Current TV's Viewpoints

Just got a letter from Al about Current TV:

Dear Dana,

Current, the media company I co-founded six years ago with my partner Joel Hyatt, just last week launched a new web site that integrates television and the Web in an unprecedented way. It provides, as never before, a platform for citizens to make the media their own.

One of the features I'm most excited about on Current.com is called Viewpoints. Viewpoints is a virtual town hall where you can share your opinions, in video, about the issues that matter in the 2008 election: from global warming to government eavesdropping, and many more.

This digital town hall is already bustling, and you can find viewpoints from me and from a lot of people, including the candidates running for President. Come and listen to their positions and, more importantly, tell them and the rest of the world what you think!

Since Viewpoints is the only place on the Web where you can easily share your view in video, my hope is that you'll take this opportunity to go toe-to-toe with the pundits on TV and help contribute to a new platform for public discourse. All it takes is a webcam and 60 seconds.

And, since we'll be taking the most popular and most compelling viewpoints and airing them on Current TV -- now available in 52 million homes around the world -- you may very well get your voice heard on our global TV network.

I look forward to seeing and hearing you on Current.com, as we deepen the discussion on these important topics.

Thank you,

Al Gore

I can think of one video that should be made over and over and over again -- "Please run, Al!"

Golden Opportunity -- another article pointing Al's way

OMG, don't look at the time stamp. I was all set to shut this puppy down for the night when I came across this article, Al Gore's Golden Opportunity, published in the Korea Times. Arthur I. Cyr compares Gore to Nixon (in good ways) and states the precedent for Gore continuing to test the waters and dip his toe in when the temp's just right.

Gore advocated civil disobedience

It's true. He did say that. So I've read. (I wasn't there.)

I like people who speculate on what Gore would do if something happened to him. I think it's kind of fun and on a deeper level, helps us all communicate about our understanding of the man. (No, that didn't mean to come out sounding like I'm comparing Gore to Christ!)

Anyway, picture the scenario if Gore accepted the Rainforest Action Network's invitation to stir up the proverbial tar pits on Nov. 16 and formed a part of the "rings of young people blocking bulldozers and preventing them constructing new coal-fired power plants," as he said he didn't understand the lack of. Would he be a cog in the arm-in-arm '60's-era chain of links or would he instead bring a podium and give a little speech or presentation on the damages one coal power plant does to the environment?

I personally think he'd show up in a suit and speak. He'd draw crowds and lead and let the "young people" he mentions do the actual laying down on the pavement. He's nearly 60, after all. ;-)

The Rock of Chickamauga

TownHall.com blogger William Rusher made me snort milk out my nose at this one:

You can bet your bottom dollar that he wants the job -- wants it so much his chest aches. After all, he has pursued it all his life. And now the stars seem aligned in a way that points inexorably toward that one glittering goal. There is, in fact, only one serious obstacle. And there she sits, like the Rock of Chickamauga: Hillary Clinton.

His argument comes to an abrupt halt, though, without much evidence or backing. My opinions on Ms. Hillary have been stated (I'm not a fan and don't believe the country backs her as much as the polls say we all do). If it's between Hillary and a Pub in November 2008, maybe I'll just leave that particular field blank on my ballot.

I'm not saying she'd be awful. She may just turn out to be a fine leader (I hope the First Husband helps her out a lot, in this case). But I wouldn't want to be responsible for putting her in the Oval Office.

What would Al have done about 9/11?

When asked this question, his answer was recorded on a camera phone (Gotta love modern technology!). Here's his answer (thanks to Celcias for pointing me to this vid):

For more on this, buy Assault On Reason. Seriously. It's amazingly intelligent.

What does Al Gore have to do with planetary peace?

I need to applaud Georgie Anne Geyer for her wonderful piece on the link between Al Gore and the Nobel Peace Prize.

Some key quotes:

But the funny thing is that the critics of the Gore award have it all wrong. In fact, the deeper one digs into the historic reasons for chaos and collapse of societies across the globe, the more one finds that the real reasons behind many of the endless wars were precisely environmental degradation and collapse. Ironically, the turmoil in Iraq has its roots in the environmental problems of ancient times.

