Olbermann On The Failure Of The Democrats
As usual, Kieth Olbermann does not disappoint…
In my opinion, and many might disagree with this, the ‘keys’ of which Olbermann speaks should be given one man - Al Gore. I don’t care if he runs as a Democract or as an Independent at this point, but I think it’s utterly vital that he does. His popular support would be a force that no other candidate that has thus far surfaced could remotely match. He may very well be, in my opinion, the Bobby Kennedy of our times.
In fact, to be honest with you, I think Gore has a responsibility to run. As a concerned citizen with the popularity that he has, it seems almost strange for him not to.
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May 27th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
“A “tactic,” as the dictionary explains, is “an expedient for achieving a goal.” If the goal is to end the war in Iraq, the Pelosi bill was never a tactic that had any chance of succeeding. Its provisions had no teeth and it was clear that too many Democrats never intended to see the fight through. As this week’s betrayal by the Democratic leadership demonstrates, ending the war is simply not their goal. Their goal is to continue the war for the time being, while giving themselves just enough distance from it that they can run as the anti-war party in next year’s presidential and congressional elections.” - John Stauber
I read this the other day at Guerrilla News Network, and I could not have said it better myself. The Democrats are, as usual, bungling an opportunity to severely curtail the war. These types of actions show me two things. One, that the political system in the United States is void of any thought to the wishes of it’s own people. And two, that the differences between Democrats and Republicans aren’t significant enough to, at this point, realize any positive change for the future safety and security of the U.S. population. It is, as Chomsky has stated, a failed state, with dreadful leaders who “lead” their country into dreadful situations.
May 27th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
“The entire government has failed us.” Very true. This post was fantastic.
May 27th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
I hope that he runs but I admit that I am concerned that he will not be as influential and empowered as he is now, with what he has done since NOT being voted into office. I have this cynical view that the President is not much more than a puppet put into action by the strings of big business —- would Al Gore get in there and truly make a difference, turn this mess around? I would hope so. I would hope that he WILL run and that he will hold to the opinions and movement that he has become such a vocal & important part of. It would be inspiring, amazing and a win for him to not only run but be elected. His popular support would no doubt possibly ensure that the Republicans are not re-elected into office but I am just uncertain about the other aspect of it. Maybe Al Gore has also thought to himself, “where can I make the most difference? where can I speak my mind, provoke change, have an impact?” Is it that it’s not important whether he wins or not, but that he break up the republican majority vote? I can’t disagree that he has a responsibility, given the potential for a massive tidal wave of change not only in the U.S. but throughout the world where they have their hands (and arms) reaching.
May 27th, 2007 at 3:53 pm
A website for Americans that wish for Mr. Gore to run for president in 2008 may be found here. It’s just a website with a petition right now but perhaps more later?
May 27th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
goldmourn - the question is not of Republicans vs. Democrats. They are, as has been frequently said, “two wings on the same bird of prey”. Besides, there is little to no chance the Republican candidate will win the next election anyway.
May 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
[quote comment="14576"] Besides, there is little to no chance the Republican candidate will win the next election anyway.[/quote]
Wasn’t that said quite a bit in the run-up to the election in 2004?
May 27th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
I’m not sure he’s going to run. The devastating loss - stolen election - hurt him a lot. From what I’ve read, he believes the Supreme Court ripped him off but he didn’t challenge because he didn’t want Americans to doubt America. You will never hear him publicly make bitter comments about the election.
Right now he has the eyes and ears of practically all world leaders without having to garner popular and college votes and given how messed up the electoral system is who’s to say he’ll win again and I don’t think any man can publicly go through what he went through twice. In fact, I think that’s one of the reasons why he may not run.
If you remember back to the last election he publicly released his supporters to other camps. While he hasn’t done that yet, he has said at this point he isn’t thinking of it.
Who knows. He’s not even in the nomination process and he’s getting just as much support as John Edwards.
I hope he runs. We could possibly see “what could have been.” A question that haunts all of us on personal and profession levels.
PS: How about them Giants?
May 27th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Anyone interested in this topic should read this week’s Time magazine on the issue. It looks like Gore is gearing up for a run, but is waiting until the time is right. I wouldn’t be surprised to see an eventual Gore\Clinton run or a Gore\Obama run, but probably not an official entrance into the race until next fall, and only if there is no clear frontrunner, and the odds are heavily stacked in his favor.
May 27th, 2007 at 6:11 pm
And Again, Ron Paul is ignored. He ahs said this war was wrong from the beginning. He did not vote for this war and he actually understands foreign policy unlike any of the other candidates. Republican. Democrat. Two sides of a wooden nickel. It amounts to no more than WWE wrestling.
Al Gore is not the answer. Nor are any of the other “leading” candidates.
“The two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shift in policy.” Quote by Georgetown Professor, Carroll Quigley from his book “Tragedy and Hope”
The presidency has been bought and paid for since JFK. If one looks we have had the same group of cronies circling the white house since then. LBJ. Oil man. Nixon, Prescott Bush was his mentor, who he worked for. 3 terms with H.W., sure 2 were under Reagan. Sure there were 2 Clinton terms, but why is it H.W. refers to Billy as a son? The American Monarchy is alive and well.
May 27th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I think Al Gore is definitely of the lesser evils that could possibly run for president.. I haven’t seen much positive promotion from any presidents aside from Jimmy Carters humanitarian work. I cant believe those idiots (nancy grace and co.) on Headline News have the audacity to attack the work that he does.. but thats a totally different story.
Lets hope Al Gore doesn’t claim that he invented the internet again.. that made me blink in astonishment..
May 27th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I agree with you Matt.
I concede that the Democrats generally speaking are being pushovers. I’ll also concede that when Gore was VP, the administration of which he was a part did precious little to create a more sustainable world.
However, Gore has a lot more pull than he did before. I also believe he has realized the importance of being more of a progressive. I’d be interested to read his book Assault on Reason.
Are there candidates out there with more progressive credentials than Gore? Yes, there is Kucinich. However, Kucinich is not going to become president.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
Gore was on Larry King last night, said the usual about “not planning to run,” but also that the reason he hasn’t ruled anything out yet is because he hates the “long campaign,” especially when there’s something like 500-plus days left in the Bush Administration.
I paraphrase, but that was the gist.
I think he runs. Hope he runs.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Perhaps. There is something about Al Gore that bothers me. Something just below the surface and I can’ quite put my finger on it - it may have something to do with his completely exiguous vice presidency or that his wife still makes me nervous on freedom and liberty issues. But that could be my hang-up; either way, he still might be one of the few out there, GOP, Democrat, or other that still has personal integrity and the right focus.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I admit it has been a long, long time since I watched TV, but I’m amazed - do they let Keith Olbermann speak out like that on a regular basis? If that can happen amidst the usual pablum and lies that usually passes for news, maybe there’s hope. Wow, I think I’m in shock.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:28 pm
The cover story of time this week is about Gore (The Last Temptation of Gore), and whether or not he will run.
He has never said that he will not run, he just says that he doesn’t plan to, etc.
From what I’ve read polling-wise (I know polls are bull, but I have to read them. The idea of President Giuliani makes me ill) is that Gore is polling about the same as Edwards, even though he’s not in the race. If he did run he’d win. Hillary is far too polarizing, even within the Democratic Party, Edwards looks like a president but has no money, some of my Democrat friends have never even heard of Kucinich, and as much as it pains me to say it (and I am actually campaigning for Obama) middle America won’t elect a black man to the White House yet.
My dream come true would be Gore/Obama.
May 27th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
Gore never actually claimed that he invented the internet. That is a myth that has been perpuated by his political opponents.
May 27th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
If I’m not mistaken, I think I saw an ad for Al Gore being a guest this week with Olbermann.
May 27th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
This was on TV?!?!?! I must have the wrong TV!
Matt: Good points about both the force he could bring and his responsibility to run. Actually, I think it is better the longer he waits, that way it completely changes the political paradigm, subsequently dismissing the entire irrelevant exercise that came before (that is, the circus that is running now).
