POLITICAL REALITY -- THERE IS NO SUCH HORSE - BET ON GORE

[Samantha]

Why would any political junkie think politics must be substantive -- it's a game of strategy, not of facts. And the first rule of play inside the beltway is Never Let Them Know What You Are Thinking. No one knows this game any better than Al Gore, not even Bill Clinton -- The so-called Natural. Al Gore's presence on the 1992 ticket (after he had declared he would not run) gave Clinton the leg up to the White House. Many Dems thought the order of the ticket should have been reversed, due to Clinton's relative lack of foreign policy experience. With Gore's 25 years of service, no one needs to tutor him on how the game is played inside the Beltway. Scratch substance from the political scorecard playbook.

The single most valid regret of true Gore supporters regarding the 2000 campaign was that he failed to run on his most salient longstanding platform -- the environment. Gore took the advice of his professional advisers and did not play this card because he did not want to be considered a one-horse political pony. He just assumed everyone was familiar with his 25-year environmental quest and he should showcase other facets of his political tool bag.

So Gore will make a liar of himself if he suddenly says he's running, some suggest? Not so fast. Consider "Washington speak" and return for a moment to the "it depends on what your definition of is is" moment. An inference is not a lie. It is a fake-out in the political arena and in a court of law a grammatical interpretation. When Bill Clinton was asked in the current tense if he were having sex with Monica, he responded as quoted above. The technical grammatical truth was the word sex had been legally defined and he had been given the definition by the lawyers. Egregiously omitted in the definition of sex was the lips of one touching the private parts of another, i.e., oral sex. Oral sex was what Clinton had experienced but was not within the sexual parameters as defined by the lawyers themselves. So when responding to a question as to whether he had had sex with Monica, Bill responded with that depends on your what definition of is is -- and he was grammatically and legally correct in that answer. Small point, but he also correctly conjugated the verb but was given no points for doing so by either lawyers or grammarians ....

When Gore says I have no plans to run, he does not qualify that simple statement with "nor will I hone any in the future." Have is a verb in the present tense. Speaking in the present tense does not obfuscate the future tense of that same verb so it does not technically qualify as a lie as time passes and things change. Nuanced, yes. True, yes. Washington speak, yes. A lie, no. It's how the game is played inside the Beltway. Get used to it, we are just warming up.

Gore has made a series of outstanding speeches on various hot-potato subjects. He did this because he is happy in his life, but a little bored, and made these speeches to stifle that boredom. Right.

Gore restores his accent on his devotion to environmental safeguards because his is bored in his ever-so-wonderful happy life. That restoration has been done on not just a national but an international level and has given speculation to a resurrection of his political destiny of governing from the White House. Timed to occur in the run-up to the 2008 campaign, that's simply a coincidence, right?

Some now speak of Gore's not only winning accolades from the entertainment community but a possible nomination for the Nobel. That's simply another coincidence, right?

There are simply too many maneuvers in logical and perfectly timed sequence for these series of events to be coincidences. If a check of the reported facts does not tell one Al Gore is running, his or her sense of simple logic should. And if it does not, anyone vehemently asserting Gore is not running (like Gore would really let him or her know what he is thinking)is in the same state of denial toward a Gore candidacy that Bob Woodward reports Bush* is in regarding Iraq. Same difference.

Politics is not a truth-telling game -- it's a game of strategy with extremely nuanced moves. I have been a political spectator for some time now inside the Beltway and my political gut tells me we are warming up for one of the most high-stakes political presidential races of my lifetime. I do not look for the typical play because the stakes are simply too high, so the players must be ever so-adroitly adept at each move. At our end of the political street, high roller Bill Clinton will be influencing many plays and Al Gore will be countering them. It will be fascinating.

There is no such thing as political reality -- at best, there's political slight of hand mistaken for a real thing.

Fasten your political seatbelts -- you will need them when the winner on the Democratic side of the aisle faces off with the winner from -- shall we say, the other political side of the street ....

My money is on Al Gore for both races -- the preliminary and the final. Where do you place your bet?

[Erika]

1. Al Gore already won the presidency once.

I'd vote for him again. He's become a true Statesman. I love the guy.

[Samantha]

2. I do too - but I am not kidding myself

There are just too many "coincidences" here for this to add up to Gore's not running.

[Me.]

3. I Think He's Been Brilliant About All This

They've been trying to draw him out and he isn't playing their game. I think it has people gnashing their teeth. Yet he's going his own way, connecting, staying in the spotlight. Brilliant. I'm looking forward to Sunday night. If he gets up on the stage that to me will be a tell.

[IntravenousDemilo]

6. How neat it would be if Gore were to announce his candidacy to an audience of a billion people!

It would throw Washington into a tailspin, and there'd be lots of screaming and gnashing of teeth.

And it would be time for :popcorn:

[Clark2008]

11. What happens Sunday night?

[Me.]

