Via this dkos diary by a gnostic, we have this from the AP:
"I am not planning to run for president again," Gore said last week, arguing that his focus is raising public awareness about global warming and its dire effects. Then, he added: "I haven't completely ruled it out."
The second sentence there seems like a slight rhetorical advance from the first sentence, which he's been saying for a while now. Why include it? This is all speculation, but it's clear to me at least Gore is very publicly keeping his options open, probably watching the field develop, taking soundings among his closest allies.
From the time I saw An Inconvenient Truth, I thought it was a campaign film. It included a lot of rebranding of his image and some inoculation against his perceived flaws in the public mind, brought to you by the establishment media in 2000, cheerleading in conjunction with the Bush campaign.
Then, I saw a photo of him phone banking with MoveOn during the last election cycle. It immediately seemed to me like another "un-campaign" campaign photo op. And now, An Inconvenient Truth is out on DVD in time for Christmas. Hmm. How con-veeeen-ient.
Al Gore is well positioned to run as an outsider in 2008 if he chooses to do so, and he'll draw massive grassroots support while still having the experience in Washington to know how the sinkhole works. If Gore runs, I truly fear for poor Sally Quinn's tender sensibilities. Can you imagine the effect on DC pharmaceutical sales if Gore enters the primary?
I have no favorite in the 2008 primary race. There are some candidates I don't particularly like, and others I'm open to. I feel no need to name names. Gore's would be a welcome voice in the field, in my view, but I don't know whom I'd ultimately favor.
I think Gore has time. In fact, waiting to announce late is probably to his advantage if he runs. He can enter with a splash, suck out a lot of oxygen and grab some primaries (maybe) before everyone tries to take him down or build negative momentum against him. If he enters early, he just puts a big target on his back, and he has enough old support to ramp up field operations fairly quickly. Watch to see if some old lions of the party in primary states remain uncommitted late. That might suggest they've been tipped to wait.
In my view, the Gore plan for '08, if there is one, is to continue to build his comeback following virally, play to the base, and then come out and point out how he was right about so many things his competitors got wrong because they felt the need to placate, not challenge, the corrupt Republican zeitgeist. I can't quite think of anyone in particular, though: can you? Purely for the sake of political theater, it'd be fun as hell to watch.
An Al Gore 2008 campaign would have the virtue of pissing off all the right people in Washington, and I mean all of them. Why not help me with my forgetful mind and name a few in the comments? 
Related posts:
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- Naomi Wolf, OMB Watch Endorse Alan Grayson’s Campaign to Reform the Fed
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Fisk!
RGJoe!
AL GORE!
You think a Gore run might piss the Clinton’s off? Especially the Hill.
Gore/Clark would be OK. w/me.
I think a Gore run would piss Bush off. As well as Sandra Day O’Connor. And Katherine Harris. And Barack Obama, who would be instantly relegated to the Realm of Best VP Candidate EVAH!1!!
For starters, there’s the whole Hilary crowd: Begala and Carville and their ilk. Plus people who want to enjoy seeing Hilary lose to McCain.
I saw Gore out in Portland recently, and in Iowa in 2000. Not the same guy. This Al is loose, powerful, articulate, funny and loving. He laughs, he roars, he’s tireless. It was a stellar performance. Kerry and H. Clinton are wooden by comparison. I would have a hard time supporting anyone else in the field, including our departing governor, if Gore got in.
If Gore runs, it would piss off the WaPo editorial staff. (Sounds like a really good idea to me!)
gore will be the best president of our history, bar none.
he will mend the damage done to our integrity, he will have the funds stolen from the middle class and given to rich people returned, he will bring back the highest regard for union products and labor
he will man government posts with the most talented professionals on the planet
he will heal the planet
he will bridge the great divide that has been deliberately trenched between the parties in America politics
he will renew the commitment to our constitution and transparent government, he will replenish the rule of law
he is as we speak the greatest president ever elected, who never served.
if he needs us to draft his ass then we need to do it.
AL GORE, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ALREADY ELECTED AND ELECTED ANEW
This is no different from what he said when “Inconvenient Truth” came out, including the second sentence. Possibly verbatim, though I don’t remember for sure.
- — WELL, SINCE ITS ALL ‘DIRTY’ MONEY THE CANDIDATE HAVE TO VACUUM UP — GORE HAS HIS OWN. HILLARY IS STILL SUCKING THE GARDEN HOSE — ID LIKE TO SEE ALL KICK HER HEAD IN. OF COURSE, AFTER THE 2000 RUN AWAY KERRY’S CRASH, OTHERS MIGHT NOT BE SO DAMNED INTERESTED IN TAKING ON MR.GORE. HE IS OUR PRESIDENT, NOT THE FRAUD IN PLACE. AND IVE NOT SEEN HIM KISS UP TO THE BUSH CABAL, OR GIVE IT LIP SERVICE AS THE OTHER COULD BEs – WOULD BEs ARE HAVING TO DO TWO YEARS OUT — A REAL KICK IN THE NUTS WOULD BE IF HE RAN AS AN INDEPENDENT AND LEFT THEM ALL SUCKING ON AN EMPTY STRAW — OH-H// WHAT DOES HE OWE THE DEMOCRATS?
Just to point out, using all capital letters is akin to yelling at the top of your lungs.
first thing for gore;
learn how to conduct the answers in an inteview without to us
What really gets the juices flowing is speculating on who would be ’seeing-red’ should Gore win the WH.
Personally I don’t think we’re going to hear anything from Gore for almost a year. Probably not until the 2007 Hurricane Season is over.
ps – Gore’s non-announcement was his announcement. He WILL run.
I think Tester or Webb makes more sense than Obama or Clark as a running mate. Wouldn’t you love to see Obama debate Tester or Webb? I’m not saying they’d clean Obama’s clock, just that it would be a very interesting debate.
Anything to block Hillary Horatio Humphrey sounds good to me. 2008 is looking much too much like 1968.
At least you can point to Al and say, “He stands for SOMETHING.”
What do Hillary or McCain stand for except being weathervanes than points differently every time the wind changes??
Obama is the only other contender in my opinion and he very well could seal a deal with Al to be the first black VPotUSA.
Al Gore isn’t categorically ruling out a run at the Presidency? Yawn.
I think you’re right about Gore’s best strategy – not giving the others, and the press, lots of time to take shots at him is probably Gore’s best plan. He already has name recognition – maybe even more than Kerry has, so getting in early isn’t as much of a priority from that perspective. He’ll probably need to announce by the middle of next year, but even late 2007 probably will work.
I think, though, that what’s convenient about the timing of the DVD release of An Inconvenient Truth isn’t political, it’s just good marketing. Time to get that leftist policy wonk on your list the thing he’s been wanting all year.
Gore would make an excellent president. Most likely if there is enormoous popular support for him they will take him out which a lone not assassin.
JoMo should run as McCain’s veep and lose to Gore and Kucinich. hahaha
perris @
12
Maybe he could come and practice on us at a Sunday Book/DVD Salon? :)
Gore/Obama
Gore/Clark
I forget now who said it, but I can paraphrase: “Watch to see if Gore starts losing weight – a sure sign that he has made up his mind to run.”
C’mon, Al, get into fighting trim!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 4
I have been a huge Clark fan for a while. THAT is a ticket I could get enthused about
Never much cared for Gore before. After seeing An Inconvenient Truth, I was impressed. I hope he runs.
First it will tickoff Hilliary. Too bad. Hopefully, it will be a bucket of cold water on wannabe Obama.
And, Ed*ard Teller, yes I’d love to see Tester or Webb debate Obama because I think they would clean his clock, and make people realize he’s all talk no walk. I can’t believe my fellow Illinoisians don’t know this yet.
Well, I liked Obama until I saw a hard hitting news piece that said his middle name is Hussein and also that he has the same taste in clothing as the dictator of Iran.
Now I am really turned off.
-GSD
Any ticket on which Obama is the Veep, he’s going to be the bigger draw than the top of the ticket. The cheers will be for him.
President Gore, Arianna for Chief of Staff, Olbermann for Press Secretary, Edwards for AG (since CHS will probably turn it down), Hamsher for head of the Public Broadcasting Corporation, Murtha for Secretary of Defense, Feingold for Sec. of State, James Earl Carter for Special Counsel to the President and ambassador at large, Pelosi to the U.N. and the list goes on. Oh… and Hillary for Senator from New York.
As far as a running mate, is Lieberman definitely unavailable?
KIDDING!!!! OUCH, STOP IT!!!
looseheadprop @ 23
Assuming he’s learned more about abortion? He was pretty clueless in ‘04.
I would love to see Gore run. But he would have to promise to lay off the “D.C.consultants” first and run from his heart. The only person Gore should talk to would be Webb — I really liked his fight when he was attacked.
jarotra @
28
you funny
from the previous thread…. i guess this isn’t OT. ;-)
i’ve collected a bunch of links to al gore speeches from 2002 through to this year – it’s really interesting to see the evolution of his ideas and how they all fit into a coherent world view.
here’s the list (thanks to scarecrow, Kathryn in MA and RevDeb who’s conversation prompted me to make the list)…. if anyone has additions (nothing earlier than 2002) or corrections, please let me know. thanks!
Ed*ard Teller @ 15
I will enjoy seeing Obama debate anybody. Seriously though, I don’t think Tester or Webb are ready for a national race.
I have a feeling the Shrum primary next time around won’t be such the campaign sport it used to be.
Climate change is the biggest threat we face as a planet. Al Gore is the man I want in the White House about now. He’s the only candidate mentioned about whom I’d say Yes!
Kuchinich is good.
Tester or Web? Interesting. Good to see a new face that isn’t a new face.
Clark. Same. Good guy, but couldn’t move mountains to get him elected.
Obama. Can’t get excited about him at all.
Hill. Still a Goldwater Girl.
Yeah I like Gore. I know, he’s stiff, wooden, downright nerdy,he invented the internet, blah, blah ,blah.
He is also a smart guy, and IIRC, he gave a speech down in Florida this past year.That was a barn burner.
If he could show more passion like that, I do believe his image would change.
As for Obama, after Lieberman got a hold of him, he is dead to me.
I still like Edwards, he makes the right noises.
Obama stays out in front long enough to pick off Hillary, becomes the focus of a right-wing attack machine he can’t stand up to, and Gore enters the race late, sweeps up the nomination and beats McCain.
That’s what I think until at least 4pm anyway.
GSD @ 25
Good point.
A WBAL reporter went around doing man on the street interviews: Should people feel threatened by Barack Obama? A lot of people said yes, and “why haven’t we caught that guy?”
A Gore run would piss off the folks at Faux Snooze.
Interestingly, last night while working out in the pool, I heard the Peter B. Collins show on the radio (on our local NovaM / Air America affiliate) — and PBC mentioned an interesting slip of the tongue made by a Fox Talking Head (can’t remember which Propaganda Specialist) –
The Fox Hack made a remark about the terrible implications which would ensue “if Gore or Kerry were RE-ELECTED.”
Hmmm. “Re-election” would be my term for it, too. Didn’t know that the Fox Clowns agreed with me, though.
GSD @ 25
/snark
Jane Hamsher @ 37
I like the way you think, Jane! That’s my favorite scenario, too.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 13
Everybody in the Beltway! I’m for it!
perris @ 12
that’s “without singing to us”
a good line spoiled by typo
HotFlash @ 39
And don’t forget — His name rhymes with “Osama” — so we get THREE enemies in one!
What a deal!
Jane Hamsher @ 37
ROFL
We should start a
Make Shit UpPredictions Thread. Maybe Saturday Late Nite.Oklahoma kiddo @ 27
Fitz?
Nate @
14
Good call Nate. Nothing like claiming prescience when you’ve got a Mississippi basin full of proof.
Sparkles the Iguana @ 33
Why not?
HotFlash @ 35
i lived in cleveland when kucinich was mayor. he’s the only politician i’ve ever seen make a policy decision that was expected to mean the end of his political career – and do it anyway, because it was #1 a campaign promise and #2 the right thing for the people of the city.
Jane Hamsher @ 37
You know, There is a lot of logic in that. Except maybe for the McCain making it to the majors part. Somehow I don’t think he will be the nominee. Just a gut.
1,362 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Pachacutec and the Firepup Patriots:
There is indeed an echo in here…I think the Ghost of Old Norske Past has beaten the drum for Al Gore since December of 2004. And wouldn’t that jest drive a stake thru the DNC, AIPAC, Likuderman, Hilary and all the little Clintonistas and fascist fellow travelers in and around Washington, DC. And that fake, Barak Obama, will piss in his own shoes in the shadow of Big Al…
Let’s do it!!! Let’s scare the shit outta the entire corporatist establishment and drive the Bush family back inta the 19th Century where they belong…the only folks who will oppose ‘im are the bad guys!
KEEP THE FAITH…AIN’T IRONY WONDERFUL!!
HotFlash @ 48
They’re not polished enough. (Of course, neither was GWB and he squeaked by.) They just don’t have enough experience. Given that they’d be running starting immediately, they would have very little Senatorial experience. They both seem fairly amateurish to me, Tester more so than Webb.
You know, that sort of thing could be very refreshing. Our usual Dem leadership is not known for that sort of devotion to duty, and Commander Bunnypants hasn’t ever made a policy decision.
I’m seeing Clinton/Obama vs. Giuliani/Brownback.
to my own surprise, i’ve become a big gore fan. i mean – i hate nafta, i hate the telecomunications act that resulted in the f’ed up media consolidation, i hate tipper’s fear of “bad language”, i hate his choice for VP in 2000…. this list goes on and on.
so, i’m surprised to find myself really liking what he’s saying and what he’s doing…. not just that, i really hope he runs ‘cuz i want him to win.
If the dems run anyone other than Clarke, or Gore, they will not have this No Party Affiliation (we can do that in Oregon, where we vote accountably – by mail) voter’s support. Period.
There is nothing, east of The Rocky Mountains or south of The Alvord Desert… that we need. Seceession, NOW!
Okla kid, on a bulletin board at a community web-site I was then moderating in March of ‘02 I suggested some kind of Clarke/Clinton combination in ‘04 “wouldn’t surprise me“, and was flamed so hard I quit this medium. Shut the web-site (pre-blog?) down. [Insert appropriate profanilty here] that.
Lurkers, are Bloggers too.
I still like the look of Hamsher/Clooney for 2008. I had a previous mental picture of black evening wear at the acceptance speech, to which I’ve made the mental addition of a pair of Mukluks!
Oklahoma kiddo @ 27
If not Edwards for VP then for AG! Great idea. As an attorney who actually cares for the little guy, and gosh actually cares for the law, he would be a great deal better than the THINGS from the Deep (Ashcroft and Gonzales) we had to head the (In)Justice Department over the past six – to be eight years.
Feingold!
Yea, yea, I know he said “no”
I wouldn’t mind Gore. And btw, that picture is the picture of the actual winner of the 2000 election helping his constituents after Katrina
johnSwifty @ 55
Does George own mukluks?
selise @ 54
I hear all that Selise…particularly NAFTA! Uff Dah on the NAFTA. Still, if he saves the human race from continuing down the path towards biosphere killing consequences; I guess that would be some atonement.
Is Lieberman going to the Pinochet funeral along with the folks at the NRO, the Wapost and Maggie Thatcher?
-GSD
GSD @ 60
Surely it would be uncivil not to.
I like Gore on paper. And I really mean on paper. I like his words in print. Transcripts of interviews and such. When I actually hear the audio, I feel like I’m being lectured. I like smart just as much as the next person, but I don’t want President Professor.
Plus, I am anti-Gore-daughters. Loathe.
NorskeFlamethrower @ 51
I like Gore. Too.
I have this theory I toy with concerning that magical so-called “electability” thing, which I guess is an expression of the cynical side of me, concerning the superficiality of voters’ choices. It has to do with names, mostly, and secondarily with appearances –
Have we ever had an American president with a “non-Anglo” name? No, we haven’t. This is a factor where Kucinich loses out, silly though it be.
Then, secondarily, we have the age of television and the importance of “looks.” It’s harder — not impossible, but harder — for a candidate to win if endowed by the Creator with nerdy looks. This is a double-whammy for Kucinich.
Now, it would be wonderful if these considerations didn’t seem true to me. Maybe it would take the nation falling off a steep cliff (again! as in The Great Depression) for voters to cast aside such superficial considerations, but until a nasty day like that, I don’t foresee it happening. Would love to be proved wrong, though.
Gore.
I would give my right arm and then some to help that man win.
There is nobody else in the field with his chops. He would set up a Marshall Plan for energy independence and sustainable development. The rightwing can’t find any dirt on him or they’d have done it in 2000. They can’t complain about his wife or kids.
And they had to resort to the last-ditch tactic of messing with the election to win against him.
The clincher for me: I believe it would make Howard Dean enormously happy to repay Al Gore for the support he gave Dean in 2004’s primary.
What Jane (37) said. He ditched the damned consultants and he’s going to do it.
