Would Al Gore Please $#!t Or Get Off The Pot?
Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 06:43:11 PM PDT
First let me say that if Mr. Gore throws his hat in the ring, I'll be the first to support him. I want to support him - I really do. But his coy ambiguity is truly driving me insane! Second, it's not the intention of this diary to drum up support for a (very barely) possible Gore bid for presidency. I'm done with that; don't worry. Lastly, I feel compelled to apologize, not only for another Al Gore diary, but the brevity; there's not a lot to say that hasn't already been said - and read - a million times here at DK. But I must say I'm really, really frustrated - again - because of an email I just received and would like to get it off my chest. More below the imaginary crease in the page...
This evening I received an email from California Draft Gore. Like most of us who've hoped against hope that Al would throw his hat in the ring - but have been disappointed time and time again - all I could do was shake my head and think: WTF? But I read on anyway, apparently a glutton for (more) punishment.
In this email, Gore is quoted in a recent Rolling Stone interview (RS has its first ever online, digital edition that's pretty cool... Check it out; The Gore interview is on page 54) in which he's quoted as saying:
If I do get back in the political system in the future – well, keep that energy stored up and let's have a go at it then.
The California4Gore email goes on to say:
A few days before, Gore's Chief of Staff, Roy Neel, said that Gore has not ruled out a run in the future and then defined "future" as "after today."
OK fine, but I must say: Mr. Gore, this is not helping.
OK, last quote from that email:
We have less than four weeks to collect 500 signatures in every congressional district. We will need to use professional petition circulaters on a spot-basis. This requires money. Please help us raise enough money to put Gore on the California primary ballot. Give whatever you can.
Now please remember: This particular email is obviously in my inbox to try to raise funds to get Mr. Gore's name on the ballot in California.
And this is why I'm a bit... well... steamed, to put it politely. I'm not a wealthy person. My father's in the hospital and I'm on disability and times are hard. Yet I'm torn because of course I'd like to see Al Gore run for president - and win!
But why in the hell should I give them one red cent when there's seemingly a better than 99 percent chance it'd be just as useful for me to fling it out the window simply because of Mr. Gore's desire to keep this tiny door open that he's apparently unwilling to close?
It's not just about me either. I'm sure the well-intentioned people over at California Draft Gore - and who-knows how many other organizations - are working their butts off to get Mr. Gore on a ballot when the man seemingly will not state, unequivocally, whether he intends to run for President of The United States or not.
I know, I know... If anyone's cray enough to respond to this diary, s/he will tell me "Al Gore's not running! Get over it!" (Believe me, I am!)
But when he makes these statements it sure sounds to me like he simply refuses to shut that door and for the life of me, I cannot understand why that is. As I said above, this tactic is not helping Mr. Gore's credibility among Democrats. Why does he insist on playing this game?
I'm not asking for some grand gesture or a long-winded, televised speech: A simple declarative sentence will do, either way.
I'll even write it for you, Mr. Gore: "I Albert Gore, of sound mind and body, do/do not (choose only one!) intend to run for President of The United States in 2008." That would settle everything once and for all. It's quite simple, isn't it?
But he apparently will not say those words. Why oh why, Al?
Please Mr. Gore, $#!t Or Get Off The Pot. Enough is enough and this is not helping your good name and credibility among Democrats.
