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Al Gore to Speak at DNC on Thursday

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:46:00 AM EST
Tags: Democratic National Convention (all tags)
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Via CNN, Al Gore has accepted a speaking role for Thursday night at the Democratic Convention, the same night Sen. Barack Obama will make his acceptance speech.

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    Al Gore to Speak at DNC on Thursday | 40 comments (40 topical)

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    looks like Obama... (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:48:22 AM EST
    it looks like Obama isn't confident that his august presence on TV screens will be sufficient in and of itself to guarantee a big national audience, so he's gotten himself a good lead-in to get people to tune in.

    Um, no it doesn't (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:50:22 AM EST


    Parent
    sure it does.... (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:56:38 AM EST
    I mean, after Bill and Hillary Clinton, who is the Democrat most likely to get people to tune in?

    That would be Al Gore.

    BTW, has anyone seen who will be introducing Obama?  The only other Thursday night speaker I could find is Colorado's governor....

    I doubt that it would be Gore himself; he'll want the focus to be on his issues, not on Obama -- the question is how soon before Obama does Gore speak.  If he speaks early, people won't stay tuned to listen to Obama (and, if anything, get involved in some other show, and not bother to switch back).  

    Parent

    Obama will get a huge audience, guaranteed (5.00 / 0) (#12)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:01:00 AM EST
    Now, whether it's the right audience, that's a different question.

    Parent
    And whether McCain's framing has worked (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by BDB on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:02:55 AM EST
    and Obama speaking in front of a roaring crowd promising such empty phrases as "change" and "hope" now looks like some sort of rock star instead of solid, dependable leader.  That's my fear.  If Obama is smart, he'll spend most of his speech talking about the economy.  Something that people care about and won't make him look like he's a mile wide and an inch deep.

    Parent
    I think the celebrity attack has worked (5.00 / 0) (#16)
    by andgarden on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:04:48 AM EST
    but I question whether it's sufficient for McCain.

    Parent
    The Main Remaining Issue (5.00 / 6) (#25)
    by BDB on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:17:27 AM EST
    I think is whether McCain is sufficiently weaker than Bush in 2004 that Obama manages to get across the finish line (and he has to be weak enough that the Dems can overcome the inevitable vote suppression and fraud).  Because it's quite clear that Obama is not going to win this election.  McCain will have to lose it.  

    The sad thing is that if Obama somehow manages not to blow this, the Loser Republican Enabling Wing of the Democratic Party will see this as vindication.  

    Personally, I think if Obama loses, every member of the Democratic leadership - Pelosi, Dean, Reid, Hoyer, Clyburn, Rahm, Brazile, et al - should be forced to step down.   If the party can't win this year (and with the guy and campaign they chose), then they need to start from scratch.  They'll try to blame Hillary, but I don't think that will work.  Sure it will work with the Village and the blogs, but I think most people will see through it.  I had a Republican Obama supporter (who, btw, hasn't changed one position of his since he voted for Bush twice and is perfectly happy with Obama) tell me that if the Dems can't win this year, they should fold up tent as a political party.   I don't entirely disagree.  

    Parent

    "the inevitable vote suppression ..." (none / 0) (#51)
    by 0 politico on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 06:45:16 PM EST
    That may be hard to do since some of it may well be self inflicted.

    My wife doesn't know if she will simply stay home, or pull the lever for the other party's candidate.  She knows who she won't vote for.

    Parent

    We should get a sense (none / 0) (#19)
    by standingup on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:11:11 AM EST
    of how well it is working this afternoon.  From the teaser for the new LAT/Bloomberg poll:

    For John McCain, the poll underscores that the more voters focus on domestic issues, the greater the challenge to his hopes of winning the presidency.

    And he and his aides might be a bit surprised by the findings when voters are asked whether they view Obama as "too arrogant and presumptuous" and whether McCain could be considered "too hot-tempered."



    Parent
    I Don't Believe (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by BDB on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:19:09 AM EST
    Polling on the too arrogant/presumptuous question.  That's been called "racist" and so I think people will tend not to say they believe that about Obama.  Moreover, even if people really don't think they  believe that about him, it can still affect the lens through which they see him (even if they don't realize it).  People don't always recognize the marketing manipulation, that's why it's effective.

