The Incurious President

[Avalux]

I just listened to a fantastic interview with Al Gore on NPR, interviewed by Terri Gross. It will probably be archived and available on their website after today if you'd like to listen.

She asked Gore to give his observations about George Bush thus far in his presidency and the one descritive word Gore used was "incurious". He is puzzled at how Bush never asks any questions and brought up the infamous August PDB right before 9/11. Why didn't Bush ask any questions? As President, Gore explained, Bush is entrusted with representing every single American and making sure their best interest is considered when making policy decisions. So when a special interest group makes a claim or wants policy, questions should be asked instead of taking everything at face value.

He also said he never dreamed that 6 years after he ran for President, this country and the world could have changed as much as it has. There should be outrage that people are being tortured in our name and that the American people are being spied upon. He is very concerned about this country and its politics, but also says he has hope things will change - and when they do it will be sudden and drastic - he's seen it happen before. Once the people reach a tipping point, it will happen. I really want to agree with Gore on that; I'm left wondering how much it will take to reach that tipping point.

Of course Gore was asked about running again, to which he said right now he's not considering it, although he can't say that won't change or that he's willing to write it off for the rest of his life.

Anyway - worth a listen. I was left with a great sadness about what may have been.

:patriot:

[patrice]

1. Bush has no motivation for curiosity to root in.

When your every need has been met ever since you set foot in this world, developing motivation is a special problem, unless your encouraged to explore beyond conventional self-conceptualization + you have some inate talent that gets a chance to express itself. Apparently, not the case for/with GWB.

[smokey nj]

2. Oh, what could have been

I'm still kicking myself for my Nader vote in 2000, it was in NJ, but still, what an ass I was. I've had an idea in my head for a bumper sticker "Don't blame me, I voted for Nader...Ok, Blame Me"
As for Incurious George's not asking questions, it has to be that way - how else would one maintain a faith-based existence.

[Up2Late]

3. I like it!

And yes, I do blame the Nader. Glad to have you back.:evilgrin:

[gratuitous]

4. And don't miss one of Gore's points . . .

The president is supposed to represent the interests of every single American. We don't have a Republican president and a Democratic president; we have one president, and this particular one seems wholly unconcerned about the need for government to serve the interests of (at least) a significant plurality of the population.

[smokey nj]

5. Chimpy himself said it best

When he addressed the haves and the have-mores and said "...some people call you the elite, I call you my base." Some people are the rest of us, and we just don't matter.