Al Gore to the Rescue?

[chimpymustgo]

Andrew Romano
Stumper's Take: He foresaw global warming. He "took the initiative" on the Internet. And he knew exactly how Iraq would turn out. Who's to say that Al Gore hasn't known all along that the Democratic race would descend into some weird state of gridlock--and that only he, the Goreacle, could rescue the party from civil war? Read on for the what if's...

By Eleanor Clift

Al Gore on the second ballot: A scenario that a few weeks ago seemed preposterous is beginning to look plausible to some nervous Democrats looking for a way out of the deadlock between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It goes like this: We love them both, but neither is a sure bet when it comes to electability. It's not about gender and race, each has more mundane vulnerabilities. Hillary's negatives will drive white men to John McCain; Obama's inexperience will require a gut check on the part of voters. What if the super delegates decide not to decide, denying either candidate the requisite number of delegates to secure the party's nomination. Democrats want to win. The new rallying cry: Gore on the second ballot.

<snip>

The Gore second-ballot scenario isn't being seriously considered by Democratic Party leaders (as far as we know). But a number of individual high-profile Democrats are talking about it, along with any number of other ideas to end the seemingly intractable stalemate.

How could this unfold? Superdelegates are not bound to any candidate. They can do what they want, including changing their mind or withholding an endorsement until the balloting begins. Delegates won in the primaries go to the party's convention with a signed pledge of support for a particular candidate, but one of the biggest myths of the delegate selection process, according to a Democratic National Committee document, is that delegates are bound to follow that pledge on the first ballot. A delegate is asked to "in good conscience reflect the sentiments of those who elected them," a provision designed in part to make the convention a deliberative body. If Hillary's attempts to secure the nomination are seen as illegitimate, and they fail, yet Obama is not seen as a clear victor, Gore's name could be introduced. All it would take is a delegate perhaps from Tennessee, his home state, to raise a point of order, and with backing from five other state delegations, Gore's name could be put in play as a prospective nominee.

http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/02/15/al-gore-to-the-rescue.aspx
**********

Thanks to kpete for posting this in GD. This could be our solution. Go Dems!

[AX10]

1. k/r

:thumbsup:
If this statesman was the President, we would not have all of the shit that has happened over the past eight years.

[thunder rising]

15. Stick a fork in Gore...he's done. To much water under that bridge.

[alittlelark]

26. He is in NO WAY 'done'. Stick that fork somewhere else.

He is currently the BEST this country has to offer.

However, I won't hold my breath for him to re-enter politics. He knows the elections in this country are terminally corrupted by corporate interests.

The corporate powers-that-be would fight tooth and nail against him... as they have in the past....:-(

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. Al Gore '08 - The Best of America for The Good of The World

:patriot:

[Andrea]

48. I really like that slogan

I'd love to see that on every car's bumper this fall. Seriously, if this works out and he becomes the nominee, you should send that to them.

[Bucky]

3. I love Eleanor Clift. She's always precisely two weeks behind the conventional wisdom

We'll have a first-ballot nomination. And Al Gore, for all his virtues, cannot predict the future.

[CoffeeCat]

4. Interesante...

I didn't read the entire thing.

I'm behind Obama 100 percent. Hillary, no way in hell.

I'd be up for a Gore Presidency, if it came to that.

I can't imagine this situation playing out. Gore seems pretty adverse to the idea
of a Presidency.

If this does happen, and he is summoned to broker a deal, I think Gore needs to
realize that this is his destiny--and heed the call.

Lots to think about...

(edited to add: Ok, I thought about it. No way this will happen because
Obama is taking it all baby!).

[babylonsister]

5. I have my solution-Obama. And I'd bet Gore likes him, too. nt

[lapfog_1]

6. I just don't think that's a good idea.

We end up with a great candidate... but one that has zero organization and "ground game"... and this is all just a few months before the general election. Not to mention that Al has his own set of negatives to overcome with the general population.

Well, should it happen I'll be totally in it to win it. But I don't think Al will even allow this to happen.

[Fovea]

7. In a perfect world

Gore/Obama
Clinton gets Reid's job.
Edwards to SCOTUS.
Kucinich gets Pelosi's job.

[gateley]

18. Oooh - I love the idea of Dennis taking over for Pelosi!

I think Dodd should get Reid's job. He's done more to earn it.

[eleny]

29. Be still my heart!

I it.

