Obama vs Gore -- I'm afraid Obama is not going to be that transformative

[rhombus]

Barack Obama's instinct has always been to compromise on issues, to seek the 'middle' ground. If you study his history, this is how he has operated for the most part. It gets results, but doesn't really shake foundations. And that's why I'm a bit worried. The big problems we face on energy, health care, education, credit markets, etc, require hard-nosed transformational leadership to solve. A president who is not afraid if he's not liked. Obama likes to be liked, and I think this is his Achilles heel. Too much compromise.

Al Gore had the vision thing going for him on energy and the environment,and the attitude to challenge the establishment. I hope and pray that Pres. Obama adopts a tougher, unrelenting attitude to solving our nations problems. Our nation cannot survive with piecemeal watered-down legislation on the major issues of this day and age.

[eleny]

1. "It gets results" - nuff said

Right now, the foundations of the Rushpublican Party is being shaken by Obama's abilities. Good enough for me at this point.

Let's talk again in a couple of years. :hi:

[earth mom]

8. What Obama is doing is NOT good enough for the planet. We don't have YEARS to screw around.

Your post is extremely selfish and short sighted.

ANYTHING & EVERYTHING to be sacrificed for that "historical" moment in history, right? :eyes:

[firedupdem]

13. We don't have years, but in 3 weeks it should be all done?

and what "historical" moment are you referring to?

[earth mom]

17. Obama should have put Gores plans front & center in the stimulus package.

Fuck the banks and their bullshit. They ain't stimulating the economy. What a fucking joke.

Pouring money into solar & wind & energy efficient cars would have stimulated the economy and created jobs-BIG TIME.

I don't see Obama focusing on the big picture of global warming much at all.

No, he's focusing on the bullshit banks and endless war in the middle east.

Same as it ever was.

[firedupdem]

22. Do you realize the bull shit banks hold the credit companies

need to start these wind solar energy companies? Unfortunately, they are a necessary evil! The banks have to be dealt with. There's no way around it.

How much focusing on global warming can he have in 3 weeks? If you want to say it's the same as it ever was then go right ahead. I'm hoping you'll be pleasantly surprised one day.

[karynnj]

39. He did put some of the money on things like that

The stimulus money did NOT go to banks!!! But, they need to solve the Financial crisis as well. Not to mention, Gore was not the only one with a plan to use the energy sector to stimulate the economy - EVERY Democrat in 2008 ran on that - and Kerry spoke of it in those terms in 2004.

Not concentrating on global warming?
- Then why did he make it clear that John Kerry unofficially represented him at Poznan before he took office - and Kerry made sure the world knew "America was back".
- Why did he meet with Gore before he took office?
- Why did he select such an incredible Secretary of Energy as Dr Cho?
- (As to the Senate, why was the first hearing of the SFRC on global warming - with Gore testifying?)
- Why was high speed rail - which will create lower carbon usage for transportation diverted from short plane trips or by car?
- Why were there many green energy parts of the stimulus bill?

[karynnj]

37. He has been President for less than a month

In that time, he has already done more than Clinton/Gore did in 8 years on clean energy through the provisions in the stimulus package. Are you impressed with Energy Secretary Cho? A Nobel Prize winner who has the credentials to lead a real effort to jump start the scientific research needed to get the new solutions.

What exactly do you think that Obama is not doing on global warming that Gore would be doing? Obama needs a good treaty that he can get passed by the Senate. That is an effort that MANY people are working on - including Gore, Kerry, and now HRC. What exactly would Gore already have done?

[MrSlayer]

66. The planet is fine.

The people are in trouble but the world isn't. When all is said and done the dinosaurs will have outlasted us by millions of years. They didn't actively work toward their extinction.

[MADem]

2. You're just figuring this out? When he said "change" he clearly meant "change from BUSH."

Other than that--he's doing what he has said, over and over again, that he'll do. He's a triangulator, like Clinton. He believes in INCREMENTAL change. He also believes in cooperating with the GOP and finding common ground. That's why, if you look at his cabinet, it looks like Bill Clinton picked it out.

[Captain Hilts]

54. Yes, that has pluses and minuses. Clinton had to, he had a conservative Congress...

and country. Obama does not. He's prez after two consecutive elections have STOMPED on the Republicans. The tide is not going their way, unlike Clinton where the Republican numbers in Congress actually went UP the year he was elected.

