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Blogging Al Gore's Speech "An American Heresy"
From Karen:
Key tidbits, hot off the Press, beating the wire services:
He was fabulous. The first person who spoke was Sarah Landon, MoveOn member from Baltimore MD, with her ten year old daughter. She stated that the reasons that she wants to stay active are for her daughter's future, our country's future, and as a Mom, she teaches her daughter NOT TO BREAK THE RULES. She introduced Al Gore.
Gore began his speech with a story about how, in the year 2000, the majority did not rule, and that even when we don't like the rules, we are a country of rules, not men. However, what is happening now, he called, "crass partisan decisions". He quoted Aristotle on the virtues of respect for the Rule of Law.
He stated, "If either party is seduced by a lust for power, we lose freedom and democracy." He continued with citations of Hamilton and Madison's writings regarding the independence of judges.
The key message of his speech came next--The reason the Founding Fathers gave the decision about federal judges to the Senate is because the Senate is the repository of deliberative and reflective decision-making. The six-year terms allow for the depth of discussion necessary for a reflective frame of mind, consideration and deliberation to advise and consent, because Federal judges are for life.
Gore said he spoke today, "not as a Democrat, but as an American, to protect the role of Senators from both parties." He then moved into anecdotes of the current leadership's statements from the past, comparing them to their statements now.
Most importantly, he raised the topic of how some right-wing Republicans (most recently at a Washington DC conference called, "Confronting the War on Judicial Faith") have openly discussed defunding and disenfranchising the courts and judges with whom they disagree. He quoted Edwin Vieira's citation of Stalin in a public speech regarding how best to manage the "problem" of judges--"no man, no problem". As a result of death threats to judges such as Viera suggests in his remarks, the judiciary has now become fearful of retribution by the members of the extremist Fristian right wing of the Republican party. After a long and steadying silence, Gore thundered with all due seriousness, "HOW DARE THEY...". The audience erupted into applause and a standing ovation following this remark.
Gore continued, "The Founding Fathers and their forebears escaped despots who would have dominion over out pocketbooks and our souls...Religious freedom is a precious entity, and not a tool to divide and conquer."
He told us that "laws are human creations with our informed consent. Any who act without consent, act unjustly."
He quoted Robert Bolt, author of A Man For All Seasons. The charater, Sir Thomas More speaks to his son-in-law, who had said to him, "No law stands before God". In answering this statement, Gore reminds us of More's reply:
"And when the last law was cut down, and the devil turned on you, where would you hide?"
To be continued...
Excellent job, DCP!! I love the smell of live blogging in the morning, er, um afternoon.
I am glad to see Gore starting to bring up the Dominionists. This has been out there in the blogosphere for a few months, but has not gotten to the top of the food chain yet.
I am begionning to wonder if perhaps the tide isn't perhaps turning. I know that the Fristions are hap-hap-happy to be lapping up the lapdogs media's attentions, but I am beginning to think that they are getting a tad bit over-exposed.
This is starting to feel like Britney Spears'-type backlash is going to be happening if it hasn't already started. First the gay amendment, and then Schaivo, and now the Filibuster. It's just oo much at once. They are starting to look like they are everywhere, and it's beginning to undermine support for other things, including the President's popularity.
Interesting developments, and with Gore coming out and speaking on the Dominionists, and choosing this as THE issue to which he will be speaking, as well as the role of the Senate, about which VERY little has been written, I think that' it's giving a space of fresh air to the Democrats.
Does anyone else sense a certain level of "overexposure" beginning to happen vis-a-vis the the Fristian Right? A certain "republican dominated" fatigue setting in? I know I do.
The wire service guys behind me as I was exiting said "this will be up in 30 minutes"... hehehehe.
We scooped 'em.
But they also said they were glad to see Al Gore back in his game. "Reminds me of Clinton One", one opined wistfully...
Spin --
Yup... definitely sensing some serious over-reach on the part of the Fristian Right.
And I think the reason it's damaging them so much is that there are about 40 things more important to John Q. Public than appointing extremist Christian judges. In fact, overall, people seem to express in various polls a deep, instinctive discomfort with too much religion in the political process.
The public watches every day as the Fristian Right goes to the mat in pursuit of their own agenda, while the agenda of the average American is completely ignored.
Health care, education, the deficit, the war in Iraq... these are the issues that Americans want to see worked on and discussed.
Not on the Fristian radar at all. And they're starting to pay a price.
False Alert Sends Bush and Cheney to Secure Bunkers
27 April 2005
It appears that a “ False Alarm Puts White House on Alert †today… However it was nothing more than a blip on the radar…
President Bush was rushed from the Oval Office to an underground shelter and Vice President Dick Cheney was taken to a secure location Wednesday on fears that an unidentified aircraft had entered restricted space near the White House. Officials said it was a false alarm.
