Al Gore at 58, Inspiring More Than Ever

Former Vice President Al Gore, who is a hero to many among us, turns 58 today.

Like fine wine, he only seems to get better with years. His passion for good causes and his courage in standing up for Democratic ideals shine brigther and ring louder with each passing year.

In his recent speech on Martin Luther King’s birthday, he issued a powerful indictment of the administation, articulated a rigorous argument around it, and specified a comprehensive and arguably effective course of action for holding the administration accountable for violations of the rule of law:

Excerpted from: Restoring the Rule of Law, Remarks by Al Gore, As Prepared: January 16, 2006
(Text transcript, Video and pdf transcript)

The indictment:

At present, we still have much to learn about the NSA’s domestic surveillance. What we do know about this pervasive wiretapping virtually compels the conclusion that the President of the United States has been breaking the law repeatedly and persistently.

…

The Prescription:

A special counsel should immediately be appointed by the Attorney General to remedy the obvious conflict of interest that prevents him from investigating what many believe are serious violations of law by the President. We have had a fresh demonstration of how an independent investigation by a special counsel with integrity can rebuild confidence in our system of justice. Patrick Fitzgerald has, by all accounts, shown neither fear nor favor in pursuing allegations that the Executive Branch has violated other laws.

Republican as well as Democratic members of Congress should support the bipartisan call of the Liberty Coalition for the appointment of a special counsel to pursue the criminal issues raised by warrantless wiretapping of Americans by the President.

Second, new whistleblower protections should immediately be established for members of the Executive Branch who report evidence of wrongdoing, especially where it involves the abuse of Executive Branch authority in the sensitive areas of national security.

Third, both Houses of Congress should hold comprehensive, and not just superficial, hearings into these serious allegations of criminal behavior on the part of the President. And, they should follow the evidence wherever it leads.

Fourth, the extensive new powers requested by the Executive Branch in its proposal to extend and enlarge the Patriot Act should, under no circumstances be granted, unless and until there are adequate and enforceable safeguards to protect the Constitution and the rights of the American people against the kinds of abuses that have so recently been revealed.

Fifth, any telecommunications company that has provided the government with access to private information concerning the communications of Americans without a proper warrant should immediately cease and desist their complicity in this apparently illegal invasion of the privacy of American citizens.

Freedom of communication is an essential prerequisite for the restoration of the health of our democracy.

It is particularly important that the freedom of the Internet be protected against either the encroachment of government or the efforts at control by large media conglomerates. The future of our democracy depends on it.

The closing:

I mentioned that along with cause for concern, there is reason for hope. As I stand here today, I am filled with optimism that America is on the eve of a golden age in which the vitality of our democracy will be re-established and will flourish more vibrantly than ever. Indeed I can feel it in this hall.

As Dr. King once said, “Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us.”

You can watch the speech again here.

I am not a poet, nor do I have the gift of prolific or profound prose, and so I’ll just make a simple birthday wish to one of my favorites heroes of all time.

Happy Birth Day, Al!

Hope you are celebrating it with your lovely family.

Here is quite an impressive list of notable people that were also born on March 31st (from this wiki page)

1596 – René Descartes, French mathematician (d. 1650)
1675 – Pope Benedict XIV (d. 1758)
1927 – César Chávez, American labor activist (d. 1993)

1929 – Liz Claiborne, Belgian fashion designer
1940 – Patrick Leahy, U.S. Senator from Vermont
1943 – Christopher Walken, American actor
1947 – Cesar Gaviria Trujillo, President of Colombia
1948 – Rhea Perlman, American actress

Happy birthday to all of them that are with us, and special wishes to Sen. Leahy and Rhea Perlman, the former for working relentlessly on our behalf, and the latter for so many laughs, jeers and cheers!

And, hey Karenna, you aren’t supposed to do this to your dad:

unless, of course, you are trying to get him to run for President again!