New York is drafting Al Gore!

[cal04]

by fink
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/10/29/211640/09

October 30 has arrived and New York for Gore is ready to start collecting petitions. We need to collect 5,000 signatures across New York state which means we really need upwards of 10,000 signatures to get enough valids. We have over 100 volunteers from across the state but, yes, with a high concentration in NYC. The goal is to blow the 5,000 number out of the water and make sure we get lots of signatures from all CDs.

We do not need Al's signature to get him on the ballot though he has until December 10 to ask the Board of Elections to ignore our petition.

If you are a registered Democrat in New York, you can be a petitioner. Visit New York for Gore and click on Petitions to get your petitions and petitioning instructions. I'll be doing Smith St in Brooklyn on Wednesday and I'm going to try and hit three or four locations this weekend.

New York can get 5,000 signatures in the city alone but I can't stress how important it is to get petitions from across New York state. Get your instructions and petitions!

See below the fold for why I am still working to Draft Al Gore!

I am still working to draft Al Gore for the same reason I was a month ago. I am not satisfied with the current candidates and I think Al Gore is our best option as a candidate and as a President. Here in New York, I want to be able to vote for Al Gore. So I'm doing what I can to put him on the ballot.

[Kazak]

1. Good job!

Keep it up!!

[lame54]

50. let's do what we can - spread this around:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Nnph3zkHNw

[autorank]

2. They are so SMART....I LOVE NEW YORK. On edit:

If this works it would sort of screw Hillary's campaign up royally;)

[Blaze Diem]

3. Hillary & everyone else running. Spitzer's hopes of trading dr. licenses

for votes would backfire at that point.
They'd all vote for Al Gore.
Even with the predictable recount and the tossing out of illegals' votes, Gore would still be the popular winner.
Just like last time.
Spitzer would ask Bush to intervene and bush would predictably ask the SCourt to be the deciders.
at that point, welllll..'You say you want a Revolution'??
------------
I truely wish you the best possible outcome for your hard fought efforts.
Its the spirit of people like you that will put Al Gore on the ballot, and it is people like you that restore pride in the priviledge of being a citizen of the USA.
Peace and good fortune to you my friend !

[autorank]

4. Thank you so much for the very kind words and your efforts.

It's about a shift in consciousness. The leaders won't help but they can stay out of the way. In Gore's case I think he'd do both, I hope, but he's the only shot at a decent candidate.

In a way, New York could save the world if they can get Gore on the ballot or do a sufficient write in.
I'm partial though since I lived in and loved Manhattan and NYC for nearly a decade.

I'm taking time off the internet (except to post one article almost finished) and I'll start now. It won't get any better than this exchange;) See you in a few days briefly then Dec 1st. Maybe he'll declare by then.

:toast:

[Prophet 451]

45. and this revolution WILL be televised n/t

[AndyTiedye]

5. Go for It!

GORE FOR PRESIDENT!

[me b zola]

6. k&r

[Admiral Loinpresser]

7. Right on, comrade.

And power to the people!

[understandinglife]

8. Most excellent ... Recommended!

[SlowDownFast]

9. K&R.

Only 5,000 sigs in NY?

Cakewalk.

I was a volunteer petitioner for Gore in Michigan, and if the Michigan Democratic Party didn't fuck everything up with the early primary shit, we would've had enough time to gather the ungodly amount of required 12,396 signatures.

And now, since all the dem candidates have dropped out - excepting Hillary - Michigan's Jan 15th primaries are a farce.

Michigan can thank Granholm (who has recently endorsed HRC) and Levin, among others, for this.

Hmmm, should I vote for Hillary, Hillary or Hillary?

:grr:

[CoffeeCat]

47. Does this mean that Gore can't be on the ballot...

...in Michigan?

[SlowDownFast]

52. Yes. Gore will not be on the ballot in the Michigan primary.

But neither will anyone else - excepting Hillary.

It's a mess.

No one knows yet exactly what's going to happen.

