Al Gore and Howard Dean have a message for GDP

[DFW]

OK, not specifically to GDP, obviously, but to all partisans who post there,
and to all partisans everywhere who think the world revolves around them or
their own candidate.

I just met with both of them, and Howard recalled when it was obvious in 2004
that he would fold his campaign after the Wisconsin primary. He spoke to Al
Gore on the phone, being somewhat down about how things had gone, and Al Gore,
who had had a rather mammoth disappointment of his own 4 years earlier, told
him that this was far bigger than any one candidate, it was about the whole
country. Gore said he had been on the phone with both Clinton and Obama lately,
and had told them the same thing. Look for him to endorse the party's platform
and its nominee, and do not look for him to condemn any loser unless it's John
McCain.

After some other stuff (much very interesting environmental talk), they both
went off to huddle with the biggies from the Hillary and Obama camps (I am
neither, so I wasn't party to that one).

But both Howard and Gore stressed over and over again, this election was bigger
than either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. It was about redirecting the flow
of water of the river of our history (my metaphor, I forget the ones they used),
and that this issue was far bigger than any candidate. Gloating is useless and
petty, so is threating to stay home if you don't get your way.

The two of them are so above and beyond tearing any Democrat down, and they
said it so eloquently, I wish some of the kindergarten playground bully posters
on GDP could have been there to hear the two of them. Of course, they probably
would have been so busy fighting with each other, they wouldn't have heard a
word either of them said.

[annabanana]

1. k&r. . . . n/t

[robinlynne]

2. so happy to give this the first kick! well, maybe the second then.

[medeak]

3. you just talked to them?

funny....heard the same story on CNN today...

edited to say ... nice messsage however!

[madfloridian]

4. DFW is a long time friend of Howard Dean.

He was at a fundraiser with them tonight. You can trust him.

[bluesmail]

9. Thank you for the reassurance. First thing I thought

Okay what's up with the name dropping...again Thanks.

[DFW]

16. I can see why one might think that

It's difficult to grasp that someone you know suddenly becomes a nationally
known figure. When we first met, no one outside of Vermont would have even
raised an eyebrow if I said I knew Howard. The fact that he was on the covers
of Time and Newsweek a few years later didn't change that fact that this was
a a very sharp and personable guy with whom I trade Leo Kottke guitar solos
back and forth in hotel lobbies when we get the chance. But hell, you don't
STOP being someone's friend just because their mugs are on Sunday talk shows,
do you?

[bluesmail]

19. no need to reply, I Love Leo Kottke's music.

[crickets]

22. Dean is a Leo Kottke fan?

I didn't think I could like him more than I already did, but I was wrong. :)

Thanks again for coming by with this message, DFW. We needed this.

[tblue37]

63. Howard Dean is the most reasonable, intelligent man I have heard speak in, oh, approximately

forever. I am a huge Al Gore fan, always have been, but Howard Dean impresses me even more than Gore, and that is saying a lot.

As disappointed as I was when Dean did not become president, I also feel that by becoming DNC chair he has altered the way we do politics in this country. If we manage to prevent the Republicans from stealing this next election, and if we manage to rescue our country not only from its move toward fascism but also from its economic meltdown, history will look back at this period and point to Howard Dean as the hero that gave us a chance to do so.

Even if we don't succeed, history will look back at Dean as a hero and a great man. Please tell him that I said that. He gets so much crap from people who don't like what he is doing and has done, just because all they care about is their own benefit, not the party's and not the country's (like those who were trying to force the full seating of FLA and MI delegates). It might be nice for him to hear that some people recognize the value of what he is doing and admire him hugely.

I hope that after President Obama's two terms, Dean will run again. If we coud accomplish two terms of Obama and two terms of Dean, we would really have this country back on the right track again!

[DFW]

88. I just did tell him you said that

I copied and sent the heart of your post to his personal email.

It never hurts for him to know that people "out there" still feel
as strongly about him as they did four years ago.

