Back in May, I argued that with the American electorate's across-the-board preference for Democratic policies and a historically unpopular Republican president, John McCain's campaign would turn the November election into a "character war." In September, campaign chairman Rick Davis confirmed the GOP would follow its tried and true strategy from 2000 and 2004 when he announced "this election is not about issues" but instead about "a composite view of what people take away from these candidates." On Tuesday night, Americans will learn not only whether Barack Obama won the election, but whether voters literally thought he was a better man.

Heading into Election Day, Senator Obama looks like to outperform his recent Democratic predecessors across a range of policy and demographic measures. An October Rasmussen survey showed that Americans trust Democrats more than Republicans across each of the 10 issues tracked. The party of Obama enjoys double-digit leads on the economy (by 13%), Social Security (12%), health care (20%)and education (by 19 points).

That issue advantage, compounded by John McCain's feeble response to the economic crisis and the GOP's increasingly xenophobic line towards immigrants, is helping fuel Obama's strong performance among critical voting blocks. As I detailed last week, media myths notwithstanding, Barack Obama will approach traditional levels of Democratic support among Jewish voters and outpoll Al Gore and John Kerry among Hispanics. And with his backing among white voters reaching 44% in the final CBS News/New York Times survey, the African-American Obama may surpass the levels achieved by Gore (42%), Kerry (41%) and even Bill Clinton (43%). Four years ago, John Kerry lost among white men by a 25 point margin (62% to 37%); according to a Fox News poll, Obama now trails John McCain by only 5 points among the same group.

But from the moment John McCain secured the Republican nomination, his fall strategy rested on creating a "character gap" between himself and Obama. As in 2000 and 2004, I argued, the Republicans would try to turn the race into a presidential personality contest:

And to win it, they need to manufacture a "character gap" between John McCain and Barack Obama...The data is clear. If the election is about the economy, health care and Iraq, John McCain cannot become the 44th president. Only if the GOP succeeds once again in transforming the race into a media medley about lapel pins, angry ministers and Muslim-sounding middle names can the Republicans hope to maintain their hold on the White House.

Sadly, we've been here before. The 2000 and 2004 exit polls clearly show the Republican Party succeeded both in portraying the presidential contest as being about character and in defining the accepted media narrative for candidates Bush, Gore and Kerry.

Continue reading »

All I could think as I watched Al Gore speak was "We wuz robbed."  Can you imagine what it would be like now having President Gore passing the torch to Obama?  The mind reels.

Eight years ago, some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties and it didn't really matter who became President.

Our nation was enjoying peace and prosperity. Some assumed we would continue both no matter the outcome. But here we all are in 2008, and I doubt anyone would argue now that election didn't matter.

Take it from me, if it had ended differently, we would not be bogged down in Iraq, we would have pursued Bin Laden until we captured him.

We would not be facing a self-inflicted economic crisis, we would be fighting for middle income families.

We would not be showing contempt for the Constitution, we'd be protecting the rights of every American regardless of race, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation.

And we would not be denying the climate crisis, we'd be solving it.

Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be even more obvious now - because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them, the same policies all over again?

Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous.

Transcripts below the fold

Continue reading »

  Former Vice President Al Gore delivered a major speech Thursday on US energy policy in which he challenged all Americans to confront the crisis head on and wean itself off fossil fuels in the next 10 years.

Download | play   Download | play  

Longer version here.

There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger. In such moments, we are called upon to move quickly and boldly to shake off complacency, throw aside old habits and rise, clear-eyed and alert, to the necessity of big changes. Those who, for whatever reason, refuse to do their part must either be persuaded to join the effort or asked to step aside. This is such a moment.

"Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years. This goal is achievable, affordable and transformative. It represents a challenge to all Americans – in every walk of life: to our political leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, engineers, and to every citizen."

Senator Obama responds:

“For decades, Al Gore has challenged the skeptics in Washington on climate change and awakened the conscience of a nation to the urgency of this threat. I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of energy like solar power, wind power and advanced biofuels, and those are the investments I will make as President. It’s a strategy that will create millions of new jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced, and one that will leave our children a world that is cleaner and safer.”

Full transcript below the fold:

(h/t Bill W)

Continue reading »

  Barack Obama, Serial Flip-Flopper

• Barack Obama is a far worse flip-flopper than John McCain, provided you ignore all of John McCain's egregious flip-flops. 

In perhaps one of the most shameful displays of John McCain Media Worship, Bonnie Erbe takes to the pages of US News & World Report today to decry that Barack Obama, not John McCain, has been more flexible on the issues. That's a pretty easy thing to do when you claim John McCain has only flip-flopped on offshore drilling.

Seeing that the entire US News research team must have called out sick today, here is a freebie from your friends at C&L, Bonnie:

1. Bush tax cuts.

2. Jerry Falwell and the religious right

3. Offshore drilling

4. Public financing - Opting in, then out, then in again

5. Windfall profits tax on oil companies

6. Bush's concept of inherent authority

7. Privatizing social security

8. Estate tax

etc. etc.

