Al Gore Might Yet Join 2008 Contenders (Unnamed former Gore aide claims)

[AlGore-08.com]

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114704312621046146-4HqnXEVGYM4A4juVE_JegpbSn9c_20060606.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

(snip)

For former Vice President Al Gore, a rash of favorable publicity surrounding this month's opening of his movie "An Inconvenient Truth," and the growing political resonance of its subject -- global warming -- are stoking the most serious speculation about a Gore political comeback since his loss in the 2000 U.S. presidential election.

(snip)

"I appreciate that buzz, but he's not running for president," insists Michael Feldman, a former vice presidential adviser who is helping promote the film and Mr. Gore's new book on which it is based. "He has been spending a considerable amount of time trying to educate people about the issue of global warming," and won't talk about politics "right now," Mr. Feldman says.

The demurrals aren't persuasive to some Democrats, including former Clinton-Gore White House insiders. "I do know that he's thinking about it. I know for a fact," a former adviser says. "He's talked to people about the pros and cons."

(more... )

Take the pledge to see Al Gore's movie on Global Warming, "An Inconvenient Truth", on opening weekend

[babylonsister]

1. Eh... Eh... Eh... not. nt

[Wayne_in_WA_State]

11. Al Gore President 2008

There is no one I would more like to see run than Al Gore. If he is seriously thinking of running then he knows that in order to win and restore Democracy in America he needs people to understand who he is. He is passionate about global warming. He has been right on all the issues. He is smart. He would not indulge his enemies by declaring in 2006, that would be dumb. He is funny. He is a great husband and father. He must be grounded into the center of the earth to win the vote of the people to become President and yet see that spoiled, smirking, AWOL twit steal the election through brother Jeb, Chatty Kathy Harris and Daddy's Friends on the Supreme Court. As VP, he even had to preside over Smirk Boy's victory... To go through that and come out whole and in fact come out to lead the world in taking positive steps of change to deal with the Global Climate Crisis!

He is the guy. No one else is close. Restore Democracy in America

Al Gore President 2008

[mithnanthy]

27. Good summary, Wayne...

I would definately support Al Gore for President! He is exactly what this country needs. And Welcome to DU.

[Wayne_in_WA_State]

142. Al Gore President 2008

Thank you for the very warm welcome

With friends like we have here we can and will take our country back!

Wayne in WA State

[mdmc]

43. welcome to DU. Wayne!

Peace!

[rainy]

46. 100% agreement

[PurpleChez]

53. I agree. I would be proud to support him.

A year ago I'd have thought, "sure _I_ support him, but to others it'll be a joke and he'll be a liability. But today I think that he just might be a rallying figure for all of us who want to put an end to bushco injustice, whether or not one considers him the rightful president. Viva Al Gore!

[corkhead]

67. Couldn't have said it better myself. Ditto. Welcome to DU BTW.

[longship]

71. Nice first post, Wayne.

Welcome to DU!
:hi: :bounce: :woohoo:

[ronnykmarshall]

77. Welcome Wayne!

Gore in 2008!!

[dalaigh lllama]

85. Welcome to DU, Wayne!

Yup, Gore's my man, too. Back in my non-political days (was it only 6 years ago?), I voted for Gore half-heartedly -- I couldn't imagine such an obvious doofus as * as president. Hadn't even thought about Gore as a possible contender in '08 until I read about his unsung heroism during Katrina, and I thought it'd be great if he ran again. Then I saw his speech he gave on MLK day, and it inspired me (and several other DUers) to write him personal, handwritten letters begging him to run in '08. I know he wouldn't declare so early -- it'd just give the freepers more time to come up with swiftboat attacks, but I sure hope he'll do it. I feel like Princess Leis in Star Wars: "Help us, Obi Wan Kenobi,(aka Al Gore). You're our only hope!" :D

[Uncle Joe]

97. Welcome to D.U. Wayne,

excellent first post! :hi:

[Robeson]

100. Wow, great first post Wayne. Welcome!....

...:hi:

[bluescribbler]

125. Don't blame me!

I voted for President Gore.

[NastyDiaper]

128. Gore MUST run.

But we need to chill. Ms. warbuckz clinton has some lobby cash to unload first.
Oh and nice post Wayne :)

[OKIsItJustMe]

130. Well done

I actually preferred Al Gore over Bill Clinton in the '92 campaign.

One of the things I liked right off was that Al Gore understood what the internet was all about. He coined the phrase "information superhighway," (which people mocked him for at the time) and then later they conveniently forgot all about it when the joke was that he claimed to have invented the internet.

Al Gore didn't just recently discover the environment. He was mocked as "Senator Ozone."

The trimming of government that took place during the Clinton era is to more to Gore's credit than to Clinton's.

I only hope he can get away from his "handlers." If he had spoken during the 2000 campaign with the passion with which he has spoken since, he might have won by a larger margin.

[Exiled in America]

146. Russ Feingold is probably the only democrat I would vote for.

But I like Al Gore as a person. I just didn't agree with him on the issues in 2000. If he's changed since then, great.

[bluestateguy]

2. Anonymous Sources: that's how we got the Lewinsky "scandal"

Real men go on the record!

