I have this idea - Mr Gore - cause I am not giving up here -

[Joe for Clark]

stakes are too high for me.

Lets say - you just announce you might run if you had enough support - just that - just those words.

And then lets say you raise - oh, 25 million dollars in a month- no campaign, just your word.

Lets further say - a goodly chunk comes from traditionally conservative quarters.

Lets just say that. No focus groups, no Washinton bullshit - just us people.

Would you fight then?? Would you believe in us then??

Sometimes you just have to make a gut call - you do here.

You know the right thing to do. Trust us.

Joe

[MoonRiver]

1. Joe, I've noticed a lot of we former "Clarkies" are now for Gore.

Gore was a big fan of Clark and vice versa.

I just hope that you and others more "in the loop" than me can figure out how to convince President Gore to run, again.

[Kahuna]

2. I was for Gore in 2004 too. When he wouldn't run I was for Clark. nt

[MoonRiver]

3. They are both incredibly good and honorable men.

They both clearly want the best for our country, and are willing to fight to make sure we remain the country our founding fathers envisioned.

[Kahuna]

4. Yes. They are head and shoulders above the rest. I like Jim Webb too.

:hi:

[MoonRiver]

5. Yes, Jim Webb is awesome! One of my favs!

:hi:

[cali]

12. Jim Webb is neither a progressive or a liberal

I like him, but he doesn't represent those values.

[MoonRiver]

16. I don't agree with you.

It's the same argument that was used against Clark here in 2004. Anybody associated with the military is considered "suspect."

This is a another form of prejudice I believe.

[cali]

20. It has nothing to do with his military background

As I said, I like him, but the guy was a dedicated republican for years, and he didn't run on a progressive or liberal platform. Ted Kennedy or Pat Leahy, he aint.

[Joe for Clark]

6. It is true - Gore trusted Clark and Clark trusted Gore.

I just want a truly smart president and I want this army brought back to full strength right now -

I know - those kids trust Clark - and we better have an SOD they trust for a change.

He will put Clark in that position - I am so sure.

And we will get our army back.

I am pro Clark generally - but I don't think that is the deciding factor here.

I know who won our last war, they do too. And they know it was him, Clark, that set up those war game scenarios at Irwin that kept more then a few of those kids alive in that god forsaken country - can't fool the kids. They have to die for such mistakes.

Joe

[MoonRiver]

7. Clark definitely isn't running. Gore hasn't said he isn't.

Plus, Gore represents absolutely everything I want in a president. Nobody currently running does exactly that.

[Joe for Clark]

11. Totally agree.

Joe

[Blashyrkh]

14. He has, numerous times.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070216193307.67kfaghf&show_article=1

And some reasons why:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15358994

But hey, people keep thinking Jesus is coming back, so why not indulge in mindless fantasy.

[Blashyrkh]

8. Why does Al need to be "convinced"? Cause he don't wanna do it?

For all these bluster of wanting, needing, demanding Al Gore to run, the most vocal proponents never consider Al's feelings.

Al left politics and focused on a scientific activist-esque role. Why would Al give all that away to return his neck to the chopping block that is a Presidential Election. Not only is it a 12+ month orgy of political posturing, but it would also distract heavily from his climate change work.

I guess it's a loaded question, but which is more important? The future of a species or putting a (D) in the White House? I think Al can do far, far more by remaining outside of the US political system.

[MoonRiver]

10. A "D" will be back in the White House come 2008, whatever, imho.

It's what kind of "D" we have in there that matters. I'd rather have a Gore than a Clinton (although I am definitely NOT a Clinton hater). It's just a strong preference.

[cali]

9. He's not running, and this is getting

pathetic. It's time for you who are pinning the salvation of the world on Gore being president, to face reality: He. Is. Not. Running.

[MoonRiver]

13. THE PROBLEM IS

that he has not categorically announced that he is NOT RUNNING. Until he does that we will hang on to hope. After that, or when the Dem nomination is decided, whichever comes first, I'll change my tune. But not before.

[Blashyrkh]

17. Name one press conference that was called to announce they were NOT doing something.

It doesn't work that way.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Um, yes it does

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=tSf&q=%22I+am+not+running+for+office%22+press+conference&btnG=Search

[Blashyrkh]

23. I'll take the first two.

1: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=14167

This press conference has nothing to do with Truman announcing he is not running for President. Because Truman was President at the time of undertaking that press conference. Let me quote:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<2.> Q. Mr. President, do you think any Democratic President can reduce taxes 15 percent?

THE PRESIDENT. No, sir, I do not. If they could have been reduced that much, I would have reduced them. The facts in the case are they ought to be increased to meet the deficit. And I am not running for office.

Q. What?

THE PRESIDENT. I'm not running for office, I can tell you the facts.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clearly, the purpose of the press conference was not so Truman could announce he was not running for President.


2: http://blogs.timesunion.com/localpolitics/?p=706

Ugh. I had to search for not running on this page and look where it was.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello Colonie Town Democrats. Glad to see you guys are obsessing over me this afternoon. Sorry I wasn’t here earlier. I actually have a job with work to do so I can’t be here all day like you guys.

1)I have zero problem with Dinapoli’s office looking at the findings. In fact I encourage it.

2)Didn’t the town of Colonie send Soares their audit? I just thought it was interesting that Paula Mahan, a woman who gives a ton of money to Soares and whose father in law received a simliar type deal why her husband was on the town board, is thinking he is some independent authority…

3)I am not running for office, nor am I currently in office or have I ever been an elected official/candidate in the town or anywhere else for that matter. If I was, it would be stupid of me to post here. Just like Bob Becker posting here from his state office or paula mahan under concerned citizen posting here.

4)When you guys all lose your election again this year, what will be the next phony scandal you go after?

Comment by Colonie Maverick — October 18, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clearly not a fucking press conference.

I'm not going through the rest of the links as the two best hits are incredibly tenuously linked to my original premise; A press conference (or similar setting) to announce specifically that Mr X. is not running for President."

[Guaranteed]

30. He announced unequivocally in 2003 that he was NOT running, on the Tonight Show. nt

[Javaman]

41. shhhhhh!!! can't burst bubbles here. besides these Gore threads

are just pricesless. :)

Popcorn? :popcorn:

[lildreamer316]

48. On the TONIGHT SHOW. HINT.

Isn't he scheduled in there on 11/8??

Ohhhhhh dear. This could be great....or not.... :scared:

[MoonRiver]

35. That happens all the time!

For instance, I remember Gore announcing he wasn't running for pres. in 2004, and Kerry announcing he wasn't running for pres. in 2008.

[cascadiance]

39. And Russ Feingold did too earlier right after the 2006 election...

I was disappointed then as well, since I wanted him to run. But I looked elsewhere and Al Gore still seems like our best hope if he gets in.

[MoonRiver]

51. I was also hoping Feingold ran.

I often wonder why he didn't.

[Joe for Clark]

15. You know the last time the United States really hit a crisis point

was in the late 60s - Bobby was not running - said so - and in the blink of an eye - he did run. And was murdered.

SO tell me Gore does not hear the same call. Tell me that.

I am a fatalist - I believe we are fated to a certain conclusion - and I am American enough to think we deserve the benefit of the doubt and that we just might be able to tilt fate one way or the other.

TO the extent we can tilt it, and we deserve to be able to do at least that, I will push as hard as I can. You really don't think he is the smart boy in this room??

Joe

[Blashyrkh]

19. It all comes back to American Exceptionalism doesn't it?

Everyone has their fate, except Americans of course, who deserve (why?) to be able to change theirs. Only Americans are American enough to think that only Americans should influence the fate of the planet.

[Joe for Clark]

21. It is called Eurocentrisim actually.

And you bet we deserve a little more - We DID tip fate once - and stopped cold a dark age - and paid dearly for that. Do we get a mulligan - you bet we do - we paid for that.

Are Americans "exceptional"- yes we are. Name one other culture that ever went to war to set another people free - cause there aren't any - just us.

God does look out for us I think - to some extent.

Joe

[Blashyrkh]

29. Oh, Americans decide that Americans get the mulligan.

Americans decided that God is looking out for them.
Americans decided that they declare war to set others free, and Americans declare it a traist unique to them.
Americans are only exceptional in the amount of bullshit they believe.

Which, ignoring all the the bullshit these premises are based on, makes me angry because my godfather fought in the first ground defeat of Japanese forces in Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea 1942.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Milne_Bay

"Australian troops had, at Milne Bay, inflicted on the Japanese their first undoubted defeat on land. Some of us may forget that, of all the allies, it was the Australians who first broke the invincibility of the Japanese army". - British Field Marshall Sir William Slim.

To have some stupid, uninformed fool piss all over what my godfather and thousands of his comrades did, then take credit for it, then use that credit to reinforce what super people Americans are is not only highly ironic, but it's also fucking digusting.

[Joe for Clark]

53. No -Americans don't decide - God does.

Your godfather was brave. Understand probably most of us old folks here had family that fought and died then. My whole family that was of age fought that war - and more than a few are still there.

Joe

[cali]

22. baloney.

there was a constitutional crisis under Nixon. How soon we forget.

And sorry, I don't go for fascile mots such as "smart boy in the room".

And no, it's pretty clear Gore doesn't here the call. The window of opportunity has closed.

[Joe for Clark]

24. Oh Cali - nothing closed yet - if it did we are screwed.

Every time we have been pushed into a corner- we fight our way out of it - one way or another - you think this is over - think again.

