I posted this on OT right after his speech was over. I've called and written. Maybe if they recieve thousands of calls, it might just be shown prime time. (one can hope for a media that remembers for one moment that their responsibility is to be of service...)
I think that we should start a telephone campaign and demand that Gore's speech is shown prime time.
NBC Chairman
Bob Wright
212-664-4444
bob.wright@nbc.com
(PS, Bob Wright is the same guy who said on 11/13/05 on Tucker Carlson (ew) that "progressives don't listen to a lot of radio and they don't watch a lot of TV" which was his justification for limiting Progressive hosts.)
Posted by Anjha at January 16, 2006 11:57 AMLet me teach you all a lesson about politics. I don't mean to sound condescending, because I've no doubt that many of you (excluding the idiot trolls) are my intellectual superiors.
Here's the lesson:
Do (say) what's right, and the politics will follow.
The reason I bring this up is because Al Gore just did it.
You see, when some asshole lies about your service in Vietnam, you don't gameplan with idiot campaign consultants to craft a strategy. No, you call that motherfucking liar to the mat, right then and there, and you ruin that piece of shit.
When you're running against a do-nothing governor of Texas who's already smeared, disgracefully, his primary opponent, you call that motherfucker to the mat, you rip that bitch to shreds, and if the voters don't like you for standing up like a man, then they deserve what they vote for. But at the very least, let the damn voters know that you're a tough son of a bitch and you'll be damned if silver-spooned liars are going to let that shit fly without it coming back and hitting them in the face.
And if you're a senate democrat, you don't huddle with loser strategists to decide what to do about a SCOTUS nominee who's being impaneled on the court to enable a traitorous dictator wannabe. No, you fucking do what's right and you filibuster that bastard, and if that pisses off CNN and Fred Barnes and the Washington Post, well, fuck 'em all...you've got a Constitution to protect, and if they don't like it, they can go to hell.
Posted by God Of War at January 16, 2006 12:08 PMpess, good job highlighting it here! Gore's passion here again today is what was missing on the campaign trail.
I understand that CNN, MSGOP,& Faux tv stations had more important things to cover than the former vice president speaking out about a constitutional crisis and calling the president a law breaker...Yup you heard it at CNN first, guess a truck overturned on a highway or something. They had to go with the truck story because apparently no white girls in Aruba have been abducted lately and the president wasn't giving another retreaded "Pro Iraq War=patriotic, Dissentors=traitors" speech. And yes I am very cynical toward the these tv media folks because they are a huge part of the problem.
Posted by emal at January 16, 2006 12:11 PMYou're absolutely right. Gore didn't have to do this. He's not trying to gain anything personally. Al Gore did the right thing. In fact, Al Gore did what every American today should be doing.
And THANK YOU for posting his speech here! Thank you Al Gore for speaking truth to power! I got tingles listening to this speech.
I recorded it while it was being broadcast on CSPAN, thank God, and have now transfered the audio as a podcast, which is available at Irregular Times.
Every American should listen to this speech. The transcript doesn't do him justice. It was gorgeous! What eloquence and intelligence! Dubya could never have pulled it off.
Posted by J. Clifford Cook at January 16, 2006 12:14 PMthere is an old saying "you don't know what you have until you lose it". Al Gore was too worried the wouldn't be elected if he showed the type of clear, concerned leadership as he exhibited today. He was milktoast to Bush's firebrand. Even when the election was being stolen right out from under him, he was soft on it. Now that he's seen what was lost, he's hot as a pistol. Too little, too late, Al. Of course, you could say that for all of us.
Posted by T2 at January 16, 2006 12:15 PMThis speech made me weep. Not only because this man should have been our president, but because someone is finally saying everything that needs to be said about would-be King George. C-Span seems to have the video up on its front page under "recent programs." You will do yourself a favor to watch the whole thing. This was not ol' wooden Al -- it was a man on fire, full of eloquence and power and an example to patriots everywhere.
Posted by mamayaga at January 16, 2006 12:19 PMThat's it GOW, you pushed me right over the edge:
I am now hopelessly in love with you!
Even though the GOP-corporate media isn't covering Gore's speech very well, the RNC has already come up with their response.
The short version:
Al Gore blah, blah, blah, ...; Al Goreblah, blah, blah, ...; Al Gore blah, blah, blah, ...; Al Gore blah, blah, blah, ...; ....
Posted by pessimist at January 16, 2006 12:21 PMThe bittch-slap that echoed around the world.
By God, something to rally behind. And now we know why the Dems laid low. This has Deans fingerprints all over it. He is earning his keep!
I can't wait to hear the trolls! "But...but...he ain't gots no purple heart!"
Posted by phidipides at January 16, 2006 12:23 PMgod of war...here here
al gore brought a tear to my eyes..so much lost so much harm done these last five years...lets get the country back
Posted by dennis at January 16, 2006 12:24 PMgore/dean..in 2008
Posted by dennis at January 16, 2006 12:25 PMAnd Ralph Nader said there was no difference in Gore and Bush. Damn him.
Posted by starr at January 16, 2006 12:41 PMor maybe, gore/murtha 2008
Posted by John B. at January 16, 2006 12:43 PMShorter RNC press release = "50 States"
Look at their sources and their cherrypicked quotes that were debunked earlier by ThinkProgress. Just Look at the "Moveon=Liberal=Gore" guilt by association reference. Look at the but "Clinton did it too defense" (that was debunked earlier by ThinkProgress). Classic "50 state" troll.
phidipides, oh just wait, next thing you'll know we'll hear about the internet invention comment (that was totally fake) or how Gore is just whining from his 2000 loss.... Just wait...it's all the same with these people, smear, smear in order to deflect (as Gore noted in his speech) and never, ever, debate on the issue and facts brought up by Gore, mainly that Bush has openly admitted to disregarding/breaking the law all in the name of National Security and we are in the midst of an Imperial Presidency. Just because Bush is admitting he is incapable of protecting us and our liberties/freedoms doesn't mean a better more competent leader can't do both at the same time.
I love how Gore gave it to Darth Cheney too, saying but um Mr. Cheney we had the names of 2 of the 9/11 hijackers and you still couldn't stop it.
That's it GOW, you pushed me right over the edge:
I am now hopelessly in love with you!
Posted by Anjha at January 16, 2006 12:21 PM
*****
Well, don't get too attached...the NSA will probably have me whacked within the next year.
LOL
Posted by God Of War at January 16, 2006 12:48 PMGreat speech. I'd love see to that Gore run for office. But that Gore apparently only gives great speeches.
But it does make me a little . . queasy . . thinking that movements in both parties are hinting towards a possibile Gore v. Gingrich election fight.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 16, 2006 12:50 PMstarr: And Ralph Nader said there was no difference in Gore and Bush. Damn him.
Between Gorebot and Bush - No.
This is the Gore Speechmaker 2008.
But the running for elected office function hasn't yet been implemented.
And Ralph Nader said there was no difference in Gore and Bush. Damn him.
There was no difference between the candidates in 2000 - well, except that Gore came with a high-functining brain and eight years of executive experience. They were both sell outs to the corporate masters. And come on, but Gore picked Lieberman for his running mate!
The salient point is that when a former politican no longer has to serve his corporate masters, the position Gore is in now, he can speak with honesty and integrity. If he returns to politics, I imagine that will change.
His time is gone. He's a great man, extremely intelligent, but not our next presidential candidate. He'll be like Carter, someone who comes into his own and is respected long after having left the WH.
Posted by ann at January 16, 2006 12:59 PMThat GOP press release is absolutely disgusting.
We really need to demand that MSM carries the whole speech.
American's need to hear the truth without that garbage.
Posted by Anjha at January 16, 2006 01:15 PMFinally - Google news aggregation.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 16, 2006 01:29 PMA spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, Tracey Schmitt, attacked Gore's comments shortly after address.
"Al Gore's incessant need to insert himself in the headline of the day is almost as glaring as his lack of understanding of the threats facing America," Schmitt said. "While the president works to protect Americans from terrorists, Democrats deliver no solutions of their own, only diatribes laden with inaccuracies and anger. "
Oh, yeah. Hit a nerve there. Let's keep kicking it.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 16, 2006 01:30 PMA spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, Tracey Schmitt, attacked Gore's comments shortly after address.
"Al Gore's incessant need to insert himself in the headline of the day is almost as glaring as his lack of understanding of the threats facing America," Schmitt said. "While the president works to protect Americans from terrorists, Democrats deliver no solutions of their own, only diatribes laden with inaccuracies and anger. "
Oh, yeah. Hit a nerve there. Let's keep kicking it.
Posted by idiosynchronic at January 16, 2006 01:30 PM
*****
Memo to Tracey the ignorant GOP slut:
We do have a solution: Its called abiding by the FISA law.
The GOP is the Party of Treason.
