My parents just gave me their Tennessean take on Al Gore...

[Labors of Hercules]

"He needs to spend a week with a televangelist preacher".

Die hard southern democrats, and they still say he's not ENTERTAINING enough.

Please tell me the man's appeal is not undermined by people's simplistic attraction to meanspirited popcorn one-liners!! :banghead:

[atommom]

1. Why do they want to torture the poor guy?

:shrug:

[Labors of Hercules]

2. because he's more Abe Lincoln than Robin Williams...

[Javaman]

27. where moron* is more monkey than man...

and that's some good entertainment.

Bad for being prez*, but good entertainment...

Sigh.

I get so tired of living in an alternative universe.

[Cha]

3. Al Gore is the Best..and he's the Best

just being himself. I wouldn't have him any other fucking way.

[Labors of Hercules]

4. I sent them a copy of his SNL skit.

dunno what they think about it yet, but it may be enough to shut them up.

[Cha]

6. He was Really Cool at

the Grammys and The Oscars, too.

[gratefultobelib]

7. My favorite moment at the Oscars was when he was walking off stage with

DiCaprio and kind of playfully swatted him on the shoulder with the copy of his "announcement." It was an unguarded moment and it showed his humor and grace.

[Cha]

10. I had forgotten about that! That was

Priceless, thank you! :D

[Labors of Hercules]

11. ahh,,,, I had forgotten that one too...

Priceless is the word!

[LisaM]

5. Don't they understand that televangelists creep people out?

They absolutely make my skin crawl.

[Labors of Hercules]

12. I think they were making a redneck joke...

which just thoroughly pissed me off. It wouldn't bug me if they were the only Dems down here that have told me he needs to "be more interesting when he talks". Not that they like Dubya, but they seem to only want Al if he's more like Bill, and that sells him way short.

[LiberalFighter]

16. So someone interesting and stupid is better than someone plain and smart

Would they now vote for Bush if they had a chance to vote in 2000 or 2004?

Considering his stupidity, corruptness and incompetence?

[Labors of Hercules]

17. no... but if there was a stupid interesting Democrat...

they'd probably be more likely to vote for them than for Gore.

[Geek_Girl]

8. You have to give them some trite reason to support Al Gore

Like "it's a damn shame when Tennesseans won't support one of their own." For some reason this hits a nerve with them.

[Labors of Hercules]

13. tried that, they said he "just aint as colorful as the rest of us"...

[Geek_Girl]

24. People around here tend to be a bit folksy

I guess thats why they seem to like Bush so much. He speaks in a very folksy manner. I just wish common sense would set in.

[LisaM]

29. Folksy is annoying to some....

My boyfriend's mother is from the South, and we have this debate constantly. I thought it was quite refreshing to listen to John Kerry over the stream of Southerners or ersatz Southerners we've been subjected to over the years. Even though I support Edwards at this point, his voice grates on me. My BF, OTOH, LIKES Southern accents. We can't get together on this.

[sandnsea]

34. And thank god for that

I thought y'all knew you were supposed to keep your 'colorful' kin locked in the attic.

[Clark2008]

40. Now, don't you know?

We Southerners NEVER keep the colorful kin locked up in the attic. We bring 'em downstairs for parlor games.

;)

[Clark2008]

43. Here, I found something for you - I LOVED this line from

"Sugarbakers" back in the day. It's Julia at Bernice's sanity hearing:

I'm saying this is the South. And we're proud of our crazy people. We don't hide them up in the attic. We bring 'em right down to the living room and show 'em off. See, Phyllis, no one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they're on.

Makes my point, completely. :)

[Labors of Hercules]

60. LOL.... damn that's so true!

[MissWaverly]

9. they should watch the speach he gave on MLK day last year

that really packed a punch, I admire him greatly.

:-)

[Labors of Hercules]

14. got a link?

[MissWaverly]

26. Go to You Tube

http://youtube.com/watch?v=mD_2e1dIl2s

they just describe it as famous Gore speech but it is from the MLK presentation that
he made at Constitution Hall.

