Political leaders in the United States often refer to the Constitution in reverential tones with a touch of awe. The Founding Fathers, who crafted the document, are lauded for their wisdom and sagacity. But now that very base of the republic is under attack. Using September 11th as a justification, the Bush administration has made unprecedented claims of executive powers including warrantless wiretapping, secret evidence, suspension of the right to a speedy trial, domestic spying and the use of "coercive interrogation", i.e. torture. Many citizens are worried that civil liberties are being sacrificed in the name of national security.

Al Gore was ViceŠPresident of the United States from 1992-2000. Before that he represented his home state of Tennessee in the House of Representatives and then in the Senate. He was defeated for the presidency in a controversial election in 2000. Gore's documentary film, An Inconvenient Truth has heightened awareness of global warming.