Can Gore Let It Rip?

[babylonsister]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0307/3203.html

Can Gore Let It Rip?

By: John Harris
March 19, 2007 09:14 PM EST
Al Gore


Next time he runs for president, things will be different. That was Al Gore's pledge to Democrats after the 2000 election: "If I had to do it all over again, I'd just let it rip. To hell with the polls, the tactics and all the rest. I would have poured out my heart and my vision for America's future."

Those words had a familiar ring. Fifteen years ago -- before he was vice president -- Gore wrote about his internal struggle between ambition and conscience: "I have become very impatient with my own tendency to put a finger to the political winds and proceed cautiously." He added, "Now, every time I pause to consider whether I have gone too far out on a limb, I look at the new facts that continue to pour in from around the world and conclude that I have not gone nearly far enough."

Gore's topic then was global warming -- the same subject that brings him, fresh from the Oscars, to Capitol Hill.

Will Gore run in 2008? The question will echo throughout his appearances Wednesday before the House and Senate committees dealing with climate change. It likely will echo through all of American politics for months to come. There are two ways to ponder the question.

The logic of politics suggests Gore has already given his answer. He is not raising money. He is not urging friends and associates to stay on the sidelines until he makes a decision. He has said repeatedly that he has no plans to run. Shouldn't we take him at his word?

Not yet, we shouldn't. The logic of psychology and even history suggests that Gore should run. And if he should run, it is hard to believe that a man who has organized most of his adult life around public service and the pursuit of the presidency won't in the end actually do it.

more...

[donco6]

1. I would totally vote for Al

In a heartbeat. Especially if Obama was VP.

[Webster Green]

2. If he let it rip, it would be the biggest landslide ever..

I really believe that. Al would shred any candidate that the repukes come up with.

[FourScore]

12. Yep! I agree 100%!

RE-ELECT AL GORE!!!

[Vincardog]

17. I agree 200%

RE-ELECT AL GORE!!!

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Only...

If he goes outside first.

And no lighting those things!

;-)

[babylonsister]

4. There's always one in the crowd...

:rofl:

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. *sigh* Yeah, I know.

You should have seen what my childhood was like.

[NYCGirl]

6. The author is so right about this:

From the perspective of Democrats, no politician has been more right, more often, on more important questions. On global warming, words that had a radical edge in 1992 -- and still do, to many conservative ears -- Gore wrote "Earth in the Balance," anticipating mainstream liberal rhetoric by a decade. Many Washington Democrats cringed at what they regarded as his shrill people-vs.-powerful 2000 convention speech, when he warned that a Bush presidency would favor special interests and the wealthy. They cringed even more in 2002 at what they regarded as Gore's naive warnings that the coming Iraq war was a disaster in waiting and a distraction from other fronts in the campaign against terrorism. But within a year or so of both speeches, most Democrats inside Washington and beyond essentially embraced Gore's argument and tone.

[RestoreGore]

7. Which is why he didn't let it rip in 2004

I do not believe he would ever do it unless he could serve his own conscience which was why he didn't do it in 2004, but funny how everyone always states it was "different" then. He has also stated many times before that the political system is toxic and that he has fallen out of love with it. I do then take him at his word, and do not try to find subtle ways as these articles do to state that I think he is lying or using the climate crisis as a smokescreen.

[Milo_Bloom]

9. He couldn't win in 2004, and he knew it.

After 9/11, the concept of a "do over" wasn't possible. We were in a war, that was still slightly popular, a war he had spoken out very strongly against. Enough time hadn't passed to prove him right to the masses.

Now, it has.

Which is why, unlike in 2004, Gore is going out of his way to do everything differently.

He's running.

Bank it.

[RestoreGore]

10. And you're full of it n/t

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

15. Quit It With The Personal Attacks!!

EVERYBODY on DU knows how you feel, and your wish that Mr. Gore doesn't run ever again. There's no need for you to tell someone they're "full of it," just because their opinion is different from yours.

I realize it's expecting a bit much, but perhaps you should refrain from posting on the posts dealing with Mr. Gore running for President, and stick with the ones involving his global warming work, as it's obvious you only wish to focus on that aspect of Mr. Gore.

[Cha]

24. Thanks! "Personal attacks"

are obviously against the rules but we don't go running to the alert button most of the time, either.

We can disagree without personalizing it.

[Milo_Bloom]

25. Facts say otherwise.

[mtnsnake]

8. If he lets one rip I dont wanna be in the same building!

:nuke:

[Jai4WKC08]

11. See, this has been my biggest concern with a Gore candidacy

From the article:
"Those words had a familiar ring. Fifteen years ago -- before he was vice president -- Gore wrote about his internal struggle between ambition and conscience: 'I have become very impatient with my own tendency to put a finger to the political winds and proceed cautiously.' He added, 'Now, every time I pause to consider whether I have gone too far out on a limb, I look at the new facts that continue to pour in from around the world and conclude that I have not gone nearly far enough.'"

That's what he said in 1991, and yet in 2000 he did the exact same thing. How can we be reasonably sure he wouldn't do the same in 2008?

I think Gore should go for it. But if he wants my support, he needs to do it soon enough to show me that he really has learned his lesson. Is there really a new Gore?

