"Hey AL GORE lovers: You must see this!"

[Pirate Smile]

Hey AL GORE lovers: You must see this!

by archibaldtuttle
Wed Mar 22, 2006 at 12:58:14 PM PDT

During the 2000 Presidential campaign, Al Gore, a movie fan in general and a fan of Being John Malkovich in particular, asked Spike Jonze to come down to his house for a day to follow him and his family around with a camera. Spike brought his tiny handheld video camera and came up with a portrait so real, so humanizing, and so powerful that of course Gore's advisors had to bury it.

You should all see it now.

I hope we can spread the word about this far and wide.

archibaldtuttle's diary :: ::
The video is now available for purchase on a DVD compilation called Wholphin made by the McSweeney's folks.

But you can watch the 13-minute video on Google video right now. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-29385328971143264&q=al+gore

I've read a lot around here recently by people who crave Gore's presence in the Oval Office. Spreading the word about this video is an easy way to get people to know Gore better. I believe this video can build support for him as a potential President by getting people to know him better as a person.

The documentary was shown at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles in 2000, but not as part of the TV coverage, and it was never shown again. It is a pity because, as the Wholphin editors write:

Everyone who's seen this movie thinks it humanizes Gore in precisely the way he needed to be humanized. He got tagged as being cold and robotic, and this film shows him to be warm, very genuine, passionate even. There are a lot of people who think that if this had been shown on primetime, it could have really made a difference in the election.

I completely agree. At the very least, 1000 additional people in Florida would have voted for Gore after seeing this video. Let's get thousands to watch it now, so the groundswell builds for Gore.

Hat tip to grimc, who diared about this 6 weeks ago. But now that the video is online, I wanted you all to watch it right away.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/3/22/145814/201

[katinmn]

1. Great insight into the elected President!

Thanks. :)

[NYCGirl]

2. Now everyone can see where I got my sig pic!

:evilgrin:

[otohara]

3. thanks for posting

this - al is yummy

[TAPat]

4. Really, really nice -

It actually almost made me cry - it almost feels like he was assassinated - and I guess in a way he was... :cry:
How I wish he'd come back for '08! :woohoo:

[mzmolly]

5. I so wish he would run for the office that he rightfully holds.

Recommended, thanks!

[i miss america]

46. ME TOO! I'd love to put a "Re-elect AL GORE" bumper sticker on my car

... if I knew where to find one.
:bounce:
I still believe he's our best hope for getting our country back on track.

[IndyOp]

6. If ever I meet Al Gore, the first thing I would do is apologize...

"From the bottom of my heart, I am so, so, so, so very sorry that I did not personally travel to Florida in early November of 2000 to fight for your/my/our victory. I did not know what was happening. Not knowing is not an excuse, merely a shameful admission. I am sorry. I apologize to you and to all Americans and to everyone in the world whose lives have been diminished or ended because the election was stolen."

:cry:

[Cha]

10. We all need to do..thanks so

much for recognizing that important thing that the American people who love Democracy Didn't do in 2000!

[bluedeminredstate]

7. Love him!

Judas H. Priest on a life raft, I can't believe that with the choice between a decent, intelligent, thoughtful, patriotic family man (and I could go on and on) and a smirking, unambitious, incurious, petty, mean, arrogant, self-entitled little chimp, that the chimp landed in the WH. I know there were many road blocks in Gore's path, but I can't believe more of the public didn't see through the media bullshit about Gore.
It breaks my heart when I think of what could have been. I've lost my faith in so many things since December 2000.
Thanks for the link, I enjoyed every second!

[DianaForRussFeingold]

8. Al Gore 2000 lover

hope we can spread the word about this far and wide.Thank you so much for this gem.I posted it on the DNC Blog.I am a supporter of Russ Feingold 2008,But I don't think we should burn our bridges.This shows how smart and great a leader he could have been and how different from Bush he is.. I want to share this article with you.I found this on the DU. This made me think What if Al Gore would have been elected.;
Every now and then I consider how he is fully responsible for drying up an Absolutely Unprecedented River of goodwill and opportunity for our country. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x698474#698474

:hi: :applause: :patriot: :yourock:

[DaDeacon]

9. I often feel...

I often feel as if I am subject to a murdered king!

[ellenfl]

11. kicked for later. eom

[calmblueocean]

12. Vote this up. People should see this.

Damn straight if this had aired in prime time, it would've made a difference. Perhaps THE difference.

It's hard to watch something like this without thinking about how profoundly different America would be today had the Supreme Court allowed a full recount in Florida, which would've elected Gore to the presidency under every standard. It just kills me inside to think what we lost. And while we have a few candidates I support (Clark, Feingold, a few others) no one -- no one -- holds a candle to Al.

Read "The New New Gore" for a great article about Gore's resurgence in the past few years, and a scenario for how he might be drawn back into the race.

[blm]

13. That video wasn't buried - it was viewed at the 2000 Dem Convention.

It was great. That was back when media gave a tad bit more attention to the conventions.

[NYCGirl]

15. The article says that, but that it was never shown as part of TV coverage.

[blm]

18. Not on the big 3 networks, but it was on the cable news networks.

I absolutely loved it and watched it again on the Cspan rerun.

I laughed at the compulsiveness re videotapes - I could see Kerry doing that exact same thing. I love precise, wonky guys.

[Pirate Smile]

26. C-span showed it and I think either CNN or MSNBC with the other

two news channels instead showing yakking heads.

I remember switching to C-span because I wanted to see it and the channel I was watching had cut away.

[blm]

33. I forget that many here activated because of 2000 theft or Iraq invasion

and didn't pay attention to every govenmental event of the last two decades like us old activists. ;)))

Hell, I was half asleep myself till the late 80s.

