asking Al Gore to run in 2008!
Do you really think the "Old Boy" Club of Democrats will nominate Gore when he shunned the Primary Process?
Posted January 30th, 2008 by ArtyGreen4Gore
It seems unrealistic to me that Democrats will nominate Gore as the candidate when he refused to get involved in the primaries and debates and is viewed a a one topic advocate. What about voters. After all this time, and when the other candidates were grilled and contested about their positions, will people suddenly say, let's toss the contenders and bring up Al Gore instead... a man who "lost" the election in 2000.
If Gore wants to be President, and has refused to mix it up with the other status quo Democrats he hopefully will declare an an independent, in which case, I believe he can win.
If we were a "club" (a party if you will) and someone had refused to debate with us, and had refused to join our process, and focused on one topic when we were trying to address the multitude of issues, would we suddenly decide that those who had "played our game" would be shinned in favor of a "spoiler". Seems very unlikely.
Al Gore please declare as an Independent for President. As an Independant I believe you will win and your strategy will have been a winning strategy.
Be part of the Draft Gore '08 campaign!
Jaws of Disaster
Hi again
As far as Hillary Clinton goes, yes she may be intelligent and strong, but I think she would lose to McCain. Also, I don't particularly like her. She's afraid to take any strong position on issues and I have been totally turned off the Clintons by their snarky, inaccurate attacks on Obama.
In conservative red state America, Hillary is the most disliked and divisive person I can think of. A lot of Republicans might just stay home this year. That is, unless we do the Republicans another great favor and nominate Hillary Clinton, the one Democrat who would motivate them to turnout to the polls to vote against her.
On the other hand, I think Barack Obama will win easily, he might even win an LBJ style landslide.
Concord
Hi Arty, it's good to hear from you!
I knew you would agree that Al Gore running as an independent will never happen
The main thing though is not whether we think it's a good idea, the main thing is whether Al Gore thinks it's a good idea. He doesn't, and Gore will support the nominee of the Democratic Party as always.
So then, what can we do to fulfill our obligations as citizens in a democracy? I think it's crunch time right now in the contest between Obama and Hillary Clinton. It could go either way. In my opinion we should support Obama now. To those who just are not convinced that there's anything special about this man I ask you to consider all the very experienced and knowledgeable people who have looked and believe there is something special.
In the 60's they said "Give Peace a Chance". Now it may be time to "Give Hope a Chance".
'Yes We Can'
'Yes We Can'
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/CGBMy
I haven't Lost Faith in Al Gore to Win!
Hi Wayne,
Good to hear from you too. I believe a Third party is the answer to real change. Certainly I respect your opinion. Do you have some inside track on what Al Gore is thinking? I figure, since we all had faith for so long that he would run for President and win, and we had faith in his strategy for a long time; I'm choosing to keep my faith that his strategy is to make CHANGE happen and run as an Independent. I know it's a long-shot, but I feel if he did this, he'd win. Let's suppose he did, would you vote for him, even if he wasn't a Democrat.
As for Obama, he's impressive, but when I look at the stakes, and the likelihood that he'll run against McCain, I feel Hillary is a stronger contender in that race. Obama lacks experience and I feel that's important to win. 2000 wasn't the only loss, we all know that. We all want the same thing, a better safer America/World than we've had for a long time. I'm just not against moving forward with fresh new options.
Why is it that you think CHANGE is a good strategy for Obama to base his campaign on but for Gore to change and be independent is too radical?
Not too cold, not too hot
It is good to hear your enthusiasm Arty. What's new with solar energy lately?
I'm not philosophically opposed to a 3rd party. To me it's something we have to look at based on the practical reality of our Constitution and Electoral College. We don't have a Parliament or governing coalitions. In the current situation I'm pretty sure a progressive 3rd Party candidate would just split the progressive vote and help the Republicans. For people who want honest liberal ideals put into practice, I think that's a very, very bad choice. We remember what happened when Ralph Nader ran against Al Gore in 2000 right? In my opinion if Nader had done the right thing George W Bush would never have been President and there would be no war in Iraq.