[saltpoint]

3. Gore is true to his passion on the environment and it's possible that he

wants his commitment to that issue to be his legacy. The high profile campaign and this film, plus his book, and his many speeches recently stand in support of this.

At the same time, it also positions him to stay current, remain in touch with people from the 2000 campaign -- plus many new connections, too -- and in effect use the urgencies of global warming and energy policy to mount a campaign for the White House.

My guess is that it would be a damned effective campaign with plenty of support.

[don954]

4. what i don't get, if that is his passion, then why doesnt he want to run

again? If he became president, then he could make change like no other person in the world. The president has became the nation's primary leader, and sets the nations political goals. He could get in office and push the Apollo Energy project, use executive orders to reduce pollution, etc. Basically be an anti-bush... :evilgrin:

[saltpoint]

6. I took from the info that that decision hasn't been made.

My guess is that Al Gore will be a candidate in 08.

[karynnj]

32. That may be why he may decide to run

or at minimum, he could use his support to act as a power broker to insist that this issue is important in the Democratic platform. He could work to help a Democrat who he could trust to work on this issue. I really can't think of many possible Democratic candidates that wouldn't. The Clark people say he has been working on alternative fuels. Kerry had variations of all these things in his 2004 platform (and Teresa has done considerable work on these issues.) I doubt there is a single Democrat that Gore could not persuade to take a real position on this.

[truthisfreedom]

5. Gore for President, with Bill Clinton as Veep! unbeatable!

TOTALLY UNBEATABLE!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

7. akkkk!

Gore/Feingold has my vote. It's not fair, but the Clinton name turns too many people off ( or on in the case of Freepers)

[Tiggeroshii]

8. can bill clinton be veep? is that legal?

[ginnyinWI]

9. I don't think he'd want to be veep after being prez.

Nope. Won't happen. He's already got his presidential library, for cryin' out loud. And he's having way too much fun with his fundraisers and stuff.

[AlGore-08.com]

14. Not mention that it's probably unconstitutional for Clinton to be VP

There have been some folks who have tried to make the case that the constitution would allow somebody who has served eight years as President to serve as VP - - and even for that former Prez to advance to the Presidency should their President be unable to complete his/her term.

However, it's far from clear and such an arrangement would almost certainly inspire a law suit from watchdog groups. The ensuing discussion in the press over whether or not Clinton could be VP would derail a campaign.

[NewJeffCT]

36. To be VP, you have to be eligible to be President

That disqualifies Bill Clinton due to the fact that he served 8 years. He could be Secretary of State and the "line of succession" would just skip over him in that case.

[electron_blue]

93. Are you positive? Not that I want Bill for veep, but I thought you couldn'

be *elected* to President after serving 2 terms (or elected to one and finishing out the other). I think, technically, Bill could win election as veep and then become President to fill out one term and not violate the Constitution.

Amendment 22 - Presidential term limits

1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President, when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

[colorado_ufo]

16. And his heart - too much stress.

[rateyes]

50. I don't think so...

because he would be in line for the job of president....can't serve any more.

Gore/Clark

Gore/Feingold

Gore/Conyers

Gore/Boxer

NOT Gore/Lieberman.

[9119495]

57. I believe it is legal but in the event of a Gore death or impeachment

he would be unable to serve as president. The job would pass to the speaker of the house...currently a republican and likely to remain a republican because of all the gerrymandering. If that is the case, you may as well paint a bullseye on Gore's forhead. Gun nuts would take him out.

Aside from that, I'd love to vote for him again. And I'd be enthusiastic about it this time. I thought Bradley would have been better but I love the new Al Gore.

[karynnj]

33. totally illegal by some accounts as he can't become President

[saracat]

52. Not possible. Bill could not legally run for VP.

[electron_blue]

94. why not?

Amendment 22 - Presidential term limits

1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once. But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President, when this Article was proposed by the Congress, and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

[drfresh]

120. You can't run for VP if you can't be a P

That is the argument that I've commonly heard. Since you must be ready to serve as president, the requirements for a Vice-president are the same as president. And if you've already been elected to two terms, you aren't eligable.

[electron_blue]

126. ah, but read the Amendment again.

I've heard that this is a common misconception and that Clinton could actually run again as Veep. Or Bush for that matter.

[Taylor Mason Powell]

133. Not true.

As a poster upthread remarked, you are merely prohibited from being elected to the office again, not from serving. Or so I recall.

Anyway, the point is, Al Gore rocks and I will be very, very excited if he ends up running in 2008.

[Turn CO Blue]

59. I don't mean to be negative, but Bill has lost way too much weight

lately. I worry about his health. Period.

But the VP is one heartbeat away from being President, and I don't think it would be legal for him to wind up being Prez again.

[ronnykmarshall]

78. Which is why I don't think Hillary will run in 2008.

I think Bill's health will play a part in whether she runs or not.

[ginnyinWI]

10. Could he win a nomination?

Could he sweep the primaries? He's never done that before, really. He ran before because he was the veep.

I like him and believe he's sincere, but it al depends on his political skills.

[AlGore-08.com]

13. In the 2000 general, he won 1/2 million votes more than Smirk

Gore won more votes than any Dem before him (including Bill Clinton). He won more votes than any presidential candidate before him except for Ronald Reagan's landslide re-election.

