What if Al Gore won in 08?

[marlakay]

My husband and I talked about Al running yesterday. He said something that really made me think. My husband is not involved in politics like I am nor Al Gore so he says things from a completely different view point than me.

He said, what if he won? My husband thinks if he ran he would win by a landslide but what next? He is thinking the congress and senate wouldn't back up the changes that Al and those of us in grass roots know need to be done and they are tough. Will the media support him or be tearing down everything he tries to do?

Bush got so many things done, shitty things, because he had senate and congress on his side the first 6 years. Thats why so much has changed for the worse. Could Al get them to do what needs to be done?

I am worried because in a comment I read on DailyKos someone asked Al at one of his slide shows why he didn't get more done on the environment when he was VP and he said because Russ Feingold was the only senator willing to take on his views. How many would if he was pres?

All I could say is it scared the shit out of me that even if we got Al no big changes would be made and maybe my husband is right, Al knows this and that is why he is thinking of not running. I want so bad for him to be our leader for change, but what if we are the only ones who want change?

My husband said it would take the will of most of the people for a move like the new deal Roosevelt did and he thinks all those people who voted for Bush are too shallow to give up creature comforts for the move.

So my thoughts are, would the presidency (especially since Bush changed the laws) give Al enough power to implement changes without congress and the senate?

[Uncle Joe]

1. It depends

on the margin of victory, should it be a landslide the message will be too clear for the corporate controlled ones in Congress to dilute or obfuscate. I will say regardless, it will be a hard fight but no single position has the power of the Presidency to affect change.

[truebrit71]

7. I have to disagree...we have to use the Cheney mentality...

...he disabused folks from the start that their agenda wasn't going to be softened because they "won" by such a small margin...they were going full-speed ahead...

Any Democratic President would do well to pay heed to that plan....there's a shit-load of stuff to undo after Smirky McCokespoon's turn at the helm...

[Uncle Joe]

12. The difference being,

the corporate media's influence. Democrats are held to a higher standard than Republicans, should a Democratic President or Vice-President try governing using that approach, I believe they would be castigated on a regular basis by the corporate media as being divisive and obstinate. The corporate media's primary concern being the corporations that feed them advertising money. So if it were politically unpopular to attack the advocates of change regarding global warming, the corporate media would use a flanking maneuver and do their best to obfuscate or fuzz up the message of the election, this is why to be most effective, I believe it's imperative to win by an unmistakable land slide.

I also believe this is why in order to make the dramatic changes necessary there must be minimal or no doubt in the logic of the new policies, the American People must be firmly on board from the get go, or the corporate media will do their best to separate them from their leaders again.

[BenDavid]

2. Yeah, what if Al Gore would

have used Bill Clinton more in 2000? Gore fell for the gop's threat that if he used clinton they would rehash all the monica crap. Well hell! Those same americans that gore needed were giving clinton a 68 to 75 approval rating. Gore wanted to be his own man. He wanted to be the Lone Ranger, but even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto....just like gore needed bill clinton.....and this crap about HRC costing gore the presidency is pure manure.....Gore let the gop control him and his actions. Enough on gore...You all wanna win in 08 then you best throw your support behind HRC after she wins the nomination....You want a bear in this fight then HRC will be the damn grizzley in this.....note:anytime you have bob strum involved in your campaign you are destined to lose..

Ben David

[Uncle Joe]

4. Here was Bill Clinton's perspective and click on link for a little history

refresher on how HRC helped Al Gore when he needed it.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/clinton200711?printable=true¤tPage=all

"During his all-night conversation with Ken Burns in June, Bill "spoke movingly of the Democratic National Convention that was coming," Burns recalled, "and how because he was on the backside of scandal and impeachment he had a more delicate role to play."

Now couple that with a televised what seemed like ten minute self-aggrandizing non-delicate stroll down the hall when he could've spent that precious prime time air time promoting Al Gore from the lectern to the nation. Bill Clinton was always there, and that became the problem because after looking the American People in the camera lens and turning a family betrayal in to a national one, the corporate media were more than happy to keep him there and promote Bush while doing it.

Personally, I don't believe Al Gore abandoned Bill Clinton so much as the other way around.

[emilyg]

5. Hear, Hear.

[mother earth]

3. Not only would Gore win by a landslide--the times have changed

thanks to GW's insanity. What we can thank GW for one thing, he has united this country with all the chaos he's imposed by uprooting all that is good and destroying everything that worked formerly--he actually has been a uniter AGAINST his own fascist regime and lack of compassion, foresight or economic concern for the people of this country. Go figure.

I believe all of us have learned and are fed up and would be behind Gore and all the good he would do. This is what we've all been waiting for, a man that truly cares about this country, who has the experience and is all the wiser for the stolen election. He's a fighter and we've learned he doesn't mince words, and he will put things into action. I think he'd get the support he needs without a problem. Going green is good for the environment and business as well.

IMHO it would be a win-win situation.

[youthere]

6. If he runs, he wins. End of story.

We get an intelligent, well-spoken president who will pressure congress to make the environment a priority. We get a president respected throughout the world with enough diplomatic credibility to actually influence foreign policy and make this nation admired once again.

[Apollo11]

8. The world would be a lot better off

GORE-OBAMA in 2008 & 2012. OBAMA 4 PREZ in 2016 (thru 2025) B-)


IN GORE WE TRUST :patriot:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com
www.americaforgore.org

:kick:

[polichick]

9. A Gore win would have enormous symbolic significance...

I think some in Congress would rise to the occasion of our nation's redemption ~ but we still need to toss as many of the bums out as we can!

[ificandream]

10. Another Draft Gore link

http://www.california4gore.org/

Go Al!

[kath]

11. [nitpick] - Civics lesson: The Senate is part of "Congress".

The US Congress, has 2 parts, or "houses", the House of Representatives and the Senate.

[calteacherguy]

13. He would win neither the nomination nor the general election.

Don't get me wrong, I like Gore. However, his glory days as a politician are over. He's doing good work where he is now.

[Totally Committed]

14. Where's the Mardi Gras going to be?

I'm ready!

TC

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. remember we have other elections coming up besides the presidential

we could have a huge majority in the senate and house?

[illinoisprogressive]

16. I honestly do not see Al running so I never thought about it. I would love to

see him run. he was my choice through last summer and I was all set for a big Al run. I figured out about now that he was not going to and felt very sad.
But, nothing yet has changed my mind from the conviction he is not going to run.
Just think if he was. there would be no inevitibility propaganda from the press with Hillary. Al would be the man.

[CreekDog]

17. That would be the 2nd time

:)