Why can't Democrats be more like Al Gore?

[Caro]

A prominent Democratic strategist told me recently that Democrats don’t fight the right-wing crazies because partisan bickering alienates swing voters. That begs the question, of course, as to why so many swing voters have in the last several elections voted so consistently with those oh so skillful partisan bickerers, the Republicans.

Al Gore’s speech yesterday is exactly what we Internet activists are asking for from the party leadership. It was truthful, reasoned, and forceful. Sixty to eighty percent of Americans are progressive on the issues, even though many of that group call themselves conservatives. Why isn’t the Democratic Party going after the eighty percent? As Jim Hightower told us, “There’s nothing in the middle of the road but yellow stripes and dead armadillos.”

Former vice president dares to tell the truth about this administration:
The President of the United States has been breaking the law repeatedly and persistently.
– Albert Gore, Jr., January 16, 2006 (Highlights, text)

To watch the video, click on the link below.
rtsp://video.c-span.org/project/ter/ter011606_gore.rm?mode=compact

Corporate media shill trivializes Gore’s thoughtful and well-reasoned remarks:
We're watching several stories including Al Gore, the former vice president, unplugged. Find out why he says President Bush has repeatedly broken the law. Gore calling for a special council to investigate, but is it just sour grapes? We're covering all sides.
– Wolf Blitzer, on CNN’s Lou Dobbs show, January 16, 2006 (Transcript)

Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com

[mazzarro]

1. Partisan Bickering Alienates Swing Voters

This is one of the most annoying and frustrating excuses that some DLC sympathizers in DU give also. As long as Dems remain weak and wobbly kneed, we are never going to make any significant progress.

[rodeodance]

4. and as Gore said--it has to come from the people--until there is a critica

l mass that loudly opposes evesdropping--other executive 'missteps' the Dems will remain quiet.

[sendero]

12. I agree....

.....out of who's ass did they pull that one. They act as though all "partisan bickering" is the same.

No you dumbasses, when the country is suspicious of the right, when they are dismayed by the results of their continually failing policies, they HOPE FOR someone to step up and "bicker" but no one will.

Gore has laid down the gauntlet, not only for rank and file Americans, but for the Democratic party politicians who have sat on their hands long enough.

[acmavm]

2. Because we've got a bunch of dem reps who are the biggest weasels

and collaborators ever to sit their asses in Washington and feed off the public trough since the beginning of time.

What really pisses me off is that they KNOW, they cannot help but KNOW, that the rank and file dem out in the street is sick and tired of supporting a bunch of do-nothing parasite reps. The just don't care.

[rodeodance]

3. as Bill Schneider pointed out yesterday--many are concerned with re-

election. They are timid.

[Surya Gayatri]

5. Al has nothing to lose...

He's been in the locker room of power for 6 years. Most Dem apparatchiks refuse to stick their heads above the papapet for fear of losing the perks and privileges of what limited power they have. SG

edit: spelling

[vi5]

6. This was a great speech and all but let's not forget...

This is the same guy who ran a mediocre campaign in 2000, picked Leiberman as his running mate, distanced himself from the record of success of the Clinton administration, etc.

My point is it's one thing to shout truth to power when you have absolutely nothing to lose, and another when you are actually trying to appeal to a wider swath of people.

Dean is the only person I've seen do this both while running for a national office, and when he has nothing to lose.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. Hear, hear, vi5...

He was speaking to his "base"--those who are already convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the perfidy of this administration. He wasn't on the stumps appealing to the great silent and uninformed masses. SG

edit: spelling

[montana500]

11. he's also the guy who...

has been working his tail off , convincing congress to invest in infustries of the future, and to take heed of glabal warming.

[vi5]

15. And that's great, and he's a great guy...

But I'm just pointing out that there's a difference between someone who has absolutely nothing to lose or gain saying something that is forceful and truthful and someone who has a lot on the line including their political career. The original poster wanted to know why more dems couldn't sound like and say the things Gore is saying. My point is that when Gore was actually running for office he didn't say this stuff and was nowhere near as bold as he has been as of late. I'm not blaiming him for that, just pointing out the facts.

[LiberalEsto]

13. He won in 2000

He received 500,000 more votes than his opponent, and he was cheated out of a fair recount of questionable ballots in Florida by the machinations of the Supreme Court. Studies conducted of the Florida vote since then indicate Gore won Florida and hence, the election.

Gore is our rightful president, not this tinhorn usurper who is destroying our Constitution at every step.

[vi5]

16. Did you know that they opened schools in Iraq?

Gore having won in 2000 (which I agree he did) has zilch to do with my statement, which is that the tone and tenor of a man or woman running for election with something to lose or gain, is often times extremely different than when that same person has nothing to lose or gain. Gore is a prime example of that. And perhaps if Gore had sounded in 2000 like he did yesterday he would have lost. I can't say and nobody can say. But the original poster asked why more dems didn't sound like Gore in yesterdays speech. My point was that when he was running for office, GORE didn't sound like Gore in yesterday's speech.

[NYCGirl]

20. Actually, when he broke free of his lame campaign handlers in 2000 (in the

final two weeks of the campaign), and spoke as the firebrand populist he actually is, THAT'S when he started to pull ahead of GWB's lead. If he hadn't done that, he would have trailed badly. What does that tell you?

[Le Taz Hot]

18. I've been a Gore detractor in the past as well

but I'm seeing a different man than the one who ran for president in 2000. He's shed the handlers which, IMHO, is what REALLY lost him the election (USSC and Florida's creative voting system notwithstanding).

When Gore is just Gore, he's outstanding. He really does have plenty of charisma. Gore is smart and smart people learn from their mistakes and I'm convinced he learned some hard lessons from the 2000 election. He's made some outstanding speeches since then but now its time for him to walk the walk, as in another presidential bid in 2008. I'd be behind him for another run.

[vi5]

19. I'd probably back him in 2008 as well.....

I don't think it's going to happen, but I would definitely prefer him to some of the ones who there is buzz about currently (Biden, Hillary, etc.).

[Le Taz Hot]

22. I hear you there.

If Gore doesn't choose to run my only hope is Russ Feingold. The current list of DLC picks looks exactly like the last ones.

[Borgnine]

7. Al is my favorite Dem, but...

...I really don't think Al Gore let himself be the true Al Gore until after the screwjob of 2000. He always seemed unsure of himself until then. That incident was the baptism of fire he needed to understand what the neocons were truly about.

I wonder what it will take for others in the Democratic party to go through the same metamorphosis.

[H2O Man]

8. It was a wonderful speech.

Gore was on target with his comments on the threat posed to our constitutional government by the Bush-Cheney machine. He accurately points us in the correct direction that we need to move in, in order to avoid becoming another USSR.

[ReadTomPaine]

17. MLK's ghost was smiling yesterday.

"Perhaps a new spirit is rising among us. If it is, let us trace its movements and pray that our own inner being may be sensitive to its guidance, for we are deeply in need of a new way beyond the darkness that seems so close around us."

Al Gore understands what we are facing. Yes, it was quite a speech.

[Clark2008]

10. Some of them are:

Wesley Clark
Russ Feingold
Barbara Boxer
John Conyers

But, when is the last time the media reported on their remarks?

[txindy]

21. Very good point. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. They're too busy fundraising and beholden to the lobbyists.

They daren't offend the bosses who run the country.

[Blutodog]

23. He's not in office

He's not in office nor is he running so he's free to say what he likes. It just shows u how beholden any officer holder or seeker is to special interests etc. They become timid.

[blm]

24. Media works AGAINST EVERY DEM who speaks up - not just Gore, Ms. Kay.

But, then, the left is always ready to attack ALL Dems who are mischaracterized by the corporate media.

In fact, the leftleaning media that doesn't pay attention to actual statements and only react to the SPIN they read is part of the problem.

Nearly the entire left media mischaracterizes Murtha's words, Kerry's words, Clark's, etc.... on a regular basis.