Al Gore could have put a stop to all of this bullshit.

[Joe Fields]

And chose not to, for whatever reason. I wonder if he really weighed the greater good. Or maybe he felt it just wasn't worth anymore personal sacrifice.

Al Gore came into my consciousness when he became Bill Clinton's running mate. I confess I knew nothing of him prior to that. But from his vice presidency until now, I have come to greatly respect and admire him. He is the "Goracle." Al has been at the forefront, and on the correct side of so many important issues of our time, that he has earned the respect and admiration of much of the world. I believe he is the only man, since Bobby Kennedy that most likely could have had the presidency handed to him on a silver platter, and with most of the country's blessing, a good portion of republican voters included.

And that is why I am so pissed. Currently we are witnessing a fractured and increasingly polarized democratic party. A large percentage of democrats flatly reject Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. So one has to wonder just how much support either of them would have as the democratic nominee in a general election. I believe that, as disillusioned and dissatisfied as many average republican voters are with their republican leaders, a Clinton or Obama candidacy is all that is needed to re-galvanize the republican base, making it quite possible for another republican to take the White House in 2008. Don't think it can't happen.

Al Gore could have done something to keep that from possibly becoming a reality. But he chose not to. If he had chosen to announce his candidacy, there is little doubt that he not only would have brought near total unity within our own party, but most likely would have caused massive defections within the republican party as well. Yes, I believe he had the power to cripple the republican party, setting it back decades. More importantly, a president Gore would have been the most equipped, the most capable and the most determined person this country could possibly hope for to address and solve our nations most serious issues. It is easy for me to believe that he held the power to turn this nation around and set it back on the correct course, when I think of how the majority of this country was ready to embrace him. With the power of the nation's citizens behind him, a reluctant congress would have had little choice but to follow his lead.

The trouble is, he chose not to lead. And to a large degree, because Al Gore chose not to lead we have a fractured party. Because Gore chose not to lead there will be no massive republican defections, when we could have had that party on the ropes and all but dead and buried. Instead, because Gore chose not to lead, the republicans will regroup and maybe come back as strong as ever, using Hillary or Barack as their rallying cry. But the saddest thing about Gore's decision not to become president, is that no one, I mean NO ONE who manages to occupy the White House in January of 2009 will have the brains, the backing or the determination to fix what is wrong with this country. We live in a time when a man with Al Gore's intelligence, wisdom, experience and determination are essential to our survival, and we are to be denied it. If ever in our history there was a time that called for the man, this is it. As much as I love Al Gore, I will always resent him for denying our country and the world this one last great sacrifice to the call for public service.

Just think how different DU would be right now, if Al had announced his candidacy. Instead of something that resembles a pro wrestling freakshow, it would be a lovefest.Our "feel good" level would be off the scale. Hope would abound, and we would be brimming with possibilities for healing this nation and the world. Al Gore may not be the messiah, but he's the closest thing we've got. To have those possibilities so close, and yet not be able to have them is a sin in my book. It's hard not to be somewhat bitter over it.

[MedleyMisty]

1. He would have been a prime target for assassination

And personally if by the grace of the randomness of the universe I'd been in his position I would have gone ahead anyway, but I can't really judge someone else for choosing to not put their life on the line.

[Joe Fields]

49. I think anyone in that position would have a great deal of risk anymore.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. K&R

Thanks, Joe. You have put into words what I have been feeling for a long time. I want to hear from our party's most senior statesmen and curiously they have remained silent. Why?

[Joe Fields]

6. You're welcome. We may never really "know" the answer to your

question, but we do have very strong suspicions as to why that is.

[LibDemAlways]

3. A year ago I was at an event with the parents of

a friend of my daughter. The girl's father told me he was a pretty reliable R voter, but that he was "looking forward" to voting for Gore, as were many of his similarly-minded friends. He actually expressed concern that Gore wouldn't run because "our country needs him." That was a republican talking. With Gore as our candidate, we would, indeed, be smiling now.

I respect Gore's decision, but I also very much regret it.