Right now, the American people are to the left of the president and Congress.

[MADem]

56. Obama knows his "base" is fungible. And I'm not talking about the progressive wing of his base.

I'm talking about the fed-up conservative Dems and the right leaning Independents who have taken a chance on "change" but could easily be swayed back to the "Reagan Democrat" line if things get too rough for their liking.

He's walking a fine line, simply because his support isn't really as die-hard solid. Right now, he's new. Everyone wants the nice new guy to do well. Once we're used to him, expect, if everything doesn't improve and keep improving, for his support and good wishes to soften a bit.

[Radical Activist]

63. That isn't what I see happening so far.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8200852&mesg_id=8200852

[FrenchieCat]

3. The difference of course is that Al Gore was never President,

so that vision thing was never exercised in a manner that you can now make comparisons.

Clinton/Gore had 8 years in office, and in reference to health care, education and even energy, I don't recall the "Hard-nose transformational leadership" used to "solve" these issues by either the President or the VP for that matter.

Can you point me to some factual background to support this OP of yours with facts?

Thanks! :hi:

[rhombus]

14. Ok, you make a good point.

Yes governing is hard, but having a thicker uncompromising skin in the first place helps to effect major transformation. I just don't see Obama having that inherent attitude to begin with.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Let me go further.....

you state...."Barack Obama's instinct has always been to compromise on issues, to seek the 'middle' ground."

What has Barack Obama compromised on as to today? He passed the Fair Act, Insurance coverage for Children, and the 787 Billion dollar stimulus,and has reversed certain Bush executive orders through executive orders of his own...and note that Barack Obama was elected with a clear majority of the people, including those in Florida.

You go on to say....."If you study his history, this is how he has operated for the most part. It gets results, but doesn't really shake foundations."

If I study history, I see Al Gore not standing up for himself during the 2000 election.....but rather Al Gore acting very halting and hesitant, and allowing the media narrative to paint him as a loser. What was a transformational era and shook the foundation of this country was the George Bush 8 year rule....which I hope and pray is never repeated. Al Gore chose not to campaign with Bill Clinton, who was well liked, all because Al Gore was afraid that he would lose the "Morality" vote, which he did anyways.....which resulted in a catastrophy for this country and the world.


further, you state...."The big problems we face on energy, health care, education, credit markets, etc, require hard-nosed transformational leadership to solve."

Sorry, but I still don't see where Al Gore did much here till he was retired from active politics. It is much easier to become a force for change when no one is voting for you. Just ask Jimmy Carter. Meantime, George Bush, who did take the office, turned everything to shit....so I'm not sure how Al Gore made a big difference other than after the fact, once the coast was clear. Hell, Al Gore even chose not to run in 2004....even though it is possible that if he had had the fortitude to do so, he could have erased 4 years of nightmare that we went on to realize....but of course, he didn't even go there.

"Obama likes to be liked, and I think this is his Achilles heel. Too much compromise."

There is nothing wrong with being liked, and in fact, that's how Bill Clinton won not one, but two terms in office...while Al Gore won ZERO at the head of any ticket. For you to believe that this is what our current President is concentrating on is not born out by any real proof beyond your personal projection. Indeed you are opining as much as the cynical media pundits.

you further state....."Al Gore had the vision thing going for him on energy and the environment,and the attitude to challenge the establishment."

Again, once out of office, Al Gore, in the last 8 years has done quite a bit......without having to seek the support of voters, and all the while George Bush was busy destroying this country. In other words, I'm not so impressed with Al Gore's challenge to the establishment while he was sitting on the sideline as a comparison as to what this three week old presidency might pan out to be. Comparing apples to oranges will never bring a fair assessment of anything.


And so your ending prayer...."I hope and pray that Pres. Obama adopts a tougher, unrelenting attitude to solving our nations problems. Our nation cannot survive with piecemeal watered-down legislation on the major issues of this day and age."

should fall on deaf ears, as I'm not sure what Democratic President last used a tough, unrelenting attitude in solving anything. Bush is the last person you described that used "tough, unrelenting" tactics to get what he wants. I don't personally believe that this worked out to benefit anyone of us. :shrug:

[olegramps]

67. I have agree with you concerning Gore

Many members of my family sent telegrams to Gore urging him not to conceded the election. He should have taken the fight directly to the people and demanded a recount of every vote. He wimped out as far as I am concerned and let down millions of Democrats that worked for his election.