He's got more than enough political skills to win the 2008 primary.

(But F.Y.I. a candidate doesn't have to "sweep" the primaries if the primaries are not front loaded.)

[MikePorter]

62. Exactly

exactly

[Nimrod2005]

74. EASY............NT

[janx]

76. LANDSLIDE. n/t

[applegrove]

12. Wouldn't that be great. If brains like Clinton, Kerry & Gore were

all debating together? I seriously hope that a Dem law is passed saying that Dems cannot accept funding from the GOP insiders - cause that is what kept Sharpton in the race - bringing up issues and turning the race into a debate on civil rights - which were won a generation ago. That line from Sharpton to Dean on how many of his Vermont staff were African American came directly from the GOP. I didn't know that. That is pretty devastating.

So - let's hope that whomever is there during the run up - they don't allow the GOP to control the debate.

[DaveColorado]

15. I would fight for him if he ran

I would give it everything I had.

[applegrove]

17. Well - nobody else did in the last race. Why he took money from

GOP insiders and used the lines they gave him. Don't get me wrong. I like Al. Especially when he is debating or speaking. He is brilliant. And I worry that the GOP has been hunting him down to turn him into their tool. I don't want to see it happen again. We need all our leaders. And we don't need to see them diminished constantly - by whatever means (usually something crass like swiftboating) the GOP can find.

[rainy]

47. The GOP will hunt down anyone who runs against them.

Gore is our natural choice for a real change and a better, more hopeful future.

[AlGore-08.com]

63. Actually the MSM seems to be embracing the "Gore the phoenix" story line

The amount of snarky cr*p thrown at him has been very, very small since the 2004 election. He's gotten a lot of positive press - - he's listed in Time Magazines "100 People Who Shape Our World" in the "Hero" category. (Even more impressive when you realize that he's been out of the public eye for most of the last five years.) Gore's been positively profiled in "Wired", the mag who started the bogus "Al Gore said he invented the internet" - - and the profile talked about his pivotal role in creating the Internet.

With the exception of Faux and the Washington Times, the press like the "Gore is the one Dem who can take out Hillary" and "Gore is the new Nixon" story lines. The fact that the Wall Street Journal ran this article without any ingrained negativity (they don't even include any passing negativity about MoveOn.org) is another sign the media may have gotten over their "Kill Al" mentality. The reasons the WSJ list for some Dems wondering if Gore should run are not muckraking or slanderous. They are strategic, reasonable reasons that should be considered about any candidate. I personally think that the reasons they give are much more surmountable than they reasons for HRC not running. (For example, a private poll was taken after Gore's MLK Day speech this year, where folks who had not seen the speech were asked about Gore before and after being shown the speech - - and he end up with huge favorable gains among Dems and Independents.

[applegrove]

92. Well I hope in these heavy times we get people running for the leadership

who are heavy. By that I mean real.

[deacon]

18. Second place finishers need not apply-- No thank you n/t

[Baconfoot]

21. Keep it up! Haven't you ever watched the olympics?

"Four years ago John Doe went home with the silver. Can he take the gold tonight in Calgary?"

There's a reason people watch those montages. They love it when someone comes OOOOoooh so close and then gets a second chance.

Those are the money shots baby!

What's that I hear in the distance?

Boom! Boom!
The sound shakes the crowd's bones.

Could it be?
Yes! It is!
Al Gore in 2008!

Voulez vous the country back?

[deacon]

22. It's good decoy talk like the GOP and Gulliani- but Wes Clark

and Feingold would be a great ticket.

Gore has baggage--the media loves to tear him apart like they do Hillary.

[retread]

24. The MSM will "tear apart" any Democrat running for President and

that includes Wes Clark.

[trogdor]

34. Second that.

What baggage, I ask? As Kos said last week, worrying about what the media and the Republicans would say (beyond "would the public believe it?") is loser talk. I think the nation is experiencing buyer's remorse, and would welcome a chance to have Al Gore fix it. He's smart, he's capable, he's not a member of the VRWC, AND he's voter-tested. What more could we want.

[TransitJohn]

64. Bingo

they're already doing their opposition research into any and ALL possible candidates....my prediction: it'll be uglier than ever before.

[NewJeffCT]

37. Yes, the MSM would tear apart Gore & Hillary...

But, both of them have been enduring that tearing apart for years now and have survived. We have yet to see Wes Clark or Russ Feingold under the kind of intense media spotlight that Hillary has been under for almost 15 years and Gore for 7 or 8 years.

[karynnj]

45. How much of Gore's baggage was real - he had a very clean reputation

throughout his entire career. His whole life has been in the public eye. Supposedly part of the reason Clinton picked Gore was that he had a boy scout image, which Clinton didn't. The Gore "baggage" even sounds silly when you repeat it.

Did he really "exaggerate"? Gore's reputation for years was that he was a serious policy wonk. Do ultra-serious, scientifically oriented people often (or ever) have a real tendency to "exaggerate"? -Not in my experience. He wore earth colors? (Who cares? This was 2000's windsurfing)

Even the overblown Buddist Temple/Did he make fund raising calls from his office refect the norm in DC. Gore was about as clean a politician as there was. Repeating that he has baggage is wrong and labels him in a way he in no way deserves.

Gore had a good reputation that he earned over a life time in public service, suggesting that he had any real scandals is something that all Democrats should avoid and counter. It's clear that W and his team have no problems with not just cheating but working to destroy anyone in their path.

[Frank Cannon]

113. Gore's baggage was that he was "wooden" and an "egghead"

The MSM tried to paint Al Gore as one of those stuffy brainy ivory-tower elitists, someone you definitely wouldn't want to "sit down and have a beer with".

Well, I think the American people have seen firsthand what we get with a beer-drinking dumba$$ in office, and I think we've all had QUITE enough.

[karynnj]

114. Exactly what I meant

Everyone has some kind of baggage just from living. My point and yours as well, is that even with some pretty intense attention - Gore doesn't have any baggage that should keep him from running. People may have other reasons for not wanting him to run, but that one is just not fair.

[Frank Cannon]

116. I agree completely

The only other thing I think the MSM can throw at him is that he "already lost in 2000". Even though he really won, and even though the outcome of that election was entirely specious. I doubt the MSM will want to open that can of worms again.

[karynnj]

117. Not to mention that that is not a crime

The strange thing may well be that the Bush thugs defeated 2 of the most honest, most decent men who have run for President. There are no real skeletons in their closets. If Gore runs, the key may be emphasizing that Bush & co made up lies.

[janx]

119. He might not have to emphasize it terribly much...

One heck of a lot of people have already figured that out! :-) But I agree that it wouldn't hurt to mention it.

[Dervill Crow]

25. He didn't finish second. n/t

[DoYouEverWonder]

26. So you always come out first

at everything you do? Even the first time?

[9119495]

58. Umm. He finished first. (n/t)

[progressivebydesign]

81. Huh? Bush was the "second place finisher". Not Gore! n/t

[BigDDem]

145. Exactly

NO MORE BUSH!

[w4rma]

19. Very very very good news. Historical repeat, ala Nixon. (nt)

[NewJeffCT]

38. That was my thought

Nixon was the 8 year VP under a popular moderate in Eisenhower. He lost a razor thin election with fraud a distinct possibility. Nixon sat out the '64 election and won in '68 with the public turning against the Vietnam War.

Gore was also the 8 year VP under a popular moderate in Clinton. He also lost a razor thin election with fraud a distinct possibility. Gore sat out the '04 election... and the public is turning (has turned) against the Iraq War.

[PATRICK]

48. Nixon was a supreme opportunist

refashioned his image without being crucified by a press every bit as skeptical and hostile. Most of all he worked behind the scenes garnering deals and favors and supporting the legislators who would back him.
Gore has worked the issues on a genuine high road without cynicism and therefore without spidery webs of support. What helped Nixon the most was the weakness of the ultra conservatives and the weakness of the mainstream candidates who very much resemble the cloak of non-meaning sometimes worn by the establishment Dems.

So it all rides on this. Will the door be wide open for Gore to take his chances with the party faithful and blast through the hostile media? Nixon had to 'charm" and wheedle the media and got results. Gore can forget about getting similar hospitality. I guess the irony there is Gore can act tougher than the "new Nixon" because another "new Gore" is DOA.

If the establishment Dems continue to marginalize themselves and keep the waters lukewarm they will create an opportunity for Gore, Clark, etc. that only would need an enthusiastic run by acerbic radicals to ruin the image of the so-called DLC moderates. Then he would garner the advantage of his base which is
the democratic Party itself which knows him and all his supposed weakness could turn into solid advantages with Democrats at least.

And the point should come up strongly that Gore in fact won both the votes and the electoral college in principle and it took a violation of principle- one in a subsequent landslide of lawlessness- to toss the technicality war out the window.

Can Gore handle the media and the dirty electoral scene better than he did? If so, he would be far far ahead of the others who seem incapable of learning anything new about those blatant problems. Can he light the fire and lead the turnaround and take back everything that has been stolen and lost? Or can anyone do better? With all the carping about any of the candidates the crucial questions are still wide open about the campaign capability itself. There are some new governors to take a good look at this time and my personal favorite Edwards.

And all it would have taken to make this an interesting exercise in choosing one from a bevy of the best was to have at least a fair voting system, screw the media. Failing a fair system we need a zealous populist landslide- and the media is a big problem.

[NewJeffCT]

66. Gore

I think if I had to pick a candidate for 2008 right now, I would pick Gore over anybody else.

However, I agree with your analysis above. I would like to see that he learned from the lousy campaign he ran in 2000. Yes, that was partly due to the unfriendly (at best) media, but Gore didn't help himself very much, either. As an example, Kerry slaughtered Bush in the debates, but Gore did not come across all that great. Yes, that was also partly due to the media, but that same unfriendly media had to grudgingly admit that Kerry won the debates decisively. Gore had done well in debates previously - why the falloff in performance?

I think we do have some good governors to look at as well, even if they are not as progressive as many on DU would like.

