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| 2008: Will Al Gore Be the Anti-Hillary? | ||||||
| 2005-10-12 | ||||||
| From Huffington: It's still three years away but Hollywood is already starting to choose sides for 2008. And two very distinct camps have started to form: those backing Hillary, and those desperately searching for the anti-Hillary. Hillary is descending on L.A. this week, with a small Democratic strategy session planned for Thursday at Ron Burkle's home with, among other Hollywood players, Haim Saban and Rob Reiner, and a trio of fundraisers Friday and Saturday at the homes of Reiner, Bruce Cohen, and Marta Kauffman. The devoted Hillary-ites include deep-pocket donors like Saban, Steve Bing, and Alan and Cindy Horn. The Hollywood insiders who are not going the Hillary way are not ready to go public yet (I'm sure some of them will even be at the Hillary fundraisers this weekend). But, in private conversations, a growing number of them say they are determined to find another candidate to support. Even though they backed both of Bill Clinton's White House runs and Hillary's Senate campaign, they've had enough of Hillary's attempt to rebrand herself as a fence-straddling DLC Dem. They're tired of the relentless strategic triangulating, the all-too-predictable attacks on video games (Sistah Soljah, meet Grand Theft Auto), the willingness to go along with President Bush's missile defense fantasies (one of only six Dems to do so), and the endless photo-op-ready partnerships with the likes of Bill Frist, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich. But most of all, they are put off by her bellicose support for the war in Iraq -- which has, at times, left her sounding more like a White House shill than a viable opposition candidate. Exacerbating the problem is that, when it comes to Iraq, Hillary is telling Hollywood donors whatever they want to hear. One major party donor, who is supporting Hillary even though he is against the war, told me that Clinton had assured him that she, too, was "against the war" but believed that there was no way a woman could ever be elected president while being against the war. "She is convinced," the donor told me, "that she'd be attacked as soft on defense and unable to deal with national security and the war on terror. And I think she's right. I'd rather she be anti-war, but I can't argue with her reasoning." But a growing number of Hollywood insiders are refusing to buy into this "wink, wink," "I'm just saying it for the yokels" routine.
"The old 'say one thing and do another' bit isn't going to fly this time," a politically active producer told me. "We're not ready to go through another experience where we back a candidate not ready to speak the truth. We kept our mouths shut and fell behind Kerry but, to quote the Who, 'We won't get fooled again.'" The big question then becomes, who will be the candidate of the anti-Hillary crowd? Russ Feingold's out-front stance on Iraq has earned him some early attention from, among others, Brad Whitford and Tommy Schlamme. Norm Pattis of Westwood One Radio had a fundraiser for Joe Biden. But more and more, the Hollywood buzz is centering on Al Gore.
And Lawrence Bender, who after producing "Kill Bill" is now producing what I hear is a killer documentary featuring Gore and his fight to get our country to take action on global warming, told me that the former VP "would be a hell of a candidate. Unlike 2000, he's now clearly very comfortable in his own shoes. Bold, passionate, committed, and very funny. It's been amazing working with him." For now Gore is focusing on Current TV, and delivering yet another combustible, populist speech. The idea of Gore vs Clinton in 2008 certainly presents a wealth of delicious story lines: The former Number 2 running against his Number 1's wife. Gore taking down Hillary as payback for the pall Monicagate cast over 2000. Gore as "the new New Nixon" (Gore will be the same age in 2008 as Tricky Dick was in 1968). Automaton Al remaking himself as progressive firebrand. Passion vs. polling.
But will that voice sound like Hillary -- or will it sound like Al?
"She is simply too polarizing a figure and will have serious difficulty winning in the swing states the Democrats need to win the Presidency. In addition, she helped Bush lure America into the Iraqi qagmire and continues to be an enthusiastic supported of the war." "Al Gore, on the other hand, should seriously be considered. His positions have been vindicated by history. He opposed the war from the beginning. He has been a strong advocate of energy conservation for a long time. He understood the need to avoid government deficits, etc. And, of course, he has shown he can win, having already won one Presidential election."
"It would be a deliciously nasty trick to pull on the right wing ideologues if after the huge amounts of resources they have devoted and are devoting to bashing Hillary, the Democratic candidate were someone else than Hillary, like Al Gore." "She's really arch-conservative, always has been. Gore isn't really any better, though. Again, no real choices. But, better to vote Gore and place a one-ton weight on his nuts so he doesn't stray after being elected. Time to institutionalize crawling-up their asses with an oversight microscope." | ||||||
| Posted by:Steve |
| #13 Iff one believes that Hillary still desires not only to be POTUS, but also POTUS o'er America's first all-female POTUS-VPOTUS led Admin., and still desires 8 years of Bill-style geopol "quiet" and "properity", and also knowing that most American voters includ adult females STILL do not want a woman in the WH during times of war andor national stress, then one must accept that as long as the WOT goes on Hillary, etal. will still need to achieve her "power" behind PC male personage. DITTO FOR TERESA, JUDY, NANCY, and BARBARA, or even TIPPER!? Will say again that hubby Bill has unilaterally and pre-emptively destroyed any claims the Dems and US Left have on the national prosperity of the 1990's such that all she and the Dems have are hopes for new 9-11's or greater ags America. UNLESS DUBYA-CHENEY-RUMMY-CONDI THEMSELVES PUBLICLY ADMIT TO BEING DE FACTO TRAITORS TO AMERICA ANDOR PART OF 9-11, HILLARY & THE DEMS HAVE LITTLE TO NO CHANCE FOR 2008 SHORT OF MUSHROOM CLOUDS, AND THEY LIKELY KNOW IT. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2005-10-12 23:38 |
| #12 This music is all I can think of when I hear about AL Gore |
| Posted by: 3dc 2005-10-12 19:50 |
| #11 Crak....naw, I wont go there. What's Al to do, carry Zwahiris' letter around in his pocket for the next three years? At least Hillary can claim plausible deniability on Al Qaida talking points. Memo to all Democrats: Hollywood is built on fantasy. |
| Posted by: john 2005-10-12 19:43 |
| #10 Mike, you stole my line. Its really pitiful that in this great country these are who 45% of the voters believe are the cream of the crop. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2005-10-12 19:33 |
| #9 boy, that AU6535 is sure clever. I'll never recover from such insightful dissing. Sure hope AU6535 doesn't call me a cracker. That would devastate me |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-12 19:10 |
| #8 They also neglected to mention that Bill was an utter bully to Al, and that Bill and Hill treated Al and Tipper like stupid servants. "Boy, go get me a coffee! Haw-haw!", can create unimaginable burning hatred. And Hillary's treatment of Tipper was so humiliating that Tipper literally refused to get anywhere physically near Hillary. Last but not least, remember that Al's daddy was also a US Senator, and one known for dirty tricks, brawling and double-crossing. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-10-12 18:22 |
| #7 haha yes it is now you know why you have a brain dead president, the other options wre even worse hahahahahaahhaha |
| Posted by: Angugum Unumble6535 2005-10-12 17:56 |
| #6 That's not funny... |
| Posted by: Richard Gere 2005-10-12 17:53 |
| #5 Why do liberals always use phrases like "crawling-up their asses?" Because they spend most of their time fantasizing about it. |
| Posted by: Omomotch Flosing3764 2005-10-12 16:47 |
| #4 Go Gore go! Hillary's a traitor to the Left! You're the one the VRWC really should fear. Go get her--and them! ("Please don't throw me in that briar patch over there," 2005 version.) |
| Posted by: Mike 2005-10-12 16:46 |
| #3 It would be a deliciously nasty trick to pull on the right wing ideologues if after the huge amounts of resources they have devoted and are devoting to bashing Hillary I, for one, have barely even started. I assure you madam that when we really get going you will know ALL about it. If you consider what has happened up to this point "huge amounts" you need to get out of the Marin Hills more often. But, better to vote Gore and place a one-ton weight on his nuts so he doesn't stray after being elected. Time to institutionalize crawling-up their asses with an oversight microscope. Why do liberals always use phrases like "crawling-up their asses?" Did they all take holistic proctology courses at UC Santa Cruz or something? There must be a hundred different ways to vocalize that sentiment that doesn't involve putting anything up anyone’s ass. I will say this, though: you know the moonbats are waxing furious when things start going up people’s rectums. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2005-10-12 16:13 |
| #2 "It would be a deliciously nasty trick to pull on the right wing ideologues if after the huge amounts of resources they have devoted and are devoting to bashing Hillary, the Democratic candidate were someone else than Hillary, like Al Gore." Yeah, because no one's ever done opposition research on Al Gore before! |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-10-12 15:43 |
| #1 I read this earlier today and it was an eye-opener to me to read all the anti-Hillary comments. They really do see her as a conservative and they just can't accept the fact Gore lost to GWB. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-10-12 15:41 |