The brief scare lasted only a few minutes before officials determined there was no threat, White House counselor Dan Bartlett said.
MORE - http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=787
Way to go, Karen!! Or should I call you 'Scoop?'
Can someone explain to me what the Dominionists are?
Sorry, but I'm deep in the NO/YES battle in the referendum about the EU Constitution in France.
You have no idea of what we're in. The no is made of all the extremes (right and left) with that hellish Le Pen in the middle.
IF THE NO WINS IN FRANCE, EUROPE IS OPENED TO ULTRA LIBERALISM...AND TO BUSH.
Except they don't know what ultra liberalism looks like! I mean, the way, you do.
De Gaulle said French can be calves (stupid), they are overgoing their reputation, except this time it's calves + wolves + sheep + snakes, but some do buy it!
The clue? Fear of the world changing, to make it short.
We all have our (not red) but stupid-necks!
I still pay attention to what is going on in your country though, because our world turned into a tiny village.
I am SO into this. Brenda Starr--here I come!
Thank you for the report, Karen!
It's great to see Americans of conscience working together in this fight, to know that if we keep sowing the seeds of true democracy we will have a mighty forest.
Andree,
If you go back to the April 25 What Does This Mean thread and look for 2 posts.
The first is an article named "The Crusaders" from Rolling Stone Magazine, published Monday, April 11, 2005
Posted by: Florida Dem at April 26, 2005 01:00 PM
I posted links to 2 additional articles that add some more. The first article will be the easiest / shortest to read. The post was at:
Posted by: dwahzon at April 26, 2005 01:28 PM
DW, for easy reference:
http://www.democracycellproject.net/blog/archives/2005/04/what_does_this.html#comments
Spin ~
Over-dosed.
Remember, we are a people of conscience. There are alot of people in our country who have a good dose of moral direction. Many people of conscience with good moral direction, regardless of whether they are "religious" or churched, dislike - make that hate - fanaticism. During the Schiavo fiasco, pictures of Christ dying on the cross, people parading around in religious robes, etc. were plastered all over the mainstream media.
Freak people out with this once with a good strong O.D., and they remember it a long while.
The collaborators over-played their hand.
Truth,
God, I hope so.
"There ARE crises now, he continued. Not WMD, not SS, not the filibuster. The crises are in the environment, in health care, and in education"
This was taken from Mr. Gore's Speech.
Truth is being spoken, It is because of the crisis in Education, Health Care and the Environment, that we have issues with WMD, Social Security and the raw Political grab for power in our Government.
This nation does not need more nuclear weapons, privatized social security accounts or attempts to eliminate the checks and balances of Government.
This Country needs more Education, More Health Care and More Environmental awareness. We need a government that does not place limits on who we are but manages the resources to allow what we are capable of.
We cannot simply exist, we need to grow. We need to expand and set our sights on Goals that Improve the Human Condition. We Once Followed the dreams of a Respected and Unifying president, unafraid of the Future, Those dreams took us literally to the stars.
Today we tremble at what a suspicious and divisive Administration is contemplating for our country and ourselves.
This is our Nation, Our government, Our Constitution. It is time we start taking it back.
Karen,
Ahh - men. ;-)
Also, have to say I'm really liking Harry Reid's work for the Dems these days... he's doing a great job at trying to find compromise, but not backing down on critical issues.
Go, Harry!
As you sow, so shall you reap. Good to see Gore back. Go get 'em.
Karen--SING it out for us!!!!!
Glad you were there to give us the play by play. We need to hear more of this speech, and hear more voices getting on board.
The chorus here is all in perfect pitch, and ready to take our message on the road!!!
I was just speaking to somebody earlier today who commented how Al Gore was villified in 2000, and in 2004 Kerry was personified by the press without regard to the truth. Her comment was that Kerry may not have gotten air time because he was a senator.
While I certainly HOPE this wasn't the case, I will watch to see HOW the media plays our former Vice President and if they show him the RESPECT and DIGNITY he deserves.
A little past the holiday (it should for purium which was a month or so ago) but it came to me last night-
Dick Cheney=Hayman or Karl Rove= Hayman?
(bow to me all you citizens....)
While I certainly HOPE this wasn't the case, I will watch to see HOW the media plays our former Vice President and if they show him the RESPECT and DIGNITY he deserves.
Posted by: Sparrow at April 27, 2005 05:10 PM
Barely a glimmer of respect and/or dignity exist in today's media, so I wouldn't hold your breath (besides, you're already blue).