A truly wonderful speech Al Gore gave at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco prior to war being declared in Iraq. This is well worth reading and reacquainting yourself with if you want to remind yourself that there were at least a few people speaking sanely.

Quoted: I believe that we can effectively defend ourselves abroad and at home without dimming our core principles. Indeed, I believe that our success in defending ourselves depends precisely on not giving up what we stand for. We should have as our top priority preserving what America represents and stands for in the world and winning the war against terrorism first.

A great article on the coverage of Gore in the last election and how its biased insistence on misquotes and trivial shortcomings may have cost him the election.

Quoted: Al Gore couldn't believe his eyes: as the 2000 election heated up, <i>The New York Times, The Washington Post,</i> and other top news outlets kept going after him, with misquotes ("I invented the Internet"), distortions (that he lied about being the inspiration for <i>Love Story</i>), and strangely off-the-mark needling, while pundits such as Maureen Dowd appeared to be charmed by his rival, George W. Bush. For the first time, Gore and his family talk about the effect of the press attacks on his campaign&#8212;and about his future plans&#8212;to the author, who finds that many in the media are re-assessing their 2000 coverage.

There was a large Al Gore feature in the NYT this weekend. I've read the first page and want to read the rest...

Quoted: Another book, another slide show, another global rock concert — another run?

Go get 'em, Al! If there's one person that should see your new movie or slideshow, it's the president.

Quoted: "Why should we set aside the global scientific consensus," Gore said, his voice rising with emotion. "Is it because Exxon Mobil wants us to set it aside? Why should we set aside the conclusion of scientists in the United States, including the National Academy of Sciences, and around the world including the 11 most important national academies of science on the globe and substitute for their view the view of Exxon Mobil. Why?"

I was telling people in the office about this skit this morning. Thanks for Dotting it, Brent! I thought it was brilliant.

The cover story of Wired this month, available for free online, and really worth a read.

Quoted: He invented the Internet (sort of). He became President (almost). Now Al Gore has found his true calling: using the power of technology to save the world.

This is the transcription of an amazing speech given by Al Gore yesterday in Washington, D.C. While a long read, it encapsulates my sentiments on what I feel are startling abuses of power in our executive branch. I don't know where this fiery, spirited Al Gore was during the prior two elections (he's widely viewed as boring) but I find him much more inspirational than what I've seen before. I hope we see much more of this version of Mr. Gore... He's defintiely readying himself for another presidential run in 2008.

I long for a day when the American public debates these issues openly and broadly. As it is, I think it's telling that I had to go Alternet or Al Gore's own website to get this. Why is this not available at the New York Times (even online)?

My favorite quote is one Al Gore used from George Orwell:

Quoted: "We are all capable of believing things which we know to be untrue, and then, when we are finally proved wrong, impudently twisting the facts so as to show that we were right. Intellectually, it is possible to carry on this process for an indefinite time: the only check on it is that sooner or later a false belief bumps up against solid reality, usually on a battlefield."