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James Boyce

James Boyce

Posted: October 11, 2007 07:35 AM

Al: I Forgive You For Missing Previous Deadlines. I Understand You've Been Busy.


Dear Al:

Could be a big week for you, has anyone ever won an Emmy, an Oscar and a Nobel Prize? I doubt it, I mean most tv people don't transition well to movies, far less world peace. I have to be honest, some of these other folks you're up against, all 180 of them, there are some serious folks there so I know you think you might not win, and you might.

But then again.

I have been looking into Sheila Watt-Cloutier and I think she's a shoo-in, and if I understand the rules, if she wins, she'll pull you over the line, I just have a feeling.

So, now what?

Well, you may recall me harassing you with the September 1 deadline and then my delegate post. And my open letter to you. But now, my friend, it's brass tacks time. Put up or shut up. Come out swinging, or close the door.

You have to say something. Seriously.

But before you do - here are a few thoughts to consider first.

First, the Draft Gore movement is real. It's probably the first real draft movement in modern, post-Internet political history. These people really want you to run. They like other Democrats, they'll support other Democrats, but they want you, really. (As do a lot of Republicans fyi.)

This morning, over at DailyKos, of top 8 Recommended Diaries, four are about you and you're running. From what I gather, you picked your 'favorite suit' at the dry cleaners and in doing so have sent your progressive base into a Beatle-esque hysteria.

Second, we share a healthy suspicion and at least on my part, considerable disregard for the corporate media here in the United States. I saw Diane Sawyer too - I can't believe it either. However, there is a secondary media market out there, there is this remarkable progressive community online, they are your people.

For example, did you know the average age for a reader of a Progressive Blog / Web Site is 46 years old? College and Post Graduate educated, involved, passionate and right now, frankly without a candidate.

They are your people.

Somewhere, sometime, you have to have wondered how much you could raise and how fast. I'll answer that right here - $30,000,000 in 30 days. Not that you'll have much to spend it on, because you'll only be running 60 days, and you can skip Iowa and New Hampshire and go straight to the big delegate states, 2,181 - that's your number.

There is plenty of money to go with the plenty of people.

Finally, you understand the spirit of the world better than I, you actually get to speak with the Dalai Lama, and I just read his books and admire from afar. Everything is connected, interdependent, and to a certain degree out of our hands. There is a wisdom on the world not immediately clear to those living in it. Some would say an ironic sense of humor too.

Five years ago, tomorrow, the United States Senate voted for a war in Iraq, a war that is destroying our country from the inside. Five years ago, on the exact same day Jimmy Carter won his Nobel Prize.

Tomorrow, you will win or you will lose, it doesn't really matter. For a moment, the world will be your stage, for a fleeting moment, the world will see that last flame of hope for literally millions of Americans will be in your hands, and Tipper's.

You have two choices.

You have to blow it out. And let those people who have been working to draft you go help one of the other candidates. And walk away.

Or you have to feed the flame. And run.

Please let it be the latter.

Good luck tomorrow.

You know I'm rooting for you.

Peace,

James

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01:55 PM on 10/11/2007
I would love to see Al Gore run and would vote for him over anybody else. But, I am concerned that this over-deification of him only sets him up for failure.

"For a moment, the world will be your stage, for a fleeting moment, the world will see that last flame of hope for literally millions of Americans will be in your hands, and Tipper's."

Please...Let's not put him on a pedestal so high up that he has no way to go but down. I think that's part of what happened to Obama.

If he really doesn't want to run, I propose that the next Democratic president appoint him as the "Global Warming Czar" (working title) - basically, a cabinet-level position that gives him the resources and freedom necessary to fight the problem.
01:07 PM on 10/11/2007
Come back to NH, Al. We miss you. This is the Al Gore we want to see:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9JE48XHKG64&mode=related&search=saddam%20hussein%20bill%20clinton,
12:37 PM on 10/11/2007
Oh, puh-lease! He said he does not want it; he did not answer the call; others have stepped up to the plate; what more do you want?! Move on!!
12:09 PM on 10/11/2007
I always keep a vision in my mind of how it could be in our country and the only person that can really make a change is Al Gore. He is truly our last best hope for needed change. My heart aches at the crumbling of our great country and am begging Al to run to restore some semblance of decency and justice!Please dear Mr Vice President do this for the sake of all of us in this world,you have a huge following and do not need to do the kabuki theatre of politics to get the support that you need.
12:01 PM on 10/11/2007
I am SO with you on this James. I commented on another blog, and Snaggster (who obviously doesn't read well) actually thought I voted for Nader in 2000. Nope. Wrong. I am totally, passionately voting for Gore officially or write-in on my ballot. This is an important moment for all of us. What are we really about? I want Gore to run for President more than I can articulate. Its all been said. You are right James, now Al has to say unequivocally..In or out? I have to know! I don't want to hear it from his spokespeople, his ex-staffers, or any more speculation. I want Al to speak out once and for all. Really Al, its now or never! I pray its NOW!
01:21 PM on 10/11/2007
Lacy, what are you talking about? I think it's YOU that does not read very well.

I specifically pointed out in my comment that you did not even mention Nader, that you were a Gore supporter. It is SensibleAmerican that thinks you're part of the "nader-herd". I think you should vote for whoever you want to regardless of how ill advised it may be.
05:34 PM on 10/11/2007
Oops Snaggster..you are so right. My apologies.
10:33 AM on 10/11/2007
Al,

Just remember how the Republican's smeared, abused and humiliated you and your wife in 2000.
You were portrayed as a somewhat weird, walking joke by the media.

We need you back again. We are desperate for some humor in our lives.

Think about it hard!
10:11 AM on 10/11/2007
Yeah, Al. Please run. Please, please, please. We need four more years of the GOP in the White House. At least we'll be able to place the blame on you instead of Nader when you lose another election because you're a dreadful candidate and strategist.
09:17 AM on 10/11/2007
Al would get my vote. Even my sister, whom I am ashamed to say is a republican, claims she would vote for Al Gore if he runs. Come on Al, we all know politics is disgusting and understand your aversion to running again, but the country really, really needs a leader as president, not a politician.
09:10 AM on 10/11/2007
Who is in your dream cabinet? Big dog. Richardson, Clark. for ,respectively, UN, Sec State and Defense. What do you think?
09:05 AM on 10/11/2007
Al, like the man says, I am one of your people. My vote is yours for the asking.
08:51 AM on 10/11/2007
If Al Gore runs, I'd actually give money to his campaign. Added bonus that it seems to anger people like JoeSun.
08:36 AM on 10/11/2007
Dear Al:

Back in 2000, you didn't have the courage to stand up for disenfranchised voters in Florida. African Americans turned out in record numbers to support you and how did you repay them? By conceding. Ha. If you think we're gonna back you again after your previous display of cowardice, you've got another thing coming, corrupt nobel prize committee or not.

Pst, oh yeah, you know the only reason these guys want you to run is because you're a white male, right?
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07:53 AM on 10/11/2007
If you are interested in signing the Draft Gore petition here's the link:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/algore2008/#sign
09:53 AM on 10/11/2007
Unless s/he is a pawn of the MIC, no one with more than a remote chance of being nominated would want to run for President, with all those Rovian Swift Boat Lie Brigades out there just waiting and salivating. And if a true patriot did survive that gauntlet and successfully hurdle the fraudulent vote counting machines and get elected, then what? That President would be surrounded by a Congress and MSM bought and paid for by the MIC, with a Bush-stacked Supreme Court sitting on the sideline as referee. Government of the people, by the people, and for the people has all but been destroyed by corporate greed and brutality. It's hopeless.
But then again, while I yet breathe, I refuse to give up hope. I believe Al Gore is our last best hope. I can't imagine how he can get over or around Bill and Hill, but I have just signed the Draft Gore petition.
04:47 PM on 10/11/2007
All the Smear Job Liars for Plutocracy, Diebold Machines, Corporate Whores in high office, Consolidated Oligarchic Media Hydra, Conservative Crony Justices, and the dysfunctional tattered remnants of a government which has suffered six years of concerted Bushite effort to shit it up it will represent a tremendous challenge to anyone who understands that all these things must be fixed in order to save our country.

Al Gore demonstrates his understanding of the above problems and challenges in his book 'The Assault on Reason' - IMO he is the only person who even comes close to being qualified to tackle the Herculean tasks of righting all these wrongs and cleaning out the Augean Stables of DC.

So I signed the petition too.
12:40 PM on 10/13/2007
Californians who want to put Gore on the California primary ballot can go to http://www.california4gore.org/.
07:42 AM on 10/11/2007
Al's got my vote if he runs....
Al and Kucinich...dream team
08:43 AM on 10/11/2007
For what it's worth you got mine too.
I'm writing you in if your not there. So don't let it be a throw away.
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Rosanneofpgh
some days youre the dog;others the hydrant
09:49 AM on 10/11/2007
My dream team is Gore and Edwards. I think they are unbeatable.
12:22 PM on 10/11/2007
I agree. Electoral and popular landslide. When I remember hearing that he picked Elmer Fudd as VP I nearly cried.