Reddit reviews The Assault on Reason

Gore gave a speech opposing the Iraq War in 2002. He was criticized and ridiculed, predictably—but nothing close to this. (Turned out to be right, as we know.)

He also later wrote a great book, the Assault on Reason, which served as his comprehensive criticism of the Bush Administration and diagnosis of the main ailments of our political system and civil society. It's spot on—and much of it is just or even more applicable to the Trump Regime.

Gore also remained active in the Democratic Party—not just climate change activism. He was a prominent endorser of Howard Dean and President Obama.

He may not have run for office again. But I'd hardly call this "bowing out" of politics.

Al Gore's book on the topic is quite good.
http://www.amazon.com/Assault-Reason-Al-Gore/dp/1594201226

Yes, Al Gore in 2000 was pathetic. And despite his visionary leadership, and his continuing insight into American politics, the fact that he didn't join the 2008 race confirms he doesn't have what it takes.

And I quite agree with you about the Dems' ideas. Their incompetent, spineless, and unprincipled leadership may lose them the upcoming elections. Perhaps running a Hillary and losing would be the best thing that could happen to them. If that wouldn't disrupt the DLC powerbase, I don't know what will.

Yet, there seems to be something else at work -- whose fault is it that we have these two dreadful parties to choose from? Why do those particular people have sway? Is it "the Democrats" fault, the media's fault, the Republican's fault, retarded primary voters, the demented American public, or avaricious power brokers? That is American politics, a frighteningly self-reinforcing system, where something rots in the heart of every institution which plays a role.

Ask yourself - could a coherent principled left-wing message (like Kucinich's) actually make it in today's media environment? Or would it only be ridiculed? Why is it that there are not more principled leaders like him? Why is it that a visionary like Gore won't run for election? Why is it that when he ran he was spineless? Why do Kucinich's personal foibles make him seem unelectable, why was Al Gore portrayed as a fibber, whereas Bush's folksy idiocy was touted as a selling point (and his failures and substance abuse problems ignored)? These all point at deeper structural problems in American politics, and perhaps the American psyche. The ideas are there - but can they be voiced? Would they be recognized? Or are we all collectively too corrupt, too lost to see a way?

The Assault on Reason, Al Gore, 2007.