[janx]

72. Wow. That's so similar it's amazing. n/t

[wakeme2008]

20. Run Al Run :)

:bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast: :toast: :bounce: :toast: :bounce: :toast:

[Minnesota Libra]

23. I'd love a Gore/Clinton or Gore/Dean ticket, they would...............

....:loveya:leave the neocons/fundies in their dust.:patriot:

[durrrty libby]

30. Absolutely nothing gets my heart racing in frenzy, like the words Gore in

08.

Usually the only prayer I make is the one by Voltaire.


"I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: 'O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.' And God granted it."

But I do pray for Al to take on this daunting task.

I’d love for him to get on board and start making the tv rounds, starting with his movie promotion, and progressing from there.


Maybe we could start an email campaign to him. Anyone know his address?

[Frank Cannon]

111. His campaign slogan could be, "Had Enough?"

I would love it if Big Al ran. And I would just love to see the MSM try to pin the "wooden", "policy-wonk", "egghead" garbage on him again. Compared to the horrors wrought by the chimp over the last 6 years, that all sounds even more ridiculous now.

America is finally ready for a competent, smart President. Go Big Al! :patriot:

[zann725]

56. Kerry/Gore OR Kerry/Feingold. (Then again, Boxer would make stellar VP)

Afterall, Babs was the ONLY Senator to "officially" stand-up on EF Recount last January before the Senate.

Predictably people out there will LOUDLY bash Kerry for ('ALLEGEDLY') losing...as of course DID Gore, I recall. However of the two alleged 'losers'/winners, I feel Gore would still be better as VP (the "take no crap 'engine') to keep Kerry and the Dem ideals strong and on-track. Kerry still IS the steady-hand..."peace-generating" mind that this Universe needs...much as it needs clean air and the stop of Global warming...which Al can focuse on and "watchdog" (ASAP)...oh, if the Universe were so lucky.

Feingold, however, was the only one with guts to initiate the Censure of the Prez.

One must ALSO NOT forget Conyers somewhere high in cabinet officials in light of his RELENTLESS, COURAGEOUS energies to investigate EF, and other important Dem issues...including many investigations of violations of the Constitution by present Admin.

[Apollo11]

60. Gore run for the Vice-Presidency?

He already served his 8 years as VP !!

What planet are you living on?

www.algore.org

[OhioChick]

28. Run, Al!

Please, please, please! :)

[Nickster]

31. I second that emotion! n/t

[Pierre Trudeau]

29. interesting that WSJ has this take...

Hard to believe this article ran in the WSJ (I doubt they'd issue a similar editorial). The author writes about the prospect of a Gore presidential run without a single negative slant.... almost as if the writer thought that might be a good idea.

Which of course it is.

I'm cereal!

[NicRic]

35. If anyone is qualifeid and deserves a second run...

its Al Gore ,after all he won in 2000 and had the Presendecy stolen out from under him ! He paid his dues ,being in politics for years and V.P. with one of our greatest Pesidents for 8 years ! I believe he can win if he follows one rule,answer every single cheap shot thrown at him ,with the facts and show bush for the puppet he is, a coperate whore who continues to rape our coutires economy ,enviroment and line the pockets of his cronies with millions of tax payer money. Now that bush has ben shown to be the most corrupt white house we have seen in years (since Nixon) Gore should have no problem winning the election if he does as he said he would ,go for broke and hold nothing back ! There are many good V.P. choices , I like the General ,what better then to ex veterans running to get us out of the mess created by bush in Iraq !

[sweetheart]

39. I can see him at his inauguration

In his first comments, an aside, "I wish i could ask the
american people if we can start over in their hearts and dreams
as if it's 8 years ago; as if the bastards never existed,
and i'll never be able to say it, we must move on."

[Apollo11]

40. Gore won in 2000

Let's be very clear about this: Gore was the winner in 2000, despite starting out with a huge deficit in the polls. Does anyone here doubt that Bush and his buddies (Katherine Harris, Jeb Bush, John Roberts, US Supreme Court, Diebold ...) stole Florida in 2000? Or that they pulled the same tricks in 2004 - not just in Florida but in Ohio and other "swing states"? (although we will never know for sure if Kerry would have won a clean election)

Clinton should have stood down after taking the self-inflicted double hit of (1) wholly inappropriate behavior in the workplace with a star-struck vulnerable subordinate co-worker, and (2) lying about it to the American people. Then Gore could have wiped the slate - and the oval office - clean. Would have won the election easily.

Instead the mainstream media gave us all that crap about: Gore is stiff, boring, claims to have invented the internet, such a "know it all"; but Bush is down to earth, compassionate (!), a "good Christian", a real family man, speaks fluent Spanish, loves minorities, will restore honour to the White House, will bring gas prices down, no un-necessary military intervention and "nation building" missions without an exit strategy ....

But of course you know all this ...

In Gore We Trust
www.algore.org :)

[Bridget Burke]

89. Yes, Gore won in 2000. But I'm glad that Clinton did not quit.

Bending the truth about a bit of consensual hanky-panky is worse than lying the country into a war?

[Apollo11]

135. The Blue Dress

consensual maybe

wrong definitely

How old was Monica Lewinsky at the time she consented to pleasuring President Clinton? She was an insecure star-struck intern, with low self-esteem and highly charged hormones!