I actually like the old Gore just fine, but I don't think he can win. Yeah, I know he did win in 2000, but it wasn't enough then, and would be even less now. Kerry got more votes in 2004 than Gore did in 2000, but it wasn't enough for him either. The GOP machine grows more sophisticated and more ruthless every year, so the bar our Democratic nominee must cross keeps getting higher too. And while it looks like they're in disarray now, I am unwilling to bet the farm that one of their seemingly beatable candidates won't pull a Rove out of the hat and lie/cheat/steal their way into the White House.

So Al, if you have reinvented yourself, let me see it with a campaign afoot. Because it's a whole lot easier to speak truth to power when you're not under the microscope of a presidential election. Show me you won't revert to the 2000 Gore in 2008 the way you reverted to the 1988 Gore in 2000.

It's kind of a fool me once, fool me twice thing.

[Clark2008]

13. I don't know.

I think he has a better chance of garnering those "swing Bubba" votes than do any of the current front runners. I don't see any of them fairing very well in a general election that needs some Southern and mid-Western white male voters to come (back) over to the Dem side.

But, that's just me - and my purple state thoughts. :)

[Jai4WKC08]

20. Why do you think that?

Did he win "swing Bubba" votes in 2000? And if he really has changed, do you think he'd be MORE likely to win "swing Bubba" votes in 2008?

I guess what it comes down to for me is that I know Gore won in 2000, and would have won handily without Nader and the whole Coke/Pepsi bullshit. They broke my heart then, and I don't trust 'em now.

So if it turns out that the "old Gore" re-emerges, I see him at best getting the same percentage of mainstream voters, but still losing the Nader vote, either to Nader who has threatened to run again, or to some other third party, or from just staying home. And in that scenario, a Huckabee or Thompson or other religious right darling wins the White House. And that possibility scares the shit out of me.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

16. If We're Doomed With Al, We're Probably Doomed Period

If what you say is true, and even someone like Al Gore couldn't overcome what you call the GOP machine, then what kind of chance do you think Clinton, Obama or Edwards would have?

[Jai4WKC08]

18. Well, personally I don't think Clinton Obama or Edwards have much chance either

Especially Clinton and Edwards. Obama may be more electable, altho I'd still feel more comfortable with his actually being the president if he had more experience. But that's just me.

I don't know. It's still early. I don't think we're limited to the top three by any means.

As I said, I like Gore. Without a doubt, if Clark is not a possibility, Gore would definitely be my first choice to BE the president, with Richardson a distant second. But I'm just not sure Gore is as electable as either Clark or Richardson. Especially if he reverts to the Gore we've known for SO long. Currently, his unfavorable ratings are almost as high as Hillary Clinton's and I'm sure it's because of the slander the GOP got away with in 2000. People may not remember the details, but they're left with the impression that the Repubs very carefully created. He would certainly have to do more than politics as usual to overcome that impression. I want to see whether he's up to it.

[mzmolly]

14. I hope so.

No one has my complete enthusiasm, aside from Gore. Obama is my second choice.

[MasonJar]

19. I like the idea of a woman pres, but if Al runs everything else goes

below deck. He has been the man for me since the first time he ran.

[AX10]

21. He would clean the floor with his GOP opponent.

[Kurovski]

22. K&R.(nt)

[LaPera]

23. Just watch the republican bullshit that will follow, they are ready on all

media fronts to discredit everything Gore says, as soon as Gore is done offering the truth.

[Apollo11]

26. Gore is the best person for the job -- period.

First of all, I believe that Al Gore is the best qualified person for the job, in terms of his experience, knowledge, intelligence and judgement.

I am not convinced that Gore will run, but I do hope he will be the Democratic nominee for President.

I am dreaming of a Gore-Obama ticket in 2008. But there is no hurry for Gore to enter the race.

I think Al Gore is keeping his options open right now, watching how the "pre-season" goes. I don't think he yet knows what he will do. My guess is that the chance of him entering the race is somewhere between 20% and 35%.

Gore's current line - "I have no plans to be a candidate" - tells us that right now (today) he has no plans to run. But it doesn't prevent him from changing his plans and making new plans during the coming months.

Gore is doing a great job raising public awareness about the climate crisis. Winning an Oscar means that even more people will hopefully see An Inconvenient Truth. He will testify at a Congressional Hearing today (March 21st)!

Gore is also getting ready to bring out his next book The Assault on Reason - to be published in May. The theme of this book - why we need better decision-making in government - is very timely (whether he runs or not).

Gore is also leading Live Earth with concerts in 7 cities across the globe on 7/7/07 -- all with the aim of raising awareness and pushing for action to address the climate crisis.

Depending on how things pan out, and the reaction to his book, Gore can consider his situation over the summer and announce his decision (or if you prefer - "change his mind") sometime in the fall.

It all depends on the circumstances. In September, if the race for the Dem nomination is still wide open and Hillary's campaign is in trouble, it might create the conditions for Gore to enter the race.

Don't forget that Bill Clinton did not kick-off his campaign until October 1991. But Al Gore already has nationwide respect and name recognition that other wannabees can only wish for!

Gore would have no problem raising enough money to compete. I'm not worried about the staffing issue. I'm sure there are good people who would quit other candidate's campaigns to go and work for Al Gore.

Unless and until Gore endorses another candidate, we have to assume that he is keeping his options open. So it is too soon for those of us who prefer Gore to switch our allegiance.

"If (Al) was going to run in the future, of course I would support him. I think he'd be a fantastic president. He already got a majority of votes of people in this country once, and so that says something."
-- Tipper Gore on Good Morning America, June 13, 2006
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2069724&page=1

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

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

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

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

:kick: