Word from Al Gore's Office: Stop Ballot initiatives (to draft Gore)

[kpete]

Word from Al Gore's Office: Stop Ballot initiatives
by Abraham Running For Congress When I Turn 25
Mon Nov 12, 2007 at 09:25:38 PM PST

It is painful for me to write these words, I just got this letter from Karen Wunderman Chief of Staff at AlGore.org

Dear AFG Steering Committee Members:

We have received a communication from a member of Al Gore’s staff discouraging our efforts to put Al Gore’s name on any primary ballots. This includes California, New York, Massachusetts, and the write-in effort in New Hampshire, as well as any other states that are working to get him on the ballot. Accordingly, effective immediately, we are recommending that all groups cease their signature collection and related fund-raising activities.

Some of you may wonder about the discrepancy between this message and the one sent out last week. We have attempted to bring you information as we receive it, and only information that is credible, and last week’s information came from credible sources, but not sources from within Gore’s office. Unfortunately, today’s communication comes from Gore’s staff and trumps the information we received last week.

We’re all reeling and in a bit of a state of shock, and our main objective right now is to get people to stop working for something we’ve been discouraged from pursuing. Beyond that, we recognize that for many this will feel like getting hit by a Mack truck. It’s impossible to convey the deep disappointment we all feel, but we’ve been to hell and back again with this, and just as we hung together in the past, we’ll grieve together and get support from the community we built. Regardless of how we attempt to deal with this blow, we should at least now be able to turn our attention back to family, friends, and jobs that have been neglected over these long months of hard work. We built a community of support and supporters, and I believe our lives were enriched for having known each other and worked together for this cause we believe in so strongly. Many of us have formed permanent bonds with people in this movement that transcend the political ideology that brought us together in the first place. These are ties that will last a lifetime.

We’ll be putting out more communications in the days ahead, but for now we felt it was urgent to get this information out to people so they wouldn’t put any more time or money into the effort. I hope we can turn our grief and disappointment into something more positive and productive in the future.

There are no words to express our sorrow at having to deliver this news, but I’m afraid it is real, and the request needs to be heeded.

With deepest regrets,

--Karen

Karen Wunderman

Chief of Staff, Volunteer Division

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/11/13/02538/096

Update: http://www.myspace.com/vastleftdotcom

[New Earth]

1. maybe it's because

He's going to take the intitiative himself :o

























shut up....we can wish...

[Javaman]

30. ...

:banghead:

[Botany]

2. Damn

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

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:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[HeeBGBz]

3. Well, that's some sucky news

Hello Kucinich.

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. EXTREMELY misleading subject line

I know you are quoting the article and it is not your fault, kpete. :hi:

I saw the subject and my first thought was, "What the Hell? Now Al Gore is looking to strip Americans of their rights! What's next, Jimmy Carter saying we would be better off in internment camps?"

Then I read the article itself. :blush:

May I suggest changing the suject to say "Stop Ballot initiatives (to draft Gore)"?

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Thanks! n/t

[shadowknows69]

5. Can we agree he's not running now?

[BlackVelvet04]

17. One would think so, but

this is D.U.

[Javaman]

31. No kidding. look at the first comment in this thread. nt

[crispini]

6. Ah well....

:kick: and r so that more people will see it. Even though I don't feel like R. :(

[Benhurst]

7. Troubling ...

Recommended :kick: #2

Did anyone else notice in one of Gore's interviews the other day that he said he had no plans to run in this election cycle, but that he might be a candidate in 2012.

I found the statement odd in so far as the traditional answer would have been 2016, giving the presumed Democratic winner two full terms.

At the time, I wondered if he expects the 2008 election to be stolen. The proper reforms have not been made, and I have worried for some time we might be heading for the third straight fixed election. The stakes couldn't be higher for the Bush Crime Family. An honest Attorney General and Justice Department is the last thing they need.

It may have been just a slip of the tongue, but I found it a rather odd thing for Gore to say.

If the Republicans take Jeb Bush for their vice presidential candidate, Katie bar the door!

[Tesha]

26. Perhaps he's expecting Madam Inevitable to be an electoral flop? (NT)

[Benhurst]

27. That could be. In any event, I fear if the Republicans steal or win

another four years in what is becoming the "unitary" executive, the Republic will be so far gone, elections won't matter any more.