I’d LOVE for Al to win the nomination (he would if he runs) JUST to piss off Carville (and his little wife, too!) Mr. Gore was the real President for four years anyway. Yeah, I would hope that it would make SD O’Conner angry, but her feeling shame would be much more appropriate.
HotFlash @ 59
George looks good in everything; the modern Carey Grant…ahhh…what a perfect VP candidate!
HotFlash @
60
If nominated I promise to wear mukluks before I wear an $8500 Oscar de la Renta evening gown. Paul Bremer set the bar for looking stupid in seasonally inappropriate boots awfully high, I think I could get away with it.
Emoticons, Pach?
I’m away for 5 minutes….
It’s my new look. I’m going for urban cheesy.
selise @ 54
Same here. The impression Gore is giving, though, is that he’s a changed man in terms of many issues. I wonder if he’s stated publicly any new opinions on that scam known as “free trade.”
And I wonder if Edwards would be willing to be his V.P. choice — now there’s a guy with impressive populist sentiments these days.
Testing – I posted once today (this thread) after a 3 week absence and cannot find it. The site did remember me though, so that is a good sign. :)
Would love to have Gore run again (and win again) but hope he is ready for the media stupidity again. What Greenfield did to Obama is the opening shot in the republican’s spin/spit crusade.
Rayne @ 67
I like it!
Jane, at least he drew the line and didn’t go Celine on us.
Can Gore carry Tennessee this time?
Pachacutec @ 71
Not sure it works for you, Pach. How do you look in Oscar de la Renta and mukluks?
Could someone close the open blockquote ? Looks like it’s around XL at 2:36 pm.
http://draftgore2008.org/
GrandmaJ @ 74
Hey GrandmaJ, how’s your ‘puter? Did your son-in-law fix it up?
point panic @ 75
Nope.
What’s a mukluk? Sounds like something at a Hawaiian restaurant.
(And that, ladies and gentleman, will get me accused of anti-Pacific Island bigotry, as earlier today, I was accused of using homophobic language.)
GrandmaJ –
Hi there! Hope you are well. I too have only been able to post sporadically, so it’s good that it was timed for your presence.
I see an earlier comment of yours upstream, at No. 30 on my monitor. Is that the comment you meant?
Pachacutec @ 81
A comfortable socklike slipper of Eskimo origin.
Mukluks!
I am ready to go to work for Gore.
Al Gore airlifts 140 Katrina victims out of NOLA
HeirofPatriots @ 77
I don’t see any open blockquote on my monitor.
However, there have been other problems in the past which remained invisible to me.
Does everyone else see the problem HeirofPatriots is referencing?
JohnSwifty — Did my son-in-law fitz my computer? Well…. kinda. It turns out that he uses firefox exclusively. So when he plugged in my ‘puter, he went right to Firefox and it worked just fine – no strange search functions. He did put a new video card in it and the colors are wonderful and put new anti-virus ’stuff’ on it, BUT…
Any search I do on Explorer ends up on the WeatherUnderground search function. UGH.
Interesting that the Saudi ambassador quit after only 15 months on the job and only a short time after Deadeye Dick met with the king.
I wonder if Cheney said, we’re going to stick with the Shiites and liquidate the Sunnis in Iraq…..
Rest assured, the whole region will blow sky high before The Decider gets his thumb out of his ass to make a deciderated decision.
-GSD
I don’t see anyone who is both electable and interesting from either party at this point..
Iraq and terrorism will help determine who the nominees are…If Iraq is still a major factor- the public will be looking for someone to get our asses out- if it’s on it’s way to “done”- then others get the nod…If there is a terrorist attack before the election- that changes the odds as well.
Suppose for a moment that we appear to be on our way out of Iraq- and there has been no major terrorist attack in this country—well then all of a sudden we have a VERY different election- where the economy, economic equity, health care, oil dependancy, etc. are the major issues…In that case, I like Edward’s chances.
john in sacramento @ 86
You know what I love about that story? Gore refused to allow reporters to do stories about “Al Gore, hero to the rescue.” He wanted it to be quiet, to help those in need without any media fuss.
Pach, mukluk is an Eskimo (Yupik or Inuit, can’t remember) term for booties made of leather.
This Hawaiian-heritage girl will tell you it’s definitely not Hawaiian.
Rayne @ 91
I guess you should be able to answer this, Rayne. Are there many Hawaiian words which DO NOT end in a vowel?
Hi Mrs. K8 – glad to be back. I really missed keeping up on the real news, and not the latest T.V. mush. Well I guess my first comment appeared so thanks. Now about that Al Gore…
Said it before, will say it again — if you run Mr. Gore, run from your heart and ridicule your enemies.
Mrs K8, someone fixed it after my post. Thanks whoever it was! Some browsers are more picky than others about open tags.
didn’t stop the pavlovian hordes from bleating on and on about “self aggrandizement”
McCain looks very vulnerable to Iraq..
If we’re not on our way out, his record is going to seem exactly wrong..
McCain better hope Clusterfuck starts a pull out or he (McCain) would appear to be toast..
Can you imagine anyone being elected president on the “send more troops” platform- especially if things have gotten worse between now and then?
Wonder what the ol guy’s thinkin?
GrandmaJ @ 90
Run SpyBot – Search and Destroy on it.
Then, if that doesn’t get it, HighjackThis will allow you to kill anything IE related in Windows boot section.
johnSwifty @ 59
in his speeches and interviews he says he’s a recovering politician on step 9. of the 12 steps, step 9 is “making amends”.
Mrs. K8 @ 71
i haven’t heard anything about “free trade” (go to stiglitz from the clinton administration for that!)… but in september gore did say he was wrong to oppose the nuclear freeze movement of the ’80s. in just a few words, he explained how he was wrong, what he’s learned
from that and how that affects his current thinking (he supports a carbon freeze movement).
