Some Huff Post comments on Al Gore running in '08...
huffingtonpost.com
__________________________________________________________
I've been saying for the past two years that Al is gonna come out swinging, breathing righteous fire. No one believed me. He has the potential to unify the Dems and bulldoze the neocons out of office. He has spent years distancing himself from association with his former boss. And, MOST importantly he is not only untainted by said boss, but the Iraq debacle, unlike Hillary, who is tarred and stained by both. Indeed, he has an excellent reputation as uncorrupt, honest, and intelligent. What he has to do now is keep on breathing the fire, but also show off his personality, which he was too shy with last time, playing defense. Well, this time, Al's going to play offense, and I will be in the stands as an Al-fanatic.
Posted by: 8thronin on January 24, 2006 at 04:27pm
________________________________________________________
Gore/Obama in 08 and the Dems will have the WH for 16 years at least. Enough time to rebalance the SCOTUS. Hillary can stay in her comfortable Senate seat where the GOP cannot use her to polarize the electorate
Posted by: JohnnyKO on January 24, 2006 at 04:34pm
_________________________________________________________
Well said. And this isn't the first Gore speech with such power and clarity. See NYU, May 2004, following the revelations about Abu Ghraib and the administration denying responsibility. See Georgetown Law in June 2004 about the Bush administration and its constant lying--remember the "'rapid response' digital Brown Shirts." Gore is speaking truth to power and has been, and he has had my support since then. This latest speech only solidfies it.
Now RUN, Al!
Posted by: lodge on January 24, 2006 at 04:41pm
___________________________________________________________
I like Obama, but he's a first-term senator. He was electrifying at the convention, but he needs to get some experience as a politician. Russ Feingold voted against the Patriot Act - the only senator to do so. That means he's not afraid to be the "lone voice" who votes on his principles. Also, Feingold does not take money from lobbyists, is an excellent talking point, given the BushCo "culture of corruption."
Posted by: magoo on January 24, 2006 at 05:13pm
____________________________________________________________
Al Gore is Al Gore...he doesn't have to re-invent himself...he has always been too intelligent, too caring for his fellow man and honest...read his books...he is the one of the first environmentalists....it is the media that re-invents him...the MSM doesn't like Al Gore...they can't own him...he is a populist and that is not acceptable ... Time we demanded true leaders in DC...not the leaders the MSM chooses...and I have had enough of the MSM interrogations that are suppose to pass as interviews...Russert, Wolfie and all call there little questions interviews...where a candidate has to answer the same stupid questions over and over again...the MSM especially likes to repeat questions they want to be re-enforced in the public domain...let the candidates speak and stop the inquistions....get a look at the Blitzer/Belafonte interview a t bradblog.com...it was great...Wolf wanted Harry to apologize for his statements and do penance on prime time TV for saying Bush is a terrorist...Harry didn't backpedal one inch...he used his time to explain his meaning...Wolf didn't score one point and Harry didn't apologize....a far cry from the interview of the Dixie Chicks where Diane Sawyer made the girls apologize and let Diane play like she had been offended and the Chicks had to do penance for their crime against Bush...the media is re-inventing people...it is sad...but the MSM is a vile....thanks Harry and Al...
Gore is the only politician that has had the guts to stand up to this administration...and the MSM hasn't even interviewed him...Why...Gore is right and they can't put him down or call for him to atone for his truth...
Posted by: antigone on January 24, 2006 at 05:22pm
________________________________________________________
Larry Beinhart,
"But how does he get the media to pay attention to such speeches?"
What universe are you living in? If Al Gore ran for president and gave that speech over and over again as you suggest he would be lynched by the corporate media. He would be accused of everything from being pro terrorist to being a traitor. They are already doing that on cable TV scream shows even though he is not running.
For Al Gore or any Democrat to get their message out to the masses without being smeared or Swift Boated Dems will need to build their own organs in the media. Dems problem is not lack of message or a good speech or even a candidate. Their problem is being up against a corporate media totally in the tank with the GOP and not having their own media institutions to fight back with.
Posted by: DonB on January 24, 2006 at 05:41pm
_______________________________________________________
When Katrina hit, Al Gore took it upon himself to hire a plane, to twist the arms of those forbidding any planes not "authorized" and rescued human beings who would have died in their wheelchairs were it not for his intervention. He did not seek publicity for his act of compassion. He went there, organized and completed the mission, all without fanfare, photo ops and marketing techiniques.
He did this, I believe, because at heart he is a compassionate man who recognized he had the power due to his position, to save the lives of some needy people.
I view his brilliant speech as much the same.
He is stepping forth to let people know the dangers and , I think, feels morally obligated, due to his influence and public status, to warn us all...
Posted by: ebbtide on January 24, 2006 at 05:43pm
________________________________________________________
I agree, I thought almost every speech that I have heard from Gore since the 2004 election had past has been RIGHT ON. Like all politicians once he figured he wasn't running anymore he could speak his mind clearly without having to worry about saying anything that would isolate any voters. That is the way all politicians should run, truthfuly and honestly and say what they mean without being afraid to lose a vote or two here and there. People want to hear conviction, hope and truth. They know what the problems are and they want a leader who can define them clearly and point out ways to fix them. Bush speaks with conviction but it is a phony conviction. All that motivates him is greed and revenge. With Gore he really cares about the citizens of the U.S. and the citizens of the world. He is truly concerned about not just how our policies foreign and domestic affect the U.S. but also the rest of the globe. I think he is the right person at the right time for 2008. We are going to need someone dynamic like him to clean up Bushes mess. Let Bush and his neocon and republican goose steppers clear the brush on his shrub ranch while Gore and the Democrats clean up this country.
Posted by: KansasKowboy on January 24, 2006 at 05:48pm
____________________________________________________________
Of course Gore should run. He reminds me of my idealism, which is a flame guttering in despair these days.
The author's point is well taken, but perhaps a third way for Gore would be to imply that he "may" run. The press will be tantalized by a Gore who may announce at any speech. Or strategists could create a narrative that he is slowly shifting towards a run, which would help entice the media. The truth is that Gore's speech was an act of duty for him- duty to country. Maybe he doesn't think he owes this country anything further, but I believe in him and I think ultimately he will have to run. I am a rather dignified person and I would lay at his feet and kiss them if it would make him run. That is saying something for me.
He should have been covered by every station. Instead, as part of the overarching narrative on Gore, the press let the right ridicule him and dutifully ignored him if they didn't join in on the snide remarks. It is shameful, really, how the GOP has done such a character assassination on a person and how the press continues to let them do it.
Maybe we could set up some kind of website that would list and catalogue the names of everyone who would volunteer for a Gore ticket and what they would be willing to do.
Posted by: ScottR on January 24, 2006 at 06:51pm
__________________________________________________________
***Here's a link to an audio recording of Al Gore's speech:
indybay.org |