[mod mom]

9. kpete, I went to the algore.com site and didn't find anything. Wouldn't you think

this was big news and that sites other than some diarist named "Abraham running for congress when I turn 25" would cover it.

Maybe I'm in denial but until I hear it fromn a reliable source, I'm not buying it.

[NYCGirl]

10. My NYC Draft Gore group got the "stand down" letter too. It's real. NT

[Labors of Hercules]

12. Has DraftGore been asked to stop completely?

or just the write-in/ballot initiatives???

[NYCGirl]

16. It asked us to "stop efforts to place Gore on primary ballots". NT

[Benhurst]

11. Thanks, mod mom.

I'm ready to grasp for any scrap of good news that is out there.

I just went to algore.com. I think you are right. Of course there is the possibility of an oversight -- but surely we aren't that much more on the ball than he and his staff are. If he is officially nixing a write-in, he should post a brief statement on his website.

[jemsan]

13. My group in California received the same message :(

[Hatchling]

14. Its really sad

But the California Draft Gore organization was also asked to stand down. I got the email last night.

[rodeodance]

15. I think it is time to focus energy on other good causes. He has his vision

and it is a grand one.

[lame54]

18. i'll wait for multiple sources on this one

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0Nnph3zkHNw

[asthmaticeog]

19. Cool. So, 30% of DU can get lives now?

:thumbsup:

[EstimatedProphet]

21. No

there's still the challenges to Gore deciding to not run. Then comes the pleading. After that comes begging. We won't hear the end of Gore 2008 until after 2012.

[Benhurst]

28. 2012? So you are assuming a Democrat won't win in 2008, for that is the only

reason Gore might run in 2012.

[EstimatedProphet]

47. Huh?

Uh...no. What I am saying is that I expect people to be still saying "Gore will announce any day now" AFTER the election is over in 2008.

[IndyOp]

23. So 30% of DU can get lives now?

Do you expect that your question will build energy for us all to move forward together?

:(

[toadzilla]

24. screw you.

doing all we can to get the man who we thought would have given us the best chance to save our country and our planet does not mean we don't have lives. what are you doing with your life thats so fucking more important?

[Benhurst]

29. Thanks, toadzilla.

:hi:

[Javaman]

32. Wow you told us.

I gave up on Al when he said, "I have no plans to run". I usually take the man for his word and not go on some quixotic mission to figure out the Da Vinci code of his words.

I switched over to Kucinich and have supported him since. That's what I'm doing, thank you very much. :)

[toadzilla]

33. thats great, and I wont ridicule you for your choice

so I expect the same in return. thank you.

[Javaman]

38. naaa, I don't play fair.

get over it, he ain't running.

[toadzilla]

41. umm ok.....

I am over it. my issue is the disrespect for people who are out there trying to get something done, and be proactive. rather than just bitching about it on a message board.

[Javaman]

48. LOL you mean like your post? LOL

kidding aside.

The thing that worries me more about the people who are still hanging on to the hope of Gore being a candidate, is it, to me, slows down the process. Where as their energies could be used to support someone who is actually running.

Just think of the work that could get done.

Sigh.

[toadzilla]

50. just because I'm posting here while I'm at work...

doesn't mean i don't go home and spend my evenings doing volunteer work each election season.
I work phone banks, I canvass door to door, I organize meetings and non-profit events and fund raisers.

so go lol yourself.

[Javaman]

51. Damn dude, learn to laugh at yourself, you would be much better for it.

jesus christ.

[asthmaticeog]

36. Anything.

Anything is more important than throwing all your energy at a non-candidate. Beating off to internet porn? More important. Having a nap? More important. Arguing on a message board with thick-skulled delusionals who turned their quixotic support of a "candidate" who ANNOUNCED MONTHS AGO THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO RUN into a religious crusade? About equally important. Laughing at the people who're effectively in fucking mourning over this "news" even though it's not news to anyone and hasn't been for months? Not only equally important, but kinda fun.

[toadzilla]

39. great attitude. i hope that works out for you.

[asthmaticeog]

49. Works great, obviously, as I'm not the one in need of a bereavement councelor.

[crispini]

44. Um, no.

Look, if the Draft Gore movement got some people to come out to meetings or get involved politically that otherwise would not have gotten involved -- then that's important, especially if those people stay involved. Definitely more important than having a nap. ;)

[toadzilla]

45. WRONG!

beating off to internet porn is sooooo more important than that.