[Labors of Hercules]

32. perfect! Damn he's good.

I think I must have been adopted.

[MissWaverly]

35. Ha, Ha, maybe the video will help change their minds

After all, he rec'd an oscar, so he's being accepted by more and more of the average
folks.

:-)

[Lisa]

37. and this 2004 speech slamming Bush's human rights abuses

If they want to hear some passion -- Gore is practically yelling in this one -- furious that the country he fought for is being degraded.

"How dare they blame their misdeeds on enlisted personnel from a Reserve unit in upstate New York. President Bush owes more than one apology. On the list of those he let down are the young soldiers who are themselves apparently culpable, but who were clearly put into a moral cesspool. The perpetrators as well as the victims were both placed in their relationship to one another by the policies of George W. Bush.

How dare the incompetent and willful members of this Bush/Cheney Administration humiliate our nation and our people in the eyes of the world and in the conscience of our own people. How dare they subject us to such dishonor and disgrace. How dare they drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud of Saddam Hussein's torture prison."


http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0527-01.htm



Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6caCs5i6Dg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKWH6W_sMng

[Lisa]

38. and this 2004 speech to MoveOn.org slamming Bush's human rights abuses

If they want to hear some passion -- Gore is practically yelling in this one -- furious that the country he fought for is being degraded.

"How dare they blame their misdeeds on enlisted personnel from a Reserve unit in upstate New York. President Bush owes more than one apology. On the list of those he let down are the young soldiers who are themselves apparently culpable, but who were clearly put into a moral cesspool. The perpetrators as well as the victims were both placed in their relationship to one another by the policies of George W. Bush.

How dare the incompetent and willful members of this Bush/Cheney Administration humiliate our nation and our people in the eyes of the world and in the conscience of our own people. How dare they subject us to such dishonor and disgrace. How dare they drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud of Saddam Hussein's torture prison."


http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0527-01.htm



Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6caCs5i6Dg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKWH6W_sMng

[Labors of Hercules]

39. Thanks Lisa, That did it!

Dad's response was... "Now THAT's what I'm talking about... okay, I was wrong"!!!

[Lisa]

49. glad to help!

Just so your folks know -- people in other places are rather jealous of Tennessee for this reason. Up here in Canada, I've even heard some mutterings about how our federal leaders (even with more than two to choose from!) just do not compare with Gore in terms of experience, competence, and vision.

[Labors of Hercules]

50. So... does that mean there will be a wild celebration in Canada when he announces his candidacy???

Can I come??? :party:

[Lisa]

52. I'm sure it would be nationwide! Gore topped opinion polls in 2000

... in every single province, even Alberta! That very rarely happens in Canada (we are so regionally split that if Ontario likes someone, Quebec or the West will go the other way just so they aren't all on the same side).

"An Environics poll conducted in the fall of 2000 found that 49% of Canadians would have voted for Gore if they were citizens of the United States, while 29% would have backed Bush. Every region of Canada supported Gore, particularly Ontario, where 55% of the population backed Gore. Bush rated highest in Alberta a province with a tradition of supporting rightwing parties (such as the Conservative Party of Canada, the Reform Party of Canada and the Social Credit Party of Canada) with 33% support, though he still trailed Gore's 40% there."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_and_the_2000_United_States_presidential_election

[Labors of Hercules]

53. that's it, I'm moving...

got a room to rent?

[LiberalFighter]

15. Why does anyone want to be like a televangelist preacher?

The job of being a President is not to preach religion.

Don't they know that a preacher that favors the spotlight is most likely to be a child molester, an adulter or sex offender? (Maybe not true but will they be able to challenge that statement?)

[Labors of Hercules]

18. I can't help that they said "televangelist" when they meant Robin Williams....

:shrug:

[LittleClarkie]

19. We are not terribly bright as a people sometimes

It's annoying.

[Greyhound]

21. Sometimes? n/t

[LittleClarkie]

22. Present company excluded

We're smarter than your average monkey.