[Joe Fields]

50. Stories like your make me feel certain that if Gore were our nominee,

there would be massive republican defections to our side.

[LibDemAlways]

57. If Gore was the candidate, I doubt the repukes would try

to mount more than token opposition. It would be a landslide.

[Alexander]

4. If it's a stalemate between Clinton-Obama-Edwards, the convention could be deadlocked...

There's about as much chance of that as winning the lottery, but I can dream.

[LSK]

5. what bullshit?

I have not been in GDP for a few days.

:D

[Joe Fields]

9. Man, you did something that's hard to do. You made me smile!

:toast:

[Selatius]

7. He probably weighed the lives of 300 million Americans against the other 6 billion of the world.

And likely drew conclusions after looking at that.

[Joe Fields]

10. It can be argued that, as America goes, so goes the rest of the world.

[Selatius]

13. It can be argued both ways, as far as I'm concerned. Others would say that...

if the US won't lead, then the European powers, Japan, Australia, and other countries will simply bypass the US and move ahead with combating climate change. At a later date, when the US elects another Democrat to the White House, maybe America will then catch up.

[bpj62]

8. Honor and Dignity

In 1988 I had the pleasure of meeting Al Gore. He had just withdrawn from the 1988 race and my brother invited me to a party that Gore was throwing for all of the campaign staffers. He was not only pleasant but he was very personable and surprise surprise he likes to drink beer just like everyone else. He is a decent man who loves his wife and family and I think that he just decided he could do more for the world outside of the political ring then inside it. One of my most cherished items is a personally autographed "Earth in the Balance". He would have been my caniddate of choice. He was not tied to Clintons policies nor was he tied to the corpratists that currently run the party. His only mistake in 2000 was having Donna Brazile as his campaign adviser. She was and is one of the worst campaign managers I have ever met.

[Joe Fields]

14. It definitely would be an honor to meet him and converse in a

relaxed setting with the man. I believe he is a most decent and honorable man. My head spins, though, when I think about what might have been.

[Junkdrawer]

11. The media would have savaged him and Diebold would have "proven" the smear worked....

then he would have been silenced for good.

[Karenina]

22. AND Americans in NO WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM

supported his "in/decision" at levels at which I'd have felt comfortable "demanding" he throw his hat in the ring. Y'all are fickle, verdummert and your media make Pravda and Isvetzia look like amateurs. Al's house is too big!!! He flies in a private jet! (He's been hassled by TSA as has Ted Kennedy). I ain't in his shoes and I support whatever call he makes. He KNOWS who "they" are, what "they" do and how "they" do it. He grew up in it and is also one on "them."

This is a Civil Service Defense Announcement. Please tune in to your local station for details.

Hello Kiddies, our BIOSPHERE is COLLAPSING!!!

Americans MUST answer the call.

Same with Wexler. http://www.wexlerwantshearings.com (Is that it off the top of my greying head? If NOT one of you yung'uns fix the link, bitte). His petition has been up since before Xmas and to date 250,000? YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! No crowds, taped sawhorses, mounted police, tear gas, CIA disruptors, JUST THE CLICK OF A MOUSE and to date 250,000? YOU GOT TO BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!!! :argh:

[calmblueocean]

12. I think we all struggle with this.

Honestly, I was hoping for a Gore/Obama ticket. To me, that would've been phenomenal. Obama would've gotten 8 years to "season" himself as a VP, and we'd end up with 16 years of good Democratic governance.

More than that, though, we would've gotten the chance to set some things right. Nothing can undo the damage of the 2000 elections, and the past 8 years of institutionalized madness, but restoring Gore to the presidency would've been profoundly cathartic. It would've demonstrated to the world that we'd finally come to our senses, that America was back. Without even the chance to restore Gore to the office he rightfully earned, there is a sense in which no future president will ever be truly legitimate to me. It doesn't mean I can't support other candidates, but it does mean I recognize that justice hasn't been done, and will probably never be done in this case.

