GORE To Congress: "Start Acting Like The Independent & Co-Equal Branch Of Gov Your'e Suppose To Be"

[kpete]

Signing Statements
Posted by Brandon English
Thursday, February 1, 2007 at 12:51 PM

............ (1/16/06) Al Gore called for the legislative branch to exert its constitutional authority:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/01/16/the-full-text-of-al-gore_n_13930.html

It is the pitiful state of our legislative branch which primarily explains the failure of our vaunted checks and balances to prevent the dangerous overreach by our Executive Branch which now threatens a radical transformation of the American system.

I call upon Democratic and Republican members of Congress today to uphold your oath of office and defend the Constitution. Stop going along to get along. Start acting like the independent and co-equal branch of government you're supposed to be.

House Panel Challenges White House On Signing Statements (CongressDaily):

With Democrats in charge, the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday began an investigation of signing statements President Bush makes in conjunction with newly enacted legislation that Judiciary Chairman Conyers argued often occurs "under the veil of secrecy."

Criticizing the practice of a president stating his own interpretation of a new law as he signs it rather than vetoing it if he opposes it, the American Bar Association called for changes to provide Congress a better chance to review such statements.

Conyers charged Bush "has tried to take unto himself absolute authority on issues such as surveillance, privacy, torture, enemy combatants and rendition." Including his own interpretation of laws as he signs them "supposedly give(s) him the power to ignore duly enacted laws he has negotiated with Congress and signed into law," Conyers said.

The President thinks he can "ignore duly enacted laws he has negotiated with Congress and signed into law"? Not in our House.

http://www.dccc.org/stakeholder/archives/005673.html

[WI_DEM]

1. If he really wants to do something about global warming and about the war

he should get into the race for president. Yes, he can do a lot to highlight these issues as a private citizen, but as president he can begin implementing solutions. I hope he runs.

[CountAllVotes]

3. I hope Gore runs too!

I'd back him in a minute!

GORE '08!

:dem: :kick:

[neuvocat]

5. Me too.

He gets the vote by default.

[WiseButAngrySara]

8. He already won in 2000! I so hope he runs. ....n/t

[2008]

30. i'm starting to think that too

i believe clinton is unelectable (besides other problems i have with her), obama and edwards are too inexperienced, biden is clumsy

the only ones i could get excited about are gore, clark or richardson. gore is more than the best choice, he's the most electable

i'd love to see gore running with clark, richardson, edwards or obama as v.p.

[samq79]

14. That's what I'm saying...

The man who was the Tin Soldier of the 2000 election found his niche in the environment...he found a personality, and he now has a likeability about him that could just put him over the 2008 hump

[samq79]

17. That's what I'm saying...

sorry...double post

[SammyWinstonJack]

24. I wanted him to run in '04. I want him to run in '08! He's always my first choice!

[Labors of Hercules]

25. I think he has been convinced to run,,,

He's smart. He's building up to a Nobel prize and an Academy Award.

Think about how COOL it would be if he announced at the Oscars...

[AikidoSoul]

34. Announcing at the Oscars -- that's my dream too

and I keep seeing him doing it in my mind's eye.

Bet you he will.:-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-) :-)

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

37. The longer he waits to declare, if he does, the better for him.

I'm not sure why anyone, especially a Democratic candidate, would declare this early. It just gives the corporomedia that much more time to frame your policies and personality. And, not in a good way.

He could wait almost a year before declaring, if he does, and would have at least somewhat of "honeymoon" phase in the CP until the long knives came out, which they will. However, after a year presumably spent observing and crafting strategies to counter the CP's propaganda machine, he'd have a forum for his forceful responses.

I hope he bides his time. He's still working hard for all of us in the meantime. MKJ

[halobeam]

47. hey, you know how obituaries are prepared in advance for the famous?

there may be a "honeymoon" as you put it, but all weapons are already in place if he decided to run.

No doubt.

Also no doubt, IMO.. he's the best choice for our country and the greatest chance of winning. Esp. if he had Clark run as VP.. moderate repubs would be seriously tempted to go for it. They like Clark.

