Can Al Gore save us?

[itsmesgd]

I am so sick and tired of the "roll over and play dead" democrats. When the issues of war, security, and defense are mentioned the current crop of Congressional Dems is so scared of looking weak that they give the repukes whatever they want. Just this week, Senate Dems refused to listen to a proposal that would cut Bushco's war budget...FOR NEXT YEAR!!. I swear that it feels like half of the Senate dems are running for President, just shy of two years before the election. I wish that they would not "write off" the Iraq war, 2007, and 2008 and place all of their eggs in the 08 election basket.

If Gore entered the race and spearheaded a massive movement of reform in 2007 and 2008 that would end in his winning the White House at the end of 08, would the other dems feel the pressure to "get something done"? I swear that it seems like Hillary, Barrack, and the rest are spending more time in New Hampshire and Iowa than they are in DC- where their jobs are. I have no problem with Edwards spending all of his time running for the White House, he's not currently employed as a representative. I hope that in the future politicians who are interested in a political office would first quit their jobs instead of wasting their efforts. Say what you will about Al Franken, but he quit his job to run for office, why not Hillary or the rest of the gang?

So I ask, can Al Gore save us?

[joshcryer]

1. Yeah, I think a "Gore surge" would do just that.

Political pressure isn't just about what you can do but what people percieve of you. JFK was very "politically polarizing" because of his unrelenting popularity. The same could be said of Ronald Regan.

[Apollo11]

2. Al Gore is the best person for the job.

I agree that Al Gore is the best qualified person for the Presidency, in terms of his experience, knowledge, intelligence and judgement.

As to the question of whether he will run -- 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.

There is no hurry for Gore to enter the race for 2008.

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 on 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.

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!

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.


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

Read Al's blog: http://blog.algore.com/2007/02/our_next_step.html

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:

[itsmesgd]

3. I know it's early for an announcement

I just wish that he would enter so that the rest of the dems could/would go back to work. I'll write in Gore if I have to in 08. Like you addressed, Gore is the only person who has done anything to help the planet and the country.

[jarnocan]

4. STAYING active- not letting the dems think we are taking it for granted (PETITION LINK)

that they wiil do what's right , ho-hum. is very important IMHO. GET out there - for the MARCH on the Pentagon or paticipate in local actions- be sure to sign that latest Gore petition too- and post it about- I put it on face book and myspace in various groups etc.KEEP going.

Show (our president elect) support for his GLOBAL warming efforts. Sign this petition please and share it.
http://www.algore.com/index-splash.html
Plus it will send a strong message to reps that we take global warming seriously. Sign today and pass on to your networks.
"On March 21st, I'm going to hand-deliver your messages on television when I testify at Congressional hearings on global warming.
This is an incredible opportunity to show Congress the energy behind this issue. I need your help to really make it count. Can you commit to getting 10 of your friends to sign a message to Congress before March 21st?
To get your friends involved in our effort, please forward them this note or direct them to:
http://www.algore.com/cards.html

ALSO check out this EVENT!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2251643939 or http:/jarnocan.blogspot.com thanks!

[Deep13]

5. No.

The problems are just too big. He would be able to mitigate damage as much as anyone.

[Porcupine]

6. Is it really his speed? Vox populi he isn't.

There some great public speakers in the Democratic party but Al Gore has never been able to reach some people. I think Al Gore is a better speaker than the pundits ever gave him credit for and a better speaker now than he was in 2000 but I'm not sure he's that good yet.

We need a candidate who has a rightous fire when speaking on peace, the environment and health care. People are ready to hear somebody solid on these issues not someone who is triangulating the center in order to sit on it. Al's got a bit of the rightous fire on the environment but isn't demonstrating an expanded agenda as far as I know.

:shrug:

[kenny blankenship]

7. Newsflash for Senate Dems: if you continue like this you can fucking forget becoming President

People are fed up with Bush, those who enable him, and those who play it safe and accomplish nothing.
At this rate you'd be better off with "Mayor" as the biggest item in your resumé.

[bdamomma]

8. we can only save us.

[marmar]

11. Exactly....No one person is going to "save us."

Al Gore can help facilitate a collective effort to turn the country around, but no one person is going to save anybody.

[no_hypocrisy]

12. You nailed it. n/t

[frogcycle]

9. I'd like to see him just

Start making major speeches and policy commentary as he has done periodically but get even more aggressive. Maybe go on Larry King and "let" Larry draw him into a discussion of the bush reign, let him do an hour on the whole PNAC movement - an educational discussion - showing his insight, his analytical talent, but WITHOUT announcing. Kind of like in sports where a former coach becomes a "commentator" for a year or so before getting a new gig. Al could absolutely blow away the field with his intelligence and insight, expand his base even more, and continue to "hold out" with respect to announcing.

Maybe muse a bit about how he was so successful in "streamlining government", and how now the entire Executive Branch has turned into gross incompetance by having zealots in high places instead of good managers.

He could work his way through an entire "campaign platform" simply as a "commentator"

I suppose this might be "beneath him" - but hell, his original background was as a journalist, he's shown himself to be personable and engaging, he knows more than all the other pundits combined... The PR from AICT has created so much of an Al Gore "surge", just expanding the scope a bit more could really seal the deal.

Maybe a "roundtable" format with him leading discussion with other experts - do it on PBS if necessary...

If he is going to jump in, the "window" to do this is from now until Sept or so. If he decides not to jump in, then he should definitely pull out all the stops and find a way to do this a lot. He is NOT a "one trick pony" and he could increase his political and historical commentary any time he chose to. His DAR speech and others like it went largely unnoticed, unreported. But I think he could bull his way onto center stage if he wanted to.

The book tour could well be exactly that.

[bryant69]

10. Nothing can save us.

Once Al got in the race he'd end up being just as big a sellout (in the eyes of DU) as anybody else.

Bryant
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