Window of opportunity - what does that really mean? I think it means the day you give up.

Joe

[cali]

26. Joe, Gore's not Jesus Christ

He's a good guy, and I believe he'd be a competent and good President, but he's not the savior of mankind. There is no such one person. It's up to all of us.

[Joe for Clark]

52. Cali we really don't disagree -

No, Gore is not the second coming.

But if we fail as a country to have someone smart enough, experienced enough and still enough removed from Washington to pull this off, we are in deep do-do.

Whoever gets elected this time - will be walking into a hurricane of crap created and fostered by this president. Extremely dangerous - and I am not talking about a constitutional crisis here. I am thinking of something more serious - something we can't fix later. There may be very little time to fix this.

Joe

[Bonobo]

25. May I rub your face in poo if you are proven wrong?

[cali]

27. No, but you can

mercilessly rub in how wrong I was.

I honestly don't think he could do it at this point. And I don't think he wants to.

[Bonobo]

32. He MAY be trying to bust open the whole scheme and "change the paradigm" as they say.

I don't know, but I DO KNOW that things have to change.

The election system is bad and on top of that, it is rigged. Gore knows this better than anyone.

The world is in dire danger and we are running out of time to change. Gore knows this better than anyone.

If he is sincere about saving the world, there's no better position than POTUS. Gore knows this better than anyone.

If he DID declare by now, he would ALREADY have been marginalized, written off, laughed at. Gore knows this better than anyone.

Instead, he has won an academy award, a nobel award and he has literally millions of Americans organizing themselves to draft him to run and becoming more engaged as a voting populace thus strengthening our Democracy. Gore MAY VERY WELL HAVE PLANNED THIS. After all, his SEEMS to be running a campaign for something. He discusses more than just world ecology now. He discusses political hot button issues. Why? What is he doing? Why has he not ruled out running? Why has he not endorsed someone? Do you have any good reasons? If not, stop pretending like you are certain.After all, I admit that I am speculating. Can't you?

[cali]

34. I'm not speculating.

He's said he's not running.

[Bonobo]

36. He didn't state it categorically, and oh, thanks for addressing my post -not.

[SlowDownFast]

49. Link please. n/t

[Guaranteed]

31. Hey, remember that he wasn't going to win the Nobel Peace Prize, either. nt

[cali]

33. According to whom?

He was heavily favored, and I certainly thought he'd win. He's not running, and he's said so. It's now practically November.

[KoKo]

28. I"m still hopeful...

he will watch and if Hillary falters...I think he will do it. But, not until the Spring... It won't be good for him to come in now. It's what the media wants...so they can trash him. He knows that, i think.

[mod mom]

37. Me too, but I don't believe it is contingent on Hillary faltering. I believe he understands

the consequences of corporatism.

RUN AL RUN!

[helderheid]

38. Joe, if you haven't already, sign up at Current.com and send him a message here:

http://current.com/message.htm#view=compose&userId=133537152&username=algore

[flyarm]

40. or add on here at Current joe..with fellow DU'ers!!

http://current.com/items/Mr-Gore--Just-Imagine/86188601

[weeve]

45. Thanks !!

I just registered, and will now send ( yet another ) plea for Al to do the right thing. Call me delusional, but I just don't see how a man of Gore's stature would pass up this Golden Opportunity to become the most powerful leader in the world (and all the good that position could do in the fight against global warming). While it would doubtless be a tough fight going up against the Corporate Media and their Annointed One (and her bags of corporate cash)... let's not forget how hard Al fought back in 2000, right up until the Supreme Court slapped him down. And now he's fighting for the future of the planet. He won't step back and rest on his laurels. It's ridulous to think that he could do more as a private citizen than as President of the United States, if for no other reason, just the Bully Pulpit. Christ, he won the freakin' NOBEL PEACE PRIZE and still didn't make the cover of Time or Newsweek. They can't ignore you when you're Presdent of the U.S. !! He will run ( and win ) ... it's just a matter of the timing of the announcement, which I'm sure calmer heads than ours have already decided upon. ( Still, my best guess is next Monday in time for the Illinois filing. )

[helderheid]

50. I sure hope he runs. Oh please announce, Al!

[Stephanie]

42. Petition for Gore in NY >

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2163784

[Mabus]

43. I'm with you on this Joe

I won't give up. There's too much on the line and there's so little time left to take strong action. The American people need someone to tell them the truth about what's happening and the most effective place to change the minds of the biggest polluter is in the White House.

[book_worm]

44. I'm sure Gore has seen this thread and is going to get right on it.

[weeve]

46. ugh

Banish yourselves, ye naysayers of little faith !!

[lildreamer316]

47. He doesn't even need the money.

He has enough to start a good run without even raising money.
He's brilliant, I tell you. Brilliant.