My Meeting With Al Gore

[RestoreGore]

What I am posting below was written July 17, 2006. I am posting it today because it still has an effect on me. Seeing him in person and hearing the conviction and urgency he has for the issue of saving our planet in his voice was really all I needed to know that he is now on the right path, and a path I am happy to travel with him. I do believe in my heart like Jimmy Carter, that his best years may yet be to come outside of politics. Of course, that does not mean he can never influence political events ever again (because I believe he is doing that now) and of course, there is always the temptation to go back regardless of your feelings for the system.

However, I believe there comes a time in a person's life after they have gone through a metamorphosis after a life changing event that they see the big picture. Wherever the future brings Mr. Gore in seeing that picture, I plan to be standing next to him regardless of the opinions of some who seem to think that because you support his endeavors now you are not a worthy supporter. It is hard to explain sometimes the way I feel because it goes deeper than just the "run Al Run" for the sake of winning mentality. There is more to running any campaign besides winning. To me it goes to the core of who we are as human beings, tempting fate, living our conscience, being able to keep a free soul, and making a legacy for yourself that you can look back on with humility and peace of mind. I can't tell you how honored I was to then shake this man's hand after waiting so long and to see my son shake his hand as well. He will forever be a great man and a visionary statesman to me.

July 17, 2006:

The moment I had been waiting for for 18 years came for me tonight... I finally got to shake the hand of the man I have respected for so long. Al Gore appeared at Bookends, a book store in Ridgewood NJ @ 8PM tonight to sign An Inconvenient Truth. I read about it last week and decided that this was my opportunity to finally meet him. I already have a copy of the book and have read it, but I didn't mind buying another one at all knowing he would autograph it for me.

We got to the store around 3:00 PM, and the temperature was at least 107 degrees. How fitting. I bought my book, got my ticket, and was told numbers would be called by 6:30. In that time period I met many good people who I discussed my PAC with and also this government, Bush, and the climate crisis. When I also told them what we tried to do for Mr. Gore in 2004 to restore him, the response was very positive. How I then wish we had the means to get it out on a wider scale then to stand up to the status quo, but that is water under the bridge now, and we look to the future.

Mr. Gore arrived at the store at 8:30 PM dressed all in black (LOVE that Johnny Cash look, and I was dressed in black as well ;-)) and I managed to get into the store to stand in the front to watch him come by saying hello to everyone. We then had to wait until about 8:45 to have our books signed. He looks very attractive in public and his pictures do not do him justice. He was kind, serene, affable, and just an all around nice man. He is very comfortable in his skin now, and I believe he truly enjoys what he is doing now.

Well, as I made my way down the stairs with my son and husband I could feel my heart racing. After 18 years of supporting, defending, and respecting this man, there he was in front of me... larger than life. The line was moving fast as there were hundreds of people squashed into this hot small store to have him sign their books. They even ran out of books a few minutes before he arrived. So I finally made it to the point where my book was ready to be signed and I handed my manilla envelope with my letters, a PFG button, and a copy of our UN Global Environmental Ambassador petition for him to the staff person. As the book was passed on, I was announced as the "Lady in black." ;-).

And then I got to look into his eyes, and shake his hand. I told him, "I'm ______, from Patriots for Al Gore... and you inspire me." He brightened up right away, looked at me, took my hand, and said softly, "Oh, thank you!." he signed my book and I told him I support his endeavors and he told me to keep up the good work. But it was really my husband who got him to sit up when he asked him if he was going to the Bon Jovi concert at the Meadowlands that weekend. He perked right up and asked where and when. We told him but he said he couldn't make it. Then he shook my son and husband's hands, said stay well to us, and I waved goodbye. And as I was making my way out the emotions from all the years then overtook me and I started to cry. The people I had met and talked with for the five hours before were still waiting to go in and one of them hugged me, and we told them all how nice it was to have met them.

This will be a day that will live in my memory for the rest of my life. And I hope it won't be the last time I get to see this man in person. I'm applying to be one of the thousand people to go to Nashville to learn his slideshow. I am determined to be a part of this mission to get this message out. To see the dedication with which he is getting this message out and to see him working so hard signing these thousands of books, I cannot simply sit by and do nothing.

Thank you for being the wonderful man you are, Mr. Gore, and thank you for inspiring me and my family. You made all the hardships I too have faced regarding our endeavors here worthwhile. I got his thanks for all we have done and do, and that is all the validation I need. Now it's time to get to work for our planet.

[liberaldemocrat7]

1. I got a signed letter from him thanking me for sending him a stolen election coin.

I sent him a stolen election coin that I used to sell, and he wrote back thanking me for the coin in 2002.

Do you realize that the media pundits on the Chris Mathews show still bring up shallow aspects of Al Gore, eg his sighing, and so called exaggerations? I would say thse pundits appear shallow and stupid and a lot of people act very gullible in rejecting Gore because he sighed at George W Bush's lies.

[RestoreGore]

2. Yes, they have nothing else

I don't even give any of them credence anymore, and I believe his new book coming out Tuesday will most assuredly put them all in their place.

[mloutre]

3. There's no substitute for meeting an inspiring person face to face.

Hearing and seeing someone speak in person rather than from behind a podium talking to a camera really makes for a very different sense of connection to someone of Mr. Gore's stature. Having the opportunity to address someone like that face to face has a way of cementing one's loyalty to such an individual. I've had several one on one experiences with and am in a similar situation regarding my loyalties to another such individual, one who is part of an extremely small circle with his good friend and colleague Mr. Gore, so I definitely get where you're coming from. I feel as strongly about the latter as I do the former, in fact, and I am very much looking forward to doing anything and everything I can to help Mr. Gore in whatever courses of action he chooses to pursue in the future.

[RestoreGore]

4. I tried so hard to hold back my tears in front of him

And you are so right. Seeing a man of his stature face to face and seeing him so comfortable and really alive talking about this cemented much for me in seeing that he is truly happy in being a great man who is not only determined to educate and warn the people about their government and their environment, but he is also committed to putting that above his own personal wants. A very rare quality these days that has most surely cemented my loyalty to him and his work.

[KoKo]

5. I got to meet him at a book signing here in NC when he and Tipper

were here to promote her photography book after his 2000 loss. He really took the time to look at each person before he signed the book and you knew he was reading your face before he signed.

He will come in to the Presidential Race...when he sees the need.

The need will be there...and HE WILL COME IN! I've said this on DU...over and over.

[RestoreGore]

6. Well, lots of people say lots of things

But 2008 was not the topic of this OP nor was it discussed at the book signing by anyone or him.

[MODemocrat]

7. Our son gave us the DVD of Inconvenient Truth

My husband and I watched the movie today, and it was awesome. We just kept reminiscing about, what if
he had been President; there would be such a different story to tell. He would be wonderful in the
office he was elected for BY POPULAR VOTE. :thumbsup: :loveya:

[RestoreGore]

14. Did it inspire you to take action? n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

8. As much as I support Gore on this issue...

..of global urgency, has anyone questioned as to why during the Clinton/Gore Presidency did they not take the appropriate actions to move this issue to the forefront and attacking it head on?

Instead, he gave a speech at Kyoto that equals that of something that Bush would say..

Why is that politicans seem to do more (Gore/Carter/Clinton) when they are not in office verses when they are?

[Samantha]

9. No one in the Clinton administration supported Kyoto EXCEPT

Gore. No one from the United States was even going to attend the conference. Gore went into Clinton's office and said that despite the fact Congress would not support the treaty, one could not negotiate changes if one did not have a seat at the table. Clinton was skeptical but finally agreed. And that's exactly why the United States did send a representative -- Gore talked Clinton into it.

David Mariness wrote about this in his biography of Gore.

[Straight Shooter]

10. Facts trump truthiness.

Thank you, Samantha. :thumbsup:

[RestoreGore]

12. Mr. Gore spoke of that in his book

He related in the beginning of AIT that he could only talk one senator, Paul Wellstone into supporting Kyoto. Had Democrats stood up with him on that who knows what would have transpired then for the good of the planet, and for that I do not forgive them for what they failed to do when it needed to be done. Even John Kerry voted against it because they were all too wrapped up in their political expedience over doing what was right. He also stated that he felt he had failed to get the urgency across in the thrity years to get this out (I think he is too kind to blame himself only,) which is why he is out here doing this now. He tried the political route and I think we can all see where that got him and us. Also, it was recently revealed that he went to Kyoto despite the fact that Clinton didn't want to send anyone.

So to answer your question, I suppose many do much more outside politics as they are not restrained by the military industrial complex which is still in place. I still hope to one day read Mr. Gore's memoirs where he exposes it for what it really is because it is still that way even for all of the talk by some that try to make others think it would be so easy for him to do now what he couldn't do then, especially considering the depth of corruption there now and the crisis we find outselves in regarding our Democracy. There is still the same status quo in place, and that is proven by watching the federal government still stonewalling on doing anything effective while states continue to pass them up. That is why it will take action by people becoming aware and incensed to take action and demand change. Not an easy task, but one I believe he is making definite progress on from where he is now.

[Lord Helmet]

11. my mom is a HUGE Gore fan too

I hope he does a book signing in our town.

[RestoreGore]

13. For his new book he will be in five cities only

New York, Chicago, L.A. Corte Madera, and Washington DC. He is going to be on Larry King tomorrow night, so hopefully he will talk more about that.

[newyawker99]

15. Hi Lord Helmet!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: