Al Gore fires up crowd at West Palm Beach fund raiser

[AlGore-08.com]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-pgore13mar13,0,1922798.story?coll=sfla-home-headlines

By John Coté
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted March 13 2006

WEST PALM BEACH -- Former Vice President Al Gore returned Sunday to what one supporter called "the scene of a crime," telling a feisty, partisan crowd that the administration of President Bush poses an unprecedented test for U.S. democracy.

"I genuinely believe that American democracy faces a time of trial and challenge right now more serious than any that we have ever faced," Gore told about 400 supporters gathered at the Kravis Center for a fund raiser to boost state Democrats in the November election.

Gore cited a litany of issues, including the Bush administration's assertions of executive power, its fumbled response to Hurricane Katrina and its backing of a secret, domestic surveillance program, warrantless searches and interrogation methods used in Iraq and the war on terror.

(more... )

[AlGore-08.com]

1. Another article with more quotes from Gore

http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/news/content/news/AlGore0313.html

Gore: Country straying from principles
Former vice president urges Democrats 'not to take anything for granted' during fund-raiser.

By STEPHANIE MURPHY, Daily News Business and Real Estate Writer

(snip)

Picking up on her sentiment, Gore urged Democrats to "not take anything for granted," because sometimes, "feeling the prospects of victory and success, you know that's a deadly error."

Citing a Bible verse, "Where there is no vision, the people perish," Gore cited issues in which he believes the Bush administration has left the country far removed from the Founding Fathers' ideals.

(snip - - among the topics in the cut section, the Smirk admin's response to Katrina, to 9/11, to global warming...)

Gore mentioned the nation's official policy against torturing prisoners, dating to the American Revolution, when Gen. George Washington refused to allow captured British soldiers to be abused. "Every president since, all the way through until now, has honored that principle," he said.

"I truly believe that American democracy faces a time of challenge and trials that are more serious than we have ever faced," Gore said. He pointed to the current White House, backed by a Republican Congress, which allows the government to eavesdrop on anyone's home, "sneak and peek," without a warrant. "It sounds so strange, doesn't it, so contrary to the Constitution?"

(more, including more quotes... )

[0007]

2. Go Gore go.....

Just like there were warning signs before Sept. 11, there were warning signs last year that the levees were in danger in New Orleans, Gore said.

"A special committee . . . all Republicans . . . studied how that could happen. In the White House, there was a blinding lack of situational awareness. Well, what is going on (in New Orleans) now? They're still finding refrigerators in front yards and bodies unrecovered," he said.

Similarly, despite warnings about legislation on prescription drugs and experts saying the program wouldn't work, he said, "Testimony was blocked from Congress," resulting in legislation that is "catastrophically flawed."

There have been warnings for many years about rising temperatures being caused by global warming, Gore said, "and hotter water makes hurricanes form stronger, increasing their destructive power."

That issue and others have "a common thread" that reflects the country straying from its institutional principles, Gore said. "The founders wanted the principles of democracy to live and breathe, by talking about the facts, by reasoning together, by putting partisanship aside as much as possible."

"How many of you have been feeling there's something badly wrong, something a little strange about the way decisions are being made, a way that is contrary to what the United States of America is all about?" he said.

Gore mentioned the nation's official policy against torturing prisoners, dating to the American Revolution, when Gen. George Washington refused to allow captured British soldiers to be abused. "Every president since, all the way through until now, has honored that principle," he said.

"I truly believe that American democracy faces a time of challenge and trials that are more serious than we have ever faced," Gore said. He pointed to the current White House, backed by a Republican Congress, which allows the government to eavesdrop on anyone's home, "sneak and peek," without a warrant. "It sounds so strange, doesn't it, so contrary to the Constitution?"

The good news, however, is that "America is waking up to their game, to what they are all about," Gore said. Although he was addressing a Democratic rally, he said, "Much more is required, much more than partisanship."

Gore spoke for a little more than 30 minutes. He was introduced by state Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman. Other speakers were Palm Beach County party Chairman Wahid Mahmood; Tim Mahoney, candidate for the District 16 congressional seat; gubernatorial candidate Rod Smith; and State Sen. Ron Klein, a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives.

