Why I want Al Gore to run

by: Clem Guttata

Wed Oct 10, 2007 at 06:43:41 AM EDT

As I've said several times before, I'd be quite happy to have any of the Democratic front-runners as our next President. (In alphabetic order) Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama, and Bill Richardson are all highly qualified to be President and would all start putting our country on the right track again.

[The rest of the Democratic field looks very good in comparison to the 2008 crop of Republican candidates, too. For example, I'd take Dodd over Romney or Giuliani any day.]

Still, there's one more potential candidate who I think is even more qualified to be President. Al Gore.

He has experience and can bring about change. He can restore economic prosperity for everyone and restore America's credibility around the World. Perhaps most importantly, he is the only candidate that will put the pressing issues of the global climate crisis front-and-center. We cannot afford to wait: it has to be dealt with in the next 4-8 years.

The most recent speculation surrounding Gore's potential candidacy is this Friday's announcement of the Noble Peace Prize. Gore is among the leading contenders this year.

JekyllnHyde's comment at DailyKos summarizes Gore's qualifications and counters speculation that winning matters for a Gore candidacy:

whether he wins or not.  It would be nice (VERY nice), but I doubt it's going to be the deciding factor for him.

Al Gore doesn't need the Nobel Peace Prize.  After all, he's won these awards since February

1. 'An Inconvenient Truth' won two Academy Awards for Best Documentary and Best Song.


2. Meghalaya tribal award in India.


3. Global Brand Forum Brand Icon of the Year award in Singapore.


4. Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias award for International Cooperation for his efforts to combat climate change.


5. The Gothenburg Prize for Sustainable Development in Sweden.


6. Emmy Award for 'Interactive Television Services.'


7. The Sierra Club's highest honor, the John Muir Award.


8. Oceana's Partners Award - link

And, of course

9. Nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, winner to be announced on October 12th.

Additionally, governments in Greece, Canada, and England agreed to distribute 'An Inconvenient Truth' among their schools.  

Add to the above: he has 24 years of experience (8 years each in the US House, US Senate, and as VP) in elected office which is more than the top three 2008 Democratic contenders combined (14+ years for Hillary, Obama, and Edwards). More importantly, he's identified with the leading issue of the time, Climate Change.  

Whether he wins the Nobel Peace Prize or not, there should be little doubt that he is, by and far, the most experienced and qualified person to lead this country after the disaster of the Bush Years.

What do you think?

Would you like to see Gore run for President? A lot has changed since 2000, how do you think he'd do in West Virginia in 2008?