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

[ohioWfan]

You hit on two key points there, spatso. "Unthinking selfishness" and "lack of thought."

It's all about emotion, with no thought of the consequences of these tantrums.

That is why they go against the very core of what is conservative. Thoughtful, idea-based dialogue about what is in the best interest of the country.

There is very little of that left here.

[ohioWfan]

I have not lost faith in the President, and what he knows that others do not, and the way that he is going about accomplishing his overall goals.

What I have lost faith in is the ability of this forum to be a force for good because of the emotional nonsense going on here.

We have been invaded. Something indeed is "up."

[TeddyCon]

[jw777]

i wish he were a right wing extremist. if he were, he'd close the borders like 5yrs ago.

[jw777]

Al Gore should stick to promoting movies about Global Warming the same week that Scientists say that the Arctic used to be the Tropics!

[Right Wing Assault]

If 50 million people voted for the "renegade extremist", what does that say about half of the voters in the US? Is it really possible to have 50 million "renegade extremists" in the US? A "renegade extremist" sounds like a pretty rare creature to me.

[wizardoz]

Don't forget to thank God for making him so darn cute!

[Dolphy]

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 don't understand it except these so called conservatives are behaving as the parody the left makes of them. If they are in fact honest conservatives, then they have driven me from their ranks. I throw away their literature, I have turned off their radio shows.

[ohioWfan]

Blasphemy is a sin. When your mockery of me, involves a Holy God whose Name is NOT to be taken in vain, you are on very thin ice.

Be careful of what you are doing. You aren't sinning against me by taking God's name in vain. You are sinning against HIM.

[ohioWfan]

I doubt that even half of these people are conservatives, Dolphy. They are angry, spite filled people, some leftists, some just bitter.

There is one goal alone here..........that is to drive a wedge between conservatives. Those holding the sledge hammers on this forum are NOT counted among us.

[wizardoz]

Blasphemy is a sin. When your mockery of me, involves a Holy God whose Name is NOT to be taken in vain, you are on very thin ice. Be careful of what you are doing. You aren't sinning against me by taking God's name in vain. You are sinning against HIM.

OOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo!!!!!!

[Alia]

What I have lost faith in is the ability of this forum to be a force for good because of the emotional nonsense going on here.

When I distance myself from the nonsense, I see another conservative split tent in operation. I've been engaged in fighting the illegal immigrant movement since the early 90s. I'm informed. So, I mostly just pass on by those posts put forward by the recently engaged. (But I do study their Bush Bashing techniques and tag-teaming).

There are times, OhioWFan, that I know that what I'm seeing are those "newly awakened" to politics. Where they might have previously been uninformed or yes, even "moderates".

The thing about the "illegal immigrant" as a starting point is, it encourages one to open doors into all kinds of other side issues relevant to politics and elections.

On these boards, it's kinda like observing a Maginot Line in operation.

And in order for that Maginot Line to continue forward, often those with the belly of fire, cannot countenance more reasonable voices, or rather "seasoned" ones.

And the longer I have witnessed the unnecessary "Bush bashing" the more I have observed the fruits of aversion therapy: Folks will agree with President Bush to spite the "Bush Bashers".

Ach, well, and as you have no doubts observed, the "immigrant maginot line-rs" will ultimately meet up with the sleeper "pro-open borders posters" and will thereby have to make decisions, themselves.

Yes, something is definitely "up".

[ohioWfan]

Your observations are noted, Alia, and appreciated for an objectivity rarely seen on the subject.

Thanks for your input as more food for thought as I work through my analysis and understanding of what is afoot....