Would Al consider being Barack's VP?

I think Gore would be very happy having a special cabinet position made for him and being told by Obama: "We'll give you everything you need. Just fix the environment." I don't think he'd be VP, just because he's been there/done that and found out how confining it is. Note that Al's message in the last 6 months or so has changed from "It's up to each person to fix the climate crisis" to "We can't do it alone -- we need lawmakers to lead the way to fix global warming." His message has become more government-focused. His timing is never coincidence. He's too smart for that.

Hillary, on the other hand, I think, would be very happy with VP. She'd line up well in 8 years, she'd bring in all the populated states that Obama didn't "win" in the primaries, etc. They do actually agree on a lot of things, Obama and Clinton. And it'd make a great ticket -- just a super powerhouse of politicos. I think she'd be perfectly happy if Barack sat down with her, hashed out a common healthcare policy (middle ground? Hillary's?), and said to her: "We'll give you everything you need. Just fix healthcare." There would be two huge domestic problems virtually taken care of right there.

The problem in my scenario, of course, is that that would mean that Hill and Al would have to work closely together. And I don't think they get along. Not to mention where Bill would insert himself in the mix.

This weekend's Gore for Pres articles

I'll post 'em as my friends find 'em! :-)

• The Gore Factor
  
• He has someone else in mind for president -- a letter to the Nashua (NH) Telegraph

Clive Anderson interviews Al

It's a three-parter, first one on top. Enjoy!

Recent Reading

Here are a few articles that prove that people (and not just fanatical bloggers like yours truly) are still hoping for a Gore ticket for the Dems:

• The Case for Gore Obama
  
• Gore Fest
  
• Al Gore for President? Party Like It's 1924!

The chatter continues...

Al Gore on 60 Minutes

Listen to Al's interview on 60 Minutes. And watch for his new TV commercials. I've seen one so far and it's great.



Tipper's comments are especially poignant. Enjoy!

Al Gore's new slideshow

Al presented a shorter talk (about 30 minutes) at TED. Take a look. The stats from 2007 are amazing and horrific.

BTW, most of the environmental organizations I belong to (National Wildlife and WWF, to name a couple) are all saying the latest data shows that global warming is progressing at a faster rate than previously (like 2 years ago) thought.

Dem primary is dragging on and on

An interesting opinion piece in the NYPost yesterday about how Gore could save the party. Yes, a slim shot, but with the "kitchen sink" and the venom-and-fang approach of Hillary and the I'm-above-all-that-silliness approach from Barack, does that leave us with a horribly divided Democratic party (if Clinton gets the nom) or an easy list of insults from which McCain to pick from (if Obama gets the nom)? What's option C?

I wish Clinton would cut it out, but my opinion of her has been well-documented on this blog. I can't say I'm all that surprised by her tactics these days.

Even the pundits won't count him out

CNN's Cafferty thinks there still may be room for Al in the presidential race. Why not, says I? I'm still hoping, even though he's told the AmericaForGore group to back down. I'm an optimist, what can I say?

The Dems CAN'T let this be a close election in November. If the country doesn't start showing a real predilection for either Obama or Hillary (ugh. Hillary.), it'll be a much closer race than it should be in 9 months.

Newsweek chimes in

Newsweek's Michael Hirsh has some interesting points aboutwhy he think Al Gore needs to be in the Oval Office.

Highlight:

I asked Donna Brazile, his campaign manager from 2000, whether there's any way Gore could still become president. "America might decide to turn to a 'recovering politician' in 2008, and Al Gore is ready to lead day one. I'm still a dreamer," she said by e-mail today. Gore, interviewed by CNN in Oslo, said cautiously that "I haven't ruled out the idea of getting back into the political process at some point in the future. I don't expect to. But if I did get back, it would be as a candidate for president, not in any other position."

For those words right from Al, check out my post on the video.

More Current viewpoints from Al

Al talks about the role of government (lack thereof, actually) in religious education.

Gore on CNN: It would only be as president

He did say he doesn't expect to get back into the political process, but he WAS specific about if he did, he'd go for pres...

Rumors still circulate

The Nashville City Paper's Steve Gill put pretty succinctly what a lot of Dems are now thinking... Hillary's popularity is widespread but shallow and not really a shoe-in to win the election if she's nominated -- a fact that itself is resting on delicate glass. Obama would be a wonderful VP or probably a great president in about 8 years, but he's just not ripe yet. Edwards, sad to say, probably doesn't have the following to get the nomination. That would leave the DNC practically begging Gore. Could it happen? I still think so. After all he's been through in respect to politics and all that the "race" these days encompasses, though, can you blame him for sticking to the sidelines now? I can't. But I still think his time will come to lead us.

If you're wondering why Gore for Pres press is slow...

...it's because we've been told by a Gore rep. (on Nov. 13) that he's not going to run. Read the NYT blog post about it.

Some people aren't giving up. Some are rededicated to his climate crisis mission. Some have jumped ship and are backing other candidates. Who knows what will happen?

Alliance for Climate Protection video contest winner

Wow, this is good... The grand prize winner of the "60 Seconds to Save the Earth" Ecospot Contest is Sky Is Falling. Watch it and share it.

ClimateCrisis.org hacked

Interesting article about Al Gore's ClimateCrisis.org, which got hacked using a new method of source code manipulation to raise another pharmaceutical site in Google rankings. Spammers and hackers are getting more and more creative...

Rolling Stone interview with Al Gore

This Rolling Stone interview is a great lesson on Al Gore, the man. You'll have to scroll to page 54/55 (may want to input "54" into the page number field).

Great Draft Al Gore video -- this one posted on CurrentTV

Maybe he'll get the point...?

Talk to us, Al!

Al Gore clearly understands the Web 2.0 phenomenon. He did, after all, help create CurrentTV.

So why doesn't he engage in the conversation with us, the Draft Gore movement? His silence is not only infuriating to people who have decided the ballot filing deadline of Nov. 2 (that'd be today) would be the end of their hope that Gore will run. The author of that blog post is, by the way, one of the leaders of the movement.

There are some diehards like me who won't lose hope until the Dems nominate another candidate in Denver. I'm not a political animal that will jump to hit the streets of another candidate. I like Edwards, but I probably wouldn't actively campaign for him.

The only person who has ever gotten me interested in politics, in getting the word out, in going to meetings, in actively campaigning for him/her has been Al Gore.

I think it's nearing time for him to engage in the conversation with his loyal followers. He had such a strong backing and such a load of followers who could have turned into staffers and campaigners a few weeks ago.

Is this part of his plan? To weed out the people who aren't diehards? A great many people think he's waiting for Hillary to falter. Personally, I think the polls don't really reflect accurately the popularity of Hillary, but maybe he's waiting for the polls to reflect a downward trend.

I just wish he'd start talking to us about this. If he really believes in the new communication methods, why would he want us to talk to him if he doesn't talk back? He has not said yet that he's definitely not running and thanks for the support, but time to give up, as he apparently did to the Draft Gore movement in 2003.

Talk to us, Al. You're begging us to talk to you. Don't be too good to take your own advice. Please. We need you to step up.

If Al is waiting for Hillary to crumble...

weeks like this one can only help. Check out this blog post by Jack Cafferty from CNN.

The debate this week was just horrible for Clinton. Again, from the Cafferty File.

And the question out now is "How much damage has Senator Hillary Clinton done to herself this week?" And how much is enough to poke Al in the ribs?

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.

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!

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...