asking Al Gore to run in 2008!
What Would Pull Al Gore into the Presidential Race?
Posted February 26th, 2007 by Mike F
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-reardon/why-would-al-gore-run-for...
Why Would Al Gore Run For President?
Kathleen Reardon
With all the shameful, empty bantering in Congress about who is patriotic and courageous, there is among potential Presidential candidates one who truly would be both were he to throw his hat in the ring. That person is Al Gore.
This is a man we hardly knew when he ran for President and then won only to lose.
He has changed the world for the better without being President. He has grown before our eyes in humor, strength and humanity.
This is a leader whose entrance into the Presidential race would raise the tenor of Democratic Party presidential politics, as he is both mature and centered. He is his own person more than any current candidate. He could do for the Democratic Party what Norman Lear suggested be done for the country -- bring it out of intensive care.
But why would he do this? He stands to lose so much. His current popularity, earned largely by commitment to environmentalism, would be threatened. As a candidate, he'd be required to take stands on issues he's been able to leave behind. The world would lose the focused commitment of a dedicated environmentalist, as he'd be enmeshed in extricating the U.S. from Iraq, perhaps from Iran if all goes in George Bush's favor, and also from Afghanistan and Pakistan where there is now a dangerous resurgence of the Taliban. According to Frank Rich this last problem makes the entire debate about the Iraq surge "as much a sideshow as Britney's scalp."
If Al Gore were to run for the highest office in the land, he'd inherit years of extraordinary diplomatic ineptitude at the hands of those now in office incapable of negotiation or even of avoiding direct insults to those who might otherwise be our allies. He would be the Commander in Chief of a tired, divided military and President to a disillusioned, skeptical America hated around the world.
Why would Al Gore become a Presidential candidate under such circumstances? Would he do it for glory? Unlikely. Would he do it for a place in history?
The reason that could pull him into the race is patriotism - love of country - the need to step forward to undo what has been done so horribly to so many in its name. And this would take inordinate courage for a man once burned so badly by a system that clearly can be, repeatedly, rigged.
Whether you'd vote for him or not, it's hard to deny that he'd extricate the Democratic Party from silliness by insisting that candidates grapple with issues of enormous importance to the world. Al Gore has the focus, humor, credibility, and good intentions to make that happen. His candidacy could raise all boats by raising the level of debate.
But it would take a true patriot to do this - not the kind we hear so much about who vote for more war. He would give up more than most -- in fame, success and fun -- and likely do so more for others than for himself. He'd show more backbone that can be found in all of Congress. And this is a lot to ask.
Yet, we can't afford to be generous. We must ask. This is an impressive man who doesn't simply talk about world threats; he acts to end them. A part of most of us wants him to stay where he is to keep doing the work he's doing. But we need him too much.
Once too practiced in his responses, his current public demeanor suggests he'd likely be far less so this time. From him we'd likely get the truth. That would be a breath of fresh air in these times of constant maneuvering. Even if he entered the race to advance environmental concerns, that would do just fine. We need him there. We need someone driven not by what sells but by what matters.
Be part of the Draft Gore '08 campaign!
How about a hologram of Princess Leia
"Help me Obi-Wan Al Goreski, you're my only hope!"
I don´t believe, that
Al Gore will win the Nobel Peace Prize. Soo, if he come into the race, I think he will do that at Live-Earth or a little bit later. But the chance that he will "be in" is small I think.
Bye,
Tom
Al Gore - the REAL President of the USA!
Al Gore will enter the race after he wins the nobel peace prize
World recognition is more "presidential" then the stamp of approval from hollywood at the academy awards. The audience will not be as big, but it will be more politically inspiring.
wanbligi Realistically
wanbligi
Realistically I see Obama and Clinton not quite able to make it over the hurdle in America. If the race for the democrats came down to Clinton and Obama, Clinton would get the nomination over Obama then ultimately Clinton losing the presidency to the republican candidate. This is America and the way things are, the Democrats would not select a black nominee for its designate. America has not grown enough to truly understand that all people are created equal. And it is not ready for a female president.
Only when our country has changed its attitudes that have haunted it throughout these lands would they be free to engage a totally objective and meaningful encountering of the biases and prejudices that exude from us today. This is wanbligi.
Obama?
I wonder what would happen if it became clear to Obama, at some point, that the length and expense of the modern Presidential campaign made it impossible for the average american to say that anyone can grow up to be the President... That the estabishment required to compete in an election made it impossible, not just for minor candidates, but even for someone like himself, who has proven to plenty that he has earned his laurels.
We have already seen one very good man bow out, for exactly this reason.
I believe Hillary desperately wants to offer the VP spot to Obama... And I think many people are half expecting it.
I think, if Obama saw Hillary pull away, he could be the draft Gore movement... The hail Marry Pass to the end-zone, if you will.
hmmm....
I still think Gore might genuinely get into this by himself. But I go back and forth on what his current intentions are. He seems to go out of his way to say he has no intention of running, but in a way that says that you never know. I can't see the issue about ruling out a run in '08 completely, unless he is at least thinking about it and watching how things pan out.
My only fear about Gore jumping in the race himself is it would make his Climate Change work look like part of a cynical campaign, which I think is a bit of a pity as anyone who really knowsGore knows this is an issue he is seriously passionate about. Maybe he does need us to push him towards ruinning.
what it might take
there has been alot of one-on-one pleading that hasn't worked. i think it would take an "intervention" of sorts. if they could get him to attend, i would envision a meeting with 100 unified people comprised of:
1) women and men representing the interests most shafted by the bush administration (environment, minority groups, low-income folks, etc.)
2) military leaders who deal in reality and have a realistic plan
3) non-partisan republicans who would pledge to work with him
4) one person carrying the million-signature petition to draft him
5) and, of course, jimmy carter should be there to facilitate. :-)
PLEASE RUN
We all need you to run!
What would pull Gore into the race?
Great article. Said it all. There's no question that if he gets in it will be for selfless reasons. Why would he want to give up all he's got now? He loves being a grandfather, a devoted husband and father. He's admired all over the world for his environmental crusade. He's the sweetheart of Hollywood. He can be at peace with himself knowing he's tirelessly done more than perhaps any other individual to save our planet. Why give all that up?
As this article said, because he feels a duty to his country. Because, as he said in his concession speech in 2000, he heard us, and he will not forget.
It has to be an almost impossible decision for him to make, to give up all he has to re-enter that "toxic" world of politics. But I believe he's a highly moral man, and I believe he knows he's needed. I think he's watching the current race very carefully, watching to see if anyone emerges who could do the job that needs to be done. So far, I feel the answer is no. There isn't anyone who could clean up the messes made by George W. Bush.
No one, that is, except Al Gore.
Please Run !
Meeting former V.P. Gore in college at Vandy and at a Town Hall type Meeting in Unionville before he ran with Clinton , I am impressed with him and his views.
I asked the question then if he was ever going to run for President ?
He was non commital then .
I firmly believe he is the ........ONLY......ONE .................
that can straighten out this mess in Washington !
I also know of the sacrifice he would have to make personally .
This will probally be the biggest foe to his running .
We must have him to turn around things and bring back the values this Country was founded upon !
I look forward to one of the meetings in the Nashville area
( hopefully the one in March ) where I can express some of
my ideas that would help ...........................
him WIN ! ! ! ! ! !
Now Is The Time
I'll be honest. I thought Al Gore made some very fundamental errors when he ran for President in 2000. He, to me, seemed like an introvert with bad body language. That's now past. He has found himself. He acts like a man who has been given a mission that had the possibility of not only doing a huge amount of good, but also to rehabilitate himself. He took that mission and has done himself proud.
Why do I want Al Gore to run? I think Sen. Clinton is unelectable in a general election. There are too many obstacles for her to overcome and I don't think she can do it. I do thing Sen. Obama is electable, but he lacks some of the qualities that Al Gore has. If nothing else, Mr. Gore would make for an issue-driven campaign. Republican pundits and bloggers would quickly lose credibility with their readership by attacking Mr. Gore, who has now demonstrated leadership in the Global Warming crisis, an issue that Republicans and their politicians have woefully neglected. The party of family values seems to be leaving a planet that no ancestor will be happily able to live upon.
I’ll close with a request that Mr. Gore seriously consider running for President. We need his experience and his insights. Because of his stand on Global Warming he already has the attention of other world leaders, world leaders who already support taking action on planet-wide issues and are also use to getting short shrift from Washington.
The time is now. There will never be another better opportunity to undo the errors of the past and create the future that future generations deserve.
He is still an introvert. As
He is still an introvert. As for body language, there is no bad or good version of that. There is no objective standard as to how someone has to move his body parts. You can do that whatever way you want and it will not be superior or inferior than other options. Much like black hair is not better than brown hair.
e edyrae just think if
e
edyrae just think if america had chosen a president based on experience and real values. instead america chose who they would rather have a beer with. too many dumb white men vote
The thing I notice about
The thing I notice about Gore--those that like him LOVE him. There is profound respect and admiration from all those who like him. He is radiant. I feel like a pupil at the foot of the yogi and I see that in the eyes of others as well. He is who he is and that is what we like about him. He will run if we get enough support to draft him. He does not want to campaign--there's too much BS in most campaign stategies for him to want to partake in that. We need to insulate him from that and just carry him on into the White House.
what would pull him into the race...
...would be his faith. If he felt a calling, if he Knew it was right (and maybe, it would take someone not just tipping him off that he would win, but, someone tapping him saying, we'll make sure - I'm still cynical), then, he would run. Clear conscience though is what he has, right now he knows he's doing the right thing, and looks at ease. This is not a man with a spiritual dilemma. And I think that's amazing. It's amazing in anyone. That he should be so 'gracefull' in this situation, where the world is saying, please, please Al, and simply demur, is really quite amazing, it's not even that he wonders if he'd win; I think he just needs to know, he's called to run. I don't think he is yet. I'm not speaking for God, just seeing, this is not a man wrestling with his angel. I think the poster above who said (sorry, problem with this website as it is now is I can't quote, and can't remember who said it, offhand) running might jeopardize his climate crusade, make it look like a cynical ploy towards the Presidency, is quite right. However, Kathleen Reardon is right too, that if he ran just for the sake of advancing climate crisis concerns, it would be enough - I think it would also vindicate him, that he could answer any cynic with that pure truth: for it is, I believe, the greatest reason he would run. That is not contrary to my claim his faith and his calling would prompt him - he would run only to be a good steward of the Earth, and all it's creatures. Even people. (Even while anti-christ bring in apocalypse... )
: - /
Mr. Gore, we hope you have decided to rescue the frog!
Boethius would have loved this. He was a Christian martyred by the Romans who said, A man can no more understand God than a frog can understand a man. Some frogs are wondering if Mr. Gore thinks God is no longer alive. If It's anywhere, it's everywhere, including in the frogs! And remember - philogeny recapitulates ontogeny! We were all tadpoles once! And some of us frogs are beginning to realize we're in hot water! We're calling you, Mr Gore! Help!