[Demit]

3. Nice article. Goes into more depth than the Sun-Sentinel one

And didn't feel the need to call Gore "plodding". I'll tell you, I saw Gore speak the Sunday before the election in 2000, and he was inspirational. Great voice that booms as he warms to his topic. I remember telling my friend I wish he had sounded like that all through the campaign. His handlers held him back, I think. I wonder if he has a serious shot at being a candidate in 08? Or if the debacle in 00 is just too much baggage? I like the idea of him MUCH better than Kerry. I think he has more courage.

[wake.up.america]

4. What impresses me the most is that the underlying problems...

were raised in a non-partisan manner.

It's democracy versus totalitarianism.

It's a matter of survival.

[madmark]

5. id vote for him again

[malaise]

6. Time to expose

the crime at the scene of the crime.

[wakeme2008]

7. Maybe I am dreaming but it sounds like

Gore is getting the old "Fire in the Belly" for running again.

[llmart]

8. He is.......

mark my words - he'll run again and I'll vote for him again and he'll win again.

[LizW]

9. The meaning of his words is stunning

"I genuinely believe that American democracy faces a time of trial and challenge right now more serious than any that we have ever faced."

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln said, "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new Nation, conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure."

Think about that. Gore believes that the threat to democracy is greater now than it was during the long, deadly, and devastating civil war that Lincoln said tested the very nature of Democracy.

Democracy (which, face it, protects our way of life and our children's futures) is at greater risk now than during the civil war. That is terrifying stuff, folks.

[bleedingheart]

10. it is stunning when you think about it.

[AlGore-08.com]

11. IMNSHO what is more stunning is that so many other "leaders" don't see it

Even Sandra Day O'Connor is afraid that we are sinking into a dictatorship - - and she's one of the folks who first set aside their duties to the Constitution in order to secure the White House for Smirk.

If someone had told you, prior to 2000, that a U.S. President could illegally wiretap thousands of U.S. citizens and not be impeached for it, would you have believed it was possible? And if that same person told you that this same President authorized the use of torture, and keep people in jail for years without being charged, lied the U.S. into a disastrous war which brought the world to the brink of Armageddon, all with the blessing of the Congress and the media - - would you have believed it?

[Javaman]

12. Yeah, right this guy ain't running for Prez again. The hell he ain't...

Go Al!!! deliver us from evil!

[donkeyotay]

13. I hope he runs. nt

[Le Taz Hot]

15. If he runs again

he needs to avoid the pitfalls of his previous run, namely, NOT listening to the DLC and their professional political advisors. The guy has an enormous amount of appeal on his own if they'd just leave him the hell alone and let Al be Al.

[donkeyotay]

18. So true. But I don't think this Al is the same Al they ran,

which is why I would support him.
:)

[chelaque liberal]

21. Avoid the pitfalls--that's BS!

He WON!

Why do people insist on protraying him this way? He won the election. He lost a court case.

Rove and the MSM did everything they could to destroy him before the election and he still got the most votes-even in FL. Imagine what the results would have been if it were a fair playing field.

[Le Taz Hot]

22. Oh, stop it

People insist on portraying him this way because that is EXACTLY what happened. Look, I've debated this issue ad nauseum since December of 2000. He would have had far more appeal had he just been himself. Remember the "earth tones" and "alpha male" stuff? Straight out of the DLC, my dear and it made him a laughing stock.

Election fraud aside, had he been able to win HIS OWN STATE of Tennessee, he would have officially won the election.

And you want a fair playing field? LOL! Are you new?

[Rainscents]

14. I voted for him and I'll vote him again!

[tonekat]

16. Leave Tipper at home this time....

...thanks to her, the Dems were seen as the force of censorship...smooth move, Tip.

[AlGore-08.com]

20. Which is why he won more votes than any Presidential candidate before him

Except for Ronnie Raygun in 1984 (the year of RR's landslide re-election)?

I'm just askin'...

[Emillereid]

17. Before it's too late! Al Gore in '08!

[lovuian]

19. He should have been our Prez in 2000

glad he is back and fired up.......

[wordpix2]

23. Al at "scene of the crime"" Run, Al, Run, we are behind you!

[goforit]

24. Dig in Al!!!....Never stop!!!

[knitter4democracy]

25. Fund-raiser, eh?

That's freakin' good news. I hope he is starting a war chest for his run for the White House. We need him now more than ever.