    Parent
    The teaser for the poll also says (none / 0) (#34)
    by americanincanada on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:48:46 AM EST
    The numbers "will not alter the perception" Obama is underperforming nationally, will show McCain that it's the domestic issues that matter.

    Parent
    he's damned if he does... (5.00 / 3) (#21)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:12:06 AM EST
    ...and damned if he doesn't.

    If he goes all wonky, and focusses on the economy, the crowd is going to get restless -- ever been to a big concert where the headliner plays all new material, and none of the hits -- (or plays versions of the hits that sound nothing like the original version?)

    Obama is now in very high-risk territory, placed there by his own hubris.  

    Parent

    Which network is carrying the convention? (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by JavaCityPal on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:11:22 AM EST
    If not ABC, even Ugly Betty/Greys Anatomy reruns would be more interesting to many.

    The party sent me a message this year, I need to reply. The Clinton family appearances will be the only segments of this convention I will tune in for.


    Parent

    It's the Thursday night (5.00 / 0) (#22)
    by dk on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:14:49 AM EST
    before Labor day weekend.  I think everyone will either be packing, or already away on vacation.  

    Parent
    Oh oh. Party night for young voters (none / 0) (#42)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 12:01:07 PM EST
    who are most of my neighborhood.  The first weekend of school for one campus, the last weekend before school for another.  Of course, they don't tend to go out until after ten.  But they start drinking well before, so they'll be blitzed by Obama's time slot.  And it won't be kool-aid they'll be drinking on Thursday night.

    Parent
    You are correct (none / 0) (#17)
    by standingup on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:06:13 AM EST
    I might tune in to hear Gore but doubtful I'll be watching Obama.  I can catch the post analysis elsewhere without having to listen to him.  

    Parent
    Yep, does. Otherwise, why that night? (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:54:14 AM EST
    Unless the Obamans finally ran out of ways to pack Tuesday night to push Clinton's ever-more-minimal time back to the slot when we're finally seeing much of the Olympics.  

    But for Clinton, I'll stay up again past 1 a.m.:-)

    For Gore, I'd stay up again 'til midnight. But he'll get prime time, because he's no threat now.

    Parent

    Huh? (none / 0) (#31)
    by mindfulmission on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:41:48 AM EST
    Unless the Obamans finally ran out of ways to pack Tuesday night to push Clinton's ever-more-minimal time back to the slot when we're finally seeing much of the Olympics.  
    Huh?  The Olympics will be over.

    Parent
    Why yes, they will. But there still will be (5.00 / 0) (#39)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:56:53 AM EST
    a midnight time slot next week.  Amazing but true.

    Parent
    Not to have Al Gore speak (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by byteb on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:08:16 AM EST
    would be inexplicable. I think it's a logical move and I can't understand the carping about it.

    Parent
    Who is carping? (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by BarnBabe on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:15:52 AM EST
    On other blogs? I know we always felt Al should be speaking at the convention and were very surprised he wasn't. This is good news.

    Parent
    some of the comments (1.00 / 0) (#49)
    by byteb on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 01:02:18 PM EST
    on this thread were characterizing Gore speaking as an attempt to prop up Obama's lack of draw and charisma.

    Parent
    I think it is more that (none / 0) (#7)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:55:56 AM EST
    putting Gore on one of the same nights and stage with the cast of characters already anounced did not make sense.  And they sure did not want Bill speaking at Invesco.

    Parent
    the thing is... (none / 0) (#9)
    by p lukasiak on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:00:20 AM EST
    ...that Gore should have been the "featured" speaker on Wednesday night.  Bill should have been the Big Dog on Monday -- passing the torch as it were.  And Hillary should have been asked to introduce Obama on Thursday night... nothing says "unity" like that would -- and a Hillary/Obama one-two punch would have guaranteed the largest possible audience for Obama.

    Parent
    probably reason (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by AlSmith on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:48:14 AM EST

    I think cream city was right- the reason to do it this unorthodox way was to deemphasize Clinton- she is just one of many of our parties leaders.

    I recently watched the Gerald Ford nomination on Youtube where he invited the defeated Reagan down to the floor. That was a similar bipolar situation.  Reagan gives an impromptu speech and everyone gets the feeling "uh oh, we just nominated the wrong guy".

    That is the situation that Obama is trying to avoid. Any spontaneous demonstrations from a stadium full of people in approval of someone else.

