Gore Says Don't Count on a 2008 Run

[sabra]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/06/04/politics/p082508D39.DTL&type=politics

Gore Says Don't Count on a 2008 Run

Al Gore, the Democrats' nominee for the White House in 2000, says he has all but ruled out running for president in 2008, saying the best use of his time is to educate people about global warming.

"I haven't made a Sherman statement, but that's not an effort to hold the door open. It's more the internal shifting of gears," said Gore, referring to Civil War-era general William Tecumseh Sherman. "I can't imagine any circumstances in which I would become a candidate again. I've found other ways to serve. I'm enjoying them."

Gore referred to Sherman's famous words upon retiring from the Army in 1884, which put to rest talk of a presidential run: "If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve."

Gore, in an interview broadcast Sunday on ABC's "This Week," stopped short of issuing such an equivocal statement. But he said his time is best spent educating people on heat-trapping gases raising the Earth's surface temperature. He's promoting "An Inconvenient Truth," a film that chronicles his intricate slide shows on global warming.

[saltpoint]

1. Al Gore will make a few more appearances in connection with his

film and then he's going to Hollywood to revive Westerns.

It's his dream.

[progressivebydesign]

2. That blows. If he really wants to stop global warming, he'd run.

But I guess he doesn't see it that way. the most effective seat in the house, so to speak, is as president of the United States. He wants to stop global warming, not just talk about stopping it? Then you have to have the power to do it. Wish he'd reconsider. He is the greatest political story in American history just waiting to be written, and he won't let it happen. sad. Doing a wonderful film about global warming that only people who already believe it in will see is fine... but being in a position to MAKE things happen to stop it.. geez that's a no-brainer.

[jerry611]

3. He probably doesn't want to go through the process again

Running for President is said to be the most exhausting experience you could ever imagine. It takes a mental toll and the stress is unbelieveable.

Gore probably doesn't want to put his family through that again.

[Joe Bacon]

10. Sadly, I understand that.

I've been reading Bob Somerby's Daily Howler where Bob chronicles how much the PRE$$TITUTE$ still hate Al Gore with a passion.

http://www.dailyhowler.com

I can understand why Al wouldn't want to run. Liars like Maureen Dowd, Adam Nagourney, Frank Rich and Kathleen Seelyee still love to attack Al every chance they can.

[Benhurst]

12. From his point of view I can understand it. The problem is that

the same media whores are going to go after anyone we put up. I think Gore, having alread won once, would be less vulnerable to such attacks.

[goforit]

9. Well, he's educating at the grass route level. Running in 2008 means

Running against every corrupt CEO in America and all their thugs.

You really think the voting won't be rigged for a
fifth time(2000,2002, 2004,2006,and 2008)?
You really think our votes will be counted fairly?

I would give everything in the world to have Gore run and win, but
Corruption has run amock and who ever wins the election will be
the chosen one of the most corrupt of all.
Biden/Hillary/McCain/....and many more.

Quite frankly WE the people do need to throw not just the tea-bags over board but the entire cargo. This, once again would be a
rebirth of a new democracy.

[heartofthesiskiyou]

4. Yea this totally sucks to throw water

We got everything we need to take this all the way to this finish line except a central leadership figure to rally around. This whole game is won and lost on leadership. To put everything out there and think that 'I'll just step aside and someone else will deal with it' doesn't work. I'm stopping everything right now and writing him to inform him he's been drafted. I think he needs to be pushed. In my opinion he doesn't even need to sit back and wait for HC to announce before he goes forward. He could do it right now and find in a matter of less then a month he'd be at or near even with HC. There is a veritable army ready for leadership and he will hear this from at least one dem, ME.

[baby_bear]

5. Me, too

Gore is the one hope we have, not just for this country, but for the planet. He really does have a duty, if he believes in what he says, and I think he does. Yes, Mr. Gore, you've been drafted.

I'm writing to him now.

b_b

[Emillereid]

26. I recently was interviewed about my opinions regarding LNG stations

in a town nearby (Oxnard, CA) and the interviewer afterwards said that he talks to thousands and thousands of people and most Americans are enraged -- the republicans are pissed with Bush and the Democrats are pissed at Bush and the democratic party. He said he felt the people were waiting for the right leader to articulate their rage -- and totally move the country in another direction. I personally think that Gore is the best national politician for that role -- he has already won once and deserves to have his presidency restored -- doing so would a long way to restoring our democracy. He also has total name recognition, he is one of the most honest and seems to have found his voice. I think we have to convince Gore that the survival of this country and world depend on his presidency -- we have to have someone in the presidency with his vision and understanding of the complex issues the human race are facing.

THE WORLD CAN'T WAIT!
Al Gore in '08

[gulfcoastliberal]

6. Heard Gore on the Bob Edwards XM weeekend show andjust now on "Fresh Air"

With Bob Edwards he was very direct, clear and concise aboutthe urgency of the problem. Said it directly affects he survival of humanity. Denied plans of running each interview, but keepingmy fingers crossed. He's so muchmore dignified than the typical overpaid actor running the gauntlet of PR appearancefpr their latest movie. Gore sounds great!

[Minnesota Libra]

7. If Gore truly doesn't run in 08 I'm going to need plenty of...............

....Pepto Bismol:puke: because I'm going to be sick for days on end:puke: and will also need a bunch of clothes pins to plug my nose :cry: with when I pull that handle or push that button for anyone else. :hurts:

[politicasista]

17. So you would rather sit 08 out and let the repukes win? n/t

[Clarkie1]

25. Now that is crazy. n/t

[rucky]

27. It's a short list, isn't it? n/t

[rocktivity]

8. "I haven't made a Sherman statement...I can't imagine any circumstances

in which I would become a candidate again..."

Parse goes the weasel!

:evilgrin:
rocknation

[fleabert]

11. saw the movie last night- EVERYONE should see it.

I wish he would run, he kicks ass!

[halobeam]

13. I saw it last night too...

I'm bringing my kids to see it, this week. I was on a thread a few minutes ago, saw a picture of Al in Louisiana, all sweaty and REAL. I feel like crying over the shallowness of our "democracy" right now. I know it didn't happen overnight, and yes, THIS is the time for consequences.

Dig in, and encourage someone to join you. We've got a lot of fixin' to do.

I wish Al Gore would lead us, but there are many good men, who are capable of doing so. Educating ourselves on who they are, and standing behind them is another thing that tops the list of priorities. Just a few thoughts.

[DesertRat]

14. I saw it too

I urge everyone to see An Inconvenient Truth. Urge your friends and family to go...heck, buy their ticket especially if they are disposed to vote for Repugs. I'm going to buy tickets for my college age kids to go and take their friends.

It's not as depressing as I feared, it's actually an exhilarating call to action! Al Gore We Need you!! :bounce:

[cdsilv]

15. Anyone read 'State of Fear' by Michael Crichton? Interesting take ....

on global warming....

[DesertRat]

16. State of Fear is unscientific fiction

This is what the Union of Concerned Scientists said about that book:

"Anyone can delve into the climate literature and come to a deeper understanding of global climate change evidence. Yet the literature examples Crichton picked, and the way they are presented, seem to make a case against global warming. Scientists with climate expertise have considered not just the narrow sampling of the scientific literature that Crichton cites but many hundreds of additional papers in order to understand the full complexity of the climate system.

Climate scientists agree on the most basic key points while they continue to refine such questions as the magnitude and rate of climate change. The National Academy of Sciences, The American Geophysical Union, The American Meteorological Society, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have all issued statements affirming that climate change is underway, the impacts are significant, and humans have influenced recent climate changes. Although Crichton likes to claim that consensus is not relevant in science, we disagree. When scientists with climate-relevant expertise evaluate the data and the majority comes to the same basic conclusion, this is an important result."

http://www.ucsusa.org/

[hatrack]

29. I hear that CEI and Cato also have "interesting takes" on global warming

Are all your posts this pathetic?

