Gore should not shut up

[Bossy Monkey]

Traditionally, the bad cop role in the good cop- bad cop dichotomy of a national campaign has gone to the number 2 person on the ticket. Having the guy who actually won the 2000 election available to blast Bush-Cheney at every turn frees up Kerry to pick a sunny #2 like Edwards or somebody like Clark with a level of gravitas similar to his own.

By the way, in case it isn't obvious, this is in re: the occasional thread saying that Gore should shut up, eg today's "Do Gore's speeches hurt Kerry?"

[redqueen]

1. You're completely absolutely 100% correct

SOMEbody has to play hardball with these people. Now that he's joining the fight no holds barred, the contest is now one between just about everyone in the press v. Gore. Is that about right?

[LTR]

2. At least he didn't tell a senator to go fuck himself

Nice to see a VP with class.

[sybylla]

3. You got that right

I like to refer to Gore and others who have assumed that role in the past as Campaign Whip.

It's his job, as a high-ranking Dem who can't be touched, to get out there and say the things that the candidates who have loads to lose can't say or maybe won't say until it appears safe to say it.

Go Al!

[olddem43]

4. Who else in this country has more

right to confront these criminals? (except maybe 800+ soldiers' families)

[evil_orange_cat]

5. you're wrong... he needs to shut up and go away...

let someone like Howard Dean do those kinds of speeches... Gore's time is past. You don't hear ex-viceprez Dan Quayle spouting off.

[eaprez]

6. Dan who?

[thebigidea]

8. you're actually gonna try and compare Al Gore to... to... Dan Quayle?

The hell?

[luaneryder]

9. Nobody's stopping Dean

He'd be welcomed to make the same kinds of speeches.

[Disturbed]

11. Pres. Gore should speak more often.

It is way past due that more Democrats rail against this Right Wing Fascist bogus Cabal that are trying to destroy The Constitution, The Bill of Rights and America.

[2Design]

12. president gore can say anything he wants and he is good for

this country...he won the election by a lot of votes...

[Bossy Monkey]

14. You would if Quayle could frame a simple declarative sentence

When was the last time Quayle won an election from the top of a ticket? Oh right, never.

[uptown ruler]

7. i love me some al gore

Spreading The Word
The Irony Curtain Shop

[gratuitous]

10. Well, Dems shouldn't be taking campaign advice from the GOP anyway

They don't seem to be running a real textbook campaign right now; why would we want to take their advice about who should and shouldn't speak out?

Ha ha, George. Another voice for freedom and liberty you can't squelch!

[thebigmansentme]

13. i don't know

it could easily be argued either way. on one hand he makes kerry seem more moderate and presidential, with his wild speeches, and he also attacks bush the way kerry can't. on the downside he steals the spotlight from kerry, and could be an embarassment to democrats as a whole with some of his outbursts.

as a matter of fact i'm gonna start a poll about this