[politicasista]

83. Gore didn't wimp out

He fought as hard as he could. It wasn't his fault the the SCOTUS was heavily stacked with Bush cronies (i.e. Fathead Thomas, Scalia, etc.).

[Uncle Joe]

81. It wasn't the morality vote, it was the credibility vote and in that regard

Clinton damaged him. I believe if the corporate media had been anywhere near just in their coverage, Al Gore would have easily overcome this and won by a landslide. But if the corporate media decides in mass to demonize any person, ideology or institution that is a powerful brain washing force, as they would later do by convincing 70+% of the American People, that Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11 in spite of overwhelming evidence against it. Clinton's lie; "I did not have sexual relations with that woman" to the people was played continuously day and night, combined with the slanders and libel the corporate media willfully made up against Gore made integrity or credibility the key issue, particularly in the moderate to conservative states.

In 2008 after eight years of Bush, a wrecked economy and a stronger more influential Internet, President Obama's job was made much easier by comparison.

"Al Gore chose not to campaign with Bill Clinton, who was well liked, all because Al Gore was afraid that he would lose the "Morality" vote, which he did anyways.....which resulted in a catastrophy for this country and the world."

[mkultra]

82. The biggest Gore failure was letting Bush win.

He should have won, but he didn't.

On edit, let me say that i personally love Gore.

[Parker CA]

4. Only 25 days have passed since he took office. Let's check back in another, say, 200 or 600 days.

[BlooInBloo]

5. You fail.

[firedupdem]

10. that's it...

I'm in love

:loveya:

[BlooInBloo]

16. (blush)

Just don't let CatWoman find out!

:P

[firedupdem]

23. dammit! I hate competition! n/t

;)

[BlooInBloo]

27. Heh. If you can convince her to be socialist about this sort of thing...

you won't get any argument from me.

:rofl:

[firedupdem]

29. I'm going to have to start posting on her threads and being really

nice....then I can sneak around from the other side. She'll never know. ;)

[firedupdem]

6. What has he compromised on?

He told the rethugs flat out on the stimulus bill that we wouldn't be following their same old ideas. Thats the only legislation we've had that required votes from the other side. I think it's a good bill....not perfect because no bill that large will be.

People like Obama naturally. He doesn't have to compromise for the attention he's getting. Just being in tune with everyday americans has garnered him a big dose of respect and admiration from regular americans.

[CJCRANE]

7. Don't be afraid.

Don't be impatient either, we're only three weeks in.

[stray cat]

9. Obama will be willing to listen and understand and to be practical

It takes being somewhat practical to get anything done.

[Oak2004]

47. It is not "practical" to take weak measures in the face of a global crisis

"Practicality" of that sort will leave us all dead.

[phleshdef]

71. LOL @ "weak measures". God these armchair presidents on this board friggin kill me.

[Oak2004]

92. So what part of global warming do you think is hilarious?

The disjunct between scientists, who make cautious predictions, because that's how science operates; the non-denying politicians, who assume that scientists must exaggerate the hazard; the deniers, who won't hear what they don't want to hear no matter what evidence is in front of them; and the climate itself, which is worsening far more rapidly than has been predicted?

Well, I will agree with one thing you've said: barring drastic action, it is friggin killing you.

BTW, I'm not an armchair president: I'm a former NOAA climate modeler.

[Hello_Kitty]

11. You'll find very few politicians unafflicted by "wanting to be liked" syndrome

It's kinda part and parcel with getting elected.

[earth mom]

12. Your post is EXACTLY why I wanted Gore for President. No one cares about the planet like Gore does.

Obama has "other" priorities. :puke:

[AndyTiedye]

28. I Wanted Gore Too, But Gore Didn't Run this Time

[Radical Activist]

62. One month of Obama has done more for the environment than 8 years of Clinton/Gore.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. So Obama came out in the first 3 weeks making nice, appointing

Republicans to things, offering compromises, etc., giving them every opportunity to reciprocate, building up his cred with the public, who had gotten very sick of partisanship, knowing all the while that they were not about to change their stripes. They try to stab him in the back with the only weapon they have, which turns out to be a rubber dagger, and now he's free to pretty much do what he wants, ignoring them while putting through his big-time legislation. He's now about to let the bankers hang themselves with their greed, so when he goes to nationalize them, the public will be behind him every step of the way.

