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TheTanker.Com Welcomes John Bertetto

Chez Gore

I'll have the decaf personality blend, please...

The other day Susan Henderson, a teacher in California, sent me an article about a speech Al Gore gave not long ago in Manhattan. She wanted to know my thoughts on both the speech and Al Gore. In his speech, Gore’s primary subject was the Bush Administration’s focus on environmental issues. However, like all good politicians, Gore was able to slip in several comments regarding the Bush Administration on the whole. He took the time to note some of the nation's accomplishments, like the simultaneous victories in Europe and the Pacific during World War II, the Marshall Plan, the eradication of polio, the civil rights movement, and the victory over Communism in the cold war. Gore also made the statement that “the (Bush) administration's consistent goal has been to eliminate any constraints on their exercise of raw power, whether by law, regulation, alliance or treaty. And in the process, they have in each case caused America to be seen by the other nations of the world as showing disdain for the international community."

I think Gore made some valid points in his speech. Some of the greatest steps taken by this country have included those mentioned by Gore (and it's not at all coincidental that the admins in charge during all of these were Democrat - Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy). The “victory” over the Soviet Union (which is still ongoing, mind you) was spearheaded by Reagan, beginning with the SALT treaties and a very progressive Gorby. It never fails to amaze me, though, the absolute polarity in party thinking. If a Republican admin attempted the kind of social programs that Roosevelt founded, like the TVA, he'd be branded as a socialist who was trying to wrest away the rights of free enterprise from private industry. And lets not kid ourselves, both Jack and Bobby were none too fond of the civil rights movement, not until the son of a well connected New York family turned up missing in Mississippi. And Kennedy had his little Elvis in at least as many, um, regions then Bill Clinton, yet both are touted as icons of the Democratic Party. It's proof positive that character counts less than image.

I think Gore is an idiot. I won’t call him a complete idiot, but I will put him in the top quarter, right alongside Howard Dean. Al Gore is an empty vessel. He’s an actor of megalithic proportions. Hollywood bestows awards for such an ability to completely extricate one’s self from one’s self. Who is Al Gore? Is he the D.C. insider in a Brooks Brother’s suit, or is he the environmental champion in plaid and denim? Is he the clean cut Dem, or the bearded man of the mountains? Christ, even Gore doesn’t know. The man had to hire someone to teach him how to dress to be more appealing to the American public during his campaign. And this is the guy who wanted to represent us? I guy who needs advice on how to relate to us? If you’re going to bullshit to me, at least use you own bullshit.

And if you’re looking for Gore’s backbone you better check Tipper’s purse. You think he would have stared bin Laden down and said “Oh, it’s on now, bitch” like Bush did? Shit no. He’d probably be having a latte with those pussy Frenchies and telling the whole world it was our fault in the first place. If Al Gore had any spine or Integrity he would have walked away when Clinton had his jimmy crammed down some intern’s throat. And don’t give me any shit about Gore being Loyal. Gore was no more loyal than any good lapdog. And loyalty is not a saving grace. Ask the folks at Nuremberg how well loyalty works as a defense. And aren’t the Dems supposed to be the liberal party? Tipper Gore spearheaded the biggest censorship campaign of the last century. Does anyone else remember the PMRC? Listen, I don’t need my government managing my freedoms. Governmental censorship is wrong. Period. Truth be told we already have censorship. Americans censor with their dollars. If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. If everyone agrees that they don’t like it, it won’t sell and won’t be sold.

But I guess I really can’t blame Al Gore. The guy has been a puppet for so long it must be impossible for him to really know who he is. We can thank his father for that. I wonder, though. Do you think it ever pisses Gore off knowing that his father, an opponent of the Vietnam War, urged him to Vietnam to better his own political career? I guess it doesn’t really matter, since Al was placed in a position so he never got near any kind of combat. After all, it’s really just about the photo op, isn’t it? And that reminds me. A lot has been made over Bush’s military service. Considering Gore’s service, is it any ‘better’ than Bush’s? You tell me.

George Bush has not sought to eliminate all constraint on the exercise of raw power. He has sought the freedom to exercise force where it is required. As far as disdain, it’s the international community that has shown disdain for the US. Every starving nation, every oppressed country has been offered assistance by the United States. In return, some nations openly stab us in the back or abandon us. The United Nations is a great place to go for words, but little else. In our time of need, that is exactly what we got from them – words and little else. I find it sad and ironic that Al Gore could be part of an administration that watched people like bin Laden and Saddam Hussein support and participate in international terrorism, allowing it to fester virtually unchecked, then bitch about the way Bush cleans up their mess for them. The embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, the attack on the USS Cole, any of this ring a bell, Mr. Gore? This these or did these not occur during your time in the White House? We knew who was responsible and where they were. What action did you guys take? Another speech? Another UN resolution? An open condemnation? Was any of it decisive? Where were you and your jag-off boss then? Perhaps if Bill Clinton were more concerned with what was coming across his desk rather than under it all of this could have been prevented. But we’ll never know, will we, Mr. Gore. You’ll just continue to speak someone else’s words, dressed by someone else’s hand, talking shit about the way someone else is cleaning up the mess you helped create.

Hope you enjoy your latte.

Michael Farmer / TheTanker.Com E-Mail readermail@TheTanker.Com

"HEADSHOT" Featuring John Bertetto