[Capn Sunshine]

38. yeah, but you look cute in your jammies

:hi:

[trof]

14. The man the press labeled as "stiff" and "wooden".

The man who should have spent the last 6 years in the White House.
It did make me cry.
Thanks.
Recommended.

[AtomicKitten]

16. Goddamn it (but thanks for posting this gem) -- K&R

This left me in tears and angry. I feel like jumping in my car, driving to D.C., and kicking the shit out of the bastards that stole Gore's presidency. Who's with me?

This film showed a man who as it turns out is not wooden. He's a gentleman, a devoted family man, a dork, an entrepreneur, a real human being.

And then I think of the waste of space in the White house now.

I realize my effusive adoration of Gore is over-the-top. But if anyone deserves another shot, it is he. America really needs his competence, his ingenuity, and, yes, his wonderfully soothing monotone. I just wonder if we dumbass Americans deserve such a president.

Edited for an enthusiastic K&R.

[calmblueocean]

17. I'm with you!

Meet you in front of the White House! :)

[AtomicKitten]

37. Dear Men in Black:

Only kidding :)

Precious Leader is safe.

But, come on, he is a dick. Unless you're the Thought Police, in which case, never mind ....

[calmblueocean]

19. If you really want to get angry, watch this right after:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/graphics/packageart/bush/bush_tsg.mov">http://www.thesmokinggun.com/graphics/packageart/bush/bush_tsg.mov. (Quicktime req.)

Compare Bush as drunken frat boy to Gore as wise family man, and see if you can stop yourself from throwing up.

[madfloridian]

20. That was a beautiful thing to watch.

But sad. I love that Tipper goes barefoot a lot. Why can't we let our politicians be human and act naturally.

[LizW]

21. That kind of stuff makes me cry. n/t

[Uncle Joe]

22. Thanks for the post Pirate Smile!

Kicked and recommended.

:kick:

[guidod]

23. Great Video, thanks!

What a down to earth great mind that man has!

[realFedUp]

24. I loved that video and was sorry it wasn't shown at a better hour in West

I remember that video well and thought if everyone
in America had seen it, all the media hype about
his being "wooden" would have disappeared.

It was shown around 4:00 pm PST and I don't know
how many saw it then, but it was good.

[Turn CO Blue]

25. K&R &Bookmarked for later... Can't watch videos at work (doh!)

Dear Al,
Please seriously consider running in 2008. I will work for you and raise money. I will find 20 other people to work for you and raise money.
---
tcb

[canichelouis]

27. I enjoyed that

[Greeby]

28. *sigh* Between this and the speeches hes given

and what he did after Katrina, who can say he's not the real President? :cry:

[marlakay]

29. I hope he runs in 08

Thanks for the video it was great. In the last 8 years he has grown so much and now really understands the pulse of the young with Google, Apple and Direct TV.

I read an article today written by a friend who says that he won't run unless we all demand it of him. I can't say I blame him after all he has been through and with being literally torn apart during elections these days and I am sure a fight against the Clintons would feel very strange to him.

I have been hearing so much talk about weak Dems and how we need to elect someone strong. I worked hard on the last election like most of us did and I am only willing to do it again if we have a strong candidate.

All I know is I am phsically and mentally tired of politics. I just want good people running the country so my grandkids have a future.

[ThomasNewton]

30. V

Remember, remember, the 12th of December (The day the court handed asshole the presidency)
Lies, treason and plot
I know of no reason, why the court's treason
Should ever be forgot.

[Dora]

43. Nice rhyme! And welcome to DU.

:hi:

[countingbluecars]

31. Thank you for posting this

It makes me so sad to think of what might have been. I am convinced that Gore is truly a good man who loves this country. We need him, and I'm hoping he will decide to run again.

[mdmc]

32. kick for later review

:kick:

[Vox_Reason]

34. This man was robbed.

Never forget.

[Duppers]

35. I shall never forget. I'm with Al. He's my president.

Said as I wipe the tears away.

[Capn Sunshine]

39. The country, hell the whole world , was robbed.

Imagine what could have been, instead of the descent into hell we find ourselves in now.

[Rose Siding]

36. So much potential

The "that camera you're using is better than the ones not too long ago" part where he talked about all the things that need to be changed and can be- was so hopeful.

:(

[spuddonna]

40. I had never seen this... and it makes me so sad...

Al Gore is such a smart, compassionate man. That video was funny and sweet. But instead of Gore, we have the chimp...

It makes me want to cry...

[sandnsea]

41. "He got tagged"

How many times do we have to have our candidates "get tagged" before we stop helping the opposition "tag" them. NOW everybody wants to fight the "cold and robotic" tag, but where were these people in 2000? I bet they're the same bunch who are still calling Kerry aloof and wooden.

Don't fight the "tag", fight the tactic so it won't work anymore.

[Apollo11]

42. Want more Gore?

Then you should check out this website for grassroots Gore supporters: www.algore.org

It's a great site - and I encourage other Gore supporters to keep spreading the word!

In Gore We Trust
www.algore.org :)

[progressoid]

44. Cool, will watch this later. Thanks!

[lwcon]

45. Two reactions

1. What a painfully prescient http://vastleft.blogspot.com/2006/03/saddest-video-in-world.html">quote: "I saw really fine minds not given the opportunity to reach their potential. But America is supposed to work for that person. That is what America is all about. You ought to be able to rise on your merit. It sounds corny, but it shouldn't. Why can't we do that?"

2. Can't you see Faux News raking him over the coals because he didn't want to watch the movie "The Patriot"?

[Greyhound]

47. Thanks

I'd like to know which idiot made the decision to exclude clips from this from his PR campaign?
:kick: