A Reminder of Al Gore's Heroics Two Years Ago

[kpete]

A Reminder of Al Gore's Heroics Two Years Ago
by NYPopulist
Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 09:15:48 PM PDT
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/30/01548/3462

I'll give you two quotes, you tell me who said each. The first one came in September of 2005, literally days after Katrina hit the Gulf Coast:

My heart is heavy for another reason today, and many have mentioned this, but I want to tell you personally that my heart is heavy because of the suffering that the people of the Gulf Coast have been enduring. The losses that they've suffered in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, New Orleans in particular, but other cities as well, and rural areas. We are here thinking of them, thinking as well of the many brave men and women who have exceeded the limits of exhaustion as they do their duty in responding to this crisis, to the families of those responders and the families of the victims.

And the second came yesterday:

"My attitude is this: New Orleans, better days are ahead. It's sometimes hard for people to see progress when you live in a community all the time."

The first quote, of course, comes from Al Gore, the second from President Bush, and the difference in attitude and tone could not be more clear. Gore's words are clearly from the heart and much meant. Bush's are politicized, untrue, and manufactured. But that's not the point of this diary, we've all come to expect such things from Bush (and Gore). The point of this diary is to remind everyone here what Al Gore did two years ago in response to Katrina and just why this man should be our next President (and why he really should be our current President).



While Bush and FEMA Director Brown were seemingly still reading My Pet Goat days after the Katrina devastated New Orleans, Gore had personally and privately commissioned two planes to evacuate the as many elderly and ill men and woman out of the city as possible. George Bush had an entire emergency agency at his dispense, in addition to probably virtually unlimited funds from Congress, yet it was our President who was criticized as hating black people on national television. Out former Vice President, on the other hand, was busy at work and felt an obligation to do whatever he could given how fortunate he saw himself as.

Al Gore leads Charity Hospital airlift



The plane’s arrival in Knoxville was described by the local paper as the "Mercy Plane" and the mayor and many of the citizens turned out to help.

By now, it was too late to return to New Orleans, load up and leave before dark and American Airlines refused to have its personnel stay in New Orleans after dark. Gore and the team headed to Dallas for the night. Around midnight Saturday night, the FAA called American airlines and pulled their landing slots for Sunday saying only FEMA planes could fly in. Gore called Mineta again who promised to honor our initial agreement for two landing slots.

On Sunday morning Gore and the team landed in New Orleans to a much improved scene. Many more patients had been airlifted out after our flight and there were only ten ambulatory patients for our plane so we took 120 evacuees with us to Chattanooga. The welcoming reception in Chattanooga was so large that Gore said it looked like there was an ambulance for everybody on the plane.

We decided not to return to New Orleans because the medical patients we could take had been helped. (We could not take bedridden patients on stretchers on this plane.) Gore said that on the second trip to New Orleans, the doctors at the airport told him that the evacuation of the first 90 ambulatory patients had been the tipping point in their ability to adequately care for the other bedridden patients. They also noted that the military evacuations did not really pick up steam until after we "motivated" them with our private effort.

http://www.tpmcafe.com/story/2005/9/7/164747/4155

[wildhorses]

1. #4 ....where is #5? K&R

[malaise]

2. And don't you ever forget that Bushco tried to stop Al Gore

K & R

[Bitwit1234]

52. And that was because bush is a coward

he was afraid to go to New Orleans just like he is afraid to face the American People. Why do you think he had only special groups invited to his gatherings. Why do you think he gets the police and the guards to keep people protesting far away from him. He is an abject coward, who ran from Viet Nam and has been running scared ever since.

[Olney Blue]

3. Mr. Gore is my hero.

[Peregrine Took]

25. Mine, too. n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

4. Real leaders lead by example.

God bless Al Gore.

[SharonAnn]

26. Thanks for reminding us of this. I'm ashamed that I had forgotten.

Al Gore showed that when you're determined to help people, you find ways to do it.

The conclusion then is that Bush's FEMA didn't have "helping people" as its first priority.

[Totally Committed]

5. I will never forget Al Gore's heroic humanitarian actions, post-Katrina.

Never.

I was so moved by his generosity of spirit, and I remain so.

