Gore to "challenge Bush presidency"...

[fooj]

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=49140


Gore to Address "Constitutional Crisis"

It sounds as if Al Gore is about to deliver what could be not just one of the more significant speeches of his political career but an essential challenge to the embattled presidency of George W. Bush.

In a major address slated for delivery Monday in Washington, the former Vice President is expected to argue that the Bush administration has created a "Constitutional crisis" by acting without the authorization of the Congress and the courts to spy on Americans and otherwise abuse basic liberties.

Aides who are familiar with the preparations for the address say that Gore will frame his remarks in Constitutional language. The Democrat who beat Bush by more than 500,000 votes in the 2000 presidential election has agreed to deliver his remarks in a symbolically powerful location: the historic Constitution Hall of the Daughters of the American Revolution. But this will not be the sort of cautious, bureacratic speech for which Gore was frequently criticized during his years in the Senate and the White House.

Indeed, his aides and allies are framing it as a "call to arms" in defense of the Bill of Rights and the rule of law in a time of executive excess.

The vice president will, according to the groups that have arranged for his appearance -- the bipartisan Liberty Coalition and the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy -- address "the threat posed by policies of the Bush Administration to the Constitution and the checks and balances it created. The speech will specifically point to domestic wiretapping and torture as examples of the administration's efforts to extend executive power beyond Congressional direction and judicial review."

<snip>

Gore and Bob Barr...that's an interesting combo, isn't it?

Peace.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Fellow Dems..

THIS could be what we're waiting for.

Please God, please.

[fooj]

3. I am sooooo frightened right now. I really am.

Peace.

[Jamnt]

88. Excited...YES!

Frightened...no way.....bring it on baby!!

[tatertop]

19. Let this be the start. I will stand with Gore any day, any time.

[Zodiak]

40. I'm with you

The present incarnation of Al Gore has earned my respect a thousand-fold.

[tatertop]

81. I will work for Gore

[roguevalley]

83. Gore is my president

[HeatherDawn]

2. I am glad someone is going to say something

I bet the main stream media will make little or no mention of his speech. Do you know if CSPAN will air it?

[fooj]

5. I've already called and asked them to televise. (C-Span)

Who knows anymore.

Peace.

[sasha031]

50. they are

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=133281&mesg_id=133281

[One_of_8]

7. I hope Dems in Congress will take note

Dems, Independents, Greens, and any others who want to save our Constitution and our country from the mob that's taken over, please work together! Listen to what Al Gore has to say and coordinate the response and follow up.

[fooj]

10. I agree.

Peace.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[fooj]

8. Damn it- HE DIDN'T SIT ON HIS ASS!

He fought the bastards. He did. I fought with him. Damn.

[NYCGirl]

11. Were you asleep for the SIX WEEKS he fought the election results

right up to the Supreme Court without any help from the Democrats? How dare you call him names!

[fooj]

13. I wasn't sleeping, NYC! He fought his heart out.

Peace:hug:

[NYCGirl]

15. Tularetom must've been in a coma or something.

:hi:

[fooj]

21. I've never turned on Al...

and I never will.

:hi:

Peace.

[karynnj]

24. It's kind of hard to appeal a Supreme Court decision

What could he have possibly done?

[fooj]

25. If anyone has a score to settle...

it's Al.

Peace.

[Tiggeroshii]

38. The certification process would have overruled the Supreme Court

If Congress felt differently, their not certifying the results would have overruled the courts decision. Congress had the power, but Gore and other Dems felt it was right to honor the Supreme Court's decision. Now, obviously, they regret it horribly.

[Tiggeroshii]

37. We just all wish he and other Dems would have done something

during the certification process in congress. That would have overruled the Supreme Court's decision and if he had stood up, if Tom Daschle had stood up and if any Dem Senator would have, we would probably have had a diffrerent pres. We would need 51 votes to decertify, we had 50 Dems, Gore's vote would have been the deciding one...

[renie408]

12. *sigh*

Can we, the members of this party at this time, afford to dismiss ANYONE who is willing to fight the good fight? Why does it appear that some Democrats expect perfection from their leaders? They are not prescient. Do you REALLY think that Gore was sitting around in November of 2000 thinking, "Gee, what can I do to really fuck the country up for the next eight years....hmmmmm???" He did it the wrong way, but he did the best he could at the time. Maybe he followed bad advice. Maybe he made a misstep. But for christ's sake, he is just a GUY. Guys screw it up and sometimes in really important situations. Good guys do what they can to repair their mistakes and keep on working. Only Republicans are supposed to think their politician's are gods. It seems to me that if Gore is willing to fight this administration, the least we can do is forgive him. Maybe not forget, but certainly forgive.

