Al Gore: Climate/environmental voters should vote for Clinton, not 3rd party.

[pnwmom]

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/292196-gore-climate-voters-should-not-vote-for-a-third-party

Former Vice President Al Gore is urging Americans concerned about climate change and considering a third-party presidential candidate to vote for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton instead.

In an interview with ThinkProgress, Gore said he understands the “feelings and misgivings” of voters turned off by both Clinton and GOP nominee Donald Trump.

But he said voters who want to tackle climate change should vote for the former secretary of State, not Green Party candidate Jill Stein or anyone else.

“I particularly urge anyone who is concerned about the climate crisis, sees it as the kind of priority that I see it as, to look at the sharp contrast between the solar plan that Secretary Clinton has put forward, and her stated commitment to support the Clean Power Plan, and the contrast between what she has said and is proposing with the statements of the Republican nominee, which give me great concern,” Gore told ThinkProgress.

SNIP

[onehandle]

1. If about half one of one percent of Florida Nader voters would have voted for Al Gore instead...

...we would have been saved from George W. Bush.

Thanks Greens!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

2. while i have a certain contempt for Nader and Stein, Gore was a terrible politician

he was a good man and had great policy positions etc., but he had the political instincts of my cat. Picking lieberman and distancing himself from a super popular and successful sitting president did him in.

[pnwmom]

5. Gore would have won if Nader hadn't run, and targeted his efforts at swing states like Florida. n/t

[roody]

12. Gore did win.

[pnwmom]

13. The decision would never have been sent to SCOTUS.. n/t

[Lulu KC]

21. Indeed he did

But I'm not bitter.

[One of the 99]

18. And Nader too GOP money to attack Gore. nt

[NurseJackie]

6. Looking back, I agree that a stronger candidate could have more easily defeated Bush.

Gore-Lieberman, had they won, would have been just a one-term presidency... but 9/11 would have never happened, I bet.

Lieberman?? What was he thinking??

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. i didnt because i wasnt a citizen then, but i def would have, and would have been proud of my vote

excellent people, shitty politicians. also, unlike HRC, they seems less aware of their shortcomings. She is aware of the situations in which she does well (small crowds, individual meetings, building coalitions, listening to people), but they seems to not understand how to display their best aspects.

Gore should have recognized he was boring, and he should have picked someone exciting/unusual etc. Instead he picked Lieberman.

[karynnj]

11. Kerry did far better than the fundamentals of 2004 would have predicted

GWB was at 60% in December 2003 and the economy - juiced by changing the leverage rate for banks - was doing reasonably well. Had the election been even a half year later, Kerry would have won.

In fact, had Ohio been run fairly - without voter suppression by creating 4 to 10 hour lines in Democratic areas, Kerry would have pulled off a huge upset. The fact is that he ran a high road campaign, had a very clean record and was outstanding in the debates.

As to the SBVT - Kerry had his entire Navy record, with excellent fitness reports, on his web site from April on. Though the media said the liars challenged Kerry's account - they challenged the official Navy record. Democrats had all they needed to defend the nominee - something we are ALL being asked to do now for Clinton. He deserved better from his party and the media. There should have been an up roar over the mockery of his three purple hearts.

[JNelson6563]

16. Don't forget the Bush hatred.

That certainly drove a groundswell of activity in my neck of the woods. To date the membership, volunteer and fundraising numbers are unmatched here.

[karynnj]

19. True, but don't forget that areas of the country are increasingly more politically homogeneous

The fact is that Bush in December 2003 had a higher approval rating than Obama in 2011. Yet Romney, who might have been the best the Republicans had to offer, did far worse. I would suggest that Obama hatred - because he did many things we value, but they despise - like ACA - and of course, being black, was at least as high as the hatred of Bush.

Remember that it was well into 2005 before the country moved to considering invading Iraq a mistake. There was also a residual rally around the President that started in the wake of 911. It likely was NOT a mistake when Bush defended the invasion by speaking of 911. Kerry was excellent in handling that in the debate - and was cheered on the left - where he spoke of it being OBL, not Saddam - causing Bush to stutter out a response. In an analysis done after the election in Ohio - I think by the NYT, many people admitted that on all other issues they agreed with Kerry, but voted for Bush/Cheney because they were concerned that Kerry's morality would mean that he would permit torture or other war crimes -- and, in their fear -- they actually wanted a leader who would! In other reports, the Republicans used ballot initiatives on gay issues to mobilize the evangelistic vote - even as Cheney himself articulated a moderate view as his gay daughter worked to get these anti gay measures on the ballot! (Think of this whenever Trump "moderates" on anything - having already "winked" at his base that he is with them.)

I KNOW that there were places well mobilized even before the election. My three preteen and teen daughters marched in NYC and DC before the war with their dad and me. My oldest daughter voted in NYC. No one in the line admitted being for Bush. At New School, where she was a student, the question was not even Kerry vs Bush, but Kerry vs the various third party candidates. It is great that your area - like Manhattan - mobilized as they did.

I lived in a Republican old money (alas not mine) county. There, the interesting shift that was coming was signaled when the town's high school in their "election" went to Kerry by a healthy, but not huge margin -- as the town went for Bush, but by less than in 2000. (Teresa having been a very well liked PA Republican's wife was mentioned by some cross over voters.)

One observation - for the affluent upper middle class areas, like Morris County NJ, the shift that was likely ideological in 2004 has likely become personal interest. Those kids in high school at that time, entered college between 2004 and 2008 expecting the economy and jobs outlook that existed for their older peers in earlier years. Many attended top schools and were stunned at the job market they faced when leaving. In addition, for both them and their parents, the shift to extreme right wing of the party has led many to question party loyalty. their party has been hijacked.

[One of the 99]

17. Gore was down to Bush by 18 points in January 2000

yet he won the popular vote. Doesn't sound like a terrible politician to me.

[Thinkingabout]

4. And a lot of the problems we had had are result of W decisions.

[MineralMan]

3. Say it loud, Al!

[KMOD]

7. I think most will.

She already has the strong endorsements from NRDC, the LCV and the Sierra Club.

[beachbum bob]

8. Democrats have a chance of Congress and Whitehouse...yet far l left rather

Remain on the sideline...putting ego first instead of meaningful participation

[Warren DeMontague]

14. He's right, of course.

And if anyone knows, it's that guy.

[Overseas]

15. K&R. I'm doing that.