The consequences of a Republican president...
Besides, why wouldn't a third party be prone to all the faults of the other two?
"The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in our Party, but in ourselves if we are underlings"
Gore-Bush, Kerry-Bush ... Sure I know the consequences...
Hi Gallwinds,
Great to be in touch with you... and Yes, I understand the consequences of running an election that's so close that Republicans win. I will say, in the nicest possible tone, what was said to me, "Get over the Dream" that a third Party (Nader) was the reason Al Gore lost. The facts don't support it. The election was too close and I am here to tell you, Greens who want Democrats to win -- vote Democrat in the booth -- those that don't don't like the Democrats. Where do you think I learned the term Republican-Lite? Besides the Republicans cheated in FL... but please understand those votes that Nader got, these are people that didn't trust Gore or any Democrat to bring real change. This is true, I assure you. So what was the reason Kerry lost? The truth is, and it's not my position, but it is the truth the Greens that didn't vote for AG in the booth, really don't like Al Gore. They are passionate about their feelings that people "like Al Gore" and Al Gore in particular, had the chance to bring real change to this nation (and the world) and didn't. This is really true. I always cringe when I hear how much they don't like Al Gore, because I do believe in Al Gore's integrity, but I do agree that Democrats are rarely bold enough to seek real change. I hope that the Ticket is either Al Gore as the new bold Al Gore as and independant or is CLINTON/OBAMA who I believe is the best bet to win, IMHO.
We're also not talking about Nader or just anyone, we're talking about Al Gore, who did not step-in to run as a Democrat in 2008, and I choose to believe AL GORE could win if he ran as an Independent, and maybe that is his brilliant strategy. If Al Gore was an Independent he would not be under the thumb of the Democratic Party.
I saw on the News last night that Bill Clinton lost his cool when a heckler suggested 9-11 may have been a set-up??? (Which considering that the Oil Barons in the Middle East and those from "Texas" Exxon-Mobile are partners, and Bush and Cheney are so immoral -- is just not that crazy). I like Bill Clinton, but he and all Democrats are not Independent. Remember the days when Bill and Bush,Sr. were acting like best friends, playing golf and all those photo-ops -- you think he acts independently? I feel an independent would be able to be more... well independent. If we're talking about AL GORE AS AN INDEPENDENT, then this is about AL GORE running for President in 2008, not just anyone.
If Al Gore, does not run as and Independent, frankly, I feel let down. We all had so much faith that AG wanted to serve the Nation as President in 2008. Maybe he prefers to be an Advocate (which is important too) and an inspired, socially responsible former VP and independent businessman who makes a lot of money and whom we helped promote. Which is still OK, but more self-serving than what we wanted ;-( As we all agree, Al Gore didn't start the internet and he sure didn't single handedly launch and sustain the movement for environmental change. He is a great man, no doubt about it but he chose not to serve US by rising to the challenge to run as President again. Now that's real change!!! I'm disappointed. Was all this was for "nothing"? No, we expressed some great opinions and ideas, and have some good times together and agreeing to disagree in a wonderful way. and I cherish that. I just still hope it's Al Gore's brilliant strategy to win as an Independent, and I believe he would win if he chooses to run that way. Either way, I'm not criticizing Al Gore, on the contrary, I'm still hoping he is devoted to becoming President. I agree, it's a pipe-dream, but not unrealistic to win more than 1/3 of the votes and change the course of history for the better. if not I feel CLINTON/OBAMA is the best team-up and strategy to win against the Republicans say. McCain/Rice, which is what I think their strategy will be.
I always trust my gut
But my gut told me the stars were in alignment for Al Gore to be president.....I'm not feeling Hillary. I just can't get beyond that. I'm not saying she isn't bright because she is. but I think it will be all about her and recording her name in the history books and she will not be as attentive to our wishes as people are thinking she will be. And who knows what BIll will be doing. The only way I could see Gore going as an independent is if Hillary narrowly grabs the nomination and some additional shit hits the fan. More realistically or I should say optimistically I'd like to see Obama take the nomination and then fill the positions with THE most qualified individuals. Al Gore energy "czar" Edwards economy "czar" etc. I don't know who would be a good VP so I'm not touching that one right now.
It's not that I like Hilary Better than Obama
Hey gallwinds,
Always good to debate with you ;-)
It's not that I like Hillary better than Obama, I just feel that with her experience and points of view she is more likely to carry swing voters and win. I just don't want to see a third Democratic loss. Gore was an excellent candidate, as was Kerry, and both lost, because they didn't capture many Reds/Conservatives. People are basically conservative. People here think the Democrats and Republicans are 2-Parties set in stone to lead us, forevermore. Yet we're liberals and progressives, but we all have some conservative aspects to our personalities. Forgive me for saying this, but Obama shows more personality than Gore did in 2000 or Kerry, but I don't see him capturing the swing voters needed to win. As VP he would be all lined up to get the next nomination and by then have more experience. He's a brilliant man with a lot of charisma that's for sure. Hillary is more familiar to voters, as his her record (an Bill's). Yes she voted for the war, and Obama "protested" about it as an Illinois Senator. I bet he would have voted for the war with the rest had he been a Senator then. I don't see him bringing more change than Hillary. All that feels like campaign rhetoric to me. he's good though -- for a Democrat ;-). Hillary just seems like a stronger candidate to win.
I feel Hillary/Obama could go all the way -- a power ticket. Mitt Romney is already running commercials saying he has more experience leading than Hillary, can you imagine how they will spin that with Obama? The way Obama and Hillary were "cozying-up" in LA seems like a doable duo. My position on this is about strategy to win against Republicans. My gut feels Obama is not as likely to win as Hillary/Obama. God forbid we have loss #3 (OUCH! and Tripple OUCH.) That's a dangerous possibility we have to think about.
As for Ego -- Hillary does not seem to be any more egotistical than the others. Politicians have big egos even our beloved Al Gore.
HI wayne HI Arty
I always believe everything happens for a reason--you just can't always tell at that time what the reason is. I was surprised to see how even the Republican canididates had to scramble to appear more conservative to that traditional block of voters. Like the pendulum swings we have moved away from that staunch view so it's really more a matter of the progressive approach that appears to be more popular. And this is happening within the traditional two party framework. I agree with Wayne here, another party would simply split the Demacratic vote and put a Republican in the White House.
I posted something from Huffington where they compared Edwards to Gore. I just shook my head as I read and heard all the good things people had to say about Edwards now that he is no longer running. Why didn't the media give him that while he was still in the race? Anyway I'm going to support Obama over Hillary. Hillary really does mean more of the same and I don't think I can take years of her egocentricity. peace dudes
Get Over the 3rd Party Dream
If Al Gore wanted to run for President he would have joined the primaries and run as a Democrat. I wish he would have. He didn't . Maybe there will be a miracle or a brokered convention and Gore will come out of Denver as the nominee. I've stopped holding my breath on that one. Al Gore will support the Democratic Nominee (Barack Obama please!) like he has throughout his life. Do you think he will run as an independent after sending out fundraising letters on behalf of the DNC calling for a Democrat to be elected President in 2008? It ain't happening Arty!
:-}
YES! If Al Gore wants to be President and Lead US
Hi Wayne ;-)
I love you... and you know that's true, but YES! I think Al Gore is a confident, and powerful enough person to CHANGE HIS PARTY AFFILIATIONS AND CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY & BRING REAL CHANGE.
If Al Gore ran as an independant would you consider him a hero or a spoiler? The odds for him being President are much better to win than Obama's chances against say, MicCain/Rice.
Al Gore didn't win in 2000, and Kerry didn't win in 2004 (I voted for both). With McCain being a "Liberal" Republican, Obama is a long-shot. Al Gore as an Independent, could show Americans sometimes you have to abandon the "old ways", fix a broken system and YES! I believe as an independant AL GORE would WIN!!!!!!! the Presidency in 2008. Wouldn't that be great!