How will you feel about Gore if he doesn't run?

[CoffeeCat]

I know many on DU (including myself) are holding their breath and keeping the
spark of hope alive--until we know definitively if Gore is running or not.

I am wondering how people will feel about Gore--and about our future as a
nation is Gore does not run.

I will continue to respect, admire and adore the man greatly--even if he
doesn't run. However, I will wonder how someone so talented and so aware
that our country is being railroaded by the neocon agenda--can NOT run.

Al Gore "gets it". He understand that our democracy is at stake. He
reads the newspapers and he knows that our civil rights have been destroyed,
and that our Constitution really is "just a damn piece of paper" now. He
gets it like we do, and he has the power, the talent, the intellect and the
political capital to turn this sinking ship around.

I myself---will be very disappointed that he didn't take the opportunity.
I will not be angry at Gore if he doesn't run. However, I will wonder
how someone with the power and the position could look the other way,
at our most desperate hour.

I'm wondering how many of you will feel about Al and about our country and its
future--if Gore decides not to run?

[flvegan]

1. I'd feel that he made the best decision for what he thinks he needs to do for the

next 10 or so years.

I'd love to see him run, too, but it's not like he's sitting on his butt doing nothing otherwise.

[BeyondGeography]

2. There will be no trashing of Gore from here

He has accomplished more than most Presidents in his private life. Plus, he's a human being after all. He's prosperous, effective, fulfilled and Tipper's happy.

He'd probably be crazy to run, when you think about it.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

51. I think it will only be because...

he thinks that there is a distinct chance that he could lose, given the corporate media's role...

[Hydra]

3. I'll understand if he doesn't

But I can't see him doing that. He's been too coy, and that SNL segment was more than revenge. Also, he's likely to be one of the first sent off to the camps if Bush gets his way, so unless he's planning on emigrating, he'd be wise to reclaim his office.

It's his choice, though.

[peacebird]

4. I will still respect and admire Al Gore even if he decides he can serve best from the sidelines

Though I am very concerned about the future of our country if we do not regain checks&balances, separation of church and state, openess/transparency in our government, and reign in the out-of-control executive branch. We need to make sure that NO ONE is above the law.

[MADem]

5. I'll get over it.

I wish he'd run, I'm holding off picking a candidate because of him, but if it isn't to be, well, it isn't to be.

He has gotta do what he has gotta do...

[BlooInBloo]

6. I'll be wishing Democrats would've been more steadfast in their support for him the 1st time...

... Which is no change from how I feel now.

[karlrschneider]

7. Dissapointed but not shocked. I'll support him no matter what he decides.

...

[Terri S]

8. When you respect a man, you respect his judgement.

Whatever Al does, is ok by me. Trying to save a planet is not exactly chopped liver, ya know?

[TheCowsCameHome]

9. Disappointed, to say the least.

[wildbilln864]

10. I won't........

give a shit then either! I'll still prefer Kucinich!

[Buzz Clik]

11. Gore has found his niche, and I like him better now that ever before.

If he announces, well, it's likely to be the same ol' same ol'.

[HeeBGBz]

12. It's not a very appealing job prospect

I'd understand if he didn't take it. I'd be disappointed and go from there.

Al Gore will always be president to me. I wish him well in whatever he does.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

13. Very Disappointed

I expect that he'll be more or less ignored by Corporate Media in the coming years, and will spend his time "under the radar" trying to accomplish what he can.

Perhaps eventually he'll realize in his heart that he could have done more to further his cause by having become President, instead of more or less a "spokesman" for global warming. Of course, he'll NEVER admit that publicly, and will put on the best face to make it look like he's done all he could....which unfortunately won't be enough, especially if his best buddy Hillary is President.

In other words, he'll become irrelevant. Wish it weren't so, but after seeing the lack of reaction or attention given to Live Earth, everywhere except here at DU, I think the media will have no problem ignoring Al Gore in the coming years, or giving him the minimal amount of attention necessary, to make it at least look like they're covering him and the global warming issue.

If Al actually thinks that Hillary gives 2 shits about global warming, I want some of what he and his son are smoking.

[roamer65]

14. I'll be there for Gore 2012 or 2016.

But I still think his year is 2008!

[flyarm]

15. i will always respect President Gore...i will be disappointed and i will seriously fear for this

nation of ours, because i feal in my heart of hearts , he is the only solution to the problems we face..i can sincerely say , not one of the present candidates will get me out of my seat to work for them..and i say that for the first time in my entire life..AND i will not dig into my pockets as i have in the past..yes i want a dem President ..i will vote but i will have to hold my nose.


The only other persons i could vote for are Edwards and Kusinich..but i do not believe either has the 'RIGHT STUFF" to clean this mess up..the others i just feel we will have the same old same old..I do not like Hillary..but if forced to and it would be being forced to..only then will i vote for her..but i feel a vote for her is 20 more years in Iraq..and that i just can not stomach!

I will respect Gore's decision....i do believe he is going to get in...he knows what he has to do..i respect that..but i do believe he will get in..he knows Hillary is not the answer more than any of us do!
I am not willing to give up waiting..

I have always loved Al Gore..nothing he has done can change how i feel about him, and his intelligence and his drive andc his honesty.



I believe this whole Fred Thompson bullshit is about Gore..that if the retugs think Gore is getting in , then they will run Fred..but i do not believe anyone could beat Gore..

even my avid repug friends say ..they would vote for Gore..in fact many keep asking me if he is getting in the race..

I do not believe for anything that Hillary can win ..maybe the nomination but not the general..no way no how..

and don't flame me ..i have the right to believe what i will...and i do not believe she can win.

I have lived in 9 states and i have a pretty good internal thermometer of which way the votes will go ..especially in the mid west..

I will wait for Al Gore..if he choses not to run it will not change how i feel about him...

but i will feel a horrible despair for our nation!!

fly

[IndyOp]

34. WE are the only solution to the problems we face and Al could unite & ignite us.

But if he does not run WE will still have to accomplish what we have to accomplish.

Al's success in a campaign, as President, or as an advocate for deep ecological and social change depends on us.

:hug:

I will respect Al no matter what decision he makes about the Presidency because I know he is doing everything he can. What really must concern me - everyday - is whether I can say the same for myself...

[mopinko]

37. what fly said

plus, i do think that he will run. stop by the al gore 08 forum, and say hi-http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=260

[Sparkly]

16. Sad, but I'd never admire him any less.

He'll ALWAYS be our rightful 43rd president, and I believe that's how he'll be remembered by history.

[frustrated_lefty]

17. As today, I'd respect him.

He's making a very active effort to make things better. He doesn't have to be president to do that. I wish he were the president. Even if he isn't, he uses his clout to draw attention to important issues. I respect him and his efforts.

[LittleClarkie]

18. Perhaps he will have decided that he can fight the power more effectively from outside

the presidency.

[LWolf]

19. The same way I feel about him today. n/t

[Justyce]

20. They still haven't fixed all the election problems

that resulted in the presidency being stolen from him the first time -- I wouldn't blame him for not wanting to go through that again.

[melody]

21. It will take a great deal of courage to do so

I'm fairly certain he will. If he doesn't, who could blame him?

[Dawgs]

22. If he really feels the way he does about global warming he has to run.

I will be disappointed with him if he doesn't. Anyone saying he can do more for climate change by not running is either supporting another candidate, or lying to themselves.

[RestoreGore]

31. And that's a crock

[Bluebear]

23. Desolate

[SaveOurDemocracy]

24. I will be SOOOOOOOO disappointed if Al Gore doesn't run.

I feel a sense of absolute desperation, and he's the ONLY one who inspires me with any real confidence. I can't believe he can so clearly recognize the damage and dangers, and NOT respond in the way he can be most effective. Yes, it's a lot to ask of him ... but I fervently hope he will accept it as his destiny.

[Control-Z]

25. I love Al

I believe he is the one person who can possibly lead us, our nation, and the world out of the crisis we are in. If he does in fact choose not to run I will have trouble understanding his reasons for allowing the hope he has (for a run) and I'll be disappointed, but I won't be angry.

[ThomWV]

26. I will think an awful lot less of him if he doesn't heed the country's call

We need him and he should know it.

[mountainvue]

27. I'll be disappointed but I will still respect him. n/t

[book_worm]

28. hopefully not disappointed because he's said over and over he's not running.

[BuyingThyme]

29. Obsolescent.

[RestoreGore]

30. But he isn't looking the other way!

I don't understand how people cannot understand that there are so many ways to serve this country and this world! And he is now doing it selflessly as a true statesman, and freely as his own man and I love and respect him for it more than if he were one of them playing the game. To do what he is doing now by using his experience, vision, knowledge, resources, and dedication to this planet as he is when he could just have given it all up after what happened is to me a mark of a great man. I don't care if he ever runs for office ever again for he will always be a great man who I will support with my whole heart. And if we start really listening to his words and taking action ourselves I think we can bring our country back to what it once was, and I am comforted in the knowledge that in whatever capacity he chooses to serve he will always be on our side.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1395964&mesg_id=1395964

[proud patriot]

32. I would still respect and admire Gore were he to choose

not to run . I'd be dissappointed though .

[MoonRiver]

33. Disappointed, but I will totally understand.

Whatever he decides, God bless him. He is one of my heroes.

[Gregorian]

35. It takes more than one. And look at what he has done.

He has raised the world's awareness. And he did it as a civilian. As far as I'm concerned, his work is done. I would love to see him run.

And we are all seeing that it takes far more than one person to make this country move. Of course the highest position gets heavily weighted. But it's not just about the president. It's also the Congress. And the judiciary (sadly). That, to me at any rate, takes some of the pressure off of whomever may be president.

If Al runs, it will probably sway me from my present Kucinich vote. I couldn't miss Gore as a nominee. Hmm, what was the question? I guess that means I would be disappointed. Oh well. We'll see.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

36. I'll be outraged!!

See if he gets another holiday fruit cake from me again...ever!

Seriously, it's his life and family that this would effect and it's his decision to make. I'll respect whatever decision he makes in the end.

[Nictuku]

38. I just bet my X $100 that he will run

So I won't go there (that he will not run)

My gut tells me he will.

[earth mom]

39. We might as well kiss the U.S. of A. goodbye if Gore doesn't run.

Not only because of global warming, but because * & Co are up to more dirty deeds and we need Gore more than ever! Not Obama or Hillary who are both more of the same, IMNSHO. :grr:

North American Union = * & Co's dirty little secret:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3461888#3462671

[NMDemDist2]

40. about the same as I feel now, but if he does run.....

I'd be ecstatic!! :bounce:

[motocicleta]

41. I will recognize his genius.

No one person, even the President, can save us now. If the sheeple don't take to the streets and demand America back, not even big Al can save us.

By the way, he didn't inspire much confidence back in 2000 for me personally (although I did vote for him, OMC, back away from your Nader-killing gun); does he seem so great to me now because of the competition? I fear yes.

[DIKB]

42. Angry

but I'll still respect him for all he has done. The country just needs him so badly that if he doesn't step up, he will have failed us in our hour of need.

[Kingshakabobo]

43. I'll never speak to him again!

:)

He's going to run so the question is moot!

[Stinky The Clown]

44. I would continue to repsect him

I sure would like to see him out there now. I've said any times that if he runs, he wons, hands down. There's not a Republic out there who can beat him.

I hope he runs. I hope he heals the nation (which I think he and just a very few others can do).

But if he chooses not to, I will be disappointed and only slightly less respectful of him.

[marions ghost]

45. I see Gore as being a player in this game

somehow....I'm not sure as a presidential candidate...but doing something big in support maybe. Or somehow coming into it in another capacity.

It's just a hunch but I don't see him fading away at all.

[Warren DeMontague]

46. Disappointed, but I will respect his decision.

He will always be a great American. That's why I want him to run. But it's his choice.

At this point, I give better odds that he won't run than he will. I'd like him to, obviously, but we're rapidly approaching crunch time. If he hasn't announced by the fall, I suspect it's not happening.