[Labors of Hercules]

53. YEP! and he doesn't even need to campaign...

It's sort of like a Kung fu movie...
Announce at the Oscars and walk away passively,
Ignore the Swiftboaters, continue on message and walk away passively

and then...

BOOM!

Cut them all down by winning the Nobel Prize, Choose Clark as his running mate and walk right into the White House.

Seriously, has anyone ever won the Nobel Prize while running for President? It would be like anointing the chosen one... (of course, he is already to me, but I'm biased).

[hamerfan]

2. Good for Gore!

Maybe he can put some backbone into our Congress. Someone sure needs to. IMPEACH NOW!

dumpbush

[redqueen]

4. No kidding... can y'all please address the signing statements now?

And how about that executive order on appointees running these new policy oversight offices, too... while you're at it.

Geez...

[WiseButAngrySara]

6. Let's hope not in our House! ....n/t

[BonnieJW]

7. I'm thinking

that he won't declare until the spring of 2008. Until that time, he can speak out as a private citizen without any thought to pleasing voters, donors or members of his party. In that capacity, he can speak boldly and forcefully and most of all, impressively. By the time he declares, even Hilary and Barak will be begging him to run.

[WiseButAngrySara]

9. Let's hope you're right! ....n/t

[asjr]

13. It would be a smart move on his part

if he actually wants to run. By that time we will be so sick of politics and the now declared candidates we will welcome a proven candidate. I am afraid we have gotten to the point that immediately after a person is sworn in as president, they will be off and running again for 2012.

[bobbolink]

10. Thanks the kind of voice this country so badly needs!

:applaud:

[mzmolly]

11. Run Al Run!

:patriot:

[porphyrian]

12. I'll kick that. - n/t

[fooj]

15. I love Al.

Please run, Al. We need you.

[itsmesgd]

16. Run, Al, Run

Don't wait until after you win the Nobel Prize, announce your candidacy soon so that we, the people can put you in the presidency

[cui bono]

18. EXACTLY!!!

Pat Buchanan said the same thing on Scarborough last night. Al Sharpton was on but it was Buchanan who said that. Go figure.

[pat_k]

19. "Co-equal" my ass. Congress holds the trump card: Impeachment (nt)

[jannyk]

20. Right On Mr President!!! n/t

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

21. It's Al-ementary!

You heard it here first!

[SaveOurDemocracy]

28. Al-ementary ... I LIKE it!!!

:toast:

Mr. Gore, it's your destiny. We know it, you know it. We will await your announcement.

[jelly]

22. Please, please, please Mr. Gore, run for President.

You won once, you can do it again!

:yourock:

[rndmprsn]

23. run al run...kicked

[Hippo_Tron]

26. Not that I don't like what Gore is saying, but this is a year old

And it was before the Democrats controlled congress.

[RestoreGore]

27. Mr. Gore could only say this as a free man.

That's why he needs to remain one, and continue to write and advocate for this planet and Constitution as a statesman who can speak the truth and influence policy without political repercussions. So yes, on that score he is brilliant. He now has the best of both worlds without the BS. Good for him.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3119365

[tom_paine]

29. Correct. And he can step in any time he wishes.

[RestoreGore]

36. And how much will WE do in the interim?

Or are people simply now going to use the excuse that they didn't take action themselves because they were waiting for him to "lead them" when he is already doing so? How many excuses will people come up with to continue to just talk about this in order to divert from their responsibility? How much more time are we going to waste with 2008 talk as our planet needs us NOW? Sure, he can "jump in", he can do whatever he likes, and that is exactly what he is doing now with both feet...jumping into the most important movement this country is going to see if they join him and those scientists telling us that unless WE stop pining and waiting, we will lose this planet.

[halobeam]

48. We can do both...simultaneously. You are underestimating us.

[lovuian]

31. Gore is right if the Senate would have stood up and protested

in 2000 we might have had Gore

[treestar]

32. This is great! They are finally waking up.

Morning in America!

