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First, Al Gore finally stepped out and publicly endorsed Senator Obama's bid for the White House, following months of speculation as to when he might do so. That was good for Obama. Probably not so good for the Senator was that the announcement was made in Michigan, where Gore's thoughts on auto emissions fail to garner any popularity points for the former VP, especially among those who live and die, economically, within the auto industry.
What I found amusing (read almost made me barf!) was the fact that the big-wigs in the online media began calling him the "Gore-acle," as if he were speaking for the almighty. Or that what he had to say was tantamount to prophetic -- or even from the heart of God Himself. Or that maybe Gore IS the almighty.
To give Al Gore credit for wielding that much power and importance is a little much, wouldn't you say? The national media obviously is once again trying to build on something that simply isn't there. They have no doubt crowned him "top-dog" in his party long before any such coronation is called for. They have, in my humble opinion, created a monster.
Watch him strut to the podium. Watch him smile and wave and receive the applause with great pleasure. Watch him slap backs and glad hand and whisper into the ears of the folks who are almost wetting themselves to be in his presence.
The Gore-acle?
Excuse me, but who died and made Al Gore God?
Second, I would be remiss if I failed to mention the horrendous happenings as of late in the formerly great state of California. You know what I'm talking about, and -- deep down inside of you where you don't let anyone else see or go -- in the depths of your soul where all of your secret thoughts and beliefs lay in hiding to make you appear more politically correct than your friends and neighbors -- in that hidden place where you cry in torment over the cruelty that you see in the world -- in that secret place that is only accessed by you and your creator -- you know it's wrong.
And finally, the rains came down and the water came up and thousands of people are now homeless and suffering. This week Iowa took the brunt of the raging torrent that has become the late spring and early summer of 2008. And it looks as if folks in Illinois and Missouri might be next. While earthquakes and wildfires plaque other regions of the world, Iowans sift through the muck and toxic waste to salvage what they can of their lives.
While the whole of creation cries out for deliverance from the effects of sin run rampant, we sit in front of our flat screen TVs and watch the talking heads bash one another for what they believe.
What's wrong with this picture?
Comments
ColumbiaCowboy, I don't know what your comment was in reference to. Was it the article or was it in reference to my two previous comments -- one in response to the article and the other in response to pastorskidsdad's comment regarding my original comment.
If you look at my previous comment carefully you will find that I make reference to the Author's written statements and then I carefully disect his statements for the whole World to see. Clearly, the Author was attempting to smear the good name of Vice President Gore. He Refered to Vice President Gore as a "monster" which he clearly states as his opinion.
Perhaps you might have understood the discussion better if you had read the article then all the comments. Never the less, you and I are, from what I can see in your comment, in full agreement about Vice President Gore being a fine man who has served his Nation with honor and distinction.
Heavens, here we go again...
First off, the comment about "Gore=acle" was made, the author said, by ONLINE writers...meaning nobody of significance.
Secondly, it's quite obvious they were talking sarcastically. Nobody thinks Gore is God.
Then, the mixup about someone "creating a monster" gets turned into "he said he was a monster!"
Slow down and hear and see what really was said, WHO said it, and then find out if it's true and if it's the slightest bit significant before responding.
This is a major pain because I'm a long-time Al Gore supporter, was a delegate for Gore, and we saw this SAME stupid stuff clobber his campaign when his comments, which were truthful and significant, about the major role he played in the internet going from something you needed high level military clearance to use to something we all use every day got turned into "Al Gore said he invented the internet!" and this, combined with the totally false claim that he said he discovered Love Canal, which he never said, an "honesty problem" was created out of thin air where none really existed, the significant issue of Gore's excellence on science and tech issues was nullified, and before you know it one of the really excellent Vice-Presidents we'd ever had was beaten by a guy barely qualified for a low-level administration job.
