Dean on Al Gore's award nominations....has affected public policy.

[madfloridian]

Blitzer was better than Norah O today, more gracious. But he also kept pumping Dean about each candidates chances. Dean keeps his cool on it.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0702/01/sitroom.02.html

BLITZER: One final quick question. Al Gore, he supported you back in 2004 when you were running for president. Now he's expected to win an Oscar. He's being nominated for a Nobel prize. Should he get back into this presidential race?

DEAN: Again, I'm not going to get into that, but I certainly think he deserves the Oscar and Nobel Prize.

Look, this guy, who is a good friend, a wonderful friend, a courageous friend, has done more to affect public policy than anybody I can think of in the last few years. Al Gore and the people who helped him make that movie -- and it wasn't just Al, but it was others -- have -- have totally changed the way Americans look at global warming.

The president of the United States has tried to pretend that global warming hasn't existed for six years. He has bullied scientists who are concerned about this, as has his administration. And because of the efforts led by Al Gore, we are really doing -- dealing with the issue that may be the most important issue to face this planet as long as humankind has existed on it.

So I think he deserves whatever awards he gets for doing that.

Kudos to Al Gore.

[Exultant Democracy]

1. Oh Al, how you tease.

I wonder how long he can wait? The fact is as long as he is staying high profile he gets to run without running and that is a great strategy.

[Apollo11]

2. Good answer from Dr Dean!

There is no hurry for Gore to enter the race for 2008. He is doing a great job raising public awareness about the climate crisis (he spoke to 10 000 people in Boise last week!). Hopefully he might even get on stage at the Oscar ceremony!

Gore is also busy working on his next book - The Assault on Reason - to be published in May. The theme of this book - why we need better decision-making in government - is very timely in relation to next year's Presidential election (whether he runs or not).

Depending on how things pan out, and the reaction to his book, Gore can consider his situation over the summer and announce his decision (or if you prefer - "change his mind") sometime in the fall.

Don't forget that Bill Clinton did not start his campaign until October 1991 (and went on to win the Presidency 13 months later). But Al Gore already has nationwide respect and name recognition that other wannabees can only wish for! :)

Al Gore is without a doubt the best qualified person for the job, in terms of his experience, knowledge, intelligence and judgement. And by the way - he is younger than Hillary, Clark, McCain and Guiliani!

Unless and until Gore endorses another candidate, we have to assume that he is keeping his options open. So it is too soon for those of us who prefer Gore to switch our allegiance.

Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore! :)

Read Rolling Stone magazine: WHY GORE SHOULD RUN -- AND HOW HE CAN WIN
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/13248532/why_gore_should_run__and_how_he_can_win

Get ready for Al Gore's next book - The Assault on Reason - out in May!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600877.html

Visit the following pro-Gore websites:
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition! :)
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

:kick:

[AlGore-08.com]

3. K & R for President Gore - - and the Chairman of the Board

:kick: :patriot: :kick:

[Life Long Dem]

4. I'm glad to hear this news. He deserves the awards.

I do hope he would see after what he has achieved in the awareness of global warming that now he would see his time as being better spent by signing laws toward the problem of global warming - not to take ANYTHING away from what he could or has accomplished in his current position but in what HE sees will better his goals. To add to this so it doesn't look as if Al Gore is thinking only of himself or about and for himself, I know he would run not for himself but for the people and from what I see in the polls, most voters would drop their current candidate for AL Gore.

[MelissaB]

5. kicking for two of my favorite men

:kick:

I love 'em both.

[Ninja Jordan]

6. If Gore runs, he will announce it around the time his new book is released (May).

[Admiral Loinpresser]

8. I would expect him to do it later than that.

His book release will probably mean a month-long promo campaign (Letterman, Oprah, Jon Stewart, etc.). I imagine it would step on the book tour to do it then. Also, he gets another big media pop in addition to the book, if he announces later.

Finally, the longer he waits, the longer he delays those inevitable RNC attack ads directed at the front runner. I understand Hillary is already the target of RNC attack ads in Iowa.

[Ninja Jordan]

15. I mean I think he would announce following the book tour.

You're right, he should milk the free pub.

[elmerdem]

7. How about a trifecta!

An Oscar, the Nobel Prize & the POTUS!

[Lisa0825]

9. woohooo!

:loveya: Howard :loveya: Al :loveya:

[Reterr]

10. K&R for Prez Gore and Chairman Dean

Both awesome dems..I wish Gore, Kerry/Feingold/Dean were running and were frontrunners ....

[Just-plain-Kathy]

14. Reterr...add on Webb and Murtha, and you named all my favorite dems. ...n/t

:)

[Reterr]

17. :-). Yup.nt

[SaveElmer]

11. I'll K&R that one...

Everything Dean said is absolutely true!!!

[Cha]

12. Yay, Dean!

"The president of the United States has tried to pretend that global warming hasn't existed for six years. He has bullied scientists who are concerned about this, as has his administration. And because of the efforts led by Al Gore, we are really doing -- dealing with the issue that may be the most important issue to face this planet as long as humankind has existed on it."

Glad Dean got that in there about just who has been trying to put the Kibosh on Doing Something about Global Climate Change.

[mtnsnake]

13. Dean and Gore RULE. nt

[byronius]

16. Two smartest kids on the block. C'mon Al. We're beggin' here.