As with most Dailykos users, I take a great interest in politics. What makes this site great is the range of opinions that can be freely expressed here, and the opinion changing that occurs. I visit here multiple times a day, and up until this point have never posted anything here (Other than some comments on the adorableness of Markos’s Kids). Today, that will change as I write my first Dailykos diary, and I beg forgiveness for the poor quality grammar and spelling – I’m a manual laborer, not an English major.
For many months now the Dailykos has been holding regular 2008 Democratic Presidential straw polls for anyone that visits the homepage. (Example HERE) These straws have generally included all of the main contenders, but always exclude Al Gore. I have in the past understood Kos reasoning behind not putting him in including primarily (If I have miss-paraphrased Kos here I apologize, but I believe this captures the concept):
- There is no commitment or signs that he is running
- Gore has said he currently doesn’t plan on running in this particular election
Join me below the fold as I make my case for gore to be added to the Straw Poll
Many of the net roots consider Al Gore an Icon of what we want in a candidate. He’s on the correct side of the issues, he truly cares about people and the planet, and he understands what and where America needs to be.
As the netroots, we have a lot more power than many give us credit for. We have the ability and duty to help shape public opinion with our keyboards. We do so because we believe in a progressive cause that is bigger than the individual, and only by us coming together can we accomplish our goals.
The following are my reasons I think Al Gore needs to be added to the Straw Polls:
- We are doing a disservice to a potential Candidate, who I believe most of us would agree, we at least want in the race. How can Al Gore get the concept that we netizens want and support him if we can’t do something as simple as put a tangible number to that support. If we can put Mike Gravel in the poll, why not Gore? I've seen our straw polls quoted on major news networks when talking about canidates, which gives these informal non-scientific polls a validity.
- Al Gore has been very clear that he has not said "NO" to running. When I hear this I’m reminded of a quote from one of my heroes Dr. Carl Sagan. "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence". While there is no evidence that Gore IS running, that lack of evidence does not necessarily mean that he is NOT running.
- We have an opportunity as the net roots to help push to get a candidate into the race, one who backs us and one who stands for similar progressive values, we need to be doing everything to show him our support.
- Al gore is leading in two states based on recent polls. As JekyllnHyde reported yesterday HERE Gore leads with 36% in Michigan. While the poll may not be a top quality polling outfit like zogby, it is none the less a poll with a very interesting outcome. Also NYPopulist pointed to this poll showing Gore Leading in New Hampshire. This is more support than Gravel, Biden, or Richardson can claim.
- Recent polls have shown that "in General" the democrats are satisfied with their selections for president. I personally believe this is more of a "You’re not George W." thing than a "I’ve very excited about this candidate" thing. Try as I might, I just cannot bring myself to get excited about Obama, Richardson, gravel, Kucinich, or Hillary. While there are clearly die-hard supporters for all the candidates, I think many other than Edwards draw little enthusiasm here.
- (My weakest point) Supporting Al gore here may bring more users to the Dailykos. Many average non-blogging folks want Gore 08, as seen by the rabid fans at live earth. Those people are going browse to where he is supported.
Again, I am not nessesarily asking him to be added to the MAIN monthly straw polls, maybe just a onetime mid-month poll that actually captures what the Dailykos community thinks. Fantasy straw polls that are just listed in diaries the day of the main polls just do not cut it.
Thank you for reading my first diary, and again sorry about the poor grammar/spelling. I fully expect some flamage from this post, but that is OK in my book because this is so important.