I’m a little remiss on my presidential history but does anyone know of previous instances of candidates joining later than the others, and with respect to their odds?
May 28th, 2007 at 8:20 am
Giuliani is poser opportunist fraud! Can’t stand him.
No matter what happens Republicans will always vote Republican and Democrats will always vote Democrat. This statement is now more true than ever. I serious believe that the Republicans could be elected over and over for 5 consecutive terms and blatantly crash the American economy into this century’s “depression” equivalent and their supporters would still see a way to blame it on the Clinton era. Same goes for British Columbia politics. Every ill the local Liberal party inflicts on this Province (i.e. health care crisis) it still gets blamed on the Glen Clark regime. Unfortunately, the spinsters always manage to suck in the collective 92 point political I.Q.
Back on topic. Al Gore running would make for some great debates and a very exciting 08 campaign.
May 28th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I like what Olbermann had to say, but voters did not put the Democrats into majority power in Congress last fall explicitly on the mandate of pulling the military out of Iraq. Americans voted Democrat because of the total failure & dislike of the Bush: the lies & corruption, the failure in fighting the war, handling of Katrina etc. His point is clear & true though, the Democrats are a bunch of pussies & failures in their lack of going after this admin.
In terms of Gore, his film has changed my views on the environment & the way i live my daily life just like millions of others. However, what i find disturbing why didn’t Gore do more while he was Vice-President for 8 years? Did Clinton not heed these environmental suggestions from Gore? Did Gore not have very much power? Did Gore even make enough of an effort environmentally? It just disturbs me that he couldn’t get the sweeping changes he preaches in his movie/lectures while being the 2nd most powerful man in the U.S.
I’m not even sure if he should run. If he does, people will criticize him for releasing his film as a piece of propaganda for means of political gain…which isn’t a completely crazy argument considering the timing of this all. I personally would respect Gore more if he didn’t run because i would know he isn’t trying to cash in on his popularity for politics.
May 29th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
If Gore ran he’d probably win, but I don’t think he should. There are too many expectations that this one man will save the government and stop country’s continuing self-destruction…. and if he doesn’t succeed everyone will try to smack him down. I think he knows how likely and ugly that possibility is, and isn’t eager to jump into it.
Honestly, after what happened in 2000 can you really blame the man?
May 29th, 2007 at 11:54 pm
[quote comment="14664"]I personally would respect Gore more if he didn’t run because i would know he isn’t trying to cash in on his popularity for politics.[/quote]
So it’s okay for him to cash in on making the world more aware of Global Climate Change? Seems the same in principle to me - he profits from what should be an initiative of good will.
That said, I don’t completely oppose it; the message needs to spread - it just isn’t ideal.
However, Gore for Prez???
I’ve occasionally seen hints that Obama’s a little too, “republican/conservative” for my tastes;
Hillary’s pro-war. ‘Nuff said.
The other ppl I haven’t heard much of, which means they likely don’t have the same level of pull as the first two.
So given the alternatives amongst the Democrats, I can understand the desire for Gore.
I’ve seen him speak. He seems like a nice guy.
But I doubt the full limits of his integrity. I think, as Moonlight Graham also worries about, that Gore just might not make the full push that he should.
I mean, doesn’t ANYONE remember the music video for “Testify” by Rage Against The Machine?????
Gore’s no angel. Far from it, just like the rest of these incumbents (”incompetents”?)
I admit, there’s room for an argument that he’s the best amongst a gang of second-bests, but I’m not yet convinced of more.
June 3rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
[quote comment="14804"][quote comment="14664"]I personally would respect Gore more if he didn’t run because i would know he isn’t trying to cash in on his popularity for politics.[/quote]
So it’s okay for him to cash in on making the world more aware of Global Climate Change? Seems the same in principle to me - he profits from what should be an initiative of good will.
[/quote]
Well all of the profits from ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ both film & book go towards environmental charities/initiatives, so i don’t see how Gore is personally profiting from his efforts besides people liking him a lot more.
June 3rd, 2007 at 2:26 pm
sorry my quoting in the post above is all screwed up.