...supposedly ingrained "ethnic" wars like those of Rwanda and Bosnia came about not from old hatreds so much as rivalry over the environment that alone can sustain those human populations.

Effectiveness of a grassroots campaign in the days of big money politics

Found this opinion article: Will 'Draft Gore' movement bring change? I have to say, I do understand the points and agree with a lot of them. Al Gore is in a place right now where he can let the proverbial mud slide off his back. What does he care if an article gets written about exaggeration? He knows his points and the data are getting through to the people he wants to hear them. But if he ran for president, all of a sudden, he'd be in the middle of all the crap that's being slung around. People would attack him (and his books and his movie and everything he's done and enjoyed doing the past 8 years) and he would be forced to care. Because he wouldn't enter the race unless he knew he could win. He wouldn't enter just to run again. It's too damn hard and time-consuming and exhausting and, frankly, the man has better ways to spend his time and money. He'd join the race to win.

That being said, I would like to reiterate that I think there IS a way to run a presidential campaign in the age of social media and the new millennium and trash the old ways of chucking crap at your opponents, all the while hoping they'll endorse you when they get kicked out of the race by your attacks. There's a nice, effective, community-oriented way to talk to voters; it doesn't have to be a dirty mud-wrestling battle. If anyone can figure out the details of that way, a real change in political tactic, Gore and his people can. How can you run a campaign you're truly proud of, while not wasting time and money and resources, while not viciously attacking opponents without due discussion, while not pandering to the lowest common denominator, while not extending the campaign season longer than it really needs to be? I'm halfway done Assault on Reason; I'm convinced the author of that book can gather around him the brightest minds of today and form a team with them to figure it out. It's a big problem. But so is climate change. And Al's figured out a way to educate millions of people around the world on that.

Michigan's a no-go for the ballot

Sometimes even a grassroots organization can't do the work of a dedicated team of political pros.

The general feeling in the Draft Gore movement right now, BTW, is that we wish he'd give us the nod that he's in or else definitively tell us to abandon ship. This stock "I have no plans to run for president" comment he gives isn't good enough. Because it doesn't mean he's not running.

Timing, as they say, is everything. And I still have confidence that Al and his team know what they're doing. I just wish they wouldn't stall too much longer, as the people he's going to need the most -- the people on the ground who have believed in him for more than 8 years -- are going to start abandoning ship.

I posted to the group the other day an article (Al Gore's supporters move on) that said that some Hollywood folks are going to start endorsing other candidates and what they thought of that and did they have a cutoff date and when that would be. Most said they'd stick with him for a while yet. Some people are giving him until the ballot deadlines in their state (Nov. 2 for New Hampshire). I got 40 responses, which I thought was telling. Morale seems to be waning, though, because I think a group so devoted to a man and his cause can only spin their wheels for so long before it seems like maybe we're not getting anywhere. Or that in order to get somewhere we need a nod from the Big Guy Al (;-}) himself.

I think it's getting to be time for him to make a definitive statement. And how I hope it's that he's heard all of his thousands of supporters and acknowledges that he can make the most difference in the world by being our next president.

As for me, I'm in this unless he says, as he did in 2003, something like "thanks but no thanks. I'm not running, please give up your efforts."

By the numbers

A blog post on Portfolio.com called The Electability of Al Gore is trying to figure out the numbers. Most interesting part:

InTrade's traders reckon Gore has a 58% chance of getting the nomination if he runs, and an 89% chance of winning the presidency if he's nominated, and an all-over probability of 52% that he'll become president if he throws his hat in the ring.

In related news...

Well, Bush&Co. may not get the effects of the Internet, but I'm glad other people do. Read up on the 21 Cities Labelled 'Most Susceptible' To Danger Of Climate Change Effects. It's scary how many lives and businesses and industries could be completely changed by this. Anyone wanna move inland with me?

White House 'eviscerated' climate testimony

A rather unsettling article about how the White House scaled down a climate crisis report from 14 to 4 pages. Maybe Bush doesn't have that kind of attention span, I don't know. But something this important would warrant at least 14 pages. I could write 14 pages on it in my sleep and I'm nowhere NEAR an expert on the subject!

Assault on Reason wins Quill Award

Congratulations to Al Gore on winning the Quill Award for book Assault on Reason. Yet another prize for Gore -- his mantle must be getting quite full! His daughter apparently accepted the award for him, as he's in Europe right now.

What does being 60 mean these days?

Having just married a man who is 50, it's an interesting question -- when are baby boomers going to hang up their hats and slow down? Answer: Probably not for a very long time. Or so we hope. Read this little opinion piece from the International Herald Tribune.

Gore team's response to An Inconvenient Truth attacks

I always think it's interesting when the cogs of the Gore team react to criticism of things Al has said or done. As we have read, Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth, has received some criticism that the facts presented were not entirely accurate. Read the treatise of the Gore team in response to those accusations. It's an eye-opener. Thanks to Gore's people for putting this together!

About Hillary...

I have wondered why Hillary Clinton's numbers seem to be so high. Public opinion of her -- in real people talk now, not polls -- is NO WHERE as high as the polls say she is. My husband and I even discussed this with a lovely British couple we met in France on our honeymoon in early September. They couldn't figure out what the allure and all the chatter was about her. We said, "It's really not as high as the polls will have you believe. She has a lot of negative strikes against her and, frankly, the country would never elect her."

I think the DNC knows this and wouldn't give her the bid. At any rate, I think the polls and the press are just fluttering over the fact that she's a woman and are ignoring the things she stands for. I love that there's such a strong woman candidate this year. I just don't think that Hillary specifically is right for our country right now.

I think the people of America can see that while she says she stands for healthcare, for example, she hasn't actually DONE anything in her years in office except take pictures of poor kids with runny noses. Oh, I forgot -- she voted for the war. I guess that's something! Is it just that she has the most money to spend and therefore gets the most attention?

Length of this campaign

I think one thing Gore & Co. have been figuring out this past summer is how to run a campaign that will get noticed and be in the political press spotlight, but that will be a campaign he WANTS to run. No dirty money, no corporate sponsors, no 15-second sound bytes, no bowing to the lowest denominator. He wants to reform campaign strategy. He said so in Assault on Reason. I don't think he necessarily meant he wants to reform it himself by leading an example of how a campaign could go, but all the better if he does. Lead by example. Wasn't that another point of his book? The leaders should be people you look up to and emulate. He doesn't need to waste time or money starting earlier than he has to. I agree that I'll let him and his skilled people know when that time is. They clearly know WAY more about this than I do!

If he doesn't run, at least he won't be bored

He's loving his businessman life. We all know that. He's said that. He's happy and entering the political arena once again would be something he'd do probably more for the country than for himself. Although -- who are we kidding? -- he'd certainly be able to further his environmental cause best from the Oval Office.

At any rate, there's always the underlying speculation concerning the future actions of businessman Gore. Like this article from GroovyGreen.com, which speculates that Gore may be considering buying Chrysler and turning it into a car company that does away completely with gas-fueled combustion engines and instead runs its cars on biofuel, fuel cells, etc. (greener alternatives).

It's all speculation at this point, of course. Another possible answer to, "What is Al Gore going to do with all the money he's made in the past 8 years?" He's certainly a brilliant businessman, so this line of speculation isn't unwarranted.

Gore in Chicago last night

So the Draft Gore movement had some people in the 2,000-person crowd in Chicago last night. ReEnergizer blogged about it in a very nicely detailed post. Thanks, ReEnergizer!

As with almost every pro-Gore post on DailyKOS, the comments are also worth reading. And I mean every letter of them.

Does this count?

Apparently Gore said on Norwegian TV, "'I don't have plans to be a candidate again,' the former US vice-president told Norwegian television. 'I'm involved in a different kind of campaign, a global campaign to change the way people think about the climate crisis.'"

Don't you think he would have addressed the huge grassroots movement in some way? Told us to stop our efforts, like he apparently did in 2003? And why would he do it on Norwegian TV, not American TV or (ahem) Current.com?

And why would he have released those 3 political videos on Current.com and also written Assault on Reason, which is NOT an environmental book but a political one, through and through?

The hype is almost a frenzy

People are talking about Gore in the White House. Especially now that's he's got the Nobel Peace Prize under his belt. Here are today's picks:

• Gene McIntyre's Statesman Journal blog entry
  

  There will be a lot of talk in the next several months as to whether a "fire-in-the-belly" exists in him sufficient to prompt entry into the race for president. It's suggested that Al Gore need worry less about checking his gut; rather, he should be focusing on the resume he's spent a lifetime building. It is now more impressive than ever. He is, after all, not only the "man of the hour," but arguably the most outstandingly prepared person to lead this American nation out of the morass at home and overseas in which we are now deeply bogged down.

  
  
• Other countries believe in him, too. This one's from Ireland: Could Al Gore clinch the US Presidency?
  

  Gore has said himself that he would have most influence as President," Ronhovde said. "Al Gore has been campaigning on global warming for years. Now it's time for a solution. That solution can only come from the White House."

  
  
• Award heats up Gore-for-president buzz -- All in all, this article comes to the conclusion Al probably won't enter the race unless something catastrophic happens with Hillary. But this is a good quote:
  

  "I don't think there's any doubt that Al Gore would be the best qualified person to be president of the United States," [Jimmy Carter] told MSNBC Friday.

  
  
• Check out this Gallup Poll video, posted yesterday. Of course, these polls don't mean a WHOLE lot at this point.
  
  
• It seems that each article that says "Al Gore probably won't run for president in 2008" end with something like the following disclaimer (from a CBS News opinion piece):
  

  The odds are that Gore’s Nobel Prize bump will go the way of the earlier rises in positive feelings. Still, with increased attention being given to climate change, and with Democratic voters now possibly taking a second look, who knows?

Current TV gets even more current

CNN wrote a piece on Al Gore's Current TV redesign. Really -- user-generated content? That won't last... ;-)

If you're not current on Current TV, it's almost like YouTube with a staff that organizes and helps the members. It's YouTube for adults. It's better. And can I just say -- Al gets this stuff. Yet another reason he'd be incredible in the White House: He understands how this country communicates. He understands Web 2.0. He understands the younger generation and how they/we can help make the country and the world a better place. It all starts with communication.

Alliance for Climate Protection email

Today I received the following email from the Alliance for Climate Protection. They asked me to spread the word. I figured posting to this blog would count.

Last week, our founder and chairman Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to help solve the global climate crisis. But he's not working alone -- millions of people across the country and around the world know that climate change is a critical issue that we need to act on, and now.

You can do your part today by urging your friends and family to join the movement. By joining with the Alliance for Climate Protection and its founder Al Gore, we strengthen the global commitment to harnessing solutions to the climate crisis. Our increasing numbers will demonstrate to leaders in every time zone and on every continent that halting climate change is a top priority.

Mr Gore said it best: "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level."

Please help today by clicking here to tell your friends to get involved and join the campaign to solve the climate crisis.

The solutions are within reach. Together, we can solve this.

Sincerely,

Cathy Zoi
CEO

P.S. Please donate to the Alliance for Climate Protection to support our important work. We will be launching an international campaign to engage people from all walks of life on the urgency of the climate crisis and the solutions available. By donating to the Alliance, you are helping us reach more people and alert leaders across the world that action on climate change is a top priority. Please donate today.

Monkey Bowl's 'Al Gore'

Well, apparently Al's neighbor loves him, too. It's a really cute, catchy song. Wait for the guest appearance at the end...

Another Time article loving Al

Read Time's latest on how climate change will really be enacted in the world.

Part 2, of course, would be Time's speculation on whether or not Gore will turn the Nobel (part 3 of his award trifecta) into a presidential bid.

Of course, I think the announcement is right around the corner...

