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October 11, 2005
Out in the Twilight Zone, Gore Discovers Some Common Ground
Those with enough caffeine in their systems to remain conscious through Al Gore's windy speech at the We Media conference in NYC last week were rewarded with some interesting clues into his psyche. For the curious, I'll touch on some highlights from the transcript (thanks to Wiggins for the link).
From the beginning of the speech, Gore made it clear that his mental equilibrium continues to wobble:
I came here today because I believe that American democracy is in grave danger. It is no longer possible to ignore the strangeness of our public discourse.
This "strangeness" indicates to Gore that we might be slipping off into the Twilight Zone.
How many of you, I wonder, have heard a friend or a family member in the last few years remark that it's almost as if America has entered "an alternate universe"?
In this alternate universe that Gore has uncovered, America is a very bad country that does very bad things:
Are we still routinely torturing helpless prisoners, and if so, does it feel right that we as American citizens are not outraged by the practice? And does it feel right to have no ongoing discussion of whether or not this abhorrent, medieval behavior is being carried out in the name of the American people?
There are brief moments of lucidity, when American culture resembles something Gore can relate to. Take the aftermath of Katrina, where the media disintegrated into class warfare propagandizing and irresponsible hysteria, as a major city's police chief passed out lies about rape and carnage that the MSM swallowed without chewing, and editorialists twisted themselves into knots trying to blame President Bush first for the weather, then for the corruption and incompetence of Louisiana Democrats:
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, there was — at least for a short time — a quality of vividness and clarity of focus in our public discourse that reminded some Americans — including some journalists — that vividness and clarity used to be more common in the way we talk with one another about the problems and choices that we face. But then, like a passing summer storm, the moment faded.
Moments like that normally fade when the Thorazine kicks in. It would take a double dose to deal with Gore's paranoia:
And every day they unleash squadrons of digital brownshirts to harass and hector any journalist who is critical of the President.
Who is the "they" that give digital brownshirts like myself their marching orders? Evidently, our orders come directly from the White House, which was responsible for the demise of The Dan:
...Dan Rather — who was, of course, forced out of his anchor job after angering the White House...
But let's get to the crux of the speech: The "marketplace of ideas" is being destroyed by television, and this is what results in the "strangeness" that Gore perceives. In order to safeguard the marketplace of ideas, Gore proposes — what else? — government intervention. Here's where he starts to get scary. He laments the passing of the outrageously anti–First Amendment Fairness Doctrine, and blames the demise of that appalling policy for the presence of "hate mongers" (i.e., people with whom he disagrees, like Rush Limbaugh) on the airwaves. If normal people are left to listen to those whom they trust and respect, very few of them will be listening to Al Gore and his friends (as evidenced by Air America's tailspin), so better to let bureaucrats regulate which opinions are broadcast.
But despite his kookiness and half-submerged totalitarian impulses, Gore said a few things that it's hard to disagree with:
We must ensure that the Internet remains open and accessible to all citizens without any limitation on the ability of individuals to choose the content they wish regardless of the Internet service provider they use to connect to the Worldwide Web. We cannot take this future for granted.
Of course, Gore is afraid that evil corporations will suffocate the Internet, as opposed to the more credible threats from the United Nations and reckless legislation like McCain–Feingold. But his final words on the Internet were downright quotable:
We must ensure by all means possible that this medium of democracy's future develops in the mold of the open and free marketplace of ideas that our Founders knew was essential to the health and survival of freedom.
Now there's a sentiment that we might all be able to agree on — provided the words mean the same thing in his world as they do in ours.
Posted by Van Helsing at October 11, 2005 8:07 AM
Comments
Wow, he's put on a lot of weight...
Posted by: Archonix at October 11, 2005 9:59 AM
Let's see...he's worried that TV is destroying the marketplace of ideas. So what's his answer? His own TV channel!
Posted by: Pam at October 11, 2005 10:20 AM
Now, THAT was a SPEECH. I still get goosebumps when I think that he mentioned "abhorrent, medieval behavior," as I then think of how it might be to watch someone go "medieval" on Mr. Gore. But then, that would be rude, so I'll hastily block that image from my mind.
VH, here I am, in the coyote's den... every time I visit, seems it's a Tuesday and I miss you! :-( Oh well, have a nice day anyhoo. :D
Posted by: The MaryHunter at October 11, 2005 11:53 AM
'...Dan Rather — who was, of course, forced out of his anchor job after angering the White House...'
The forged 'documents' had nothing to do with it.
Posted by: Jack T at October 12, 2005 11:11 AM
And this loon came within a few hundred hanging chads of being POTUS when 9-11 happened.
Posted by: V the K at October 12, 2005 1:32 PM
Looks more like he's been eating those chads.
Gore's whole speech reads more like a bad novel, overly decorated with two-dollar words. He could make the wax build up on my dining room table sound like a sign that we've reached the end of democracy.
Posted by: Oyster at October 12, 2005 1:54 PM
Holy crap! THATS AL GORE? Put a beard on him, and who needs Michael Moore?
Posted by: phil at October 13, 2005 4:31 AM