GrandmaJ @ 93
That’s good advice, Grandma! He never has to worry about being TOO emotional, that’s not his problem — I think his brain is always in high gear.
I always read the main postings here, even if that’s all the time I have. I can’t imagine being forced to read the tea leaves about current events using only a teevee and that pathetic excuse of a rag they call a newspaper in this town. Ugh!
Hope all is well with your family.
Mrs. K8 @ 92
Yes. I particularly like it when people donate anonymously to helpful causes.
Mrs. K8 @ 71
I have the feeling that Gore has shed politics. You know, electibility and ambition and caution and consultants and mutual back-scratching and all that. He lost it all in Florida. His handlers threw up their handley-hands after that and left him alone to be Al Gore. For six years he’s been able to do what he wanted, the way he wanted. I cannot believe that any shrewd, ambitious politico would try to climb back up via environmental advocacy, do you? Its just him.
Our biggest threat as a planet is global weather change, our second is Commander Bunnypants’ war. I think Al Gore is the right President for both.
My advice to Al….buy a wardrobe of black suits white shirts and black ties and unassuming (wingtip?)shoes. This will eliminate one of the cudgels they will use to beat you around the head with.
johnny @
21
Thats the ticket!
OT: But a timely opportunity to generate publicity and wrestle Democratic Congressional dialogue in an interesting direction, January 20,21, the CITIZENS’ HEARING ON THE LEGALITY OF U.S. ACTIONS IN IRAQ
Be nice to have some grassroots work to put a spotlight on this in time for the new Congress in January.
Rick @ 102
How about dark, navy blue suits? Or is that no longer the standard and I’m behind the times (again!)?
Gotta love those authoritarians. They are predictable…..From a story on Pinochets funeral:
Admirers of the former dictator, including a striking number of
young people, waved flags with the slogan “Gracias mi General” (thank
you, my general), shouted abuse at “communists and gays” and
celebrated Pinochet as “the saviour of the homeland from communism.”
No soy drinks were served at the post funeral soiree.
-GSD
“Black Ties”?
Sure about that?
The uniform is navy suits- white or blue shirts- and red ties (with some blue ones for when ya wanna power down.)
Mrs. K8 @ 91
it gets even better. it happened during the filming of “an inconvenient truth” and gore ditched the film makers to go to NOLA on the qt.
Pachacutec @
83
Ya wanna buy a mukluk?
Sparkles the Iguana @ 64
Don’t know what your hang up with Gore’s lovely daughters is, and don’t really care since Presidential daughters are more for comic relief and tabloid journalism as far as I’m able to tell.
As to your other assertion about a “Professor President”… I, for one, am sick to death of “President Joe-Fratoy-Regular-Guy-You’d-Like-to-have-a-Beer-with”. What happened to leaders of intellectual greatness?
I don’t want to have a fucking beer with the leader of the free world. I want to tremble in awe while standing in his presence. I want to know with every fiber in my being that the mountain of his intellect and character are worthy of my absolute support and loyalty. I want the leaders of every country on earth to view our President as a truly Great Man (or Woman *not Hillary) who is worthy of their absolute respect, even if they consider the U.S. an “enemy”.
I mean c’mon, didn’t we learn anything from The West Wing? A President who happens to be a brilliant Critical Thinker, surrounding himself with other moral brilliant thinkers? God forbid!
Speaking of The West Wing… If Aaron Sorkin wrote most of the stories, thoughtlines and dialogue of Jed Bartlett, CJ Craig, Toby Ziegler, Sam Seaborne, Josh Lyman and Leo McGary… Why don’t we get him to run?
LOL
Mrs. K8 — I can’t think of a Hawaiian word that ends with a consonant. It’s a lot like Finn (and I’m part Finn, too), but there are a number of words in Finn that end in n, s, or t that I can think of off the top of my head.
BTW — Hawaiian for boots: na puki
edit: oh phooey. The circumflex over the a in na won’t show up.
From the AP article linked above:
That cracked me up. Who does she think all of those environmentalists are, if not organized supporters?
GSD @ 105
Yeah, they had raw meat instead.
Whatta scam! Fascism’s enemies are nothing but a whole slew of straw men (with a scape goat or two tossed in). They always scream that they’re saving the world from communism, when all they’re doing is stealing the public purse for themselves and their cronies.
Kucinich has nothing going for him except substance and integrity. Can anyone tell me the last time that was enough to win a national election? He might have a chance in a parliamentary system, but let’s face facts.
I had the opportunity to vote for Obama when I was living in Illinois. Although his opponent was joke candidate Alan Keyes, he ran as if he needed every vote, even appearing at tiny events down state. I appreciated that, and there is a definite kennedyesque aura to the man, but I fear for him. He is burning too bright, too early. A very tempting target for the right wing attack machine that Jane mentioned. And they have plenty of time to fine tune their assault. I am just hoping at this point that he can remain viable enough to be a veep candidate, and I love him.
Brent Budowsky
Thomas Ware @
56
Whoa! Must have been some flames! I understand most of those guys are over at dKos nowadays. Well, we do have a Balrog, but generally he’s pretty restrained.
Seriously,though, how did it happen? What were the objections? A summary is *fine*, I hasten to add!
Taking my cue from Fox: I hope Gore runs for re-election… Gore/Clark, Gore/Edwards. More than Gore/Obama. And please, let Hillary continue her good work for the people of New York…
Barak Obama is an empty suit. He is a great, passionate speaker, but it doesn’t take much to see that there is no there there.
I think he is missing his calling. He should go to Hollywood and become the next big heart throb or action man or whatever, and leave the politics to real statesmen, like my other Senator, who I love, Dick Durbin.
Look at Obama’s voting record! He voted to confirm Rice. He voted to confirm Gonzales. He voted against a fillibuster for Alito.
