Why those of us who want Gore believe so strongly he should be the nominee.

[Tyler Durden]

Mr. Gore has taken upon himself a mantle so good and productive to the world. He has awakened millions to the depth of environmental issues. His books promote science and reason in government. So why do we wish this fine man to step on the presidential bull's eye, when he so certainly does not deserve to become that target the office has become?

Simple. We NEED that good man, and we need him now.

There is NOT ONE Democratic Candidate with his intelligence, his acumen, his sensitivity, and his drive.

God help Mr. Gore: We NEED him. NOW.

If there is ANYONE who can start the reversal of the U.S. contribution to global warming and influence others to do the same, he is that man and the PRESIDENCY is that bully pulpit to lecture from.

If there is ANYONE who has the experience and background to do what this nation can do to bring some sort of PEACE to the middle east, he is that man and the PRESIDENCY is the stage to act from.

If there is ANYONE who has the intelligence and foresight to aid the poor and the sick in this country with healthcare and jobs, he is that man and the PRESIDENCY is the locus of the force needed for that job.

He doesn't deserve what the Presidency will do to him...but who else can do all these things?
Do we have another who can make what 8 years has made wrong, right again, and go even farther?

A nation gets the government it DESERVES, but it is my hope that THIS TIME, this turning point for so many issues, we will get the government we need. We cannot afford to give Mr. Gore a break.

NOW IS THE TIME FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO COME TO THE AID OF THEIR COUNTRY.

[rateyes]

1. Rec #1 Let's get it to the top of the front page....

:kick: & R

[Tyler Durden]

3. Thanks.

There is so little real concern out there.

There isn't one candidate out there now that I would not drop like a hot potato to work for and support Al Gore.

[Tyler Durden]

2. Like I figured.

Tasers, and "The View".

[rateyes]

7. Give it time.

I posted a five word thread a couple of days ago with 5 words: "Run, Al Gore, Run. Please."

I went to bed right after posting it. The next morning it was on top of the front page, and ended up getting 92 recs.

Your post is well thought out, and makes a good point.

My bet is that it will climb the charts quickly.

:kick: again.

[Tyler Durden]

11. You know something? I'm tired, stressed and sick.

I've been doing this since 1968. I just WISH we could get it right and I could pass my little portion of the torch. I don't have it in me to do this for 4 more years. If we don't get it RIGHT in 2008, I gotta sign off and batten down the hatches.

My SO says I never will, but I think I'm running out of gas. It's been 37 years since the Debate Team, and I'm tired of making arguments that last a couple of years, then some idiot comes along and trashes the place.

I really don't think I have it in me for much longer.

[rateyes]

24. I hear you.

I've been at it a while myself. We don't have much more time to get it right...if we don't get it right this time.

[Tyler Durden]

36. I'm afraid if we don't get it right THIS TIME, we don't have time for another shot.

Personally, after what Florida did to Gore I wouldn't mind much watching them sink into the gulf, and they could take Ohio with them; but we can't afford to lose the coasts: the country will crumble.

To me the same is true of Health Care, Iraq, and many other issues: we fix them FAST or we kiss it goodbye.

[peace frog]

52. Just give us Floridians fair warning

before the deluge, if you please. At least enough time to flee for our lives. Then we'll chortle right along with you as the freepers join Atlantis on the ocean floor. ;)

[calmblueocean]

4. The real question is: What extraordinary thing will have to happen to coax Gore to run?

Something spectacular is going to have to occur to get Gore into the presidential ring, and frankly, I'm not sure what it would be. But it would have to be something out of the norm, like a "Gore strike", where masses of people take the day off work and gather on the lawns of their respective capitol buildings to make a public show of support. Or maybe someone else will come up with another idea... but they'll have to come up with it soon, because time is running out.

[Tyler Durden]

9. I figure he doesn't want the nasty, ugly job...

...which it IS if you do it right.

I think the only thing that will make him do it is for "Hollywood Hilary" or "BMOC Barak" to drop out, saying "THIS IS STUPID. THERE IS A PERSON SO MUCH BETTER FOR THE JOB THAN THE REST OF US."

Never happen. Al Gore has one more quality that gets in the way: LOYALTY. He will not torpedo the DNC even if they are WRONG because he is nothing if not truly and honorably LOYAL.

[calmblueocean]

18. My take is just a little different.

I think he'd love the job, but he's not willing to run again unless he feels absolutely sure he's going to win. Right now, he's essentially Ghost President For Life -- for as long as he lives, people are going to be imagining what a Gore presidency would've been like, how many lives would've been saved, how radically different the world would be. But once he runs, he loses that what-might-have-been halo. If I were Gore, I sure wouldn't want to sacrifice that, plus everything else I'd gained -- Current TV, Generation Investment Capital, being on the boards of Google and Apple, his newfound mainstream success as a documentarian and author -- to run for president again. But I think Gore is different. I think he's been waiting patiently his whole life to be president, and has put it on the shelf with great reluctance.

In every interview I see, Gore is careful to leave himself the chance to do so. "I'm not making any Shermanesque statements..." has always sounded to me like a plea to the grassroots to do something extraordinary to show him we want him back as a candidate. But aside from the usual "Draft Gore" petitions, I haven't seen anything that I'd consider big enough, if I were Al.

Here's my idea: Someone starts up a YouTube-like site with a contest -- submit your own "I'm For Gore" ad. Donors of any amount get the opportunity to vote on which one they like best. The donations are used solely to run the winning ad on the major networks, and the cable news networks for one day.

I don't think that's a perfect solution, but it's a step in the right direction.

[cascadiance]

13. I think something needs to happen to the big corporate money power machine!

I think he knows that if he gets in the race, they will be the ones that try to screw him somehow. He's probably saying to himself that unless something changes that power equation, they will find a way to destroy him. He's only human, much as we feel at times he's more than that.

I think it is upon us to find as much as possible to EXPOSE to the populace the true and insidious nature of corporate money in politics and make it a mission of ALL Americans to ensure that we take out all corporate-bribery beholden politicians. If we do so, perhaps he'll feel more that there's room for him to exercise leadership over all of us who see that newer populist vision, and he'll feel empowered by "the masses" being on his side.

At this point, we still haven't been able to overcome the corporate media brainwashing of a good chunk of this country. We need to find some way of helping overcome that!

[ThomWV]

5. None of the current crop of would-be Candidates come close

He has been my President since 2000, I wait for the day when the rest of the country gets to make him President again.

[Warren DeMontague]

6. He is far and away the best person for the job, IMHO. You know that's who I want.

I think he'd be a great consensus candidate- I think most party members, even the Hillary/DLC folks- could get behind him, eventually.

He's got the brains, the experience, the commitment to the most important issue of our time.

Unfortunately, I think if he doesn't make an announcement in the next month or so, it's not happening. :(

[rateyes]

8. Yeah, I'm getting impatient to hear that announcement myself.

I'm working the phones, and stamping the letters, doing the best to persuade him to accept the task. We need him.

[Tyler Durden]

10. I've made contributions, I belong to DRAFT GORE here in Michigan.

I'm afraid the man himself must make the choice.

I have to go home. I really don't feel 100%, so I'm going to bed.

[rateyes]

25. Take care of yourself.

Get some rest.

[elizfeelinggreat]

12. I agree

I also feel that we need him and that this is his time.

It is so hard not to be disheartened after so many years of the media's infuriating immaturity.

I think Gore's strength of personal convictions could bring people back to believing in constructive causes again. I believe he possesses the gravitas that can heal our country both inside and out.

[superkia]

14. But if he doesnt run, who would be next in those areas?

Who do you think supports those same issues behind him like, the constitution, peace, health care and jobs? We need a back up plan if he doesn't run and those issues seem relevant.

[cascadiance]

15. I think Edwards sounds like he wants to be that person...

But still has a way to go to build that consensus needed to overcome the Hillary money machine and the other Rethuglican money machines in Washington.

Al Gore would really be the right person to come in. I would love to understand what his biggest concern over running would be, so that perhaps we can find a way to help alleviate it.

[superkia]

17. Does he have a relationship with the Clintons?

Could it be he doesn't want to step on any toes? If he ran and beat her, I could see the Clintons being pissed and maybe use their political clout and power to make his life tough? Its going to take someone that can resist the money from the corporate interests and stay loyal to the American people, without that we will have more of the same style of government, just not as harsh.

[cascadiance]

21. I would think that he would be respectful to her...

He already in 2000 sought to distance himself from Bill through nominating Joe Lieberman, and also publicly dissing Congresswoman's Sanchez efforts to have a fundraiser in the Playboy Mansion as a way of saying he "was not Bill". I think those were more the orchestrations of his advisors at the time, so I don't think that was his real desire to do then.

I think he could run as a "non-corporate" Dem, be respectful to her, and still win and I would think have a reasonable relationship with them afterwards. I think if he won handily on a populist platform, and she or Bill were to try to "make his life difficult" after that, I think it would backfire heavily on them. I think they would be mindful of that.

