We knew this was bound to happen. And, it hurt us so to see Al wallowing in self pity and spewing forth hate (“He Played on our FEARS!”) for so long. So it was good news to hear Al come clean and admit his “powerlessness over politics and that his life had become unmanageable”.
In an interview about his newest venture since starting the internet, Al says:
“I consider myself a recovering politician. I’m on step nine,” Gore told a meeting Monday of the Television Critics Association.
The 2004 Democratic candidate for president was asked if he was concerned the 24-hour news and information channel, called Current, would be perceived as having a political slant. It’s scheduled to launch Aug. 1.
“I think the reality of the network will speak for itself. It’s not intended to be partisan in any way,” said Gore, Current’s co-founder (with businessman Joel Hyatt) and chairman of the board.
Poor Al! It sounds like they let him out of detox too soon! First of all, it’s an “honest” program, Al! One of the cornerstones to recovery is honesty. So, please don’t do us or yourself an injustice in making us believe that your station aimed at an 18-34 year old audience will be anything but partisan. Remember, you’ll be the one hurting in the long run!
Step nine is “Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.”
Step #9 is about making amends, Al! So does this mean that you’re going to apologize for your nasty over-the-top rants from last year? Are you going to set the record straight about who really did invent the internet? And are you going to apologize to President Bush and the American people for attacking the sitting President so harshly because he defeated you in the 2000 election?
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Update: Powerline has some advice for Al (these also work well for “Farcegate” or “Nadagate” when thinking of the bias of the MSM). While working your way through this delicate period, Al, remember the basics:
• Take three deep breaths. When you are angry, your body becomes tense. Breathing deeply will ease the tension and help lower your internal anger meter.
• Change your environment. The quickest way to uncouple yourself from an ongoing source of anger is to take a five-minute walk to get some fresh air. Stuck in traffic? Take a mental escape by turning up the radio and singing at the top of your lungs.
• Know why you feel angry. Track down the clues about the kinds of things, situation, people and events that trigger your anger. Anger often masks our deepest fears. In an angry-making situation, ask yourself what deep fears it might be stirring in you.
• Let go of what is beyond your control. You can change only yourself and your responses to others, not what others do to you. Getting angry doesn’t fix the situation and makes you feel worse. If someone constantly arouses your anger, focus on the troublesome situation and brainstorm solutions.
• Express yourself. Be sure to think first and use measured tones and words that are not emotionally loaded. In a nonconfrontational way state that you are angry and identify the situation that makes you angry and why it ticks you off.
• Be cautious. There are situations in which expressing your anger holds danger. Having a jealous or abusive partner is one. Vent to a friend instead of the person who wronged you; you may wind up with some solutions you never imagined.
• Be assertive, not aggressive, in expressing yourself. Assertiveness requires speaking in an effective, nonviolent way towards a constructive goal. It may help if you rehearse your response before delivering it.
• Make positive statements. Memorize a few positive statements to say to yourself when your anger is triggered. They will remind you that you can choose your behavior instead of reacting in a knee-jerk way. For example, you might say: “I can take care of my own needs” or “His needs are just as important as mine” or “I am able to make good choices.”
You can do it Al! We’re right behind you!
