Gore LEADING in DFA Poll, as a Write-in!

[garybeck]

email from DFA this morning

Dear,


Our challenge to Al Gore: Jump In or Drop Out!

Something surprising is happening at Democracy for America; former Vice President Al Gore is leading the race for the DFA Presidential endorsement -- as a write-in candidate.

Voting is still open until November 5 at midnight, and there is plenty of time for any candidate to win. All your candidate needs is your vote right now:

http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PulsePoll

Despite the fact that Al Gore has not announced that he will run and wasn't even included in the endorsement poll, DFA members have seized the power and written him in. With over 65,000 votes cast so far, the time has come for Vice President Gore to make a decision.

The clock is ticking. We are deep into the 11th hour. There are fewer than 90 days until the first votes are cast. And filing deadlines to be on the ballot start closing in just days.

You deserve to know. Is Al Gore in or out?

Together, we are the boots on the ground that knock on doors, make phone calls, and recruit new supporters whether advocating for the next president or electing Governor Howard Dean to Chair the Democratic National Committee. DFA members are working to take our country back and the DFA endorsement is worth more than just words to the candidate that wins.

Vote for your candidate now:

http://www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PulsePoll

Of course, this is not an ordinary endorsement poll. All voters are asked for their top three choices. And in the end, only an announced candidate can win the DFA endorsement. That means this will be the first poll in the nation that can accurately report both the remarkable support Al Gore has in the progressive grassroots AND which announced candidates earn that support if he never jumps in.

When we announce the results on November 6th, one year from Election Day, everyone will be watching.

Don't keep us waiting, Mr. Gore. It is time for an answer.

Arshad Hasan
Executive Director

[still_one]

1. I wish it was different, but it isn't going to happen /nt

[garybeck]

3. he still hasn't said "I am not running."

He could say that at any time and we would stop this game.

One of two things are happening. Either he is not running, but sees some kind of value in leaving the question open, like it draws more attention to global warming, so he's putting off the absolute NO until the very last minute possible.

Or, he is actually considering it.


If neither of these were the case, I see no reason why he wouldn't just say he's not running.

[still_one]

4. The only thing I will say to you is that I may actually write Gore's name in the primary

but he made it pretty clear in view

[garybeck]

5. clear as mud

every time he says "I have no plans to run" he leaves the door open and he knows it and so does everyone else. when he released the 3 videos last week, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. something is going on, I don't know what... either he's playing with us, or again, he believes leaving the door open is helping the global warming cause and the minute he says absolutely no, everyone is going to stop caring about the environment. I don't think that is what would happen and I doubt he does either. I'm not saying he's definitely running but it's clear the door is not shut.

[Samantha]

58. First rule of political thumb inside the Beltway

Never let them know what you are thinking.

Sam in DC

[JackORoses]

2. Al Gore, Come on Down, you're the next contestant for the President of the United States

[garybeck]

6. I just voted

and added to his lead :)

[lonestarnot]

7. I find this well... funny.

LOL. :rofl:

[Pastiche423]

8. He still has the most votes - 29.32%

[Andrea]

9. He certainly SHOULD run

I posted this elsewhere, but that thread fell off quickly and hardly anyone saw it. This is my response to a column by John Nichols in The Nation.

Link to column: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/10/12/opinion/main3...



This column from the Nation is a great piece of writing and makes a valid point, but it stops short of making the most important point. Yes, if Al Gore doesn't run for President, there will be a hole in his resume, and that might concern him a bit. What should concern him more, and probably does concern him more if he looks at it this way, is not what this would do to his resume, but what it means for this country and the planet. Mr. Gore is not petty and won't make this momentous decision based on a vanity issue such as his resume.

The planet is at a crucial juncture. What occurs in the next few years will determine whether we go beyond the point of no return on global warming or we take the steps necessary to save Earth as we know it.

Our country is teetering on the sheer edge of a rocky and treacherous cliff with regard to the survival of our civil liberties and our tripartite system of government as laid out in our constitution. If the very nature of our country, as designed by the founding fathers, is destroyed, America itself is destroyed. There may still be a huge chunk of land on the map labeled "United States of America", but that country will not be our country. Unitary Executive is just a nice-sounding euphemism for Dictator.

It could be argued that Mr. Gore will have as much, or possibly more, opportunity to influence the awareness of global warming as an absolutely critical issue if he remains a private citizen. Obviously he has a tremendous opportunity to stimulate public awareness now, as a private citizen. After all, he just won the Nobel Peace Prize for doing so - and winning the award does not by any means mean that the job is over. But, he will not have the opportunity to determine policy if he is not the President.