And bTW, I was a diehard Gore advocate this time around (lukewarm in 2000, because HE was lukewarm in 2000). I was still waiting for him to announce after the Nobel Prize.

[firedupdem]

18. And people so quickly forget that everyday americans have

said they HATE the partisan bickering! His poll numbers continue to rise because he reaches out to the other side. So what that they slap his hand away! He expects them to...but he looks even better for making the attempt.

People dismiss the positive steps that have already been taken in this 3 week presidency!

[Jackpine Radical]

20. Yes, exactly. I do think Obama is some kind of strategic genius,

which Gore never was and never will be. Much as I love Gore, both he and Obama are now in their proper places in the universe.

[firedupdem]

25. Exactly! n/t

[givemebackmycountry]

19. I think he just proved you wrong...

He got his shit passed right out of the box.
He knows what he's up against, he's a poker player and he knows he's got a weak table to play against.
We need to get Franken seated and decide what is going to happen to Teddy.
Hopefully, he comes back but I know he's got a tough road ahead.
We get 59 and we can do what we want.

[anonymous171]

21. Al Gore was DLC. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

24. Yes, in 2000.

By 2008--and for a long time before that--he was acting like a true progressive.

[wyldwolf]

36. how so?

[Jackpine Radical]

45. By speaking out, with his movie and his book

The Assault on Reason.

[wyldwolf]

46. Al Gore always spoke out. About what specifically are you referring?

[Jackpine Radical]

48. Prior to 2000, I never had much of a n impression of him as a liberal.

Except for his environmentalism (and that only in certain ways), he did not especially impress me--too centrist, too DLC. I also think that he may have been further left than he appeared, but kept his peace as VP so as to present a united front with the DLCish Clinton. In the 2000 campaign, his voice was apparently still muffled, this time by his advisers. Brazile, I think, sat on him. It seemed that he did not really find his voice until after 2000, when he discovered that Kris Kristofferson was right: "Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose."

[wyldwolf]

49. I'm missing specifics in your reply

I'll try to fill in the gaps:

Environmentalism - Gore always was, and many of his ideas and policies were published by the DLC

Iraq - Gore was a rare DLCer in speaking out against it, but he wasn't the only one. He was just the highest profile. Former Gov/Sen Bob Graham comes to mind.

NAFTA - Gore was still singing it's praises in 2006.

Gore was in on the creation of the DLC. He was a centrist from the get go.

In 2006 Simon Rosenberg of the New Democratic Network said when discussing a possible Gore 2008 presidential run, quote: "As a member of the Democratic Leadership Council he has some centrist credentials without forsaking his leftist credentials." (notice the present tense.)

Some time later I spoke to Donna Brazile who seemed surprised I would ask of Gore's status in the DLC: "I have no clue about Gore's membership or lack thereof but I believe as a centrist he supports a balance budget, fiscal controls, smart diplomacy and other policy goals and can attract support from a broad range of Democrats, as well as others."

She was spot on about Gore's centrist credentials. As for DLC "membership," one only has to pay dues to be member.

[karynnj]

87. Even on the environment - he was not consistently good

He was great on global warming, but he was not that good on other environmental issues like clean water and air. He had a lifetime LCV score in the 60s, compared to Lieberman at 95 and Kerry at 96. (Kerry's efforts on ANWR and other issues, in addition to his votes led to an endorsement in the primaries - something they did not give Gore.)

You are ignoring Gore's 1988 run where he was the first DLC endorsed candidate. He was even in favor of assisting the Contras. I really see no reason to think he was more to the left as VP - there is nothing to suggest it. If anything, on some issues - censorship of records he was to the right.

I don't think that his views were distorted in 2000. I think winning an election and having it stolen was a moment that shattered many long held believes he had - and he examined everything after that moment and emerged very changed from the man he was before. His positions stronger and to the left, but also with a strong distaste for politics. At this point, Gore, who never was an activist while in politics - is an extremely successful activist and he seems to love being that.