Posted by God Of War at January 16, 2006 01:39 PM"bout half way through speech, when you could see the crowd all standing, hell I was standing, cheering and for the first time feeling good about myself ... it hit me hard that we've all complained that there hasn't been a Dem leader, but suddenly there he was and the empty leadership hole seemed all the bigger. He's still Al, but today he was a leader in a leaderless room. After the speech I wondered if Al's speech was why Dems asked for Alito vote to be put off a week ... were they too looking for leadership from Al? Interesting that the only Sen. in crowd was Diane Feinstein.
ps I'm with Anjha about GOW
Dianne Feinstein doesn't deserve to lick Al's boots.
What was that horrible bitch doing there? Atfer she voted for the war and the tax cuts and the medicare bill she never should have been allowed into a room with Al. She voted for the bankruptcy bill too.
DiFi is like Rice--seemingly untouchable in press reports. Hardly anyone in the party knows what a profound traitor DiFi is. Sickening.
Posted by paradox at January 16, 2006 01:48 PMThe Democrats have plenty of tough leader types...but few of them occupy political office.
The New Gore, John Edwards, Howard Dean...these guys are willing to tell it like it is and willing to tell the reich wing to go to hell.
Murtha's quite the stud too, and Reid, pugilist that he is, ranks highly in my book.
These equivocators and opportunists in the Democratic party, though, can join the GOP on the fast train to hell.
Well, FOX et al are masturbating over a Condi possibility on the Republi-con ticket. 08, even if stolen by Diebold and Florida, is going to be interesting.
and willing to tell the reich wing to go to hell.
Damn, GOW. I think I feel a few strivings stirring a la Anjha...wink, wink...nod, nod. Grrr, woof!
Posted by phidipides at January 16, 2006 02:35 PMPlease, please run Condi! Pretty please!
Posted by iamcoyote at January 16, 2006 02:40 PMThat was beautiful GOW, just right.
Gore/Dean.....that would be a beautiful thing.
Of course some killjoy will arrive and make lofty pronouncements about baggage.
They should be killed imediatly.
Posted by SnarkyShark at January 16, 2006 02:47 PMI agree a GORE/DEAN ticket would be great for REPUBLICAN's.
Let's hope for that.
Posted by ROOF at January 16, 2006 02:51 PMI like Al Gore, I'd vote for him again, but he's just wrong on the NSA issue.
Posted by avaroo at January 16, 2006 02:55 PMDean? no, never. He's nuts.
Posted by avaroo at January 16, 2006 02:56 PMLet's hope for that. Posted by ROOFHe kicked your ass once; he'll do so again.
he's just wrong on the NSA issue. Posted by avarooRead the American Constitution. Study what you read. Bush is violating it. It's that simple. Posted by Mike at January 16, 2006 03:04 PM
If Condi runs, instead of everyone waving flip-flops, we could all wave some ugly-ass Ferragamos, and yell "You're a heckava candidate, Condi!"
Posted by iamcoyote at January 16, 2006 03:04 PMdean's not running. seems like he's got the right job now, anyway. (i was a deaniac, fwiw)
but what's 'nuts' about dean? supporting civil unions? opposing the clusterfuck? balancing budgets? yeah, that's nuts!
Posted by benjoya at January 16, 2006 03:05 PM"He kicked your ass once; he'll do so again."
no, Gore didn't win. Wish he had, but he didn't.
"Read the American Constitution. Study what you read. Bush is violating it."
so far, no one has proven that.
Posted by avaroo at January 16, 2006 03:05 PMI don't think Dean will run either, benjoya. And it's a good thing, we could not win with Dean.
Dean's unstable and too angry. Angry doesn't win elections in the US. He doesn't think before he speaks.
Posted by avaroo at January 16, 2006 03:07 PMPlease, please get ALGORE to run again. The great second 'black' president would be running again to assume the thrown he had according the dennis 'stolen' from him. The thrown he gave up on and freely gave away to Dems 'monster' W. Run him again, believe in him again. Be crying again with him in November of 2008, you will. Yeah, please run him again. "He's our only hope."
Posted by peter at January 16, 2006 03:14 PMplease ignore the trolls.
Posted by paradox at January 16, 2006 03:14 PMNEWS UPDATE
Kean leading Menendez for U.S. Senate in early poll
Monday, January 16, 2006
TRENTON (AP) -- Republican State Sen. Tom Kean Jr. has an
11-point lead over Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez in this year's battle for the U.S. Senate seat, according to a poll released this morning.
Asked whom they would vote for if the election were held today, Kean received 36 percent to Menendez's 25 percent, while a whopping 37 percent said they did not know who they would support, said Peter Woolley, director of Fairleigh Dickinson University's PublicMind Poll.
"Not only is it early in the election cycle, but neither of these candidates has ever mounted a statewide race," Woolley said. "Both will have to introduce themselves to voters around the state."
Kean's advantage is his name recognition among Republicans -- his father is the popular former governor Thomas Kean. A majority of Republicans -- 57 percent -- said they would vote for Kean, who has no primary opponent.
"By contrast, Bob Menendez will be holding (Jon) Corzine's seat and trying to build a brand name among Democrats around the state," Woolley said.
Menendez received the support of 37 percent of Democrats polled. So far, Menendez is unchallenged for the June primary race.
Both men's name recognition numbers also have increased, with 60 percent saying they knew who Menendez was, and 62 percent saying they knew of Kean.
Posted by peter at January 16, 2006 03:18 PMMaryland Senate: Steele Now Leading Dems
Survey of 500 Likely Voters
January 10, 2005
Election 2006
Maryland Senator
Michael Steele (R) 45%
Ben Cardin (D) 40%
RasmussenReports.com
Election 2006
Maryland Senator
Michael Steele (R) 45%
Kweisi Mfume (D) 38%
RasmussenReports.com
January 13, 2006--Maryland is proving to be another state to watch in an election year many have predicted will see nationwide gains for Democrats.
In November, Rasmussen Reports observed that just two months after Hurricane Katrina and in the midst of welling controversy over Iraq, the GOP was at a political low point. We also duly noted the good news for the party: the election was still a year away. Now, in blue-state Maryland, the Republicans are making progress in the contests for both governor and senator.
The Senate race got interesting as soon as Democratic Senator Paul Sarbanes announced his retirement last March. It soon seemed Democrats had the edge. By July, Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin led Lt. Governor Michael Steele by five points in our poll. Steele, however, was seven points ahead of former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume.
Posted by peter at January 16, 2006 03:22 PMDean? no, never. He's nuts.
Statements like this let everyone know right off the bat that you're an idiot. Or a paid operative.
Either way, you go up against the wall. Be prepared.
Posted by SnarkyShark at January 16, 2006 03:25 PMWow, go away for dinner and come back, what a difference. Guess the talking points have (finally) arrived and their shift has begun....and right on cue using the 50 state tactics..so predictable...so pathetically predictable.
iamcoyote, I am with you, Run Condi run....please!
Posted by emal at January 16, 2006 03:25 PMSorry, but Dean's a nut. He'd lose worse than Dukakis, no matter who the repubs ran.
Posted by avaroo at January 16, 2006 03:32 PMSorry, but Dean's a nut. He'd lose worse than Dukakis, no matter who the repubs ran.
One mans/womans/its opinion. A small mouse farting into the infinate void.
Posted by SnarkyShark at January 16, 2006 03:43 PMDamn, NBC nightly news kicked-ass. They showed Gore accusing the Chimp of multiple felonies. They showed Nye's career flushing down the toliet. MLK celebration in NOLA, and frosting on the cake, the Nat.Gaurd is having to sue the goverment to defer the cost of getting shot at.
This is the stuff the mushy middle sees. I bet they are recoiling in horror.
Juicy little scandels, all coming to a boil.
Posted by SnarkyShark at January 16, 2006 03:49 PMpeter..
i certainly have my share of typos but it's throne...
Posted by dennis at January 16, 2006 03:54 PM"Damn, NBC nightly news kicked-ass." Posted by SnarkyShark at January 16, 2006 03:49 PM
That rocks. I'm sure it was my phone call and emails that did the trick! HA.
Won't be on here for a couple hours. I'll watch.
Spit Matthews even asked some questions of the torture soldier that concluded that Iraqis do not want us there and that Abu Ghraib is what increased the insurgency...
then he blew it by trying to turn it on 'what did the Iraqis expect from us.'
At least he started out with a "Hardball".
Posted by Anjha at January 16, 2006 04:24 PMOh, and I'd like to see a Gore-Feingold ticket.
I really like Russ Feingold.
Posted by Anjha at January 16, 2006 04:25 PMI have this perpetual vision of other Americans joining me in my nearby Valley Forge Park -- all of us dressed in original Valley Forge Patriot uniforms from the day -- carrying signs that say "Save America: IMPEACH NOW." Just a silent vigil, shuddering in the cold much like the soldiers of the revolution did, hopefully with lots of media coverage. Can't shake the image. Can't think of a more appropriate gathering place. Imagine thousands of Americans turning off their computers and TVs, forsaking work, family, whatever... actually getting up off their asses and taking to the streets to save Democracy.