[tblue37]

92. Thank you so much! n/t

[DFW]

8. I did indeed

I am usually in Europe, but I flew over to the States for my elder daughter's
college graduation (she asked me what does the English word "valedictorian"
mean--are we proud parents or what?), and when I told Howard and Andy that
I was going to be in New York for the weekend I got invited to the fundraiser
in New York held this evening. Howard was sharp, but hadn't had a lot of sleep
lately. He was at the marathon negotiations in DC, and then hopped a train up
here.

Al Gore looked amazing. Slimmed down, very calm, and very focused. One thing
I can let on--there is no way no how that he is interested in pursuing anything
other than his environmental interests from here on in, period. He acknlowleged
that he was himself not perfect in every aspect of the environmental struggle,
but was till focused on the big picture. I had last seen him in 1995 when he was
VP, but except for some more grey, he looked every bit as imposing as he did
thirteen years ago.

*edited for spelling--I'm still on European time, gotta go back tomorrow,
and don't much know which way is up myself!

[medeak]

17. my baad

thanks for the lovely story and congratulations on your daughter's graduation!

[DFW]

21. Hey, thanks!

She handled her speech in English so well, you would hardly have known
she was European if you weren't listening for it. Her sister is pretty
amazing, too. She is now in law school (also in the States), but is now
working for the summer with the UN War Crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone.
Very scary stuff, but she wanted to do it, and she is a big girl now.

I hate that we have to get back to Europe already tomorrow, but we still
work for a living, and besides, we have tickets for a Mark Knopfler concert
in Germany Monday night!!

[madfloridian]

29. DFW, did you see this write-up about Dean from his driver in NY

It mentions Knopfler and his other musical tastes. It is interesting

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/2148

[DFW]

54. No, I never saw that!

I gave up playing electric guitar years ago, although I still like
going to concerts. When I heard Leo Kottke, it was like a revelation
to me, and I never looked back. I searched out his luthier, Božo
Podunavac, and had him make several guitars for me. When Howard started
playing Kottke's "The Fisherman" on my guitar one night in South Carolina,
I knew that I had found more than just a political kindred spirit. But
when we talk music, it is always acoustic guitar, so I had no idea he
liked Knopfler, too, although I should have known :-)

[siligut]

86. Thank you for your uplifting message.

Also, as a side, I saw Leo Kottke at Benroya hall in Seattle, he had a guitar with inlays. Having gone to Bozo Podunavac’s site http://guitars.net/Bozo.htm I recognize the work.

[glitch]

69. My head just exploded from jealousy

Dean, Gore, Kottke and now Knopfler!

(congratulations on your most excellent daughters)

[DFW]

89. Thanks! My daughters got a nice headstart:

Namely a healthy dose of my wife's genes!

[gblady]

106. they are lovely!

[Divine Discontent]

102. u so silly! why do people assume that people who are vested in politics couldn't meet with

most any of the Dems at events, considering this is a presidential election year. No reason to doubt anyone on here about goodwill stories of meeting party leaders...


:)

[madfloridian]

5. Recommended.

Thanks for sharing.

[Hun Joro]

6. K & R

[guruoo]

7. Thanks...

we needed that.

:headbang:

[Kingofalldems]

10. GDP is loaded with freepers posing as supporters

of one candidate or another IMO.

[Quantess]

34. Yes, and to me, it's obvious.

Some people have just recently discovered the neat trick about how you can pretend to be someone you really aren't, while posting on the internet. But the thing is, most everyone else already knows that trick. Been there and done that, 10 years ago. But, all we can do is let the backward ones evolve at their own pace.

[Eurobabe]

47. the GDP trolls are like a ball of Mercury

Once the MODS smash them, they scatter into tiny freep trolls and re-register under a new freepish name, only to be tombstoned again. It's really pathetic. I had one stalk me yesterday! :crazy:

[silverweb]

11. Wonderful.

You have been hobnobbing with two of the men I admire most in the world.

Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

[FourScore]

12. Thank you. k/r

[liberalla]

13. THIS is the message we each need to 'get' and then pass on

Very wise words and I totally agree. We cannot lose sight of what is at risk here, on many levels.

Thanks for sharing!

[TheDebbieDee]

14. Yeah, Dean conceded magnanimously...............

And Kerry was the nominee.......Kerry, who threw in the towel less than 12 hours after the polls closed in November.

[karynnj]

26. and there was no justification that could be found to do otherwise

There is STILL no proof that Kerry won that could have been taken to court. Kerry's 12 hour wait was the slowest other than Gore's in modern times. The other thing was that had anything been found before early January that proved Kerry won, he could have rescinded the concession as Gore did late election night in 2000.

Dean conceded because he absolutely had no chance to win - had he stayed in, it wouldn't have mattered any more than Kuchinich staying in. He was nowhere near as close as HRC - in fact, he wasn't even second. Here is a link to the 2004 primaries - Dean dropped out after the February 17 th Wisconsin primary, which was one identified by Dean people as one where he could do well. In fact, he got 18%, while Edwards got 34% and Kerry won with 40. At that point, Dean had no money and no real chance of winning. Dean ended up winning only 114 pledged delegates. http://www.rhodescook.com/primary.analysis.html

It was good that Dean did concede as he did and was then a good surrogate. It's always got to be tough to concede - even when it is not close as it was for Gephardt and Dean in 2004 and Edwards in 2004 and 2008. It is likely harder when it was so close that they thought they had it and when they had reason to believe that they would have won a fair election - as was the case for both Gore and Kerry. HRC is between the two cases - though really in the first category.

[loudsue]

70. Aren't secretly programmed computerized voting machines grand?

Just sayin'......

[blm]

82. Oh yeah - CAUCUSES really use electonic voting machines - I know because DU thinks so.

Dean LOST before Iowa - he KNEW it and that is why he never once made any assertion about the validity of the voting machines. Besides - you really think BushInc would risk having the rigging discovered for a Dem primary when they needed it for November?

Just saying....my ass.

[blm]

81. Yes Debbie because the DNC then never secured the election process so Kerry had a CHANCE at evidence

and BTW - Kerry had the SLOWEST CONCESSION in history. Gore conceded when he believed he had a smaller vote differential to make up than Kerry had on election night - Kerry WAITED.

You don't care if you distort what happened as long as you can smear Kerry FALSELY yet again.

Wise up - if the math changed for Kerry the way it did for Gore, he would have unconceded, too.

Gore didn't UNCONCEDE until he had the MATH with him. Try using common sense instead of depending on the bullshit you've become comfortable hanging on your hat on the last 3 years.....sheesh.

[crickets]

15. Thank you.

And thank you to Al Gore and Howard Dean as well. It's not just about the candidates, it's about our country.

[Dr Fate]

18. Boy that Dean sure did turn out alright.

Gore turned out pretty good too. ;)

[Change has come]

20. K&R

:kick:

[lyonn]

23. This makes all kinds of sense.

Our goal has been and still is to defeat the repubs. All the trash talk is pointless. The issues are something to discuss but not get hostile. Our nominee gets my vote, but I do hope it is Barack!

Thanks for post DFW.

[DFW]

55. It is comforting to hear that the party leadership "gets it."

"Our nominee gets my vote."

Exactly the message of last night! The biggest battle lies ahead.

[Kaleko]

24. I'm so glad I came across this message, DFW!

The adults among us know what is at stake in this election.

Infantile tyrants will throw temper tantrums if they don't get what they personally want.

But true civil servants are still alive in what's left of the USA, and they will be re-directing the collective energy under President Obama, hopefully.

[DFW]

25. Not just the adults

There are a lot of mature young people as well as immature adults
who just don't get that this election is about more than Obama's
church or Hillary's choice of words off the cuff. It's about which
direction our country will head, and this is so vitally important
because there are too many other countries willing to either follow
us off that cliff, or else gloat and pick up the pieces when we do.