[Greyhound]

23. LOL! I actually meant it the other way.

As a people it is rare indeed when we are bright. Our history is a few tiny sparks of enlightenment breaking up a vast darkness of ignorance and mean-spiritedness.

Peace.

[Labors of Hercules]

33. as a people...

we are the most destructive force on Earth because we remain so rediculously interested in entertaining ourselves, and electing the wrong leaders is only one of a million hideous consequences for this self-gratifying behavior.

[Apollo11]

20. Many find Gore is already too much like a preacher

and he can get very emotionally involved when he is talking about the current resident of the Whitehouse.

Some right-wingers (was it the GOP?) included Gore's "How dare they?" line in a spot about wild-eyed Democrats.

My feeling is that 9 times out of ten he pitches his presentation just right (not too hot, not too cold).


Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :patriot:

Read Al's blog: http://blog.algore.com

Help Al Gore lobby Congress: www.algore.com/cards.html

Get ready for Live Earth on 7/7/07: www.liveearth.org

Sign the petitions at www.algore.org and www.draftgore.com

:kick:

[spooky3]

25. In a country where Am. Idol is the top TV program, you

are surprised that many people care more about style than substance? That they STILL haven't learned the lesson of the "have a beer with this guy" decision rule?

It's sad but true. And because there are so many of them, the Dems really need to choose someone who has the substance and the appeal.

[Apollo11]

28. I'd buy Al Gore a beer any night of the week

We all know that shrub, like many people, couldn't keep his drinking under control.

Although from the way he talks, it sometimes sounds like he had a couple of beers ...

:toast:

[spooky3]

31. I'd do the same for any of our candidates this year.

ABB has now become ABR (anyone but a Republican) for me. And I think our definition of who is good company is very different from theirs!

:toast:

[Labors of Hercules]

41. That's what we should do!

Grab up all the Democratic candidates (and Al and Wesley of course) and storm Top of the Hill tomorrow night!!!
WOOHOO!!
Al:toast: Barack:toast: John:toast: Hillary:toast: Wesley:toast: Bill:toast: Joe:toast: Chris:toast: Mike:toast: Dennis:toast:

[Uncle Joe]

30. Most people live on the surface,

they get their news from the mass corporate media and the media does their very best to keep them on the surface, never digging too deep in attempt to inform or enlighten as to what's important. I also believe the mass corporate media plays on cultural divides to maintain power.

[Clark2008]

36. I don't know - I'm a Tennessean and my whole family LOVES

Al Gore - but, see... we're "city folk."

:hi:

[Labors of Hercules]

42. which city you live in city folk?

The back woods mountain folk say howdy... y'uns come on over!
I got their neighbor who also LOVES Al to help me work on them... you see we're originally from NC, but they fit in so well in the Sequatchie valley, everybody assumes they were born there. I think we've pulled them out of their momentary lapse of rationality though.

[Clark2008]

51. I live in Knoxville - in a blue burb of the city.

Howdy! :hi:

[Labors of Hercules]

54. HEYO!

So... Is the buzz that Al's gonna run as alive in Knoxville as it is here? Our people are just plain JUMPING OUT OF THEIR SKINS!

[trudyco]

44. Well tell them there was the groomed 2000 "presidential" Gore

and now adays he's letting himself be himself without the grooming. So they should listen to some speeches and check out the Inconvenient Truth.

I really liked the Gore from the Inconvenient Truth. I couldn't stand the stiff guy in 2000, though I admired his ernestness.

I didn't really like the 2004 Kerry, either. He tried too hard to be dignified. OTOH that may be the way he is.

I wonder if the same people are grooming "presidential" Hilary. Something about the way she talks is so stiff and unnatural.

[Labors of Hercules]

55. yeah, I noticed that...

Wasn't it the same people that ran the Gore AND Kerry campaigns? I think they should have been fired before they got a second chance...

[politicasista]

65. Actually, that was also the media's portrayal of Gore and Kerry

People that have personally met Kerry would disagree with you. They would tell you that he is dignified, but he and Teresa are people friendly (i.e. campaign rallies, birthday parties, other social events).

The media made them look very disconnected from the American people. Just like they made Gore as some "stiff bore" when in real life, he isn't that.

However, I do think that both Gore and Kerry are free from the consultants and can just speak their mind. Big difference.


Don't fall for the corporate media spin about Dem candidates.

[nam78_two]

45. Yeah- Al isn't really good with fart jokes the way President Moron is.nt

[Labors of Hercules]

61. I don't think he's driven heavy machinery into innocent bystanders recently either...

[ProudDad]

46. Ask them if they mean Al should learn from

Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Bakker???

Send them the links:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/21/newsid_2565000/2565197.stm

http://www.gospelgrace.com/falseprophets/jimbakker/JimBakker.html

[Labors of Hercules]

56. oh shit, no way... They were being SARCASTIC...

it just wasn't my kind of sarcasm... you know, the kind that's actually FUNNY...

[orleans]

47. well, maybe if gore had been a drunk through college and if he had

been a coke head (like bush)

or

maybe if he was buying crack and fucking male prostitutes (like ted haggard) everyone would find him more entertaining.

i guess this is just a personal choice we all have to make....

[Labors of Hercules]

57. He needs to do more SNL skits, and Leno and Letterman...

hmmm... actually, come to think of it, I'd love to see more of that myself. hmmm...

[Lisa]

58. have you seen the episode he hosted, back in 2002?

I was lucky enough to get a DVD copy of it on eBay (that show was nominated for an Emmy that year). Al did a creepily-accurate impression of Trent Lott, and he also collaborated with the West Wing cast on a skit.

"Al Gore: Say, John.. could you do me a small favor?

John Spencer: Of course.

Al Gore: I'm gonna stand over here by the window, with my back to you. And I'd like you to.. step up to the desk and say, "Mr. President? The Joint Chiefs want an answer."

< Spencer looks at Sheen with disturbed horror >

John Spencer: Sure.

< Gore takes his place by the window >

John Spencer: "Mr. President? The Joint Chiefs want an answer."

Al Gore: < turns dramatically to face Spencer > "Tell them.. we're going in!""



http://snltranscripts.jt.org/02/02h.phtml

[Labors of Hercules]

59. I was out if the country and didn't see it, but would love to see it now!

Do you know if there's any video of it available online anywhere?

[Lisa]

66. I couldn't find it at youtube

It's possible that NBC has been cracking down on SNL clips?

If you PM me, I could lend you the DVD. (Emmy copies still turn up on eBay, but I've noticed that ever since Gore's movie came out, the price has skyrocketed.)

[JI7]

48. Gore lost because Tennessee had turned more conservative

it has nothing to do with being entertaining or whatever other crap.

Gore was popular in his state plus the rest of the South when he was viewed as more conservative. that's why he did well in the South when he ran in 1988. that's one of the reasons Bill Clinton picked him for vp. Gore was seen as the boring type even through all of this but it didn't hurt him.

by 2000 Gore was seen as leaning more liberal and Tennessee had also become more conservative.

of course there were other factors in 2000 which hurt Gore. but the point is that they HAD elected him before.

[politicasista]

64. And there was proof of that in his own hometown of Carthage

In 2000, local reporters were interviewing some folks there saying they were voting for Bush because Gore was "too liberal." And some counter Gore supporters asking how can you live in TN and not like Gore?

There was (and unfortunately still is) a lot of kool-aid drinking repukes that think the Iraq troop surge is working, and that "liberals want to cut and run" from Iraq. I still Bush/Cheney, GOP bumper stickers from time to time. It's disgusting. :puke:

[Bryn]

62. Televangelist Preachers are

like a used car salesman. They're creepy!

[Labors of Hercules]

63. I agree totally Bryn, they're also the polar opposite of Al Gore...

Sarcasm is only funny when it's not so far from the truth, something we've been teaching my parents recently... ;-)