Gore's presence will loom large (Al Gore Support Center Online Forum 2008 :: A Reality Based Organization Fighting For Al Gore!)

QUOTE

Al Hunt: Gore's presence will loom large for the next president

By Albert R. Hunt
Bloomberg News
Sunday, October 28, 2007

WASHINGTON: Al Gore won't run for president this time.

Still, whoever does assume the office in less than 15 months will face the presence, the shadow, of the former vice president immediately.

If it's a Republican, then the Democrats, having snatched defeat from the jaws of near-certain victory, will have two options: suffer a nervous breakdown or turn to Gore as a savior.

A Democrat, especially the front-runner Hillary Clinton - whose sibling rivalry with Gore during the Clinton presidency endures - will confront Gore as a watchdog on national security, foreign policy and energy and environmental matters. It may be the most intriguing intra-party dynamic since the one between Senator Robert F. Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson four decades ago.

This is the result of the most remarkable comeback in contemporary American politics. Seven years ago, Gore lost the presidency after getting more votes than the man whose victory was facilitated by a politically divided Supreme Court.

He was held in contempt by many Democrats for an inept campaign and for being outgunned politically in the post-election maneuverings on vote recounts.

Now, he is an internationally acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the winner of an Oscar for his documentary on climate change, a best-selling author and a worldwide celebrity. He achieved this with discipline and dedication to his beliefs, particularly on the threat he believes global warming poses to the planet.

"He could have gone off and sulked, been bitter or just made money," said John Podesta, who was President Bill Clinton's last White House chief of staff.

"Instead, he devoted himself to what he really cared about, and around the globe is a very influential figure."

(He has also made a ton of money.)

The Gore comeback was by no means easy. Ex-presidents have a natural platform to project themselves on the national and world scene, as Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter have done. Ex-vice presidents don't. Ask Dan Quayle, who served under George Bush from 1989 to 1993.

And defeated candidates for the American presidency usually are more pariah than prophet within their own party. George McGovern, Michael Dukakis and now John Kerry were poster boys for the other party in the years after their defeat.

Out of office, Gore shunned the political route. Rather, as Podesta suggests, he focused on what really mattered to him, global warming. He worked and traveled relentlessly, proselytizing and preaching and developing a coherent way to discuss a complex issue.

Thus, the stiff presidential candidate of 2000 became a more natural and plausible figure in "An Inconvenient Truth," his widely heralded documentary.

Gore was prescient in his criticism of the Iraq war from its inception and cheered Democrats with his book, "An Assault on Reason," a harshly critical analysis of President George W. Bush and the Republicans.

The Tennessee Democrat is a policy wonk, reveling in national security and environmental matters. He lacks the unrivaled communicative skills and political dexterity of his former boss, Bill Clinton, but no one in either party is a more forceful or knowledgeable advocate.

Gore also has a sharp wit and a very tender, compassionate side - traits that were both largely hidden from the public when he was in his political mode.

Associates say they are more in evidence these days.

With the Nobel Prize, he commands worldwide attention rivaling that of former presidents. Yet there is a difference politically: They can comment or criticize but are virtually out of the running for president; he is not.

This, as the presidential historian Michael Beschloss notes, puts Gore "in a position without parallel" in American political history.

He is 59 years old. His father, a former senator and his mentor, died at age 90, his mother at 92. Those genes suggest that whether from the White House or outside, Al Gore will be an important voice in the American body politic for another generation.

Looking at the current crop of presidential contenders is telling. The Republicans disagree with him respectfully. There is little of the derisive "ozone man" ridicule or the perpetration of myths about his hyperbole that were much in evidence in past campaigns.

Some Democrats, like Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who favors a carbon tax, invoke an association with Gore to gain credibility. Hillary Clinton was positively gushy when he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, in New Hampshire last week, boasted how Gore would play "a very senior capacity" in his administration.

How about an Obama-Gore ticket? "Having won a Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar, being vice president would probably be a step down," Obama said.

Both Gore and his causes don't lack for critics. A British judge recently ruled that his film could be shown in schools there, as it was based on scientific research and fact, though he said it contained nine errors or omissions.

That decision was reminiscent of that old criticism of Ronald Reagan for sometimes getting a few details wrong, even as he usually got the big picture right.

In America, Gore is still intensely disliked and criticized by the political right, although some corporate executives and investors have moved much closer to his viewpoint.

The former vice president has never quite gotten over the press coverage of his 2000 campaign, or at least the rougher scrutiny he got in the major mainstream media than did his opponent, Bush. Those in touch with him now say he is much more relaxed and comfortable, even with the political criticism he still engenders.

"It is better to be hated for what you are," Gore said in a eulogy to his father nine years ago, "than to be loved for what you are not."

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If you listen closely to Hillary and Obama, they are beginning to stumble over their own policies, and I believe that Gore knew that this would happen. That is why he said that he would not have a two year campaign. I truly believe that he will run this time because we, Americans, will not accept what is out there running. Hillary, Obama nor Edwards can win. and that is why the GOP is positive about 2008. If Gore were running, the GOP would know that 2008 would not be theirs.

That's what worries me, if AL doesn't run, we might be looking at four more years of hell with the republicans. Although a woman or African American president would be more than welcome, I don't see it happening in 2008 thanks to way too much racism and bigotry in this country. Republicans won't let it, they will once again find a way to rig and steal the election for the third time. Maybe 2016 will be the right time for a woman or African American. But for now............

We need AL GORE and we need him now.

QUOTE (JamesAquila @ Oct 28 2007, 09:48 AM)

QUOTE

Al Hunt: Gore's presence will loom large for the next president

By Albert R. Hunt
Bloomberg News
Sunday, October 28, 2007

WASHINGTON: Al Gore won't run for president this time.

Still, whoever does assume the office in less than 15 months will face the presence, the shadow, of the former vice president immediately.

If it's a Republican, then the Democrats, having snatched defeat from the jaws of near-certain victory, will have two options: suffer a nervous breakdown or turn to Gore as a savior.

A Democrat, especially the front-runner Hillary Clinton - whose sibling rivalry with Gore during the Clinton presidency endures - will confront Gore as a watchdog on national security, foreign policy and energy and environmental matters. It may be the most intriguing intra-party dynamic since the one between Senator Robert F. Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson four decades ago.

This is the result of the most remarkable comeback in contemporary American politics. Seven years ago, Gore lost the presidency after getting more votes than the man whose victory was facilitated by a politically divided Supreme Court.

He was held in contempt by many Democrats for an inept campaign and for being outgunned politically in the post-election maneuverings on vote recounts.

Now, he is an internationally acclaimed Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the winner of an Oscar for his documentary on climate change, a best-selling author and a worldwide celebrity. He achieved this with discipline and dedication to his beliefs, particularly on the threat he believes global warming poses to the planet.

"He could have gone off and sulked, been bitter or just made money," said John Podesta, who was President Bill Clinton's last White House chief of staff.

"Instead, he devoted himself to what he really cared about, and around the globe is a very influential figure."

(He has also made a ton of money.)

The Gore comeback was by no means easy. Ex-presidents have a natural platform to project themselves on the national and world scene, as Bill Clinton or Jimmy Carter have done. Ex-vice presidents don't. Ask Dan Quayle, who served under George Bush from 1989 to 1993.

And defeated candidates for the American presidency usually are more pariah than prophet within their own party. George McGovern, Michael Dukakis and now John Kerry were poster boys for the other party in the years after their defeat.

Out of office, Gore shunned the political route. Rather, as Podesta suggests, he focused on what really mattered to him, global warming. He worked and traveled relentlessly, proselytizing and preaching and developing a coherent way to discuss a complex issue.

Thus, the stiff presidential candidate of 2000 became a more natural and plausible figure in "An Inconvenient Truth," his widely heralded documentary.

Gore was prescient in his criticism of the Iraq war from its inception and cheered Democrats with his book, "An Assault on Reason," a harshly critical analysis of President George W. Bush and the Republicans.

The Tennessee Democrat is a policy wonk, reveling in national security and environmental matters. He lacks the unrivaled communicative skills and political dexterity of his former boss, Bill Clinton, but no one in either party is a more forceful or knowledgeable advocate.

Gore also has a sharp wit and a very tender, compassionate side - traits that were both largely hidden from the public when he was in his political mode.

Associates say they are more in evidence these days.

With the Nobel Prize, he commands worldwide attention rivaling that of former presidents. Yet there is a difference politically: They can comment or criticize but are virtually out of the running for president; he is not.

This, as the presidential historian Michael Beschloss notes, puts Gore "in a position without parallel" in American political history.

He is 59 years old. His father, a former senator and his mentor, died at age 90, his mother at 92. Those genes suggest that whether from the White House or outside, Al Gore will be an important voice in the American body politic for another generation.

Looking at the current crop of presidential contenders is telling. The Republicans disagree with him respectfully. There is little of the derisive "ozone man" ridicule or the perpetration of myths about his hyperbole that were much in evidence in past campaigns.