Let's hope, along with Howard and Al Gore, that we can focus on the
big picture from here on in.

[Kaleko]

27. Yes,

we have 18 year-olds who are acting as adults in this battle for the soul of our countries' direction.

And there are 60 year-olds who let themselves be consumed by the infantile tyrant that is the acting part of everyone's reptilian brain. This part is unable to see the big picture, and it can't be allowed to be put in charge of anything. Not even of setting the tone in a forum like this.

Hey, we live in excruciatingly precarious times. Good luck, DFW, to you and your family.

[NanceGreggs]

28. Wonderful post, my friend!

Just wonderful!!!

:hi:



:kick: & REC'D!

[DFW]

56. Thanks, Nance!

Hearing such calm, hopeful, and wise words from the two most respected
party "elders," if you can call two very youthful 60-ish men that, was
an inspiration as well as an experience. I've know Howard for years, but
listening to him AND Al Gore side by side, so very comfortable with each
other, very much on the same wavelength, REALLY made me wish for what might
have been.

[Irishonly]

30. Thank you for posting

You also have every right to be a proud parent. Congratulations!

[understandinglife]

31. Recommended. Thank you. Precisely. I'd expect nothing less from ...

... either of those two fine leaders.

Peace,
Bob

[understandinglife]

32. Oh, and I'm sending an 'alert' to the mods requesting they "pin" your OP ...

... on the DU Homepage for at least 24 hours.

Thank you,
Bob

[D23MIURG23]

33. k&r

[slinkerwink]

35. thanks for the report!

[Pastiche423]

36. OMG!

I am so jealous of you! You met Al Gore AND Howard Dean at the same time! They are the two men in national politics that I admire the most. Be still my political junkie heart.

Uh, does this mean I should remove my sig photo now? :cry:

[DFW]

53. No, you don't have to remove the sig photo! LOL

When they were standing next to each other, bantering with each other
and taking questions from the people standing around them, I was thinking
the whole time--if there were any justice in this world, I would be looking
at the dream team of President and Vice President of the United States, and
it would be a team that would be the envy of every country on this planet.

No need to change the sig. Wasn't it Bobby Kennedy who talked about dreaming
about things that have never been and said "why not?"

[rosesaylavee]

64. Your very kind reply to P423

made this die-hard Gore supporter smile. Thanks for that this am!

[Pastiche423]

84. What a dear you are!

Throughout this loooong campaign, I have dreamt of that very ticket. I voted for Gore in 2000, wrote-in Dean's name (in the primary) in 2004. So, it made sense in my brain that I should vote for both of them in 2008. lol

As to my sig, I'm going to stick w/my original plan and keep it until (if?) we have a Democratic nomination.

[rosesaylavee]

37. Wonderful news.

We are so fortunate to have both of them as leaders. So sane. So intelligent.

K & R

[lyonn]

76. Interesting too that Dean did not try to steal the limelight

during the DNC meeting. That guy should have been our candidate in 2004. The powers that be didn't think so and did a good hack job on him. Same thing happened to Gore. This time around, Biden was my choice due to his knowledge and respect for what is happening in Iraq and around the world. I felt he, like Dean, would listen to those more informed on an issue and have the smarts to make a good decision when it came to running a country. Now, Obama seems our best choice. I was going to give my demographics but, that is stupid. I hate this clumping people aspect of govt. Polling is good and bad. No one has ever polled me. How many others fall in that category?

[rosesaylavee]

77. Nope. Nobody polled me either but I live in Illinois

I think it was a foregone conclusion to the pollsters that the majority here would go for Obama. And for the under 30 crowd that don't have home land lines but cell phones only - kind of hard to poll them. Personally, I would like to see polling go the way of the dinosaur. I think its used primarly to persuade now and has lost what little science it had.