[CJCRANE]

26. BTW please use the word "concerned"

instead of "afraid".

;)

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. I think that you're going to find that the partisan hacks on the right & the LEFT

are soon to become even more marginalized than they are already. If the President thinks he can win over some weak Repubs, while extending the hand of bipartisanship, how can that be a bad thing?

I know that partisanship gets ratings for the evening news shows, talk radio & the blogs, but in the real world, it's a major drag on moving the country forward. I don't get all the handwringing this soon into the President's first term. Were you mislead? Did you not believe the President when he promised to reach out to the people who didn't support him?

Obama should be very careful not to let the hard left box him into the same predicament that the GOP now finds itself, or he'll quickly be reduced to a "regional" leader, and that's not good for him, or for the country.

As much as I admire Al Gore, he was never actually President.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

31. gore 2001 is also not the same gore as gore 2009.

gore 2001 would have done more or less what obama is doing but with less love from us and the media

[NYC_SKP]

33. Why did CAFE standards stay fucking FLAT while he was VP?

I know he wasn't president, but I don't remember hearing a peep from him over this in the nineties.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

CAFE: Corporate Average Fuel Economy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy

[Jennicut]

50. Exactly because he was VP. I'm sorry but that is Clinton's call ultimately.

I love Gore and Obama. Hate this dividing of Dems. Blah.

[NYC_SKP]

51. Didn't hear much about it during his run for president, either.

It pains me, I love the man but it pains me that so many looked the other way when it was obvious how wasteful we were being.

[Jennicut]

58. Well he ran a poor campaign and listened to bad advice

that does not mean he did not care about the issue. Gore would have been a good president, so would have Kerry. That being said, I am very satisfied with Obama.

[karynnj]

34. This is not a fair comparison

Al Gore did not run on transforming the country. The only issue that he had positions on that were not Democratic centrist when he actually was a politician was global warming. I do think he would have done a huge amount on this issue - but look at Obama - on that issue. He has Dr Cho, a Nobel prize winner who can really lead the effort on innovation and technology needed. He has consulted with Gore and had Kerry, who did as much as any American at Bali to insure a treaty, as his unofficial guy at Poznan and in the Senate Kerry will be the person pushing any treaty. He also has HRC speaking on efforts to do a joint project with China. There is NOTHING more a President Gore could or would be doing had he been inaugurated less than a month ago.

On other environmental issues - Gore was an average Democrat. He had a 60 something life time score from the LCV. (On environmental issues - other than global warming, there are many people who were better - including Lieberman, who scored a few points behind Kerry. As to fighting the establishment - though Gore spoke against the things Bush did, he was a centrist DLC candidate in 1988 and had the same beliefs in 2000. He was NOT at all known for fighting the establishment. There was nothing in anything he did in his 3 or so decades in office to say this. Nor really did Obama. There are VERY few politicians who while in office - especially if they have "potential" do this. (Kerry did in investigating the Contras and BCCI) Since he left, he has been a critic of the establishment on many issues.

But, there are many Presidents who go an entire term or two doing less to effect change than the bill Obama just got passed and will sign. As environment is clearly something you care about the various green energy things and the high speed rail spending are very very major. He has only been President for LESS THAN A MONTH!

[earth mom]

64. So you're saying Obama is fighting the "establishment"?! Have you seen Obama's cabinet picks?!

Where are the REAL liberals in that cabinet, hmm?

Where's RFK Jr.? Or Howard Dean?

Go ahead and keep deluding yourself, but Obama is WAY further to the right than you think he is.

While Gore has taken a HUGE left turn since 2000.

Gore wouldn't have let the rethugs push him around like Obama has.

And he certainly wouldn't have been trying to kiss up to them either.

Not after they stole the presidency from him.

I have NO doubt Gore would have been a better president than Obama.

Because Gore wouldn't be worrying about whether or not people liked him or not.

Gores dedication to the planet trumps that kind of bullshit.

And therein lies the difference.

[karynnj]

70. Where did I saying Obama was fighting the establishment

My point was that Gore never did either for the entire 3 decades or so that he was in politics. Out of politics, he is free to take stronger positions than he did then. My other point is that in these first 3 weeks (and the time before) the things Obama has done on global warming - are as strong as anything Gore could have done.

