I'm starting to get frustrated with Gore

[CoffeeCat]

I know this is probably unpopular to say, but I am getting
frustrated--and a tad angry--with Al Gore and how he is
handling the issue of him running for President.

Even though, I want Gore to run, and I believe he is one the
most enlightened, dignified, moral and intelligent men in this country--
I would fully support his decision not to run.

I just saw Gore on the "Today" show earlier this morning. He
was asked about running and again, he said he had "no plans"
to run.

Why isn't Gore giving the definitive, Shermanesque answer to this
question, as he did in '04? Knowing that you're winning in many
polls--even know you're not a candidate, and knowing that there
is a swelling, hopeful, pleading contingent of "Draft Gore"
activists out there--why doesn't he give that definitive statement?

I will respect whatever decision he makes--but I'm failing to understand
why he is not making a more clearcut statement about running.

It's frustrating.

[H2O Man]

1. I can't believe

that John won't "Get Back" with the Beatles.

[CoffeeCat]

2. ....and I say to you and Al Gore...

You say you got a real solution
Well, you know
We'd all love to see the plan
You ask me for a contribution
Well, you know
We're doing what we can

:)

[LSK]

25. www.johnedwards.com

[SoCalDem]

18. or that Cher never "got back" with Sonny

:)

[asjr]

3. I know it is frustrating. I am trying to deal with the

same thing. But, if he were going to run I think he would have stated that some time ago. What he endured last time--media coverage--would just occur again. Out real enemy is the media. We can handle Republicans but not the avaricious, greedy, self-serving media in this country.

[NNN0LHI]

4. That answer fucks with the Republicans even worse I promise n/t

[lutefisk]

8. Excellent point.

Fuck away, Al.

[Az]

5. He has repeatedly said he has no intention of running for pres

Whats so frustrating about that? Disappointing I can understand. But frustrated? Thats you doing it to yourself. It is you that are imagining him thinking of running. He's not. He is not thinking of running. He is thinking of continuing the work he is doing right now. And that is championing ideas without the taint of politics.

[CoffeeCat]

9. With all due respect...

...you are suggesting things that Al Gore has never said.

Gore has never said that he is "championing ideas without the taint of politics." He's
also never said that he is "not thinking of running." You are saying those things.

I do agree with you that these might be his thoughts. I can understand why you would
feel that he may be thinking those things. You're not off the mark. However, at
this point--people are guessing because he's been obtuse.

Furthermore--he did give a definite "NO!" answer to this question
in 04. But he doesn't do it now.

He may have very valid reasons for doing what he's doing. I'm just wondering
why the disparity between 04 and 08. That disparity is why many, including myself,
have hope for 08.

[Az]

13. And I am suggesting that you are beating yourself up for no reason

Al Gore has given zero indication that he is going to enter this race. He has made no move, no hint, no suggestion that he is going to run. Thus it is all coming from the fan base (which I fully understand the desire of). But it is doing them more harm than good. Unless there is a real indication of his interest in running then you are throwing yourself at a wall. And honestly we need your presence back here to work over the people that are running and make them accountable to We The People rather than It The Incorporated. And it hurts us as well to see the anguish from those who can see no one but Gore as President in 08.

Look, if he steps into the ring I would gladly vote for him. But more popular demand has been pushed on him than any other individual I have ever witnessed and he has shown no signs of budging. Its a clue. It is very likely that he has no intention of running. So please. For your own sake. Ease up on it. You are creating a situation where you will have no hope but crushed hope.

[CoffeeCat]

19. I agree...

...and you make a good point that he has made no indication that he will run.

There is nothing that he has done, which could be unequivocally construed as a
bid for the Presidency.

I also agree that Gore supporters are needed to leverage the current crop of candidates.
I am a die-hard Goreopile. However, reality is setting in. I'd like to support one
of the other candidates, but my hope about Gore has caused me to tune out the candidates
who are running.

I guess I'm slowly coming to terms with realizing that this is a loss I'll have to grieve
and let go of--so I can move on to another candidate.

It's like breaking up with someone--who broke up with you ages ago (and has moved on
with a wife and six kids!). :)

[Az]

31. I understand

And you have my full empathy. :hug: But there is desperate work to be done and we need you guys on the ramparts now. There are real consequences at stake in this matter and although it would be appropriate to mourn the loss of one's hopes we need to marshal onwards to keep other hopes alive.

I say we struggle to make a political arena where candidates who stand up for ideas can make a stand instead of having to beg and scrape for every Corporate and lobbiest dollar. I want to see ideas on display rather than platitudes and slogans. I want to see candidates who defend their ideas and die with them if necessary. Those who give up their ideas for votes are simply career politicians and we have had enough of those.

