Sunday Roundup

Al Gore's Nobel win has renewed speculation of an '08 run. At the same time, it has raised the question of what is the best platform for achieving real change. After all, Gore was awarded the Peace Prize not for things he did while holding the second highest office in the land, but for what he achieved while trudging around the globe as a slide-showing Jeremiah. Indeed, Gore has blossomed as a leader since leaving office. Conversely, we've seen the shrinking effect the seemingly endless process of running for president has -- turning candidates into overly-cautious pols less concerned with leading than with avoiding land mines. Which is why -- much as I would love to see Gore run -- it appears that his reply to the cries of "Run, Al, run" will be "Why?"

Follow Arianna Huffington on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ariannahuff

Comments

[thatvisionthing]

11:23 PM on 10/14/2007

Why Arianna? Because he's the best person for the job.

[Bobg]

10:07 PM on 10/14/2007

Why? Why did George Washington provide leadership? Was George Washington all about self-aggrandizement, or was there a higher calling? America desperately needs a new direction. The American arrogance, greed, and thoughtlessness have reached titanic proportions. It's obvious that Al Gore will not run unless called to duty by a ground-swell of grassroots activity. Well, I'm not ready to march in the streets or buy a bumper-sticker (yet), and signing the Draft-Al-Gore petition with a click of the mouse is next to worthless,
but there is a way for me to express my desire to see Al Gore run, a very American way - CASH.
I'm hoping that someone, somewhere will have the prescience to setup a website where I can send in my donation with this caveat: my credit card will not be charged unless Al Gore runs. I'll bet there are many, many Americans who would like to give Al Gore a little bottom-up leadership, but the people at draftalgore.com haven't figured this out yet.

[Spookyone]

10:07 PM on 10/14/2007

Al is our generation FDR who stepped in during the great depression, World War II and fought the corps to prevent them from taking over America.
Al will do what is needed to return our government to the people and get the corps under control.
Their is a great hunger in America for someone who can restore honest government and Al is the man who can do this..

Run Al

[friscosf]

03:24 PM on 10/15/2007

Except, FDR was for the poor and middle class.

Al Gore worked for corporations (see NAFTA, WTO, Millenium Communications Act) while he was VP.

Al Gore, in his wisdom selected Joe Lieberman to be HIS VP running mate !!
WHY ?
Joe Lieberman is the only person in America who would have been a worse VP than Dick Cheney.

[transendentilist]

09:41 PM on 10/14/2007

I like Al, and voted for him way back when, but some of you guys are raising him to mystical proportions.

[yako]

09:05 PM on 10/14/2007

I can't believe the people who say that Gore should rest on his laurels and not get dirtied by getting into the presidential race '08. Gore is passionate about his global warming cause and the disastrous effect of 8 years of the Bush regime. Did you read his book, "An Assault on Reason?" He is ready for the fight as a true believer and ready to go to the limit to get his mission and passion acomplished. The whole world is waiting for him to jump into '08 election, the fight of his life for the world's survival.

[RoxyDriscoll]

08:46 PM on 10/14/2007

If he can remain himself, he can win. I think he is the one person who can cut through the media fog and rebuff the stupid questions - Tim, can you ask me about something that matters? - and refocus on reality. The Clintons will have a hard time going after him without discrediting their own years in the WH. As for the Republicans, they will be able to convince people already convinced that global warming is a fraud that Gore is a charlatan, but that is an already converted choir, so no big gain for them. As for the general public, they already heard every slander that can be made against Gore once and most of them didn't buy it then, even when the media was telling us how much fun a BBQ with Bush would be. Now that Bush has BBQ'd the Middle East and much of our collective future, I think people will be able to see anti-Gore attacks for what they are. Yes, if he runs, it will be vicious, but I think if he doesn't listen to his pollsters at every turn, he can win.

[1TruthTeller]

08:40 PM on 10/14/2007

"Why?" indeed! America has a nasty habit of raising up heroes only to publicly destroy them. As messianic as he appears in comparison to that walking chromosomal anomaly currently stomping the Great Seal of the President of the United States all over the Constitution, what could Gore REALLY do? There's no magic wand to undo the clusterf*ck of the last seven disastrous years. No instant remedy to the economy. No instant de-G.O.P.-ing of the federal government. No super-pill to undo the healthcare mess, the education mess nor the foreign policy catastrophe wrought by Cheney et Chimp. So, why? Patriotism and starry-eyed "God Bless America" just is not enough. America, ya'll got into this together. Ya'll gotta figure a way out together. But first, impeach, charge and convict to culprits....you know, the usual suspects!

[ZingoBonMot]

01:48 AM on 10/15/2007

Ever hear of something called delegation of responsibility? Why do so many people assume that Al Gore (or any other prospective candidate) will be carrying ALL of the water, ALL of the time, ALL by his or herself?
One of the marks of a truly great leader is their ability to delegate responsibility to competent people. When FDR was elected, the first thing he did was to fill his cabinet positions with competent people, regardless of their party affiliation or whether they agreed with him or not.
As far as I'm concerned, the best thing Al Gore would bring to the office of President is the experience he's gained in the last seven years meeting and talking to other world leaders, diplomats and scientists.
This country desperately needs someone with Gore's worldliness.

[MarkFinelli]

08:38 PM on 10/14/2007

Yet again, we have a Hillary lover trying to ensure Al does not run. My guess is, Al will run, because he is the only one who has a remote chance of beating Giuliani in a general election (yes, I know that last sentence is like a bludgeoning to most who read the HuffPost, but it is accurate-WHAT YOU PEOPLE FAIL TO REALIZE IS HILLARY DOES NOT HAVE A SNOWBALLS CHANCE IN HELL OF WINNING THE VOTES OF THE PEOPLE BETWEEN NY AND LA. YOU JUST DON'T GET IT).

As the sole 9.11 WTC Survivor to enlist in the Marines and fight in Iraq, I am a Giuliani supporter. He is the only candidate that can win and best protect the nation by keeping us on offense. Don't think Operation Iraqi Freedom has kept us safe? Read www.americassecretwar.com.

I remain, Semper Fidelis,

CPL. Mark Finelli, USMC, inactive

[TankerRat]

08:52 PM on 10/15/2007

Semper Fi Mark and Thank You for your service but what you say is not what I'm hearing from the vast majority of Marines I've spoken with or whose stories I've read.

You were duped Marine.

11th Marines
The Cannon Cockers
1st Marine Division-VietNam
68-69-70

[gailwinds]

08:25 PM on 10/14/2007

I know that being the president will not be much fun. But the truth is, AL Gore knows that is his calling. We have all had it with politics ala status quo. It is time for a change. I listen to pandering rhetoric from every current nominee and I say to myself "Enough!" There are no answers to questions asked. I realize this is done to avoid turning off constituents or an assault from the media but it is also deceit. We are no longer stupid. We have awakened from our state of denial and need the truth. Gore is the only person whom I believe will not assault my sense of reason. Run Al Run!

[AngryRepublican]

08:13 PM on 10/14/2007

If Al Gore were to run and win the democratic nomination, (which would not be easy because the Clinton's have the "old gang" back together.)

But, if Al Gore did manage to win-

I'm not really sure I am ready for the bajillion's of republican attack commercials showing Al Gore climbing into a private jet to go buy some milk at the corner store.

We would be treated to breaking news stories like: "..Al Gore flushes his toilet 10 times on November 16th, wasting 12.5 gallons of water .."

Is this what we really want..?? Republican attack ads showing Al Gore driving a car that wasn't properly "tuned up", and therefore using a pint more gas than normal.

As some people have already commented, yes- republicans would love it if Hillary won the nomination. It would be easy to use the "Dynasty Factor." Since 1992, America has had either a Bush or a Clinton in the White House.

It is time for change.

[ZingoBonMot]

01:54 AM on 10/15/2007

And just HOW will the GOP pay for all this nuisance advertising? Last time I checked, they weren't doing so hot in the fundraising department. If their BS bothers you, just hit the MUTE button.
RUN, AL, RUN!!! Please?

[TankerRat]

08:49 PM on 10/15/2007

Money will be no object Zingo and AngryRepublican is correct in all he says.
The Democratic Party will commit suicide when they nominate Hillary. You can bet your last nickel on that.

Old Karl must be just laughing his patoot off.

You want change then I suggest you look at Gov. Bill Richardsons campaign. Not perfect by any means but I my humble opinion the Democrat with the best chance of taking the WH in 08.

Mr. Gore will not run as he has so many times publicly stated. He's to smart for that.