By the way, I see a comment here about "the media and the Democratic Party", speaking of untrue myths the silly one about how the media is so liberal or pro-Democrat was disproven for the billionth time when the press failed miserably to do any responsible reporting on the whole internet comment thing, instead sort of chuckling along with the rest of the country as the "facts" of the matter seemed to come from Jay Leno. But we already knew that whole thing was bogus...if the press were truly pro-Democrat, none of us would ever have heard of Monica Lewinski. Instead, she became the most famous person in the country for months.
Now...as for the story here, yeah, it's very significant that Gore endorsed Obama, he's absolutely one of the most respected Democratic leaders in the nation, has strong ties to the Clinton family, so it's a big deal. I agree that Michigan probably isn't hard-core Gore country, but that's really not the big story, the story is the endorsement, not where it happened.
Democrats of every stripe, liberal to moderate, across the country across the ages across the races across the philosophies are coming together behind Barrack Obama, THAT is the story.
Well pastorskidsdad,
You say the Author did not refer to Vice President Gore as a monster. Here is that line again,
"They have, in my humble opinion, created
a monster."
(Bob G. Stewart, "The Shepherd's Heart/Our attention elsewhere, deliverance remains elusive," June 19, 2008).
Now let's look at this line closely. He does blame "they," which we know from the previous line he is refering to the media,...so far so good. Then he says, "...created a monster." So we see that he is refering to Vice President Gore as "...a monster." Futher we see that this is his opinion and not the opinion of the media when the Author says "in my...opinion."
Yes he definately is refering to Vice President Gore as a Monster.
Ok, again, so far so good.
Next, pastorskidsdad, you tell us that just having been Vice President does not make the man worthy of honor and respect. Well that is probably true, however there are stark differences between Vice President Gore and the man you cite, Vice President Cheney.
Vice President Gore served with out ever having Articles of Impeachment offcially entered into the official Congressional record against him. However, Vice President Cheney cannot say the same. Vice President Cheney had Articles of Impeachment entered into the record against him last December and in addition to that, there is a mountain of evidence that suggests Vice President Cheney may have committed a hell of a lot of crimes while in office. While he may never be impeached or convicted, certainly he has been very confrontational in his refusals to cooperate with House and Senate investigations, in their attempt to do the job the Majority elected them to do, and a dark cloud remains over his tenure as Vice President. In addition, rather than volunteering to serve his Country in the U.S. Army or to serve in the Army when called upon by his local draft board, Vice President Cheney opted out, not just once but 5 different times on deferments and never served a single day in the Military, the Navy, or in Vietnam.
No such accusations have ever been brought against Vice President Gore. In addition, even when, in the 2000 Election, there were clearly many disputed votes in Florida, Vice President Gore, as President of the Senate himself, insisted they put the issue to rest, accept the votes that were not disputed in Florida, and move on -- an election where Vice President Gore received 539,000 more undisputed votes Nationwide than did President Bush. Now that is the Courageous act of a great and honorable man who might very well have been elected to the Presidency.
In fact, Vice President Gore's entire service to our Country has been that of great honor and distinction, begining with his service as a volunteer soldier (enlisted man at that) in the Vietnam war -- serving in a combat zone as an Army Military Correspondent, often reporting in areas that brought him under direct fire from the enemy -- after Graduating "*** laude" from Harvard University where he was 1 of only about a dozen of the 1,115 Harvard graduates in the Class of '69 who volunteered to serve in Vietnam. , his multiple terms as a Congressman in the House of Representitives (1977-1985), his multiple terms as a U.S Senator for the State of Tennessee (1985-1993), and his multiple terms as Vice President (1993-2001) were, according to the record, all done with out one black mark on his record and with great honor and dignity. He also has a huge list of accomplishments including the Winning of the coveted "Webby Award" awarded him in 2005 for his work on the "High Perfomance Computing and Communication Act" of 1991 which led to the creation of the "National Information Infrastucture,", aka "the internet"). In addition, not only did he Receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for "efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." (http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2007/), but he also went on to receive an Academy Award for his documentery, "An Inconvient Truth". It is that kind of service that helps us see the difference between the kind of Vice President Albert Gore Jr. was verses the undistinguished -- and possibly criminal -- service we have seen from Vice President Cheney. Clearly, your argument (perhaps one might even call it an attempt to "smear" Vice President Gore) just doesnt hold up under scrutiny.
