http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/129992.html

Climate issue will factor in US presidential election, Gore says

Posted : Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:23:00 GMT

Vienna - Positions on climate change will play an important role in the 2008 presidential elections in the United States, former US vice president and climate crusader Al Gore said Wednesday in Vienna. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate visited the Austrian capital to speak at an event organized by a local mobile phone provider.

In his speech, Gore reiterated that he did not intend to run for president, but did not rule out a political comeback in the future.

"Maybe I will do it in the future," Gore told the Vienna audience, but said now he was happy in his role advocating climate issues.

Gore said he was doing what was the right for him, the Austrian press agency reported. As long as he believed that he would continue to urge people to rethink their opinions and save the planet, Gore said.

After meeting with the politician turned climate fighter, Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer said Gore believed the tide on the environment debate was turning in the United States, with environment and climate-related issues receiving more public attention, and bipartisan agreements were possible. Gore cited his close cooperation with the Republican governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Gore, who did not talk to the press, expressed scepticism ahead of the UN-organized climate conference on Bali, Indonesia in December, Gusenbauer said in press release. Gore doubted that the current US administration would constructively contribute to finding a post- Kyoto solution.

Gore, who is said to have received 200,000 dollars for his one- hour appearance in Vienna, focused his speech on the future of mobile technologies. Mobile phone companies are the latest in a number of industries attempting to carve out an environmentally friendly image. Telecommunications may be able aid reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by causing people to travel less and rely on long distance communication.

On his first trip to Europe after being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Gore visited Berlin on Tuesday and will continue to Paris on Thursday.

Return To Politics

Depending on what news media is reporting this story what Al says can be interpreted differently.

Al said "I have no plans to run in this election but he might return to politics in the future".

All we have to do is convince Al the "Future" is now. Al is still interested in politics and what office do you think he would run for?

Al was not asked about running this time he just included it in his speech?
I believe Al will run as long as Draft Gore keeps up the pressure.

gore for president :clap: :good:

"Maybe I will do it in the future"

Okay, here is that word future again. Does Gore mean like in 2012 or more like tomorrow. I wish he would be specific!! :unsure:

After reading the article at 'Return to Politics," what I find interesting is the fact that Gore seems to be purposely and carefully avoiding the media and any interviews, as if he doesn't want to be forced to show his hand at this time. :?:

This makes me think he is going to get in the race as some point, but the waiting is sheer torture. :wacko:

Yes it is, but like I've said many times, I'm not giving up.

I can't see him waiting until 2012 or 2016. Yes, he's relatively young, but his time is NOW, and I'm sure he knows that.

I agree EM. Gore's time is NOW. I can't see him trying in 8 years - too late - and in 4 years, there's no guarantee that he could get in if Hilary is President. Yes, now is definitely the time - to address the climate crisis and so many other critical issues.

"Maybe I will do it in the future" is different than "I have not ruled it out." He is still being coy. If Gore is considering the possibility, his strategy is clearly to make the media think he is not without completing saying no to his followers.

When he is making 250,000 dollars for a 40-minute speech, he can wait until the very last minute to enter the race without worrying about fundraising or needing to build support. And I now think Gore will wait until the last minute before making a definitive statement.

I'm sure there are a few Europeans who would like to see him run...

I am sitting here trying to think of reasons Gore would wait for the future and not run now when he knows we need him now. I was thinking of letting someone else R or D clean up Bush's mess and then run in 4 years.

But then I thought that so much could change in 4 years we could be pulled or forced into war with Iran, the new president won't do anything major for the environment that needs to be started now to take effect immediately. None of the candidates running have said anything that would produce major changes.

All of you are watching congress like me. Would Gore get their support? My husband thinks Gore won't run because he would end up like Carter, a great guy with good ideas but can't get them past congress and the people because he would be saying something they don't want to hear that we have to actually conserve, and pay more for energy to get it clean.

I don't agree with him, I voted for and love Carter, but believe Gore is more of the type of leader to get the people to follow him during tough times. I think of Katrina. I think Gore could spell out to both congress and the people in his union address why we need to change to save the planet. It would be an uprising after that, that even the media could not spin!

I still see Gore as a modern day FDR...