US Newswire Statement by Former Vice President Al Gore: Yahoo

[cal04]

To: National Desk

Contact: Trevor Fitzgibbon, 212-584-5000 ext. 210; or Jessica Smith, 202-822-5200 ext. 234

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Following is a statement by former Vice President
Al Gore:

"The Administration's response to my speech illustrates perfectly the need for a special counsel to review the legality of the NSA wiretapping program. The Attorney General is making a political defense of the President without even addressing the substantive legal questions that have so troubled millions of Americans in both political parties.

"There are two problems with the Attorney General's effort to focus attention on the past instead of the present Administration's behavior. First, as others have thoroughly documented, his charges are factually wrong. Both before and after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was amended in 1995, the Clinton/Gore Administration complied fully and completely with the terms of the law.

"Second, the Attorney General's attempt to cite a previous administration's activity as precedent for theirs -- even though factually wrong -- ironically demonstrates another reason why we must be so vigilant about their brazen disregard for the law. If unchecked, their behavior would serve as a precedent to encourage future presidents to claim these same powers, which many legal experts in both parties believe are clearly illegal.

"The issue, simply put, is that for more than four years, the executive branch has been wiretapping many thousands of American citizens without warrants in direct contradiction of American law. It is clearly wrong and disrespectful to the American people to allow a close political associate of the president to be in charge of reviewing serious charges against him.

"The country needs a full and independent investigation into the facts and legality of the present Administration's program."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060117/pl_usnw/statement_by_former_vice_president_al_gore306_xml

[ladjf]

1. The fact that Gore fired right back at the White House remarks

about his speech (or about him) shows that he was ready. I believe that if he feels there is strong support for him he would run in 2008.

I have a good idea that I don't think has a prayer to be done.

If the Dems would get their minds as one, select one good candidate, unofficially, and early, a basically bypass the primaries, it would save hundreds of millions of bucks, avoid the usual primaries "blood letting" and allow the Dems to focus on the main show, the election.

Naturally, we'll be to stupid and vain to do such a constructive move. I particularly fear the positions of the DLC. They just don't seem to be opposed enough to the current administration.