Obama/Gore 2008

Broken record here. The more I think about it, the more Al Gore seems the only really interesting choice for Barack Obama's vice presidential choice.

Of course, Obama was and is the only really interesting choice for president.

But it would be great to have two top people on the ticket.

But Gore has already been vice president! Two people have served as vice president under two different presidents: George Clinton served as vice president under Jefferson and Madison, and John C. Calhoun served under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

People have said Gore has too much ego to be vice president under Obama, but Gore was born to service, more than to glory. I think he did not have enough ego to run a presidential campaign.

He was an excellent vice president under Clinton, and he could be even better under Obama, who could be a much better president than Clinton.

Of course, Obama might be accused of relying on a Washington insider, but Gore has been out of DC for eight years, and has seen, and really conquered, the world, gaining Oscar, Grammy, and Nobel Peace.

He is also the only choice who is not holding elective office. (Sam Nunn is too old, too out of touch.) Senator Bayh would be replaced by a Republican.

And Gore is closest to Obama on the issues. Of greatest importance, both opposed Bush's invasion of Iraq six months before it happened.

Gore would be ready on election to start turning the clock back on global warming. He would help President Obama devise an energy plan.

Gore has the experience that Obama lacks, Obama has the charisma that Gore lacks, and both share a vision of the country and the world that is progressive.

Obama/Gore would trump McCain/Whoever on experience.

Would the people, the electorate, accept the idea?

Well, that is up to us.

Fox Noise Channel, Chris Matthews, Maureen Dowd, and their ilk would start lying, again, about Gore (he said he invented the Internet! he said he was the model for Love Story! he said he discovered Love Canal! wouldn't you prefer to have a beer with Tim Pawlenty?).

But more people voted for Gore in 2000 than for Bush. Gore should be finishing out his second term. That the 2000 election was stolen from Gore (and from us) is all the more horrible because of what happened after Bush was inaugurated. Seven and a half years of hell for the world.

Gore/Obama 2008!

Comments

[LondonTownNY]

AL GORE is America's elected leader out of power. Plain and simple. PNAC took over the 2000 election installing Team Bush: Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz et al etc. all of whom should be in prison. Al Gore has exhibited tremendous patriotism, class and dignity since leaving office as Vice President and having an election stolen from him. Al Gore was stolen from the American people. To have Gore on the ticket will remind everyone and anyone with a sense of history that we cannot allow the NEOCONS to steal this election from the American people. I will always love and respect Al Gore for what he has contributed to this country.

[PeppermintTwist]

PART II (CONTINUED FROM MY PREVIOUS COMMENT)

So I started thinking, wait--could it be that he is speaking in the VP slot? And then I started thinking that, ya know, IF Obama and he agree that Gore's role will be mainly to work on policies/legislation/initiatives that put forward his 10-year energy plan to take us off fossil fuel and onto solar and wind, he just might agree. Because, even given as much gravitas as he has now as a private citizen, he can't put forward POLICY and LEGISLATION as such, and he knows that the planet cannot wait four or eight years. We MUST make a concerted, unprecedented effort NOW to turn around global climate change or, not to put too fine a point on it, we're toast. Gore knows this, and, as you correctly point out: "People have said Gore has too much ego to be vice president under Obama, but Gore was born to service, more than to glory." You are exactly right. Al Gore is all about service. And we (and the planet!) NEED his service NOW. I think if he's asked, and if he's given carte blanche on energy policy, he'll do it.

[PeppermintTwist]

PART ONE OF MY COMMENT:

Brilliant blog, Norman! I've been a huge Gore aficionado since 1988. On the VP issue, I was in the camp that felt there was no way Gore would accept a VP slot under Obama or anyone else, for two reasons: 1. He has clearly and consistently stated that he doesn't feel that is the best way for him to serve, and 2. Indeed the office may be too constricting for Gore's talents and gravitas at this point. It isn't about ego, but rather that he, at this point, could get more accomplished as Private Citizen Gore than he could as VP Gore. As I said, that is what I thought--past tense--until about a week or so ago. It all started to change when I realized that Gore is not listed as a convention speaker, which boggles the mind. ...CONTINUED IN PART II OF COMMENT...

[SamiNJ]

I wouldn't be any happier than if I woke up and Gore was on stage with him.
Not one ounce happier. I like several of the other candidates, don't get me wrong.
But none would have the shock value of an Al Gore accepting the VP slot for the second time.
What a ticket.
For all those in 2000 who think he was robbed and those in Florida who would be CERTAIN not to err again. I think it would make a huge difference.
Obama/Gore '08

[PeppermintTwist]

SamiNJ, as a Florida Democrat and a MEGA Gore fan, let me assure you, we did not "err" in 2000. The election was STOLEN out from under us.

I'll tell you what, Gore on the ticket would bring out Floridians in DROVES for poetic justice, even those of us who have been less than thrilled with the goings-on this primary season and with the nominee. Personally, I had finally come around to my senses and gotten over all the shockers of this primary season (Howard Dean--grrrrrrrr! Don't get me started...), and was planning on voting for Obama, but let's just say I was less than thrilled about it. You put Gore on that ticket and I will be organizing buses to the polls.

[SamiNJ]

Forgive my misspeak... i wasn't BLAMING Florida for 2000.... I meant I don't think it would come so close if it were Obama/Gore that it 'could' be stolen as it was in 2000. It wouldn't go red again like it did in 2000 and 2004. I think 2004 was a result of depression (voting depression and psychological depression that lingered for Democrats in Florida). Besides that, Kerry didn't set the world on fire with excitement (forget policy, just personality) and we were still in the midst of war and for some reason enough people trusted Bush at the time.
Florida baffles me at times but I am also aware that different parts of the state are soooooo varied it's then hard to pin it down to one groupthink or pattern.
I DO think that enough people there feel they were dooped (and as a result we as a country were dooped) in 2000 and they wouldn't let that happen again if Gore was on the ticket. It would bring it alllllllll to the forefront in everyone's mind. Just a subliminal reminder of what the Bush presidency meant. Horror.

[SamiNJ]

PeppermintTwist,... sorry to pester you again (this is my second entry to your post here)... can I pick your brain? I obviously picked up that you have decided begrudgingly to vote for Obama in November. I don't want to pick old wounds or get you started about Dean and the DNC and all that stuff that went on. What I am curious about (in particular since you are in Florida and the state fascinates me with voting patterns - I can't tell you how my heart sinks when I remember back to Election Night in 2000 when the network I was watching HAD called Florida for Gore only to take it back....that night I actually cried quietly when they called the election for Bush in the early morning - of course to wake up that it was down to 500 votes and of course the drama that ensued really made me a political junkie for life depsite the horrible outcome).... I am very curious to know who you would despise as a VP choice. I obviously know you agree with me on Gore,... just curious who are your top five or so? if you don't mind indulging me. Anyone a dealbreaker the bad way? Anyone who would send you over to mcCain or skipping the vote altogether?
just curious.

[slg]

It would be a let down for Gore. He's a free man on a mission. He'd be a trapped man on everyone else's mission. Have a look at the Andrew J Bacevich interview by Bill Moyers and perhaps you'll reevaluate your choice.

[PeppermintTwist]

Gore has done an amazing amount in the last seven years as a private citizen. He has truly taken lemons and made the most wonderful lemonade, in terms of his tireless work to create awareness and action on global climate change. I have no doubt that he could go on as a private citizen and do more great, Nobel prize-worthy work. But just think: as VP under a president who agrees to give him uber-power on energy issues, he could get his 10-year plan for our fossil-fuel-free, solar-and-wind-based future GOING!!!!!!!!! This. has. to. happen.