[JNelson6563]

47. I stand by President Gore no matter what

If he chooses not to run I respect that choice. If he chooses to run I work my ass off from that day to election day.

No matter what he chooses I support him and his efforts.

Julie

[B Calm]

48. I'm hoping the new democratic president will appoint him to lead the EPA!

[MrSlayer]

49. I'll still like him.

I think he'd be throwing away an opportunity to set things right and help us all but I'd respect his decision. He deserves to do what he wants.

[Art_from_Ark]

50. To use a sports analogy

This is the biggest game in the team's history, but the star quarterback, although perfectly healthy, is confined to the bench while the 2nd and 3rd stringers run around on the field, making bonehead play after bonehead play.

If the star quarterback doesn't get his ass in the game, I will be very disappointed, to say the least.

[AwakeAtLast]

52. Like a great opportunity has been missed

I will understand - it is his decision and we have no control over him.

Let's just hope he gets a good seat in the Cabinet!!! ;)

:hi:

[WillyT]

53. Total Respect And Understanding...

You'd have to be an idiot to want the job in the first place.

And you'd have to have the support of people like us in the second place. And you'd have to be OK with that.

Right there, tells me he should just become a shaman in the Himalayas.

But then that's just me.

:crazy:

[ecstatic]

54. I'd be impressed

I think it would be disrespectful of him to jump in, at this late stage.

[Patchuli]

55. I will love him anyway and mourn for what should have been...nt

[Kurovski]

56. He will still do great things and my respect will remain.

I think Al is the only one of our candidates besides Kucinich that knows--and speaks about--the real predicament we're in.

Yes, I know Gore is not now a candidate.

[Lugnut]

57. I'll be disappointed but

If he chooses not to run I'll understand why he made the choice. It was a tough enough job before the current Bush administration disaster. It's a nightmare now.

I'm keeping my powder dry in the hope that he will run. If I have to decide on a alternative candidate to support that person will be my second choice and another disappointment.

[OneBlueSky]

58. extremely disappointed . . . if he doesn't run, that indicates to me that .. .

he's okay with another corporatist in the White House . . . which will pretty much kill any serious action on global warming, or anything else . . .

[Marnieworld]

59. Disappointed and not very hopeful

But I love Al and if he truly does not want to run I will respect that. It's not like he isn't doing so much already for the entire planet. It's up to him to decide how he is most effective or what he is willing to tolerate in his life.

But boy howdy I want him to run. He is the only person I have heard articulate the Constitutional crisis we are in. He is so passionate about science dictating our actions. A Champion of Reason? Something so obvious is revolutionary now. We really need a revolution in thought.

But I think he is the person for this moment in history. It seems so clear to me. He is a gifted communicator who is truly passionate about the principles that created this country. We need drastic repair and since no one else has touched his insight on the topic I would feel very pessimistic about our future. It's a crucial moment and I mreally hope he steps up.

[rosesaylavee]

60. I will be devastated...

but Gore more than any other public figure right now deserves - no demands our respect - for all that he has done and continues to do for our country and the world.

I firmly believe our country would recover faster with him at the helm. I firmly believe that the environment and the climate crisis would get the exposure it needs to be turned around or halted quickly.

If he doesn't run, quite selfishly, I worry about my family's future.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

61. Indifferent

He didn't stand up and fight and aggressively differentiate himself from the Republicans when he had a chance, and twenty years before that, he was a Reagan enabler.

He'd be better than any Republican, but that's not saying a lot.

[rosesaylavee]

64. When was it that he didn't fight? And what did he

do to enable Reagan? Not meaning to flame but can't think of any time he has been in either situation.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

65. Okay, a little review:

1) In 2000, he failed to differentiate himself from Bush sufficiently and let Bush set the agenda. In the debates that I saw, he mostly said what amounted to "Me too" when Bush made a statement (about the death penalty, building a "strong defense," etc.) and when given the chance to speak first, he mumbled platitudes about "policies that benefit working families." He failed to create a strong image for himself while running against the least qualified candidate in my memory. I believe that he did win, but if he had run an effective campaign, not a cringe-inducing one, it would have been an uncheatable landslide.