Bill Clinton was President of the USA. He was the CEO. Monica was the lowest of the low in terms of the hierarchy in that workplace. It's Clinton's responsibility to control his behavior!

How many voters sympathized with Bill Clinton? Maybe 1 or 2 percent.

How many sympathized with Hillary and Chelsea? More like 80 percent.

How many sympathized with Monica and her parents? More than you would think.

As Vice President, Al Gore had no choice but to stand alongside Clinton after he brought his whole administration into disgrace. Not just by his behavior, but by being untruthful.

Should Clinton have been impeached? No.

Should he have stood aside and let Gore take over ahead of the 2000 election? Dam right!

[Bridget Burke]

136. Monica was an adult--a silly one, it's true.

Nobody that I knew gave a rat's ass about Clinton's sex life.

The anti-Clinton forces spent millions trying to find ONE "sin." So, he had a human failing. Bush has killed thousands, lied to the world & is still in office.

Gore won the election, you remember.

[Apollo11]

144. Clinton crossed the line

Yes - Gore should have won the 2000 election.

But I don't think the hard right would find it so easy to steal an election that wasn't so close in the first place.

Let me put it like this: The Lewinsky issue seriously damaged the public's perception of the Clinton-Gore Administration. It certainly did not help Gore in 2000.

In Gore We Trust
www.algore.org :)

[SharonRB]

41. All I can say is...

Woo hoo hoo!

This is the best potential news I've heard in ages. I've got my fingers crossed that he decides to run after all. Gore/Feingold, Gore/Clark or even Gore/Clinton would definitely have my strongest support. He's my top pick for the primary.

[mdmc]

42. This Nader voter will work hard for a new, new Al Gore

:kick:

[progressivebydesign]

82. That is MUSIC to the ears of the Gore fan!! cool!! n/t

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

141. same here-losing in 2000 made gore rediscover his roots

and he went to the left.
and for the record, it's still not ralph's fault.

blame katherine harris, blame the dems for alienating their base with triangulation. if anything ralph maade gore go left at the convention where his lead kicked in-it wasn't til he went right in the debates that it dried up

[michiganbuckeye1970]

44. The problem at this point...

Is that we do not the how much of a mess * is going to leave. Depending on what happens with Iran, how the political tide stacks up in Mexico and South America, the next president could be inheriting a good many problems that will need solving.

Not that I don't think Al Gore would be a good president for that. He is very intelligent, and I've always been impressed that he was able to sit down and write his own book. But the question is, would Gore really want that?

If he decided to give it a go, I think he'd need a VP whose strength was foreign policy. I'm not sure who that would be.

I also don't think the Hillary is going to run. She understands the climate of the country. She also understands that she can probably continue to be a senator for as long as she wants. She continues to gain a great deal of senatorial power, which would all go down the drain with a failed white house attempt. Perhaps she will end up as majority leader...

I think our best chance to win the presidency is with a governor. A governor can talk about the impact of the failed Bush policies and run as a complete outsider. A governor also doesn't have to defend votes caste about our current situation.

[Adelante]

51. I think a VP has to be a legislator

I think it more and more lately. Any president is going to be buried in foreign policy issues for some years to come. A good use of a VP is working the administration's agenda through Congress, especially domestically, as the president works to dig us out of the FP mess we are in. A former Senator or Representative as VP makes the most sense to me. They know how to get it done, all the ins and outs, where the bodies are buried. The presidency is an executive and leadership position and doesn't call for those particular skills. I would agree a successful governor would have the executive skill needed; however, no president can rely on a vice president's foreign policy experience in this day and age. The president has to have it on his or her own.

[NJ Democrats]

104. And for Gore

that VP would be Russ Feingold!!!

[Adelante]

105. Heh, Feingold might disagree

:D

[NJ Democrats]

107. I want Russ as President

but VP for Gore would be a great alternative.

[janx]

110. I said so elsewhere in this thread,

but I really do find that an interesting combination.

[NJ Democrats]

108. I want Russ as President

but VP for Gore would be a great alternative.

[NastyDiaper]

134. A clean primary between Feingold and Gore

would be fine by me. I can see Gore taking a cabinet position, but not the VP. I'd support Kerry too, if he can start landing some left hooks.

I'm more enviro than party political so please correct my logic. But the way I see things is this: If the house goes blue in 06, the leading Dem candidates will be congressional (Feingold, Hillary, Pelosi, Kerry, Edwards...). If not, the leading pack out of the gate will look more like Clark, Richardson, Dean, Gore.

I mostly hope that the blogoshphere can stop MSM slimes and myths in their tracks. Ozone Al, the Deaniac primal scream. Then there were the swiftboats. It sickens me that it's easier to Google into "Stolen Honor" than "Going Upriver".

[janx]

109. Why?

:shrug:

[Adelante]

115. I understand he wants to be president

I haven't seen where he wants to be vice president. Unless I missed it.

[janx]

118. He does? That is, I know people like him a lot

(including me), but he hasn't said anything definitive about running for president, has he? And besides, there are plenty of people who run for president who would take a VP position if the right situation availed itself.