It is infuriating. He is my Senator and he is NOT representing me.
That said, a GORE / KUCINICH landslide in 2008 would give me hope for the future of this country.
We are at critical mass here and we need our BEST and our BRIGHTEST in key positions to begin undoing the damage done to our constitution by this heinous, criminal Bush / Cheney blight of an administration.
One last thing. CONGRESS MUST STOP FUNDING THIS WAR, NOW. THE GENOCIDE IN IRAQ MUST BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY.
new thread.
Rayne @ 111
Thanks, Rayne. That was my impression — an extremely vowel-rich language.
I love, love, love traditional Hawaiian folk music. [By which I most DEFINITELY mean to exclude that Don Ho character.]
Jane Hamsher @
37
Always feels, to me at least, like Obama is part of a HRC triangulation scheme.
The thing that sticks in my (unmentionable) about Gore is his last VP choice. Just can’t shake it.
That said, I think Gore is by far and away the best possible candidate in these times. He quite possibly learned about Lieberman this year and in ‘00, and understands the net roots more than most. Does he lurk here? *s*
Wouldn’t base my choice on this but it sure would be nice to reelect him for President in GW’s face!
General Clark is not what I want to lead my country right now (or ever). He would be a wonderful person to take Senator Mark Pryors seat in ‘08 and he would win in AR. Barring this I have no idea who might take on much less defeat Pryor.
Obama is just to new on the scene. In spite of everything bad that happens over time with so many senators the country needs experience.
I would be open to HRC as VP much more than Obama due to her intelligence, hard work, experience and comprhensive understanding of so many issues of great importance and what to do about them. She would be great once she no longer had to answer to the money machine.
I am still open to Edwards for P or VP.
So today it’s Gore/Edwards for this pup.
P.S. Feingold, I love ya!!!!
Jane Hamsher @
70
Don’t forget Cheney in the Parka with Sorels!
HotFlash @ 102
if gore decides to run, my biggest fear is that he will revert to “old gore”… if that is what would happen, i’d rather have him not run. otherwise – run al run!
Greydog, I agree. Glad to see another person from Illinois who recognizes Obama is all hot air. Durbin is doing a great job except for pushing Obama as presidential candidate.
Nate @ 112
I’d like a President who is a smart person who I’d also like to have a beer with. Why does it have to be either/or?
Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter come to mind. Patrick Fitzgerald comes to mind, although I hope to dog he never runs for any office.
And Jed Bartlett was another president who was good on paper, annoying as fuck in his (faux) life. Every time he opened his mouth I felt like I was being lectured. And he actually was a real (faux) former professor, wasn’t he?
jarotra @ 114
Thank you, jarotra, for giving us your first-hand impression. It’s good to hear from his constituents. I haven’t known what to think about him, except that I wish he already had more federal governing experience before running.
And Jed Bartlett was another president who was good on paper, annoying as fuck in his (faux) life. Every time he opened his mouth I felt like I was being lectured. And he actually was a real (faux) former professor, wasn’t he?
I really don’t understand this sentiment, about not wanting to be “lectured.”
We all know that the vast majority of voters do NOT have the time (and in many instances, the inclination) to read up on all manner of issues.
As the country teeters perilously on the edge of a cliff, we desperately need a president who explains the issues to voters, and why they matter. A president who explains what needs to be urgently dealt with (like the environment, or economic issues) in a way that all Americans can relate to.
I’m not sure why that should come across as “lecturing.” It sounds like a subjective emotional reaction. I’m sure there would be plenty of people out there who would be greatful for a leader who addresses the minds of his listeners.
Do you feel that FDR’s “fireside chats” were an example of “lecturing”?
If not, why not? What’s the difference?
HotFlash @
20
Yes!!!!!!!
Pachacutec @
72
A new motif? And not in the Leon Spinx vernacular, “I wish I had mo teef.”
I sincerely hope you are correct.
Imagine:
What if we repainted Darth’s Spaceship white and gave it to Obama. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a man like Barrack follow the lord of darkness and sweep out the spiders?
We are so fortunate to have such great choices!
I vote we make Madame Pelosi President as soon as possible.
Gore/Obama 08!!!
I think Al Gore could beat whomever the Rep’s field, I am not confident Barrack could do it by himself. This is too important an election to take any chance at all.
Investigate carefully – convict – imprison.
Nancy Pelosi for President 2007!!
Impeachment needn’t ever cross the table.
Mr. Gore is on the right track.
The environment is the only issue.
Everything else is politics.
Mrs. K8 @ 130
FDR was before my time so I can’t really speak to that reliably. When Jed Bartlett spoke, I felt like he was orating. There was an element of the pompous to it. When Bill Clinton spoke (speaks), I feel none of that. Sure, he’s informing me and educating me, but there is zero pompousness in his delivery. I’m not saying Gore is a pompous person, but he sure needs to work on his delivery if he wants to convince a lot of people of that. I absolutely agree with you that we need a president who is good at explaining issues to voters, and can do so in a compelling way.
Let’s set our sights high. Who in our society today do we know that might be analogues to the founders of the US?
Oilfieldguy @
132
Next week: blond highlights.
GORE/CLOONEY
johnSwifty @ 57
I don’t see Jane in black, really. Something DVF print-y or a new, “Bold statement” color… not black.. no sirree.
Jacqrat @ 138
How about sequins? I’d sure love a dress like that.
Jacqrat @ 138
Actually, quite recently she went to an awards show in a long black dress.
Quite fetching.
Peterr @
86
They got the style just right, but they misspelled my name. Bummer.
Jackies
Hey HeirofPatriots…
I know a number of people in Chicago who feel the same way we do about Obama. And we write him often to tell him how we feel about his voting record.
