Where is he now ?
Inside the Beltway
Political tidbits and other shenanigans from the nation's capital
By John McCaslin THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The planet's future
If Vice President Al Gore really wants to become the next president of the United States, he'd better begin by getting a grip on reality.
Inside the Beltway has obtained two letters, the first sent to Mr. Gore by an elderly couple, Joe and Dolores Delgadillo of Dallas. The second letter is the vice president's reply to Mr. and Mrs. Delgadillo.
In the first letter, Mr. and Mrs. Delgadillo explain to Mr. Gore how much they rely on the government-owned Amtrak trains to visit their children and grandchildren in Chicago and on each coast. The couple reminds the vice president that President Clinton relied on train travel to reach the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
"The train has been our main-stay," the couple states. "Yet your administration is killing our Texas Eagle. This makes us sick."
The Texas Eagle is the Amtrak train that for years has operated between Chicago, St. Louis, Little Rock, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio. But facing a $243 million shortfall in 1997, Amtrak President Thomas Downs recently targeted four Amtrak routes for elimination, including the Texas Eagle service between St. Louis and San Antonio.
"What can you do to save our Eagle?" the couple pleaded to the vice president.
"Dear Mr. and Mrs. Delgadillo," Mr. Gore wrote back. "Thank you for your letter regarding the protection of the Texas eagle. I appreciate hearing from you.
"I share your view that the urgent problem of species extinction and the conservation of biological diversity should be addressed. The first step in saving any plant or animal from extinction is to become aware of and respect the fragile ecosystems that make up our environment ...
"Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I look forward to working with you for the future of our planet."