What a sloppy and shoddy piece of "journalism" from someone who claims to have been covering politics since "God was a baby" -- or since John McCain was a teenager.

Senator Barack Obama was pleased to announce yesterday the support of former Vice President Al Gore. In a speech in Flint, MI, Gore threw his considerable influence behind the Illinois Senator, urging Democrats to volunteer, donate and unite behind the party's nominee. Let the healing continue!

Download | play Download | play

AP:

Al Gore says he is backing Barack Obama and will do whatever he can to help him get to the White House.

In a letter to be e-mailed to Obama supporters, Gore says Obama has united a movement over the past year and a half. The former vice president also asks for donations to help fund Obama's effort — the first time he's asked members of his Web site AlGore.com to contribute to a political campaign.

On a related note, James Carville made a compelling case last week on CNN for putting Gore on the ticket. Although it seems to me that Gore would only want to be back in the White House as President, there is no more influential position in the world for him to further his cause than as Barack Obama's Vice President. It's probably a long shot, but he would make a wonderful fit in my opinion. Especially if you view it in the context which Carville lays out:

BLITZER: You have a unique idea, James, for an excellent running mate for Barack Obama, someone with some experience.

CARVILLE: Yes. I think if I was Senator Obama I would say the biggest economic problem we face is the biggest national security problem and the biggest environmental problem. And if I were him I would ask Al Gore to serve as his vice president and energy czar in his administration to reduce our consumption and reliance on foreign energy sources. That would send a signal to the world, to the American people, to the Congress, to everybody that America's getting serious about this horrendous problem that we face.

The Ragin' Cajun is dead-on about this: The biggest problem we face in this country, one that touches every critical aspect of public policy, is the energy crisis, specifically our dependency on foreign oil. There is no bigger champion and more-respected figure in the entire world on this than Al Gore. He would make one heckuva VP...again.

Full Gore endorsement email below the fold:

Continue reading »

During an interview set to air on this Sunday's 60 Minutes, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said that people need to get over the court's 5-4 decision to select George Bush over Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election:

Scalia repeated his earlier statement that people should "get over" the court's ruling in 2000 that halted Florida's vote recount, giving the presidential election to Republican Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

"I say nonsense," Scalia said, when asked about critics who say the 5-4 ruling was based on politics and not justice. "Get over it. It's so old by now." Read on...

This is an insult to America and the planet. The death and destruction that George Bush and his regime have unleashed since his selection will take decades, perhaps generations to repair and Scalia has the nerve to say something like this? Our Constitution is being shredded, our military is broken and bogged down in two failing military conflicts that have left hundreds of thousands dead, our economy is in the tank with more Americans on food stamps and lacking health insurance than at any time in modern history, and we're supposed to get over it? No, Justice Scalia, we will not get over it -- at least not any time soon.

As high profile leaders in the Republican Party go, John McCain deserves some credit for believing that the earth really is warming, and that climate change is real. When it comes to environmental policy, McCain’s votes are pretty unreliable, and his plans to address climate change are sad and thin, but at an absolute minimum, he is willing to admit, publicly, that the scientific data is accurate and cause for concern. In the GOP, this is progress.

But for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) to compare McCain favorably to Al Gore just makes him look ridiculous.

“Climate change is the road less traveled but he’s traveled it even more than Al Gore,” Graham said. “Al Gore has talked about it and deserves great recognition but he was around here a long time and never introduced a bill.”

Let me get this straight. Al Gore has done less than John McCain when it comes to climate change? That’s the new argument from one of McCain’s top campaign surrogates?

It’s bad enough to hear Joe Lieberman argue that McCain knows what he’s talking about on Iraq, but Graham is just making a fool out of himself here.

Ben at Think Progress does a fantastic job in shredding Graham’s argument, which Ben said “rings of pure absurdity.”

The United Nations has been meeting this week in Bali to negotiate steps industrialized nations will take to reduce emissions and combat global warming. Predictably, the Bush administration’s delegation is doing what it always does — block progress, stall for time, and undermine the process.

Yesterday, Al Gore was on hand, and didn’t hesitate to take his country’s irresponsible approach to task.

“My own country, the United States, is principally responsible for obstructing progress here in Bali,” said Gore, who flew to Bali from Oslo, Norway, where he received the Nobel Peace Prize for helping alert the world to the danger of climate change. […]

Gore urged delegates to reach agreement even without the backing of the United States, saying President Bush’s successor, who will take office in January 2009, would likely be more supportive of binding cuts.

“Over the next two years, the United States is going to be somewhere it is not now,” he said. “I must tell you candidly that I cannot promise that the person who is elected will have the position I expect they will have, but I can tell you I believe it is quite likely.”

In other words, “Ignore Bush and strike a compromise now — the United States can catch up once what’s-his-name is gone.”

