Posted on 05/27/2004 6:20:42 AM PDT by .cnI redruM
For the record, Republican officials are denouncing the speech that former vice president Al Gore gave yesterday condemning the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq and the larger war on terror. But privately, GOP strategists say they are "delighted" that Gore, whose speeches include rhetorical extremes and are delivered with vein-popping fury, has apparently taken a high-profile role as a surrogate for the Kerry campaign. Such performances, GOP insiders believe, will eventually alienate all but the most dedicated Democratic base voters.
Gore's speech was delivered under the sponsorship of MoveOn.org PAC, the political action committee formed by the anti-Bush Internet-activist group. In his remarks, Gore blasted the American treatment of "helpless, naked Iraqi prisoners" at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The abuse scandal, Gore said, was not just the fault of the low-ranking soldiers who committed the acts, but of the highest levels of the Bush administration, "who approved a policy of establishing an American Gulag."
"How dare the incompetent and willful members of this Bush/Cheney administration humiliate our nation and our people in the eyes of the world and in the conscience of our own people," Gore said, his voice rising to a shout and his face taking on a strained, angry expression. "How dare they subject us to such dishonor and disgrace. How dare they drag the good name of the United States of America through the mud of Saddam Hussein's torture prison."
Besides calling for the defeat of President Bush and Vice President Cheney this November, Gore called for the immediate resignation of six top administration officials: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, CIA Director George Tenet, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, along with top Rumsfeld deputies Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, and Stephen Cambone. Altogether, Gore accused the administration of implementing " twisted values and atrocious policies at the highest levels of our government."
In response, the Republican National Committee released a statement saying Gore had been vice president for eight years in which "Osama bin Laden declared war on the United States five times and terrorists killed U.S. citizens on at least four different occasions." The statement continued: "Al Gore's attacks on the president today demonstrate that he either does not understand the threat of global terror, or he has amnesia."
However, speaking privately, some in the GOP were not at all unhappy with Gore's speech. "We're delighted by it," said one GOP strategist, "because what you see now is a coalescing of the 'blame America first' wing of the Democratic party that has been largely absent from the stage since 1984."
The strategist explained that Gore's emotional performance, like earlier speeches the former vice president has given assailing the Bush administration, will not appeal to the great majority of voters. "It was an anger-filled speech before an angry audience belonging to an angry group," the Republican insider continued. "All these things are a turnoff to people."
Finally, Gore singled out one non-government official for attack: conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. The former vice president called on President Bush to "condemn" Limbaugh, whom Gore called "perhaps [the president's] strongest political supporter."
Limbaugh, speaking on his radio program, said he found it odd to be included among the administration officials named by Gore. "I have never seen a media figure targeted much the same way the president of the United States is being targeted," Limbaugh said, "and now the president of the United States, who's got really important things to do, has been told or challenged by Gore to condemn me."
" . ..Gore called for the immediate resignation of six top administration officials: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, CIA Director George Tenet, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, along with top Rumsfeld deputies Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, and Stephen Cambone. . . ."
Why don't about a milllion of us line up outside congress and demand the resignation/impeachment/firing/jail-time of Hitlary "we are the president" Clinton, Teddy "the swimmer" kennedy, KKK Byrd, Nancy "socialist friend" pelosi, OH! SO many that need removal, lets demand the dimanteling of the ENTIRE anti-american, socialist-loving democrat party.
"Pull my finger NOW, d*mnit!!!"
Give that man a quart of iced tea.
Al Gore is a screamer. Do any of you know what a screamer is? A screamer is someone you don't pay any attention to until garage doors all over the neighborhood start flying open!!!!!
anybody think that monica was not the cause of great humiliation? did anyone resign? I'm with the author, glad Gorrrreeeeee is doing his best dean screeeeem.
Yep, screaming Al has not been taking his "Vitamin P". That's "Prozac".
Over at DU they still love him.
Only five?
Seriously, I am very concerned about the role of vote fraud in the upcoming election. But I am curious to know which five states you see as having been decided by fraud.
Al was apparently too cheap to buy the heavy duty aluminum foil. Cheap tin foil, coupled with a weak "target" and a bad case of "rectal-cranial inversion" made Al a very susceptible candidate for mind control.
Obviously, we made effective use of Al to get our message out.
Can anybody post Dean's "AAAARRRRGH" face and put his and Gore's mugs side-by-side? That sounds really appropriate right now. That's what Gore looks like.
Anyhow, who the h e l l is Gore to anybody anyway? He's a has-been bitter old fart.
You're killing me, here!
Al Gore could scream "F*** Y**" for 25 minutes before a gang a screaming maniacs and Dan Rather would characterize it as an important foreign policy speech.
He is only good news for the Bush camp if they get out and slam this guy and kerry HARD.
Sitting back and issuing a mildly worded press release that refers to the Clintoon years isn't going to make any impression whatsoever.
I argue with folks who consider themselves moderate and believe me they view that argument with a "So what? That was then this is now" shrug.
Gore blatantly LIED, yesterday and he should be hammered for it.
Kerry blatantly LIED concerning the terror threat yesterday but no one is SLAMMING him for it.
I mean slam ugly!
We have 3 mountains to climb: Jeffink, the media who are NOT on our side and the 14-17% "undecideds" whom we must capture. Right now they are being swayed by the overwhelming lies and bs that comes from the likes of albore and jeffink.
We are simply NOT being heard by the ones who count. If we can respond cogently and forcefully, I think we can easily win. But we have to rattle some cages.
Al Gore: John Kerry with a pulse.
Zoloft is your friend, Al.
is it just me or has algore jumped the shark?
Al Gore has morphed into a transvestite looking homo-erectus.
Gore has turned into a screaming nutcase. Send in the men with a straitjacket.
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