Uh...Mr. Gore----it's yours for the taking... It really is.

The Repubs are running unwinnable canidates. What McCain and Rudy?... snarf.

The Dems--- pretty formidable. Hill--- Barack, Dennis.... etc.

But nobody has the star power of Albert Gore Jr.

Ya see.... it's very winnable for Al... Very.

you won once - and have a much greater fan base today.

My understanding is that he has plenty of money, so there's little need to jump in now to pre-empt off the other candidates' fundraising efforts. He'll let the early entrants beat the snot out of each other for quite some time, then enter the race.

Hell, I'd donate 10 times what I gave Kerry...

Personally, I'll give till it hurts.

We can't afford any more "close" races. This country needs Al Gore to win in a cakewalk/landslide.

unwinnable candidates? Shit, so are the Democrats. However, one will win by default and I predict the lowest voter turnout in American history.

And yes, I agree with you. Gore would walk away with it.

In the '08 general election? Lordy, son--what you smokin'?

and Gore by rights and if not by usurpation of an idiotic 5-4 SCOTUS vote ... just gives us and the world a pause to think how things might have turned out. But right now Edwards has the lead in Iowa and probably everywhere else if only polls were being taken. Unwinnable ? Believe me, any Republican running will also have to be asked how they supported * for this long. What were they smoking ?????

Unless Al Gore decides to run.

I see everything that is going on right now as creating a "Perfect Storm" for Al Gore.

Hillary has been forced to show her hand a full 12 months before the start of the primaries!!

This means people have a full 12 months to ask Hillary about her position on Iraq, and why has she been so supportive of the illegitimate (p)Resident of the Whitehouse these past 5 years ....

People also have time to get tired of Hillary's campaign. What we might call "Hillary fatigue".

The field is getting very crowded and it will be tough for candidates to gain traction.

I like and respect both Obama and (especially) Edwards. But the fact is they are both relatively inexperienced and unqualified if you compare them to Al Gore. Obama has been 2 years in the Senate and Edwards was 6 years (but the last 2 of those he was focusing on the 2004 campaign).

I respect the fact that Edwards has come clean about the situation in Iraq, and has admitted he was wrong to vote for the IWR. But I respect much MORE the fact that Gore spoke out agains the Bu$h-Cheney-Rumsfeld policy on Iraq from the beginning - in speeches going back to 2002 - insisting on giving the UN inspectors more time to carry out their mission and maintaining a broad international consensus.

There is no hurry for Gore to enter the race for 2008. He is doing a great job raising public awareness about the climate crisis (he spoke to 10 000 people in Boise on Monday!). He is also busy working on his next book "The Assault on Reason" - to be published in May*.

Depending on how things pan out, and the reaction to his forthcoming book, Gore can consider his situation over the summer and announce his decision sometime in the fall. Don't forget that Bill Clinton did not start his campaign until October 1991 - 12 weeks before the start of the '92 primaries. But Al Gore already has nationwide respect and name recognition that other wannabees can only wish for!

And by the way - Gore is younger than Hillary, Clark, Kerry, McCain and Guiliani! :)

Unless and until Gore endorses another candidate, we have to assume that he is keeping his options open. So it is too soon for those of us who prefer Gore to switch our allegiance.

* see http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/16/AR2006091600877.html

Let's all find ways to show our support for Al Gore!

In Gore We Trust :)
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com - Sign the petition!
www.draftgore2008.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

And I agree whole heartedly that Gore will wait to the very end. Can you imagine that happening? It would be like a bomb going off, especially here at DU.

Well said. :)

Perhaps by then he'll have an Oscar on his mantlepiece, too. The first President of the United States to be an Academy Award winner, also. Take THAT, ronald reagan! Wouldn't that be exquisite?

I've been writing to all of the Gore sites until my fingers bleed. What this country needs at this point in time is a man of singular intelligence, a man of vision and action: Al Gore. What we DON'T need is another "guy I'd like to have a beer with" like the current squatter in the White House, a pseudo-intellectual egomaniac who couldn't think his way out of a paper bag. People were fooled by Bush's "good old boy" act and he turned into a mega-disaster after his selection to the Presidency.

Al Gore is the MAN and our country needs him now more than ever. Let's hope that WHEN HE DOES announce his candidacy and IS NOMINATED for the Democratic candidate for President that he chooses a better running mate then he did last time. I think Holy Joe was a terrible choice for his running mate in '00 and Joe's actions since then bear this out.