Brent Budowsky's take on Gore

Brent blogs on HuffingtonPost.com. Read his treatise on Gore. My favorite quote:

John Fitzgerald Kennedy was right: the presidency is the center of action, and God’s work on earth must truly be our own.

Al said in his press conference speech after he won the Nobel that he will do his best to figure out how to continue to work and make a real change in the world.

Gore's press conference post-Nobel win

Congratulations, again, Al! And thank you for doing good things with the prize money.

Gore on the issues

Yesterday, Gore launched a few vids of his political opinions. IMHO, he's made his choice and is starting to get his own message out there. He hasn't told the HUGE Draft Gore movement to stop, which apparently he did in 2003. I think he's in... now let's just wait for the official announcement!

Check out his vid on universal health insurance.

Watch his views of protection and privacy.

Find out Al's views on getting our troops, our brothers and sisters, wives and husbands, uncles and aunts -- our people -- home. I'd be interested in a specific plan here when he can give one to us.

Gotta love a presidential candidate who gets social media...!

Keep those vids coming, Al!

'I am deeply honored...'

Here's Al Gore's email to the people registered on AlGore.com. I got it at 11:10 a.m. I hope he's just celebrating today and accepting congratulatory phone calls from people around the world.

I'm very proud of him. Enjoy it, Al!

Here's his note, which is also his latest journal entry:

Dear Dana,

I am deeply honored to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This award is even more meaningful because I have the honor of sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change--the world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis--a group whose members have worked tirelessly and selflessly for many years. We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.

My wife, Tipper, and I will donate 100 percent of the proceeds of the award to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan non-profit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion in the U.S. and around the world about the urgency of solving the climate crisis.

Thank you,

Al Gore

Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Prize

CONGRATULATIONS to Al Gore!!!

Some are calling it a hat trick (Oscar, Emmy, Nobel). I'm just calling it "things are turning up Al." What an amazing day to be a Al Gore fan!

Read the WSJ article or delve into MSNBC's coverage of the event.

Congratulations cannot be given to Al without also congratulating the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Thank you, leaders, for instituting the changes you have so far. I hope you continue to tighten the restrictions on industry that will lead to a real change in our climate crisis.

Everyone's abuzz about what this means for Al's plans to run for president in 2008. I say let's let him enjoy this huge honor for a few days. We can always bug him about the race next week!

ForGore.com

In a slightly different vein (and one Al would be proud of, I'm sure), a new site called ForGore.com has popped up encouraging the "you" out there to make a video encouraging Al to run.

In light of CurrentTV, I think this kind of grassroots idea is right up Al's alley. Good job, Luigi Montanez!

Just in case he didn't hear us

Take a look at the full-page call to action DraftGore.com ran in the New York Times.

Beware of smart people with a cause... they usually get things done.

The Two Cents Campaign

The grassroots campaign is twiddling our virtual thumbs until Gore declares his intent to enter the presidential race... But that doesn't mean we're not thinking and trying to influence.

The Two Cents Campaign is designed to give Al's office a hint at how many people are behind Al Gore.

I included a note with my $.02:

Dear Mr. Al Gore,

Please consider these $.02 my personal plea to get you to run for president in the 2008 election.

I do understand your many reasons for not entering so far and personal distaste for presidential politics. Quite simply put, you and the United States were robbed in 2000. Our country would have been much better off in many arenas if the electoral vote had fallen the way the popular vote did.

But we're not looking backward anymore, we have to look forward. Our country needs you, Mr. Gore, to fill the position we elected you for seven years ago.

Please enter the race. You have more people supporting you in this cause than you probably know. We will follow you and debate with you and help you as much as we can.

But we need you first to declare. Then we will fall into place.

We believe in you and everything you stand for. Please lead us.

Good luck with the Nobel Prize on Friday!

Sincerely,
Dana L. Gillin

GoreForPresidentNow.com,
a member site of
AmericaForGore.org

America for Gore video

We've organized and we're trying everything we can think of to get Al Gore on the ballots and in the White House. Comment on this post to submit your ideas and go to AmericaForGore.org for more information on how you can help our cause.