TC

[IndyOp]

6. One of my desktop pictures:

Namaste, President Gore. Namaste.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

13. Wow, if that was any other politician, they would have been there....

....wearing a button down collared shirt, sleeves rolled up to give the appearance of “working hard”, and they would have brought a hair dresser.

:loveya: ...I'm totally crushing on Al right now!

[seafan]

49. You mean like these ba$tard$?

http://www.russbaker.com/The%20Real%20News%20Project%20-%20Unholy%20Trinity%20Katrina,%20Allbaugh%20and%20Brown_files/katrina.jpg


*Dayum, it's hard werk, Brownie!*

[otohara]

27. What A Might Fine Man

wish he'd run.

[Totally Committed]

61. Oh, beautiful!

Now, THAT's a PRESIDENT! A LEADER.

I'll never forget this. It was one of the few things that gave me hope for this country during Katrina. One of the VERY FEW.

Thank you so much for posting this.

TC

[mod mom]

7. This is the type of LEADERSHIP we need! Re-elect GORE '08!

[motocicleta]

8. Unbelievable.

Somehow I missed this story two years ago. I remember ranting and raving, wishing some politician would get off their ass, commandeer some transportation, and just go help the victims, and thinking for sure none would do it.

What a stud. K n R

[TheDoorbellRang]

11. It was only told here in the "tubes" at the time

If I recall correctly, some M$M types tried to interview him while he was doing this and he refused the publicity. I guess he figured saving human lives was more important than a photo op...no wonder he says he's no good at politics, eh?

[madokie]

9. I want to see this pic when President Gore tells them to get them out of here and into a cell, now

talking about the dick and w twins

[TheDoorbellRang]

10. This story is what turned my eyes to Gore for '08

And turned my "okay I'll vote for Gore" in '00 to "Now that's leadership!" Consequently, I was watching in January of '06 when the Honorable Al Gore gave his speech on MLK day. I was so moved I stood up, all alone in front of my tv, and gave him a standing ovation with tears streaming down my face. I have been avidly for Gore for president ever since.

Please run, Al!

[needledriver]

17. What Doorbell said!

The photos of a sweating, energized Al Gore during his Katrina rescue efforts completely blew away the stale old "wooden" Al Gore stereotype from the 2000 campaign. You don't even need the contrast of * with a guitar or slice of birthday cake to see that Al Gore was demonstrating solid leadership. Compassion by example.

[troubleinwinter]

28. Here is the video of the entire speech (MUST watch!!)

"The Rule of Law" by Al Gore 1/16/2006: http://www.acslaw.org/node/2096 Only the RealVideo version works. Al starts at ten minute mark.

Doubtless the greatest speech in decades.

[smoogatz]

12. Re-elect President Gore.

Run, Al. Run.

[Kajsa]

14. Al Gore showed that he is a leader.

And he showed who truly cared about the people of New Orleans.

To this day, GW hasn't done that.

K&R.

:kick:

[Kadie]

15. K&R

Al Gore is a true Hero!

[redqueen]

16. It's like night and day.

I don't understand why more people aren't outraged that bush's cronies stole our office for themselves.

[flyarm]

18. THAT'S MY MAN! and i am still waiting FOR HIM!! EOM

[Lugnut]

24. I'm with you, flyarm.

K&R

[politicasista]

39. I am too

I will never forget his heroic actions in NOLA. :patriot:

[BrklynLib at work]

19. * is merely an empty shell...a body with nothing of any consequence going on within it.

Al Gore is a meaningful, purposeful and humane human being...all of which are totally incomprehensible to the likes of Prez Shit-for-Brains.
Comparing them is akin to comparing a pile of dog-poop to one of Michaelangelo's sculptures.
( I apologize to the wonderful, lovable creators of dog-poop for the insult of making an analogy between their output and W)

[mod mom]

20. kicking for the next president!

[colorado_ufo]

21. God bless you, Al!

What a man! He has done more behind the scenes than the pResident ever thought of doing.

[OneBlueSky]

22. and he did it without seeking any publicity whatsoever . . .

this was the day that I decided that Al Gore was the person we needed in the White House . . . the ensuing years haven't changed my opinion, only strengthened it . . . I only hope he understands just how badly this country (and the planet) needs him -- IN THE WHITE HOUSE! . . . films and speeches have their place, but if he wants to actually accomplish something and effect lasting change, the most powerful office on the planet would seem to be the place to be . . .

[RestoreGore]

31. I don't think the "most powerful office" is what he had in mind when he did this

But of course, that is how the media, the RW, and others spun it and still spin it. It is great to see people doing things like this simply because it is the right thing to do as all those who worked in New Orleans did and are still doing. And what he is doing now goes far beyond his film and his speeches and he is accomplishing something very effective and long lasting. They don't just "have their place" they are the lynchpin to the awakening of the people in this country to get up and do something. But since it appears this diary was written on Daily Kos by a draft person more than likely using it as a "campaign ad", I guess that message is lost.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

23. Now that's a leader!

What we could have had post 2000. This country would have been so better off, it's not even funny.

[ms liberty]

29. A statesman. A visionary. We need a man like him in the WH...We need HIM in the WH. n/t

[RestoreGore]

30. And he did it all without wanting media coverage, accolades or to use it for personal political gain

We need more people like that in this world.

[AikidoSoul]

32. He is the only one who can save us

the only one

Nobody else has the kind of big picture insight that this man has. He's a super-nerd visionary that knows the players and the territory.

I would follow this man anywhere because he is a true leader.... not even remotely like the rest of those imitation Democrats with their corporate souls.

[mzmolly]

33. Agreed.

He's the only person who has the entire package needed for these times.

:hi:

[Frisbee]

34. Al...

Your country needs you, Al. It's going to take a special kind of person to fix what the bunghole in the Whitehouse has done to our country. You're one of the few who can be trusted and counted on for this admittedly horrible job. We need you Al. And BTW, you could do a lot worse (as evidenced by BOTH *'s) than DK as a running mate. Al, 300,000,000 people need you, even those who may not realize it.

[IndyOp]

37. Welcome ImForGore - Have you written him yet?

I'm For Gore, Too!

Honorable Al Gore
2100 West End Avenue
Suite 620 Nashville, TN 37203

[Frisbee]

62. Thank-you...

...for the address. I think labor day weekend would be a wonderful time to write (beg) him. I hate to say he is the ONLY person who can right what has been done, but he is definitely at the top of a very short list.

[YOY]

35. Why is this man not one of our choices???

I want to feel good for that day in Novemeber when I walk to the polls. I want to feel like I'm picking the good guy and not the person who is slightly better because they wear a (D) next to their name.

For the love of all that is good and decent Al, RUN!

[Lifelong Protester]

57. As you can see, he certainly is the choice of many here

Thank you Al Gore, whom, BTW, I first met and shook hands with on the streets of New Orleans, Jan. 1st, 1991. (Like to say I didn't wash my hand EVER after that, but you'd know I was lying...)

[Lone_Star_Dem]

36. Makes me imagine what it would be like to have a person of integrity as our president.

A person of compassion, intellect and caring... ahh, what a dream.

[JPZenger]

38. Some highlights from the above links

Here's some highlights from the above links: Charity Hospital was a basket case, with flooded lower levels, looters, extreme heat and no electricity. One of the doctors was trying to find some way to get his patients out. He got through to Al Gore, who he knew. Al Gore chartered two planes, which he paid for, to fly himself and others to New Orleans to rescue sick people. He recruited two doctors to fly on the plane, including a retired military doctor. He lined up care from Tennessee hospitals and assistance from Tennessee state officials.

When the planes could not get permission to land, he intervened with the Secretary of Transportation (the only Dem in the Bush Administration) to get special approval.

Meanwhile, a whole well-organized team of Federal officials (as detailed on the TPM link) were busy on the phones trying to stop the planes from being brought into New Orleans. Gore refused their attempts to stop or delay the mission.

The retired military doctor that Gore had recruited was critical in getting cooperation on the ground - because he knew many of the people working at the evacuation site.

Meanwhile, Mayor Daley, Obama and others were trying to get approval to land a plane to take the sick back to Chicago hospitals. They were never able to get approval.

[JPZenger]

42. What Might Have Been: Video of Al Gore on Saturday Night Live

The following is a video of Al Gore's appearance on Saturday night Live a couple of years ago. It is a satire where Al Gore acts like he really did get to serve as President, and is looking back on the past few years:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=12393410

[JPZenger]

54. Link to Funny President Gore Video

The link above may not work. Instead you can go to:

http://vids.myspace.com/

and then type "Al Gore" and "Saturday Night Live" into the search box.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

56. Reading the original article in the OP made me cry...

thanks for making me laugh. :)
I was rolling on the floor the first 10-12 times I watched this, It still makes me giggle even though I know the script by heart.

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

40. Those pictures demonstrate the difference between a person unconcerned and a person who cares.

I'll always remember the mother of the unconcerned one asserting, 'those' people are better off after Hurricane Katrina,...tending to show the line-of-thought of ALL those associated with this 'class' of people who literally RULE the financial and political aspects of this country.

[Pastiche423]

41. No ifs, ands or buts about it

Al Gore is the leader we need.

[tnlefty]

43. I haven't forgotten and thanks for posting this!

The local paper (Chattanooga) highlighted his efforts and 'introduced' the community to some of the people that he had evacuated to this community. They ran follow-up pieces 1 yr. later.

This week the 2 yr. stories are running and even more of the evacuees are willing to be interviewed with photos printed. Anyway, the stories will include things like, 'Ms. so and so, who was evacuated by former Vice President, Al Gore', and similar wording.

From time to time someone he evacuated will write a LTTE to thank him for his help.

A true leader. :patriot: :hi:

[beachmom]

44. Our 2004 nominee, Kerry, also was helping out:

http://www.politicaldaily.org/link.asp?ID=39927&Title=KERRY%20Heads%20South%20With%20Relief%20Supplies

BOSTON -- Hurricane Katrina victims are getting more help from Massachusetts.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Boyd reported that a shipment of goods and relief supplies is headed to the Gulf Coast on a flight chaperoned by Sen. John Kerry.

The supplies were loaded on a plane provided by UPS at Logan Airport. Kerry said he's talked with both officials in Louisiana and personal friends, some of whom stayed in their homes during the hurricane.

"Everything that any of us can do is so welcome, and it provides just a little bit of help at an extraordinary time," said Kerry.

Kerry was on hand at Logan Airport Monday as a plane was packed with supplies destined for Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La.




Both Kerry and Gore are decent men who care. Not so with Bush. I'll never understand why he's in the WH.

[politicasista]

50. Kudos to both Gore and Kerry

They are decent men who care and should be in the WH. :patriot:

[Danger Mouse]

45. Al Gore is a great man.

:patriot:

[valerief]

46. Al Gore is a polished politician. GWB is a chucklehead. nt

[MasonJar]

47. I love Al Gore. I have been supporting him since his first run for

president, way back when. He and Robert F. Kennedy are the two great American environmentalists, who are not only sincere but also involved. They are true patricians; George W is white trash despite his so-called Yale and Harvard educations (what an embarrassment for those two fine institutions) and all his ill-gained money and social status. It takes a whole lot more than press to be a patrician, the main ingredient being noblesse oblige. W "ain't" got it, can't spell it and can't say it.

[TexasEditor]

48. When I told Republicans I know about this, they didn't believe...

I used to have the link to the story on FoxNews' site, sent that to the disbelievers, some of whom think the Earth is only a couple of thousand years old. Seeing it on Fox was too much for most of them.

By the way, this post is already showing up in Google, fast work.

[fightthegoodfightnow]

51. NEW ORLEANS MUST BE PART OF THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Isn't it time we spent $500 billion helping Americans at home rather than the continued funding of a war based on a lie?

[DesertRat]

53. K&R

[JNelson6563]

55. K&R for President Gore!

A noble man who truly gives a shit. :patriot: :toast:

Julie

[Cha]

58. Gore is Wicked

Good! We just have a shadow Prez that only the very elite know about. Too bad we have such a sick sic pres.

[AtomicKitten]

59. Bravo, again!!!

[illinoisprogressive]

60. Gore: humanitarian and hero. I will never forget two months later

Around thanksgiving. It was around the bottom of barrel with all the conservatives taking over the minds of the people and only shortly after katrina, so the major push back against Bush had not really started.
Feeling low, not yet looking for blogs to find refuge, I was watching cspan and Gore was the speaker.
He came out and gave a firey speech against the administration and all the ills they caused.
Half of me wanted to cry for everything and wishing Gore could claim he right as president and kick the Bushies out. half of me wanted to cheer.
Since then I had my hopes high he would run and I would support him and he was get what was stolen back.
Later in the summer I figured out he was not going to run and felt deeply sad.