14. Academy Awards

And the sure money says Inconvenient Truth will win. And while the award won't go to him, if he's on that stage it will be a sign. I hope he holds off announcing until the fall. They're all going after each other right now, so I hope he lets them, stays out of the fray and walks in to pick up the pieces.

[Clark2008]

15. Thank you.

I'm not much for awards shows - never watch them - so I wouldn't have known that was coming up.

[SharonRB]

34. It's already been decided that he will make the acceptance speech

if they win.

He will not declare at the Oscars. He will not declare at least until after the July concerts. More likely not until September or so. He's playing things just right and knows about all the work people are doing behind the scenes to draft him. In 2004, he asked people to stop. He has said no such thing this time. His silence speaks volumes.

[marmar]

47. Agreed. Declaring at the Oscars would look too crass and calculated....

If there's one candidate who can afford to wait, it's Al Gore. And who knows, by then, Clinton, Obama and Edwards may have lopped each others' heads off, metaphorically speaking.

[Samantha]

12. It's too funny watching people trying to "smoke" him out

It's like they don't know who they are dealing with. He's no novice at this game -- he's really excellent at it. Your word is appropriate -- he has been brilliant.

Thank you for your response.

[Me.]

24. I Know

How many pundits or people who claim to know "have spoken on his behalf" have said he's not running? I think it was Buchanan who once commented that he's the candidate the pubs fear most. We're going to see him on the Academy Awards, testifying before Congress, holding a huge concert and possibly being awarded a Nobel. None of the candidates have enough money or placement to achieve that type of exposure and it isn't costing him a dime.

[Samantha]

27. I agree - Gore is truly The One Candidate repubs don't want to

face. If he runs, he wins. They have no one who can stop him -- unless of course they try to simply "take" it again. If that were to happen, the theft of the 2008 presidency, I cannot begin to imagine what the voting public would do THIS TIME. However, the Supreme Court has been adequately staffed by Bush* appointees to meet the challenge so that insurance remains intact....

[PhilipShore]

33. Gore/Clark 2008 would win by a 20% margin

The Repukes can only fix one or two swing states at a time. With a Gore/Clark ticket -- he would win the major swing state Colorado -- and of course the non swing states like New York. But with Clark in: they would win red states too - it would take to much money to buy a 20 or more state hacking.

If Hillary runs against Pataki, Hillary would lose in New York, and in a majority of swing states, that have the security moms, and The Repukes would win by a margin of 20 percent.

[Guaranteed]

4. What a great post.

You nailed it. K & R.

Mind if I send this to some friends?

[Samantha]

13. Thank you, thank you, thank you

I put a lot of my heart into this thread last night after spending so much time reading people's derogatory comments on other threads. I do not think people who say he is not running are in the political now. Don't look at what candidates say, watch what they do. If one just stands back and looks at the string of events and their orchestration, it defies logic to think these happenings are simply coincidences.

It makes it worthwhile the time one spends in writing these threads when someone like you comes along and appreciates that effort. So thank you, thank you. Send these thoughts to whomever you like, and thanks for responding.

[ms liberty]

5. K&R...excellent points, and my money's on Mr. Gore as well...

I happen to think he's the best person for the job this time around. I don't dislike the other candidates, I simply think Al Gore is who we need. Someone with the vision, intelligence, experience, the skills and abilities that we desperately must have to turn this country around. There's too much that HAS to be done. We need a Washington, a Jefferson, an FDR. A "King Arthur" so to speak. This is the meeting of a man and his fate. He became a statesman when he gave his concession speech in 2000, and his country requires his service now. Because he is a true statesman, he will step forward.

It sounds kinda hokey I know, and I've got a pragmatic and practical side that simply sees him as the person who can do it; but the feeling I have is that all of the above is as true as all the rest.

I know I'm not the only one who would work 24/7/365 to get him in the WH this time around. In fact, there's probably many more of us who feel that way now than we can imagine.

[Samantha]

10. I totally agree with you

Gore has a RESUME. I cringe when people say we need a fresh face. How superficial can one be when facing the desperate times we are now in? I don't need a fresh face -- I need a man or a woman who can address (and quickly at that, no time for OJT)these oppressive, life-threatening problems now. The six-year deterioration we have experienced under Bush* is an abomination in so many ways. A fresh face might look new and nice, but we need an experienced hand in there fast changing the course and righting the wrongs. That takes a person with a resume, not a great haircut.

Why is it people cannot see the desperate need this country now has for a corrective hand?

Thank you for your response and the time you spent deliberating these points.

[AtomicKitten]

7. oh, yeah

[Samantha]

40. I love that picture - they are both beautiful inside and out

When Tipper was here as the wife of the vice president, she used to make private trips to the parks in D.C. to find the homeless. Sometimes she talked to people and convinced them to go home. She sometimes paid for the bus tickets to get them there. She did this with no publicity, just something in the goodness of her heart prompted her to help the less fortunate.

She is a wonderful example of what the Democratic party truly stands for. It's the party of the people, and we care about those in need.

I hope to see Tipper Gore as our next First Lady. I hope we get lucky.

[AtomicKitten]

57. high-five -- you and me both

Al and Tipper are the best of the best.

[Samantha]

58. Wow - I have never seen that picture of their wedding

If I get back to the point where I keep seeing their pictures, I will not be able to cope if they sink back beneath their radar. I just want them both in the White House where they belong, and for 8 years. Thanks for sharing.

[Beam Me Up]

8. Gore would make a great president.

And I do not doubt he and many others would like to see him in the Oval Office.

I'm skeptical -- but only because I suspect there are some very ruthless people who have decided that "great presidents" is something the American people should no longer be allowed to have.

[OneBlueSky]

9. agree 100% . . . Gore is playing this perfectly . . .

if he wants the nomination -- and I believe he does -- it's his for the asking . . . there's a tremendous reservoir of good will and support just waiting for him to say the word . . .

[Kare]

19. If he dashes our hopes and decides not to run...

He should be head of the EPA.
No bones about it, give him the job.

[Divernan]

16. You have very sophisticated & insightful grasp of the political/legal nuances

of VP Al Gore's positioning. I particularly appreciated your paragraph explaining that President Clinton's answers re "sex w/ Monica" in his deposition were technically, grammatically & legally truthful - as per the parameters established by the questioning lawyer's definition of sex. As a lawyer I have tried to explain this to various people. Unfortunately, if they have not personally been taught to "think like a lawyer", i.e., gone through law school - they just don't get it.

It is politically naieve and wishful thinking on the part of DUers who have committed themselves to the presidential ambitions of other candidates to think that Al Gore has removed himself from the 2008 race. He simply has not yet officially stated that he has entered it. This is SOP in presidential election cycles, and not just for VP Gore.

He is in excellent position to jump into the race (probably late summer/early fall of 2007), which I have fully expected him to do ever since he explosively re-emerged in the public scene with "An Inconvenient Truth". I campaigned enthusiastically for him in 2000, and I will be even more enthusiastic about campaigning for him in the coming year.

[Samantha]

25. Divernan - Thank you especially for your first paragraph

I mentioned a few times in the many years I have been here why Bill Clinton's response to that question in his Monica era was legally and grammatically correct. You are the ONLY PERSON to even acknowledge the legitimacy of my assertion. Bill Clinton is an attorney. People seem to forget that. He would not egregiously lie in a deposition. So thank you for giving that particular statement some authentication -- in the six years I have been waiting, you are the first and only one to do so!

And I am really pleased you agree with the general thrust of the thread. It is so discouraging to review the threads at this site where so many posters assert so positively Gore is not running!

[Joe Fields]

17. I'm parlaying everything on Gore.

[Samantha]

43. You BET the farm, Joe Fields?

:toast:

[SaveElmer]

18. He'll be a scratch...he ain't runnin!!!...nt

[Samantha]

29. I see your scratch and I raise you one

I am scratching your prediction!;)

[Uncle Joe]

51. Al Gore will be the scratch,

for our long itching urge to return to our democratic values, where the votes are counted, we don't go to wars based on lies, the Constitution is treated with reverence as opposed to toilet paper and we treat Earth like the precious gift it is, our only home.

[Samantha]

55. What a sensitive response, Uncle Joe

Do you plan to post these sentiments elsewhere so others might think about your words?

[gratefultobelib]

20. This comes from a national political analyst on local NPR yesterday--Gore is not

interested in having to fight for the nomination. If the party heavy hitters came and asked him to run, he would do it. He would love to be president, but he's not inclined to jump into the fray. In the meantime we have three viable, very good candidates, so the chances of a Draft Gore campaign from the Dem party is not likely.

[MrMickeysMom]

52. I'm not moved by NPR anthing, much less polital analysit

In the case of this very interesting post, I guess any political analyst would make a safe bet to predict Gore won't run.

He is the only Democratic Candidate I would truly (and I'm very capable of working on behalf of them) work my heart out for.

Thanks for the excellent subject line!

[laylah]

21. Excellent post

Samantha and my bet is on my President Gore!

Jennifer

[geek tragedy]

22. He simply doesn't want it bad enough. eom

[Hawkowl]

23. He is going to run

And he will win in an uber landslide to end all landslides. Take it to the bank.

[rndmprsn]

26. K+R

[joshcryer]

28. I bet someone $500 that if Gore ran he'd win. I also bet $50 that he'd run.

I'm not so sure about him running, but I sure dang well hope so. It all depends on how the political environment is toward the end of the year.

[ebayfool]

30. .