I understand why Gore wouldn't want to get in the ring again. He's sacrificed an enormous amount for this country already, and I believe he's convinced the system is broken in ways that are too fundamental for a mere president to fix. "The Assault on Reason" and Current TV are his attempts at leading the country out of the television stupor we're in today, one where we pursue images instead of facts. He's doing great work outside the political system, and I respect the fact that he feels he can be more successful leading global warming conferences in Bali as a private citizen than using what he feels are his limited campaign skills in today's cable news driven political news cycle.

But I wonder how he couldn't see what we see, that the presidency this year was basically an Al Gore shaped door -- all he had to do was walk through it. It's rare that one person holds so much potential in their hands. I don't really comprehend why Gore let it all slip through his fingers; what I do know is that America and the world are much worse off for it. The loss of his candidacy in 2008 and his presidency in 2009 is one of the great political tragedies of all time.

[Joe Fields]

17. Thank you. That analysis and lament deserves to be a thread of it's own.

What you and I have put into words is the great irony of fact, reason and supposition that many Americans wrestle with, when thinking about Al Gore. He HAS given us so much already. We do realize that he has the right to be a private citizen, still continuing to do good and important work on behalf of the world's citizens. But a hollowness and certain despair fills the void of an unfulfilled Gore presidency. As you said, it is one of the great political tragedies of all time.

[emmadoggy]

39. Wow. Ditto, ditto, ditto.

Especially your last paragraph..."But I wonder how he couldn't see what we see, that the presidency this year was basically an Al Gore shaped door -- all he had to do was walk through it. It's rare that one person holds so much potential in their hands. I don't really comprehend why Gore let it all slip through his fingers; what I do know is that America and the world are much worse off for it. The loss of his candidacy in 2008 and his presidency in 2009 is one of the great political tragedies of all time."

That is exactly how I feel about it too. Perfectly stated.

I really feel like this election was MEANT to be Al's - everything was perfectly aligned for him to rightfully take his place as our President, and for some reason, he chose to pass it up. Of course, the next President is going to have a monumentally difficult task, but Gore is the one who is most up for it, IMO.

I continue to lament that he is not our prime candidate right now. Everything just feels so out-of-whack. FUBAR. For the first time in my life, I feel genuinely afraid of the future. The news....all that is going on in the world, global warming, the near destruction of the US by the * administration, corporations, the media, and all the rest of it....well, it all makes me feel very helpless, hopeless, and heartbroken for my children and the future they will have. Gore becoming our next pres was my beacon of hope. Now, I am just sad, frightened, depressed and angry.




:cry:

[KoKo]

56. well said....

It would have healed to have the "Restoration." I don't think I will look at any other President again as legitimate, either. We haven't managed to clean up what happened in 2000 as hard as some activists have tried.

With the powers that Chimperor has usurped Gore is the only one I would trust as President to undo swiftly the harm that has been done. He could "signing statement" and "executive order" the restitution of our Constitutional Rights without involving the Repug and Dino's in Congress. There's much he could do with the new power of the Unitary President. I fear that power in others hands.. I feel Gore would not abuse it and would try to caretake it until a strong Congress is elected that isn't beholden to the Big Pharma and Telecom Industries.

[IDemo]

15. un-recommended

for following the MSM's ignore-Edwards-at-all-costs mantra. This is not a two person race, despite the media's insistence that it is.

[Joe Fields]

19. I understand you anger. To explain why I didn't include Edwards,

it is because I do not feel that he is a polarizing figure. Yes, he is very much in this race, although a clear underdog at this point. My point was that, if either Hillary or Obama become the nominee, their polarizing effect would most definitely be a galvanizing catalyst within the ranks of the republican party. Edwards would not be.

[IDemo]

23. Why this statement, then?

NO ONE who manages to occupy the White House in January of 2009 will have the brains, the backing or the determination to fix what is wrong with this country.

As much as I would have supported a run by Gore, he made his choice. But those of us who have actually followed John Edwards believe quite strongly that he has what it takes to move towards "fixing" the country.

[Joe Fields]

24. I made that statement because it is true.

I will vote for Edwards in the primary, but he is certainly no Al Gore. Edwards doesn't have the brains, the wisdom or the backing to accomplish what Gore could have done.

[IDemo]

27. We agree to disagree then

[Subdivisions]

28. I hate the media as much as anyone but I just don't

understand why people keep saying Edwards in being ignored. I haven't seen that at all. He's on CNN daily and I've even seen him on Fox as well as appearing on Letterman just a couple nights ago.

Put away the flamethrower. Sans Gore, I'm an Edwards suppporter.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. Gore was in a tough situation,

Without the clear track record of abuses from the Republican party, or more to the point, the aftermath of their intended and unintended consequences, it would have always been a tough act to go first. The media would have vilified him and stoked the Republicans further.

It was a tough spot to be in, in history.

[DS1]

18. One thing I've learned is to never predict what GOP voters will do

or what they are thinking. Even the most plainly logical conclusions which anyone with half a brain cell would support are often thrown out, just because then they feel like they're being told what to do.

[Joe Fields]

20. I don't know about that. I've done a fairlly good job of predicting

their behavior over the years. They tend to ignore issues that have a direct impact on their lives, yet salivate when their masters push hot button social issues, such as gay marriage, illegal immigration and the demonization of Muslims.

Just watch the republican puppet masters mention the word "Hillary," and then watch the pack get worked into a frenzy.

[Johonny]

21. or

Al Gore could have seen the voter might consider him a GE "loser" and that he would have lost the nomination to Hillary or Obama anyways. After all he knows what it's like already to run against the Clinton's political machine. That rant assumes Al Gore would have done well in this primary, but as Fred Thompson showed pre-entry into race polls don't always tell you too much how the voters will react.

[earth mom]

25. I'm not happy about it either BUT I figure Al had his own very good reasons not to run.

Maybe Al knows something we don't or maybe Al knows that this country is beyond repair.

I give Al the benefit of the doubt because of his integrity. I know he is doing the right thing for whatever reason.

Al deserves no less than that after having the presidency stolen from him.



Maybe one day we'll all understand....

[Duncan]

26. Totally agree and

I'm also continually disappointed every day that goes by without him endorsing Edwards, who clearly has the strongest stance on climate change and clearly is the closest to Gore on many issues, except perhaps getting rid of corporate control, on that issue he is stronger than Gore as far as I read it.

[Subdivisions]

29. Great post, Joe. Perhaps Denver will be our salvation? n/t

[Joe Fields]

32. What a longshot. But sometimes longshots do come in.

[Subdivisions]

34. I don't know, Joe. Look at how Clinton and Obama are going

at each other. It's a disgrace and it has divided the Party. One never knows.

[Joe Fields]

38. Agreed. It could happen. Then what, I wonder. It would be

a most interesting turn of events.

[OneBlueSky]

30. I'm also thoroughly pissed at Gore . . .

he owes it to the majority of voters who elected him in 2000, even though Bush and his Supreme Court cronies cheated him out of the presidency . . . after seeing it happen again in 2004, Gore should have gotten into the race with a promise to restore democracy in America and restore the environment across the planet . . . instead, he chose to keep making movies and speeches and sitting on corporate boards . . . and I find that infuriating . . .

[Joe Fields]

31. Love your sig line. Big Joni fan, here!

About Gore, A huge part of me understands that he has every right to do as he sees fit. He's an honorable man who has sacrificed any private life he may have had, going back to his Vietnam service. But there is also a part of me who feels like you feel. We really really needed him this time around, and his absence has lent to the situation we face today. Instead of being happy that we have a choice to make for the great good of mankind, I find myself faced with a choice of who is the more competent of lesser. I chose Edwards, though I am skeptical, due to past performance. Still, I think he wouldn't be a polarizing figure, and there is a lot to be said for that alone. We have had seven years of extreme polarization and isolation.

[MonkeyFunk]

33. The party's not being divided or destroyed

it's just a primary - and a pretty gentle one as far as these things go.

[Joe Fields]

35. I think it's pretty obvious that it is quite divided.

[MonkeyFunk]

40. because it's a PRIMARY!!

As long as there are multiple candidates, there will be a division. But it's temporary. Nothing unusual is going on this year, it's not worse than other years - it's just nonsensical to think so.

