Gore v.s. Kerry: who's the plain-talker?

[ginnyinWI]

First we have Exhibit A:

By all accounts, “The Path to 9/11″ is riddled with inaccuracies and contains material that directly contradicts the factual findings of the 9/11 Commission. I am deeply concerned that ABC is considering going forward with their plans to broadcast this so-called docudrama. The lessons from the events leading up to that tragedy are too important to trivialize, and it would be fundamentally irresponsible to air such distortions.

That was Al Gore. Now read Exhibit B:

What I find most stunning in all of this is that now five years after the real 9/11 – as if any fiction could somehow make more searing what each and every one of us lived with our own eyes and ears – is that we need less revisionism about the past and a hell of a lot more reality about what’s going on now. Right now.

Most of you probably already know that was John Kerry. Point being that I don't think he would have been this concise and plain-talking a few years ago--he would have sounded a lot more like Al.

Both have run for president and have confronted the problem of getting a clear message out. Nothing against Al, but I think our favorite Senator is the better learner!
:patriot:

[whometense]

1. Good point!

and nicely illustrated too.

Have you seen any news reports about the speech?

The NECN report is excellent: http://www.boston.com/news/necn/New_England/

[Island Blue]

2. Great report. Thanks for the link.

Can't wait to watch the speech tonight. Twice!

[ProSense]

4. That's excellent, thanks! n/t

[globalvillage]

5. That was great.

I don't think I've seen enough Kerry this weekend. :-) I'll have to watch the Blitzer interview now.

Thanks for your hospitality, New England folks! It was wonderful visiting with you.

[whometense]

7. I was out doing errands -

but taped all of Blitzer's show. Anyone know where JK was on the agenda? Condi was liaring her pants off when I left the house.

[ginnyinWI]

8. the second hour. n/t

[whometense]

9. Thanks, Ginny -

You just saved me from a headache. ;-)

[ginnyinWI]

10. my husband was funny this morning

I was ff-ing through Condi's part, and he said, "wait, wait--I want to see what kind of shoes she's wearing!". He's still calling her "minnie mouse"-- I think she must be easy to hate, because he isn't even into politics.

[sandnsea]

14. Now that's funny

Because I used to call George "Mickey Mouse", for when he'd walk across some expanse and wave that Mickey wave - but that was back in 2002, before I switched to fuckheaded lying war criminal.

[kerstin]

11. I love the John Kerry quote underneath his picture.

What is that from and how can I find the speech?

[kerstin]

12. Never mind -- I think I found it.

Sorry to bother you!

[TayTay]

13. Kerstin: Welcome to the John Kerry Group on DU

Come back again, ask any question, have a seat, join in.

Welcome!

:patriot:

[kerstin]

16. Thanks for the invite, TayTay.

Don't mind if I do.:)

[blm]

3. Gore really has improved, and I liked his style alot before, and if he

would decide to open up about what really happened in the closing of the books on IranContra and BCCI and CIA drugrunning that led to 9-11 and another Bush WH, then I could see supporting him enthusiastically if he were to be the nominee.

I just don't see him as an anti-corruption, open-government Democrat at this time.

[sandnsea]

15. One or the other

I think Al's genuine concern for the environment would require him to take on the corruption and secretive nature of our government. I don't think we can get the change he wants without it.

[zann725]

6. I think BOTH are...each in their own "style." Would not diminish either.

BOTH would help this country in whatever capacity they choose (and/or WE choose for them).

[whometense]

17. today's hyperventilation

Ezra Klein: http://www.prospect.org/weblog/2006/09/post_1373.html#006248

THE RETURN OF GOREWATCH It’s been awhile since we did this, but I'm becoming convinced that Al Gore will run. Part of my reasoning has to do with grapevine, friend-of-a-friend type of stuff; part of it is that the realization of Hillary's weaknesses has made the field look more open than it previously did; part of it is warm reception his movie received; and part is that Gore's "denials" have become about as convincing as Hillary's. Take, for example, the gem he offered up in Australia last week: "I haven't completely ruled out running for president again in the future but I don't expect to." Frankly, the same could be said about me, but if anyone wants to start a draft movement, I'd be in like a shot. Given that there are already a wide range of sites, organizations, and individuals trying to attract Al to the race, it's looking less and less likely to me that he'll resist the temptation.

--Ezra Klein

[politicasista]

18. I wish people would just focus on 06

We are no safe than we were five years ago, we have troops dying in Iraq, and Katrina people are being ignored, and these media people would rather talk about 08? We have two more years of this evil monster.


I still have some appreciation for Gore, but the bandwagon people are turning me away from him.

[Democrafty]

23. I have to agree.

Every time he says he prpbably won't run, there's a media FRENZY because he still might. It's such a distraction, and while it's not necessarily his fault, I hope he recognizes that, for the sake of the party and the country.

Didn't the American Prospect have a whole Gore '08 cover story in, I want to say, June? I think they just have a huge crush on him.

[karynnj]

20. Very weird

None of his reasons make much sense:
- Realization of Hillary's weaknesses - nothing has really changed in Hillary's positions, Bill's desire for her to be President or the fact that the party seems designed to only rally around Clintons.
- Al's statement with the "I don't expect to" at the end at this point - is not promising. It means he's not signing up people or starting an effort to raise money.
- The field is not going to be that empty, that large groups of people will rope in an ambivilent candidate. The CW is 2008 could be good for the Democrats, so many will take a shot. Imagine a debate between Warner, Edwards, Gore, Bayh, Hillary and Kerry. Think of any foreign policy question. Kerry has been out speaking on almost any you could ask - and his answers have become amazing sharp. Think of the way he speaks of his Iraq plan now, versus 2 months ago. He is very compelling. Gore and Hillary are both more expert than the others, but neither have the succinct here's the strategy I would follow - not to mention that he was right in 2004. I would even give Kerry even money on the enviorment. So, clearly there won't be a draft.
- I find Gore's denials far more believable - and Hillary is not denying it, just not saying (although she apparently said something about a woman being the candidate - doesn't sound like a no to me.

[wisteria]

21. At this point in time, Kerry's credentials on foreign policy and how

to conduct the war on terror far surpass Gore's. Gore hasn't even spoken up about this subject in a while. For me, he remains the candidate that "got it" after 2000 and waited another two years to go public with his anger about it.

I also would like to know where he has been recently on the issue of Lieberman and the civil war in Iraq. Did he ever comment on the Democrats plans on Iraq? He never says anything to stir debate other than he may or may not run. I do not wish to take anything away from his efforts of Global Warming- those efforts are no doubt sincere, but I won't be jumping on any draft Gore bandwagon anytime soon.

[karynnj]

25. He made one comment that was irritatingly vague

when asked specifically about Kerry/Feingold. His answer was something to the effect that he was against a deadline and that he thought we might want to get out sooner or later than Kerry's deadline. Needless to say, DU took this to mean he wanted to get out faster. (Obviously, they never had a deadline. For instance, as a kid did they assume their mom would get mad when they finished their homework at 6pm not the 8pm deadline?)

I assume Gore would have to put together a full platform - which he did in 2000.

[ginnyinWI]

22. journalists have a built-in bias in favor of a horse race

And the more horses in the race, the better they like it. Time will tell.

[jillan]

19. Well, I definitely know which one is better looking! n/t

[wisteria]

24. I would get flamed if I said this anywhere else, but Gore looks bloated

and bugged eyed any more. He was a very attractive man at one time. Of course, we all are getting older, and we shouldn't choose our leaders based on looks entirely, so I should give him a little slack here.