:woohoo:

[gulfcoastliberal]

33. Wow! Pres. Gore knows constitutional checks/balances, that the Dems still haven't

grown a backbone (except for the notables, of course). The time of kowtowing to *co is over. The dems now have a clear mandate from the American people - you, me, our fellow citizens. We have charged the with putting an end to the disaster in the desert and the countless other destructive policies enacted by *co.
Time for our elected dems to start seriously asserting themselves by playing hardball with the pukes. Look at it this way: as evil as the pukes are - they stand together and boldly try do radical, horrible things, things like whatever Norquist, or the AEI, or whatever any other special interest repuke organization/business thinks should be done. This requires both smooth operating, everyone on the same page, a great spin machine - and qualities such as the aforementioned backbone. And no matter how inane and/or dangerous their wet dreams are - for example: eliminating SS, installing political minders throughout all Fed departments to enforce presidential policy while silencing opposing views (Rep. Waxman's 1st hearing), trying to undo Nixon's EPA (ie, "clear skies", higher allowable Arsenic concentrations in drinking water, and many other such nefarious, odious plans) Republicans also quite possibly orchestrated the results of HAVA (ie, majority of vaporvote manufacturers associated w/pukes). They slash the education budget, NIH cancer research money, start wars based on lies, lies, and more lies that is exacting an enormous price for America. Finally, why not mention how Reukes have zero concern for the future survival of humanity? They refuse to sign Kyoto and don't think global warming matters. This is just a short, tiny list off the top of my head. As you know, there is so so much more!

My point is that we've already had grievous damage inflicted on our republic because of repuke governance. I'll allow, the dems have done some bad things - but nowhere near as ba as the pukes. To allow this administration to continue down this path of bankrupting our nation both financially and morally cannot be allowed. We must insist on impeachment. I'd like to see a "million impeachment march on DC" - I think it's the only way to end the war. Leaving * in office allows him to pass the quagmire on to the next prez, assuming (as I also read here lately) he suddenly isn't forced to withdraw by his own party for '08. My gut says this is very unlikely, though.

Visualize Impeachment - then demand it from our congressional dems!!

[malaise]

50. Never forget this speech from January 2006

http://rawstory.com/news/2005/Text_of_Gore_speech_0116.html

[LeftofU]

35. new bumper sticker...

....It's time we had a SMART Presedent......
AL GORE 2008

[Ganja Ninja]

38. Thank you Al.

:patriot:

[mtnester]

39. Oh please oh please oh please

Al, please make me stop wishing so hard, do the right thing, and jump in the fray.

Please for the good of our nation and the future of our children and those we love, here AND around the world...

Am completely willing to beg....no shame on my part either


(OK, now I have a Rolling Stone earworm)

[Nordmadr]

40. Dammit Al! I'm not screwing around. Get in the race!

This country, nay, this world, needs you.

Olafr

[Rosco T.]

41. Wounldn't this sound so wonderful...

Nobel Peace Prize Winner President Al Gore.

[mod mom]

42. All I have to say is: ELECTED ONCE, MUCH MORE POPULAR NOW! RUN!

[focusfan]

43. Al Gore is my hero

i just wish he would run for president instead of Hillary
Clinton

[byronius]

44. That's one helluva candidate. C'mon Al. We're beggin' here.

[RestoreGore]

45. Where are all the posts calling on Congress to then uphold those oaths?

All I see is more begging for Mr. Gore to run as if he did this speech as a campaign speech. I personally think that demeans the meaning of his words and the seriousness of wha the was talking about. Where are the cries for this Congress to do as he stated they must do? Where are the posts caling for them to IMPEACH these criminals? To reverse the Patriot Act? The Military Commissions Act? To stop ceding executive power to this criminal to have control over every facet of our private lives? Are these posts placed here because people have a true conviction to stopping this assault on our Democracy now? Or are they just vehicles to be used to cheerlead for the next election as people continued to do even after 2000? Al Gore gave this speech with moral indignation because he is an American statesman who was actually speaking these words to light a fire under OUR BUTTS. How disappointing to see that once again his words were not taken to heart.

[earth mom]

46. Gore 2008! eom

[MessiahRp]

49. Here's praying he runs

Out of all the current candidates, I like Obama the most but I would switch to Gore in a second if he got in the race.

Rp

[ourbluenation]

51. Gore/Clark 08...that's your winning ticket right there.

:kick:

[Greyskye]

52. Yep. And Clark/? in 2016!

:kick: