Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Is Obama "Fizzling?" Is Gore Getting Ready to Announce?


Back in early June I was at a function with Bill Clinton and asked him if he thought Al Gore was going to run for president in '08. "I don't know, he could. Someone's got to fizzle," he said. "If someone fizzles, then yeah he could enter the race. He's got plenty of money, his own money, to do it." He added that Gore has the kind of personal wealth to be able to wait until the last stages of the campaign before he'd enter the race.

Well hold onto your seats, kids. Clinton's prescience is beginning to surface. A new ABC News/Wall Street Journal Poll Wednesday showed New York Sen. Hillary Clinton with a commanding 53%-20% lead over Barack Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois. For the first time, Clinton now has the support of a majority of Democrats. Compounding this problem for Obama is the Q3 fundraising data released Tuesday showing an alarming 40% drop in cash raised from Q2, to $19 million from $31 million. Clinton meanwhile has steadily increased her funds each quarter, from $20 million in Q1, $21 in Q2 and $22 million since July.

If this doesn't qualify for "fizzling" I don't know what does. And if there ever was a more opportune time for the former veep to toss his hat into the ring, this is it. Consider this: the January Iowa caucus is right around the corner. Iowans are rabidly anti-war. Sen. Clinton voted to authorize the war, and has basically marched in lock-step with President Bush and the Republicans on this issue ever since. We all know Gore's position then and now on Iraq. Iowans would lap up his candidacy like a stray cat at a bowl of milk. With Obama losing steam fast, Gore could waltz right into this contest and be the giant-slayer whose unparalleled credentials, popularity and rightful claim to the White House could literally deflate the Clinton bubble overnight.

It's October. It's time. Could an announcement be right around the corner?


On another note, we could use your help at The The Adrienne Shelly Foundation. We are a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated in my wife's honor to help carry out her spirit and passion, with the goal of assisting women filmmakers. Adrienne was brutally killed in NYC on November 1, 2006. Through the Foundation, her commitment to filmmaking lives on. We've established scholarships, grants, finishing funds and living stipends at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts/Kanbar Institute of Film; Columbia University; American Film Institute; Women in Film; the Independent Feature Project; the Nantucket Film Festival; and the Sundance Institute.

On November 12 in NYC we will be holding our first annual Fundraising Gala, with a musical performance by Alanis Morissette followed by a celebrity reading of Adrienne's script "The Morgan Stories," featuring Paul Rudd, Edie Falco, Matt Dillon, Ally Sheedy and many others. To learn more about our mission, to make a tax-deductible donation, and to sign up to receive details about the November benefit please visit our website. Every contribution helps preserve Adrienne's legacy, allows us to help others, and creates something positive out of this tragedy.

Adrienne's film "Waitress" opened in theatres May 2nd to rave reviews from the NY Times, LA Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, People, Entertainment Weekly, Ebert & Roeper ("Two Thumbs Up"), Leonard Maltin and others, and has so far grossed $19-million domestically and almost $1-million internationally. The DVD will be available in November. It's a truly wonderful film that you're sure to love. A link to the trailer is below. Enjoy.

http://www.apple.com/trailers/fox_searchlight/waitress/trailer/

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

If Gore doesn't enter the race he will cost the Democratic Party a victory in the next election. Hillary simply cannot win. Too many Democrats dislike her record and most Republicans hate her. The Republicans will vote for whomever the Rep. nominee is, and many Democrats will vote for the Third Party candidate, giving the race to the Republican. If Gore doesn't enter I will consider him a "spoiler" even lower than Ralph Nader who ruined everything. However Gore must enter NOW otherwise many might consider him coy and arrogant.

Christopher said...

We need to get past all the hype around the Nobel Peace Prize thingy which happens -- is it, Oct. 12th or 14th?

After this, it's Gore's to win.

Gore knows how much people want him in the race and eventually the White House. He knows how despeate we are for a genuine leader.

I have said all along that I think it will be a GORE/OBAMA ticket in 2008. This is a splendid, winning ticket.

This much is true: if the "Goreacle" decides this isn't the time to run, of course I will be disappointed but, I will respect his decision. However, I will not support HRC. For the first time in my adult life, I will not be voting in 2008.

Anonymous said...

What third party candidate? A rabid right winger??? I don't think so.

Personally I am voting Democratic no matter what. I like them all!

Let's see if the hypocritical Repubs send up Rudy even though he doesn't stand for much of their social issues. If he gets the nod, that should tell you that the Repubs only care about power.