I am keeping my Gore '08 sticker on my car though. Not that I think he will run - but his ideals and ideas need to be an integral part of the next administration.

[blm]

83. Our candidate was the lawmaker who uncovered and exposed more government corruption than any

lawmaker in modern history.

A shame you think he was undeserving and someone deficient - just like the media tried to make him out to be. Ever READ your nation's historic record of the last 35 years and then try to take Kerry's work out of the last 35 years? This nation would be well into its second decade of full on New World Order of fascism by now if not for Kerry uncovering IranContra, BCCI and CIA drugrunning.

[Lugnut]

38. Thank you for sharing that.

I would be awed to be in the company of both those fine gentlemen.

[bhikkhu]

39. K&R - thanks for the scoop...

Dean and Gore have a great amount of credit with me, from my little corner of Oregon. I am very glad they are in the game and still working for the best, and particularly glad to hear that Gore and Obama have had some contact...I hope to see Gore's hand in the next 4 years of environmental policy.

[DFW]

57. After last night, I'd dare to say that you will get your wish!

[Shoelace]

110. dare I hope for Gore on the new Cabinet?

in 2009? Obama has stated as much so am hoping that perhaps Gore would be the new head of the EPA and restructure it completely.
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/04/02/1406252-obama-would-find-cabinet-post-for-gore

How wonderful to read your post and vicariously share those moments with two of the greatest people in our party. I love them both and still hope for Al Gore, my favorite person in the world, to guide our nation through the coming years.

I hope, pray that our party unites to actually WIN this coming election.
Thanks again and congrats to your daughters.

[Tatiana]

40. K&R. Thank you for the report. This should be cross-posted to GDP. n/t

[mrs_p]

41. gives me confidence and hope

that the party leaders really do care about wrapping up the primary and will focus on defeating mccain soon. thanks for posting this!!

i'm a registered independent, but have been working on democratic campaigns since the eighth grade (dukakis - whom i still like) and have voted democratic in every election. the party showed some backbone today and instituted what i believe to be a fair compromise. after so many years of dating, i am finally ready to tie the knot and change my affiliation to democrat!

[DFW]

58. You are absolutely right that that is what they care about most

Gore knows perfectly well how well his environmental initiatives
would fare under a Republican president. Howard mentioned that McCain
had paid more lip service to environmental issues than other Republicans,
but that it was one VERY low bar to clear!

Welcome to the fold!

[Sunnyshine]

42. Kickin' because we will run over McSame & Reccin' for Dean and Gore sharing their insiders POV

Howard and Gore stressed over and over again, this election was bigger
than either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. It was about redirecting the flow
of water of the river of our history(my metaphor, I forget the ones they used),
and that this issue was far bigger than any candidate.

:hi: I'm for redirecting the flow of the river of our history too! Nice metaphor.

[nvme]

43. I sat on pins and nails this whole primary season

I Hope that deans 50 state strategy works. It seems its a possibility. Now its up to the democatic party to pull everyone back into the fold and seek out those standing in the cold looking for shelter.

[Douglas Carpenter]

44. Kick and recommended

[TreasonousBastard]

45. The "playground bully posters" have no...

interest in the governing of the nation.

The rest of us, however, hope this message gets out far and wide. It is, and has been, our message.

[Eurobabe]

46. K+R

[Senator]

48. Kick ... a Hillabamaniac in the keester

It might be the only way to knock some sense back into their heads.

---

[Number23]

49. Very nice

Thanks for this, DFW. I've seen some of the bullying foolishness that goes on in GDP and even though I've personally never been the one getting bullied, "kindergarten playground bully posters" seems to be a very apt and applicable description.

[Voltaire99]

50. You like a good corporate milquetoast, don't you?

And they do like a dutiful little follower!

[The Doctor.]

62. Who's a 'corporate milquetoast'? The OP is about Gore and Dean.

I must have missed something.

[Honeycombe8]

51. They have a message for Gross Domestic Product?????? nt

[stlsaxman]

52. your cover is blown- I know what DFW means!