Of course, all of this is just talk at this point...it's only May of 2006. And the voters don't get to decide who the VP candidate winds up being, much as we always want to. ;-)

[Adelante]

122. I heard him say he was seriously considering running for prez

Many months ago and haven't heard anything different since. Nobody's saying anything definitive except for Biden, I think. Personally, I've always been in favor of letting the nominee pick his own running mate. But that's just me ;)

[janx]

129. Anything could happen.

Look what happened last time: Edwards ran and Kerry wound up selecting him as his running mate.

[Bridget Burke]

90. We need the best candidate possible.

Yes, there will be a mess to deal with. That's always the case after a Republican presidency.

Most of the problems you mention are international. Why nominate a governor? WHICH governor? WHICH VP with a foreign policy background?

Right now, Gore is #1 on my list.

[hippiechick]

49. I'll be damned ! Michael Feldman !!

He was with the Clinton/Gore advance team in 1991 that stayed at the hotel I was working at, who gave me my first contacts to become a volunteer !!!

:applause:

[Julius Civitatus]

54. Yes! But I hope he's ready to fight back, and

stop listening to all those clowns (Frum) that told him to take the "high road" while taking a pounding from both the Republicans and the media.

And I hope he has a team of dynamic staffers ready to fight the good fight, and flood every media outlet every time the repeat their Republican-fed lies.

I'm very glad Al is considering running again, but he better be ready to fight, and hit below the belt if necessary.

[AlGore-08.com]

68. Gore is a fighter - - but he will never fight below the belt

In 2000, he went from 20 points behind to winning the election, despite being outspent nearly 2 to 1, having a universally hostile press, and almost no support from the Dem party machine. He fought for all the votes to be counted in Florida for over a month, all the way up the Supreme Court - - again, with almost no support from the Party. He only stopped when he ran out of legal options.

And back in 2002, when he was considering a 2004 run, he was quoted as saying he wanted to run a campaign with folks committed to him and his policies, without folks who were only there to pad their resumes. He also said he wanted to run an even more populist campaign and ditch the consultants. When he needed to decide whether to run or not, he didn't hire consultants. He rented a car and drove around Iowa, talking to regular people to learn first hand what the mood was.

[janx]

70. Wasn't his decision not to run in 2004 because it would have

been a hasty repeat of 2000? I think I remember something like that in his announcement not to run. It was devastating at the time.

[mistertrickster]

55. He already WON once . . . I say, go for it. And pick Barack Obama as

running mate.

[The Wielding Truth]

121. That would be an amazing team.

[janx]

61. This is an interesting thought (from the article):

"Mr. Gore, who turns 60 in 2008, could remain noncommittal and enter the presidential fray late, given his fame and fund-raising potential -- unlike lesser-known Democrats already stumping in the early-nominating states to be the Clinton alternative, such as former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. If Mr. Gore ran -- or were drafted, as Ms. David suggests -- the longtime Washingtonian would run as an outsider, Democrats expect, helped along by his relationship with Internet-savvy MoveOn.org activists."

[GregD]

65. Gore/Finegold!

That would rock!

[NJ Democrats]

106. Gore/Feingold would be

da bomb!!!

[Phx_Dem]

69. Gore/Clark would be a winner nt

[jonnyblitz]

73. i like Gore. for some reason i lose my lefty "purism" with Gore.

if he runs in the primary I would support him no problem. :thumbsup: I don't get excited about any other possible candidate so far...

[janx]

75. kickerooski

:dem:

[Haole Girl]

79. Truly a man of vision...

run Gore, run!

[davidlynch]

80. I Have To Agree--Gore Gets It (Best Man I Can Think Of)--Poetic Victory!

[progressivebydesign]

83. NO ONE would get more support from me than Al Gore in 2008.

I can't think of anyone I'd be more enthusiastic about. He MUST run in 2008!!!

[Khaotic]

84. Al Gore 2008

Oh yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!

Al Gore in '08.

I have to admit, that in '04 I didn't think Al would be a good choice. Too many people holding on to images of him w/ the beard, looking defeated even though he won the popular vote and Florida if you count the NYT statewide recount. He was elected President.

Since then I think he's been on fire more than ever.

If the Constitutional Crisis speech he gave back on Jan. 16, was ANY indication of what he's possible of now, he is our man.

Think about his experience. He served 8 years in the House, 8 years in the Senate, and 8 years as Vice President. Beat that resume!!!!!!!!!!!

You can't beat Gore's resume. He's no hack.

And since he got out of the spotlight and out of the beltway, I think he's found his way. He's progressive, not some hack from the DLC.

Can you even imagine Gore running w/ Joe Sellout now? Hell no!

If he run's I think it will be w/ an Obama or even w/ Dean.

The neocons really fear Gore, don't kid yourself. He's the real deal that has already beatin' Shrub and I think he can take any GOP'r you put infront of him.

Gore/Dean ... not that's a people's ticket. The neocons would flame and flame. So what ... that's the kind of kick in the ass this country needs. The people, not the politicans, of the DNC knew it would take Dean to kick the party in the ass, and he has.

They will have their jobs cut out for them, but as things stand now they only need to tell it like it is and stand firm w/ their beliefs. To hell w/ the neocons, the GOP, the Christian Reich, and the DLC for that matter. No more DINOs!