[Joe Fields]

41. Maybe that's how you choose to see things, but that's not how they are.

Just wait, watch and see what happens this next nine months. This will be the most divisive primary and election season in my life. One doesn't need a crystal ball to see it, if one has paid attention.

[bobbolink]

36. deleted, since someone isn't wanting to hear anything other than blame for gore.

[Joe Fields]

37. You missed the entire point of my post.

[Pastiche423]

42. Brokered convention

[Joe Fields]

44. If nominated, he WOULD serve...

[Pastiche423]

46. Yes, I believe he would

Have you watched his position videos?

His latest:

http://current.com/items/88817757_gay_men_and_women_should_have_the_same_rights

http://current.com/items/88817754_who_makes_the_decision

ETA: More videos:

http://current.com/people/algore

[Marnieworld]

47. This made me cry

I really wish that he was running. It just is such a sadness I feel that he isn't. I appreciate all of his views and activism and courage. This heart and mind should be the one with the most power to change and it breaks my heart that he won't be.

:cry:

[Joe Fields]

48. Yes I have, but thank you for putting the link up. Maybe others haven't.

[lutefisk]

43. After 7+ years of nothing making sense, Gore makes sense

I don't know if there has ever been such a clear choice for a leader. His decision is devastating in so many ways.
:cry:

[Joe Fields]

45. And to think what could've been...

had the election 8 years ago not been stolen.

[Liberal In Texas]

51. Who knows? He still might.

Consider this scenario. A brokered convention. Two brokered conventions.

The first in Denver. First the see-saw of Clinton/Obabma/Edwards has no clear conclusion. Edwards holds the "king-maker" cards and announces that Gore has decided to vie for the nomination. He walks over to Obama who relents, and joins Edwards. Gore walks in as the nominee and Obama will be his VP.

Next. In MSP, the Repukes are hopelessly deadlocked. They have nobody.
In walks Jeb. He names McCain as the VP nom. The also-rans back them and we're off to the races.

(OK, just science fiction, but no worse than any other prediction.)

[DesertRat]

52. kick

:kick:

[Kazak]

53. The irony of your avatar...

Allow me to add to the irony! :) This probably is just pie-in-the-sky thinking, but it is at least remotely possible that a brokered convention resulting in a Gore nomination is the big secret plan of the Democratic party? A sort of pulling out of the rug under the republic party, payback for 2000? Surely not! :)

[debbierlus]

54. No. He could not have & here is why:

The country is not READY for his policies. Al Gore would lead with Global Warming as the CENTER of his Presidency. He would be undertaking the issue as the life & death of all species of this planent. And, he would be crucified.

Five dollar a gallon gas MINIMUM to raise funds for alternative fuel technology (probably more would be needed). Surcharge on oil usage. Slashing defense budget programs to fund the rapid expansion of alternative energy technology. Mass regulations to
up the fuel standards on automobiles.

The country isn't ready....not YET. People in this country lead an entitled lifestyle, & whenever a politician talks about the reality it would take to change & the real sacrifices it would require, they are mangled by the media & the people cover their ears and won't listen. Hell, Jimmy Carter tried to talk about this in the 70s & he was considered a lunatic. We are JUST starting to realize the implications.

You can't lead people who won't follow or actively participate. What Gore would require of US, we can't yet give. The perception change needs to come. And, when it does. Gore can lead.

Let McCain have it this time. Let him deal with the fall out & scape-goating for eight years of Bush. Let the country really FEEL the full impact of what fifty years of military industrial economy & scorched earth development has done (the culmination reaching its peak in these Bush years)...Four more years & the American people MIGHT be ready for the challenge facing us ALL.

People get the politicians they deserve.

[cgrindley]

55. Why did everyone waste their breath on pretending that Gore would run?

when he said that he wasn't going to run? It was really really wasteful of time and energy. And as far as I can tell, not one of the GORE WILL RUN people ever offered an apology to the voices of reason that said: no, he's not going to. He said he wasn't going to, and he didn't.