Why the Ticket is Gore/Obama

On Thursday night I watched the Democratic debate with one Hillary loyalist and a number of other fence sitters. By the end they hadn't changed their positions. But the tone had changed. They said things like: "It would be great to have a woman in the White House" and "She's earned it." No one was able to muster an enthusiastic and passionate head of steam for her candidacy. Here's just one reason why:

Hillay Clintons Accent Returns

Posted to Obama08 by steve on April 28, 2007

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Meanwhile, the Obama camp was doing backflips. He was strong, confident, funny, engaging. He inspired both young and old to go out and engage in the political process. He was -- simply put -- a leader.

Excerpt from Obama's Speech to CCGA

Posted to Obama08 on April 28, 2007

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Wow.

So what's wrong? Why can't the Democrats engage in a fair fight -- let the best man or woman win, and go on to take back the White House? There are lots of reasons. Some of them are demographic. Some of them have to do with the media and the 24 hour news cycle that seems destined to find something to get worked up about. But whatever the case, even Obama's most passionate supporters seem concerned that the combination of dirty tricks and the one two punch of a black candidate with the name Obama may be just too many unspoken prejudices to overcome.

Which brings me back to Al Gore. He was a good candidate in 2000. He's a great candidate now. He's battle hardened, he's looser, he's been in room after room presenting his Inconvenient Truth and fine tuning his ability to work a crowd. He's even learned about the media -- from the inside out -- building his TV network and learning hands on that getting his story out takes more than being right, or being committed. It's about getting the message through the filter to the audience. Hence, the Academy Award that was given to his film.

Simply put -- Gore has what it takes to work the system, raise the money, and galvanize the part around ideas.

He and Obama would make a spectacular team. A genuinely passionate, powerful, and engaged political unit.

Is it to early to talk about this? Yes.

Does Obama have a reason to believe that he can continue to build momentum, grow his political base, and win the presidency? Sure he does. And if that remains a possibility -- he should do everything in his power to do that. It would be a remarkable moment in American political history.

And I, for one, am ready to let the process run its course.

But I hope that someone has arranged for Al and Barack to have an hour in a private room with a cup of coffee. I hope that they've had a chance to look each other in the eye -- and know that the future of the country may require both of them to look beyond their personal ego's and interests -- and form a bond that could help shape the future of the country.

The Democrats need to stop fighting amongst themselves -- and start fighting the forces that have infiltrated our government, the courts, and a long list of formerly public institutions. The level of corruption is staggering. From the Justice Department to the World Bank, the Bushies have created a new set of rules where they win, at any price. It has to stop.

It's long past the time for any single political career to take priority over the future of the nation.

The voters know this. Now it's time for the Democratic Party to recognize it as well.