Some Democrats, like Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut, who favors a carbon tax, invoke an association with Gore to gain credibility. Hillary Clinton was positively gushy when he was awarded the Nobel Prize. Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, in New Hampshire last week, boasted how Gore would play "a very senior capacity" in his administration.

How about an Obama-Gore ticket? "Having won a Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar, being vice president would probably be a step down," Obama said.

Both Gore and his causes don't lack for critics. A British judge recently ruled that his film could be shown in schools there, as it was based on scientific research and fact, though he said it contained nine errors or omissions.

That decision was reminiscent of that old criticism of Ronald Reagan for sometimes getting a few details wrong, even as he usually got the big picture right.

In America, Gore is still intensely disliked and criticized by the political right, although some corporate executives and investors have moved much closer to his viewpoint.

The former vice president has never quite gotten over the press coverage of his 2000 campaign, or at least the rougher scrutiny he got in the major mainstream media than did his opponent, Bush. Those in touch with him now say he is much more relaxed and comfortable, even with the political criticism he still engenders.

"It is better to be hated for what you are," Gore said in a eulogy to his father nine years ago, "than to be loved for what you are not."

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That's what they said about Ross Perot 15 years ago. He's nothing but a footnote these days.

What if he doesn't run this time and all he is remembered for is
WHY THE FLUCKINUTTER NOT???

Imagine if John Lennon decided not to perform in the Cavern Club in Germany

Imagine if Neil Armstrong said, hey I gotta see a movie, no time to go to the moon today

Imagine if Ali said no man, Frazier punching too hard, I ain't going back out there

Imagine if Elvis said Hey man I'm too tired, I don't want to record "That's alright Mama"

Imagine if Martin Luther King Jr. said "I don't have any dreams at all to talk about, so I am not giving a speech today"

Imagine if Abraham Lincoln sighed too loud in his debates with Douglas

Imagine if Barbara Bush told George Herbert Walker Bush hell no, you ain't gonna have sex with me tonight you bugeye ole' bat...(oops, that wouldve been a good thing x3)

What if GDub hadn't cheated the 2000 election from Gore?

I think Gore has a great legacy.

Never lost a popular election.
Right when most others were wrong.
Undisputed leader of the Climate Change movement.
Featured in an Oscar winning film.
Nobel Peace Prize winner.
VP for 8 years.
etc. etc. etc.

And he's not done yet...

QUOTE (ReElectAlGore2008 @ Oct 28 2007, 02:52 PM)

What if he doesn't run this time and all he is remembered for is
WHY THE FLUCKINUTTER NOT???

Imagine if John Lennon decided not to perform in the Cavern Club in Germany

Imagine if Neil Armstrong said, hey I gotta see a movie, no time to go to the moon today

Imagine if Ali said no man, Frazier punching too hard, I ain't going back out there

Imagine if Elvis said Hey man I'm too tired, I don't want to record "That's alright Mama"

Imagine if Martin Luther King Jr. said "I don't have any dreams at all to talk about, so I am not giving a speech today"

Imagine if Abraham Lincoln sighed too loud in his debates with Douglas

Imagine if Barbara Bush told George Herbert Walker Bush hell no, you ain't gonna have sex with me tonight you bugeye ole' bat...(oops, that wouldve been a good thing x3)

Imagine if Clay said something that actually was true or made sense instead of the usual irrational ranting.

QUOTE (AlGoreFan @ Oct 28 2007, 04:14 PM)

What if GDub hadn't cheated the 2000 election from Gore?

I think Gore has a great legacy.

Never lost a popular election.
Right when most others were wrong.
Undisputed leader of the Climate Change movement.
Featured in an Oscar winning film.
Nobel Peace Prize winner.
VP for 8 years.
etc. etc. etc.

And he's not done yet...

What if JFK wasn't killed and served 2 full terms ending in 1968
And Bobby replaced him in 1969
And Jimmy Carter replaced him in 1977
And Martin Luther King became President in 1985
And Ted Kennedy/Al Gore became President in 1992
And Al Gore/Paul Wellstone.. became President 2005
And Paul Wellstone/JFK Jr. became President in 2011
And JFK Jr./Al Gore3rd. became President in 2019

the world would have been 1zillion times better without any Bush or Clinton in the white house

QUOTE (ReElectAlGore2008 @ Oct 28 2007, 01:52 PM)

Imagine if Barbara Bush told George Herbert Walker Bush hell no, you ain't gonna have sex with me tonight you bugeye ole' bat...(oops, that wouldve been a good thing x3)

Actually it would have been a good thing x4. If only..............

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