Which begs the question: who would be the perfect running mate for Gore '08? :shrug:

The New Al Gore is far stronger a candidate now than the old one. And that's scary. I have a feeling if he ran . . . can we say "landslide"?

He is the man he has always been.

but years of daily public speaking about a cause so close to his heart has given him some serious "charisma" he is more clinton-esq than clinton now.

(bad imitation of Howard Cosell)

All he has to do is run.

:bounce:

I hope he takes it.

I am willing to work by butt off for him!

K&R

to get back his dignity. But he won't run.

It's bigger than just this country. The whole world is looking to our '08 elections, hoping for a leader with vision.

You're the right man for this job! Please kindly step up to the plate.

Otherwise, Clark/Edwards.

Nor is it just all about "winning." He is also accomplishing tremendous things out here regarding inspiring business, citizens, our younger generation, and countries worldwide to face this crisis as it should be faced... by direct grassroots action.

I am so happy for the producers and for An Inconvenient Truth's nominations which were well deserved because the message is not about such esoteric things as "star power", it is about people power and addressing the most critical challenge of our civilization on a much deeper level.

Al Gore has already won as well because he is a man of character, honor, and decency too good for the trappings of the BS beltway, and this movie proves it. He could never have done this as a "politician." He is now following his heart, and I for one hope that he continues to do so because it just might well save this planet.

IE. Corporations damaging the enviornment WILL DO THIS, THIS and THIS if they want to do business in our country. Bush has used the power of the executive unrestrained for evil ends and we need someone with the vision to use it in radical ways for the greater good.

I personally hope Mr. Gore stays away from that toxic system, although of course, he has every right to consider it. However, again, he is not one imo to abuse the executive for whatever reason, and as a businessman, statesman, and environmental advocate he has great resources at his disposal to create positive change at the source the right way.

than invading Iraq was and I don't think it would be a abuse of power.

Seriously. Abuse of power is abuse of power even if it gets you what you want.

The only thing making him attractive is that he has not announced and appears to be avoiding another run.

I'd work like a DOG for him.

We need to talk him into it! Help us out! :D

JMO.

If he doesn't really want it, nothing will talk him into it and I will continue to support him & his climate change mission because it IS the most important issue on the table today. And I hope he milks the rumors for all the publicity he can get.

If he wants it, even a little bit, he totally deserves to have the grassroots build him a huge network of supportors and come to him with an invite on a golden platter. :)

No harm, no foul, you know; this effort will last a few months at most and every time I talk about drafting Al to my friends and neighbors I'm gonna be talking about what they should do for global climate change too. ;)

With all due respect, algore.org paying set up fees for people to start draft groups just to keep up with the amount of groups others have doesn't sound like people are too interested in it, or that their main concern is the heart and soul of this issue but only using it to keep their name in it. All of that money ( 72.00 each I believe) for each group going to environmental organizations, or going to plant trees, or going to push state and local governments NOW to make changes imo is a much better and more appropriate way of supporting him and showing a serious commitment to this issue. Of course, that is just my observation, and based on my experience initially with Draft Gore 04 for which the environment wasn't even an issue, I know better this time. Al Gore is doing it right, and I will continue to support this issue now with my dollars and time.

A potential run for the Presidency -- that's interesting.

A "comeback kid" kind of story -- that's interesting.

Convincing people to change their lifestyles, and buy CFs, and drive less -- that's hard!

I wonder how many people who saw "An Inconvenient Truth" have gone on to really make an effort? We, the people, need reminding and reminding and reminding. And, you know, "a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down?" The American public is a fickle thing; you have to keep their attention. If Mr. Gore can use these media opportunities to continue to spread this cause in many different ways, until it goes so wide and so deep it can't be ignored -- good for him!

As far as the use of the meetup money, I would be willing to bet you a hundred bucks that not one of those towns had a "global warming" meetup before this. I know mine didn't. I am pushing for every meetup to have a global warming component to it. Al Gore can get 'em to the meeting and when they're there we can talk about all the other good jazz we need to be doing too. People need support on doing things. If you're all alone and you say, "I'm gonna lower my carbon output," but you don't set yourself any goals and any timelines, you're not very likely to do it. Like being on a diet. If you are gonna go to a meetup in a few weeks and you know perfectly well that everyone there is going to ask you how you did with lowering your carbon output -- well, that's incentive! Like Weight Watchers. :D (Which, by the way, totally works.)