Hillary Clinton isn't "owed" the presidency. It should be who WE all want to elect, not someone getting manipulated in to office. Good sportsmanship is knowing how to lose correctly when the battle isn't yours to win. If Al Gore wins, it shouldn't be anything against him. She shouldn't be feeling that he should have to stay out because it's "her time". He's not had his time, and in fact got *robbed* of it!

[cascadiance]

16. Might he be waiting until after October 12th?...

After the Nobel Peace prize is announced? Especially if he were to win it, to me that would be the OPTIMAL time to announce! I don't think he'd have many more "prizes" to win after that, except of course the big prize for ALL of us! The Democratic nomination and subsequently the presidency to lead us out of this mess!

[Pastiche423]

19. Everything you said was right on!

I am trying to brace myself in the case he doesn't run. But no amount of bracing will help.

2004 was the last time I voted for the lesser of two evils. I will not do that again.

[fenriswolf]

20. gore/kucinich

hello this is my first post, been reading for a couple days but finally registered, i expect to be here for awhile, kinda like coming home after being out in the "crazy" world for a long time. I personally think america needs kucinich now more then gore although as a realist i know that gore would win between him and kucinich, also a realist in the fact that although I will support and vote for kucinich he has almost a 0% chance of winning although i will still write him into my ballot. Anyways I wish gore would run because he too would be great for this country in our time of need and if gore ran it would be great if he could nominate kucinich as VP or as a cabnit member so that kucinich can get the recognition he deservers and build up momentum for a diff pres campaign.

[rateyes]

22. Good first post, wolfie,

and welcome to DU. :hi:

[AtomicKitten]

23. yahtzee

[ms liberty]

26. K&R - You put it well. Now print it, sign it, put it in an envelope and mail it to him!

I'm working on one myself...and I agree with you 100%.

[Tyler Durden]

32. I do that about once a week.

[bobbolink]

27. I haven't seen any indication of what Gore would do on poverty issues.

He's great on the environment, but... some of us need more than that.

MUCH more.

[Tyler Durden]

33. I don't need to see someone BLEED to know they have a heart.

This guy chartered jets on his own nickel THEN worked like a DOG in New Orleans after Katrina to get the worst medical cases out so the locals could handle things.

They had to literally tell him to stop, they could handle it from that point.

[bobbolink]

53. Good apples. What about the oranges?

[Phillycat]

50. Wha?

Al Gore worked himself to utter exhaustion to save a whole bunch of poor people. What more do you need to know?

[bobbolink]

54. What more? What would he do to PREVENT people getting in desperate straits?

What is he going to do about LOW-INCOME housing?

What is he going to do about people who can't afford to eat properly?

What is he going to do about kids who don't have the money to get school supplies?

I haven't heard anything about these questions, and others.

[baldguy]

28. http://www.draftgore.com/

http://www.draftgore.com/

[Grandrose]

29. Excellent Analysis! (K&R)

He could/would hit the ground running, he is the President in Exile...damnit! Gore/Obama!:applause: :patriot: :kick:

[CK_John]

30. IMO, you are just putting off the process of making a decision you have make about a real candidate.

[Tyler Durden]

34. Nope.

I just don't see a REAL CANDIDATE yet.

Edwards is close, Kucinich is closer; NEITHER ONE will trump "Hollywood Hil" and "BMOC Barak," and frankly I think we need someone with one hell of a lot more horsepower than either one of them.

[Triana]

31. Vision...that's why

He's GOT it. In spades.

[spindoctor]

35. Gore is not going to run against HRC, its that simple

Forget it, wont happen, not unless subzero temperatures are in the forecast for Hell.

And when that happens, you can tell me again why Al makes such a wonderful candidate.

[madokie]

37. yes

I read this yesterday and I'll read it again tomorrow if its still up. Its that good. In my opinion the world badly needs a President Al Gore, you notice I said World not just US. My gut feeling is he will enter the race sometime in the near future like maybe the last day he can which if I was him I would do also because the whole lot of them both dems amd re:puke:s alike will be after his jugular no doubt.

[Apollo11]

38. If he wants the job then he should take part in the primaries

But it's starting to look like Gore doesn't really want to make another run for the Whitehouse.

Gore is making all kinds of commitments to deliver speeches all across the world (London in late November, Sweden in January 2008).

Plus he is writing his next book "The Path To Survival" due in April 2008.

Gore has said that he is likely to endorse one of the Democratic candidates.

Here's what Gore said to Larry King on CNN (May 22nd):

Gore on Hillary Clinton:
"She is running a very forceful campaign. She has earned the strong support of her constituents in New York."

Gore on Barack Obama:
"He is also running a very strong campaign. I think that he is appealing to a lot of people who like the sense that he's talking about issues in a fresh way. And, you know, he has a lot of support."