And a big ol' rec!

btw - I wish some of the more strident candidate supporters would take a look at your style/support ... listing points, giving props to your chosen candidate (& in my heart of hearts - mine as well!), & nary a slam or slur against other Dem candidates. I like it fine. Just fine.

Brava!

[Samantha]

31. Thank you for noticing

I have been trying very hard to be sensitive to the fact that others here have candidates that mean as much to them as Al Gore does to me. I have followed Gore for 20 years - there's a history of respect there for the man. However, politics is a road of passion. Sometimes our passions for our political heroes overcomes our sense of civility. No longer do we attack the opposition candidate, we attack candidates our liberal brothers and sisters support.

We have looked into the political abyss for the last 6 years under Bush* and the abyss has begun to look back at us. We now attack those who essentially agree with us in principle but who simply prefer another man or woman lead the party to victory. Inhouse fighting, backbiting and insulting labeling does not unite us in victory but directs us toward the avenue of defeat.

I have made the personal pledge to myself to respect the fact that there are others here at this site who will be as crushed as I was in 2000 when my political hero Al Gore had the presidency stolen right out from underneath him. In that process, my vote was canceled by a political Supreme Court opinion. I thought I would never get over it and vowed I would never "move on." In this evolutionary process and in watching the attacks heat up here, I have hit upon a style which promotes my candidate but in no way attacks others in a republican-hitman manner. Ergo, the abyess no longer looks back at me....

Thank you for noticing and for your kind words.

[SharonRB]

32. Fabulous post

I'm going to post a link to it in the Al Gore '08 Group.

Anyone interested in a Gore run should come on over there to discuss all things Gore, keep up on items in the news, etc.

[fooj]

35. Well said.

Clear, articulate and ON THE MONEY, imo.

No one expected to see him at the Grammy's...yet there he was. It's all in the timeline.

[calimary]

36. I hope you're correct, because that's where I put my money already.

I am convinced beyond all doubt that GORE is the guy we need. His ascendance to the Oval Office he rightfully won and that was stolen from him would be SO incredibly healing for our land, and for the whole world. It would go a long way toward rehabilitating America and Americans after having foisted the schmuck on the planet, and we desperately need that kind of recovery operation. His is the face I'd like to have as America's face to the world.

Plus, I would like to see him put the heaviest of the heavyweight bully pulpits to work on his pet issue - our environment. Nothing like the force of White House clout to further the fight against global warming. I think his message would go even farther, faster, and with a significantly greater impact if it came from the President of the United States - PRESIDENT AL GORE. Especially since he, and we who want this too, have a substantial head start, what with all the people around the world who seriously believe he WAS the officially-elected President back in 2000. Wouldn't mind the global repudiation of bush that would be the subtext of his election this time. Face it: he's OWED. AND EVERYBODY KNOWS IT. Whether they want to admit it or not.

Gore's my guy. For many years now.

BTW, from the "souls CAN be saved" department, even my girlfriend thinks so. My best friend, since we were in fourth grade, was once as liberal as I am. Sadly, over the years, what with her hanging around with and working with some real knuckledraggers and knee-jerk Clinton haters, she went over to the Dark Side. I talked with her tonight, and she suddenly began to talk up Al Gore. This is the same guy at whom she scoffed in 2000, buying into all the bullshit about how wooden and boring and phony he was and how he didn't have what it took and "invented the internet" and blah-blah-blah. Tonight, she told me about tuning in to one of his early lectures and slide shows about global warming, and literally being transfixed, how spot-on he was, how urgent an issue it was, how HE was THE man to fix it, and how badly we needed him. And from originally extolling bush ('cause she was influenced to dump on "Slick Willie" all the time by her neanderthal, limbaugh-loving colleagues), and then later on mumbling defensively about how "well, bush did some good things" and "at least bush showed balls," she talked a COMPLETELY OPPOSITE game tonight. It was as though she'd either stopped watching Pox Noise, or listening to hate radio, or drinking the Kool-aid. She complained at length about how disastrous a state our country's in, how bad bush's "leadership" and mistakes and utter incompetence have been, what a huge fuck-up he is, and what a mess he's left behind. She went on about how we once had money in the bank as a nation, and jobs, and respect around the world, and how even adversarial nations were all at least talking to each other - when Clinton and Gore ran things. And if it's not Gore (for whom she said she'd eagerly vote), she said she really liked Obama!!!

Maybe, just maybe, my dearest friend is finally coming in from the cold, redeemed at last!!! I couldn't believe my ears. And it made me want to jump for joy! We'd gotten to the point where we'd never dare talk politics anymore, for fear we might up-end the decades-long friendship we both treasure. It gives me all kinds of hope! Because if she's turned (and I seriously despaired that she was beyond reach), a whole lot of other people have also turned.