Have you ever heard Tom Hayden speak about activism? It's very interesting. He talks about how those of us who are trying to get our political ideas adopted are on one edge of an issue, and as we push and push and push, it slowly goes forward into the mainstream and other people take it on. And when that happens, things in the message change, and it get waters down, and other people take it on, and it can be very frustrating for those of us who were working to get it adopted two years ago or four years ago, when nobody saw the problem coming except us. This EXACT thing has happened to me on a local zoning issue. Anyway, he pointed out that when this happens, we who were the "early adopters" of an idea tend to feel that things are not going well. But, he said, that's not the case at all... we are, in fact, winning, as the ideas get taken out to the mainstream, even if they do get watered down and changed. And we need to congratulate ourself as we see the idea get out to the wider world and take wings. And, of course, we have to keep pushing for more and better changes. Anyway, when he told that story, it made me feel a lot better about the activist work in my life. I think the global warming issue has gone from "early adopters" to "medium adopters" like me, and now, hopefully, it'll blow out big and become totally mainstream, but we have to keep pushing, until EVERY house has CF bulbs, and hybrids are more common than hummers! :rofl:

Anyway. Sheeeit, I'm rattling on. Sorry, gtg.... :hi:

considering that the number of members in meetups -- not meetups, but individual people -- has doubled in the last month, I'd say there's some real interest out there! ;)

If 1000 people join meetups and knock off 1000 pounds of carbon a month for the next six months, that's 6,000,000 pounds of carbon. Not too shabby!

So Mr. Gore's movie and this issue are being used in these meetups for partisan political purposes even though he claimed rightfully that this is not a partisan political issue? Wouldn't people do that just as well as part of climate crisis meetups where there actually might be more people of all politics joining in ? Sorry, but I see the political angle to it, and considering the website backing it and paying for it I know it is only political because this crisis was not even a blip on that site's radar screen until An Inconvenient Truth came out. Anyway, thank you for your respectful responses, but I'll stick to what I'm doing in talking to people about this without a political agenda.

I hope we can be allies in the part of our mission we DO agree on: to fight global warming.

Have you seen this website? What do you think? I am thinking of calling them and signing up. I don't know too much about solar though. I read on some websites about how to "roll your own" but I am a bit intimidated by it all.

http://renu.citizenre.com/

...too eager a jump into the race will make An Inconvenient Truth look like a campaign tool. He has to stay out as long as possible (at least until after the Oscars) in order to minimize the mis-characterization of his movie as such...he's worked too hard to let a presidential run undermine the important success of AIT. However, if the movie's success could help him further this cause with the power of the White House, I don't think he would hesitate for a second. I'm as eager as any to see him jump in...it's just too early. As many have said before, he has nothing to gain from an early announcement.

Seriously though, Al, throw us a bone!!! :D

I can hang on till after the Oscars!

Works for me.

And that's what we need these days.

:party:

My kids are liberal as they can be, and they find Gore as stiff as a board.

And, considering the horrid percentages of 18-21 year olds who vote, does it really matter?

Just because it might be true in one case doesn't make it always true.

I'll ask my brood about Obama and whether they'd actually bother to vote for him.

I'll let you know...

:kick:

Don't make us beg. Run, already!

:thumbsup:

but the most head-up-their-ass publicans. We could really use his intelligence and steady hand to see us through the recovery and restoration of our wounded country. He has my vote ... just like last time.

Who doesn't hold Al Gore at the top of the their 2008 Presidential Pics List.

Come on, Al, we're waiting.......

on Gore!

thanks for the thread:)

nominated for Best Documentary and Best Original Song at the Oscars. Al is delighted. Go Al!!

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/movies/4491764.html
<snip>
"The film ... has brought awareness of the climate crisis to people in the United States and all over the world," Gore said in an e-mail statement. "I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that movies really can make a difference."

Aides say the former vice president plans to walk the red carpet with Hollywood's beautiful people at the Academy Awards ceremony next month.

Guggenheim said he wasn't expecting a nomination but welcomed the fresh attention from the Academy's recognition. He said he spoke to Gore and asked him, "'Are you ready to go to the show?' I think he's ready. For years he's been in the wilderness on global warming. Now he's ready for his grand walk. Now he's at the Academy Awards. It's a hero's return."
--------------
Announce your candidacy at the Oscars Al Gore :D

The one I can see standing up and applauding first is Alec Baldwin.

this year.

I bet the whole bunch is wetting themselves with the prospect of seeing Al Gore walk the red carpet with all those Hollywood Liberals!! The only other thing that might make their heads explode would be if he and George Clooney carpooled to the event in a Prius. Ha!

I realy hope Al wins! That would be great!

His movie wins - the producers are the ones who go up to receive a best pic award, not the actor, so he sits demurely in the audience, clapping for them - they go up there to accept, and the crowd starts chanting Al! AL! Al!, they beckon him to come on up - after all, this production was his baby, regardless of official role... he goes up and says a few humble words - someone shouts "run for president" and he smiles, starts to give the standard response, catches himself and says, "oh, all right" in that fake petulant joking manner he has

if he does not announce then, it certainly would HAVE to affect his decision I would think.

Think about it, signs on the red carpet, chants on the red carpet, signs haging from the balcony...I don't care what FAUX news would say, it would be a stunning announcement...stunning and talked about for weeks.

His first calls when he walks off that stage, if he had not made them already, should be to the man or woman he wants to be his VP. (and his Sec of Def..hint hint ahem clark)

continues into the Oval Office!

You could do so much good for this country- and for the world.

Please consider it- I know this is selfish- but we NEED you and you would most certainly win.

there will be a LOT of pressure on him to run. A LOT.

Reagan never even came close to winning an Oscar! (Tongue firmly in cheek)

:eyes:

Kings Row (an early precursor to Blue Velvet:

This melodrama is often cited as a precursor to the 1957 soap opera Peyton Place, and it also influenced David Lynch's dark, surreal look at the corrupt underside of middle America in Blue Velvet (1986). Prior to the breakdown of Hollywood censorship codes in the 1960s, few films pushed the envelope as much as Kings Row. The performances are all strong, particularly Ronald Reagan's career-best work as the disabled playboy; Reagan would title his 1960s autobiography Where's the Rest of Me? after his key line in the film. Unlike in most of director Sam Wood's previous work, the stark visuals enhance the disturbing onscreen events. The disquieting ambience comes courtesy of cinematographer James Wong Howe and production designer William Cameron Menzies. Erich Wolfgang Korngold's orchestral score is among his best.

http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll?p=avg&sql=1:27480~T1

He was also great as a sleazy gangster in the 1960s version of The Killers.

About a decade removed from film noir's heyday, Don Siegel's remake of The Killers (1946) provided a much-needed jolt of bleak noir sentiment to mid-1960s American cinema. Originally intended for television, the 1964 version was released in theaters due to its violent content. Featuring intricate plotting, Siegel's typically lean direction, and Lee Marvin's wonderfully nasty star turn, The Killers was in many ways a precursor to the more subversive material which emerged later in the decade, such as Bonnie and Clyde and another Marvin vehicle, Point Blank (both from 1967). Marvin is at his steely best here: it's this sort of unmerciful yet peculiarly sympathetic role that highlighted his career. The Killers was also notable as Ronald Reagan's last feature; he provides some of his most impressive work, as a corrupt, wealthy bad guy.

And some of his light romantic comedies were pretty decent, IMO. I'll always defend Reagan's acting career. It's his presidential career which sucked.

You sound quite knowledgeable about his career. Maybe I'll take a look at some of these films.

You'll pardon me if I wish he would have just stuck with acting.

And remember, he was a Democrat when he made Kings Row.
:evilgrin:

I agree — I also wish he'd stuck with acting!

gonna win!

Hope Melissa Etheridge wins with that very inspiring song, "I Need To Wake Up!" of her's, too!

I'd also take Gore / Edwards or Gore / Obama as well.

is unbeatable... as is a Clark/Webb or any other combination that has either Gore or Clark at the top. I think Edwards has a good chance, not so keen on Obama being able to combat the muslim background and past drug use he's admitted to, that's just the facts with how I perceive things, and my opinion is shared by many I meet. My best friend, however, can't stand Gore, says he's great for the climate but people are so uninterested in him ----- and the polls back him up - Gore was under 50% in "should he run" from some website a few months ago. A lot of people would be surprised by how he'd run this time as opposed to wooden-Al from 00.

there's plenty of different combination stickers at
www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

to YOU to get in until the bloodletting subsides a bit...

As I've said before, he's my candidate.

I'd love to see him run with my junior senator as his running mate.

Gore/Obama 08

I betya he would dive in! I believe he would only run if he had a sense that his victory was 95% assured.

We know that, but it will take more then a bunch of passionate DUers to talk him into it. He would need to also hear from Independents and even rethugs---that they too will vote for him.

Pleeeeeeeeeeeeze Al - - - RUN!!! I promise you, you would have a frenzied pack of dedicated volunteers to front the effort! :applause:

HE KNOWS!

light bulbs to CFL's.

Otherwise they have no right asking anything of Al Gore.

But you're quite right.

Does that count???? :shrug:

I think Clark/Obama/Edwards as running mate.

No Hillary please. The media has been setting her up for
years. Too much baggage. The Repub's will rally to bring her down.

...the theme song from "An Inconvenient Truth" this afternoon...and I came to realize that it's a call to Al himself. He needs to wake up...and step up to the task that is his, as unpalatable as it may be for him! He's the one!

Lyrics: "I Need To Wake Up" by Melissa Etheridge

Have I been sleeping?
I’ve been so still
Afraid of crumbling
Have I been careless?
Dismissing all the distant rumblings
Take me where I am supposed to be
To comprehend the things that I can’t see

Cause I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

And as a child
I danced like it was 1999
My dreams were wild
But the promise of this new world
Would be mine
Now I am throwing off the carelessness of youth
To listen to an inconvenient truth

Well I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

I am not an island
I am not alone
I am my intentions
Trapped here in this flesh and bone

And I need to move
I need to wake up
I need to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

I want to change
I need to shake up
I need to speak out
Something’s got to break up
I’ve been asleep
And I need to wake up
Now

and maybe it will be just what he needs to hear to get him into the race.

I'm with the orginal poster. I think he could win because he's paid his dues, is a real thinker, and a real leader.

Thank you for giving me the vote of confidence!

And as a child
I danced like it was 1999
My dreams were wild
But the promise of this new world
Would be mine
Now I am throwing off the carelessness of youth
To listen to an inconvenient truth

That is what the song is about. But sure, write him and tell him he needs to wake up. I'm sure he will be touched by seeing once again how so many have missed the message of this movie and still live in denial regarding their part in the solution.

:kick:

just about everyone I know.

Imagine that!

We need a REAL Democrat, not these coward phonies.

Gore and Clark, please!!!

They all said some good points but they all left me uninspired. Jim Webb kicked all their collective butts tonight. If Al doesn't run in 2008 then I would understand, he has been through hell in back thanks to Shrub and co. Still, I wonder what he must be thinking about Hillary being the frontrunner. I wonder if he thinks she is the right one for the Dems.

:woohoo:

in an interview I read last year; it was describing how his father had a wall covered with photos of his son documenting his life and achievements. He had intentionally left a space blank for a picture of him as president (portrait-sized I think!).

Time to fill it; I say. I think your dad knew it would happen someday......

Gore 2008! :woohoo:

Our country needs you, sir. Please...

Two candidates with integrity, passion, eloquence, and vision.

Let the GOP try to Swiftboat that!

Al - When the Oscar party is over, I want you to take a long vacation, rest up, have some fun and get around during the spring and summer, and then get ready to make your daddy proud (all over again).

Al is the Man. THE Man. Big Al.

Because God knows as Americans we certainly can't do it ourselves! We have proven that time and time again, especially since 2000 when you and we had this Democracy stolen from us and we still just believe it is OK to allow it to be swept under the rug and for you to have to deal with it ALL all over again. We only sit back and allow the messes to happen, not clean them up. We have our own lives to think about, so how dare you be so selfish after serving us for ONLY a quarter of a century and still doing it to think that your message for US to finally be the change would actually get you off the hook! Even though the real message of An Inconvenient Truth is exactly that because that really will be the only way to save this planet NOW, because we are Americans obsessed with the presidency and aristocracy and title even though our forefathers like Thomas Jefferson abhorred all that pomp and circumstance because he knew what it really meant to be a great man without it and from where the REAL power in this country came from, which sadly is now gone on a large scale.

However, Al, this is the NEW America where people don't feel the need to have to actually do anything themselves, and they need YOU to do it all. And really, how damn selfish can you be Al! Traveling all over the world to spread this truth, taking your own time and money to devote all of your time to this crucial cause, inspiring people across the country in a grassroots effort that actually emulates the message of your movie ... I mean come on, that really means nothing unless you get back into the bs political world that dissed you and will NOT move on this crisis. Can't you see that even after all you have been through, we don't have to care about how YOU feel, because you HAVE A DUTY to go through all of this BS again because well, we say so damn it and we want to watch a real drag out fight with Hillary Clinton because football is over! Now come on and get yourself out there and be our savior now because we have too much to worry about with who is going to win American Idol to have to worry about this Democracy thing and this climate crisis thing ourselves. I have red marks on my knees from begging Al, now please don't you let us down again like you did when you were the "old" Al Gore, because you just aren't doing enough right now, and we can't trust you to actually know what is right.

And yes, that was sarcasm, and yes, I had to type it because the begging on the part of some is getting absolutely embarrassing to read at this point considering that this man has finally reached a point in his life where he is fulfilled and at peace and you all want him to just throw it all away for you after all he has been through as if that wasn't enough. I personally find it selfish at this point.

Do you believe it makes no difference who the President is?

How do you get that question from my comment that I find the constant begging of him embarrassing? Do you not think the man intelligent enough to make his own decisions after all of the years he was part of it? It is one thing to want him to run (and in a truly Jeffersonian Democracy which we don't currently have I wouldn't mind it at all) but quite another to constantly harrass and push on him about it every single day. It is bad enough that seems ALL the media and cable pundits are concerned about to the point that when he does his slideshow presentations and speeches he doesn't even allow them in or only addresses the media for five minutes on the topic. How many damn times can he say the same thing?

And if I didn't think the Presidency was important I wouldn't have fought for Mr. Gore as I did in 2000, and in 2004 when others were already moving on...that is, until I saw what a farce this entire presidential electoral process is. Actually to me, it is obvious the Presidency isn't important to the Congress and many others, because they allowed Bush and his henchmen to steal it in 2000 and more than likely will not impeach him now. So I don't think you should be asking that question just of me. And really, isn't the presidency of this country just the placement of a titular corporate head? The people don't really vote for the president of this country. Is that what you really want Mr. Gore to have to conform to in that beltway prison in lieu of what he is doing now freely? I don't.

I think he is doing an incredible job out here and believe he will have great influence on positive changes in business and other sectors as the man behind the scenes, and as a statesman whose words and actions are truly respected and listened to. That isn't shabby if you ask me, especially with a Congress that seems more intent on bickering now over climate change bills to please their corporate benfactors on all sides, rather than seeing this crisis for what it truly is and taking moral action on it.

So as far as this climate crisis goes, NO, I do not think the Presidency or this Congress is going to be the most important part in passing the truly groundbreaking and comprehensive legislation that needs to be passed NOW in order to mitigate it. They will have to be FORCED into it by US continuing to PUSH THEM, and that will have a greater chance of success with him out here on our side. I can't but then think how totally screwed this planet is because of people whio place ALL of their attention on ONE office and ONE election when it will take so much more to address this now. Al Gore understands that, and that is why I believe he should be left alone to do this as he sees fit, because it is that important. Simple as that.

"Even though the real message of An Inconvenient Truth is exactly that because that really will be the only way to save this planet NOW, because we are Americans obsessed with the presidency and aristocracy and title even though our forefathers like Thomas Jefferson abhorred all that pomp and circumstance because he knew what it really meant to be a great man without it and from where the REAL power in this country came from, which sadly is now gone on a large scale."

Former President Jefferson may have abhorred it, but it didn't stop him from becoming President.

"How do you get that question from my comment that I find the constant begging of him embarrassing? Do you not think the man intelligent enough to make his own decisions after all of the years he was part of it? It is one thing to want him to run (and in a truly Jeffersonian Democracy which we don't currently have I wouldn't mind it at all) but quite another to constantly harrass and push on him about it every single day. It is bad enough that seems ALL the media and cable pundits are concerned about to the point that when he does his slideshow presentations and speeches he doesn't even allow them in or only addresses the media for five minutes on the topic. How many damn times can he say the same thing?"

I believe the difference in our perspectives are the two different motivations for asking the same question of Al Gore. On the one hand his supporters are asking, begging, pleading, encouraging or praying Al Gore runs because they recognize the power of the Presidency even if you have written it off as you state here.


"And really, isn't the presidency of this country just the placement of a titular corporate head? The people don't really vote for the president of this country. Is that what you really want Mr. Gore to have to conform to in that beltway prison in lieu of what he is doing now freely? I don't."

On the other hand, I will grant that, some in the mass corporate media, are pushing him to announce to give them more time to trash and slander him, but this is an entirely different motivation from his supporters and should not be confused. I also believe Al has ascended past the conformity requirement of the beltway prison.

Personally I hope and pray Al runs, not because I expect him alone to save our earth, this will require everyone's effort, but because I still view the power of the Presidency as critical in fighting the looming catastrophe of global warming. Even though I am encouraging him to run, I believe he should wait as long as possible to announce, I will leave the timing up to his judgment. If he announces he will absolutely not run in 2008, I will respect his decision and pray he runs in 2012, but I will not accept the mass corporate media's interpretation of his decision. No shermanesque statement in my book leaves the door open.

When the masses actually cared about their government and talked about it in the town square and politicians weren't selling their souls to the highest corporate bidder. It can't be compared to now, which is my point. And sorry, but I believe many of those now pleading and begging on the Internet (And I don't see that at all off the Internet BTW, and as a matter of fact, I talk to many people who are disillusioned with politicians and this system in general no matter who they are) are from sites like Daily Kos that also continue to push him because they want him to go up against Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, I can't believe they all are doing this because they believe in the power of the Presidency. If that were really the case Mr. Gore would have been there in 2001, and since nothing has changed regarding that system since, I will continue to express my opinions regarding Mr. Gore entering it again and breaking the momentum he has on this issue now until it does.

and it's getting stronger every day. I also believe today is comparable in some ways to the days of politicians selling their souls to the robber barons. Elections being stolen are nothing new either, or Samuel Tilden would been President, Florida played a central role in that drama as well.

I am sure there are some people supporting Al because they are against another candidate, but I believe that's also been an eternal truth and those people are in the minority. There have been changes taken place even as recent as 2004, Katrina comes to mind and I believe this woke a few people up. Bush's "honor and integrity" was on display then as was real honor and integrity.

I believe you should continue to post your opinions regarding Al Gore entering the race, as will we, who believe the best way to enhance the momentum on the critical issue of global warming, along with other vital issues such as the assault on our Constitution and wars based on lies and greed.

On many of these blogs like Daily Kos all I see are people trying to make a name for themselves and it is very "cliquish," which is something I could never get into, so I really don't place much stock in them. And even though the Internet may be a sort of 21st Century townsquare, I do think it also makes people lazy regarding taking it further, and it is isolating to a degree. Until we see a radical change in how the media presents news, and the entire facade of this propaganda system shaken enough to really crack the veneer of corruption and fraud in Washington DC, then what is the Internet except one large chatroom? At least in Jefferson's time people spoke and then did something substantial about it.

We still need to reach people out here, and we still need to get back to the time when Democratic debate was truthful. lively, and not so partisan and politically motivated. That isn't going to be done on the Internet alone as wonderful a tool as it is. Just today I was talking to someone who claims we got what we got with this government and that is all we will have. People are truly losing faith, and when that happens they do not feel inspired to care. That has to change before government can change. That is why I support Mr. Gore being out here with us to provide a source of inspiration as a private citizen and statesman. I believe if he ran in 2008 many would just see him as "one of them" and that in my mind could hurt the message he is trying to deliver now... and it is primarily about the message now. And while we may disagree on some points, I thank you for being so respectful in your replies.

sorry, I missed a change somewhere

now that John Kerry has announced he won't run. I really hope Al Gore decides to get in, although I would fully understand if he chooses to bypass the aggravation.

just wondering.

http://algore.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=374&Itemid=81

I agree he needs to run. I am already telling everyone who asks me who the nomination will be, I say "It will be Al Gore".

I am positive of it. I truly see him as the next President of the United States. Number 44 has a nice ring to it.

We need you, sir.