This is an excerpt from the latest email from Michigan Draft Gore:

"We now urge all Michigan Democrats and Independents to vote in Democratic Party caucuses," said Douglas Kelley, of Ann Arbor, Co-Chair of Michigan Draft Gore. "It is grossly unfair and undemocratic that Michigan Democratic voters who favor Obama, Gore, Edwards, Richardson or Biden won't see their candidate's name on the January 15 primary ballot." Kelley is also a member of the Michigan Democratic Party's state central committee.

"Michigan leaders and supporters of the Draft Al Gore movement are joining with many other Dems to urge the Michigan Democratic Party to bow out of the January 15 presidential primary election and instead hold caucuses throughout the state, as Democrats did in 2004. Caucus Resolutions have been approved by the Kent County, Washtenaw County, and an informal vote of the 12th congressional district, and several county Democratic Chairs voiced their support at the 1st congressional district dinner last Saturday in Grayling," continued Kelley.

"We are doing this out of our conviction that Gore is the best qualified candidate for President," stated Alexander. "We are confident Gore could win either the January 15 Michigan primary or the Michigan Democratic caucuses, in view of the Detroit News statewide poll of 400 likely Democratic voters (August 14): Gore, 36%; H. Clinton, 32%; Obama, 16%; Edwards, 8%." Alexander is also Vice Chair of the 8th congressional district committee and the Democratic candidate for Congress in 2004.

[helderheid]

10. yes!!

[defendandprotect]

11. Is Liebermann up for VP again -- ????

PLEASE -- Gore is a nice guy --
but could we have some specifics --
like what about the oil industries and his lifelong connections to them?

What about nationalizing oil?
What about Electric Cars?

What about the Federal Reserve printing money on which they charge us interest . . .
AND setting US economic policy -- something which our Congress should be doing?

What about the war -- ?
Would he immediately end it -- ???

[NastyDiaper]

13. I give Gore picking teh Liebstermann less chance than...

well u know. UNless you had another point?

[defendandprotect]

53. My point is that he DID pick Liebermann . . . . . . !!! Why .. . . ?????

[NastyDiaper]

55. Because Lieberman used to be a Democrat.

Good lord Gore was hardly alone owning a broke xtal ball on him.

Here's what the GW skeptics were saying about Joe:

Global Warming - Lieberman said: "This threat is not an abstraction or the object of a science fiction writer's overactive imagination. It is, unfortunately, all too real." (Associated Press, March 4, 1999)
Lieberman has supported "back door" efforts to implement the Kyoto global warming treaty -- avoiding ratification by the Senate. Along with Senators John Chafee (R-RI) and Connie Mack (R-FL) in October 1998, Lieberman sponsored S.2617, the "Credit for Voluntary Early Action Act." The bill would have implemented an emissions trading scheme.

LCV Rating -In 1998, Lieberman was rated 100 percent by the League of Conservation Voters based on 8 Senate votes. All the other 100 percent-ers were Democrats: including Dale Bumpers (AR), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Christopher Dodd (CT), Richard Durbin (IL), Paul Sarbanes (MD), Edward Kennedy (MA), John Kerry (MA), Paul Wellstone (MN), Robert Kerrey (NE), Frank Lautenberg (NJ), Jack Reed (RI) and Russell Feingold (WI).

joe hid his insanity from some decent company. are you gonna smear everyone who was decieved by tricky-joe?

[defendandprotect]

56. Liebermann was always a religious fanatic --

Gore served with Lieberemann a long time and would have know this --
that's at the least a huge problem.

Additionally, the fact that Gore, himself, is also heavily involved in theology I would say made it a questionable linking . . .

and you've ignored other questions which -- at the least -- should be asked of Gore --

PLEASE -- Gore is a nice guy --
but could we have some specifics --
like what about the oil industries and his lifelong connections to them?

What about nationalizing oil?
What about Electric Cars?

What about the Federal Reserve printing money on which they charge us interest . . .
AND setting US economic policy -- something which our Congress should be doing?

What about the war -- ?
Would he immediately end it -- ???

[NastyDiaper]

57. Zionism, Electric Cars, Iraq and the US economy.

But what of Habeas Corpus? And Proliferation.

Did we leave anything else out in the Gore/Liebmoster stealth conection?

[NastyDiaper]

12. Good luck!

I want to be able to vote for Al Gore. So I'm doing what I can to put him on the ballot.

QFFT

[Kurovski]

14. K&R. (nt)

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. Like they did in Michigan?

Gore supporters fall short in effort to put him on Mich. ballot

10/23/2007, 4:52 p.m. ET
By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN
The Associated Press


LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Efforts to collect enough signatures to put former Vice President Al Gore on Michigan's Jan. 15 Democratic presidential primary ballot have fallen short.

Supporters needed to collect 12,396 valid signatures by Tuesday but collected only around 3,000, said Bob Alexander, co-chairman of the Michigan Draft Gore group. He said in a statement that the group was able to raise only about a fifth of the $12,500 it needed to mount a full-time petition drive.

more: http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/michigan/index.ssf?/base/news-47/1193173215170310.xml&storylist=newsmichigan

[DefenseLawyer]

17. Considering that Edwards and Obama aren't on the ballot there either

and no one is campaigning in Michigan, the ill-fated effort to put Gore on the ballot was a bit misplaced from the start.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Hillary and Kucinich are on the ballot there

Guess who is going to get all of the delegates there. ;)

[book_worm]

23. DK!! yeah!!

[DefenseLawyer]

26. And since those delegates won't be seated at the convention

They will be meaningless.

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. Does anyone really believe that the nominee will not intervene and the delegates will not be seated?

No delegates from Florida and Michigan where there are a total of 43 electoral votes?

[DefenseLawyer]

54. I think you are confused

Electoral votes have nothing to do with the Democratic Primary. Michiganders will still get to vote in the general election and the winner will receive Michigan's electoral votes. This is about party delegates to the party convention being allowed to cast votes to choose the party nominee. And yes, I think most people believe that those delegates won't be seated at the convention.

[SlowDownFast]

41. I've already been over this with you.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2128749#2131944

I explained the specifics to you and yet by your post you still act as if the DraftGore movement in Michigan was indicative of the rest of the country.

Do you have problems with memory loss?
:eyes:

But for everyone else -

from that thread:

Michigan Draft Gore only started to get it together about mid September - what with the announcement of an early primary in Michigan.

The organizers went from 4 or 5 volunteers to 150 or so by early/mid October.

The deadline for signatures - all required 12,396 of 'em - was Oct 23rd.

All and all that was about 2-3 weeks of serious petitioning (maybe 75 folks petitioning vigorously).

It was a good effort all and all, we got around 3000 or so.

As called for by the DNC, all Democratic candidates - except Hillary - have called off on Michigan's primary (with the exception of Kucinich - his cancellation notice arrived late).

Seems some folks from the Michigan Democratic Party decided they wanted some of Iowa and New Hampshire's spotlight, and moved Michigan's primary to the earlier date of Jan 15th.

The DNC said 'nope' and everybody dropped out (excepting Billary), rightfully so.

That leaves only Hillary on the Michigan's ballot for the primaries.

Michigan Draft Gore is joining with Obama and Edwards supporters (among others) in Michigan to strongly encourage the Michigan Democratic Party and its Chair Mark Brewer to opt out of the January 15 primary and return to a DNC-sanctioned caucus date on February 5 or February 9, and it looks as though it's going to happen.

and also:

State grabs 1st primary
Jan. 15 presidential vote set, but other states may go earlier


August 31, 2007

BY DAWSON BELL and TODD SPANGLER

FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS

Michigan leaped to the head of the presidential primary lineup Thursday, setting a Jan. 15 election that could become the biggest primary in state history and a key battleground for the Republican and Democratic nominations.

But Michigan's move -- supported by large majorities in the state House and Senate and backed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm -- will almost certainly be countered by other states, especially Iowa and New Hampshire, which are intent on preserving their traditional primacy in the presidential selection process.

Assuming Granholm approves the measure as expected, Michigan -- for now -- would have the first primary and third nominating contest, behind caucuses for Wyoming Republicans on Jan. 5 and for both parties Jan. 14 in Iowa.

Lawmakers supporting the move said it was crucial that Michigan concerns be placed on the national agenda and before the presidential candidates as soon as possible.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070831/NEWS06/708310401/1001/NEWS

Being that this was announced in late August, and the deadline (huge amount of signatures - 12,396) to get Gore on the ballot was Oct 23rd, Michigan's DraftGore movement didn't have much time to mobilize, let alone get the required amount of sigs.

And now only Hillary remains on the ballot IF the MDP decides to follow through - which is ridiculous.

[Highway61]

16. Bravo!!

Great Job...k&r

[toadzilla]

19. yay!

do eeeet!

[rosesaylavee]

20. K & R. n/t

[Stephanie]

21. Wow, I love that poll result on the Kos link >

Poll
Would you support Al Gore if he entered the race?

Yes
92% 1589 votes
No
7% 131 votes

| 1720 votes | Vote | Results

[sailor65]

22. Something seems very wrong

about forcing someone onto a ballot who doesn't absolutely want to be there.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

[aquart]

24. Kinda like having evangelists stick a foot in your door.

[sailor65]

25. kinda random,

but true enough.

[Uncle Joe]

29. That's what those Sherman type statements are for,

no one can force Al Gore to do anything if he doesn't want to, and Al Gore has never said he didn't want to be President.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

31. Sure I want Al Gore to run. But I don't want to draft him either...

I want him to want to run. He knows he could win, he knows he could do more to help the earth if he were president. If Al Gore doesn't want to run, I think it has to do with the fact that he realizes elections have been fixed for years by corporate dictators. He knows nothing has changed when it comes to securing honest elections.

[Pacifist Patriot]

33. Food for thought

[Pacifist Patriot]

32. I can't recall him saying he absolutely doesn't want to be there, however...

there is a little nugget of Native American wisdom that states the best leaders are those reluctant folks who are urged to their positions and the worst are those who seek to lead. I suspect if handed the nomination Al Gore would not decline.

[Blue Belle]

34. Plato said something to the same effect in "The Republic."

"Most societies today are shadow battles and struggles for power, as if it were some great prize. The better is quite different; the State is best ruled and most tranquil when leaders come to their duties with least enthusiasm."

But, hey, what does Plato know about Democracy? :eyes:

[Pacifist Patriot]

38. He had better respect for women than most ancient Greeks, but...

his theoretical system for education and child-rearing leaves me cold. :)

[Blue Belle]

48. Yes, but he was also very influential to the drafters of our Constitution...

We can all agree that its probably best that they didn't use all of his ideas. :)

[SlowDownFast]

42. Well said. n/t

[AikidoSoul]

46. I think you've hit it on th ehead N/T

[Prophet 451]

43. No, but...

...if we have to drag someone kicking and screaming into office, we can be damn certain they don't have any ulterior motives for being in office.

"Those who most want to rule are those least suited to doing so" ~ Douglas Adams.

[Uncle Joe]

28. New York, rocks!

:yourock:

[ThomWV]

30. K&R - for the people of New York please don't let this slip off the front page

[Samantha]

35. What about collecting signatures in the subway?

I bet that would generate a lot of interest.

Kicking your thread.

[Flagrante]

36. Great Gore video clip from the beginning of peace and prosperity

Go Al Gore
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhixUq-ev4w&NR=1

[Buzz Clik]

37. Outstanding. Be forewarned, however:

I understand that Al Gore once stood next to a openly homophobic man in church, and Gore made no effort to change pews. And, not only did Gore not attempt to have this man evicted from the premises, he actually spoke to him later.

This is a blatant case of passive acceptance of anti-gay behavior, and I am outraged!

[billyoc]

39. You could get 5k signatures in Union Square on a Saturday afternoon.

Then what happens? I don't know the mechanics of a draft like that. :shrug:

[Buzz Clik]

44. And if the petition were drafted on some raunchy porn, Rudy Giuliani would lick it for you.

[annabanana]

40. Excellent!

I'll go gather some...

[CoffeeCat]

49. Make sure you get at least 5 times...

...more than the required number of signatures.

Someone...somewhere---who stands to lose (or gain) will f(*k this up for
Gore.

Don't let them!

Come on NY...you can do it!
:)

[sleepyhead]

51. I just got myself some petitions and a clipboard.

I'll be hitting Atlantic Avenue this week and the farmer's market at Brooklyn Borough Hall this weekend. My stepmother is going to hang out in Union Square with her petitions for a couple of days. We are both so excited!