Maybe it's time to shift strategy. Change our battle plans. Instead of "Run, Al, Run," we need to now alter our tune to "Please, Tipper, Please."
Al Gore knows we love, respect, and honor him. How can he not be emotionally overwhelmed by the outpouring of good will and favorable press in recent days?
The Draft Gore movement is peaking. It's past the 200,000 mark for online signature. It's right near the tipping point. And the clock is ticking. Gore needs that one fnal push before he could conceivably commit to running for president. Who can make that happen? His wife. She's the Tipper Point.
She must be persuaded to persuade him to run. She's got a psychology degree. She'll know what to say or do.
Online and elsewhere, our collective media effort and energy must now be directed towards her as well. Bloggers and pundits, take note.
Perhaps we need to create a sister online petition drive centered on her. That should count for something.
Gore once told Rolling Stone during his ill-fated 2000 White House run that "Tipper keeps my shoes nailed to the floor so that I don't lose touch with gravity."
C'mon, Al, win one for the Tipper. And for all of America. Turn the White House into a a Gore household. And then, use the office of the presidency to trumpet the fight against global warming.
Make the White House into an eco-friendly Green House.
***** Bill Katovsky is editor of the just-published "The World According to Gore: The Incredible Vision of the Man Who Should Be President." CLICK LINK below:
Bill Katovsky is the author of Patriots Act: Voices of Dissent and the Risk of Speaking Out and co-author of Embedded: The Media at War in Iraq, winner of Harvard University's Goldsmith Book Prize. His latest book is The World According to Gore: The Incredible Vision of the Man Who Should be President.
We all could quit letting Al Gore waste our time by being "uncertain" about whether he is "certainly" going to run.
The man is great. But his time was 2000 and for whatever reason, he chose not to make a ruckus out of it when the evidence was there that voter disenfranchisement had occur and that foul play had occurred within Florida and the Supreme Court.
In 2008, it is Dennis Kucinich's time. His courage to survive and persevere makes it clear that only one presidential candidate will empty his pockets for the American people. Only one candidate is loose and open to letting the American people direct him to where he should be going for them and also, only one has the policies/bills introduced into Congress to get this nation back on track.
It's been said time and time again but this is no slogan drop with a quick campaign quip. I'm not just saying "Strength Through Peace." I'm saying let's finally take America for all and maintain that control like the founders of this nation intended us to.
by
Kevin Gosztola (231 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 895 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 7:53:43 AM
You say “foul play had occurred within Florida and the Supreme Court.”Where does one turn for legal redress when the Supreme Court votes against you? I have heard stated that the only option after that is insurrection. So when the Supreme court made their decision, Al Gore had no reasonable recourse.
My second choice would be Dennis Kucinich, with reservations about whether he could win in the general election. I would like to see him as Vice President. Meanwhile, Al Gore has taken everything they could throw at him, and emerged more respected, and more credible, than ever. He is the leader this country needs to regain out democracy and the champion the world needs in the fight against global warming.
by
Christie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 143 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 4:29:18 PM
I do believe he is wasting our time and yours which is a sign that he will not be stepping in.
Michael Moore highlighted a recent clip where he expressed support for a single-payer health care system for America. Moore is also waiting for Gore to get in. He would love to adamantly support Dennis, I think, but is reluctant because if he loses we get another Republican---we get Giuliani. But if Dennis doesn't win the nomination we get Barack or Hillary or John (members of the 2013 Club and mandatory health insurance for all).
You both have something in common. You are afraid Americans are incapable of doing the "grunt work" necessary to get Dennis elected. I have that same feeling too.
If we all got over this fear, heeded the words of FDR ("we have nothing to fear but fear itself"), and really put our faith in something and believed in change, than this country would really change. As long as our ruling elite and corporate media can tell us what to think, well, we all will be hoping for larger than life politicians like Gore to step in and save us all.
by
Kevin Gosztola (231 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 895 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 4:36:26 PM
I don’t doubt your intellect, sincerity or your passion I would offer you a little battle scared wisdom (having been instrumental in a number of political campaigns).
