Secretary of State Al Gore?

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/14781-focus-secretary-of-state-al-gore

Secretary of State Al Gore?
By Michael Tomasky, The Daily Beast

With opposition to Susan Rice mounting daily, Michael Tomasky proposes six alternative nominees for the
top post at Foggy Bottom. Head of the list? The winner of the 2000 election.

Things maybe aren't looking so great for Susan Rice. The throw-down yesterday by Maine GOP Sen. Susan
Collins, who extended the Republican case against Rice back to the Clinton ears, is one of those
Washington smoke signals, and it's not a positive one. Let me therefore set aside for a day the question
of the merits of Rice and raise another one: Who would make for some credible, interesting,
outside-the-box choices to run Foggy Bottom? There are ample non-Rice options that would provide the
nation with a strong chief diplomat and would piss off the wingnuts in the bargain. Here are half a dozen.

[hrmjustin]

1. It is an idea!

[coldbeer]

16. Nope! I voted for him and thought he sucked!

Al Gore chose Lieberman for VP. I just wished he would ride off in the sunset!

[lunatica]

20. He won the election though

I bet that pisses you off even more.

[coldbeer]

31. Politics does not piss me off!

Life goes on.

Gore let me down.

[hrmjustin]

38. How did he let you down?

[BlueToTheBone]

40. He exists?

[Zorra]

2. I believe that President Gore would be a fine choice. nt

[Walk away]

28. +1000

[northoftheborder]

3. Al Gore!!!!!! Yes. For all the reasons listed in the article quoted.

The other 5 ----- nahhhhhh.

[discopants]

4. I'd rather see Gore working on global warming as a cabinet position

What if Leon Panetta moved to State Dept., then Powell or Wesley Clark could come in as Sec. of Defense.

[Walk away]

32. All I can see is Powell convincing congress to start the Iraq war.

He will never live that down. Add to that his part in the cover up of Mai Lai massacre and he simply stinks.

[discopants]

50. Powell stepped up twice to endorse Obama

and took the heat from his party because he knew it was the right thing to do. He's a competent military leader and could serve Obama well considering the mess there is right now with Patreaus and all of the others that have quit or been fired over the last several years. Powell might ease a lot of the bipartisan crap as the Afghanistan war ends quicker than has previously been scheduled, Powell can make sure a faster withdrawl goes without too many problems.

[Walk away]

52. A that makes it ok to lie us into a war in Iraq? Are you serious?

You would trust this country with the man who used all of his trust and clout to cause the death of hundreds of thousands of people FOR NO REASON because he endorsed Obama?

Unbelievable!

[discopants]

54. Powell has admitted his testimony was wrong in 2004

He was fed lies by the CIA and the Bush administration.

Of course his testimony to the UN was completely not true, and he was reporting the the "evidence" supplied by the CIA.
Bush/Cheney/Tenet were liars and warmongers, and a loyal Powell was used and manipulated at their will.

The scale and scope is much different, but isn't this the same that just happened with Rice and her reporting CIA talking points of Benghazi ?
Even Hillary admitted her vote to authorize the war was based on lies. Should she have been disqualified on moral grounds from serving as a great SOS?




http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3596033.stm

[Walk away]

56. Hillary didn't lie to Congress and the American people.

You really don't seem to get that there is a difference. Let me try one more time to explain before I leave you to adore that lying asshole Powell who, by the way, started his glorious career covering up the Mai Lai massacre.

[kelliekat44]

36. Maybe he can do more for global warming as Sec of State? nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. He's certainly an improvement over the ones being mooted about.

[Mass]

6. At least he is a dem, because most in his list are Reps or DINOS.

[rhett o rick]

18. Agree. No Republicans pleezz. nm

[Texas Lawyer]

7. Better Gore than Kerry

[JI7]

37. how is Gore better than Kerry?

and many of the others he named are not better than Kerry.

Kerry's involvement in foreign policy issues goes back to when he was a kid. he spoke before the committee and has been on theforeign relations committee and current chairman for years.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

46. We don't risk losing a Senate seat

nt

[JI7]

47. if you are worried about losing a Senate seat in Mass , especially to a current loser

we are in serious trouble as a party.

[Texas Lawyer]

66. The odds of us losing Kerry's senate seat are greater than the odds of us losing Gore's

[Texas Lawyer]

65. Gore brings untapped talent to the table (net plus); Kerry robs the Senate of talent (net zero)

[Proud Public Servant]

8. I floated this idea with friends a couple of months ago

But does anyone ever ask me? Nooooooo...

[libdem4life]

9. Well, kudos to you and a warm handshake of agreement !!!

I didn't think of it...but wholeheartedly concur.

[midnight]

10. I like this idea.. He was pulled into the Vietnam war when other Senators son's

were hidden from it... He could offer an experience that many of our recent Secretaries of State did not pocess-military... Hopefully that and his understanding of our congress will help get us out of war and keep us at peace....

[meow2u3]

11. Al Gore would make for a good EPA head

Either that, or a Secretary of the Interior.

[LeftyLucy22]

15. Exactly!!!!

Unfortunately, that will never happen.

[Chuuku Davis]

59. Sorry

His carbon footprint is way too big

[NYtoBush-Drop Dead]

12. What about EPA?

[Swede Atlanta]

13. I would rather he continue to focus his concerns and interests on our planet.....

As much as I think he would make a great SoS, I prefer he stay engaged in climate change issues. That would be one issue he would have in his portfolio, if appointed to the Dept of State but I think he is more effective where he is.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. I would support that pick.

[FreeBC]

17. No thanks.

Personality-wise, Al Gore is like the anti-Grayson. We don't need democrats who can't defend themselves holding high profile positions. He'd be a punching bag and most likely end up being an embarrassment and a thorn in the side of the party.

