Al Gore’s Speech at The Democratic Convention
Al Gore gave an impressive speech tonight. Did you see it? Just in case you missed it, here is the full video of Al Gore’s speech at The Democratic National Convention. I’ve also included some blogger reaction to the speech. What did you think? Let me know in comments.
From Gristmill…
Al Gore, one of the headline speakers this evening at Mile High Stadium, spoke at length about the challenges of climate change and energy. “We are facing a planetary emergency, which is not like anything we have experienced in the history of humankind,” he said. Gore emphasized that there’s a common answer to the triple threats of climate change, the economic crisis, and the energy crunch. “The solutions to all three require us to end our dependence on carbon-based fossil fuels,” he said. “We need to invest in innovation … I hope we don’t have to wait until oil and coal run out to tackle that.”
From Trail Blazers Blog…
Abortion is an issue most Democrats have avoided, though its legal future will be one of the most tangible effects of the election.
But former Vice President Al Gore warned bluntly at the final session of the Democratic Convention that the next president may name as many as three Supreme Court justices, and Republican John McCain “promises to appoint more (Antonin) Scalias and (Clarence) Thomases and end a woman’s right to choose.
“Its time for a change,” he said,
Mr. Gore noted that, when he narrowly lost the presidency in 2000, “some said there was not much difference” between himself and Republican George W. Bush.
“I doubt anyone would argue now that election didn’t matter,” he said.
And he added that “today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be more obvious now because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheny White House and promising to actually continue them.
From Paul Levinson…
Al Gore won the Presidency in 2000. He certainly won the popular vote, and likely would have won the electoral college vote, too, had the Republican dominated Supreme Court not stepped in – unconstitutionally – and stopped the recount in Florida.
A lesser man might have given up public service in the face of such public abuse. But Al Gore became a citizen of the world, championing an issue upon which the future of this planet depends. He never became President, but he galvanized a planet and won the Nobel Prize.
And tonight he spoke at Mile High Stadium at the Democratic Convention on behalf of Barack Obama. Talk about appealing to our better angels – no one could spoken more eloquently of the need not only of country but our globe for an American President not beholding to oil companies and the ways of the past. As Gore aptly pointed out, the same progressive policy that would free us from dependence on oil would not only help the climate but our economy and national security as well.
Had Al Gore been allowed to become President eight years ago, he might well have been on this same stage tonight, endorsing Barack Obama as his successor.
From atypicalsnowman’s weblog…
Al Gore reminded me, about an hour ago, of how much I miss him. His speech delivered to the Democratic Convention was inspirational and he himself seemed to fill up the stage. I voted for Gore, against my parents wishes, a few months after turning eighteen in 2000. I remember watching the recount and watching as the Supreme Court seemed to turn in on itself and vote down the line, essentially making Bush president.
Seeing him today, I’m so glad he hasn’t gone into obscurity. His speech tonight was the first time anyone’s brought up climate change during this Convention. He compared Obama to Lincoln and Iraq to the Mexican War. He reminded us all that he hasn’t gone away and we don’t want him to.