Go Gore!!!!!!!

[disndat]

86. The few doubters

What a tremendous positive response at the WSJ suggestion of Gore '08! This should convince the few doubters that don't think Gore '08 will generate the greatest, most passionate eruption of support from one end of this country to the other, the enthusiasm of the DU response to this WSJ article is just a microcosm of what will happen. Thanks to the msm, there is great disgust and revulsion against the Bush administration that we just don't hear about.

[Dogmudgeon]

87. Let Al take his sweet old time.

The longer he takes to ponder, the stronger his position is. After all, he won't just be running for president, he will be running for the position of leading the world in dealing with energy and climate crises. President Al Gore would certainly NOT be a nationalist/isolationist. His international focus would be even stronger than Bill Clinton's was.

The mere presence of Al Gore means that these issues will be taken much more seriously. It isn't a personal grudge any more -- civilization is facing some nasty problems, and the Republican Party will be on the verge of collapse. Real leadership and intelligence is needed, badly.

Al Gore can provide both, no matter who is the president. There is no shortage of good contenders in the Democratic Party. But no one knows the problems like Al Gore. In office or out, we are soon going to need him more than we've ever needed him before.

--p!

[tinrobot]

88. Re-Elect Al Gore

What a great campaign slogan.

I would work incredibly hard to get Al Gore elected president.

Can't say that for a lot of other dems... sorry, Hillary.

[autorank]

91. ...and he will KICK ASS. Saw him live 1/16/06 in DC..OMG!!! Gore 08!

[janx]

95. I have never seen so much support on this board for

anybody, and that alone says volumes. ;-)

[autorank]

127. ..from your voice to the ears of the masses;)

I ran a pro Gore thread a while ago after I heard this Al Gores Devastating Indictment of President Bush 16 January 2006.

What an hour and a half. The place was rocking and he was in total command of everything. This will go down as one of the most important political statements ever. But I digress. I ran a thread on Gore in 2008 and didn't get much. An early adopter among early adopters. Now the time is right. Who do you call on when you figure out that the earth is going down the tubes for real, no doubt about it? Who do you call on when the budget is in the tank, no doubt about it? Who do you call when you want someone who is a reasonable person rather than a grotesque caricature of a pod person?

Al Gore 2008

[janx]

131. The "election" of 2000 changed Gore.

He was a statesman and used to being a gent; he followed his handlers as they led him that way. But I believe that after that horrible fiasco in 2000, he learned a lot. What a profound disappointment, coming on the heels of Clinton's unfortunate judgment regarding the affair he had in the White House while the VRWC was poised to pounce on anything...

But no matter how bad the disappointment, Al Gore never stopped contributing to society. He has always contributed something, no matter how bad things have gotten.

And you're certainly right. The country needs Gore now more than ever.

[Uncle Joe]

96. The perfect President (or at least as perfect as humans can get)

just in time to help save humanity from the perfect storm of global warming!

Al Gore rocks!

:yourock: :patriot:


:kick:

[VegasWolf]

98. I would certainly vote for Al, he is way superior to Hillary who I just

can't see myself voting for.

[Historic NY]

99. He would get my vote in a New York minute......

I'm sorry but Hillary is a lightening rod and wouldn't carry the country. The big question is, Does Gore really want to? Does he still have the fire deep down in his gut to fight like hell? Will he fight and fight like there is no tomorrow.

[think4yourself]

101. Most exciting thing I've read in years

This country is in dire need of some Al.

Go Al, Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Historic NY]

140. Welcome to DU think4yourself............

I think Al is the man in the middle. I do so hope he runs.

[LeftofU]

102. Gore / Clooney 08

It's a lock to win 8 years.

[bleedingheart]

103. good looking and witty...I think I would die of happiness

[hexola]

112. Thats exactly what I said in 2000!!!

I dont think I picked Clooney...but I wondered if there was some suitable non-politician that could make the cut...

[progressivebydesign]

123. Oh baby! The DREAM TEAM!!

I'd actually donate money for that duo!

[progressivebydesign]

124. I DO think it's time for an environmental president.

Honestly, people are starting to wise up about the global warming, peak oil, and other environmental issues. It's not the province of just liberals anymore. Those ads by BP, about "carbon footprint", and alternative fuels, are really timely. People have seen the destruction of the Earth... and how big biz and Bush's government have set us back hundreds of years. Al Gore is the ONLY one that can run with the environmental credentials.

[ckramer]

132. Gore/Kerry or Kerry/Gore will do it

Go!

Let's put adults in the White House!

[unda cova brutha]

137. I'd like to see Obama on the ticket in '08

[regularguy]

138. President Gore!

:toast:
:headbang:
:patriot:

[Emillereid]

139. The world can't wait! Al Gore in '08!

[goodboy]

143. If the 'new' Al Gore runs, he'll win. Period. (nt)

[janx]

147. k-k-k-k-k-k

kick

[hiphopnation]

148. I'm sure there must be

and I've probably already signed one. But if someone knows of a current online petition to help sway Mr. Gore further, kindly post it so that I might distribute it far and wide.

all best

hhn