At this late point, the calls to recruit Gore are disrespectful

[ecstatic]

To the candidates who've already put so much work in... and to Gore himself, who has found a cause he finds more worthy than being a figurehead.

[pscot]

1. I beg to differ

And I plan to stand for Al Gore at our caucus.

[mod mom]

33. One of our biggest threats is CORPORATISM and I am tired of corporate media

annoiting our candidates. It appears they have already selected one and I am ADAMENTLY OPPOSED to this candidate. It will be the first time NOT voting for a D presidential candidate since Anderson ran as an independent, but I will place this issue above party. I feel this strongly. I can support all of the other candidates, but I truly feel Al Gore will bring a worldwide respect and statemanship that no other can bring. We have donated nominal amounts to some candidates, but ae still holdong out that our candidate of choice-AL GORE will enter the race.

It is still early in the race. The other candidates elected to enter early-that should NOT prevent others from deciding to enter at a later date.

RUN AL RUN!

[ecstatic]

34. That's very selfish, IMO. Do you really think we can risk another 8 yrs of repub rule? nt

[mod mom]

37. We chide the Republicans for blindly following party over what is right. I feel corporatism

is such a threat to this country and that the DLC supports it, that I will NOT BE ANY PART OF IT.

This is why I am vocal in my opposition of Corporatism, and their Democratic allies-the DLC. I am working to educate folks not to go along with who the media are pushing but to find out where the candidates stand on the issues. Free Trade, a favorite of the corporations (outsourcing =cheaper, non union labor with no environmental regulations) was put in place by clinton and is supported by the DLC.

You have to do what you believe is right and I am doing that.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. It Would be Nice if the Candidates Gave People A Reason To NOT Want Gore

:nopity:

[countmyvote4real]

3. Is this a tease from "The Onion?"

"At this late point." Are you kidding me? This is when things used to start.

I don't get the "disrespect" angle. Isn't that why we have primary elections? Only one person is going to come out of a primary that doesn't feel disrespected.

All disrespect intended to HRC. I want anybody but her for the Democratic nominee. If it takes Al Gore to make it happen. So be it.

[Hekate]

4. I agree with you, but expect to get bashed from DUers who think he's the Messiah

Not only can Al Gore not do everything that we long to have accomplished, but I have watched DUers turn on a dime and start savaging politicians they once couldn't praise highly enough. I seem to remember how adored John Kerry and John Edwards were at DU when they ran together. Now--not so much.

I have to believe that Mr. Gore is telling the truth about not running again. As a mere human being he is accomplishing wonders, imo. But as the Messiah of Candidates -- well, the honeymoon wouldn't last long, and he knows it.

I admire Al and Tipper Gore tremendously, and appreciate everything they have done and ARE doing in the here and now.

Hekate

[msongs]

9. sorry, there's already a Messiah in the running for the dem nomination and it ain't Al nt

[Hekate]

10. What? You're not going to tell me who it is? I must get out the incense!

:rofl:

Hekate

[calteacherguy]

15. Agreed. nt

[ecstatic]

18. LOL! So very true! nt

[JI7]

5. i disagree, our campaigns are far too long, and Gore's running on his record

which goes back decades. that counts a lot more than the amount of time one spends campaigning.

not that i think Gore is going to run, but if he did it would not be "unfair" to others.

[William769]

6. I don't think it's disrespectful.

Up until our nominee picked, I salute the people that keep trying.

[connecticut yankee]

7. It's not disrespectful

if so many people want him.

The other candidates jumped into the race long before it has usually been done. Gore will be a breath of fresh air.

[Kelly Rupert]

8. Quixotic? Perhaps. Disrespectful? No.

I don't believe it's at all disrespectful to say that you would rather vote for one person than another. That is democracy, not disrespect.

That said, damn I wish he had shown the passion in 2000 that he's shown ever since. He'd have waltzed right back into the White House.

[pacalo]

11. I don't agree.

Now more than ever we need a candidate who can put some life and hope into the voters. I'm still waiting for a candidate who can make me enthusiastic about the future and Al Gore can do it.

[rosesaylavee]

12. I disagree.

Unlike during the pre-2004 election period, he has not asked for the draft gore groups to step down.

He has not made a sherman statement to the effect that he is not running.

He has not yet endorsed another DEM candidate.

When he does one or all of the above, threads of support for his hoped for presidential campaign will no doubt cease. Attempting to shame people into not wanting him to run is a waste of time.

There is a feature here that is helpful if these threads are distressing to you. You do have a choice to hide threads and you won't have to read about who or how many of us want Gore to run.

[troubleinwinter]

13. I'm an American and I can call for who ever I want.

[calteacherguy]

14. You are right, folks should respect his decision not to run. nt

[tkmorris]

16. LOL

Really? So when people say "Hey Al, we'd really like you to be our President", do you think he gets offended?

Furthermore, running for president means accepting that, well, people might want to vote for someone else. You don't get to be offended if people would rather have Al Gore, no matter how much time you've put in. In fact, if you've spent that much time and money and people are still looking for another candidate, you might want to ask yourself why.

[ecstatic]

19. Well, think of the guilt you're causing him

He's doing so many great things now but he may end up full of regret later in life because you guys are confusing him and taking him off task.

[Kurovski]

21. Please tell me you're kidding.

Please. :-)

[Hissyspit]

17. Drafting candidates is a tradition as old as the republic.

1928: DRAFTING-COOLIDGE MOVEMENT REVIVED, DESPITE FARM VETO
President Still Held More Valuable Party Asset Than Secretary Hoover. BATTLE SEEN THROWN INTO EASTERN STATES Candidate Wanted Who Can Hold His Own Against Gov. Al Smith.
The Washington Post (1877-1954) - Washington, D.C.
Author: By ALBERT W. FOX.
Date: May 25, 1928

President Coolidge's strategic position in the event of an effort to draft him after a deadlock at Kansas City has again loomed here as a result of the President's veto of the McNary-Haugen bill and as a consequence of important subsurface developments of the past few days.


1937: ROOSEVELT PARLEY AIDS MOVE TO DRAFT WAGNER FOR MAYOR; Flynn and Kelly...
$4.95 - New York Times - Jun 5, 1937Talk of drafting United States Senator Robert F. WAGNER FOR the Democratic ... he is known TO value highly, TO re-enter the hurly-burly of city politics. ...


1942: 'YIELDS' TO PLEAS; Consents to Run After Talk in White House With Roosevelt
By WARREN MOSCOW

July 23, 1942, Thursday

Page 1, 1858 words

The full and open power of the White House swung behind United States Senator James M. Mead yesterday, as the latter announced in Washington his candidacy for Governor on the Democratic ticket, against John J. Bennett Jr., choice of State Chairman James A. Farley.


1955:The Drafting of Adlai Stevenson.
Michael Straight
3/7/55

The article focuses on the book "How We Drafted Adlai Stevenson," by Walter Johnson. Unlike any convention since 1932 there was no man or group in control of the Democratic Party in Chicago. Unlike 1932 there was not even a contest for control among strong and acceptable candidates. Estes Kefauver, the front-runner, was unacceptable to the city leaders and the Southern delegations, politician Adlai Stevenson who was acceptable, was unavailable, as politician Jacob Arvey explained to the delegates. Politician Averell Harriman, who might have been nominated, had been made as unacceptable to the South as politician Richard Russell was to the North and West by the misplaced zeal of the group that Walter Johnson calls the extreme Northern liberals.

[Kurovski]

20. I disagree.

I also find the concept of it being "disrespectful" a bit insulting, a scolding little spanking at best.

Calling the office of the President of the United States a mere "figurehead" position draws closer to the idea of actual disrespect.

[provis99]

22. There's something liberal about

Always wanting the guy who isn't running to run against the dozen or so who already are. Maybe if Clinton dropped out and Gore chose to run, we'd start shouting for Clinton to run again. If Gore got in, he'd get bashed more than the other candidates combined.

[Kurovski]

25. Oh, how I'd love to test out your theory.

Do let's ask Clinton to drop out to see what happens.

You hold a low opinion of liberals and the method by which we personally decide upon a candidate. The person running doesn't seem to matter at all in your scenario, just a perverse kind of psychology. Though I hereby admit that I may have missed something over the years.

[Vincardog]

23. Coutgh cough (BULLSHIT) Cough Cough you soooo funny

[mark414]

24. late point? the election's more than a year away!

nobody made these candidates run a 600 day campaign

[Milo_Bloom]

26. The funny thing is Al could end it all with one statement...

That he refuses to make for some strange reason.


Guess he doesn't think it is too late.

[DemBones DemBones]

27. Late calls? Disrespectful?

I don't think so. Gore could still run if he wanted to. Gingrich is talking about it now because he doesn't think Thompson is doing well enough.

If Newtie can enter late, so can President Gore. Gore could probably win but the Dems seem determined to
follow Hillary off a cliff.

[OneBlueSky]

28. what's disrespectful is candidates whose lips are moving but who aren't saying . . .

much of anything that's really important . . . like what they'd do to combat global warming and other forms of environmental devastation . . . like what they'd do to take back Congress and the Executive from the grips of corporate power . . . like what they'd do to keep this nation from going bankrupt, both financially and spiritually . . .

[Control-Z]

29. Huh? -eom

[Fly by night]

30. So would writing Gore in on my TN primary ballot make me a terrorist?

[Bonobo]

31. OMG!!! Not DISPRESPECTFUL! NOOOOOO!!!

[Marrah_G]

32. Just because they have put in work doesn't make any of them my choice

They don't have a right to votes simply because they have put in time and money. That isn't how it works.

I will continue to urge the person that I feel is the most qualified to run. In the end, if he does not, I will support and work for whichever candidate wins the nomination.

To be frank, none of the current candidates have, what I think, is needed at this time and at this place in history. I think most would make fine presidents in a less critical time.

[LynneSin]

35. Depends on how those calls are made

If there are people who are truly Gore supporters I see no problem with it.

However if people are wanting Gore to run because of some cause like "All the other candidates are dumbasses who I'd rather vote 3rd party to enable republican win" - well then I have an issue too.

[blm]

36. The Clintons kept up calls to recruit Hillary at this same point in 2003 - her BOOK TOUR

in 2003 was meant to assure the dominance of the Clinton name within the party during the primary race, just as Bill's book tour was scheduled in June 2004 when Democrats SHOULD have been learning about the Dem nominee and his record, instead of having to deal with a book tour from Clinton where he gave consistent support for Bush's strategies on terrorism and Iraq war.

And Democrats are all supposed to pretend that it was never intentional.

[youthere]

38. Following your argument, I'm declaring my candidacy for the year 2020...

that way no other Dem can run because I'll have been working on my campaign nearly 13 years. I'll be a shoo-in...unless the repub candidate has already declared.Bastids!

[bvar22]

39. Some of the candidates have earned disrespect.

Those pandering to the Right and wallowing in Corporate Bribe money have NOT earned my respect.