice abstinence."

A fawning Harpers article written in May of 2005, says of Haggard, "Pastor Ted soon began upsetting the devil's plans. He staked out gay bars, inviting men to come to his church..." said the spider to the fly.

Haggard preached about his perceived Underworld.... "an underworld of people. The tattoo crowd, the people into drugs, the people into sex. You find 'em.... in the Underworld." He wanted to save the people in the Underworld.... as it turns out, his world.

Haggard told Harpers, "I want my finances in order, my kids trained, and my wife to love life.... I don't want surprises, scandals, or secrets.... I want stability."

Surprises? Like the one your wife and the mother of your five children just got that undoubtedly sent her scurrying to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases? Those kinds of surprises?

Haggard is the evangelical political lynch-pin and staunch ally of the Bush administration. So... in these crucial few days before the elections the GOP religious conservatives are desperately trying to downplay the scandal. Saying it doesn't reverberate nationally, it's merely a Colorado Springs story...

Yet, according to Harpers, "Pastor Ted, who talks to President George W. Bush or his advisers every Monday.... presides over the NAE, whose 45,000 churches and 30 million believers make up the nation's most powerful religious lobbying group, and also over a smaller network of his own creation, the Association of Life-Giving Churches, 300 or so congregations," not to mention the 14,000 some membership of his New Life church.

Because of Haggard's influence, some call Colorado Springs the "evangelical Vatican." Just imagine the religious bombshell if it was discovered that the Pope was a practicing gay meth user. No, this isn't just an insignificant local matter, this rocks worlds.

"No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted.... what Pastor Ted has built in Colorado Springs is not just a battalion of spiritual warriors but a factory for ideas to arm them."

Among the ideas being manufactured in Haggard's factory is strident gay-bashing, to enshrine in our Constitution, and state Constitutions, an amendment that in effect denies equal rights to gays in their life choices. A moralizing amendment, drafted by moralizing "Haggards."

What better argument for separation of church and state!

NOVEMBER 7..... VOTE!

Read The Full Article:
http://whathappenedtomycountry.blogspot.com/2006/11/haggard-heal-thyself.html