Well, this is intriguing (via Chris Cillizza's The Fix):
You can imagine our interest then when we (belatedly) came across this item by New York Times reporter Pat Healey. In it, Healey details a May 8 gathering of close associates of Gore. The dinner, which is being held at the home of Gore fundraiser extraordinaire Peter Knight, is being billed as a 20th anniversary celebration for those involved in Gore's 1988 campaign for president. (Gore formally declared his candidacy for president on June 29, 1987.)
Among the attendees will be Mary Pat Bonner, a longtime Gore fundraiser, and Johnny Hayes, a past director of the Tennessee Valley Authority. Gore will not be in attendance.
Our interest was piqued, and we did a bit of checking on the event ourselves to see whether this was a real reunion or a strategy session. Kalee Kreider, a spokeswoman for Gore, quickly dismissed any 2008 implications of the gathering. "Our understanding is that it is a reunion of old friends and it is not linked in any way with any formal or informal effort on former Vice President Gore's part to launch a campaign in 2008," Kreider said.
Those familiar with the group say they have gathered on a semi-regular basis over the past twenty years and nothing should be read into the timing of this particular get-together. "We're not putting the old band back together," said Knight. "And most of the gang are playing in other bands already."
Fair enough. But the fact the meeting is happening is sure to raise eyebrows among those Democrats who still believe the possibility exists that Gore will run.
Interesting. I know I'll be keeping an eye on this. If former Vice President Gore wants to confirm or deny that he is or is not running this year in absolute terms once and for all, I'm happy to take his call. I'm just saying…
Related posts:
- FDL Action Launches 40,000 Call Phone Bank to Nevada Democrats Targeting Harry Reid and the Public Option
- Support Progressives on the Public Option: Time to Get the Phone Lines Buzzing
- Fantasy Phone Calls: Roger and Rahm
- Is Bill Clinton Raising Money for Mike Ross? UPDATED: Yes
- When Cheneys Attack: Liz Compares Daddy Dick to Al Gore
Spotlight
Support this site!
Subscribe to the newsletter
Advertise on Firedoglake
Send
us your tips
Make us your homepage
About Firedoglake
Advanced search
Why the longing for a Gore candadicy?
Zed?
Good Morning Christy!
Next time….
Ditto, Christy. Al, don’t make me fax this post to your office.
klyde at 1 — Who is longing? I just want an answer one way or the other because, frankly, the foreplay is getting old. I think we’re all entitled to know — for certain — which way the wind is blowing on this one.
klyde @ 1
That’s what I’ve been asking. I mean, if this was a DLC blog I would understand it, but I don’t know for the life of me why any progressive would wish for a Democratic candidate who founded the DLC, turned in an absolutely miserable effort in the 2000 election, chose Joe Lieberman for a running mate, and made himself an object of ridicule with that awful wet kiss with Tipper.
Maybe someone can finally answer this question.
edit: Christy, I’m not saying you’re the one longing for him!
klyde @ 1
Because that’s who I want to vote for.
When is the deadline for entering the presidential race?
I like Gore and voted for him but I would certainly want to know what are his stands on issues besides climate change. The climate change is good but I don’t want to see another DLC president, that would make Leon Paneta and James Carville happy.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 6
That sums it up for me.
Good morning, all. Speaking of candidates in the wings, the Repubs are all a-drool over the prospect of Fred Thompson jumping in. Does anyone know what he’s like on the stump (other than when he’s playing a pol on the tee vee)? I’m hoping their great hope turns out be a real dud, not just on substance, which is a given based on his record, but on presentation.
I suppose Kate O’Beirne would like to see Gore run. She sure had fun last time laughing about the fact that he didn’t even win his home state.
The added benefit (for Kate) would be that if by some chance he did win he agrees with her about most issues, especially “free trade”.
Riesz, I’m pretty sure the man is no longer DLC material.
If HRC is the DLC candidate, why would the DLC not do what it could to kill off the Gore stuff since it detracts from their candidate?
I think he parted ways after 2000 — and I think he sealed the parting in 2004.
I’d personally rather have him, a candidate capable of learning from his past mistakes and geared towards systemic thought and future-looking, than the bulk of the candidates we now have. Edwards is my second choice, since he has actually done work on behalf of Katrina’s victims and the rest of the field couldn’t be bothered.
But I would like him to make up his mind; I can’t believe we’ll have to spin until September, when it would make most sense to launch.
edit: BTW, he’s said in hindsight that NAFTA was not a good move because free trade relies on a level playing field, that they didn’t ensure that all entrants worked to the same standards in labor and compliance.
CityGirl at 12 — He’s a more personable version of John McCain. The WaPo had a review of some Thompson stump speech tryouts this morning that is worth a read on the subject. I think the GOP field is so thin on charisma and draw that Republicans are desperate to find a spark of anything that will catch — and teevee star brings a little of the old Reagan cache to mind for them. Unfortunately, Thompson is no Reagan in terms of charm, and even less on substance of folks who surround him. He’s no magic solution to the GOP problems this year — so I say, let him run.
EPU’d (I’m still ticked about Stephanopoulos’ interview with Edwards)
.
You will want to throw your TV out the window.
He even gave Tancredo an easy out on his racist “Miami is a third world country” remark… Gee, didya really mean it, hon?
He skewered Edwards, gave Tancredo a total pass.
Attention C&L or Think Progress: PLEASE edit these interviews back to back or ping-pong edit between Tancredo’s questions/answers and Edward’s questions/answers!
It’s truly a remarkable study and prime example of the bias in MSM coverage of Democrats and Republicans. It’s an indictment of George, ABC and his phony news show, which has consistently given Republicans a platform for freely spewing talking points unchallenged – remember Gingrich blaming liberals for the Virginia tech shootings? George didn’t even say a word in opposition.
Foreplay never gets old!
Christy Hardin Smith @ 15
More articulate than the rest, and my sense is that he is more of a true conservative and less of a religious nut. Yes?
Riesz at 13 — Did you actually read the post or did you just see the name Gore and decide to go on an anti-DLC run of comments? Because in no way was I endorsing a Gore run with this — I just want an answer on what his plans are, and I think we are all entitled to a complete one.
Jeebus, there are certain names that get mentioned that are like a red flag waved in front of an angry bull for some folks. I’m not going to stop asking questions that need to be asked but, honestly, sometimes it is more irritating than not to ask them because of that.
klyde @ 1
‘cuz i’m so unenthusiastic about my current choices?
yeah – among other things, he’d have to change his views on NAFTA and trade in general (maybe get stiglitz to tutor him).
but there’s alot of stuff (in addition to the environment) that he seems to have figured out (iraq, media, secrecy, constitutional limits on the presidency).
OT
If anyone sees Mary4 around, she left a long post at the bottom of the Comey thread and I saw it this AM and left a substantial reply for her.
I am going to a baseball game today and won’t be around to give her a heads up myself.
Thanx
I think that Gore has undergone a pretty big transformation in the last 6 years. He is way more passionate and seems willing to take a stand than he was in 2000.
Rayne @ 14
Well, at least we agree on Edwards.
But I still don’t understand why, if you’re only “pretty sure”, you want to take a chance on a man who lost (or at least made it close enough to steal) to the stupidest candiate in US history, who helped Clinton ship our jobs overseas and who is, quite frankly, physically extremely unattractive.
I’m sorry to be disagreeable, but I just don’t get why any progressive would want to support a guy who blew it so embarrassingly last time!
I don’t understand! There are other choices– why that loser?
looseheadprop @ 21
Mets or Yankees?
I think my dream on this one is to see Hillary make a big enough mistake to come down a few notches and see if the focus can turn to Kucinich and Richardson and Edwards.
Anyone who thinks Gore entering the race would make Panetta, Carville, and their ilk happy has not been paying attention for the last 5 years.
Gore cut his ties with the DLC for good when he endorsed Dean last time around.
Here’s a reason to wish for Gore: http://www.cafepress.com/gore4prez2008.74601521 (click on the shirt for a larger view)
FWIW, in 2003 Gore told those trying to get him into the race to stop their efforts. He has made no such request this time around….
Thanks lhp.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 19
Christy, I’m sorry I rubbed you the wrong way with this. Yes I read the post and No, I didn’t think you were hoping for Gore. I thought I made that clear with my edit above.
I feel very strongly about this, and this isn’t directed at you but at the many other commenters here who are always going on about Gore. I’m sorry I came across as unpleasant but I think this is important.
It’s like half of the firepups have been taken over by the pods. It just doesn’t compute.
Gore is not just a bad candidate– he’s absolutely HORRIBLE!
Two things:
1) There are many similarities bt ‘68 and ‘08. Just last thread fears of violent ends for leading candidates was mentioned.
2) ‘GOre’ is similar to ‘GOdot’.
Gore’s new book, The Assault on Reason will be released on May 22.
In reply to Riesz Fischer who says “…to the stupidest candiate in US history, who helped Clinton ship our jobs overseas and who is, quite frankly, physically extremely unattractive.”
Personal attacks reflect on the writer. What are your true motivations in writing this drivel? I find this to be repugnent.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 19
Or drinking Red Bull in front of an angry flag!
For my part, I don’t believe the Al Gore of 2007 is the Al Gore of the 1990’s. For that matter, Joe Lieberman has changed (for the worse, imho).
Al Gore still took the popular vote in 2000, in spite of 1) the MSM transferred hate for Clinton, 2) Ralph Nader, and 3) Jeb Bush and Kitty Harris. So the notion he ran a horrible campaign is just a dodge for others who want to duck some blame for the Cheney regime (e.g., Ralph Nader).
CityGirl @ 12
Nope, no idea at all. But the LA Times had an article on Thompson’s role as a white supremicist on Wiseguy years ago:
“Only you would have the sensitivity to know what this means to me,” he tells his supporter.
Some conservative websites are already discussing how a potential Thompson campaign may have to deal with these scenes. People who work out their politics on the Internet understand how potentially troublesome things like this can be. Like pebbles in a pond, you can’t know where the ripples are going to stop — or what the gullible or the mean-spirited may make of them.
One website called Patterico’s Pontifications asked the question recently: “How will they trash Fred Thompson?” Several respondents immediately mentioned the “Wiseguy” performance.
Marty Kaplan, who directs USC’s Norman Lear Center for the Study of Entertainment, thinks that “candidates’ video trails have always been a potential liability, or asset. The difference YouTube makes is that the networks, and the paid media campaigns, are no longer the gatekeepers of what clips get distributed.”
That’s exactly why there’s so much potential for partisan mischief in Thompson’s “Wiseguy” role. In some ways, Thompson is too good an actor and looks too convincing in the part — a problem Schwarzenegger never had.
Well, I for one am openly longing.
First, there is no (or never will be) perfect candidate. If we can agree on that, then Gore is the best we have now.
He doesn’t have to waste time apologizing for his position on the war.
He has experience in the White House.
While global warming isn’t everything, it’s huge and he’s spot on there (won’t hurt our standing with the rest of the world, btw).
Raising money won’t be an issue.
Not a warmonger.
Obviously electable (he’s bagged the popular vote once already).
As I’ve stated before, I’m okay with our other candidates if Gore doesn’t run. He just seems to be the most electable candidate, and with SCOTUS positions probably opening up 2008 is a must win for us.
Entering the race late doesn’t bother me at all; the later you put the bulls eye on your back, the better.
And frankly, the post was really an excuse to use a Blondie video this morning. *g*
CityGirl @ 12
Hey CityGirl. Good to see you.
Texas Betsy @ 18
Thompson is their Warren Beatty.
Sangemon at 38 — In SO many ways, all of which I’m certain that you intended. ;-)
triciawrites @ 32
I apologize for referring to his appearance. I was thinking that it is simply a fact that it does have an influence on how electable someone is, but I shouldn’t have affirmed that unfortunate fact of American culture.
But I find it interesting that of all my arguments that is the only one you have an answer for. I guess I gave you an excuse not to answer any of the other arguments and you took it.
So how about the fact that he lost three debates to the stupidest person on the planet, and didn’t even carry his home state?
Oh, that’s right, that was Donna Brazile’s fault. Next time he won’t hire her.
Christy is quite right to ask these questions. We are vary far out from election day and all these non-candidates out there only serve to cloud the feild.
It hinders fundraising and organization building for a condidate that could actually win, because it fosters fence sitting.
One of the things that kgives me great happiness is that the Republicans have even more fractionilzation tahn theh dems this year. We have several strong cnadidates (and a bunch of second teir guys who are really in it just to get their plnaks in the platform), but the Republicans don’t seems to have a well defined first teir yet.
Gore’s flirtation keeps people sitting onthe fence and slows down organization for serious candiaidtes.
If he decides to run, I would be very curious to see where his thinking on a Veep goes.
Something else, I think we should be asking our dem candidates who they have in mind (in general terms–short list kinda stuff) for some key cabinet posts.
I really think we learn more about the policy priorities if we know who the candidate has in mind for SecDef, State, Homeland Secuirty, and AG then we will from a hundered policy papers.
BTW, The Great Pumpkin is asking surprisingly tough questions of Mr. Now-u-tell-us on MTP.
Darth can’t be pleased.
Twisted Martini @ 22
He is more like the 1988 candidate Gore, who I really liked.
Twisted Martini @ 24
Long Island Ducks! The whole clan is going, we bought out a section. There will be this huge mass of blond and redheaded kids and their harried parents all together.
one ringy dingy . . .
what a shock Chriszilla writing ‘belatedly’ about a gathering of Gore supporters
fuh gawd’s sake boy !
- there was a gathering in Boston two months ago and it is no secret another former key fundraiser has been holding Draft Gore meetings since last june – I know that reportage on John Edwards’ hair is vital to the national discourse, but at what point does your incurious ass get up to speed ?!?!?
Mornin’ Christy, Jane, and Firedogs
ooh hey looseheadprop – thanks so much for that delish Comey post – gawd gal, ya got me rethinking the whole Schumer thingy
1,508 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen Hardin Smith and Firepup Patriots:
For those who are questioning why Al Gore would be a good candidate and a better president let me count the ways:
1. National base, popular vote victory in 2000
2. 16 years House and Senate experience
3. Didn’t vote for the AUMF
4. Not indentured to corporate funding
5. Most most LAWFULLY involved VP in history
6. Most importantly, can beat Mrs. Clinton
7. Could put together an administration immediately, hit the ground runnin’ and only politician who could carry forward an administration while purging the Civil Service bureaucracy of fascists.
Al Gore is the corporate oligarchy’s worst nightmare…he is independently wealthy, doesn’t need to bend over for corporate sponsors, has a national constituency and is out in front of the watershed issue in world politics today.
He has the chops to be able to put an administration together quickly and he owes absolutely nothing to any of the beltway movers and shakers.
A ticket of Gore and Edwards would ensure 16 years of progressive Democratic administration.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, THE BASTARDS AREN’T DONE YET!!
looseheadprop @ 41
Yeah, after last time I can certainly understand your curiosity.
Just watched the Edwards interview. Disgraceful.
klyde @ 1
I don’t think anyone is longing for the Gore of 2000. It’s longing for the person Gore has become since then. It’s for the guy that spoke out against the war from the beginning. It’s about the guy that has spoken out about things that mean a lot to him. It’s about a guy that has seemed to learn that the consultant class doesn’t know best. If Gore were to run, be better run as Gore 2.0, not as Gore 2000 redux.
In the vein of what Dems must [be] think[ing] about… Snuffy doing his best to eviscerate Edwards this morning on This Week. Research furnished by the Clinton oppo team? Nah, ya think? Then closes with smarmy solicitude about Elizabeth. Wonder if he’ll be equally tough on O’Bama and Mama and the Radical Republicans?
Speaking of Clinton. This Sunday morning, in two separate conversations about the Edwards appearance, Mr. S. and my daughter each said…unsolicited…they could never vote for Hillary. My “what about SCOTUS?” had no effect. No way Hillary.
Small wonder there’s interest in the doin’s o’Gore….
And whazzup with Romney saying the Roman Catholic Bishops could do whatever they wanted? Word: pedophilia…
Now back to read your comments….
Riesz Fischer @ 40
Oh, you mean the claims that Bush won, because he exceeded expectations?
Right. Next?
STTP in Ohio @ 41
I wonder why Timmeh!! is getting so tough with Tenet, when this is the toughest he’s been with anyone for ages.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 6
Christy I wasn’t saying you or anyone at FDL is longing for a Gore cnadadicy but I travel a lot of liberal boards and a day doesn’t go by that I don’t see post about Gore running. And the comment sections have there fair share of “run Al run” type comments.
With the wide variety of candidates we have in the dem field I just wonder what is missing that seems to have so many people interested in a Gore campaign?
Twisted Martini @ 22
I agree—at least a year, even six months ago. I mean didn’t you sit there in the theater watching his movie and think “damn, if only…”? Since then it’s become clear that we have three smart, articulate, sane candidates running. Seems to me we don’t need Gore as much now, that any of the three would make a great president.
Not to be tinfoiled or anything, but that energy scandal, in view of Griffin’s placement in AR, could be outta an unconfirmed USA? Or do we have a source on that ‘leak’?
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/tnm/
That’s Nashville.
ePluribus:
http://scoop.epluribusmedia.or…..9546/72609
Just a thought.
George has a whole different demeanor now that Tancredo’s on. In what bizarre universe does this nut deserve more respect than Edwards?
1,510 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Also, a Gore/Edwards ticket would put 2 “southerners” on the ticket and while not takin’ back the “solid South” would be able ta break it up from the margins…North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Arkansas and maybe even Tennessee.
KEEP THE FAITH BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE RIGHTS YOU SAVE ARE YOUR OWN!!!
Riesz: I suggest you consider reading Bob Sommerby’s Daily Howler for a about a week. If you do so, your opinion that Gore was a horrible candidate might change.
cbl @ 44
That’s the thing, people aren’t perfect and they don’t get it right everytime. And sometimes they have a Hobson’s choice and end up picking what they hope is the lesser of two evils.
And sometimes doing what you thought was a good thing, or at least an OK thing, turns on the law of unintended consequencwes.
For me, a good guy, is a guy who tries to get it right and is willing to put himslef on the line to make things right.
Not a guy who is infallible.
RagingGurrl @ 16
George S. is just as bad as The Great Pumpkin .. it makes me sick
NorskeFlamethrower @ 46
From the Wikipedia article on Al Gore:
In 1993, Gore debated Ross Perot on CNN’s Larry King Live on the issue of free trade, with Gore arguing for free trade and the passage of NAFTA, and Perot arguing against it. Public opinion polls taken after the debate showed that a majority of Americans thought Gore won the debate and now supported NAFTA.[18] Some claim that this performance may have been responsible for the passing of NAFTA in the House of Representatives, where it passed 234–200.
Dude, he’s a conservative Democrat. He always has been. Why are you people so quick to believe he’s changed?
NorskeFlamethrower @ 45
Norske
He should hire you–TODAY
That is the oithiest explaination of a reationale for his run I have ever seen. Wow
selise @ 20
And that’s what I don’t understand. Gore has not said anything that one or more of the current candidates has not said. I just don’t get it.
O/T. From the Times on the U.S. attorneys who were sacrificed to advance Rove’s agenda: A Scandal that Keeps Growing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05…..n1.html?hp
Oh. lhp -
any thoughts on Gonzo’s newest hire:
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-…..amp;EDATE=
Possibly taking away from E/VA USA cases?
Wasn’t Tancredo one of the nut-jobs who said he didn’t believe in evolution? Never mentioned.
George was actually ‘gentle’ with Tancredo. Combative with Edwards.
I don’t understand. I keep thinking of that great blog by Foser “It’s the Media”
Blank Kludge @ 64
The No. District of Va has long been a feeder to Main Justice b/c the lawyers there hang out in DC and make connections on the Hill. EDVA I don’t know much about
HE CHOSE LIEBERMAN AS HIS RUNNINGMATE!!!!!
And Lieberman was not any different than he is now! Don’t you people remember the VP debates? Where Holy Joe just sat there and joked around with Darth Cheney?
OMG!!!
eeesh– I give up.
RF@40
So how about the fact that he lost three debates to the stupidest person on the planet, and didn’t even carry his home state?
I’ll give you not carrying his home state (although I’m sure enough of those “I’d rather have a beer with George” voters have come to their senses to carry it now), but I must disagree on the debates, that’s simply MSM spin.
Our expectations of Dubya were skewed so low that as long as he didn’t drool when answering questions he got positive marks.
If you watched them, it wasn’t even close.
STTP in Ohio @ 69
That was my impression as well.
Bush is at 28%. Dems beat Repubs in EVERY head-to-head matchup that’s being polled right now. The Attorney General is paralyzed by scandal. The Secretary of State is heading in the same direction. And the WaPo’s front page headline?
“Democrats’ Momentum Is Stalling”
Thanks lhp.
Have fun with the Ducks. If it were me, as a RedSox4evah! fan, I’d go to a Brooklyn Cylcones game. But, for you the locale and buying out a whole section must trump anything.
Any Casey’s on the Ducks? (Mudville ref.)
Or, for Lou Costello: “Who’s on first?”
Frank Probst @ 70
Donald Graham is a billionaire who inherited his business empire…just like Richard Mellon-Scaife, for instance. And this is the one class of Americans who are consistently served by the Bush regime.
OK, one more thing, then I give up and let “A-Bomb Al” send all your jobs overseas:
What about the awful WET KISS WITH TIPPER for Pete’s sake?
Al Gore let the media intimidate him into that desperate attempt to break his image as “wooden”, and he made himself an object of ridicule across the whole country– he was an embarrasment to the Democratic party.
Didn’t you all cringe when you saw that clip?
OMG!!!
OK, that’s all. I’ll shut up. Now you can elect him and let him ship all your jobs over to China and India.
I’m one who longs for a Gore candidacy. He’s absolutely the best person in the US to be president. He has the right experience, and the right focus.
He broke with the DLC four years ago, when he endorsed Howard Dean’s candidacy. I no longer hold the Lieberman choice against him.
Frank Probst @ 70
The “liberal media” must be stopped!
According to the author of the above post, a href=”#comment-673949″>Christy Hardin Smith @ 6
is the topic on hand.
My comment above at 31 to Riesz was not me hiding from a comment about Al Gore, it is about noting an obvious attack.
As far as excuses, perhaps the MSM might give you more ammunition to sling? Perhaps you would be willing to help carry the water, or drink some more koolaid.
solai @ 55
BroderWorld.
Riesz Fischer @ 73
er, excuse me, dude, but I find this particular diatribe a little disingenuous coming from someone who made the following contribution to yesterday’s discussion about Monica Goodling:
Thanks, Jane @36. (Ran to take a shower and missed your welcome!)
Big hug.
Riesz Fischer @ 73
Now really, what does have to do with how good he’d be as president?
And, unlike a lot of these folks, it was his wife!
Riesz Fischer @ 60
thanks for reminding me of that. it wasn’t just that he beat Perot in that debate. Go back and look at the tape. Gore was condescending as a man could be. He belittled Perot and openly mocked the idea that NAFTA would cost US jobs.
So ask him if he still supports NAFTA, ask if he believes presidents should have fast track trade negotiation authority and ask him does he support CAFTA or a western hemisphere free trade aggreement.
If he answers no to those questions i’ll forget how he rolled over for the boy king rather then contest the coup on the senate floor.
These goopers really seem terrified of Gore, don’t they?
Speaking of the bete-noir I-COnn…an article covering Vets for Peace contoversy about marching in a Memorial Day parade in CT:
[SNIP]
And includes this retrospective:
link:
http://www.newstimeslive.com/n…..rce=tabbox
OT, but I made a bumpersticker that folks might be interested in. Those white oval stickers with initials or one word are all the rage here in Maryland, so I made one that says “IMPEACH,” then “the lyin’ bastards” down below. If you’re interested, email me at atd1187 at aol dot com and I’ll send you the Word document.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Tenet in Wolf’s interview this morning repeatedly states, “it was never about imminent threat, it was about surprise.”
If that’s the case, then simply ensuring ongoing IAEA weapons inspections that were showing no nuke program would be sufficient to avert any ’surprises’ from a nuke program that would takes years of intensensive effort to generate. The weapons inspectors were re-established with international pressure and diplomacy in the wake of 9/11.
Tenet’s claim representing a shift from ‘imminent threat’ to ’surprise’ is horseshit. Saddam was put in a post 9/11 box and could have been forced to stay there indefinitely while posing no surprises in nuclear threat.
.
ifthethunderdontgetya @ 72
It’s interesting. Does anyone know if Warren Buffet still sits on the WaPo board of directors? I know he still holds the stock.
klyde @ 1
Because Howard Dean never said he wouldn’t run for Vice President, and I think Dean would be Al Gore’s running mate.
Considering the long strange trip Al Gore’s been on since 2000, I’d like to hear his positions today. He got thrown a curve ball. Perhaps it was to shake off the established politician he became, so he could realize his true leadership potential.
That’s why I want an announcement once and for all. I want to know where he stands in 2007.
Well, if Mr. Gore gets in he’ll have his work cut out for him. This is another find from this morning, and points to a future in which politics will cease to have any meaning.
The Oil Drum – Canada
(snip)
“However, in my ecological and Peak Oil research over the last several years I have begun to see the shape of a looming catastrophe that has absolutely nothing to do with human intentions, good or ill. It is the simple product of our species’ continuing growth in both numbers and ability, an exponential growth that is taking place within the finite ecological niche of the entire world. Our recent effusive growth has been fueled by the draw-down of primordial stocks of petroleum which are about to deplete while our numbers and activities continue to grow. This is a simple, obvious recipe for disaster.”
No more room.
Memorial honoring fallen soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan runs out of room
Re Gore: Tipper doesn’t want him to run, so he’s not running.
Re Tenet: Did Russert really interview him for the entire hour and not ask him about V. Plame? or did I miss something?
Blank Kludge @ 83
What is going on in that corner of CT? I used to live in that area. When did it get so contentous? That corner of CT used to be so sleepy.
Romney Reaches to the Christian Right
In a Conservative Crowd, Candidate Talks About Marriage, Child-Rearing
OT – Watching George Steph this morning. The list of fallen soldiers floors me. Their ages, 21, 24, 19…
WTF are we doing continuing to sacrifice our country’s youth to this mess?
Sorry to be so morose, but it really affected me this morning. And I don’t even know anyone in my immediate circle who is there – I can’t imagine the pain and worry and fear and anger if its your child or spouse or friend who is over there.
Just venting.
I tried to create a link with no success. The Foser blog (which is so eloquent) is at MediaMatters.com dated 5/26/06. It is the best piece I have ever read on the media.
For anyone w/more computer knowledge than I, when I tried to create the link I highlighted the ‘address’ but then when I clicked on “edit’ the highlight vanished and I couldn’t click “copy”. What did I do wrong?
I think this may help explain my support for Al Gore.
lina @ 91
It’s The Great Pumpkin. Why would Russert bring up Plame? As much as it would bring us joy, I don’t think Timmeh!! wants to make himself into more of an ass than he already is.
klyde @ 1
Possibly a little thing called global warming.
I think it’s time for Gore to commit. One way or the other. Though I surely do wish he’d run.
RagingGurrl @ 16
I was impressed by John Edwards. He hit all of those hardballs out of the park. Stephie tried his best to get a gotcha but Edwards used each of those questions to get his message out. Good job, John.
Zee @ 94
I have 2 sons. Each has a friend in Iraq. One is back for the second time. The other has a baby due soon. I have cried more than once worrying about them.
solai -
Jamison Foser – 5/26/06
don’t recall how long you’ve been at the Lake – but here is Ms Hamsher holding forth on same well before Mr. Foser’s excellent piece
go to archives and type in On Image (pts I & II) and How It’s Done
Zee @ 94
Thank you for venting. I think no one can vent enough on this subject.
I have felt similarly when, visiting my husband’s parents’ graves in a military cemetary, I saw the brand new tombstones of some of those
young people.
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfo, all of them, are MURDERERS, pure and simple.
The discussion about 08 is getting pretty hot. It seems eons away to me at this point. The war is still a major issue now- but it may not be then. There will be a major difference in the campaigns, the rhetoric, and the emotional tone depending on that issue. I’m betting that goopers will come to their senses and move to nuetralize the issue by then. We’ll see.
If the war is not issue number one, then to win my vote, a candidate needs to have plans for health care, energy conservation, and deficit reduction that congress will support and that will fix the problems. If they don’t have carefully thought out plans in these areas- I don’t care how great their rhetoric is- I won’t vote for em. I don’t care how far right or left they are either- I’m looking for results.
AZ Matt @ 10
Then run, don’t walk, from Gore.
I pray every night to Frank Zappa that he can intercede in any way possible to prevent a Gore presidency. I can live without Tipper oozing her odious charm from the White House and old Al is not the lily white, rather deep green, color he pretends to be.
As far as Russert interviewing Tenet and not mentioning Plame/Wilson…Tim was doing everything in his power to tar Tenet with the “Saddam is joined at the hip with al-Qaida” propaganda that emanated from Cheney’s office. Russert is Dick’s mouthpiece, he’s not around for any other reason.
It’s simple:
Tenet didn’t speak up when he could have.
So this just makes him another person that is beginning to feel a cool breeze on his hindquarters in search of some cover.
He’s another that put fear of this administration in front of duty to his country.
Please notice I didn’t use “loyalty”. That term is waaaay overused with this bunch. More often, not speaking out if a matter of fear, not loyalty.
Or have you forgotten Mr. & Mrs Wilson?
Joe Klein’s conscience @ 93
“All I know is what I read in the newspapers.”
I have a google special section news filter for the I-Conn….my area is about 50 miles or so north. Over the border in S/WMass.
Offhand, I’d say the war is poisoning that sleepy little corner just as much as the rest of the nation.
WOW! Just getting here after perusing the news and sports online for a bit this AM. Sounds like a couple of folks are having some hissy/conniptions (sorry conniptionfit, just couldn’t restrain myself – please forgive). ;})
As I believe S.O.S mentioned, there is NO such thing as a perfect candidate. I’m going to probably have some level of heartburn and dislike for some position of whomever is nominated, regardless of who it is. That’s a reality of life. After the past eight years, I don’t think we need to be throwing rhetorical b*mbs, in whatever guise, and trying to smack down good people because they are not TRUE BELIEVERS in your cause of choice. Your issue may be “Get Out of Iraq Now!” It may be “No NAFTA or CAFTA or FREE TRADE ANYWHERE!” It may be “Total Choice For Everyone!” It may be “Stop Global Climate Change!”
That’s’ why we will try to elect more liberals/progressives to the House and Senate. Put more Liberals/Progressives into the various state legislatures and governorships. Reach a consensus on the various needs of the country, reconciling that the needs of New England will not necessarily match those of the South which will not match the Midwest which will not match the Southwest which will not match the Mountain West which will not match the Pacific Coast or Northwest but will be the consensus need of the ENTIRE USA! [/rant off]
Climbing down off my soapbox now.
dakine01 @ 108
Just comparing the group of dems debating vs. the group of reps debating confirms my opinion that I’ll vote for ANY dem over ANY rep. Warts and all.
Riesz Fischer @ 67
good. and please dont come back. those of us who worked for the man would be more than happy to work for him again!
Couldn’t agree more. I like ALL of our candidates. Rooting for Edwards but like them all and will work very hard for any one of them.
Hell I’d consider voting for a sane gooper should one appear- but alas- the species appears to be extinct—Dodo birds.
absolutely agree with zee and dakine.
But I have found this discussion extremely interesting. I don’t have strong feelings about Gore myself, but I have noted the chorus of “run Al run,” and so have been wondering about it.
We do live a vastly worse world than we did in 2000.
Well, you know what I always say. . .
Pelosi 2007!
Gore 2008!
I’m with you, including potential candidates like Gore.
I would take Hillary, for Gawd’s sake, over ANY of the Republican candidates (announced or not), and do so with my eyes wide open.
From that latest Newsweek 28 percent info:
Sitting VP loses close election, makes comeback 8 years later in the midst of war abroad and domestic strife? Sound familiar?
Gore would make an amazing Environmental Secretary in the next democratic administration.
the only problem with considering the 2008 elections without
Al is, the rest of the field sucks.
Hilllary doesn’t talk about universal health care much now
Obama doesn’t talk about anything important at all.
and notice how neither one says anything about what they are going to do? tics. blood sucking ticks that will blow with the wind. even if that wind is carrying radioactive waste.
these two are part of the bush problem. they are not part of a realistic solution. The “science” that is going into climatology is 98% that we have mass crisis looming on the near horizon. millions will be displaced. there is no method for fixing new orleans, extrapolate that to the rest of the world if a storm comes where the water can’t be removed.
so what are each of us going to do to prevent this? rely on tic’s? does anyone want to argue for realistic change with a political solution? I will base the beginning of my argument on the military buildup with Eisenhower. He noted it, warned the world, and no one listened. so we had a nice cold war, and several nice hot ones. we continued stealing resources from every country we could browbeat or threaten.
think a politician is going to help with that? I think (and many will question the quality of such thought, granted) there was one politician who bucked the trend and made up in a huge way for his earlier actions. LBJ decided to quit politics. But he did things no president in history have ever done. He implemented civil rights actions that would have never happened but for his presidential authority. He was able to do these things only because he had no one to answer to for doing so.
We have one major problem. we need someone just like LBJ at the end of his presidency. we need someone that no longer thinks like a politician. we have seen what it’s extreme is like in a sociopathic administration like cheney’s. where they care nothing about what the opposition is saying because they have enough support from the extremists that would profit from it.
So what does this country need? I would suggest it is Al. where he can ignore the BS and do what is required to make this country independent of terrorist states and their oil. truly independent. in doing so, it may also help the world. may help. no, much like LBJ, it will help the majority. we haven’t seen anyone that wanted to help the majority on this planet since. it is time.
rwcole @ 112
It’s not a coincidence. I really don’t think sane people who are not also evil exist among the repubs anymore.
Of the gooper presidents in my lifetime, only two appear to have been sane. Ike (who couldn’t decide until the last minute whether to run as a gooper or a dem) and Ford- who the goopers didn’t elect in the first place..It’s very hard for a sane human to win a gooper primary- perhaps impossible.
If we get a Hillary presidency, the impression here is that the DLC comes with her.
Please Mr. Gore. Run.
Without a healthy Mother Earth, what the hell do we have?
Oklahoma kiddo @ 121
I’m ignorant about the DLC. Whazzup with them?
It’s always been a given that no matter who is elected president that he will surround himself with the best and the brightest. For this reason, some Americans think (wrongly) that it doesn’t matter who is elected. Bush has blown that theory to hell and I think it has finally made people sit up and take notice. It has caused previously uninvolved citizens to realize that they had better pay attention. And that is good for the Democratic party.
Take Ike and Ford out of the mix and yer left with:
Nixon
Raygun
Bush
Bush
Not a flash of sanity in a carload of these creeps.
Okay, once again,
We must win in 2008.
Period, the end.
Now, Hillary Clinton is the repugs dream candidate. I would prefer to steer clear of anyone that would breathe new life into the decaying neocon carcass.
Raise you hand if, beyond all the niceties, you really think America will elect an African American male president.
If so, can I take you back to the Tenn. senate race;
“Bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, Harold Ford with a one run lead…Oh wait, what’s this- a naked white woman is asking Harold to call her! 2 runs score, the racists win!”
Edwards can win and is my second choice.
It will be Gore/Thompson in ‘08.
klyde @ 62
here’s some of the things gore HAS said (since 2002).
i haven’t heard anything similar from our candidates (thinking of the big three here) – but would love to be further educated. would you give me a comparable list of speeches/interviews for the other candidates to listen to?
Riesz Fischer @ 73
I saw that kiss live and loved it! Tipper had just given her speech. Loved the kiss!
I’ll vote for Senator Clinton if the Senator is the nominee of my party. Will I like doing that? Hardly. If Gore doesn’t run I like Edwards. Kucinich works too.
I was gunna take my democratic overreach to the grocery store, but I seem to have lost momentum…
rwcole @ 120
A few years back, maybe coincident with his death, someone wrote a column about Reagan as a species of “cuddly conservative,” i.e., one that even sane people — mistakenly — remembered fondly, compared to the gang of monsters we’ve got now.
solai @ 123
Actually, The Best and the Brightest is a perfect description of Bush’s wrecking crew.
Oh Rummy, we miss you already.
TiredFed @ 111
I think different opinions are to be encouraged at FDL. The mods here are the best troll killers on the net.
I hope Gore runs; at this time he is my first choice. That opinion is based on his Georgetown Univ speech (2?) years ago. If, however, he is still like the 2000 Gore as Riesz Fischer has noted, then forget it.
The DLC vigorously supported the Iraq attack. This little group is corporatist in nature. The DLC likes NAFTA, Cafta, and ‘the third way’. Lieberman has close ties to this organization. There are additional negatives attached the the DLC. For example this little group dislikes progressives and liberals and works against them.
rwcole @ 112
Hagel appears resonably sane to me but I still wouldn’t vote for him because a goper is a goper. It is not the person it is their party and what it stands for and what it satnds for is everything I oppose
Klyde, Funny- I was just thinking about Hagel too- and realized that he is usually described as “very conservative” but I’m not sure what that means. Probably pro life, anti gay, and cut taxes on the rich- but I’m not sure.
If candidates were prohibited from discussing gays, guns, and fetuses we might actually learn how they plan to govern the nation.
I might even go so far as to say John Warner, the senior senator in my state, is sane. But in today’s world, R-Anywhere is a deal breaker for me too.
We know a lot more about Mr. Lieberman today than we did in 1999.
klyde @ 135
Howie Klein has done some post about Hagel. He is one of the worst far-right loons. His Iraq position is an aberration.
Perhaps it’s “Feti”.
Steve @ 139
oops, sorry….messed up the margins. : (
Oklahoma kiddo @ 133
A little clearer about DLC, but I’ve never heard of third way. Checked out their website and I still don’t know who they are.
OT: how DO the mods screen out trolls? ( I too think they do an awesome job.) Is it a particularly good software program?
oldtree @ 118 says:
and notice how neither one says anything about what they are going to do? tics. blood sucking ticks that will blow with the wind. even if that wind is carrying radioactive waste.
Just because they don’t say anything about a topic does not mean it’s not on their individual radar screens.
Do you want them to offer an indepth delineation of every postion they would take as President?
Would you then enjoy watching the Goopers take all those positions and twist them into their pithy sound bites to scare the electorate to bejayzus? Why should we ask them to feed the trols even more easily than wil already happen?
I’m all for being as honest as possible but I tend to check actions as well as words. I seem to recall the the Chimpy had reasonable WORDS when he ran and look what that got us?
klyde @ 134
The ONLY thing Hagel seems sane on is the war and I have to ask, “What took ya so long?” Every other vote he has is staright out of Chimpy’s lapdog brigade.
oddmommy @ 144
No, the Mods are real people. They’re the ones who release comments that get caught in the the Spam Filter (software).
1,508 DAYZ AND THE KILLIN’ GOEZ ON AND ON AND..
Citizen oklahoma kiddo and the Firepup Patriots:
I certainly respect your politics and your intelligence brother kiddo, but I would like to advance an idea that I hope takes root among progressives before too long: Mrs. Clinton would be worse than any wingnut now runnin’ for the fascist nomination, given a solid Democratic majority in the congress.
Mrs. Clinton is really an old Evert Dirksen Republican corporatist which means that the corporate stranglehold on politics and the economy would become permanent. Given that,the biggest threat to human existence on the planet right now would go terminal. At least with solid Democratic majorities in both houses, progressives would drive the agenda and control the budget.
If Mrs. Clinton is nominated, I will work my ass off and give the money I can’t afford to increasin’ Democratic majorities in congress and in state legislatures but I won’t vote for her…indeed, I will write in a candidate before I cast a vote for Mrs. Clinton. We have gotta make it clear to folks during this primary process that we in the Democratic base will not vote for Clinton under any circumstances.
Think about it…it sounds like heresy, but given a Democratic Congress, Mrs. Clinton would be worse than a wingnut and American fascism would be consolidated.
KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE GOD DAMNED AMMUNITION, THIS WAR IS A LONG WAY FROM OVER!!
rwcole @ 135
All of the above. Including voting for Cornyn’s motion a couple of months ago to do away with the FEd minimum wage law completely. Outside his recent stand against the war, he is rated 100% by most of the Conservative orgs.
Lou Costello @ 147
I know, but how does the software work? Does it just “catch” certain words?
oldtree @ 118
The answer is someone that that grew up in Washington D.C. and spent his entire adult life there? This, after his dad spent years there?
I won’t even get into the the many other reasons Gore is a horrible choice in my opinion (nothing about kisses or his looks), but the fact that he’s an entrenched D.C-ocrat is enough for me to get behind Obama or Edwards.
“But you don’t understand, that’s not how Washington works. We need someone he knows ‘the Game.’” This is the kind of nonsense that has gotten us into the Constitutional Crisis we are now in.
The system is broke. We need new ideas and new blood. Edwards has been the most liberal of the big three on the stump, while Obama actually has a very good voting record (not perfect of course), and he has been up there with Feingold in his rhetoric on the floor of the Senate. I feel very safe that either of these two will get ALOT done to protect the environment.
Obama is drawing incredible crowds. I can never remember seeing anything quite like the excitement he is generating. He is also inspiring kids out there that anyone can become President, regardless of you background, for real this time! You don’t have to be the son of a Congressman.
Al, you’re doing great work now. Keep it up, bro!
oddmommy at 150 — We’d rather not talk about the combination of things that we do to prevent spam and nastiness, lest the people who are trying to get it through constantly figure out a way around what we are doing. I’m sure you can see why discussing the technical stuff publicly would not be a good idea.
oddmommy @ 150
Exactly. That’s why you’ll see commenters use *s in words, to get past the filter. Vi*gra, Insura*ce, A*PAC, etc…
“Third way” is a political and economic philosophy.
The Third Way, or Radical Middle, is a centrist philosophy of governance that embraces a mix of market and interventionist philosophies. The Third Way rejects both top-down redistribution and laissez-faire approaches to economic governance, but chiefly stresses technological development, education, and competitive mechanisms to pursue economic progress and governmental objectives.[1]
Past invocations of a political ‘third way’ have included the Fabian Socialism, Keynesian economics, Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal, Italian fascism and Harold Macmillan’s 1950s One Nation Conservatism.[2]
Recent political leaders who have been said to have pursued Third Way policies include Tony Blair of the United Kingdom, Romano Prodi of Italy, Bill Clinton of the United States, Gerhard Schr�der of Germany, Jos� Luis Rodr�guez Zapatero of Spain, Kevin Rudd of Australia, Jean Chr�tien of Canada, Wim Kok of the Netherlands, and Ferenc Gyurcs�ny of Hungary.
Folks I’m sorry to be so passionate about all this but I’ve watched my party lose way too many elections by playing the gotcha games internally and giving the other side all the ammo needed to slam us.
“So ‘n so candidate is not perfect therefore I h*te ‘em” is not a good way for us to take the country back and restore our rights as citizens. Ask good questions, research what they’ve said and done. But please don’t force them to be what they aren’t. Even without trying, we will give the noise machine more than enough fodder for them to twist and pervert (acid, amnesty and abortion anyone?). Let’s try to NOT add to the future woes.
oddmommy @ 150
My reply @ 153 got caught because I tried to show you an example. LOL
What about Howard Dean? I kind of wish he would run. He’s been pretty straightforward all along.. I think. He’s not a game player.
Fresh thread, up and running for you guys.
oddmommy @ 137
Sane, maybe. But he’s widely regarded as one of the stupidest Senators.
Who get’s to pick the next Supreme Court Justice is the most important thing to me…and I want it to be a Dem.
Oklahoma kiddo @ 133
Please look:
The agreement was initially pursued by conservative governments in the United States and Canada supportive of free trade, led by Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, U.S. President George H. W. Bush, and the Mexican President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. The three-nation NAFTA was signed on 17 December 1992, pending its ratification by the legislatures of the three countries. There was considerable opposition in all three countries, but in the United States it was able to secure passage after Bill Clinton made its passage a major legislative initiative in 1993. Wiki – history of the implimentation
NAFTA is a Bush(GHW)Baby and only legislatively passed under Clinton and the DLC. The Bad Idea was Bush negotiated. What purpose does it serve to tar Gore with responsibility. Peg DLC yes.
LS
I like Dean too. Would have made a great prez in my opinion. He got tagged with a “left wing loony” designation that hurt him- and ironically- he was very sane and centerist.
selise @ 126
Curious in Central Texas @ 30
And Carl Bersteins’s new unauthorized biography on the Hillary to be released on May 16th!
Warner looks like a shaggy haired survivor of Gettysburg- (from the confederate side of course) his rhetoric is nostalia inducing- if you loved the 19th century..
AnnieW @ 160
Amen.
Riesz — perhaps the man you are so blithely labeling “loser” wasn’t a loser at all, by any stretch of the imagination.
Buried in the emails of gwb43.com and other RNC-owned servers are the details of how at least one other so-called loser lost, by way of election theft. I’m sure it didn’t happen once.
Tim Griffin — does that name sound familiar to you? That’s one of the people who created the “loser” of 2000. And I’m sure there were more of his kind in 2000.
Add the handicap of the consultantocracy that Kos and Jerome Armstrong describe in Crashing the Gates, and you have the real losers: the American public, including those who have been deluded into believing that Democratic hopefuls are losers.
Let me guess that you’ve already been stumping for somebody else, are solidly behind a candidate, making you less than neutral. I don’t see you commenting much on the other major issues we’re facing, like the USA scandal that overlaps not only election fraud, but Abramoff, CIA infiltration and domestic public corruption. Do these not serve your interests?
so we watched Love Actually last night, so what ?
I don’t want a lot for Fitzmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about indictments
Underneath the Waxman tree
I just want to hear you say
whether you’ll go or whether you’ll stay
Make my phone ring blue
All I want for Fitzmas is…
Yooou, baby !
I don’t want a lot for Fitzmas
There is just one thing I need
I don’t care about the scandals
daily on the rss feed
I don’t need to hang my hopes on
Madame Speaker and Harry Reid
Impeachment calls won’t make me happy
With a vote on Fitzmas day
I just want to hear you state
If your name is on the slate
Oh pulhleeze put that call through
All I want for Fitzmas is you
You bab-y !
sorry, our Big Orange Overlord made me post it . . .and Soros promised a bonus check *g*
dakine01 @ 146
So my unwillingness to vote for him is even more justified
Arnie @ 161
I’m confused. Are you indicating I am applying tar to Gore? ;0)
LS (157) — it was agreed with the hardcore Deaniac faithful way back in the dark days of November 2004 that we had only one option.
Given these choices:
1) Dean runs for POTUS again in 2008;
2) Reinvigorate the progressive base by taking back and remaking the Dems from the inside out and bottom up with Dean as chair;
3) Launch a third party with Dean as driver;
The only choice we had to ensure a progressive would be elected in 2008 was option (2). Dean remains firmly committed to that goal, has always believed that taking our country back was the ultimate goal and not any personal aspirations for president. Extremely noble and statesman-like, this decision; Dean bowed to the will of the people who supported him. And we made him DNC chair, and we began to reinvigorate the party.
No wonder that Al Gore endorsed him.
http://johnedwards.com/news/
http://kucinich.us/issues
These are the guys who are getting my little bit of scratch. Scroll the speeches, news releases and issue papers especially on Kucinich. This is what a progressive agenda looks like.
Christy Hardin Smith @ 152
Ah. Well, whatever it is, it’s impressive.
rwcole @ 165
I just remember him fondly from 1994, when he had enough integrity to oppose the vile Oliver North, then running against Chuck Robb.
This is more to do with Tenet and the chattering heads, but that is in EPU land.
I was just listening to the CBC Radio and Michael Enright on Sunday Edition in a very brief mention/review/slag of Tenet’s book referred to it as (I wish I could remember the exact adjective) something like totally, extremely, or digustingly self-serving. Anyway, I thought the words he used summed it up pretty well. His appearance on Pumkin’ Head was incredibly self-serving as well – and very considerate of the Bu$h/Cheney Criminal Cabal.
Riesz Fischer @ 7
Gore’s been kicked out of the DLC, which turned on him for good after he endorsed Dean over Lieberman in 2003.
So miserable that he won the popular vote and would be in the White House right now if not for Jeb Bush and Sandra Day O’Connor.
A mistake he’s regretted ever since, and which led to his final break with the DLC when he endorsed Dean over Lieberman in December 2003.
That, along with the revival of the old populist Gore (a revival that pissed off Lieberman and started the rift that has now made them near-mortal enemies) actually sent his poll ratings upwards.
Don’t know if anyone’s still here, but does the DLC still support Lieberman?
As far as “sane Goopers” goes, doesn’t being Gooper appear yet in the Mental Diagnostic Manual as an obvious symptom of mental disorder? If not it should any day now. Being gay quit being a disorder, being Gooper became one somewhere around 1980, if not before, it just may not have gotten in the book yet.
Arnie @ 161
Especially since Gore is no longer a part of the DLC. The group had become something he could no longer support, and he was moving back leftwards himself, away from their stances. Hence his backing of Howard Dean over Lieberman (the DLC’s darling) in December 2003.
Texas Betsy @ 69
ANYONE who actually reads the transcripts of these debates and sees just what happened over the last 6 years and thinks that Bush “won” is an utter fool.
Bush’s comments were filled with lies, contradictions, false claims, utter pandering to American’s greed instinct, more lies, attacks on the personal character of a good man, belittling of the accomplishments of the Clinton Administration while asserting that he was going to use those accomplishments to make us all filthy rich…and moral!
http://www.debates.org/pages/his_2000.html
Read the actual debates…just see how Gore walloped Bush on every issue and idea…with Bush laying out lie after lie. About his foreign policy, about his tax cuts, about Social Security, about Education, about decreasing the size of government, about reducing the number of Federal Agencies, about improving health care, ridding the Administration of cronies, about working with Democrats, reducing partisanship, simply being a good “administrator”…and a compassionate Conservative.
But I guess that the goal of these debates isn’t laying out the truth and policies that are beneficial and workable…
Lying is okay in order to “win”.
You have to appeal to to the baser instincts of the public to “win”.
Oh, and you have to look like Tom Cruise.
[Or maybe Metrosexual Edwards or Obama?]
Rayne @ 168
Thanks for talking so calmly, Rayne. I think I had a little too much caffeine this morning!
I know Gore didn’t actually lose, but I feel he shouldn’t have let it be close enough to steal.
I like John Edwards and I still hope he wins the nomination. I think Norske’s right about Hillary, and STTP in Ohio is right that Obama would have a hard time overcoming the racist lobby.
Those other issues are very important to me, but I think any Democrat, even Hillary, would be on the right side of them.
I think I should stop commenting on Gore here, it doesn’t do any good and it just pisses people off. (And it doesn’t bring out the best in me either).
Peace :-)
Riesz Fischer @ 181
no! please don’t stop! i don’t want to get caught up in “group think” – a variety of views and information is good.
selise @ 182
Thank you, selise!
Perhaps we should have this discussion again after Gore releases his new book, and it has been out long enough for people to have a read.
Anyhow, I’ve signed all the petitions for Gore to run in 2008, and in addition, I’ve spent mental time designing his campaign. So here is a thumbnail sketch.
First of all May and June will be the Book Tour and the radio and TV interviews. As I understand the book’s content, it is a serious attack on current Politics, structural as well as issues. It is about the kind of discourse necessary to Pragmatic Politics, that solve problems people and the society confront.
In July, Al Gore has a huge international concert for the benefit of Global Warming scheduled — it is a world-wide thing. It will lead into discussion of all the small and large things necessary to addressing a huge international threat.
I don’t think Gore should announce till perhaps Labor Day. If he goes ahead — he should run an unconventional campaign. For starters, I think he should announce his running mate from the get-go — and my preference would be for Wesley Clark as VP. (That way they can cover twice as much territory before the first Primary/Caucus.)
I also think Gore should present a program of perhaps 5-10 “big issues” that would be presidential priorities, and campaign on those, and try as much as possible to ignore the nonsense questions about hair, and who you would like to have a beer with, etc. etc., but instead, use many of the Video Advocates who have shown up on Gore’s TV channel — Current — to lay out his own priorities. Global Warming is obviously one of these — But Gore is opposed to the Patriot act, as written, all the wiretapping et. al., so he has a position on privacy, and protections of privacy.
Gore has opposed the Iraq war from before the invasion, and he made a number of speeches about it. He also came out early on against Bush’s doctrine of Preemptive War, announced in June, 2002. Iraq was preemptive, a War of Choice as some put it, and campaigning against the current situation in Iraq is mush given what can be done by campaigning against the underlying doctrine as well as the horror that is Iraq.
Which leads me to why Wesley Clark should be VP — because we need the four stars this particular retired General brings to re-thinking National Defense, and, given that Bush has ruined our military, rebuilding a new one along somewhat different lines. It will have to be sold to Americans, sold to Congress, and the seller will have to work from strength. Clark has written two books on Doctrine — read them.
Gore needs to campaign on a priority for making Government Services excellent — not just as cheap and dumb as you can get away with. His book is going to be massively about this topic. This issue pulls together stuff like Katrina, Homeland Security matters, Health Care, Food and Drug regulation and inspection, — a whole lot of things where cheap and dumb have been substituted for excellence. (We might add in Justice here too)
There are a whole range of issues under the general topic, Education, that are ripe for a campaign. No Child Left Behind, no work on early childhood education, the fraud that college loan programs have become — you name it, we have a target. In terms of public services Education and Transportation are the two issues that code best for Democrats thinking about personal life.
Gore — of all the candidates, Democratic or Republican, has the best comfortable relations with leaders — political and otherwise — in other nations. No one dislikes him really, and because of his Global Warming work, he has a massive popular following abroad. I want our relationships with International Organizations and the rest of the world rebuilt, and I sense Gore is the one who is best suited to accomplishing some of this. His book is scheduled for publication in ten languages. His film has done well all over the world.
To accomplish anything after the next election, the election itself is going to have to be a mandate — meaning a candidate who can get better than 57% of the popular vote — better yet, over 60%. It also has to be someone who will campaign so as to support electing Democrats to the Senate and House in large numbers and with decent margins district and state by district and state. Gore, as I see it, is the only candidate out there who has supported what Howard Dean is doing with the 50 State Project — and the whole point of that project is to provide routes to getting good people elected independent of the gatekeepers in DC, and their DC bundled money. Gore, I think, would open his campaign up to people involved in the 50 State Project, thus cutting out some if not much of the Consultant Class influence.
Gore can campaign on that thingie-dingie he invented called the internet. He isn’t afraid of it, it loves it. With his TV Channel and the sites related to it, he has a fascinating cultural experiment going with interactiveness. Check it all out.
Another Gore update
Al committed to the the Keynote speaker for this weekends Organic Trade Association annual
gathering, about 30,000 people attend.
Monday he pulled the plug.
He has something more important to do than talk to a group already committed to his message.
You are reading way too much into it. they have been getting together for quite sometime and they obviously were having the reunion in a very public place. Doesn’t sound strategy like to me. More like good friends getting together to party.
I so wish people would just get a grip on themselves.
I hope he goes for it. It would restore a sense of justice to have the Gores escort the Chimp and Pickles outta 1600 on Jan. 20, 2009. I realize it’s a fantasy but then whodda thunk Nancy Pelosi would become Madame Speaker.
As others have said, if no Gore, I can live with who we have but I believe if it’s Hilliary, the Dems will lose on a McGovernish scale against the GOP, a party of contemptible, corrupt, hypocritical traitors.