The GREATEST Gift EVER!

[Ambrosious]

SPEAKER: ALBERT GORE JR., VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DEMOCRATIC PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

Good evening.

Just moments ago, I spoke with George W. Bush and congratulated him on becoming the 43rd president of the United States, and I promised him that I wouldn't call him back this time.

I offered to meet with him as soon as possible so that we can start to heal the divisions of the campaign and the contest through which we just passed.

Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr. President, and God bless you."

Well, in that same spirit, I say to President-elect Bush that what remains of partisan rancor must now be put aside, and may God bless his stewardship of this country.

Neither he nor I anticipated this long and difficult road. Certainly neither of us wanted it to happen. Yet it came, and now it has ended, resolved, as it must be resolved, through the honored institutions of our democracy.

Over the library of one of our great law schools is inscribed the motto, "Not under man but under God and law." That's the ruling principle of American freedom, the source of our democratic liberties. I've tried to make it my guide throughout this contest as it has guided America's deliberations of all the complex issues of the past five weeks.

Now the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken. Let there be no doubt, while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity of the people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.

I also accept my responsibility, which I will discharge unconditionally, to honor the new president elect and do everything possible to help him bring Americans together in fulfillment of the great vision that our Declaration of Independence defines and that our Constitution affirms and defends.

Let me say how grateful I am to all those who supported me and supported the cause for which we have fought. Tipper and I feel a deep gratitude to Joe and Hadassah Lieberman who brought passion and high purpose to our partnership and opened new doors, not just for our campaign but for our country.

This has been an extraordinary election. But in one of God's unforeseen paths, this belatedly broken impasse can point us all to a new common ground, for its very closeness can serve to remind us that we are one people with a shared history and a shared destiny.

Indeed, that history gives us many examples of contests as hotly debated, as fiercely fought, with their own challenges to the popular will.

Other disputes have dragged on for weeks before reaching resolution. And each time, both the victor and the vanquished have accepted the result peacefully and in the spirit of reconciliation.

So let it be with us.

I know that many of my supporters are disappointed. I am too. But our disappointment must be overcome by our love of country.

And I say to our fellow members of the world community, let no one see this contest as a sign of American weakness. The strength of American democracy is shown most clearly through the difficulties it can overcome.

Some have expressed concern that the unusual nature of this election might hamper the next president in the conduct of his office. I do not believe it need be so.

President-elect Bush inherits a nation whose citizens will be ready to assist him in the conduct of his large responsibilities.

I personally will be at his disposal, and I call on all Americans -- I particularly urge all who stood with us to unite behind our next president. This is America. Just as we fight hard when the stakes are high, we close ranks and come together when the contest is done.

And while there will be time enough to debate our continuing differences, now is the time to recognize that that which unites us is greater than that which divides us.

While we yet hold and do not yield our opposing beliefs, there is a higher duty than the one we owe to political party. This is America and we put country before party. We will stand together behind our new president.

As for what I'll do next, I don't know the answer to that one yet. Like many of you, I'm looking forward to spending the holidays with family and old friends. I know I'll spend time in Tennessee and mend some fences, literally and figuratively.

Some have asked whether I have any regrets and I do have one regret: that I didn't get the chance to stay and fight for the American people over the next four years, especially for those who need burdens lifted and barriers removed, especially for those who feel their voices have not been heard. I heard you and I will not forget.

I've seen America in this campaign and I like what I see. It's worth fighting for and that's a fight I'll never stop.

As for the battle that ends tonight, I do believe as my father once said, that no matter how hard the loss, defeat might serve as well as victory to shape the soul and let the glory out.

So for me this campaign ends as it began: with the love of Tipper and our family; with faith in God and in the country I have been so proud to serve, from Vietnam to the vice presidency; and with gratitude to our truly tireless campaign staff and volunteers, including all those who worked so hard in Florida for the last 36 days.

Now the political struggle is over and we turn again to the unending struggle for the common good of all Americans and for those multitudes around the world who look to us for leadership in the cause of freedom.

In the words of our great hymn, "America, America": "Let us crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."