[shireen]

22. LOL! Kucinich as Speaker will kick Republican butts to the moon!

What a wonderful idea!

[crimsonblue]

27. Majority leader Clinton?

I'd take Dodd over her for that position any day.

[gateley]

31. Yeah - he's more than earned it. And he would give the Dems much needed

support and inspiration.

How can we get this done?

[Fovea]

32. Sure I would too

I am talking what constitutes a deal all parties sign.

[Andrea]

49. Very nice dream

I could sleep well if that came about.

[balantz]

8. K&R

I like that idea!

[joeybee12]

9. You know, Al ran a shitty campaign in 2000...I know, a lot of the problem

was he was listening to Liar-berman, but I still don't think anyone seriously thinks he's gonna runa better one this time around, especially since he's been out of politics for a while.

I think this was just a column written to fill space, like most opinion columns are.

[Andrea]

50. Actually, no

A lot of people that have kept up on him over the intervening years know he would run a much better campaign this time. The man has changed. He has found his voice. He wouldn't let anyone else tell him how to run it this time.

[BlackVelvet04]

10. The delusions of some Democrats are truly frightening. n/t

[msongs]

11. not likely but preferred - no war baggage, won the vote once already - no scripture pounding nt

[baldguy]

12. Dark Horse Gore?

[Birthmark]

13. Do it.

Al Gore is probably the one person who can unite the Democratic Party at this point.

[chimpymustgo]

14. Get past the acrimony, and let our true President preside. He can lead this country

back to greatness.

[Birthmark]

17. Greatness?

Heck, I'd settle for competent mediocrity at this point. Gore can easily accomplish that, though I expect he'd do much, much better.

[autorank]

16. K*R n/t needed;)

[dpbrown]

19. Gore would make an infinitely better President than either Sen. Obama OR Sen. Clinton!

Gore/Feingold 2008

That would give us the future we need!

[BuelahWitch]

51. You got my dream ticket listed there!

:hi:

[shireen]

20. Al Gore, if you run, I'll campaign my heart out for you!!! nt

[tandem5]

25. me too! nt

[gateley]

21. I don't think it'll come to that. I believe we'll have a clear leader before too

long, and the rest of the Dems will pledge their support. Is my glass half full? :7

[Samantha]

23. Even if you do not like this Plan B, it's a great balloon to float

To those thinking about changing the rules in the middle of the election, the thoughts of implementation of Plan B will stop them cold.

The assumption without Plan B is that a candidate who does not have the majority of delegates can perform an end run around the rules and the vote and triumph. With Plan B, should a candidate contemplate doing so, triumph is not "inevitable" so the end run might be aborted. Odds are one of two results will be achieved: the candidate who has the majority of delegates will properly prevail; if that is blocked, Al Gore will be introduced on the second ballot.

[mzmolly]

24. "A Gore-Obama ticket would be unstoppable, ..."

A Gore-Obama ticket would be unstoppable, the thinking goes, matching the presumptive Republican nominee, McCain, on national security and experience, while embodying a powerful message of change.

I like the sound of them apples. ;)

[pnwmom]

34. Very interesting idea! n/t

[mzmolly]

37. Hey pnwmom!

:hi:

[pnwmom]

41. Hey, yourself!

:hi:

That FDA sure has been getting a lot of bad publicity lately, hasn't it? Makes you wonder whether everything they approve is absolutely safe . . .

:shrug:

[mzmolly]

46. LOL

Indeed! I do wonder. ;)

[KaryninMiami]

28. This is my fondest wish- nothing would please me more...

Gore - Obama-- the dream ticket. Unbeatable.

[PetraPooh]

30. This commentary has one fatal flaw in my opinion,

it implies a need to "end the seemingly intractable stalemate." This is what primary season is all about, we have plenty of time because this all started way earlier than usual doesn't mean it should end before it ends on convention night. I simply don't understand all the hoopla about the fact that Democrats nationwide are actively participating in the process of picking a candidate, I thought that was a good thing.

Also I have to say that I for one would have been bored and distracted by now had one candidate come in and swept things to date such that it was already a decided issue. This is great for the party, great for groups, and great for individuals; it feels like participation and like we actually count!

[anamandujano]

35. I couldn't agree more!

Let the process play out. Why so much turmoil?

[earth mom]

33. Gore/Edwards-The KILLER DILLER Ticket!!!

:woohoo:

[chimpymustgo]

36. I LOVE that. But I'd take Gore/Almost Anybody. B*sh has left this country in shambles.

We need a read thinker and innovator to fix this mess. That man is President Al Gore.

[MonkeyFunk]

38. So somebody who got no votes, with somebody who got

few votes.

This place is delusional.

[RestoreGore]

39. Al Gore Is Not A Scapegoat

Why would you call for that kind of scenario that would have Mr. Gore looking like he did just what Bush did in 2000? You do realize that would be the interpretation of many and the media, don't you? That he was clandestinely planning this from behind the scenes? It would ruin everything he has done already on the climate crisis and totally cheapen and politicize his important message that noone in this media seems to give a damn about unless they can use it for a political purpose. Do you realize what that would do to truly break this country apart? Do you really think he would want that after rightfully shunning this political system? You think he would just walk in and take it after not even one vote being cast for him in a primary?

But apart from that, what makes you think this military industrial complex would ever allow it to get that far? Those who respect Mr. Gore and see how right he was about the toxic nature of this system would tend to then believe he was also one of them if he just smiled, shook all of their hands, and took it. And I personally would not like to see him on a ticket with Barack Obama and don' t intend to have Obama pushed down my throat by this media anymore than Bush was. I genuinely would also fear for his safety, but I suppose that isn't of any concern to people not thinking beyond the media flurry it would cause and those doing nothing but continuing to push the man without doing anything to change the system they want to push him into.

Do you see how Kucinich, Edwards, and Gravel were ignored and pushed out? Do you not then know the power of the elitists in this system? Do you then honestly think Mr. Gore would join them? I tried to have a glimmer of hope for this system one last time with Edwards, but after seeing him pushed out and going without a fight against them it isn't rocket science to see just how strong that power is. So I don't want Mr. Gore to have to deal with this crap now because the American people on the whole haven't done a damn thing but condone the usual BS political tactics to take precedence over REALLY standing up for this country. When is that coming?

Again, if Mr. Gore on his own does anything on that score without being PUSHED, I'll be there for him because I will then know that he believes there is a chance for him to have better success with his climate change agenda... however, if he felt that way now he would already BE IN IT, but he unlike others knows the score. I am then absolutely against pushing him into this in any way, shape or form against his will because I need to see a bit more work being done on the whole by the people of this country to really care about this country first. And I don't see it at all. So why should he be the scapegoat? Does he really deserve to have to to be forced to clean up someone else's mess?

[halobeam]

40. hello

You just stated that no one in the media gives a damn about his important message unless they politicize it. Well, running, would get that very important message out better than is happening now, according to what you just said.

You seem to think it would ruin everything he did, erase it.. NO WAY, not in the US and certainly not in the other countries around the WORLD! If this scenario did happen, then he got PAST the military industrial complex, from what you are saying, and I think that in itself, is one masterful defeat.

It doesn't mean Gore would have joined the elitists, it would mean he circumvented them and that's another plus for the people of this country.

Americans hands are tied with a press that isn't a free-press, so please stop blaming us for not doing what we needed to do. The media plays a far more influential role and shuts our voices out.

I don't believe he would be PUSHED into doing anything he didn't want to do. So, why worry so much? If he got in, it'll be because he wants it.

I'm sure you've heard this all before, as I've heard you state these same things before, but I have just as much invested in this country as you do and am equally determined to speak out as often as I choose to, just as you do.

Btw, we both felt sick when Edwards dropped out. We do have many other things we agree upon.

Here's to the best situation we can get into, come November: as what is meant to be, will be.:toast:

[Control-Z]

42. I would walk the streets for Al Gore

or should I say pound the pavement? Whatever. Both. Either. I would even open my checkbook for Al, and I do that for few.

I still dare to dream on occasion. After all, he is the perfect democratic candidate.

Oh, if only dreams ever came true.

[balantz]

43. Come on Al

We're still holding the door open for you!

[ClericJohnPreston]

44. Count me in that too

Balantz, my friend!! Anything that has Gore at the top of the ticket ( perfect would be Gore/Edwards, but lets face it, there would be two candidates here who would have to be on the ticket ) would be great!

Well, we can always HOPE for that CHANGE! ( tsk, tsk.... )

[balantz]

45. Yes CJP! Gore Edwards would change our world for the better...

By far!

[LWolf]

47. PLEASE. nt