Years ago Robert Redford was in a movie called “The Candidate”. The movie made the point all those years ago that a candidate starts off being clear minded on his direction, principled, uncompromising but the nearer he came to being elected the less clear, uncompromising and high minded he became. The movie ends with him winning and saying “what we do now?”
As I have said in other comments the selection system is compromised by the need for obscene amounts of money and party interests. One of your founding fathers said it best when he poured ice water on parties.
Kucinich can say what ever he want at the moment because he’s free of serious expectations. He would suffer the same problems that Gore (if he decided to run) a need to water down his hard line views to get the requisite money.
The problem is to get the money influence out of the selection criteria and legislatively control the parties….give the election process back to the people where it was intended to be.
by
Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 531 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 8:32:45 PM
Dennis answers to the DLC like every other Democrat. His "individuality" in thinking and political stances are only the way they are because he hasn't really threatened the status quo yet. He's just said he would.
But polling at 1%...and with a populace vastly unmoved...and still winning to buy into this ABB Cult (Anybody But Bush or in this 2008 election, Anything But Another Republican)...
He can empty his pockets and speak "Strength Through Peace" all he wants. If we don't do the work to get him elected, it don't matter one bit what he says.
by
Kevin Gosztola (231 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 895 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:55:53 PM
This comment has been flagged and is awaiting review by the editors -
Reason: Inappropriate Content
Out of Gores mouth come frogs. Why do you continue to eat swines flesh and the mouse? Its that little lie repeated over and over till it just has to be true. Global warming is as real as Gore's inventing the internet. Please Tipper, nail his head to the floor and put the shoe in his mouth where it belongs. This message was brought to you by Democrats for Ron Paul, Eagle Pass group.
*Any politicians resembling wooden indians are not the responsibility of Oped News or any commentors from ultra-left splinter groups in SW Texas abandoning the democratic party like rats from a sinking ship.
*Any above references to Tipper are not meant as insults to "Flipper" or the "Gipper".
by
john riggs (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 440 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 8:19:30 PM
As long as the "masses" allow themselves to be seduced by the "political game" this world will continue to stew in it's own mess. By not learning from our (often spun) historical misadventures, the Machiavellan principle of "divide and conquer" flourishes in a realm where the control mechanisms of religion and politics create warring polarities that play on the emotions while "dumbing down" the collective intellect.
I'm beginning to think that the only solution to this endless quagmire is for the citizenry to treat our governments in the same manner a parent would discipline an unruly child, cut off their allowance (ie income tax) and put them in "time out" (prison). The last 2 elections are valid proof that our votes don't count and our (entitled) leaders are not listening....it's time for a big dose of "peaceful anarchy".
by
Galen (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 35 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 9:24:08 PM
When I grew up none of this time out stuff it was pants down and the wooden spoon.
So lets paddle Georgie's bare bottom. Now there's a mental image you could have done without! So much for your breakfast!
The sollution is much simpler than that and is within reach simply take the money out of the election process. Treat all candidates the same esp independents and greens etc. The major parties couldn't hide behind their size and would be forced to respond to the people. It would also remove the unequal power of business etc.
by
Andris (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 531 comments)
on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 11:21:32 PM
Gore had his chance in 2000. He won. He backed down rather than fight the bushdick traitors. He no longer has the credibility to face the nation, much less lead it.
Our best bet, in terms of people most resistant to slime from the repukelicans and most willing and able to fight back, is John Edwards, with either Obama or Kucinich as VP. Gore would be great as science adviser or some such. Rodham-Clinton could take a cabinet post. But nobody with ANY baggage stands a CHANCE against the repugnant criminal clowns. They already proved, with their swift-boating of Kerry, and with a never-served coward calling Max Cleland a wimp, that there is no limit to how low they will go or how many lies they will tell.
As for the freeper troll, go to Iraq, you dickless piece of dog vomit.
by
The Die Hard (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 10 comments)
on Saturday, October 20, 2007 at 10:34:31 AM
10 comments
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