Bad Ass Of The Day: Al Gore

I've been a fan of Al Gore since the sixth grade, where I read a Weekly Reader article outlining each of the candidates and agreed with all of Gore's issues. In the early 1990's, Gore wrote a book where he labeled the environment as the largest issue of our time, and called for the end of the internal combustion engine. We all know now that he was right, but it took courage. George Bush mocked him as "ozone man" for it in the 1992 election. It was hard for me to watch him sell out in 2000, but losing allowed him to get back to what he truly believed in.

Gore's recent speech outlining a goal of energy independence within 10 years is a bold and absolutely necessary step. Although wind and solar energies are not nearly ready to replace oil and coal, he points to the technological leaps Americans were able to accomplish with the silicon chip. He creates an urgency that America has not seen since the Manhattan project and the space race, while combining it with the innovation of the internet. He's found a role as a leader in the greatest threat our civilization is facing, without holding any office that labels him as such. That's bad ass.

It makes sense that Gore declined to run for office. His last run resulted in being required to back off his goals for the country, while being free from office permitted him to fulfill those same goals. The question is what's next. James Carville has recommended that Gore serve as Vice President, leading the country's energy initiatives. I can't think of anything better, but that's not likely. In the alternative, I'd love to see Arnold Schwarzenegger assume a cabinet-level position as energy czar. He's a popular, talented politician who's shown results in California's energy crisis. Plus, Obama choosing a Republican (at least a nominal Republican) would get both parties working together on what we all now recognize as a dire issue.

There are two things that 1988-Brian does not understand: how Arnold Schwarzenegger became a respected politician and how the Beastie Boys became an important musical group. The success of Pink Floyd is another mystery, but I'm not looking to pick a fight.