Your statement regarding the Nobel Peace Prize is at the least odd and very misleading. You say,
"And as far as the Nobel goes, one doesn't have to look very long at the list of prize recipients to ascertain that one does not have to be a man or woman of integrity to win the thing."
Actually Sir, your statement tends to ignore the very list you claim you have you viewed and the extremely honorable receipients of this highly respected Award. Such Nobel Peace Prize Laureates include President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Martin Luther King, Mikhail Gorbachev, Nelson Mandela, Kofi Annan, The Dalai Lama, Lech Walesa, Mother Teresa, George C. Marshall (post WWII "Marshall plan that created Modern Europe from the ruble heap of WWII), American hero Admiral Cordell Hull, and President Woodrow Wilson, just to name a handful of the highly respected and honorable people on the list you refer to. You would be hardpressed to find many people that would be willng to say this is a list of dishonorable people.
Finally sir, since you seem rather confused at my internet name, let me share a bit of the history and reason behind my use of the internet name, News Across the Neocon Empire. Way back in 2001 I used to visit a lot of Yahoo political chat rooms where I would engage in discussions with folks from every political persuasion. I found that the "new conservatives" or "neocons" as they are often referred to (fomer conservative, Southern Democrats who lacking loylty, dediction, or priniciple abandonded their party and their ideals and became Republicans in the "Reagan" Era) would often to respond to factual statements that did not seem to support their view by pressing the ignore button. Soon, under my previous name, they (neocons) would immediatly iggy me as soon as I came into the rooms. So I began using the name you see me using now. I would simply post articles from mainstream news sources and facts that did not support their false statements and let the readers and chatters decide the issues for themselves with out interjecting my opinions. This was before we had learned that neocon leaders such as President George W. Bush had intentionally lied us into war. For example, I would post reports from the U.N. Inspection teams in which they stated they could find absolutely no evidence of nuclear weapons or a nuclear program in pre-war Iraq -- which was later confirmed by our own soldiers in the field. I posted the news that was occuring in what I viewed as the conservatives' "neocon empire." Thus my internet name -- News Across the Neocon Empire. I hope that clears up your confusion on my name.
As to my personal political beliefs. Yes sir, I most certainly and proudly am left of center. I am such because of my education and because of my personal beliefs in individual liberty, patriotism, and a solid belief in the rule of law, our Constituion, and our Democratic Republic. I am proud to say that I was liberal before liberal was cool. I am pleased that the majority of Americans -- based on recent polls and the last Congressional election of 2006 -- are also leaning left of center. Its does feel good to be in the majority! Take a good look around you sir. There aren't many conservatives (neocons) left anymore. The fact is that conservatism and the Republican Party have become synonymous with lies, liars, corruption, hypocrisy, genocide, theft, war-mongering, and tyrrany. And yes sir, those are not values I hold dear nor are they the values the American Majority hold dear. We the People rejected the Republican Party and its lack of American moral values in the 2006 election, and we, the overwhelming majority of Americans, are continuing that rejection of those Anti-American Republican "values" today.
Simply put sir, the old days when neocons could win elections or discredit the messenger by simply pointing their finger and saying "he is a liberal" are over. The American people have had enough of "Republican Values" (lying, corruption, torture, ect) that we have seen put into policy over the last 8 years under neocon, Republican President George W. Bush and this majority of Americans are now about to not only put a Democrat in the White House, but they are also about to replace those 23 Republican held Senate seats up for grabs with Democrats as well. This will mean an end to Republican minority Senators in the Senate filibustering the will of the American Majority.