I think you are ignoring the magnitude of what Obama did. You assume that Gore could get what he wants passed - I seriously doubt it.
In addition, Gore is one of the many people who is giving Obama input on this. He has already done more than Gore could get Clinton to do in 8 years - where he never raised CAFE standards. What Gore did that was extraordinary was that since about 2004, he has really taught people all over the world that global warming is a real threat.

But, Gore is not President and it may be that he is more comfortable in the teaching and activist role. Obama is our President and this year will be a year where he will have to do a huge amount on global warming. He will have to use his own persuasiveness, in addition to the strong support from people like Gore and Kerry - and people like Cho. From the one long interview I saw on line he is able to easily communicate the excitement of science. In addition, HRC will be involved with a team of people negotiating a treaty - likely with Kerry helping them because he likely knows better than others what he can get the Senate to pass, (A treaty that doesn't pass that is the stronger than the strongest one that can is worth far less.)

Maybe using your concern to advocate for the programs - rather than attacking the President who is working on the issue.

[phleshdef]

72. A President's job isn't to "fight the establishment" anyways. Its to make it work for us.

[karynnj]

73. exactly - Thanks

[earth mom]

78. Obama would have gotten NOWHERE if it wasn't for Gore's efforts in the first place

so to compare what Obama's done now to the Clinton/Gore administration is bullshit and irrelevant.

And again, where is RFK Jr. in Obama's cabinet?

But you won't answer that or speak to how conservative Obama really is, will you?

Because Obama is just so perfect on that pedestal you've got him on. :eyes:

Denial Denial Denial.

[karynnj]

86. I don't have Obama on a pedestal

In 2008, he was my choice more by elimination than anything else. I did not trust Edwards on anything because there were too many issues where I had seen him - with wide blue eyed sincerity - said that his position at a specific point in time was 2 completely incompatible things. I also did not want the Clintons back - in reality, it left just Obama, who had said some things I liked - but I really didn't like his wishy washy comments on filibustering Alito and I thought his comments on Kerry/Feingold were atrocious (worse than his vote). I really didn't like the fact that even after the election on MTP he referred to taking his Iraq position (a variation of Kerry/Feingold making the interval longer) when it was not popular. This is not true - he announced that position well after the majority of American people and a huge majority of Democrats favored it.

A cursory look at my posts would show you that the politician I support most often is John Kerry, who was to the left of Obama. He also was more consistent oin ALL environmental issues than Gore, who was exceptional on global warming.

I am not in denial - but I am a realist. I did say on this thread that Gore's work made this an issue more people supported - what he did was fantastic, but that doesn't mean that he would have been able to do more than the CONGRESS and Obama did on this bill. Obama did a great job working with Congress. In 2000, Gore knew what Congress was going to require to pass Kyoto - the negotiated treaty did not come close and was never sent to the Senate. Gore did not use the leverage of the US being involved or not internationally nor did he then make any effort to get it ratified. I am more impressed with the quiet behind the scenes negotiating at Bali that developed a plan that included - with different constraints - countries like India and China. A plan will not work without them and the Senate will not ratify a treaty without them.

[IsItJustMe]

35. I think you pretty well got it right. But you never know what these people are capable of,

especially during trying times. People often change completely in their habits. I don't want to be an alarmist here, but I think that is where we are at in this country right now. We shall see.

[elizm]

38. Oh, please....get over it. If Gore had been more of a fighter like Obama...

He might have been President for the past 8 years.

[Captain Hilts]

55. I agree. nt

[earth mom]

65. Bullshit. Gore fought like hell to be president. Stop lying.

:grr:

[AtomicKitten]

74. Gore fought it all the way to the Supreme Court; the next step was anarchy. n/t

[last_texas_dem]

80. Maybe if he'd challenged Antonin Scalia to a duel and won...

Otherwise, I'm not sure what else you would have had him do on that front...

[book_worm]

40. I think you need to look at Gore's record prior to the 2000 election

and you'll see that Gore and Obama aren't much different.

