On Today Show - Gore Rules Out '08

[kerrygoddess]

No Gore ‘08
May 24th, 2006 @ 11:05 am

There’s been a lot of hype in the liberal blogosphere over the recent weeks about whether or not Al Gore was preparing for an ‘08 run. The hype has come on the wake of a round of public appearances by Gore to promote his new documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.” The film chronicles Gore’s efforts to bring attention to the dangers of Global Warming.

In an interview on the Today Show this morning Gore said, “I don’t intend to be a candidate ever again.”



Gore did clarify his statement further, not quite ruling out a run…

“I have no plans to be a candidate, and no intention of being a candidate,” Gore said in the interview broadcast on NBC’s “Today” show. But he added: “I’ve said I’m not at the stage of my life where I’m going to say never in the rest of my life will I ever think about such a thing.”

“I am involved in a kind of a campaign, but it’s not for a candidate,” Gore said in the interview. “It’s a campaign to change the minds of the American people about this climate process.”

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3104

[ginnyinWI]

1. Well I don't see how anybody can still think he's running.

That disclaimer at the end is what anybody would say--'cause you never know. Some nuclear disaster could wipe out 99% of the Democrats in Washington and Al would be called into service, for example. But for all normal purposes, the answer is "no".

That's what I was saying yesterday--he's found a nice niche as a media guy and wants to continue to help America that way.

[wisteria]

2. So, if Gore doesn't run, do you think these Gore supporters will

give Kerry another look? Senator Kerry has even more going for him that Gore does on currant issues and he is great on environmental issues also.

[TayTay]

3. They will find another flavor of the month

or maybe go back to Sen. Feingold. It is not that relevant right now. These are not committed people. Nor do they have to be right now.

I don't mind the chatter about other potentials. Life everyone else here, I just mind the sniping back and forth. I try to avoid it, but sometimes. Geez.

Good luck to Al Gore. I hope with all my heart that media ventures thrives. We need it.

[karynnj]

5. From the comments on DU -P

they take this as being clever and coy and really still planning to run. It will likely take several more of these comments to realize he means it.

Rationally, I agree with you. But, I think they mainly like Gore because he was angry and spoke against the war as much as the environmental issues. If he really is out, there are at least 2 Gore supporters groups - the angry online mob and people looking for an experienced candidate who is the anti-Hillary.

The former have a strange relationship with Kerry - he infuriates them while doing most of the things they desparately want everyone else to do. When pushed though the majority of them admit Kerry is a decent person. Kerry may ultimately get them after they're done flirting with every other candidate. Because they are so annoying in their intensity, immaturity and inability to remember the 20 good things someone does when they disagree with one "bad" action, I think it's almost better that he doesn't have them nearly 2 years out.

The second group might go to Kerry. There was a poll (not internet) several months ago, that showed that to be the case. What I wonder is who if anyone Gore might endorse. He endorsed Dean in 2004, over Kerry, Graham, Edwards and Lieberman who he knew as Senators and Gephardt who was in the House leadership during the Clinton administration. He had both Kerry and Edwards on his VP list and rejected them. But he might appreciate that Kerry let him and Carter speak at his convention when both had previously been pariahs and if Gore has moved to the left he likley found Kerry there.

[ProSense]

6. It is

the the strangest thing! Given that Kerry has always opposed the war and a lot of people believe he won the election, he is the person who is most consistent on all the issues. They are looking for the opposition party and Kerry is its most impassioned leader.

[karynnj]

7. I agree that Kerry has been the oposition leader esp on Iraq

I think they can see passion unless it is red faced rants. What I can't believe is that Kerry's comments in 2004 were far more focused and sharp than anyone else. That they were said in a rational, calm accurate way was a major plus. There was no comment that got to the heart of Bush's incompetence than Kerry's comment that they didn't even make the effort to secure the known ammo dumps and that all that stuff was now being used against "our kids". There is nothing tougher or better he could have said.

Other things were complicated, this wasn't. Kerry calling the soldiers kids, signals a lot.

[_dynamicdems]

8. What you say makes a lot of sense, especially the part about

>>I think it's almost better that he doesn't have them nearly 2 years out.

I'd go a step further. I'd rather Kerry be the second or third choice for these people because annoying, immature supporters will turn a lot of people off. The type of person who insists the moon is green cheese despite all evidence to the contrary does not make for a good supporter.

Although they raised a lot of money for him, the aggressive behavior of the Deniacs undeniably helped to sink the governor's campaign. Not that it would have been a viable one long term, but they certainly helped to expedite the campaign's inevitable death.

Think how you would have responded to a canvas of your neighborhood by a group of overzealous Deniacs. Poor Iowans! It must have felt like a Moonie invasion to the sensible people of Iowa. Rather a frightening prospect. No wonder they ran, not walked to support John Kerry. He has a record of issues and his supporters were the men he fought with in Vietnam. That made a much saner impression than a bunch of mono-chromatically-attired youngsters with stars in their eyes.

Not all Dean supporters were annoying, but many were, and still are. A lot of them were political neophytes, trying to tell people twice their age that Dean was the only choice for America. That wouldn't have gone over in Iowa or NH.

You're right, early support from these types can only hurt the perception of John Kerry as a serious candidate, if he decides to run.

[_dynamicdems]

4. I'm happy for him. He's grounded, centered and knows where he's needed.

He's found his thing and it isn't politics.

[zann725]

9. O.K., so it could be Kerry/Feingold then...with Gore iin key Cabinet post

(Environmental) perhaps?