Just saw F911. Angry as hell with the Dems right now

[ecstatic]

Yes, I know I'm late as hell but I finally got around to seeing F911.

Why didn't any Senators stand with the CBC? Kerry? Clinton? Kennedy? Edwards? Was the disenfranchisement of thousands of African Americans not important enough? I was extremely disgusted during that scene, especially at the way Gore kept shouting the Representatives down.

After seeing that movie, I actually considered voting for Nader. That is my frustration level at this time. However, I cannot play a role in Bush getting another 4 years. I will be holding my nose as I vote this November.

[Dookus]

1. This was discussed once or twice here, I believe

Al Gore himself asked his colleagues NOT to do so. He had already conceded, and in fact, that was the ONLY option available. Had it gone to the House of Representatives for resolution, they would've simply intalled Bush anyway, and by doing so, would have ADDED legitimacy to his presidency.

If Al Gore had asked, I bet EVERY democratic senator would've signed the petition. Joe Lieberman certainly would have.

The fact is, the game was already long over by that point - there was NO scenario under which Al Gore could've become President.

[ecstatic]

2. My concern is not over Gore

Its over the thousands of disenfranchised voters--but thanks for hearing my concerns.

[Dookus]

4. I understand

but I don't think it's fair to say nobody in the Senate cared about the disenfranchisement as evidenced by not signing the CBC petition.

If you think Al Gore didn't care about the disenfranchisement, then there's little more I can say. He fought very hard, and he lost. NOTHING was going to change the outcome.

[cidliz2004]

8. I think that Friedman said it best

Al Gore was a true hero and took the bullet when he conceded and when he stood on that Floor and listened to the disenfranchised voters go down one by one.....well it must have been incredibly painful for this man. My heart broke for him in that scene. He has every right to pound the pulpit and break loose with passion on what he believes - HE EARNED IT WITH HIS BLOOD SWEAT AND TEARS!

[progressivebydesign]

6. It's true, it was Gore's choice not to fight any further.

I agree with you, it angers me to see how many voters were left behind in that election. I think Gore, from how I see his personality, felt that it was his call to ask that no steps be taken to draw it out. I've watched several of his speeches since, he is VERY passionate about those disenfranchised voters.. I think he knew it was a lost cause, and perhaps did not want to see any other political careers destroyed over it.. as his nearly was. He didn't do it out of malice or indifference to the voters, he did it to be the better person, probably, in his eyes and let the issue die.

[LTR]

15. That's the best explanation I've heard of it.

Makes sense.

Let's be real, if there was a chance, somebody would have voted for it. Wellstone was even around then.

[s8hanse1]

3. Keep In Mind

Gore told all Senators to not sign. Don't waste your vote on a candidate who gets his name on the ballot because of Republican signatures.

[jdj]

5. I only blame myself.

I was in a utopian-esque frame of mind during the whole Clinton era. Which looking back, is really hard to believe considering that they tried to impeach him. Who did I think I was, really.

I didn't understand about the seething underbelly of republican politics, and how these warped people will do anything for money, anything to get in and stay in power. I thought we would be permanently going forward, I didn't understand the power of the forces that would be soon pulling us backward into the dark ages. I don't think anyone understood this. Our only hope is to counter the right-wing media machine, so people will truly understand how entrenched the forces of evil really are in this country. If we don't do this, we deserve whatever we get.

Democratic politicians constantly have to ride the wave of public sentiment, so whatever they have done to disappoint us, they can do absolutely nothing if they are not elected or re-elected. The onus is on us.

[RodneyCK2]

11. Very well said and I agree...

It wasn't until the 2000 election that I think a lot of the fog concealing the dirty, right-wing politics lifted and people began to see all the underhanded business at work. This is why documentaries like F911 and The Hunting of a President are so important.

[foo_bar]

7. wasn't Clinton still a senator-in-waiting?

not that it would've made a huge difference, I'm guessing.

Even Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott had to address her as "madame president" in order to be recognized on the floor and read the Senate schedule. "Without objection, so ordered," Clinton said.

http://www.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/stories/01/24/hillary.senate/index.html

[Proud2BAmurkin]

9. Gore did what was required of him (won the election) n/t

n/t

[joefree1]

10. Where the hell were any of us?

None of us were prepared for the onslaught of the rethuglicans.

This November will be different.

[demgrrrll]

13. I think that people thought things would pretty much go on as they

always had which is why Nader's not a dimes worth of difference between the two candidates resonated with some voters. This administration has administered one body blow after another, I'm punch drunk. Reminds me of the scene in The Natural when Redford says but I should of seen it coming and Glen Close replies how could you have known. Continuing the metaphor using the same film the Republicans are the Judge and his cronies up in the office waiting and hoping for the Natural to strike out. It is the basic difference in human nature. I like to think Democrats are more like Glen Close, who stood up because she didn't want to see Redford fail.. but I digress. We didn't see it coming or at least no one I know could see the ferocity with which this administration would decimate everything we hold dear. A vote for Nader didn't seem like the huge risk that it turned out to be.

[RodneyCK2]

12. We also have to realize that it was the first time the wool...

was pulled over our eyes. Many of us were stunned and confused that something like the Florida debacle could even happen, let alone be the outcome of some right-wing plot.

If you really want to make yourself angry, but well informed over the whole Florida recount and upset, watch the documentary "Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election."

[OneBlueSky]

14. nope . . . the Democrats aren't perfect . . . far from it, in fact . . .

but they're several levels of magnitude better than the Christianoid wingers who base their foreign policy on the apocalypse and currently control our government . . . assuming Kerry wins in November, that doesn't mean our job is done . . . in fact, it will just be starting . . .

[AlFrankenFan]

16. That made me madder than hell

I was practically screaming at the screen all the names of senators I could and was furious. But what it did show me that Moore doesn't spare either party. But when snapped back into the reality of it...I tried to tell myself that this happened already, we can't do nothing...but still. Now I've got myself talkin' in fragments....