It’s been interesting and disconcerting to watch his star rise so rapidly. Obama seemed to come out of nowhere, chosen to be the main speaker at the Democratic National Convention. Then, when he was first elected Senator from Illinois ( he ran against Alan Keyes! ), people immediately began touting him as a potential Presidential candidate. Remember, he was so falsely humble about being a freshman senator and that he just wanted to be the best gosh darn senator ever! Next thing you know, a couple of years later, he does, in fact, want the top job, with no experience leading under his belt. It’s the audacity of ego, me thinks.
Bustednuckles @
140
Photos! I need photographic evidence, please!
Jacqrat @
143
Does this help?
Here’s my two cents: Candidate Gore vows that the day he takes office, he’ll put Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, and John Edwards to work on taking care of all the people still living in FEMA trailers since Katrina. (And taking care of anyone else displaced by hurricanes since then.) Those three will have plenary powers to requisition anything, build anything, do anything, to get that job done. Taking care of the people who should have been taken care of immediately will be *JOB ONE,* and those three will get them properly sheltered, clothed, and fed.
That means, of course, bringing home all our soldiers and their equipment and putting them to work on the task; it also means rolling back all the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy; it also means investigating all the war profiteering and getting those squandered billions back so the job can be done right.
Would that be Edwards as Veep on that committee? Maybe.
Or it could be Edwards on the committee in preparation for him taking over as Pres in 2016. Maybe. I’m not looking out that far; I just know that Edwards knows about poverty and he’s got a passion to solve it.
RBG @ 144
For some reason I was thinking Academy Awards, not the acceptance speech/Inagural ball for ‘08. Hm. Yes, Jane looks great in anything. I just thought for the awards she’d make a bolder statement, is all.
Edwards on Hardball with Tweety.
This guy has matured in the past couple of years. The experience he’s gained shows in many ways. He proves on this show that he’s capable.
Jacqrat @
146
Now, put mukluks into that picture and welcome to my world. Smilla’s sense of snow ain’t in it!
Jacqrat @
146
Yes she does, doesn’t she? She and the other beautiful lady could make mukluks look like they belong wherever they are.
Maybe she’s too shy to make a bolder fashion statement
:-)
I was excited about Gore’s 2000 run, as I had wanted him to run ever since I saw Earth in Balance. But I can’t get serious about him as a candidate this time as I really cannot believe he’ll run in ‘08 or any other time. In the next Presidential, I see Obama pulling some of Clinton’s votes and allowing Edwards to take the primary.
I don’t think he will run. He is freer and happier since he’s been out of politics and having to please everyone and be perfect. He is now himself and doing what makes him passionate.
He probably thinks of it as he was in politics for a long time and you tend to have nostalgic moments. But, then the world comes in and you realize you don’t miss it.
I think Bill misses it and that is why he keeps pushing Hillary. He is bored and wants something in his life. He hope to live thru Hillary the politics.
Gore. No. He is happy, free and is doing what he loves.
I think Al should run, with Edwards as his running mate. Since Feingold won’t run, Al is the man. Unlike pretty much every other politican of the last 6 years, Al has not only retained his dignity but increased it. If he dumps those stupid consultants and runs from his heart, I will forgive him for having chosen Lieberman the first time around. (I presume here, correctly I hope, that he is horrified by Lieberman’s staunch support of the war.) I think Jane (@ 37) hit the nail right on the head.
O Pach, you’re such a kidder. You just don’t want to offend anyone who might be upset if old Perfesssor Al gives it another go?
I mean, with all our “values” Democrats having stood with the millions against the war from 2003 and, more recently, having put their political fortunes on the line to stand with Ned Lamont, who could you possibly be thinking of? Oh, wait….
I have every confidence that on January 20th, 2009 the attention of the entire world will be focused on the gleaming granite steps of our Capitol Building as Albert Gore Jr. take the Oath of Office from Justice Roberts. It will mark the beginning of an American redemption, an awakening of something we once called “hope”, it will signal to the rest of the World that America is coming back, that we can be believed again, that we can be believed in again, as well…
I think it poetic, that the man cheated in 2000, ridiculed and berated as stiff, distant and “poll driven” has emerged as the only Democrat of stature to have the courage to stand fully against this criminal enterprise we call the Bush Administration.
He will face a Herculean task, for the stables are not only full of excrement but somebody sold the horses to some shady gamblers and the feedbag is not only empty but the seed corn is gone as well. No other American, eligible for the Office, is as well equipped to deal with it…
The Election of 2008 will be like none we have ever witnessed, at least recently. Al Gore will emerge as the consensus candidate in 2008, and by consensus I mean just that. He will be nominated by acclimation on the first ballot after being endorsed by all his potential opponents, including a much relieved HRC. This has already begun, for the field is winnowing and it is not yet Christmas…
The poetic symmetry of Al Gore being elected President to clean up the mess created by the man who was appointed President by the Supreme Court in the wake of the theft of Florida is compelling.
The fact of life that bothers Republicans even more is the demonstrated ability of the netroots to jump start a Presidential campaign and the expressed desire of a large number of us to do so for Al Gore. Combined with Gore’s positions on the Iraq War and the illegal expansion of the Executive’s power, the spotlight on the looming environmental crisis creates an agenda based on moral imperatives, right versus wrong, rather than right versus left.
Any contest fought on this higher moral plane, as opposed to such pressing issues as flag burning, the preservation of the assets of the very wealthy and the protection of marriage from the onslaught of gate crashing homosexuals will result in a Republican rout, and most of them know it.
Everybody except Karl Rove, apparently… Trust me, an army awaits his call, primed, trained seasoned veterans, happy warriors all. Ready, willing…, and very able…
This is a powerful bit of poetry and it will not be denied.
