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Two thumbs up, John!
An Open Letter To Al Gore
Dear Mr. Gore,
I caught your live interview on CNN's Larry King Show Tuesday night.
Several thoughts and a few suggestions, if I may.
First, TV pundits are abuzz these days over whether you will or won't run for president, as I'm sure you're aware of. The chit-chatter, while amusing, frankly leaves me bewildered.
Point is, what's there to speculate over? What's the mystery?
It's glaringly obvious, to me at least, that you've already made your decision: It's a go. (The 25-day 'book tour', a thinly disguised Kabuki, is but the warm-up to a formal announcement, I know. Polls show that, despite resistance from Party insiders, you're a shoo-in for the nomination.)
Which is why I write you this open letter.
In your interview, you assailed the Bush administration's newly created Homeland Security Department, which breezed through the Senate Tuesday night, 90-9.
Angrily, you branded it a hack tool, the sordid connivance pushed by a power-hungry President, drunk with venal delusions of grandeur and glory, hell-bent on lock-boxing all internal dissent, marching ruthlessly headlong towards world domination and tyranny.
From your statement, clearly you see Bush as a dangerous threat -- a domineering, autocratic despot in the making, with global military designs.
Could buses loaded with Muslim-Americans headed for internment camps, a horrid, grisly web of political repression, supervised by Karl Rove the Terrible, be the next step?
You seem to think so -- or won't rule it out.
You castigated a recent court ruling expanding the Justice Department's authority to track down suspected spies and subversives as a horrific violation of individual privacy.
As the Father of the internet, you took special umbrage at the announcement by Attorney General John Ashcroft of the development of a computer system to streamline the court approval process, assisting investigators hunting down foreign agents and illegal combatants.
"I think there ought to be a lot of resistance to this," you told Larry King, adding that "one reason I'm speaking out on it here is to try to do my part..."
On foreign policy, you accused Bush of squandering international good will in the wake of 9/11, calling his heavy-handed approach arrogant and condescending.
On Afghanistan, you rapped Bush for botching the mission hopelessly, excoriating his refusal to "support efforts in the international community to put a big force of 35,000, 40,000 people there..."
On Iraq, you charged the Bush administration with wily deception, denying any link between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda.
"I don't think there is a connection between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. If there is, I'd like to ... know it."
You said Bush has lost focus, searching for new bogey-men, rather than concentrating on Job #1, hunting down al-Qaeda.
The bottom line is this:
This drumbeat of constant criticism, you hope, slowly erodes public confidence and support for George W. Bush, whose job you're after.
Your goal is to undermine and ultimately discredit Bush, both at home and abroad.
The imperative is to drive down Bush's stubbornly high job approval ratings and, in sowing doubts on his leadership, subverting the tide of unity and patriotism sweeping the nation post-9/11.
While Bush has drawn the country together, you aim to pull the country apart, fanning the flames of division and discord, rekindling partisan rivalries, demoralizing public resolve.
Mr. Gore, my advice to you, if I may be so bold, is to keep up the good work, sir. I'm behind your efforts 100%, my friend. I pledge to fully support your coming campaign, your effort to effect regime change in America, 2004. Way to go!
Sincerely,
Osama bin Laden
P.S. I wish to formally express my sincerest thanks to you, and to former president Clinton, for rejecting Sudan's offer to extradite me to America back in 1996. Whew! Dodged a big one there.
As a token of my gratitude, please accept a big, fat check, some sentimental al-Qaeda memorabilia and a personally autographed al-Qaeda family photo album. Thanks, again!
Oh, one more thing: Grow back that beard, Al! Trust me, it'll be a hit on the campaign trail!
Well, happy campaigning -- and keep saying American is losing the war ... hearing you say that is great for al-Qaeda morale, if you know what I mean ;^)
My two cents...
"JohnHuang2"
It's amazing to me that the 'RATS, after losing so big on November 5th, think that the solution is a hard left turn. 
SCOUTS OUT!
John, that is an excellent essay. You given us lots to think about, tied a number a things together in one thoughtful package. Thanks!!
A beautiful day here in n.e. Ohio, at least til the rain arrives....
Great essay!
Thanks to everyone for yesterday... sorry I couldn't have stayed around longer.
These threads are great! I wish each of you a wonderful day and hope to see you later this evening!
Sincerely,
-grump