Sir, the Freedom Train is speeding down the tracks and there is nothing the neocons can do to stop it. We the People choose freedom and rule of law. We the People choose liberty and justice over Republican tyrrany.
Yes sir, I am proud to be a Democrat, I am proud to be a liberal and so are most Americans now days -- get used to it!
In defense of Mr. Stewart, I don't recall him calling Mr. Gore a "monster" per se - he said the media had created a monster of their own.
And holding the office of Vice President doesn't guarantee a pass on the honor roll - if so - would neocon be willing to grant the same honor and respect to Mr. Cheney? Of course not - the office itself does not make the man (or woman) worthy of honor or respect. We've seen that many times before.
And as far as the Nobel goes, one doesn't have to look very long at the list of prize recipients to ascertain that one does not have to be a man or woman of integrity to win the thing.
Last but not least, I would have to say that someone who writes like neocon has absolutely no right to call anyone arrogant. But, historically, most social and political liberals think they alone hold the high ground on every issue. I am assuming neocon is a little more left-leaning than most. Can't figure out the moniker, however. Surely it can;t mean "neo-conservative" - unless the new conservatism has thrown morality and virtue out the window.
Needless to say, maybe a smidge of personal growth and open mindedness is needed all around?????
I was shocked to read the Column entitled," The Shepherd's Heart/Our attention elsewhere, deliverance remains elusive," where the author, Bob Stewart, writes in reference to Vice President Gore, "They [the "media" and the Democrat Party] have, in my humble opinion, created a monster." I could not help but wonder who does this clown Stewart think he is? and sir, there is nothing humble about your arrogant and uncalled for statement. Humility seems to be the least of your characteristics.
Al Gore is a highly respected, former Vice President of the United States of America serving not one, but rather, two terms in honorable service to the American People as well as serving the folks in Tennessee for many years, with great distinction, as their U.S. Senator. In addition, Vice President Gore is regarded as a great speaker and a great Statesman by many, both within and outside of the Democrat Party. Finally, Mr. Stewart just ignores the fact that Vice President Gore is a Nobel Prize winner -- a distinction that Mr. Stewart can only dream of matching in his own career. Mr. Stewart just ignores these facts and then refers to our former Vice President as a monster and for what? What terrible crime has Vice President Gore committed Mr. Stewart? On this subject the author remains silent.
Regarding California, this clown Stewart -- masquerading as a "Columnist" -- says in a vague reference to the recently upheld Constitutional rights of gay folks in california, "...horrendous happenings as of late in the formerly great state of California. " Perhaps Mr. Stewart could explain how the upholding of the Constitution (and thus the Supreme Law) in California could be "horrendous?" Perhaps someone should explain to Mr. Stewert that justice is only "horrendous" to those who would prefer the breaking of the law. It causes reasonable folks to wonder, if for no other reason, what can the marital union of two people in California, who might happen to be gay, possibly have to do with Mr. Stewart? Has his life been significantly changed by these marriages? I doubt it. Reasonable people can't help but wonder what is it in the wedded bliss of two gays (or in this case many marriages) that has Mr. Stewart so irked? What is his motivation? What is it truly "in the depths of [his] soul" that disturbs him so? Perhaps it his his own sexual bigotry that is his problem. Perhaps it his personal, disgusting, and unacceptable character flaw that motivates him so.
Perhaps Mr. Stewart needs some professional mental health treatment as well as some time for personal introspection of his wayward and misguided value system. But most of all, we can only hope that at the very least Mr. Stewart will spare us his personal bigotry in the future. However, if Mr. Stewart is not willing to take steps towards personal growth and open his mind as well as his heart, maybe the Marshall Democrat will replace Mr. Stewart's column with a better qualified columnist that can write about topics of interest with out injecting his personal bigotries into the column.