Posted by Kris at January 16, 2006 04:27 PMKris, I can picture it.
Borrow these dude's clothes:
Posted by Sharon at January 16, 2006 04:38 PMDiFi = elephant toe cheese eating surrender monkey
Posted by peconicrat at January 16, 2006 05:03 PMso far, no one has proven that.
The idiot son did when he admitted to doing it.
Damn, NBC nightly news kicked-ass.
CBS had squat. Nothing. Not a peep. If you can, send an email to:
evening@cbsnews.com
Peter,
Rasmussen was off by 50% in his predictions for Nov. If you think that the people of MD are going to vote for a rubber stamp for the idiot in the WH, you are a bigger fool than I ever could have guessed. LOL!
Man that GOP response is screeching and defensive. Funny she didn't go after Bob Barr too.
Posted by Ga6thDem at January 16, 2006 05:18 PMKean leading Menendez for U.S. Senate in early poll
Hey, Spunky. How do you think DeLay is gonna do down there in Houston? And hows about that Ralph Reed. You know, when asked which name they most associated with "Ralph Reed," registered Republicans said "Abramoff." I think we'll be hearing many more responses like that in the near future. Cheers!
Posted by phidipides at January 16, 2006 05:29 PMOnly thing about the NBC Evening News was they mentioned that Gore used the Martin Luther King day for his speech. Not that anything is wrong with that, at least it got covered by MSM but I think they are trying to dowmplay the importance of his speech by tying it into a gimmick.
And by the way, it's about fucking time someone spoke up!!
GOW, If Anjha can't have you, can we at least share you!
Posted by bbtb at January 16, 2006 05:47 PMI don't know about there being anything to that(MLKday).
From what I saw, NBC dropped a big flaming bag of doo-doo on Bushco(tm).
Even the MLK tribute was loaded down with pissed-off and pissed-on black people at the superdome and convention center.
Maybe a tipping point? Someone finally figured out the tide is turning?
We report, you decide....really
Posted by SnarkyShark at January 16, 2006 05:54 PMNBC Nightly News about to air here on the Left Coast. I'll see what I think about their coverage.
Posted by pessimist at January 16, 2006 06:26 PMNBC Nightly News just concluded the one minute of coverage of Gore's speech. They did pick a powerful sound bite - where Gore declares that the NSA investigation needs an independent prosecutor, and that Bu$h broke the law - but they got off it as fast as they could and segued into MLK Day celebrations around the nation.
If you blinked, you missed it, but it is a start.
Posted by pessimist at January 16, 2006 06:44 PMGA5thdem, Pardon me but,
President George W. Bush won the popular vote on November 2 by a 50.7% to 48.2% margin over Senator John Kerry. The final Rasmussen Reports projection had shown the President winning 50.2% to 48.5%.
Try again, go get some cheeseburger at the Varsity.
Posted by peter at January 16, 2006 07:14 PMpeter, you should look more closely at your sources -- oh wait they are simply talking points -- even if you are just off the mark.
peter's cred here = nada
sorry dude, try on another blog
Posted by dorita at January 16, 2006 10:00 PMRasmussen was off by 50% in his predictions for Nov.
President George W. Bush won the popular vote on November 2 by a 50.7% to 48.2% margin over Senator John Kerry. The final Rasmussen Reports projection had shown the President winning 50.2% to 48.5%.
50.7 - 48.2 = 2.5% actual margin of victory.
50.2 - 48.5 = 1.7% predicted margin of victory.
It appears that Rasmussens predicted margin was indeed about 50% off from what actually transpired.
;)
Posted by at January 17, 2006 06:04 AMPeter, thanks for the update on the elections.
Bush has been Mis-underestimated so many times. Remember the first mid-term elections? They were supposed to go for the Dems,...
I see you might be from my neck of the woods? You mention the varsity? Haven't eaten there in a while, but nonetheless, thanks for the updated polls.
I guess these guys would do a group kool-aid party if the republican's picked up any seats in either the senate or the house.....
Posted by carpediem at January 17, 2006 07:04 AMIf Nixon could make a miracle political comeback, why not Al Gore? Just keep Donna Brazil away from him this time. She blew it.
Posted by TIKI AL at January 17, 2006 11:30 AMThis is one of the Best Electrifying, Eloquent, remarkable, Historical Speech given by the Vice President Al gore. This would be the Beginning of the New Era....
http://www.electgore2008.com
Posted by roger at January 17, 2006 01:50 PM