Consider this: Three days before the election, 30% of the voters were undecided. I remember every election since 1960, and while some of them have been close (1960, 1968), I never remember such a high number of undecided voters so close to the election. This tells me that Gore failed to differentiate himself from Bush sufficiently.

2) Gore was in the Senate during the Reagan administration. He was one of the young hawks who supported Reagan's military buildup and support for repressive right-wing regimes and CIA training of right-wing guerillas in Central America.

3) While it's nice that Gore is publicizing global climate change, he's pushing easy-sounding yuppified solutions: buy a Prius and use fluorescent bulbs. He's not telling the TRUTH, which is that our whole society will have to be restructured, no matter what, and that we'll have either a soft landing (if we start making serious and deep changes in our lifestyles now) or a hard landing, when the double whammy of climate change and peak oil hit us at the same time in a few decades and we aren't ready.

[rosesaylavee]

66. I respectfully disagree

Gore ran a great campaign. He won more votes than any other candidate in the history of this country. The media has confessed (no link but will find if you need it) that in order to make the debates more interesting, they rode Gore especially hard so that they would get better ratings. The well placed snip here and there of Gore sighing in response to yet another inane Bushism, the snarks (now proven to be untrue) about his choice to wear 'earth tone' suits, the outright lying spin about his 'claims' to have invented the internet, Love Canal, etc. were all part of the media blitz for ratings. I am sorry that so many fell for it but that is pretty much the reason for the close election. It was manufactured.

I had no idea that Gore was the only democratic senator serving during the Reagan years. I don't know particulars about how he supported the Reagan programs so I can't speak to that.

Not sure where you get that Gore is not talking about the hard truths regarding the climate crisis. He lays it all out pretty blankly in Inconvenient Truth. Does he tell everyone that there is no hope? That there is no way out of this mess? No. He encourages each person to take part at a level that they can, right now. We WILL have to restructure how we live day to day. But as the great leader he is, he gives encouragement rather than dwell on fear-mongering to get us to move off square one.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

68. I wasn't talking about the spin, but about my own perceptions

And a good candidate with a non-sabotaging staff knows how to overcome the media spin.

As for the Reagan era, no of course Gore was not the only Dem Senator at the time, but he DID adopt those hawkish positions, which helped the Reagan administration wreak all kinds of suffering. Many (not enough, though) Democrats fought Reagan tooth and nail. Gore mostly played nice with the Reaganites.

[mod mom]

62. Still a great man but his country and the world need him as President!

[tammywammy]

63. The same as I feel now

[Hekate]

67. I respect his judgment. He's found his niche,and he looks happy.

I appreciate all Al Gore is doing right now.

Hekate

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

69. Same As I Do Now. The Decision To Run Is Personal To Him, And He Shouldn't Be Judged Either Way.

[scarletwoman]

70. No problem. I think he'd be nuts to run. He doesn't need or deserve the kind of shit

he'd have to endure if he did run.

Now, my sincere apologies if what I'm about to say makes anyone feel offended -- and please bear in mind that this is the very first Gore thread I've ever commented on. I've purposely avoided Gore threads over all these many months precisely because I didn't want any Gore supporters (whom I consider to be very fine people) to feel "bashed", and I don't care to start big arguments.

That being said, here's where I'm at: It's getting late in the game and it seems like it would be prudent and sensible to just let go of hoping for a savior. Things are getting worse and worse. Our political system is a shambles, our Constitution is all but inoperative, there's an attack on Iran on the way.

No one human being can deal with all this crap and reverse it. Even a good man like Jimmy Carter couldn't withstand the forces entrenched within our political system. Realize that no matter who becomes president in 2009, there are powers far bigger and stronger and older which will constrain and limit the actions of this individual.

But, more importantly, waiting and hoping for a savior is a form of denial, a way to avoid taking responsibility for not taking action NOW. We are in a crisis, it's just not useful to base your strategy for countering the forces arrayed against us on a hypothetical scenario.

Again, my apologies if I've offended anyone. This is simply my opinion based on my personal perception of the current state of our world.

sw