Gore on John Edwards:
"Likewise, running a strong campaign. Put out a lot of very thoughtful policy statements and positions. I think you can see the strength that he's gained from having been around the track last time."


My feeling is that if he doesn't run himself, then Al Gore is most likely to endorse John Edwards.

The League of Conservation Voters has described Edwards' plan as the "most comprehensive global warming plan of any presidential candidate to date."

Of course Al Gore is better-qualified for the Presidency than John Edwards.

But it looks like he doesn't have the appetite for another national campaign.

:kick:

[Tyler Durden]

39. That was my point.

I personally believe ANYONE who really WANTS the job is way too idealistic regarding their own views, or absolutely power mad.

I am beginning to think that the first requirement for the job is to not really want it.

[Tyler Durden]

40. See? what I said earlier?

THE VIEW, Tasers, and Sweet Home Alabama.

EVERYONE (including the people here) is going LALALALALA with fingers in their ears.

SURE this whole thing is terrifying. It wouldn't be that damned important if we weren't in danger.

[colorado_ufo]

41. To the top of the page!

[RestoreGore]

42. "We cannot afford to give Mr. Gore a break"

What arrogance. We had our chance to stand up EN MASSE for HIM and this country and we BLEW IT. You want the government you think we need? Then what are YOU REALLY prepared to do to get it besides begging him to do something he is already doing? Good lord, the man can't do enough for you can he? I say this entire country should read the last line you capped and then look in the mirror.

[zabet]

43. I believe in Al Gore because...

He has a Global Perspective. He truly does see the 'big
picture'.

[amitten]

44. "Some idiot" has come in and trashed the place for centuries.

It's human nature...every once in awhile, a horrible person grabs the reins of a society and drives it relentlessly into the ground.

It's cyclical and will never end. If you're looking for permanent change, you should indeed give up. The pendulum always swings and the good guys will never be in power for ever and ever...unfortunately.

Resign yourself to just doing as much good as you can for as many as you can.

[toadzilla]

45. k&r!

[sazemisery]

46. My thoughts exectly k&r n/t

[Sufficient Voice]

47. Swing Voters

I think many of the swing voters of this country were seduced by Bush in 2000 and 2004, and now they are having serious buyers remorse. I feel as a nation we feel we know Gore, and we can trust Gore. While I (and probably many other DUers) wanted Gore to fight even harder to claim the presidency in 2000, I think his watch and wait approach earned the respect of swing voters.

We need to win and win big this time. Or else I fear there is still too good of a chance of us losing to more voter fraud. Gore seems to me to have the best ability to attract these swing voters. Besides, Gore has very strong credentials as a progressive. I think over the last seven years, he has gotten even more aware of the need to do what Bill was unable to do, and use the White House to fight Corporate Corruption.

I hope Gore enters the race.

[thetaoofterri]

48. He's not ruling it out

In a podcast interview in May 2007 with Eric Pooley, Gore said

"If I knew now that I was definitely not ever going to get back into the political system, I would certainly say that, but I don't know that. I come out of a family that taught me the importance of being involved in the political process from when I was born basically. I never knew a time when my parents were not involved in American democracy and I guess I went through a process when I was a young adult when I didn't think I would get involved in politics. And, then I ended up deciding, well, I've got to do something to try to make things better. And, then I decided in 1989 that I was not ever going to run for President again and I was asked to join the national ticket, the Clinton-Gore ticket and after serving for 8 years as Vice President, I decided to run for President in 2000."

"What I am describing for you is a pattern that has not been a lifelong determination to be elected President, but neither has it be a life of not ever being drawn to politics, so I don't know that I get involved again. I don't anticipate it. But I'm not willing to rule it out."

As long as I believe he is not ruling it out and could possibly be pursuaded, I will keep hoping and sending my weekly letters and notes, but now I will include my 2 cents with my promise to send more when he finally announces his candidacy.

[Emillereid]

49. Gore is the only candidate (besides Kucinich) that I could possible get

behind 100%. Besides having the big picture vision to properly lead us and the world toward resolving our global issues his presidency would restore our constitutional democracy. He was elected President and the restoration of his presidency would go a long way toward righting the wrongs (and evils) of the last seven years. THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT! AL GORE IN '08!

[AikidoSoul]

51. Everyday I think about what the world

would be like with Gore as president.

I have felt tears stream down my cheeks as I did so.

If only he would run -- wouldn't we all cover his back? Wouldn't we all defend him against
what he had to put up with from the press and RWN in 2000?

[ourbluenation]

55. ERROR: You can only recommend threads started less than 24 hours ago

:kick:

Wonderful!

[DesertRat]

56. Well said!

:kick: