ReEnergizer at dKos: "Gore's speech in Chicago: my impressions"

[understandinglife]

<clip>

Several times, he reiterated that he believes the American public has neared a tipping point. He spoke of politics as occurring in "non-linear" terms, saying that once every generation or two, a fundamental shift occurs and that things start happening quickly. He used the analogy of World War two as an example. In 1943, he said, no one believed it was possible to build 1,000 airplanes a week. By 1944, production had dwarfed this number. After the war, with the Marshall Plan, that generation set forth a positive change in the world that eliminated Europe's export of war and unified a continent.

Gore also spoke in terms of the world nearing a point in which it worked together to solve common problems, the climate crisis chief among them. And this is what sealed the deal for me. It was clear from his speech, and from the Q&A that followed, that Gore believes his greatest value is in leading the world toward common solutions to common problems, which will result in the betterment of humanity. Yes, the U.S. must lead, he reiterated several times. But to him, president appears to be the second most important job in the world. What he is doing now is first.

Never say never, of course. I walked out of that room slightly disappointed for our country, but inspired and humbled for our planet. I had the good fortune to be in the presence of the kind of rare greatness one experiences but a few times in his life.

Mr Gore, you are truly a great person and leader.

Massive collaboration, on a global scale, is indeed required to avert catastrophe for humanity.

While you are very likely the person who can lead such a coalescence, such a collaboration, as a citizen of the world, as President of the United States you will have resources that no citizen, no matter how humble or great, will have during the very brief interval remaining for major transformation of humanity's relationship to his home, earth, and to itself.

Thank you Mr Gore and thank you ReEnergizer for your insightful, empahtetic comments.

[FourScore]

1. The questions were pre-screened...

so whether or not he would seek the White House was not even asked.

Now why do you think Gore would not want THAT question asked to him at a venue filled with supportive admirers? That would be the BEST place to make it perfectly clear if he's definitely not running. He knows that his next denial MUST be Shermanesque. But he's not allowing anyone to ask it...Hmmm...I think he's gonna run.

[JMDEM]

2. Any more news and/or opinions about the speech? nt

[understandinglife]

5. "But he's not allowing anyone to ask it ..." I think he understands the price of his answer.

All that each of us can do is to indicate to him we are prepared to share the cost as it will not be trivial or short-term.

Mr Gore, we're ready.

[Kurovski]

3. K&R.

He knows that we'll have to work fast, ie, the war effort in WWII.

And he has faith we can do it. Can a candidate prove that they're up to the task? That's the candidate he'd be willing endorse.

I guess that's fairly obvious already, eh?

[understandinglife]

4. NYPopulist: "If Gore Runs, 44% Of Democrats Would Vote For Him"

<clip>

This poll requires some analyzing, so I'm going to try and interpret these numbers as best as I can - feel free to chime in with your own interpretations and opinions. First off, it looks like Gore would get 44% of the Democratic primary vote. In a nine candidate race with four top-tier contenders, this is more than enough to easily secure the nomination. Second, Democrats earn a combined 55% of the national vote. Assuming that most of the 30% who would vote for "another Democratic candidate" would vote for Gore in a general election matchup against a Republican, that would mean Gore trounces a generic Republican 55-45%. This largely confirms the findings of yesterday's poll against Giuliani.

, will bring hope and respect back to our country, and maybe after witnessing Bush these past seven years, most important of all, is freakin' smart. Will Al Gore heed America's call? All I have to say is: come on in Al, the water's fine!

Also, in non-polling news, Gore spoke today in the Windy City for the Economic Club of Chicago. Outside, the Chicago Draft Gore Group was very visible - across the street from the Hyatt Hotel (where Gore was speaking) they spelled out "AL GORE 2008" in huge letters. In addition to getting the attention of local and state news outlets (and NPR), they also continued collecting signatures to put Gore on the state's primary ballot. Passer- and driver-byers added their support with "beeping horns, waves, thumbs-up, and shouts of encouragement." They also paid for two billboard bike drives that rode around the event the whole while Gore was speaking - one read "Run Al, Run" and the other "Al Gore 2008." readily available for your viewing pleasure. Great job guys! On the inside was fellow Kossack where he hoped to ask Al to sign off on the Illinois petitions supporters have been gathering for quite some time now. Hopefully we'll hear from Jim soon - if I catch a wind of anything, I'll be sure to pass it along.

Mr Gore, we're here, ready.

To the future,
Bob

[glitch]

6. I just love it when he talks non-linear. K & R nt

:loveya:

[understandinglife]

7. As do I ....

:thumbsup:

He's having the time of his life, imho, and it's because he's igniting the passions and commitment of hundreds of thousands of citizens ... and a form of collaboration and connectedness not seen before in American politics.

Just the type of vast connectedness that will be required of humanity to transcend the avarice and stupidity of the corporatists and their media enablers - as to transform not only discourse but our stewardship of our only home, earth.

Peace.

[flyarm]

8. I AM READY!!!!!!! WILLING , AND ABLE..RUN AL RUN!!! EOM

[understandinglife]

9. Mr Gore is instructing each of us what "We the People ..." means. It is just that simple.

We have the connectedness technology - it's called the internet.

We have the connectedness tools - like YouTube.

We have the mechanisms - and the are deploying those mechanisms in numerous States.

Yes, we are being mentored by Mr Gore.

If "We the People ..." want a 'more perfect union';

if "We the People ..." want leadership from those who will be caring stewards of our fragile planet;

if "We the People ..." want to persist and expand the potential of humanity ...

then we need to act accordingly.

"We the People ..." control our destiny.

If "We the People ..." want Mr Gore to be our President, we must demonstrate we are cognizant of the cost and willing to pay them, ourselves.

"We the People ..." is not a passive stance, is not a default to others to care for our society.

If "We the People ..." want Mr Gore to be our President ... if we want ANY ethical, empathetic, nurturing person to be our President, we must prove it and that means way more than maybe voting and then moaning or, worse, doing nothing during the interval between elections.

Mr Gore ... message received.

Mr Gore ... you are already running a very Presidential campaign.

Thank you,
Bob

[earth mom]

13. Gore may be mentoring us, but we must have him as leader or it won't work. nt

[pnwmom]

10. If he's going to run, then WHAT IS HE WAITING FOR?

I'm getting less and less hopeful each day.

[understandinglife]

11. See # 9 for my humble opinion ... simply, we are being mentored ...

... and the commitment each of us must make needs to exceed, significantly, what we are all asking Mr Gore to do.

Are we ready to perform?

How do we demonstrate that commitment?

Those are the questions we need to answer, convincingly, to Mr Gore, imho.

Thank you.

[pnwmom]

14. He's making a mistake then, because as much as I like him,

I think we have a great field this time, and I'll have no problem backing one of the nominees who is actually working for the nomination.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

15. It has always been axiomatic

that waiting as long as possible to declare is advantageous. Declaring too close to the Nobel announcement could easily seen as opportunistic.

[understandinglife]

12. For now, Mr Gore is being Mentor-In-Chief ... mentoring each of us ...

... as to what we must do to participate in creating and sustaining a 'more perfect Union' and the implications of our daily actions on the fate of humanity and the only home we have, planet earth.

Thank you.

[RestoreGore]

16. He is now a world leader...

"Yes, the U.S. must lead, he reiterated several times. But to him, president appears to be the second most important job in the world. What he is doing now is first."

And he's right, the presidency is only second best to what he is doing now, and I hope he keeps on doing it.

[mod mom]

17. I am so sick of calculating politicians. We need a leader devoid of calculating moves

who works for a better planet rather than self serving interests that are destroying this country.

I wish us progressives could move to country with Al Gore as our leader, where healthcare, fair trade, sustainability and livable wages were the norm and where diplomacy and peace were embraced instead of hawkish profiteering.

Before the '04 I gave to party organizations but now my money only goes to candidates that reflect the progressive fighting agenda that I support.