:spank:

:sarcasm:

[OzarkDem]

34. Our votes are up for grabs, bring us your A game

No warmed over DLC pap, ok?

[asthmaticeog]

35. Suggesting that I'm sympathetic to the DLC is laughably uninformed.

By the way, what group was it that Al Gore was a prominent member of?










Oh, yeah, it was THE DLC.

[ronnykmarshall]

37. Oh you and them pesky FACTS!!

[Horse with no Name]

43. "WAS" being the operative word here

I WAS a member of the Girl Scouts...it was a long ago and I am no longer a member though. Which, by the way, IS the same with Al and the DLC.

[OzarkDem]

54. Correction

Gore is not a member of the DLC and publicly disagreed with their legislative platform.

I'm not insinuating you personally are part of the DLC, but most of the Dem candidates platforms are pretty weak, particularly in the area of health care reform.

There are a lot of Gore supporters up for grabs right now, so the remaining candidates need to make a strong pitch to win them over.

[asthmaticeog]

56. "The remaining candidates"

By which you mean the actual candidates. As in those who've declared their candidacy. As opposed to the guy who never did, and in fact said he wasn't interested. Just want to be clear on this.

[OzarkDem]

57. So what's your answer?

What do they have to lure Gore supporters with?

[asthmaticeog]

59. I don't see why *I* have to answer that. I'm not a candidate, nor am I stumping for one.

There are lots of candidates. I'm sure one of them will have something to offer that will approximate fulfilling your emotional needs. You can even read all about them on the internet. It's not my job to pick one for you, or tell you why you should support one. If you don't know why you should support a Democrat, ask about having that username changed.

[rosesaylavee]

61. A life like yours? No thanks. n/t

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. I was sort of expecting this this week.

I already knew he wasn't running for sure yesterday when Gore announced he was joining Kleiner Perkins. I thought this would follow pretty close on its heels.

It's a bummer, but I do respect the work that Gore is doing and as such respect his decision. :(

[stubtoe]

22. I've figured as much. But I'll support him in whatever he does.

Al's one of the great ones. Maybe next time.

[L. Coyote]

25. I guess saying "I'm not a candidate" every day is getting old! Too bad because

Al Gore is the only elected President in US history to not ever make a mistake in office.

Hey AL, say, "IMPEACH the JUNTA!" too. WTF, you are not a candidate.

[spanone]

40. Word to Al Gore's Office: Make Me

[Horse with no Name]

42. Terrible news. Not totally unexpected, but terrible news nonetheless.

I guess it will give some folks around here room to stomp on those of us who had a vision of what goodness and decency would look like in the WH, even though it turned out to be a mirage.
I guess I will regroup and figure out who to support now...:(

[Blashyrkh]

63. No, it merely vindicates us.

[DemGa]

46. I wanted a Sherman statement

and all I got was a lousy Sherman fizzle.

[Labors of Hercules]

52. no you don't. You want an announcement.

That Gore is running for President. Be honest. (I still have a fool's hope)... :bounce:

[New Earth]

53. "I have not made a Sherman statement." - Al Gore

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2271878&mesg_id=2271878

:o :wtf:

[Blashyrkh]

64. Mr Gore said: "There is no need for me to make that statement."

He didn't make one because he has said consistently that he wasn't running. You just ignored him.

[JackORoses]

65. or maybe the statement doesn't apply

now wouldn't that be something?

[Blashyrkh]

66. Well you're correct. It doesn't. He doesn't need to make a Sherman statement to

confirm what he's been saying for months.

[earth mom]

55. I suspected as much after hearing Gore became part of a venture capital group.

I'm bummed out and just feel like what's the point of caring about it all anymore.

The powers that be want to flush this country and bring on The North American Union. Looks like they will get their way. :puke:


“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.”

-T.S. Eliot

[Pastiche423]

58. Maybe someone needs to tell

http://www.draftgore.com/ as they are still accepting donations.

[ecstatic]

60. Delusional much?

"We’re all reeling and in a bit of a state of shock"

"we recognize that for many this will feel like getting hit by a Mack truck."

Umm... so their plan to FORCE someone to take on an unwanted job, someone who is already working on more meaningful projects, backfired, and they're shocked, hurt and disappointed?

[tbyg52]

62. Maybe I'm psychic?

I just changed my avatar a couple of days ago.

Of course, I *really* want Kucinich.