And now, my friends, in a phrase I once addressed to others, it's time for me to go.

Thank you and good night, and God bless America.

 

[Purple Haze]

Oh please Ambrosious, you can't like little Bush that much can you?

 

[Ambrosious]

Or dislike Gore that much? Yes, yes I can.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

It was a good speech which will be quoted and referred to for decades. And he actually wrote his.

 

[Ezzy]

My fellow non-Americans...

I watched the two speeches last night as they occurred.

As one of the more cynical members of the board, I was interested to see what they would have to say for themselves.

The speech by Al Gore had value and worth IMHO, far and above that I had expected.

It meant enough to me to take a step towards expressing my thoughts to Vice-President Gore almost directly. I did a quick search and found the E mail address, that apparently leads to his third assistant to the second civil servant, charged with deleting all E mails to the VP’s office.

I have read with interest the threads on the election, and what the two “main” party candidates had / or had not ever said.

Through all of them I had used the pinch of salt method, to review their words or the words of their spin-doctors.

The words of Al Gores speech (who ever wrote them) had a depth and heartfelt nature that led me to believe he very likely did write them himself. My cynical side says you can be taught to act and my understanding of politics as a visual spectacle makes some acting likely, but I would also say that this act was to good to be false.

Unsure of the political realities of the USA I would like to see him in the 2004 contest, I hope he can use the time out of office to work out those things he did have a hand in and those he did not.

Now as for the year 0 curse of the presidents we will have to wait and see if Big Ron broke it or if it still works.


EZ http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/sleep.gif

 

[Purple Haze]

"The Zero Curse"

Every American President elected on a zero year, dating all the way back to William Henry Harrison (1840), died in office.

Except RWR.

Does brain-dead count?

[Edited by Purple Haze on 12-14-2000 at 08:44 PM]

 

[Cheyenne]

I didn't get a chance to see either of the speeches on TV last night. I may not be a Gore supporter, but the speech above is a good one. It must have been very hard for him to give this speech after losing his life-long dream (yes, maybe just temporarily until a future election- who knows?)of being President. I very much hope he meant what he said.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

The words of Al Gores speech (who ever wrote them) had a depth and heartfelt nature that led me to believe he very likely did write them himself.

He did. He writes all his own speeches.

 

[Ezzy]

Thanks DCL...

He did. He writes all his own speeches.

My comments still stand "Who ever wrote them".

The words and way he delivered the speech, stired me enough to send my thoughts in the E mail.


EZ http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/cwm2/sleep.gif

 

[Weird Harold]

An Orator or a Manager

VP Gore's speech was an excellent example of his skill at rhetoric and oration.

The question I have is do we need an effective orator for our president, or an effective manager?

Given what I saw of the management styles displayed in the election challenge just past, I'm gald the VP's speech was a concession speech instead of a victory speech. I've worked for micro-managers and efficency and effectiveness aren't the hallmarks of that style of management.

One other point:

The talking head on the TV just mentioned the the country is "evenly split." That's a crock of shit! The majority of voters voted against both of these men. The majority of eligible voters exercised their constitutional right to abstain. I make that about 75% of the elgible voters that did NOT vote for one of these two.

Apathy won this election, and it will continue to control our government for the next four years.

 

[CelestialBody]

Re: An Orator or a Manager

 

[Weird Harold]

Re: Re: An Orator or a Manager

Hundreds of voters were sent away from the polling booths because of mistakes made by the clerk's office.

A problem of greater or lesser severity in every precinct in the country, I'm sure. Still, there are millions of registered voters who didn't vote. The only numbers I saw on turnout were from election night -- 52% of registered voters did vote. They also estimated that only about 60% of those elgible to vote are registered to vote. I make that to be something like 71% of the people who could vote if they wished to did not make the effort.

There may be 2 or 3% of those who wished to vote who were turned away at the polls, but that doesn't come close to the number of people who either refused to vote or couldn't be bothered. That doesn't take into account people like me who voted for "nunya bums" (AKA 'None of these candidates') -- estimated at 1.5% to 2.0% accross the country.

Apathy won, and disgust with politics made a strong showing.