[cali]

15. Actually, he's said

he has no plans to run in 2008. I believe that's verbatim. I take him at his word, though I wish he'd make a shermanesque statement for those who don't.

[L. Coyote]

6. Probably not as frustrated as AL is with those who don't understand English.

He said he is not a candidate, after all!

[MonkeyFunk]

7. Any frustration you feel

is entirely of your own doing.

He's made it clear that he's not running for President.

[CoffeeCat]

10. Not as clear as he made it...

...on 04.

In 04, there was no doubt, he was not running. Gore made it clear.

For 08, he says he has "no plans." That does leave the door open a bit.

Surely you can acknowledge that there is a big difference between someone
stating, "I absolutely will not be a candidate for President in 08" and
"I have no plans to run."

I have "no plans" to visit the French Riviera next week. However, if
an opportunity presented itself...I would not rule it out.

;)

[LionInWinter]

12. Well perhaps it's the same with him.

He's not going to run in the primaries, but if the convention was deadlocked with no one candidate having enough delegates to nominate and the party needed a consensus candidate to carry the banner - he'd take the phone call.

[Labors of Hercules]

11. Me Too... Can anyone shed light? What is he up to?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2209634

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. I have been frustrated with him for awhile now

and trying hard to accept what I fear may be the inevitable. But I will be relieved when I can stop holding my breath anticipating his announcement.

[CT_Progressive]

16. This is why people get divorced.

Lack of proper communication.

Person A thinks they say something that means a specific thing.
Person B hears it, but believes it means a different thing.
Neither person clarifies.

Bam.

Someone loses half their vinyl record collection.

[walldude]

27. Man, all those picture disks down the drain.... what a shame.

Good analogy though...

[SammyWinstonJack]

17. I've given up on him running in '08.

:shrug: I don't think he will. Oh well.

[hillaryous]

20. Al Gore should stay out

I wish Al would just stay out of the race.  Hillary is the
light and we should all unite behind her now.   All of the
rest of these candidates just make it possible that we could
have another 4 years of an a--hole like Bush, or worse.

[onelittleindian]

22. al gore

Hillarous you are! Why is it that the whole world can look up to al gore yet in America we don't appreciate him. Until a person is picked for the ticket we can hope for al Gore. If that person becomes hillary then we can unite. If hillary is Your light that is fine but don't try to bully me at this point. I just defended John Edwards and now have to defend gore, I think some of you people should understand that this back stabbing is what bush wants.

[hillaryous]

23. Al should stay out

You say back stabbing, but I am just speaking the truth. Al Gore was intimidated by Hillary when she was in the White House and will try to hurt her now. His own "Inconvenient Truths" show intentional mis-statements and he will use the same tactics against Hillary if he decides to run. I say good riddance to him as a national candidate and it's little indians like you that don't have the courage to stand up and support a strong, WOMAN, candidate like Hillary!!!

[Orsino]

21. It's not his job to rule it out.

Things may change. He may be asked to be a running mate. Were he already on record as saying, "No, never," that would simply be the first hook the MSM would hang him on.

Fuck the media. Gore doesn't owe them any more sound bites.

[garybeck]

24. Exactly when in 2004 did he officially say NO?

Just wondering where we are on the timeline, comparitively speaking.

[LSK]

26. Denial is not just a river in Egypt

[Akoto]

28. Why frustrate yourself? He's not running.

It would be great if he did, but he's said repeatedly that he isn't. The folks who insist that he's being evasive in the way he declines are grasping at straws. Just take the man at his word and move on. You'll have your chance to support him if he decides to run later on, a decision he is more than capable of making without being antagonized and goaded.

[RB TexLa]

29. A politician saying things that help to keep a spotlight on themselves?

Really, will wonders never cease?

[Hippo_Tron]

30. The New Hampshire filing deadline passed, he's not running

[Ganja Ninja]

32. Don't get frustrated just give it up.

I was hoping for a Gore run as much as anybody but there comes a time when you have to face facts. He's not running in the Democratic primaries. The only way he could end up in the race is if the convention is hung and in the end he is drafted and becomes the candidate. So give it up and quit thinking about it because he has as much chance of becoming the nominee as we have of stopping global warming.

[CoffeeCat]

33. I'm feeling like Jim Carrey in "Dumb and Dumber"...

So...what you're telling me is....there's a chance!

Whooooo Hooooo!

(I know...I know what you're saying.)