[fooj]

16. Exactly...he may have made a "misstep"

BUT HE NEVER STOPPED FIGHTING THESE RAT BASTARDS! And he NEVER CONCEDED!!!

Peace.

[tatertop]

14. I back what Al Gore is doing 100 percent

We have to start somewhere.

[asjr]

18. If you have to blame anyone blame the

Supreme Court. Al Gore was, is, and always will be a man of the people. We sure would not be in the mess we are if the Supreme Court had had more liberals on it. They would have known what SCOTUS did was unconstitutional.

[fooj]

20. $1000 dollars says that

O'Connor wishes she had ruled differently. Take it to the bank!

peace.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

23. I couldn't disagree with you more

He took it all the way to the Supreme Court, which is more than some other people did. What more could he have done, short of trying to put a coup together and end up hung for treason?

His years off, I believe, were his way of staying sane. He was used and abused and just too invested. He had to pull out in order to keep living.

[renie408]

33. I think you are dead on

He had to be sucked dry after 2000. And he also had to be especially...wounded (?)...by the way his fellow Dems treated him afterwards. As I recall, he was dropped like a hot potato and a lot of Dems were busy sucking up to Bush.

[lostnfound]

78. I really respect your comments for recognizing him as a human being

Can he leap tall buildings in a single bound? No.
Is he a darned fine human being and a great statesman? Yes.

Why do people expect miracles??

[jbnow]

86. His years off helped him

become himself I think.

He was so...proper before. In politics since childhood, dry and self contained in public. (I hear he was a lot more fun in person)

But since he came back he is so real and full of fire. Love it!

[CTLawGuy]

32. Are you serious?

He fought all the way to the Supreme Court for a month and a half after the election. What did you want him to do, bribe Justice O'Connor?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

35. It took enormous courage

and sense of justice for him to take it so far. He was reviled by so many for not just slinking away the day after the election. The first and only to ever do it.

[tkmorris]

46. With all due respect

You don't know what you're talking about. Gore did everything he could have done at that time and has more than walked the walk since. I sure don't recall seeing thousands standing beside me outside that Palm Beach County courthouse while they were recounting the vote. Maybe the man could have used a little more support.

[madmunchie]

53. How old are you 4? He fought up to the Bush appointed Supreme

Court? Were you not around during that time? We all watched as all of the rest of the Dem's sat on their asses and let Gore hang in the wind while he fought it out and up to the Supreme Court ALONE ? Where was the outrage of the Democratic Party? Where was the Democratic Party's support for Gore??????? That is the question!

[BlueIris]

75. Oh, please. That's giving him/her way too much credit. 2 at the oldest.

"Mommy, mommy, why is the gangster winning? Why can't we fight the gangster? It's so easy! Guns? What are those? Bought judiciary? Huh? What's a justice? Lack of a free media? Recount? Waaaaah! Blankie! Dems can't lead! What's leadership again? Wa-ha-hah!"

[mirandapriestly]

54. One man couldn't fight ORGANIZED CRIME

which is really what BushCo is.

[Tiggeroshii]

6. When is this gonna be?

I read the article, didn't see a date. is it marked?

[fooj]

9. Monday.

Peace.

[Frustratedlady]

22. Are You Referring To The Bob Barr

from Georgia? His involvement is a good thing? I guess I don't understand, but would like to hear opinions.

[fooj]

27. I know it's crazy, but he came out RIGHT AWAY against

these wiretaps! Immediately.

Peace.

[Pachamama]

82. It's not crazy! TRUE Republicans still remember what they stand for!

We might not all be fans of Bob Barr and likely disagree on more than agree....however, Republicans who remember what they used to stand for know this much:

- Practice Fiscal Conservatism (Not happening from Bushco.)
- Keep Gov't Small (Also not happenibg under Bushco.)
- Keep Gov't OUT of OUR PRIVATE LIVES AND HOME! (Can you say "Schiavo" or warrantless wiretaps?)

I just keep waiting for other "real" Republicans to start waking up and speaking out...

[fooj]

84. Really. We are waiting...

Peace.

[ddeclue]

55. OK...here's the skinny on Barr as a long time but former Atlanta resident.

Barr hated Clinton and was an arch conservative just like Newt Gingrich. In fact both are from Georgia.

