HuffPo: Why we should draft Al Gore (even if he won't run)

[ourbluenation]

snip

"...And while you're at it, ask yourself why Gore has been subjected to a steady stream of attacks by the Republican machine for the past year. He's the last person they want. He'll win again, only bigger, and they know it. Why do you suppose all those prominent Republicans are publicly announcing they won't see "An Inconvenient Truth", and attacking the very idea of global warming? They don't want to strengthen his credibility with the swing voters.

Let's sum up: A "Draft Gore" movement takes the power out of the hands of the consultancy/media elite and puts it back where it belongs - with the voters. It frustrates the media, stymies the special interests, drives the Republicans up a wall and puts global warming solutions on the fast track. It drives the Democratic party back to what used to be the middle, and it gives the Iraq war the prominence it deserves. (And not incidentally, voters overwhelmingly say it's the war that is their key issue.)

It makes ideas the center of the debate, and not the color of Al Gore's sweater.

I have my own theory about why Gore hasn't decided to run. It's that Al Gore doesn't want to be king; he wants to lead a democratic republic, which means a government in which its citizens are fully engaged.

A draft movement is a damned good beginning. And even if Gore says absolutely not, he won't run, we're still the ones who moved the debate away from the big-money special interests and back toward the concerns of ordinary Americans. And that's no small thing."

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/susan-madrak/why-we-should-draft-al-go_b_25156.html

[Rosemary2205]

1. I hope he doesn't bite.

Granted I hope I'm wrong but I think the Rovettes will unleash the nastiest load of toxic shit ever if Gore runs. A human can only take so much and I'd rather see him keep on keeping on with global warming than to spend 2 years fighting those assholes to get elected and then 4-8 more trying to get something done in Washington with a never ending pile of shit lobbed at him from every neocon on the planet. IMHO he's just more use OUTSIDE the establishment.

[unschooler]

7. Rove & Co will lob the turd piles no matter who runs

Gore is in a better position to handle it than a lot of people because he's experienced and because he won the voters over in 2000 despite their BS campaign.

Just my two cents.

[Sherman A1]

13. Agreed

He can do all sorts of stuff from his outside position. Keep the focus on Global Warming, absorb some of the Rovian attention and do-do flinging and be an inspiration. If he doesn't run, it gives the Democrats one more tool in the box to outflank the GOP.

[yodermon]

15. Exactly.

Much better to nominate and elect someone who knows how to swim in the shit.

[saltpoint]

2. Gore would slice up any Republican in a debate.

His campaign would be an energized, righteous affair, and the corwds he'd draw would likely energize it even more.

And he's got a big issue to run on, plus a lot of people know he out-polled our fool of an incumbent.

And Tipper's right there beside him in case Al gets a hankering for another long smooch.

He's even wiser now, and there'd be some serious muscle behind him.

If I were a Republican, an Al Gore candidacy would scare the daylights out of me.

Gore-Clark? Gore-Schweitzer? Gore-Bradley?

[ourbluenation]

3. Gore/Clark would sufficiently scare little kenny mehlman.

[saltpoint]

8. Yep. Mehlman would be up against two pretty sturdy folks.

Of course we're gonna kick their asses no matter what, so if I were Mehlman, I'd start firing off a few resumes.

[rodeodance]

11. Tipper would be a real asset.

[saltpoint]

12. Hi, rodeodance. I think Tipper and Al exude a healthy sexuality up

there on the stage.

Not even the damn Republicans can take that away from them. They seem genuinely happy around each other and deferential to their kids. Good vibes.

[Kahuna]

14. I love Tipper and Al. She's his "squeeze." They're so cute together..

You can tell they're really in love.

[Toots]

16. How about a Gore/Clinton

.....just saying...:shrug:

[saltpoint]

18. Possible. There would be a lot of their respective staff members who

might prefer someone else on the other half of the ticket, no matter which staff or which half, but it could happen.

There's a potential for the 08 Dem convention to be a wild one.

[w4rma]

4. I hope he runs. He can raise even more awareness from the campaign trail

and even more after that from the big microphone that holding the office of President will give him.

Also, he's honest and honorable.

[AlGore-08.com]

5. Come join the grassroots Draft Gore campaign at AlGore-08.com

Our volunteer sign up page is right here:

http://www.algore.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&Itemid=306

[ourbluenation]

9. snaps for you! thx for the link!!!

[RestoreGore]

21. Volunteer for what?

You said you weren't going to even be a part of any draft in 2004 because you were "honoring his wishes." Gee, no urgency there to see him as your President. More political rhetoric. You even use his movie only to get people to your website. If you all care so much for him, then why aren't you raising funds for climate change? Why aren't you doing more to get out the word about this issue? Seems to me this is going to be the same as draft 2004... All competition and ego bs. As Al Gore said, "been there, done that." But keep spinning your wheels as if nothing else is happening in this world now while that window continues to close. I'm sure that is honoring Al Gore's wishes.

[Hawkowl]

6. Love Gore

He is my number one candidate and I think the only one who would win hands down. The American people love comebacks and this would be the biggest since Andrew Jackson. And like Jackson, I think Gore would clean house with a vengeance. He also wouldn't take any shit lying down, since he's been down that road before.

[saltpoint]

10. I think that's a good read of things. If Al jumps in, I think he

jumps in with all guns blazing.

Imagine Frist, THE CAT BUTCHER, as the GOP nominee.

Two Tennesseans, but only one statesman.

[tinrobot]

17. Saving the planet is more important than being president

I's love to see Al Gore as president, but if he runs, global warming ceases to be a moral issue and becomes a political issue. The last thing we need is partisanship on global warming, it's too dangerous for the planet.

[MadJohnShaft]

19. His opponent would need to run as 'Anti-environment' which would be tough

[RestoreGore]

20. The Climate Crisis Is More Important

The climate crisis is now beyond the Presidency. Why people cannot see where Al Gore is on this and the true urgency of this crisis truly amazes me. People constantly talk as if there is also nothing wrong with the bought and sold special interest political system in this country. Gore had the 2000 election stolen from him (where were the blogs then?) and the same people are still in charge with electronic voting now counting 80% of our votes. It has also been proven to be hackable and rigged. Do you honestly then believe that unless you wrest control of our voting process from DIEBOLD and other companies and special interests that we will truly ever have a fair Presidential election in this country again? It is all about who has the money to buy the office that matters. Why is that never mentioned in these entries that always make this sound so romantic and easy? If it were that easy, why wasn't Gore drafted in 2004, and why has Bush been allowed to stay in this office illegitimately for six years? As Al Gore said, "Been there, done that." We have bigger fish to fry now.

We may also have only ten years to stop the window on this climate crisis from closing. Al Gore wants to devote all of his time to being an advocate and inspiration for this issue, because he knows that in order to turn the tide it will have to be the people who take on the responsibility of doing this. I notice however, that devoting resources to helping him on this issue wasn't even mentioned in this article.

The Washington DC beltway cares NOTHING for this issue (and that isn't going to change unless PEOPLE put pressure on them,) and that has been made evident for the last thirty years Mr.Gore has been trying to get this out. If people couldn't stand up like this in 2004 for him as well, then why now really? Because his being in the spotlight makes people think it is easier? Why aren't "draft" sites raising money to help face the climate crisis now to honor his wishes instead of spinning their wheels on something that has little chance of succeeding with the same status quo in place?

I am sure should Al Gore decide he wants to enter this toxic political system again and put up with all the garbage he had to before he will do it. However, I am one Gore supporter who believes that what he is now doing from out here will most certainly bring about the changes we need to see on environmental policy in a much more effective way than being stymied by the beltway system should he commit to a cumbersome nasty campaign that will most certainly take his time away from this more crucial issue. Some things are more important than continuing to do it the same old way. Al Gore sees this. Too bad so many others dont.

[tomreedtoon]

22. So Al Gore is "Snakes on a Plane." Really...

The cheapie movie "Snakes on a Plane" is getting lots of attention because, even though it may be the same cranked-out crap as other "direct to video" movies, it looks like it was NOT made by Hollywood suits. It looks like a cheap film made by cheap people, which is the way all those good old drive-in movies were made.

And you're saying Al Gore should be drafted, not because he'd fight (we all knew he caved in for the 2000 election) but because he LOOKS like he isn't being managed by consultants and the DLC.

I'm not saying it's not true. However, Gore doing this without having the Regular Gang of Idiots run his PR campaign is just as unlikely as...well, snakes on a plane.

[RB TexLa]

23. shouldn't he as a free human being be allowed to make the decision

himself?

[MoseyWalker]

24. As much as I love Al

he shouldn't run.

I would want, more than anyone, for him to run, but it just won't work for the electable factor.

I love Al.

I don't think anyone has stepped forward yet.

You do know that the congressional elections are coming up first?