[Zen Democrat]

41. Not transformative? Ha! He already has been, and continues to be.

[quiet.american]

42. THANK YOU! nt

[MarjorieG]

43. His instincts are pragmatic, to help steer the way, lay groundwork, when GOP, media, in resistance.

We all have to embrace the possible as not being failure, and trumpet that success. Obama more than people here know the consequences of his actions and inactions.

[quiet.american]

44. Utter horse-hockey.

Barack Obama's achievements of being the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review, his hard-scrabble, hard-fought victories in Chicago politics, his being only the fifth African-American senator to ever be elected, and his being elected the first African-American POTUS were not achieved because his priority is to be "liked."

I would challenge you to go back and listen to his podcasts, especially during the time he was a senator. The picture that emerges of him, in his own words is 180 degrees away from the portrait you're painting.

Also, Rachel Maddow's show did a side-by-side comparison of what Obama had said he'd wanted out of the Economic Recovery Act and what he achieved. The finally bill actually contains more than what he'd stated he'd wanted.

Your perspective, in my view, is completely off the mark.

[earth mom]

79. Obama was picked by the media & had the blessing & backing of Oprah.

That and the "historical" b.s. that was heaped upon the election is why he is where he is now.

Get real.

[quiet.american]

85. Take your meds. nt

[Clio the Leo]

52. But Obama is a proven winner.......

and screwy elections aside ..... he won the vote and then some. He didn't just luck into the FL and OH votes .... he fought hard for them and worked for every vote.

I adore Gore, he was my Senator long before he was America's VP and I worked in his father's Senatorial library while in Grad. School. I KNOW this family (from a public standpoint.) I'll take Barack's methods over his any day.

[Captain Hilts]

53. Yes, this is why we must keep pulling him. His track record is to seek middle ground. nt

[dbmk]

68. If needed to get results.

I can respect idealism. But not when it gets in the way of progress.

I see nothing in Obamas trackrecord that says he seeks middle ground for the middle grounds sake alone. He does it for the sake of the given cause.

[Raine]

57. Compromising has it's place

I'll wait and see where the compromising is done.

[kwenu]

59. If you wanted a president who is not afraid of being disliked you must have loved George W. Bush.

[Onlooker]

60. Al Gore ran as an anti-Clinton moderate ...

... and before that actually embraced the right wing fanatic Fred Phelps. Al Gore never had a vision until after the election was stolen from him.

[Captain Hilts]

69. And running against Clinton's record and using Clinton in the campaign was a mistake.

Clinton won Gore's home state, Gore did not.

[Cha]

84. So? We all see the Light in

our time. He's been into the Planet for quite awhile, though..and now he's getting things done.

[Radical Activist]

61. You must not be paying attention.

Obama already did more for the environment and climate change in one month than the Clinton/Gore administration did in eight years. Do you know how many billions will be spent on green energy, efficiency and mass transit because of the stimulus bill?
Have you heard about him overturning the denial of the California clean car waiver?

[AtomicKitten]

75. I'm afraid your Magic 8 ball is broken. n/t

[Bake]

76. Frankly, I'm not too concerned about "transformative"

I just want someone to put the damn train back on the rails and get it moving in the right direction again.

Bake

[politicasista]

77. What's with the Gore/Obama bashing or vice versa?

No hero worshiper and won't agree with everything PO does, but how did this happen? :shrug:

[psychmommy]

88. vp choice lieberman enough said!

[stillcool]

89. Isn't it great how...

removing yourself from politics frees you up to follow your interests? Funny how the memory thing works.

[MasonJar]

90. I was heartbroken when Florida stole the 2000 election from Al Gore

by virtue of Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris. However, since then Gore has shown extraordinary stature against the Bush atrocities in no holds barred speeches and he has shown concern and expertise regarding the Earth's dilemma on climate change. He is a statesman, always was. The world is a much lesser place than it would have been if Gore had won in 2000. That needs no proof. I was heartbroken again when he did not run in 2004 and in 2008, but I believe he has a more important job, saving the world. That said, Obama has a responsibility to not just talk green, but to also act on green issues. I agree that more money should go to green jobs/study than to banks which have failed to be anything except vehicles of greed. The GOPers job is stomp Obama, and the sooner he recognizes their agenda, the faster we can get the change he promised. If he does not deliver, he will lose more than those moderate GOPers and independents listed above.

[kwenu]

91. Apples to Oranges. Next..........