As for Al, I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. Any Dem is better than a Repub any day of the week!

Anonymous said...

I think many Dems feel as Christopher does: they support the desperate need for chsnge in Washington as well as the ideas and goals behind the Dems, but they don't like/trust/support Sen. Clinton for all the baggage she brings with her. A Gore candidacy would give a very viable alternative to those Dems who can't or won't support Sen. Clinton, and would be a winning ticket in 11/08. Mr. Gore, we're eagerly waiting to hear from you!

Anonymous said...

Last week on PBS radio I heard two women telling the interviewer that they were supporting Hillary because a vote for her was a vote for Bill. They are thrilled by the thought of having Bill as president again. Then, last night, when reporting how her poll numbers have soared, the journalist indicated that much of her popularity is because people fondly remember some of the good things about his presidency. As for me, I'm worried. First, I don't think she'll listen to him; and, second, he eroded welfare and thus hurt the poor; and he sent jobs overseas. But even here in my small town, people say they're going to elect Bill. I'm a Democrat and appreciate that he was a better president that a Republican would have been, I still think he made seriousmistakes. She will do the same, but right now, I think Bill will be "elected."

Ian Curran said...

I agree. Gore's time is now. He already has 15 percent of the vote without being in the race. He's got people trying to get him on the ballot in all 50 states. He has the support of the international community. He has the support of much of the left because of his opposition to the Iraq war, his fierce critique of the Bush administration, and his work on the environment. He may win the Nobel Peace Prize. Meanwhile, Clinton is starting to outpace Obama in both fund-raising and the polls. Edwards has not picked up the momentum he would need to be an alternative. Edwards said last night that "Al Gore was right" on the environment. What is Edwards going to say against Gore? What is Obama going to say against Gore? What is Richardson going to say against Gore? There is no good reason for Gore not to run for president. His country needs him. The world needs him. If he does not run, I will be astonished and dismayed.

Anonymous said...

Gore-Edwards..? I could dig it...!

Anonymous said...

Should Gore enter the race sooner rather than later, he'd go to the Dem. Convention & win by Acclimation. A Gore-Edwards ticket sounds plausible. But have a feeling the TRILATS would want HILLARY ON THE TICKET just to keep Gore honest - or pop him after the Dem. Victory in 2008 and have HILLARY ascend the presidency, all be it under a CLOUD but without having to RUN & LOSE for the Dems.

Ian Curran said...

His decision to appear on 30Rock is not encouraging, however. You can't appear on a sitcom and be a candidate, in fairness to your opponents. We'll see...

Anonymous said...

If Gore is going on 30Rock he's listening to the wrong advisers again. They were responsible for his problems in the last election when they manipulated his image with wardrobe colors, the "kiss" etc. Imagine Roosevelt getting into that charade. Of course Hillary, when she probably heard: "You have such a great laugh. Use it every chance you get so they]ll see how charming you are." followed their advice which resulted in that embarrassing "performance." Why do the Democrats elect such stupid advisers? The Republicans don't change their wardrobe, go hunting, or do the number of staged things the Democrats have done in the past. Gore has got to be the serious, intelligent man he is and get into the presidential race, get elected and save us. Np gimmicks required.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, if Gores runs, Dubya will remain President*. Those benefiting by Bush would be comfortable with Hillary, Obama or Edwards being next, but Al would be far too threatening for them to chance giving up their pschopathic "Way of Life" before America's bones are completely picked clean. Election 2008 will be postponed in order to secure the homeland.

Anonymous said...

President Gore -

Your Country awaits you.
We, the people have your back.

Vote for Solution
Vote for Al Gore

Anonymous said...

I would love it if Edwards got the nomination. I just think that he has the best chance against the republicans. His electability is stronger than either Clinton or Obama. This is proven in all the polls. Of course Bush wants Hillary to win the nomination. She would have a tougher time of it. I really like Gore, but I am afraid he will not run. I would love a Gore/Edwards ticket though.

Anonymous said...

I'm with 9:09 I don't think Gore will run. I also think Edwards has the best chance of being elected and would also make the best president. He may have been "laying low" to secure Ohio, but he's got to come out and become more noticeable and more aggressive. Elizabeth is getting more attention and fighting harder than he is it seems.

Christopher said...

From the Democratic Underground

October 4, 2007 -- FORMER vice president Al Gore is expected to appear on an upcoming episode of the NBC sitcom, "30 Rock." Gore recently taped his brief appearance on the show.

Gore's guest spot is likely to appear during the fifth episode of the season, according to the gossip Web site, Gawker.

During the taping of the episode, the cast was seen wearing "Gore '08" t-shirts.

Progger said...

Al Gore is the only decent candidate the Democrats have.

Anonymous said...

Gore is also the biggest Global Warming Alarmist Hypocrite in the entire world.

George W Bush's TX ranch is more environmentally friendly than each and every one of Gore's houses.

Anonymous said...

Democrats hate good news for America....so here is some:

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Dow and the S&P 500 surged to all-time highs on Friday after a solid employment report rekindled optimism about the U.S. economy and corporate profits.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Gore has the perfect rationale for entering the race at this late date: All three leading Democratic contenders have REFUSED to commit themselves to pulling all US combat troops out of Iraq before the close of their first possible term.

He could say, "I can't stand by and let this war continue."

Anonymous said...

It's finally becoming clear to the political analysts and they're delcaring it on the talk shows: Rudy and Hillary will be the contenders and Hillary simply cannot win because those among Democrats who can't vote for her will vote for Rudy who is somewhat liberal on social issues; and, the Republicans will vote for Rudy to keep a Republican in office. Gore has got to stop this from playing out.

Anonymous said...

HERE COME THE CLINTON CRONIES !!

Sandy Berger, the Clinton Administration National Security Advisor who pleaded guilty to stealing and destroying classified material from the National Archives has just joined the Clinton campaign.

It is an absolute disgrace that Hillary would bring back someone that stuffed classified material down his pants to steal it from the National Archives. He was protecting Bill Clinton's legacy, but what was he hiding?

Anyone is better than Hillary, we can't let her win our primaries. I'm a registered Democrat, yet I can see another Democrat candidate for President that I cannot vote for.

Anonymous said...

1) "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

A. Karl Marx
B. Adolph Hitler
C. Joseph Stalin
D. None of the above

2) "It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few, and for the few...and to replace it with shared responsibility for shared prosperity."

A. Lenin
B. Mussolini
C. Idi Amin
D. None of the Above

3) "(We)...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to be taken away from some people."

A. Nikita Khrushev
B. Jose f Goebbels
C. Boris Yeltsin
D. None of the above

4) "We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give up a little bit of their own...in order to create this common ground."

A. Mao Tse Dung
B. Hugo Chavez
C. Kim Jong Il
D. None of the above

5) "I certainly think the free-market has failed."

A. Karl Marx
B. Lenin
C. Molotov
D. None of the above

6) "I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the most profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being watched."

A. Pinochet
B. Milosevic
C. Saddam Hussein
D. None of the above

Answers:

(1) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/29/2004
(2) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 5/29/2007
(3) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(4) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(5) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(6) D. None of the above. Statement was made by Hillary Clinton 9/2/2005

Anonymous said...

9:19 I hope what you say is true and not just false information you made up to get us to vote for Hillary. She speaks like a true Christian, at last. The Republicans won't even "give to the poor" as Jesus asked us to do, to help sick children. No Christian values demonstrated in that. Now we know Hillary is a Christian and that she knows that Christians are compassionate and are also good team players and will work together to help us all. We are only as strong as our weakest link. I thought she perhaps was hard-hearted like Bush. Hooray. We will once again be a country of Christian values. She gets my vote.

Anonymous said...

true Christians don't support the murder of unborn humans.

Anonymous said...

Terminating a pregnancy is not mentioned in the Old or New Testament of the Bible. Christ did not mention it although he did indeed say FEED THE POOR which so many Christians seem to overlook. The Old Testament does indicate that life with a soul begins at the first breath. Remember God and Adam?

Anonymous said...

4:46 PM,
study after study shows that conservatives and Christians give more charity to than liberals.

If you have ever seen a baby born at 36-39 weeks old, you would know that it is a fact that partial birth abortion, which has no medical purpose, is murder of an innocent baby. "Thou shall not kill" is clearly mentioned in the Bible.

Partial Birth Abortion, which all the Democrats support, has no medical purpose because it requires the mother to go through the birth process only to jab a spike into the babies skull and suck the brains out of the innocent little baby's head. This is a gruesome way to murder a baby.

Anonymous said...

The Bible does not qualify:
Thou shalt not kill:

in warfare;
by execution;
for revenge;
to protect;
in self defence;
to be merciful;
to punish;
to cleanse;
to end suffering;
by neglect;
to warn;
to prosper;
to remove a dictator;
for sport;
to eat; or
any other reason. All life is sacred.