Al Gore has a new book out today, "The Assault On Reason." I won't spoil the ending for you but let's just say that the wrong guy wins, through some dubious methods, the United States is plunged into a pre-emptive war, a record surplus becomes a record deficit and well, you've heard the rest.
Today, Al Gore reached out and had a conference call with some bloggers (the call was on the record) and here's some of the highlights.
He was witty, friendly and answered question after question. He quoted Johnny Cash.
He responded to Tony Snow's demand that he fact-check the book.
"Unlike the president's State Of The Union address, this book was actually fact-checked."
Another one of his biggest points:
What do the climate crisis and the invasion of Iraq have in common?
(Besides George Bush I was thinking.)
The fact that reason and logic weren not paid attention to -- and instead pre-conceived beliefs ruled the day -- it's like Alice in Wonderland with "The Verdict Coming Before The Trial."
What about The White House? Well, guess what?
The bloggers asked question about the book and its thesis. They didn't fall into the cheap are you running? NO ONE ASKED THAT QUESTION.
I'm here to tell you -- the bloggers were far better than Diane Sawyer, far better.
But as regards Al Gore and 2008, this is the irony of our times. Finally a politician who understands Mainstream Media is not friendly. Finally a politician who learned, the hard way, the foibles of the DC consulting class. Finally a politician who learned via time at Apple and Google the power of marketing and branding. And doesn't want to talk in sound bites.
And he doesn't want to be a politician anymore.
So here's the thing.
Al Gore is probably too decent a man to run for The White House again. Who else do you know that can recite how George Washington first spoke out against torture?
He is smart, passionate and truly cares about the country and the world. He wrote this book and embarked on this crusade against global warming because it is the right thing to do, not part of a calculated game of hidden political agenda.
As he said on the call, "I put my heart and soul in this book. I love this country." He meant it too.
But here's what I see as the light at the end of the tunnel. Al Gore knows his history. He knows that at times throughout history, the country has called for sacrifice and service and great Americans, and Al Gore is certainly one of those, great Americans answer the call.
Al Gore will answer the call. But we have to call. And we should. In a real, personal authentic way.
If you believe in Al Gore, and his mission, send him a letter.
The Honorable Al Gore
2100 West End Avenue
Suite 620
Nashville, TN 37203
I'll make sure they all get stacked up, put in a pile and placed squarely in front of him. I promise.
Now, the funniest thing to come out of the press regarding the book:
TONY SNOW DEMANDS IT BE FACT-CHECKED! Here's the story, hat tip to Think Progress.
I kid you not. He says President Bush and the administration never made a connection between 9/11 and Iraq.
Well, except these times I guess.
"The British government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought
significant quantities of uranium from Africa." - President George W. Bush,
State of the Union, 2003"You can't distinguish between Al Qaeda and Saddam, when you talk about the
war on terror." - President George W. Bush, September 25, 2002"There's overwhelming evidence that there was a connection between al Qaeda
and the Iraqi government - Vice President Dick Cheney, 2004"What I want to bring to your attention today is the potentially much more
sinister nexus between Iraq and the al Qaeda terrorist network." - Secretary
Colin Powell, 2003"The reason I keep insisting that there was a relationship between Iraq and
Saddam and al Qaeda - because there was a relationship between Iraq and al
Qaeda. - President George W. Bush, 2004"We don't know." - Vice President Dick Cheney, on whether there was a
relationship between Saddam Hussein and the 9/11 attacks"Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans, this time
armed by Saddam Hussein." - President George W. Bush, State of the Union,
2003
Stay tuned - there's surely more of this to come.