Gore: Bush is 'renegade rightwing extremist'

Guardian ^ | Wednesday May 31, 2006 | Oliver Burkeman and Jonathan Freedland

[fuyb]

Al Gore has made his sharpest attack yet on the George Bush presidency, describing the current US administration as "a renegade band of rightwing extremists". In an interview with the Guardian today, the former vice-president calls himself a "recovering politician", but launches into the political fray more explicitly than he has previously done during his high-profile campaigning on the threat of global warming. Denying that his politics have shifted to the left since he lost the court battle for the 2000 election, Mr Gore says: "If you have a renegade band of rightwing extremists who get hold of power, the whole thing goes to the right." But he claims he does not "expect to be a candidate" for president again, while refusing explicitly to rule out another run. Asked if any event could change his mind, he says: "Not that I can see." Mr Gore, who appeared at the Guardian Hay literary festival over the bank holiday weekend, is promoting An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary and book detailing the climate change crisis that he warns "could literally end civilisation". The new levels of attention he is receiving have led some Democrats to call on him to run again for president, while others have responded with anger that Mr Gore did not show the same level of passion in the 2000 campaign. He has since acknowledged that he followed too closely the advice of his consultants during that campaign, and - before he started to scoff at the idea of running again - swore that if he ever did so, he would speak his mind. In the years since, he has been a steady critic of specific

[reagan_fanatic]

[PGalt]

Gotta bump this one again for the laughs. LOL! FReeper humor...Priceless.

[theymakemesick]

Bookmark for future reference.

[Soul Seeker]

ROFL!

If Al Gore really believes this, there is no help for him.

I would love to hear his decription of the vast Majority of Freepers though. If he thinks this President represents "radical rightwing extremist" conservatism...LOL

[Cobra64]

I got news for him, the people who elected Bush, for the most part, are much further to the right than he (Bush) is, and are disappointed in many of his policies (ie. immigration, CFR, social spending, prescription drugs, etc.) but realize that the alternatives are pretty much stalinists.

Bingo! Compared to me, W is a socialist.

And Al, as long as you're doing comparisons, take a look:

[The South Texan]

[The South Texan]

[faq]

I got an even 50% right on your Gore or the Unabomber quiz. I was expecting at most maybe one or two wrong.

[Echo Talon]

that Al Gore card should be (1)Black(swamp) and (1)Green(Forest), Culture of death and envirowacko

[Northern Yankee]

Note to Algore programmers: Add more RAM and change setting from Fat Screaming Slob Drooling about Global Warming to Rational Intelligent Presidential Candidate.

Could be hard to do, as you would need to find an area where rational intelligence exists.

[Alia]

President Bush is one of two conservative Presidents in my lifetime, and I, for one, am thankful for that.

Thank you, ohioWFan. I agree. And am grateful.

[kassie]

Could be hard to do

More like Mission Impossible.

[ohioWfan]

What sickens the most is that we have this man of great, unquestionable integrity in the White House, a man who has already accomplished great things for the conservative cause, and he is being trashed like he is garbage by people claiming to be conservatives.

I have never seen anything so disgusting, and irrational in my life.

Why do these people not know history? Why do they not have a grasp on reality? What is wrong here??

[ohioWfan]

Such a sensitive boy you are.

Can you not take a concept and discuss it without assuming it's about you? (when it's not).

Thus ends our discussion. At least I tried.

[Jotmo]

bump

[Alia]

Something is definitely "up", ohioWfan.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but what continues to appear to me? Some folks are acting out and against President Bush. Perhaps he didn't pay them the homage they demand. Perhaps he didn't include them in as they thought they should be. In late 2003 half and early parts of 2004, I saw something similar to what is going on now. And I've seen it before then.

It just means its time for me to do what I've got to do, and not be spending time on the boards arguing with the single-issue voter.

What is wrong here? First inkling: they didn't like his "spending". Nor did they appreciate not being invited into the "inner circle".

Nonetheless, I have faith in the Bush Admin. They've proven themselves to me. Something is definitely up.

And I'll wager, once again, we'll be seeing certain conservatives hang-dogging it, and wondering how "this" happened.

I do understand some folks getting all upset and because they "understand" that with a stroke of a pen, President Bush can make "everything good" happen.

Sure. He can. And the immediate gratifications are immense. The long-term, however, bodes another story.

Some days I think President Bush is permitting these things and only so the usual suspects won't keep yanking his chain when he leaves office.

President Bush is one of us. He doesn't live for politics. The same can't be said for others.

Nonetheless, all things being equal, I'll be watching, doing what I can, and waiting for that trumpet which is inevitable. Rope-a-dope is going on all over the place.

So, don't lose faith, friend.

[jslade]

Poor Al. I really do feel sorry for him.

[wizardoz]

Such a sensitive boy you are. Can you not take a concept and discuss it without assuming it's about you? (when it's not). Thus ends our discussion. At least I tried.

Well, I'm not sure what you were trying, but if you're done trying, that's fine. Go on back to the Photo of the Day thread now. Doesn't he look handsome in that red tie?? (squeal!)

[spatso]

"...he is being trashed like he is garbage by people claiming to be conservatives."

Exactly, not until they have lost it will the realize what they had. I find that much of the foot stamping, child like, petulant temper tantrums of the President's conservative base is sometimes nothing more than unthinking selfishness. Like you I find myself getting steamed over the lack of thought that goes into some of this opposition.

[ohioWfan]

Now that was as intelligent a reply as I've ever read on FR./sarc

Thanks for verifying what you're made of, wiz. I was hoping for better, but alas...........you are exactly what I thought you were.......easily bruised and confused, but altogether nasty.

Judges. Life. Military. Integrity. Conservative principles strongly upheld by President Bush.

Praise God for this leader.

Praise God that the insane algor and the traitor kerry were not allowed by God to destroy this country, and that GOD placed in authority over us a man who honors HIM.