I too have a Democrat's tendency to slam first and ask questions later when it comes to Bob Barr, Newt Gingrich, and Larry Klayman of JudicialWatch after watching "Monicagate" back in the 90's.

Barr however is an ideological conservative who believes in the Constitution and the rule of law. He was a prosecutor before he ran for Congress and he despises the current Bush administration for all its Constitutional overreaching and law breaking. He in fact has joined with the ACLU to work against things like the Patriot Act and has spoken out against the Bush's illegal and actually felonious wiretaps of American citizens in violation of the FISA law.

So as much as you want to jump Bob for going after Clinton, this time, pull your punches and listen to Bob first because believe it or not he is on our team about Bush's usurping of the Constitution and violations of the law.

(Larry Klayman has set his FOIA sights on the Bush administration as well for similar reasons.)

Doug D.
Orlando,FL

on edit: P.S.: It adds a lot of weight to our cause when an otherwise natural political ally of the President like Barr comes out against him over his impeachable acts. It's no longer political business as usual when this happens.

Additional conservatives who have spoken out against Bush include George Will and John Dean. Please check out their recent editorials on the subject of the wiretaps.

[mirandapriestly]

56. I think it's good that Barr's a "Con" nt

[Cha]

58. As they say..

"Politics make Strange Bedfellows"..

[ebayfool]

72. I would take any help we can get against the criminals in the WH ...

even from Barr. But I'd make damn sure he was standing in front of me, hands in full view ... not behind me.

Many keep saying he's a conservative, true believer in 'the rule of law' - but I remember the man clearly relishing his role in every step of the 'Clinton Death by a Thousand Cuts'! I really don't think he's that ardent of a supporter of the Constitution & the law - I think (imho) that he's worried about how his party will fare in the future, after they've allowed the executive branch all this leeway. I'm sure he & others in the gop have entertained thoughts of just how different their witch hunt could have gone if the WH had the presumed powers to select & interpret the law as they saw fit.

No way do any repubs want to see a future Dem Prez with the latitude they've allowed the current pretender - it would be terribly 'unfair' if we used the precedent they've set here against them, now wouldn't it?! Barr & those goppers who are backing up on their leader are certainly entertaining thoughts of their own futures as much as having an attack of rule of law. This way they can point at the few pushes against *ushco's attacks on the American public & claim that a Dem Prez can't do the same thing - cuz they were against it all along. Kinda having their cake & eating it, too.

Use Barr & what he can bring to the table, but watch him ... & never forget the venomous tongue behind the smile.

Strange bedfellows, indeed! Next thing you know, Clarence Thomas is gonna stand up & align himself w/womens' rights.

[ddeclue]

73. You can't always assume the worst ...even in politics.

Give Barr some credit..I don't personally like the guy and I wouldn't trust him over a Social Security bill but I think he is quite sincere about the PATRIOT Act and Bush's illegal acts like torture and wiretaps, etc. I think his prosecutor roots are ultimately more important to him than being a Republican.

Doug D.

[ebayfool]

77. Oh, I'm willing to be pleasantly surprised! But, Barr gets credit after ..

he's earned it w/me. He's so far down the demerit hole that it'll take quite some doing for him to get on the surplus side.

I've yet to be let down (assuming the worst in politics) by the right side of the aisle. I don't apply the same assumptions to aspects outside of politics, that's a whole different thing - you are correct @ that. But Barr's prosecutor side had no problems w/invasion of privacy, paid liars for the gop, damage to the office of the presidency, etc during the Clinton WH.

He relished the whole process - I spent years watching the pleasure that troupe garnered from their inquisition. He wasn't just being the law-protecting prosecutor. He liked the whole nasty bit 'o business! To me that means he's not to be trusted w/out some kind of oversight.

Like I said, I wouldn't turn down any aid to stop the steamroller in DC - but some, I want to be able to see their hands at all times! He's tops on that list for me.

Your mileage, of course, may vary! It's always good to get differing input (esp. from someone who's in state w/the subject) & I do pay attention to your posts, you have some astute insights. But, on Bob Barr, I'm unable to drop any guard. All I can say is I hope he can 'pleasantly surprise' me - I'm more than ready to see a true act of patriotism from that side of the gulch! I'm even bookmarking this so I can eat crow if he doesn't revert to the good old days ... & I'll do it gladly. Meanwhile - show me them open hands! LOL!

[Cha]

74. Sound advice!

:thumbsup:

[Frustratedlady]

65. Thanks for the Explanations

I agree the cross-overs get double points for standing up for what's right, rather than following their party blindly.

I just remember he left a bad taste in my mouth, but wasn't sure why.

[ddeclue]

66. MonicaGate was why...

He also has a typically Republican/prosecutor uptight personality that comes across on camera, he never smiles or makes jokes. (Not sure what the Georgia voters saw in him to elect him but they too were suburban Republicans so maybe they like that sort of personality.)

Doug D.

[Frustratedlady]

69. Yeah, you are probably right.

I still think she was paid to set that up. She still making purses?:-)

[ddeclue]

71. I don't know but who would want one?? Yechh!!!

Doug D.

[AZBlue]

17. I so wish I could be there!

Why, oh why, did I leave the east coast?
:banghead:

[electropop]

51. I'm going with my wife.

Constitution Hall is just a few blocks from here. I'm juiced.

[fooj]

61. Good for you! Please. Please. Let us know how it went.

Peace.

[electropop]

67. You bet!

I'll write a report.

[AZBlue]

79. That would be great!! Thank you!

It will be a very welcomed post here!!!

Have fun!

[TlalocW]

26. Not to be a downer but...

What good will this do? Al's not in the government, and I don't think he's going to tell the democrats who are anything they haven't been hearing about Bush but have been too chicken to act on.

TlalocW

[NYCGirl]

28. As a former 8 year VP, he carries considerable clout.

Have you heard any of his other speeches?

[fooj]

29. Al may not be in the govt., however, he managed to get himself

to New Orleans with TWO JETS when his country needed him. HE ANSWERED THE CALL!

peace.

[ailsagirl]

49. The man is integrity personified... I think he's fantastic n/t

[ddeclue]

62. I still can't get over George Bush making Louisiana "fly over" country..

I mean George comeon now, ordering the pilots of AF1 to circle low over N.O. and then continue on to Washington...that's just "rubbernecking" at the scene of an accident as we say in the South.

I would have ordered AF1 to land and take as many people out of that hell hole as I could back with me to Washington and would have ordered the 2 C5's or C17's that follow me around with all the supplies and vehicles that go with being President to land also, dump those supplies and equipment for use (we're talking ambulances, fire trucks, helicopters, etc.) and take as many passengers with THEM as they could also.

What a screwed up wasted opportunitiy to do something heroic George!

THAT's why no one cared about your speech in Jackson Square later on and why so many of them are still p*ssed at you - it was too little and FAR too late and it will never make up for your "flyover" when you should have gotten out at the scene of the accident and rendered whatever aid you could have at THAT VERY MOMENT.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[Steve A Play]

76. About that 'fly over'

Keep in mind that all air operations in the worst hit areas of N.O. had to be suspended while he gawked at the destruction. All rescues, aid deliveries, and relief flights were put on hold so he could have a photo op.

Keep that in mind the next time some idiot parrots that tired old bogus 'Clinton's haircut on the tarmac' story.

Steven P. :kick:

[renie408]

30. Look at nearly all the posts (bar one) above yours. THAT'S what

good it will do. Democrats need to hear somebody fighting for them. And maybe seeing the reaction Gore gets will light some kind of small fire in the Dems in Washington.

[renie408]

31. Sorry...double post n/t

[appal_jack]

44. lots of good...

I have to agree with above posters cheering Gore on. Good that can come of it might include: inspiration, a growing Democratic Party membership, a new resolve to fight and win among the constituency, a heightened awareness of Bill of Rights issues on a national level, and much more. Hopefully, he will catch the ears of poth "regular folks" (like myself and my coworkers - it could then become good water-cooler converation at the job I work to support my farming-habit) and also the ears of sitting Senators, Representatives and Judges.

In another post (yesterday) in GD: Politics, I ragged on John Edwards and his too-little, too-late petition drive against Scalito. In that case, it's just LAME, since Johhnny-boy GAVE UP a seat in the Senate that he could have been occupying right now. Too bad his power-lust and delusions of grandeur led him to abandon the people of NC (myself included).

In Gore's case, he may have stumbled (badly and repeatedly) in the 2000 campaign, but he rarely betrayed core Democratic principles along the way (choosing Loserman as a runningmate and all that followed from that is a possible exception). I believe that Gore's experiences of being "handled" by swing-vote chasing "strategists" in the 2000 election have given him some considerable wisdom, plus a new resolve to speak truth to power. I really respect that, and welcome his elder-statesman participation in this fight.
-app

[fooj]

34. AL WILL BE TELEVISED ON C-SPAN!!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x133281

peace.