With regard to the other issue, the preservation of our constitution and thus the very nature of our nation, none of the current candidates have indicated a full acknowledgment of this critical issue. Most haven't mentioned it much at all. Perhaps some relish the thought that if elected they will enjoy the concentrated, extreme and unconstitutional power that Bush and Cheney have given the presidency. His book, The Assault on Reason, as well as his speeches, demonstrate that Mr. Gore has the entire picture and can communicate it clearly, effectively, completely and with great passion. The only person who will be in a position to guarantee that we do not fall off this cliff into totalitarianism is the person inaugurated as president in January, 2009.

If our course remains the same , someday soon, maybe three years from now, maybe five, but very soon, we will be waking up every day in a dictatorship. This will be a tragedy of monumental proportions. I can't express the profound grief I feel over the loss of this "noble experiment" in democracy. I can't imagine the pain of regret I would feel to wake up in such circumstances knowing that I had been the person who could have prevented it, but I chose not to. I don't think Mr. Gore wants to find out first hand how that would feel.

[Coexist]

10. knr

[RestoreGore]

11. Wow, what self importance

What arrogance. To give him an ultimatum as if they rule him is just plain rude. Are you in or out. Who the hell are they?

[berni_mccoy]

12. So, which candidate are you voting for?

[RestoreGore]

15. Thanks for admitting this is rude

And I'll vote for the Democratic nominee just as I am sure Mr. Gore will. What that has to do with this arrogant mail however, I don't know. Here everyone is saying he is right not to go along with the 600 day campaign, and yet here you all are PUSHING the man simply because you all hate Clinton. I'm sure he sees that aspect of it too and how polls on the Internet can be set up to present what they want people to see. And it is sad that is all people care about while he is actually out here doing something constructive and good for this world. Personally I think DFA should be ashamed of themselves for their disrespect to him.

[berni_mccoy]

22. You are projecting a lot... I don't hate Clinton, I simply feel Gore is the best person for the job

The fact that Gore hasn't officially said he isn't running is Gore's problem. He needs to definitively, unquestionable say, "I'm not running for President in the 2008 race." To date, he has not made this statement.

I also believe Edwards and Kucinich would be great Presidents as well.

No body is "pushing" Gore. We simply asking him to be clear in his intentions. That, he is not doing. If he's going to leave the door open, then people are going to keep asking until he closes the door.

And I think I know who you are going to vote for based on your response. 'Nuff said.

[JackORoses]

23. Is she a rabid Hillarite disguised as a Gore-loving human being?

Say it ain't so, RG.

[helderheid]

45. Hmmmm

[Uncle Joe]

24. If you support Hillary Clinton, you should have the integrity to come out and say it

and quit projecting your feelings of animosity on our personal motivations for supporting Al Gore with your straw man argument of us only doing it because we hate Hillary Clinton. I asked you three times on one thread who you support in the primaries and you never answered my question.

Personally I believe the Clintons share a good chunk of the blame for Bush being in office, but that has zilch to do with my support for Al Gore as President.

[RestoreGore]

64. No, I don't support ANYONE. I'm not OBSESSED with the presidency

So perhaps you and others can stop projecting your own hate on others and psycho analyzing simply because they don't support this bullying of a good man who knows what he is doing and is capable of doing what is right without being pushed into it. I support THIS PLANET, ergo then I support his work for it because it is more important than this incessant political backbiting. Got that now?

[Nickster]

14. Do you purposely miss the point? Re-read the email, it makes a perfectly clear statement about why

they are asking for his answer. If you can't see the importance of him making a statement one way or the other, well I can't help you.

[RestoreGore]

16. Oh I get the point alright

You don't give a damn about what he wants.

[JackORoses]

18. No, you don't give a damn what he wants, or you wouldn't be so quick to speak for him.

[Nickster]

19. No you clearly don't get the point at all. But nice try and as usual, the direct assault instead of

a reasoned answer.

[garybeck]

21. You have no idea what he wants

if he wanted people to stop asking him to run, he woud say emphatically that he IS NOT RUNNING, PERIOD.

He has not said that, or even come close to it.

He has created this situation, just as much as we have.

[joshcryer]

27. Yes, but people still delusionally think a non-commital answer is an absolute.

[garybeck]

30. What? How can you generalize about what people think?

I have not heard anyone say he's definitely running, just because he is non-committal.

There's nothing wrong with trying to persuade him.

I don't see what the problem is.

If there's even a hint of possibility that he's considering, I would think all this "pressure" and asking and begging him to do so would be good, not bad. If there's zero chance, i'm sure it makes him feel good to know that people want him.

Enough with the attacks on people who are just trying to get him to run because they think he's the best candidate to help us through the tragedy we face.

[joshcryer]

32. No, no, you misread me, I was saying people think he *isn't* running when there is no evidence...

...to support that position.

[garybeck]

34. Ahhhhhhh.... :)

then we agree. Where that "RestoreGore" person is coming from, I have no idea.

[Labors of Hercules]

39. I have not heard anyone say he's definitely running...

He's definitely running.