[wisteria]

18. I like what Gore is doing now, but I really don't want see him to run

again.

[President Kerry]

19. nobody's more passionate or genuine than him.

There are more than a few well-meaning Dems out there, and whoever comes out, they'll get my vote. But Al not running, after he got the MAJORITY of the popular vote, and in effect won the 2000 election... man, that's just wrong.

Run, Al, run! If you change your mind the day before the '08 election, you'll still get my vote!

[xthetylerx]

20. Why is it...

that no matter how many times/ways/fashions/manners Al Gore says he's not running for President, I silently think..."Yeah, he will?"

While it seems like his mind is pretty much made up, perhaps he'll see the opportunity he has to recover the nation and run. Either way, he is still a great guy. I even wrote him recently...has anyone else? Anything back?

[ificandream]

21. He left the door open ... sort of ...

The fact he specifically mentioned "the Sherman statement" sounds like a way to give him an out to change his mind. It's not much, but though I hope he will change his mind, I won't be surprised if he doesn't. He knows the GOPtards would go after him about the 2000 election (that those jerks stole). I think he'd be a hell of an improvement over anything the GOPtards could come up with. (Makes me imagine how much better it would be now if the GOPtards hadn't stolen 2000....)

[Guaranteed]

23. He hasn't made a decision, by his answer.

Don't worry. I'm thinking he'll run.

[Guaranteed]

22. I just watched the whole interview, and the best way to describe his

answer is "non-commital."

Stephanopolous asked him something like "so it's not going to happen?" and Gore immediately smacked that down as NOT being what he said. He's not making a Shermanesque statement, he said.

[goodboy]

24. we need to draft president gore. He's our best chance. after all, he

won last time.=

[agio]

28. I don't think he should run for pres

This may be unpopular but, I think Gore can do a lot more by staying focused on educating people about global warming.

Maybe he will become our first Secretary of the Department of Climate Stewardship.

[rhett o rick]

30. Sooo, who should run? Pleez not Hillary. Welcome to DU. nm

[Proud Liberal Dem]

31. Now may not be the best time to announce his candidacy

I don't want to hold out any "false hope" that he may run but if he announces that he plans to run for the Presidency NOW instead of closer to 2008, the GOP/Media will have nearly 2 years to continue their trashing of Al Gore that started during the 2000 election and any Democrats who are seriously thinking about running for President in 2008 would see him as a potential threat to their candidacies. In essence, we would likely start seeing the unofficial beginning of the 2008 Democratic primaries, which could potentially distract us from our real prize of taking Congress back this year. There is still some time yet for Gore to reconsider his position about running and it sounds like he hasn't committed to staying out of the race either but, tactically, it would probably NOT be a good idea to firmly commit to running for the Presidency NOW.

[jerry611]

32. If he was going to run, he wouldn't say anything

If you look at the rest of the possible contenders, they are not saying either way.

Gore is closing his own door... Reality is that he probably doesn't want to put his family through that process again.

[Twig]

33. I won't vote for Hillary..

As far as I'm concerned, Gore might be our only hope. Why why why why isn't someone standing up???? Why isn't someone out there _right now_ ready to lead this (Democratic)party? Do we have no one at all with charisma? Who people will follow and trust that they will do right by the American people - ALL the Americans, not just the rich ones (well, they're in the Shrub's pocket anyway)?

I would certainly vote for Gore over Hillary any day - she has turned her back on us.

TWIG

[gauguin57]

34. Time mag reported last week that Gore is releasing his fundraisers ...

... the story said he has told his largest fundraisers that they are free to support other potential presidential candidates, and that they should tell everyone "I'm not running."

*sigh*