[wiley]

36. Great!

Even though Barr is really quite far from my social beliefs, he actually understands how CORRUPT REPUBLICANS are actually rewriting the constitution while claiming to defend it - from those who believe that America should be a fascist state. I'm not voting for him or anything, but he is a strong pro-privacy advocate.

[Uncle Joe]

39. Excellent post fooj!

Kicked and nominated!

:kick:

[AzDar]

41. Gore fought! I'd vote for him again in a heartbeat....but I won't get

my hopes up again.When I recall the AMAZING job he did hosting SNL in '03 (I believe), and I thought 'oh, thank God, he's on top of his game and he's going to wipe the floor with F*&kface, we are saved'!!! Then the following week he announced he wouldn't be running...I stayed in bed for 3 days.
America needs Gore like never before( hey,...could be a slogan!).

[Cha]

60. I remember that moment in

history!..I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and then a half an hour later I started looking at Governor Dean.

I'm proud of all my choices for Prez and Gore was our Prez..it's like he got metaphorically assassinated with that cmi coup.

[BlueIris]

42. So happy to be the fifth vote to rec this. Gore is our true President.

Watch over him, gods. We still need him lots.

[ailsagirl]

43. I'll raise your fifth and make it sixth, with great pleasure ;=) n/t

[ailsagirl]

45. kick

[ContraBass Black]

47. At the very least, it will be energizing.

Lace your boots!

[Paradise]

48. the least i could do,

is make gore my avatar...

[ddeclue]

52. Does he plan to do more than just make a speech?

He made speeches about torture and Abu Gharab for MoveOn but the main stream media would not take him seriously and give them any air time because he would not run for President in 2004.

Has he finally changed his mind? Does he intend to run for President in 2008 after all?

It would make a huge difference if he announced his candidacy for the Presidency at the same time that he delivered this speech. It would be a huge bombshell (like Bobby Kennedy declaring against Johnson in 1968) if he would just declare. It would make his message a lot more interesting to the MSM.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[renie408]

57. Isn't this too early?

Wouldn't that just give Rove and the Bushmill a chance to grind on him for three years?

[ddeclue]

59. Maybe not...it seems like a good time to get in and a good reason too.

We need a candidate with a REASON to be President.

If Al Gore wants to restore Constitutional democracy, integrity, and the rule of law, then I say AMEN.

I am also looking at John Kerry to run a similar campaign in 2008 if he decides to run which seems likely given all the running around doing stuff and remaining visible since 2004.

Finally there is Edwards whose campaign to end poverty around the world is also a REASON driven campaign that is a mission not just another campaign. He is very much continuing where Bobby Kennedy left off in 1968.

I haven't found a lot yet to recommend the other obvious Dem names for President in '08 because none of them seem to know WHY they want to be President other than to have the power of the Presidency - Hillary, Warner, Biden, Boxer, et. al. seem to just be resume polishers not people on "a mission from God" to borrow a line from the movie, "The Blues Brothers". I don't mean this in a religious sense but rather that there is some clear underlying purpose to their life's work and that their political career is then a tool of that "purpose" rather than the other way around.

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

[fooj]

63. A thought to ponder...

most definitely.

Peace.

[Sparkly]

64. Go Al!!! The very sight of him is a reminder...

Al Gore is a reminder of the inherent illegitimacy of King George's reign. This is exactly the time to remember that it was the outrageous partisan ruling of the USSC that put him in office in the first place.

As I see it, it's thick with IRONY to see this Chimp appointing people to the court that slipped him in the back door of the White House. Talk about a conflict of interest!

[ddeclue]

68. I don't know... seems fair to me...

They appointed him so now he's returning the favor...

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:
:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[guidod]

85. Gore+ Feingold what a ticket!

[CrackpotAmerica]

70. "call to arms" | That's What I Want To Hear!

It is time for such language!


Thanks for posting :)

:nominated:

[kentuck]

80. Al Gore fought his heart out...

He did not stop for a minute in the run-up to the election. After it was over, he was mentally and physically exhausted to the point of depression. He ate too much and became overweight for months afterwards. But he had no appetite for politics at all. Even now, he questioned whether he should step back into the arena. But no one else was stepping forward. Beingthe patriot that he is, he will call America to arms, especially Democrats, to stop these radicals that have taken over our government. Al Gore is an American hero. Those that say he gave up or did not fight do not know what the hell they are talking about. Go for it Al! I am behind you 100%.

[greiner3]

87. I want to listen;

But who will cover it? Faux? The real networks? CSPAN? MSNBC? NPR? AAR? Am I getting close?