Say Goodnight, Mr. Gore
I wonder if it seems as though I have it in for Al Gore. In a funny way, I suppose I do, but it’s not so much about politics as about honoring his father. Al Senior, though he was from Tennessee, was an early and vocal opponent of the war in Vietnam. He was a man of some principle. His son hasn’t seemed to find himself and has risen to the level of vice president on a reputation of being a virtuous plodder; not as progressive as his father.
I talk disparagingly about Al Gore’s presidential campaign because it seems so out of whack with reality. Here is a man who is not only not fit to be President of the United States, but he doesn’t want the job. And you’ll see it if you look closely at this man. All his life he’s lived in his father’s shadow; and there have been no surprises.
Gore has been in obvious anguish in his position, under Clinton. He has smiled, endorsed and campaigned for policy that he personally opposes. And he has had to endure the galling personal transgressions of the president that further illuminate the gap between the cheesy low-class red-neck in charge, and his obsequious manor-bred lackey.
I would love it if Al made a final public walk with Tipper and the family, then stepped forward to the microphone and said, "Folks, it’s time to tell the truth. I’ve spent all of these years as a politician because I thought that’s what I was supposed to do. And that was wrong. I don’t like being a public figure. Which is probably why I appear wooden."
And then Al would go on to say, "I’m getting out today. I have no business in politics, which isn’t the honorable profession of my father’s day. It has been polluted by business interests trying to buy political clout. And mostly recently it has been shamed by the atrocious conduct of Bill Clinton.
"But I have no one to blame more than myself, because I saw all this degradation and the corruption of this vital political process I once revered...I saw all of this happening and I failed to speak against it. Would it have made a difference? Maybe not in history, but at least I wouldn’t now find myself burdened by all these years of shameful silence."
"And finally," departing Vice President Gore would say, "To all of you, and the news media especially, we need to start telling the truth to each other. With people lying and cheating and others letting it go, we disgrace our heritage. The United States of America must regain its greatness and lead again. The world is waiting."
Al, sir, it’s time.
And that’s SetonnoteS...I’m Tony Seton.
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