We can discuss the pros and cons, handicap the odds, and those who follow my writing know I do, at length, but this is the stuff of the moment, and in this moment in time we need to take a larger view. See the forest before we start examining all the trees…
The Forest is in deep trouble, threatened by Vandals from without and it’s essential essence endangered from within. It has been badly served by its Republican Stewards, who have responded to their own failure by seizing more power to protect the power they have misused. New Management is called for, a thankless job filled with hard truths and harder choices.
Those who will rise to this challenge risk a short career, as the cure will not always please the patient. But to prevaricate, to hesitate or to triangulate when deciding the fate of our children on such dangerous ground is to abandon adulthood and maturity altogether and continue on the current path to bankruptcy, ruin and dictatorship.
Al Gore has not been prevaricating, or hesitating or triangulating, he has been LEADING.
Now I know that all the snarkers and kneekickers out there are probably oiling up the old keyboards to denounce my little bit of poetry…and I know it sounds like a pipe dream, sounds implausible… yada, yada…But considering the course of events over the last several years and the real urgency of our situation, it doesn’t sound as kooky as electing Newt Gingrich or Bill Frist, ideas that the mainstream media finds completely plausible. Why even the elevation of a third Bush, Brother Jeb, to the Imperial purple is not beyond their consideration, wasting considerable paper and ink over the last few months.
So…consider where we were on Halloween night 2000 and where we are now and then tell me it can’t happen…
RGJ/Dallas112263
Al Gore will be elected in 2008
Not because he is running
But because he is LEADING!
I like Gore/Edwards. I heard Gore Vidal say 3 months ago that Al Gore wanted to run – he just didn’t want it to be so difficult.
While that sounds pretty weenie-ish, when you think about the fact that he had the Presidency stolen out from underneath him, and there was no precedent for handling that kind of situation, I can’t say I blame him for feeling that way.
I think he’d be a great President. He has executive experience – 8 years in the White House – he has relationships with world leaders, he has a really fine brain (what a concept – a smart president!), he’s on fire about the environment, which means that Big Business won’t get a free ride, and I think his heart’s in the right place.
He’s my number-one draft pick. I like Edwards, too. I love Kucinich, but I can’t see him getting elected.
Gore/Clark 08
..Al is the man
in the Grand
Tradition of Thomas Jefferson
whom lost the first time…but won the next.
By the time a couple Wisconsin winters pass, a lot of Democratic presidential wannabes will have had plenty of time to blow up. The calendar says three months, but in Wisconsin winter lasts six months. The meteorology of winter in Wisconsin. (And according to the calendar “winter” hasn’t even started!)
First the no-names will drop out due to lack of money and interest. Then the heavyweights will start knocking each other off. Clinton/Obama sounds like a dream ticket, but they’re equally likely to finish each other off in the preliminary rounds.
No wonder Gore is biding his time. It may come down to Edwards and him, a contest Gore is well positioned to win. Might even make a good president. The only thing I really hold against him is giving us Lieberman, which is enough to make you think twice about Gore’s ability to make the big decisions.
I don’t care for Obama, and I don’t care for Hillary Clinton. But, listen up…. IF THE DEMS RUN 2 MORE WHITE GUYS THEY ARE LOSING MY VOTE. And, don’t be lecturing me about how that’s a single issue, and how we really need a military man like Dwight Effing Eisenhaur. One of the reasons why Obama’s trial balloons are collecting so mush attention is that he’s not a white guy.
The world is ready.
It is about effing time that we had a women or a not-white guy in withing a heartbeat of the White House. Wake the eff up! WTEff????
I think he’d make a terrific president, but there’s one thing that might become a problem.
Gore would be the “put it right” candidate, undoing the damage done by the 2000 decision, and everything that stemmed from that.
His running again would be rubbing those facts in the noses of everyone who supported Bush. This would be emotionally satisfying to the rest of us, but would be too much of an affront to anyone who supported Bush, including those who don’t any more and would rather forget their earlier errors of judgement.
The wingnuts would hate a Gore presidency even more than a Hillary Clinton presidency — everything about it would scream “You Wingnuts Screwed Up”. And people hate having their faces rubbed in the fact they were wrong, even more than they hate losing.
And, let’s just throw the whining about ‘electability’ out the window. That got us Gore, Lieberman, Kerry, and Edwards. We need someone who can articulate a progressive agenda and shut the media up when they try to control the conversation.
I’m all for Gore but apprehensive about his current bloated physique. The time to get into fighting shape is now Al.
I think that Gore has redeemed himself and supports the solution to the most important issue of this day…climate change. I would like to see Clark as VP, N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson as Secty of State, N.Y Gov. elect Eliot Spitzer as Attorney General, Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer as Secty of Agriculture and Barack Obama as Ambassador to the U.N.
If Gore runs, it would piss off the WaPo editorial staff.
In light of the disgraceful piece the WaPo Editorial page last weekend on the death of the loathesome thug Augusto Pinochet, Al should wear the WaPo editorial staff’s disdain as a badge of honor.
RGJ/Dallas112263 @
154
That’s as good as it can be said.
I have said repeatedly in my blog comments that I think Gore would be agreat president and that in this time of dire need for environmental leadership, he is DA MAN. I confess that I am very fond of Obama also–I am halfway through the book. The man can write, think, charm, and, of course, triangulate. Like Bill Clinton, he is loaded with charisma, extremely intelligent, and can see all sides of an issue. Better than Clinton, he is well left of center. A Gore-Obama ticket could help the world on global climate change, solve Obama’s lack-of-experience problem, and set up dem leadership in the oval office for years to come. I get weak kneed thinking about it.
Saw it rumi @ 147
I saw it too and was really impressed. Elizabeth is as smart as Hillary, yet non-threatening to the Redneck crowd. They make a good team and I’d love to see him win it all. Elizabeth even won over Mathews!
rumi @
149
My Homage to Jane and Valerie in the black dresses.