Indeed, Gore drew a loud ovation when he “reminded delegates that President George W. Bush has only one year and 40 days left in the White House.”

Download | play   Download | play (CNN's coverage of the award ceremony-h/t Scarce)

Al Gore was in Oslo, Norway, this morning to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize. If you have a minute, his acceptance speech is well worth reading.

For example, I didn’t realize it, but this week is the seventh anniversary of Gore’s concessions speech after the 2000 race.

Seven years ago tomorrow, I read my own political obituary in a judgment that seemed to me harsh and mistaken – if not premature. But that unwelcome verdict also brought a precious if painful gift: an opportunity to search for fresh new ways to serve my purpose.

Unexpectedly, that quest has brought me here. Even though I fear my words cannot match this moment, I pray what I am feeling in my heart will be communicated clearly enough that those who hear me will say, “We must act.” [...]

We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency – a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst – though not all – of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.

However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat: “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”

He didn’t mention any names, but we could probably could come up with a few suspects.

Download | play Download | play

This morning on Fox NFL Sunday's pregame show, co-host and former NFL player, Howie Long, decided it would be a good idea to insult Al Gore to make a point about sports. Not only is this moron's statement wrong, it's unprofessional and he should be called out for it. Why do people like Howie and Al Michaels feel the need to mix politics with sports? You can write to FOXSports and tell them what you think about Howie's hackery.

Long:"...Mike Martz suffers from a rare form of the Al Gore syndrome, where Al still thinks he's the president and Mike Martz still thinks he's the head coach..."

*Note to Keith Olbermann - If you're looking for someone for your Worst Person In The NFL segment tonight, I think Howie is your man...

That's right...the rightful President was invited to go to the office stolen from him.  Boy, this had to be awkward.  Bush has such a chip on his shoulder, I can't imagine him being a big enough man to keep from making some snarky or insulting remark.

Download | play   Download | play (h/t BillW)

The Swamp:

Al Gore slipped out the side door of the West Wing.

In his private Oval Office meeting with President Bush, the former vice president insisted that they had spoken about global warming "the whole time.'' It wasn't clear if the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who shared the honor for his work on climtate change, was serious.[..]

But Gore, calling the meeting with Bush "very cordial'' and "substantive,'' declined to elaborate on their meeting. "I'm not going to do an interview here,'' Gore said in his walk down the streets outside the White House. "I don't want to comment more.''[..]

Gore also has been outspoken in his criticism for other administration policies, most notably the war in Iraq.

The White House insists the president holds no ill will toward Gore, who carried his challenge of the outcome of the 2000 election to the Supreme Court.

"I don't believe so,'' Bush Press Secretary Dana Perino said of any "bad blood'' between the two. "I know this president does not harbor any resentments. He never has.''

Uh huh.  Sure.
 

Vice President Gore appeared on NBC's "30 Rock" Thursday night to help promote the network's Green Week. And he killed it.

Download | play Download | play

(corrected)

Download | play Download | play (h/t Heather)

Jon Stewart and Senior Peacetime Correspondent John Oliver look at the absurdity of the coverage of Al Gore's Nobel Peace Prize win, and can only blame it on the politics of the "liberal elite" in charge of the award.

OLIVER: No doubt the Nobel Committee is suffering from Bush Derangement Syndrome, using this award as a personal bitch slap after the Commander in Chief. They've done it before. Remember Mother Teresa? Yowza!

STEWART: Mother Teresa's Peace Prize, that was controversial?

OLIVER: It was a slap in the face to Mother Sophia. She worked her whole life with tuberculosis sufferers in Bombay. But you know the liberal elites. If it ain't leprosy, they ain't interested. But Mother Teresa, she milked those lepers for all they were worth. And the media just lapped it up.

STEWART: Alright John...that's just....please, let's just move on and...

OLIVER: Mother Teresa....F@#K her!

Download | play Download | play (h/t Heather)

Stephen Colbert looks at Al Gore's recent Nobel win and rather ingeniously suggests that all the Gore Derangement Syndrome may be disguising Gore's guilt in hogging the most precious resource of all: good will and the global prizescape.

Clearly, anti-Bush sentiment is fueling Al Gore's rampant and wanton destruction of the global prizescape. Nation, if we want to preserve the splendor of congratulatory pageantry of generations, it is our sacred task to conserve hatred of President Bush, measured in BHUs, or Bush Hate Units.

Don't forget to check out the new Comedy Central Indecision 2008 homepage.

[click for larger]

Rockridge Nation: Isn't the "real" story about what winning this prize means for Al Gore? Shouldn't we be talking about his prospects for the '08 Presidency? A quick scan of major news sources shows that this is the main focus of discourse here in the U.S. ...

The big story today is that the Nobel Peace Prize recognizes the climate crisis as a genuine threat to humanity. It now has official standing along with the proliferation of nuclear weapons, conflict in the Middle East, landmines, and poverty as something that causes harm to people within and beyond conflict zones. Read more...