And it makes me want to do the HAPPY DANCE!!!!!!!!! :headbang: :bounce: :headbang: :bounce: :headbang: :bounce: :headbang: :bounce: :headbang: :bounce: :headbang:

[Samantha]

39. Calimary, thank you for sharing your passion about a Gore run

and your friends possible de-brainwashing. Gore is definitely the one I count on to restore sanity, civility and a clean reputation to this Country. We did not ask for Bush* nor did the majority of voters vote for him. I think that your expression that a Gore candidacy would rehabilitate us after having (the Supreme Court?) "foist.. the schmuck on the planet" is simply priceless.

[calimary]

41. Thanks! I STRONGLY believe an Al Gore presidency would, indeed,

be just what the doctor ordered to start our national rehabilitation. I think if we did the correct and long overdue thing in 2008, the world would be SO ready and eager to forgive us and help us start picking ourselves up out of this mess.

I think much of the world recognizes a NEED for American leadership. The smart, GENUINELY compassionate, forward-thinking, optimistic, can-do leadership we HAD been known and admired for, across the globe. There was ALWAYS America, where we stood for something greater, something better - FOR ourselves and WITHIN ourselves. We were the ones everybody looked to with hope and relief. Soldiers who opposed us in earlier wars were always happy and relieved when they were captured or conquered by us, because we stood for something better, more honorable, more lawful and respectful. We were the model other nations looked to - for our Constitution, our system of goverment, our marketplace, our creativity and creative output, our ideas, our innovations, our vigor and vitality, our upbeat outlook, our fresh approach. Plus, our honesty and generosity and willingness to help. Our word was solid platinum. America was the model.

And bush and his buds have SHAT on ALL of that. And perverted it to HELL. I think we're not the only ones who want our country back. I think the entire world wants our country back. They want the America they knew, grew up with, studied, admired, aspired toward, were inspired by, and gained great hope from. They want THAT America. Not bush's america. The one that existed prior to December 12th, 2000.

And I think an Al Gore presidency would be the embodiment of restoring THAT America - to Americans, and to the rest of the world.

C'mon, Al. The world is your oyster. We're ALL waiting for you to step up and reclaim what's YOURS.

[Samantha]

42. How do we influence more to feel the passion you feel about

a Gore presidency? Your sentiments are exactly the same as mine.

I am ashamed and embarrassed at what Bush* has done to our reputation (not to mention the lives of Americans) in his six-year occupancy of the White House. You outline that damage well. How do we inspire more Americans to recognize this damage and propel Al Gore to think he must run and win to restore our hope for a return to civility and sanity, our concern and support for those less fortunate, a foreign policy that accents talking to our world neighbors and resolving disputes diplomatically, credibility in our word and actions, hope for the future for our young,our seniors and our environment? How do we excite the possibility of a return to our traditional American posture (pre-Bush* mode) and encourage millions of others to join us in that effort? How do we influence enough people to join us in this cause and to feel the passions that you feel for the importance of the effort? How do we do that?

And thank you for taking the time to share your passions and respond.

[calimary]

53. Man, this is a big question you ask. And it just struck me that the answer

may be pretty simple. You just formulated one. I guess I did, too, with my post to which you responded. Maybe we who believe in Al Gore, and what he signifies, or maybe just an overall "Al Gore-ness" that hangs over this whole next campaign, should just keep talking about it IN THIS WAY.

I don't hear this particular line of thinking articulated anywhere else. Do you? I don't hear it among the pundits. I don't hear it in the op-eds. I don't hear it on talk radio (except, I think, once - with a single caller to the Ed Shultz show). I think other people need to be guided toward this, helped to see this for themselves. I suspect it's an itch that a LOT of Americans are starting to sense but can't quite put their finger on, much less reach to scratch it. In fact, I've heard that wording before among old reporter friends of mine doing interviews, asking some actor or actress or writer or director about their obvious life's work and wondering when they realized this was an itch they just HAD to scratch.

I think there's a dull realization starting to come to people, in perhaps such an early dawning that it's hard to put their finger on it. They know it's there, instinctively, but maybe it hasn't broken through the surface from subconscious to conscious yet. It's like when you get up at maybe 6 am or 5:45am and you go outside and you look closely at the sky for signs of daybreak - THAT YOU KNOW IS COMING, YOU'RE SURE MUST BE THERE, but you can't see it yet. And you wonder if it's really late enough that the sun's about to come out (which for me means we better be getting the kids up to eat breakfast and make it to carpool on time). And as you look at the sky, you can't really tell if it's starting to lighten yet. You THINK it is, but you can't really see it. Or can you?