That said, at least he's not as stiff as Kerry

[Duval]

19. Our current Secretary of State has

done such a good job, I really hate to see her go. However, perhaps Gore would do a good job. But, will he want it?

[adieu]

21. Jimmy Carter

would be a good pick, if not for his age.

I would really prefer a woman in the role of SoS. I hate to sound sexist, but a woman can be charming without appearing smarmy and I think that can help diffuse a lot of unnecessary swagger that people who aren't so diplomatic have.

[freshwest]

22. Perfect as head of the EPA.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

60. YES!!!

[uwep]

23. How about the BIG DOG

Everyone around the world loves him. It would really put salt in the
wounds of the republicans. Lemmings would all fall off the cliff.

[Cleita]

25. Maybe now that he's got Hillary coming home he might want to spend some

quality time with her. Also, with his heart problems, I don't thing the stress and constant travel would be good for him.

[creeksneakers2]

61. He's my pick too

[lunatica]

24. I'd much rather Al Gore be a lobbyist for the environment.

I bet he could persuade Congress to pass some decent legislation protecting the environment and creating incentives for alternate green energy and technology.

[Cleita]

26. I could get down with that.

However, Al has built a different life since he was in the WH and may not want to get back into the politics and high drama of foreign affairs.

[rhett o rick]

27. I am going to go out on a limb here and say that VP Gore is waaaay to liberal for the president. nm

[JI7]

39. how so ? was Gore a liberal VP ? liberal senator ?

[rhett o rick]

45. Waaaay more liberal than anyone Pres Obama has appointed. nm

[JI7]

49. saying it doesn't make it true, can you give examples of issues

?

[rhett o rick]

55. I will give you a listing of Pres Obama appointees. All of which are waay to the right of VP Gore.

Tim Geitner, Lawrence Summers, Ben Bernanke, William M. Daley, Jeff Immelt, Alan Simpson, Dave Cote, Jeb Bush, Robert Gates, Gen Stanley McChrystal, Jacob Lew, Michael Taylor, Rahm Emanuel, Jeremiah Norton, Gen Petraeus,

[JI7]

57. so you have nothing

[rhett o rick]

62. Ok Jake, I been leading this discussion. What have you got? Come on tell us what you think. nm

[JI7]

63. Gore picked Lieberman to be his VP running mate

[rhett o rick]

70. Ouch. I will yeild that point. nm

[graham4anything]

29. Interesting idea, he is NOT a sitting senator, but would he want back in if asked?

And would he stay on job when Hillary becomes 45?

[Purveyor]

30. Jimmy Carter. eom

[Cleita]

35. No. They wouldn't confirm him.

He might bring peace and prosperity to the world and what would the war and oil industries do with that?

[Purveyor]

42. Well I can dream, can't I? lol eom

[Fuddnik]

44. Seconded!

[Botany]

33. susan rice is the one .... fuck those assholes

n/t

[Fla Dem]

67. I agree. I reject the premise support for her is wanning. That's a Republican's wet dream.

The only reasons the angry white men are creating this phony outrage is
1.) she is a woman and a minority.
2.) They are hoping for a Kerry appointment so they can have a chance of getting Scott Brown back.

I have heard f NO Democrat who has suggested Susan Rice would not be a good candidates of SoS.

[hughee99]

69. You should go over to this thread and tell all the racists and sexists off...

Susan Rice Vocally Supported the Iraq War, and Every Mid-East War Since
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021895778

[JI7]

34. Lugar, Huntsman, Colin Powell, but not KErry ?

and he mentions Webb who is conservative. and Gore might as well run for PResident again if he is going to get back into public office.

[plethoro]

41. Gore or Webb, for me, but definitely NOT Feinstein. nft

ddddddddd

[Le Taz Hot]

68. No, no, no!

I vote for Feinstein! (It gets her OUT of California!)

[plethoro]

71. I live in California too. And your response is worth consideration. Good

one, ma'am.

[FreedomRain]

43. no question Al Gore would rock

any cabinet position there is.

And some of those Repubs are intriguing, but I'm pretty sure there are a few dozen Democrats qualified for this post, so no, unless maybe its part of some deal (like fast tracking all the Judicial appointments for example)

FTFA:

"I'm sure there are others (but no, not Bill Clinton-an ex-president holding a lower office is just a little too odd)"

John Quincy Adams would like a word...

[railsback]

48. If its NOT Kerry

The GOP will obstruct. They only want that Senate seat.

[zentrum]

51. Gore--Yes! But the 9 others?

Colin Powell of Bush water carrying fame? Lugar--the war monger? Feinstein, the wife of a major Iraq contractor and a corporatist supreme? This is a very disheartening list.

Lists like this make me feel how broken America is underneath all the shiny pageant.

[ancianita]

53. I could live with this. Gore's influence on renewables would be good for both abroad and at home.

[Chuuku Davis]

58. Not just no, Hell no!!

His carbon footprint is larger than my whole town's

[Festivito]

64. Imagine hiring contractors using electric saws, drills and such!!!1!1!!

If you want environmentally cleaner methods of creating electricity then you should not use electricity -- at all -- especially when redoing your own house. Right?

[R B Garr]

72. Absolutely yes to Al Gore

In fact, I still have fantasies that he might make another Presidential run, and this would be a way to put him back in the political spotlight.

[Uncle Joe]

73. Gore would excel at whatever position he holds and the government/nation/planet

would be all the better for it.

Gore is immensely qualified in a number of sciences; information technology, global warming climate change, defense, finance all critical in the coming decades and centuries.

Having said that I don't believe Obama will appoint him and I'm not sure that Al would take the job.

Thanks for the thread, eridani.

[Turborama]

74. Glad I could still Rec this and it hasn't been archived.