    Parent

    Agree that would have been better (none / 0) (#14)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:03:55 AM EST
    If they think Gore is a substitute for Hillary as far as unity goes, they're mistaken. On his own merits though, I bet Gore will make a great speech.

    Parent
    Actually, it's a signal that Obama (none / 0) (#46)
    by coigue on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 12:11:34 PM EST
    will take climate change seriously.

    Parent
    What Might Have Been (5.00 / 4) (#6)
    by BDB on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:55:03 AM EST
    Between Hillary on Tuesday, the Big Dog on Wednesday, and Gore on Thursday, I'd say that's the theme of this convention for me.   The alternate history of the United States.  Sigh.

    In my fantasy (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by stxabuela on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:00:25 AM EST
    Al becomes the compromise nominee, and Florida's electoral votes put him over the top in a landslide November victory.  

    Yeah, I know, in my dreams . . . but it's such a wonderful dream!

    Awesome! (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Steve M on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:00:54 AM EST
    I love Al Gore.  Maybe Obama will be introducing him.

    I predict one of the funniest (5.00 / 4) (#15)
    by dk on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:04:04 AM EST
    disconnects between media and reality that we have ever witnessed (not that this whole season hasn't produced a whole bunch of doozies).

    Hillary, Bill, and Al give substantive, powerful, experience-backed, intelligent speeches three nights in a row, but the media will make the case that Obama produces the greatest speech EVAH.  

    Don't believe me?  Let's wait two weeks after Obama's speech, and then ask people to remember any specific thing he said.  I bet there would be a lot of blank stares.

    Good move to put Al (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by brodie on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:59:53 AM EST
    front and center on the Dems' most important convention night.  His speech had better darn well be in PT and very close in time to O's, else the networks will do their usual GDS thing and either talk over him snarkily or only run a brief soundbite.

    TeamO would also do well to put Al out there on the stump regularly -- he's better than most in public speaking, and there are 2-3 policy areas where he could really skewer the McCain/Bush ticket.

    Btw, I wonder whether Bill Clinton will be mentioning LBJ on Wed night ...

    This is a (5.00 / 0) (#47)
    by JThomas on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 12:16:07 PM EST
    great move to have Al Gore in front of that huge crowd before Obama. Gore can hammer home how important it is to support democrats as evidenced by the 537 votes that cost us all so dearly in 2000.  Just imagine, no iraq war, significant steps toward a green future..ect.
    What could have been if he had 538 more florida voters that fateful nite.

    This is going to be a power-packed convention with heavyweights each nite between the Obamas,Clintons, and Gore.

    It just may remind the Naderites (none / 0) (#48)
    by Cream City on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 12:26:09 PM EST
    and Greenies and others in some crucial states about what happened eight years ago.  But poor Florida Dems have been beat up by the Dem party now, too.

    I hope Sandra Day O'Connor will be watching what might have been.

    Parent

    This is true (2.00 / 1) (#43)
    by blogtopus on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 12:04:31 PM EST
    However, lately, Obama has been saying the sky is green, and the drops of urine you feel on your face is rain. And people lap it up.

    Having Gore speak is a step in the right direction. More like this, please.

    At Invesco, I presume? (none / 0) (#1)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:43:38 AM EST


    Hope so... (5.00 / 0) (#3)
    by kredwyn on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 10:48:32 AM EST
    Al Gore's been a pretty good speaker of late. My fave is still the DAR--civil liberties speech.

    Parent
    I can't imagine (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by echinopsia on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 11:32:57 AM EST
    they'd have him addressing an empty arena at the Pepsi Center.

    Then again - wouldn't it be interesting to invite the busundered (Clark, Rangell, Jesse Sr., and anyone else Obama's snubbed) to speak at the Pepsi Center during the Thursday Obamapalooza at Invesco? The media will still be set up there.

    I'd actually make the effort to go to/watch this lineup rather than the Coronation. I imagine a lot of people would.

    Parent

    If only it read (none / 0) (#45)
    by zyx on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 12:10:46 PM EST
    "instead of"

    Great! (none / 0) (#50)
    by tek on Tue Aug 19, 2008 at 02:27:25 PM EST
    Gore's going to be there.  Maybe they'll nominate him.

    Al Gore to Speak at DNC on Thursday | 40 comments (40 topical)

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