It's been eight long years for Americans. Long, difficult years. Internationally shameful years. Environmentally wasted years. And let's face it: it's going to take some time—not to mention a lot of hard work on the local, state and national levels by many individuals and groups—to turn back the policies, procedures, and sociopolitical culture built by The George W. Bush Empire. Chairman of the Board Pelosi, while otherwise saying all the right things, abdicated her responsiblity to call for a vote to oust C.E.O. Bush from his throne of expanded executive power, a power never before wielded so coldly and absolutely by a modern day vice-president, himself an ominous, seemingly sociopathic man who has, like Bush, also amazingly escaped impeachment. But, follow me below the fold as I point out the events and contributions that I believe constitute important blows against the Bush Empire. It's my booster shot of optimism for those who hunger for, work towards and see on the horizon, progressive change.
As deforestation accelerates and grows ever more concentrated the consequences on climate change are even greater than previously thought. As reported in New Scientist:
Pristine temperate forest stores three times more carbon than currently estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and 60% more than plantation forests, according to research in Australia.
She's managed to be both controversial and gracious at the same time over the last 8 years. She's been there to support Al during the worst and best of times. So Happy Birthday, Tipper...
Sharing some pictures of Tipper for your enjoyment...
Make sure Al gives you the best birthday cake ever
This Diary is my time-out contribution to Daily Kos.
The VP rumors are running hot and heavy. Kaine? Bayh? Sibelius? Clark? Clinton? Biden? Every direction one looks, a different name.
Al
This choice will say something serious about Barack Obama's commitment to taking action on the greatest challenge that this nation, that humanity might ever have faced.
Al
This choice matters. And you have a chance to affect this choice.
Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.
This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sens. Evan Bayh (IN) and Jack Reed (RI) were eliminated in the previous round.
Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.
As we all anticipate Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential pick and as we play the veep-sweaps and as some of us, state how certain choices will be great while others will be horrible. Some have even said that some possibilities might even cause us to lessen our degrees of support for Obama; I want to make a point, using a thought exercise. Let’s travel through an alternate history. In this history we elected a person, who for most Kossacks, would be one of the worst possible Vice Presidents. How would the world have changed?
The fictional Vice President I am referring to is, if you hadn’t guessed, Joe Lieberman. In my alternate history, I am assuming that the SCOTUS allowed the Florida recount to proceed and as a result Al Gore and Joe Lieberman won the Electoral College and were sworn in January of 2001. Okay, I think for most of us – Joe Lieberman is far worse than any of the names being mentioned this year as VP. So if he and Al had been declared the winners in 2000, where would we be today?
David Roberts at Grist and Matt Stoller at Open Left have given Al Gore and We Can Solve It grief of late for not taking a hard enough stance against the wingnuts in their campaign to stop Climaticide. One of their complaints had to do with an early We Can Solve It ad that they thought gave green cred to right wing scumbag Newt Gingrich. Maybe Gore was listening. This new ad definitely hits a better tone.
"We DEMAND that we use them."
Yes! This is how WE we all need to be talking. We're not asking any more. Kudos to Al Gore and the We Campaign for getting it right this time.
Someone I've long dismissed as a naive pick (the pick being naive, not the person). And he's not warm, which would be a big plus. But if he'd take the job (and I think he could be persuaded for the good of the country and the world) Al Gore would actually be a very good choice.
He's already proven he can act as a loyal #2 while not seeming like a lackey with no virtue other than loyalty.
I think he has enough faith in Obama to play that role again, likely with his heart even more in it than last time. Though he didn't endorse in the primaries, so I can't be sure of that.
Either it just might be Obama/Gore... or I've completely lost my mind...
I have several reasons why I think this may be possible. Please at least hear me out and let me know what you think!
Believe it or not, I haven't really spent a lot of time until recently speculating on who Obama's VP pick will be. What I've thought and said consistently is that I will support the ticket, no matter who it is (yes, that includes Hillary Clinton). I've also said that I completely trust Obama's judgment. I've recently started thinking it's going to be Al Gore, and have begun to get very excited about that possibility. When I've expressed this thought, I usually get one of several responses. They are:
"I'll bet you one million dollars (or some other ridiculous sum of money) you're WRONG!"
"That would never happen. Al Gore himself said he's not interested."
"You're crazy."
OR
"You know, I think it's unlikely, but I've been secretly hoping that myself."
Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.
This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Gov. Tim Kaine (VA) was eliminated in the previous round.
Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.
"Today, I announced my endorsement of Bob Tuke to be the next U.S. Senator from my home state of Tennessee. I have known Bob for a long time, and I am glad to call him a close friend ... "
Everyone is making their arguments as to who Barack Obama should choose as his VP candidate. Here's mine:
Al Gore would be an excellent VP choice for a number of reasons. First of all, he would certainly excite the base, and you just know the democrats in Florida would flock to the polls to make sure their vote was recorded this time.
Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.
This series began with a new top 14 list of names I considered most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Fmr. Sen. Bob Graham (FL) was eliminated in the previous round.
Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.
Welcome back for more speculation! Today continues the new final series of possibilities for Obama's v.p.
This series began with a new top 14 list of names I consider most likely to be named Obama's v.p. running mate, and we'll eliminate the bottom vote-getter each day until there is a winner, or a real-life winner is named by Obama. Starting today, candidates will be listed in order of votes from the previous poll, from most to least, so we'll have some idea of preference in this thread's voting should Obama decide before there is a series winner. Sen. Claire McCaskill (MO) was eliminated in the previous round.
Please discuss any v.p. candidates in the comments. The most correct format would be to state their name, unless you have further comments. I'm happy to hear all ideas in this open thread, and I'm no official gatekeeper, so play nice.
We all remember when that crazy Al Gore claimed he invented the internet:
But it will emerge from my dialogue with the American people. I've traveled to every part of this country during the last six years. During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet. I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth and environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.
It astonishes me. Al Gore, the last Democrat to win the popular vote (who had the White House STOLEN from him) isn't given ANY DNC speech time. Al Gore, who had the courage (like Barack Obama) to oppose the Iraq War from the beginning, no DNC speech. Al Gore, the Nobel Peace Prize Winner, no speech.
I assume it could be added later...but it seems very strange.
Although I do understand that there is some speech time blocked off on Wednesday night of the convention, in prime time no less. Hmmmm.....
I also understand that Obama will be in Virginia on Thursday, but his Wednesday schedule is still unknown. Tennessee is right next to Virginia.
Hmm....