I think a similar sentiment is starting to simmer deep down in the hidden depths of the American zeitgeist. We ALREADY know something's DEEPLY, DESPERATELY WRONG. That's already been established. Enough of us have known that to tell the pollsters over and over again that this country's been driven off in the wrong direction. That started becoming evident LONG ago. But now, it's starting to come closer to the surface. Like bubbles coming up from the bottom of the ocean. They're there. And they rise slowly, so it'll take 'em a long time to reach the surface, but they inevitably will. Maybe it's taken that time, politically, in the same way that those bubbles rise so slowly to the surface from the deep. They can't go any faster. THAT is the rate they go. Period. Any divers know that they, too, must rise to the surface at the same speed the bubbles do. If they rush it, they risk getting the bends - REALLY serious trouble. Maybe that's how we all are, politically, in this country. It can only move at just a certain, deliberate rate. At least most of the time, barring cataclysm like 9/11.

I don't think that many people have really thought in the terms you've articulated about Al Gore and the state of our nation (and our world). At least not yet. But I'd bet you hard money they're THINKING it. Or suspecting it. It IS there, deep down, perhaps farther down than they can reach to scratch the itch, but the itch IS there. Small now and not very noticeable but still present. And inevitably growing. I think it might help either to grow that itch OR give people better reach to scratch it - if they heard this argument, this framing, just as you've put it. If they start hearing THIS type of stuff. THIS type of perspective. THIS type of point-making.

So I guess that means you talk about it. You talk about it, in just that way and with just those phrasings, with your friends. With your coworkers. With people you run into at parties. In the checkout counter. On line at the movies, or in the post office, or somewhere. Start planting the seeds. The more people hear this, or start having it presented to them, the more they're likely to start nodding their heads in agreement. The more it'll start to make sense. Because I think at the moment, most people are fully cognizant of the fact that something is HORRIBLY wrong in our country, but can't put their finger on it, and because they can't even clearly get a fix on it, there's NO WAY they can possibly start coming up with concrete solutions. I think they have to be invited to start thinking this way. Much of the prep work has already been done. The field is cleared and the soil is ready. Now, it just has to be planted. They don't even recognize what the necessary seeds are that should be planted. We do. If we start by inviting them to think this way, by offering them these ready-made, ready-formed ideas, I'll bet they're apt to start thinking - "yeah... hmmm... y'know, that makes sense..." And then the next step will be "Yes. You know what? That actually DOES make sense. That makes a LOT of sense, come to think of it." And eventually, some of them will get to the inevitable - "so what can we do about it?" Then, YOU have just successfully redoubled your efforts.

I think maybe it starts by giving people these new notions, these new ideas, this new solution. Many of them have to be led, gently, toward thinking like this, because maybe they're just not wired to think that way, or they're too busy, or whatever. But once you give them the tools, they're more than happy to use 'em. I think limbaugh worked that way. There were sufficient numbers of "angry white men" and other groups of people who felt disenfranchised, or in another way that made 'em feel like there was something wrong. He came along and gave it a voice, a mouth, words, phrases, and such. They then felt armed and equipped, and they ran with it, which is why hate radio took off (they got excited, flocked to it, and made it profitable, so it got cloned at other stations by other broadcasting management seeking to clone the financial results). The movement was born and morphed from just a few innocuous griping, whining, complaining, back-bench bomb-throwing into became a large, mainstream Frankenstein monster.

WE can birth a NEW movement. We can plant NEW seeds. Offer NEW tools. Present NEW possibilities. And best of all, OURS is a movement bent on healing, renewal, restoration of what was good and what worked for ALL, not just a privileged or hateful or greedy few who somehow felt personally agrieved. Theirs was a movement of negativity, anger, resentment, revenge, vindictiveness, and destruction. OURS is ANYTHING BUT! Because their movement was allowed to catch on and run amok, we are now drowning in negativity, anger, resentment, revenge, vindictiveness, violence, despair, deterioration, hopelessness, and destruction. As a nation. And as a nation we have now pushed that out onto the rest of the world, especially in the Middle East and anything Muslim. WE, on the other hand, are offering positivity, healing, recovery, redemption, renewal, hope, forgiveness - both freely given AND humbly requested - and rebuilding. Reconstruction.

And I think we get that much closer to it, the more we spread this idea around. It's a sense of The Possible. And as the days go by, and things go more and more sour for bush and the republi-CONS and all of those marching like anger zombies in their negativity corps, the more everybody else will feel repelled from that. Turned off from that. Instinctively more certain that their way is wrong and must be rejected. And as they do, THERE WE NEED TO BE - with our alternative message - ready to fill in the blanks and the gaping holes, and the increasingly desperate and unanswered NEED. I think that, at its core, that's what Al Gore does, and what he IS, and what he represents.

Nature abhors a vacuum. So does this era in our history. And there's a HUGE vacuum opening up in people's hearts that the bush/cheney/PNAC/limbaugh/Pox Noise/HELL-iburton/imperialistic conquest/selfish/short-sighted/money-grubbing/"democracy"-at-the-point-of-a-gun shit not only does not fill but CAUSES.

I think WE should try to answer that call, fill that vacuum, and scratch that itch.

As the lyrics say in "New York, New York" - "start spreadin' the news..."


Anyway, just some musings, but after all, you did ask. Sorry this is so damned long, though... (aw fuck, on second look, it's REALLY long... yikes... sorry... )

[Samantha]

54. No apologies necessary, Calimary

I don't post threads here as much as I used to: I wait until I have something important I would like people to think about. Then I make the time and energy investment.

I started this thread because I hoped to induce those who read it to think about concrete questions and ponder the answer. You certainly did this in a big way, but in that regard, the fact someone did, makes my thread a total success (to me).

I think you might want to consider starting your own thread based upon your "daybreak" analogy and ask those who participate to join us in answering the question: how can we influence in a very positive way the turnaround and restoration of our national political and governmental process? What do we need to do and where do we start? How can we convince Al Gore that his experienced hand is needed in the mix, more so now than ever, regardless of his comfort level in his current life. The fact remains Al and Tipper's grandchildren must grow up and thrive in this "environment." It's not entirely selfish to ask him to step out when we ask not just for ourselves but for those as well he and his family care about the most. We all must consider that not just our lives, but the lives of those coming up in generations behind us, will be most impacted by what happens next.

We have a small window of opportunity at this current point in time to jump in and turn the wheel in the direction we feel it must go. The question is, how do we convince others to join us?

You might want to consider starting your own thread with the sentiments you express above. Let's not let your concerns (and your words) die here with the end of this thread.

Thank you so much for reading my thread, Calimary, and pondering the questions and reacting with such passion.

The ball is in your court. Start a thread, and ask your questions.

Regards,

Sam

[Me.]

56. Wow Calimary, Those Are Quite Some Posts

There must be something in the air, for while it's not being talked about in the media in a major way, there is an undeniable buzz in the air, flying under the radar, just like the Gore campaign. I was talking to a friend the other day, who until the last 6 years was strictly republican (I know, I know). Well we were talking about the state of things and the already started presidential race. And I said to her, well you will never guess who I'm for, and then I said Gore. I expected to be greeted with hoots, but instead I got a gasp. She told me that a friend of hers who is on the board of Shearson/Lehman had attended a meeting and they had discussed the races on both sides, and she said they all agreed that ultimately Gore would be the candidate. The thought is out there, big time.

[Samantha]

59. We needed that

Thanks.

[calimary]

60. Shit! My very best friend, who went over to the Dark Side during the

Clinton era (surrounded by too many friends, neighbors, associates, and coworkers, who were all horribly neanderthal in their thinking - knuckles dragging BELOW the ground - couldn't invoke the "slick Willie" epithet often enough. She was completely taken in, and voted for bush twice. Was parroting all the talking points that betrayed her allegiance to limbaugh and Pox Noise and her dismissal of anything even remotely involving reason. Whenever we'd start arguing about it, once I had to beat down all the script notes she'd rattle off "well, they offered bin Laden to Clinton TWICE" and "Hillary this and Hillary that" I'd be really emotionally exhausted. And later, when it was CLEAR things were just going straight to hell, it was "well, bush did some good things." Or "well, at least bush had balls!" CRIMINY!!! Well, the night before last, we're talking again on the occasion of the unexpected death of a classmate, and she starts talking about how horrible everything is now and how before bush got into office our country had money in the bank and a good reputation all over the world and how we were at peace and everybody else who's now shooting at each other or threatening to shoot each other was at least talking to each other back then, and how shitty it's all become. She totally turned on the war and the super-patriotism facade so many of these people put up like so many paper dolls with phony smiles. She totally turned on all things bush and started talking about Al Gore. Completely unsolicited by me. Told me about seeing him on TV one time - evidently a taping of one of his global warming lectures maybe on CSPAN or something years ago, that led to "An Inconvenient Truth," and how wonderful that film is, and how important it is, and how wonderful he is and how he should be president.

I. Was. SHOCKED.

And then, if that weren't enough, this onetime proud, unapologetic, self-described in-yer-face "hardcore redneck" pronounced herself ready to support Obama if Gore wasn't going to run. Shit! She hasn't voted anything but republi-CON for more than four election cycles. Probably more like six or seven, considering some of the 13th-century mentality, borderline-irrational Clinton-haters she was hanging out with.

SOULS CAN BE SAVED!!! I swear! Souls really CAN be saved!!! I NEVER thought my friend would turn back to The Light. I feared she was beyond reach, completely unredeemable. WRONG!!! And am I ever glad to be wrong in this case! And if she can turn, so can a LOT of people. You've just cited two others. I bet there's a LOT more where they came from.

[Me.]

61. Been There

The fights I had about the WMDs which never showed up. I couldn't believe the insanity. And now I'm in the catbird seat, having been right all along about it all, and they were so wrong. But there is no pleasure in it and I'm not going the "I told you so" route, because what joy is there in being right about what was going to, and did, happen to this country.

This morning on the Today Show Russert was talking about a Gore candidacy. And I notice that the story about all the patients Al Gore rescued from New Orleans is resurfacing.

[Samantha]

62. I missed that

Did the New Orleans rescue missions Al Gore led surface on Meet the Press? I don't think many people are aware of his heroics during that disaster, and I hope we see more on this.

[Me.]

64. Here Is A Link To The DU Story

I had forgotten this story so was glad to see it revived. It's wonderful. The doctor who saved the Gore son called from NO, asking for help. Despite huge roadblocks from FEMA Gore chartered a private jet and went in on a Sat. and Sun, and managed to fly 270+ patients and doctors out. This at a time when *'s group didn't do a damned thing.

www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3133063

[orleans]

37. if he runs (and i think he might) i predict he wins both races

my concern is tipper's project--i'm hoping it won't be song lyrics again

(but oh, to go back to that simpler time...where we could afford to focus on this--where THAT was actually a matter of great importance in this country. ah...those were the days!)

[Jeanette in FL]

38. I am sorry I didn't see this post earlier to recommend

What an excellent post. You have the whole "game" of politics wrapped up in a nutshell.

It is sad to see that politics become what it is, with the exception of very few candidates ie; Dean, Kucinich, Sharpton. I put much of the blame on the media or on politicians allowing the media to dictate how they will run, when they will backtrack or who they will pander to.

Gore has nothing to lose and everything to gain by staying out of the "political media circus", until he is ready.

But you can count me as another "Run, Al, Run" club member.

[frogcycle]

44. you left out the other deliciously nuanced statement

"I'm running a different kind of campaign"

I bet he laughs his ass off every time he says that

[Samantha]

46. Great catch!

I did not really focus on that one.

[frogcycle]

45. oh, and by the way

you have written impeccably well what I have struggled to state succinctly for the past couple of years.

All the debate over will he or won't he is hogwash. He IS. Just doing it "his way". How about "My Way" for a campaign theme song?

In my perfect world most or all of the Dems, including those running, have the good sense and patriotism to defer to him as "the natural" when the time comes, and there needs be little "campaigning". In addition, the sane republics agree. So its more like an annointment.

[Samantha]

49. Thanks, I think he is definitely leaning toward running but

as we all know anything can happen in politics at any time. I think the groundswell we are seeing now to clamor we want Gore is just all that more helpful. We need more people demanding we want Gore. I think he's really open and has been orchestrating these moves in a way that have propelled him to the political limelight. The moves say, "here I am." We must demonstrate that enough people demand the quality presidency Gore (and as far as I am concerned only Gore) can give at this critical time.

I think it's true he does not want to get down and grovel in the dirt to have an opportunity to govern from the Oval House. He already endured that and had the political Supreme Court rob him of his win (and rob us as well). If enough of the electorate realizes the dire straights this country is not in and a groundswell truly erupts to usher Gore in, that will increase the chances that we will be referring to him officially as President Gore on January 20, 2009.

We have come to a critical intersection in time and political space where the man who has been groomed for this position for a long period of time must step out to that intersection and meet his destiny. I refer to him as The Man Who Should Be President in chronic recognition of the fact that this condition we are now in should never have happened to this Country.

So while I am convinced Gore is running, until he formally announces, it is not a done deal. We need to cook that thought and figure out what ingredients will spice the pot to fruition.

[npincus]

48. keeping hope alive? wishful thinking?

I'd trade an appendage for a Gore presidency. But he's not running.

[Samantha]

50. Just reading the political tea leaves, waiting for the pot to seep

The fact he has not announced as of today does not obliterate the possibility he will announce by August. I think he's "open" and at some point the door will swing open wide and he will step out or he will shut it.

If you truly feel he is not running, are you prepared to say all of these series of events are mere coincidences? And let's not forget the new book he is releasing in May.

Look at the sequence of the timing of these series of events. Happenstance? Forget your political gut for a moment and refer to your sense of logic. Are you honestly prepared to assert that this sequence of well-timed events (all of which have resulted in an overabundance of free national and international public relations exposure coupled with free network appearances) is coincidental?

If so, let's hear you say it. IT'S ALL A SERIES OF BIZARRE COINCIDENCES WHICH ONLY APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN SO EXPERTLY TIMED IN POLITICAL SPACE TO COINCIDE WITH THE RUN-UP TO THE 2008 ROAD TO THE WHITEHOUSE.

[conscious evolution]

63. I'm betting on Gore

Thanks for the great post.

[JNelson6563]

65. Dear Samantha

Please post more often. That was a most enjoyable read! Thank you.

:toast: Julie

[Samantha]

66. I am so glad you liked it, Julie

Thank you.