Dean Fo Weveh!!!!

thanks for the wonderful post, DFW!!

[DFW]

59. LOL! Hey, not all Texans talk like that!

But I've liked Howard ever since he was "Howard Who?" and he
has only grown since than. I don't know what he will do after
the DNC, but he'll leave his mark whatever and wherever it is.
So, OK, consider me blown!

Being there with him and Al Gore leaves one inspired, but feeling
very small indeed!

[kaygore]

60. Howard Dean would have made such a great president as would, of course, Gore

We owe Dean such a debt of gratitude for all he has done for the Party and the country and potentially the world!

I worked very hard as a volunteer on the 2006 elections and credit Dean with those wins against even all the voting theft, lies, and propaganda of the Republican Party...and the DLC.

I could not believe that anyone would have the gall to try to ascribe our wins in that election to anyone other than Dean.

That certain elements of the Party once again attack Dean is so disheartening and reinforces the point that the struggle is not one between Parties but between those who have power and those whom they would try to keep from power!

God bless, Howard Dean! We have been truly blessed to have his leadership these few years.

[Stinky The Clown]

61. "kindergarten playground bully posters"

A perfect description. They're poison. Toxic.

[Frank Lemadeer]

65. Thanks for this post, it provides such insight

into the thinking of the incredibly ambitious. All these people have run for president, for God's sake, so it's a given they're all incredibly ambitious.

Now we get a glimpse that they all tell themselves the same things so they can sleep at night--things like it's bigger than us, it's for the future, it's for the direction of the nation. And because of that, since they are merely servants of this great purpose or need, they convince themselves they are also humble.

So it's no surprise they form a sort of bond. They all share the belief that their rationale presents a legitimate fig leaf for the no-holds-barred, damn-the-rules ambition they all have and practice. Supporting one another supports the illusion it is morally valid or necessary.

And in that skewed-ethics atmosphere, a winner is admired, no matter what. Hence Clinton's admiration for Rove.

Again, thanks for the post. And please excuse what some may interpret as cynicism on my part. My remarks come from genuine curiosity I've long had about authoritarians, leaders, politicians and the like.

[blondeatlast]

67. Unless you've seen DU's General Discussion/Primaries forum,

you won't understand what DFW is talking about. His post doesn't apply to the general discourse here, stricttly to that forum.

Steel yourself and take a peek but cover the delicate parts with Kevlar first...

[DFW]

72. I would say that if Al Gore harbored "no-holds ambition,"

he would have run in 2004 and again this time. He wishes the party
back in the White House, but is not in the slightest interested in
trying to get there himself. Also, he played by the rules in 2000,
and did not try to skirt them, even when the Bushies did so to seize
the White House.

Maybe it would have been easier if I had been allowed to tape last night.
Gore's easy body language and banter, it was the very opposite of naked
ambition--it was someone who was very comfortable in his own skin, and
who was not striving for further personal glory.

Al Gore's statement at the 2000 convention "I am my own man," was scoffed
at then, but he meant it, and it is ten times as true now as it was 8 years ago.

[Kajsa]

66. Thanks you, DFW. When Edwards stepped down,

I was very down- asking " who do we vote for NOW"?

Then I remembered something he said when he spoke to us,
his supporters,during that announcement,

" Our party is about to make history."

It stuck with me to this day. It's about the unity of the
Democratic party and what Gore and Dean were conveying
to you in your OP.

This is bigger than any candidate- it's a unification of our party
to make damn sure that we don't have another four years of
the disastrous " leadership" that has sent our soldiers,civilians, economy
and reputation to hell in a handbasket.

Thanks so much for sharing this important news with us.

It should be required reading for all members of DU.

:)

[blondeatlast]

68. From Biden to Edwards; then back again, and again--now my vote is for the best choice

in November.

No question what letter follows the name--D.

Thanks, DFW--let's all rise together!

[lyonn]

79. Ah, the Biden Edwards path and then the, now what, after they lost

Gore's campaign was poorly run, in my opinion, by people that gave him bad advice as far as I could tell. Hell, they even trashed his objection to the VN war even when he had the guts to go before Congress and tell his story. He had poor counsel when it came to the Fla. fiasco.

When we got to 2 candidates to chose from most of us knew little about Barack. The more I watched the more he impressed me. What do any of us really know about our candidates except what "they" say and do and not their talking heads. At this point I feel very good with the Obama outlook on leading a country. He seems to respect all our differences as a Nation. That I like. He was not hacking on the people that vote for religious reason or like having guns, but, trying to explain why they make the political choices that they do. They are frustrated and struggling. They are lashing out at society.

Yup, I still think either Biden or Edwards would have been good for this country and so will either of our choices at this time.

[lyonn]

90. Sheesh, I must have been tipsy when writing above.

I was mixing candidates and their races together. First I spoke of Gore then flipped over mentally to the Kerry campaign then back to Gore. Is there a way to get stuff erased? A senior moment and a couple of beers does that to me......

[trickyguy]

71. So good to read these significant words. Couldn't agree more.

Have always been a big supporter of Howard Dean and Al Gore.

They are men of principal and they see the bigger picture at this time.

I know Obama believes this is bigger than himself. Does Clinton also?

June 4 can't come any sooner.:kick:

[DFW]

73. I think she knows it as well, and will say so sooner rather than later.

[Barack_America]

74. Howard found a niche in the DNC, just as I feel Hillary will find her niche is in the Senate.

With the long-time pressure of preparing for a Presidential run off her, I feel that she will do great things. Who knows, if triangulation is no longer a necessity, perhaps she could become another Liberal Lion!

[billyoc]

75. Oh, are you in NYC?

:hi:

[DFW]

108. I was in NYC

Sorry I missed this before--I'm rarely in the same city (or country) for more
than a few days at a time, but when our daughter graduates from college, we
travel to the ends of the earth rather than let her down. The fact that the DNC
thing was during our brief stay there was pure coincidence. They do not plan
these things around my travel schedule, believe me! LOL

*on edit--coming to you now live and in color from beautiful suburban Düsseldorf!

[YvonneCa]

78. Thank you for this post. Back in 2000...

...I was devastated by what happened to Al Gore. In 2004, I was unbelievably sad about Kerry-Edwards and Ohio. The Democratic Party was SO out of power.

I said at that time (here and everywhere anyone would listen) that we needed ALL our Democrats to come together and WORK together to get this country back on track...not knowing at the time how that would be or how awful things in our country would become by 2008. And I, for one, believe ALL our Democrats have done that...by each using their own strengths and working hard to educate the public about the mistakes of the Bush Administration.

Some of our leaders ran for president, some (like Howard Dean) worked to fix the party structure, some focused on issues they were very knowledgeable about (like Gore and Climate Change and Kerry on the Iraq War). Some worked from Congress and some worked outside of government (like Tom Daschle and Gary Hart). But ALL have united in this big idea that our country has been endangered by this administration and no matter what else...the country is first.

This meeting of which you speak is further evidence that they all get it...and I include the Clintons in that...even as I support Obama. That's why, for me, this primary has been so difficult. I hate to see the 'trashing' of any of our Democrats by other Democrats...even though I know it happens during campaigns.

I LOVE all my Democrats! I'm really glad it's time to begin the GE and make our case to the American people.

Thanks again for the post.:patriot:

[madfloridian]

80. DFW...don't paint all of GDP with one brush.

I have to post there when I post about Florida and the primary. I don't have a choice. But I try to be fair.

Some there really do try, but we are not allowed to post in GD.

[DFW]

87. Floridian--that wasn't my intention

It is extremely frustrating to see post after post and reply after reply that
have about as much to do with real issues as the Bush administration has to do
with objective climate research.

My apologies to the few people who post there who are objective, rational, civil,
level-headed and even tempered. But I have to say that your numbers there make
Bush's 28% look like a towering majority by comparison!! But this, too, will come
to an end. It's not like we have a choice (I do not consider the words "President
McCain" to be a choice).

[Rockholm]

85. Great post.

[speedoo]

91. K&R. Thanks for posting this. nt

[pleah]

93. K&R

[Olney Blue]

94. A wonderful reminder for all of us. Thanks!

:kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick::kick:

[Overseas]

95. Someone better tell Harold Ickes then. //nt

[defendandprotect]

99. Right, Ickes and HRC are "reserving" the right for her to go to the credentials ....

committee in Denver ---

Somehow, I think we should either have totally blocked anything that happened in FL and Mich -
OR, given her what she wanted totally ---
and then penalized her for for staying on the ballot when she promised - in writing --- to withdraw.

Giving her this half-way measure simply encourages her in her "rightness" to the votes.

[emilyg]

96. k/r

I wish I had been there.

[Deep13]

97. Well, that's just it.

Our hopes and dreams should not be wrapped up in one office. Congress has the legislative power and the power of the purse. Ultimately, only they can take the actions required to mitigate the damage of R. rule. I Iook at the job description of president in Article II and figure out who is best qualified to do those things. As citicens in a republic that claims to be a democracy, we have no business looking for inspiration or leadership from a mere politician.

[defendandprotect]

98. Nice philosophy from Gore . . . however . . . considering stolen elections ----

". . .and Al Gore, who had had a rather mammoth disappointment of his own 4 years earlier, told
him that this was far bigger than any one candidate, it was about the whole
country.

IMO it was rather urgent --- "for the entire country" that the 2000 election steal be investigated.
Gore failed on that one right up to the end!

Gore bowed to the Establishment --

I don't know exactly how much they knew at the time about the strength/power of the cabal that
pulled the steal off, but obviously it went as high as the neo-con Gang of 5 on the Supreme Court.

Kerry also faced that power looking out at the Ohio steal and also decided that he'd have to pull
the plug.

WHEN are we going to face the fascist power that has brought us computer steals since the mid-1960's ... and political violence from JFK, RFK. Malcolm X, MLK, Jr. - Gov. Mel Carnahan-Missouri,
Sen. Paul Wellstone, Minn. and who knows how many, many more?

And here we are again in 2008, still not sure that anyone's vote will be counted---!!!


See: http://www.constitution.org/vote/votescam__.htm
Two journalists began investigating stolen elections in Florida during the late 1960's . ..
this is their story.

[me b zola]

100. K&R

:kick:

[midnight]

101. I agree. It is much bigger than who the candidate is...

Just swung by the computer and read this posting my mother had up and I just had to add...
The only way to truly win this election, Hillary or Barack is to join hands in the outer circle as democrats and push our progressive agendas in this 15 minutes of fame we've earned with the two most historical and progressive candidates! We can do this easily by becoming Neighborhood leaders. This is also known as Howard Dean's 50-State-Strategy. It is quite an easy process. You talk to 25 people in your neighborhood three times before the November election about voting Democrat, that is 75 times you've advocated for the democratic party which equates to about 8-10 votes for the Democratic Party. This is how we will win this year.. the year of the democratic party, the party of the people!

Check it out here and let's take back our country!!!!

http://www.democrats.org/a/party/a_50_state_strategy/

[DeepModem Mom]

103. Thank you, DFW!!! K&R!

[think4yourself]

104. Thank you.

That was the most refreshing, positive, level-headed post I've seen here in a long time! Going to read it again!

[DFW]

107. I am not alone

Otherwise I would have been gone from this board long ago,
but thanks all the same!!

We just got off the plane back to Germany, so we're going
to sleep off a bit of jet lag!

[Tippy]

109. Well I am glad you are still here ...I know I feel better..after having read your post

[Juan_de_la_Dem]

105. Thanks for this