There, now you've heard someone say it. :rofl:

[joshcryer]

26. We don't know what he wants.

[JackORoses]

17. Who the hell are you?

You have shown more self importance and arrogance here on this board giving ultimatums to people to leave Al alone because we're all so egotistical that we actually want the best man for the job.

We Support Gore.
Are you in or are you out?

[RestoreGore]

60. I'm not in YOUR bs clique

That's for damn sure. I have never seen such NASTY people as those who claim to support him here that keep pummelling him with this BS every day while ignoring his good work. Oh, and I read in Michigan that they couldn't even get beyond 3000 signatures to put his name on a ballot for all of the spewing here about him leading in "polls" there, etc. So tell me, how many people in this effort are really moles trying to embarass and sabotage him and take the conversations off of his work? How many are just people who hate some other candidate so much that they don't care what Al Gore wants because they only see him as the pawn they think they can knock them out with? Any truly noble reasons for all of this? Or is spending time actually suppporting his work now not "exciting" enough?I know it doesn't get you in the newspapers.

He is doing something GREAT for this world and is now a Nobel Peace Prize winner which presents great potential for having a platform for change. So where it concerns actually standing up for this planet, are you IN OR OUT? Hmm, are you "in or out"... that sounds a lot like the either you are with us or against us mentality of the Bushies. Don't sit there and spew your in or out garbage at me in an attempt to cover up the fact that this is nothing now but a bullying campaign because people are upset with him because he isn't giving them what they want. I and many others know what he wants because we actually listen to his words and trust and respect them, not twist them in order to suit our own delusions. I say it's time to stop harrassing and now enbarrassing the good man. Anyone who truly supports him can see that he is not interested at this time in running a campaign or being a part of the same business as usual status quo bs which is all that is shoveled out in lieu of actually supporting the organizations and ideals he is now right to support. You support him? You could have fooled me.

[garybeck]

20. What the???? Restore Gore?

Your ID is "Restore Gore" but you seem to attack anyone who wants him to run. What the?

YOu know as well as we all do that DFA is not being arrogant. The folks at DFA have nothing but respect for Al Gore and they just want him to run. He could stop all this silliness in one second by either announcing his candidacy or saying he won't run. Until one of these happens, it is not disrespectful to try to push him in one direction or another.

Why is your ID "RestoreGore" when you attack people who are trying to do just that?

[RestoreGore]

62. This ultimatum to him was rude. You don't like that opinion too bad.

That's the way it is in a public forum... but yes, please divert to the usual BS meme here about my "name." And just what do YOU want to restore him to? He has been restored, and much better than POLITICS could ever do. You want this burden on his shoulders after WE dropped the ball? Sorry, I don't happen to share your zeal for dumping this on him again and see nothing glorious about it.

[joshcryer]

25. The only arrogant people with regards to Gore are the ones denying that he hasn't ruled it out.

[joshcryer]

33. This comes off wrong, I mean to say that...

...it is arrogant to say he has absolutely ruled it out when that is far from the truth. Sorry, having a bad day today. Cold and all. Stupid 30 degree Colorado weather without a jacket on. Stupid stupid.

[garybeck]

35. 30 degrees in Colorado??? What does that mean for the World Series?

Snow game?

I used to live half way between Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. Miss it.

[joshcryer]

49. Ahh, it was about 3 AM when I went on the walk. :) It's about 60 in the daytime.

Shouldn't see snow, and those Rockies know how to handle the cold anyway. Could fare well for 'em. :D

*crosses fingers for a blizzard*

[RestoreGore]

63. Freudian slip?

[Milo_Bloom]

36. Not rude at all.

The only rudeness I ever see is those who claim to speak FOR Gore, when in reality they have no such authority.

DFA is addressing a reality. Tens of thousands of people are spending time, effort on money to encourage Gore to accept a job he has not yet rejected, but for which he has SPECIFICALLY left the door open.

Asking him to provide a definitive answer is not rude, it is reality.

[Raksha]

37. I second the question - have you voted in the DFA poll,

and if so, which candidate did you vote for? You don't have to answer, of course, but I want you to know right now that I don't give a damn whether you think that's "rude" or not.

[RestoreGore]

61. I don't do polls, especially Internet ones

And I don;t give a damn what you think of my opinion.

[Milo_Bloom]

38. Delete- Dupe Posting

[lildreamer316]

13. KICK. Hoping this gets his attention. n/t

[helderheid]

52. I kick your kick!

:kick:

[Mabus]

28. I'm for the Man from Tennessee

and I voted for him in the DFA poll. I also sent it out to a lot of my friends so they could vote for the person they wanted.

[Fly by night]

29. My reply to the DFA email -- fuck you.

"Why in the pluperfect hell should only an 'announced' candidate be able to win the DFA poll? Not only does that defeat the purpose of the poll, but it invalidates my vote (and the votes of thousands of other DFA members) at a time when we are all trying to encourage Al to enter the race.

"Besides, it changes the 'rules' of the poll in mid-stream. If you had wanted us to only vote for announced candidates, why in the hell did you place a 'write-in' box on the poll in the first place.

"If you don't reconsider announcing the actual winner of this poll on November 6 (rather than someone besides Al Gore, if he turns out to be the real winner), you are no better than Katherine Harris and Kenneth Blackwell. In that case, take me the hell off your email list."

Most assuredly,

Fly by night
-----------

Since sending this reply to the DFA this morning, I have had friends tell me that DFA is not saying they will not announce Gore as the winner of their poll if he wins -- just that they will not endorse him. I must admit that the email is not clear on this point.

But just who the hell is the DFA to issue ultimatums to Gore or anyone else. I hope Gore enters the race and that, 13 months from now, he tells us all that he saw no value in jumping into the race too early. That, in fact, his delay helped illuminate the faux "horse race" bull-shit that we are now suffering through with the corporate media who want us to focus on the future (with 1,000 yard stares toward that 13 months-from-now finish-line) so they won't have to spend any time and attention covering the tragedies and political tumescence of the worst Presidency in the history of our Republic.

Heavens, if they did that, we might actually have to do something about it (like find a new table for OUR Democritters to operate from, letting Nancy takes hers home with her).

Al Gore can set whatever timetable he chooses. Gore/Richardson '08

Joke the DFA if they can't take a fuck.

[garybeck]

31. I think if he wins the poll,

it will get publicity and Gore will know about it either way, whether or not they officially endorse him. In fact I think it will get just as much exposure as the endorsement itself, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Let's make sure he wins and see what happens. If he gets the most votes and they don't mention it in the press release, I'd be surprised. In fact I think you'll see Keith Olbermann talking about it on TV. The fact that he gets more votes will overshadow the "official" endorsement.

[Fly by night]

42. I hope you're right. In either case, if Gore wins this poll, he should receive credit.

Unlike, say, the 2000 Presidential race.

[IndyOp]

54. Look! The DFA poll results made it into "The Hill" --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3638185

:applause:

[WI_DEM]

40. well of course he is since everybody is directing Gore supporters to the poll

[JackORoses]

41. the poll is open to anyone,

Gore supporters just happen to outnumber the rest, that's all. ;)

[Fly by night]

43. Don't you think other candidates are also directing their supporters to the DFA poll?

The poll may reflect the actual levels of support that the candidates enjoy among Democratic activists as well as their accumulated reservoir of person-power available to work in the campaign.

Hillary ought to be embarrassed -- fifth place -- under 8%.

Wonder if she's laughing now?

[garybeck]

44. it's an "unscientific" poll, like all the others out there. it might not measure

All Democrats views, but it certainly does show something... like maybe the motivation of Gore supporters.

[Uncle Joe]

46. They added a lower graph,

and the only reason I can think of for them to do such a thing in the middle of a poll is to encourage the dividing up of the Al Gore vote. If anyone else has a better explanation, I'm open to it.

"If Al Gore doesn't run: Now the live stats for candidates who have announced their candidacy

Candidate Votes %
Barack Obama 20394 27.01%
John Edwards 20100 26.62%
Dennis Kucinich 16236 21.5%
Hillary Clinton 6979 9.24%
Bill Richardson 3202 4.24%
Joe Biden 1727 2.29%
Christopher Dodd 1465 1.94%
Mike Gravel 878 1.16%

This chart counts the second choice of DFA members who wrote Al Gore in for their first choice. Results updated hourly."

[JackORoses]

48. apparently nearly 4000 people chose Gore as their 1st and 2nd option

this is the difference in vote totals between the 2 graphs

Don't they get it?
We don't need 2 graphs,
We want Gore!

[IndyOp]

51. I am one of those 4,000 people - although, actually,

I chose Gore as my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice! :D

[garybeck]

59. me too ! :)

[IndyOp]

56. Look! The DFA poll results made it into "The Hill" --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3638185

:applause:

[stlsaxman]

47. Thanks for this post, garybeck... it heartens me to see

that many have the same dream i do.

i'm tired of arguing with some around here who shit another's parade.

just as their minds cannot be changed- i refuse to lose hope that Gore might be a candidate until he tells us directly that he will not run. i have a second choice should that happen.

i will weep for our nation then act accordingly.

[sarcasmo]

50. Kick.

[helderheid]

53. kick

[raging moderate]

57. I voted for AlGore, Dennis Kucinich, and Pete Stark

Pete Stark has earned my admiration

[IndyOp]

55. Look! The DFA poll results made it into "The Hill" --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3638185

:applause:

[helderheid]

65. Cool!