[imadf]

08:10 PM on 10/14/2007

Al Gore differentiated himself soon after the war mongers blasted Iraq, and he was one of the courageous voices that was yelling the truth. He was great and passionate to yell it out (still is.)

While he was the 'stiff' one in front of cameras and audiences, now he stands as fresh air (despite that 'stiff'ness) compared to the entire field out there. His heart and mouth are in the right place.

He is most likely the most capable at doing the job as president today. A Kucinich with recognition. Should he run? hell yes. For our country's sake, knowing this is the time of reckoning, and 2008 elections are not about looking good, but about saving America. Would he? I don't think he'd touch the mess. He wouldn't wanna run against a clinton is my reason why he wouldn't.

But again, should he? Absolutely. That's what politics *should* be all about and not the charades unfolding in front of our eyes, be it the WH charade, or the pre-election lala paloosa.

Cheers,
Matt

[ZingoBonMot]

01:55 AM on 10/15/2007

I'll take a 'stiff' anyday over a chimp with a codpiece.

[fedupwiththis]

07:42 PM on 10/14/2007

I think a good analogy to the current state of affairs would be the Carter Presidency. After being left with a bucket of shit by the Johnson, Nixon and Ford administrations he was expected to perform miracles over night. When he didn't get immediate results correcting problems decades in the making the media and its masters went after him full force.
Perhaps the most honest, forthright and genuinely concerned Presidents in modern history was made a pariah by his fellow citizens. He was made to look small weak and incompetent by those who gained the most from the crimes of his predecessors and we did nothing to stop it. We just mouthed the drivel being presented as news.
Al Gore saw all this happen and if he's as smart as I think he is he'll remember. He will also decline to run.
We get the leadership we deserve. We have become a nation of people made of a mush of beer and corn chips, pressed into identical molds, raised by MTV and VH1 and educated by the Washington Times and Richard Mellon Scaife. We do not deserve All Gore for President.

[naschkatze]

07:28 PM on 10/14/2007

Watching the 'Pukes turn themselves inside out over Gore's winning the prize indicates to me that they are very afraid of his running and that, yes, Hillary is the one they want so bad that they can taste it. And Democratic voters will oblige.

[TankerRat]

08:59 PM on 10/15/2007

And will get pasted in the general naschkatze. This Independent voter will NOT be supporting the Hill and Billary show under ANY circumstances. Period-End of Story.

Did you catch Bill Mitchell's cartoon on CNN today? Called "An Inconvenient Truth" it is just a stitch.

[yragentman]

06:31 PM on 10/14/2007

All the talk about "Gore can be more effective as a non-partisan champion for environmental action" is total bunk.

As President, Gore will be able to initiate policy, negotiate treaties, use control of government bureaus to set examples, and take up the bully pulpit of the President to educate, motivate and coordinate action.

The office of President has vast power to accelerate our response to global warming. This power drawfs his ability to achieve results as a private citizen.

In addition, President Gore will be a champion for election reform and true voting integrity. President Gore will have the credibility and diplomacy to end our mindless, counter productive, destructive unilateral military response to terrorism.

As far as Clinton "digging dirt" on Gore, she would do so at her own peril.

The country needs Gore. The world needs Gore. The future needs Gore.

He has matured from an extremely capable and knowledgable policy wonk into a genuine world leader of stature and respect.

If Gore sits on the sidelines asking "Why?", then our form of government truly is coming to an end.

[riona]

07:49 PM on 10/14/2007

But President Gore would have to make decisions based on the need for political survival, not just what is right. He might run the risk of causing a Republican takeover of Congress in the next round of mid-term elections if the country, indeed, does not like the bitter pill-dose of reality that is coming our way due to climate change. Then he will be forced into a position of having to compromise on some critical issues.

He is in a very powerful position now, as a public figure, and perhaps "lobbyist" to force elected officials in the right direction.

[friscosf]

03:32 PM on 10/15/2007

It's Clinton who will result in a Republican takeover if nominated.
If she does get the Democratic nomination, she'll stimulate the religious right (who might otherwise sit out the '08 election).
The Democrats will lose the House and Senate if Hillary is nominated.
And if she were actually elected, it would be another string of scandals...
Just like her husband's administration.

What does that woman stand for ?
War in Iraq ? War with Iran ?
Endless War on Terror ?
Obama/Edwards '08

[Give Peace A Chance]

06:25 PM on 10/14/2007

What sane person would want to be in charge of a broken and corrupt system?