Poll: Would you support Al Gore on the second ballot?

[Alhena]

I am a strong Obama supporter, but I have not gotten over my affection for Al Gore. And I am growing increasingly concerned that 2008 is not the ideal time for Obama to win, and it seems likely that he will not get a second chance if he loses. So my question is:

Assuming the party is still deadlocked going into the convention, would you support Al Gore being nominated on the second ballot?

[Selatius]

1. There should be an option that says, "Hell yeah!" n/t

[SharonRB]

10. Heh, heh, heh

I was just going to do a post that said "Hell, yeah!"

You beat me to it. It was the first thing that popped into my head when I saw the OP.

[mikelgb]

2. Other:

I am not a Delegate it dosen't matter...

I'll be spoonfed whoever the convention gives to me.

[Alhena]

3. That's the spirit :)

[jobycom]

4. No. I love Gore, and have been a defender of his since the days when DU hated him

(just as they hate Clinton now). But the two candidates we have deserve the shot. Just because they've been beaten up in the process is no reason to take it from them.

Clinton or Obama must be the nominee, unless they both self-destruct beyond electability. They have campaigned. The people have voted. Gore has not been a part of this. He should not get the nomination.

[Alhena]

6. But I think having had an election stolen from him gives him unique status

he ran, he won, and he had it stolen from him. In my view, that excuses him being moved to the front of the line even though he hasn't done the heavy lifting in this campaign.

[jobycom]

15. Good counter. But I still don't think it's right. That was eight years ago.

Elections are not about the candidates, they are about the voters. What happened to Gore happened to him--the voters voices should still be sacrasanct. A lot of people voting now weren't old enough when Gore was robbed.

If Gore wanted the nomination, he probably could have gotten it. I think he refused to run because he didn't want to stand in Clinton's way. He liked the idea of the first female president. I'm sure he now feels the same about Obama, now that Obama has shown his viability.

I don't think Gore would take such a nomination unless the candidates asked him to. And that ain't likely.

But I see your point. I don't even disagree with it completely. I just think that would be unfair to the supporters of both candidates. And I do like Gore better than either of them, for the record.

[keopeli]

13. I'm trying to recall when DU hated Gore.

Do you mean in 2001, when we wanted him to fight SCOTUS election of Bush? I don't recall that being a hatred of Gore, more of a rage against the coup. Other than that, I'm not sure what you mean. Just curious.
:hi:

[jobycom]

17. Up until he announced he wouldn't run in 2004.

That was some time in 2003, IIRC. Not everyone hated him, but he was like Clinton--he had supporters, but the "progressives" hated him. They called him DLC and DINO, claimed Nader did the right thing, and said all the things about him that are being said about Clinton (Except the war, which he opposed from the start). They even repeated all the Republican smears against him, about Love Canal, Love Story, the Internet.

When Gore dropped out of the 2004 race, many of the same people trashing him started claiming he was a victim of the DLC, and shouting that he was a martyr. I mean the exact same posters. It was like they didn't like anyone who could win, but loved him once he was out of it.

Don't know how you don't remember that. I know most of my early posts here were defending Clinton and Gore. I typed the true explanations about Love Story et al so often I could recite them in my sleep--even had links bookmarked to make it easier.

[karynnj]

21. Thank you so much for this chronology

I wasn't reading DU then and it is sadly what I have seen since 2005 - sometimes in the other direction. (I was shocked at the recent attacks on Feingold, who was a DU hero at one point.)

What is scary is that had Gore re-entered the political scene - there are some that would have shifted again. The sad thing is that so much energy goes to attacking people who we likely agree with at least 75% of the time.

[keopeli]

29. I'm sure you are correct about some being vocal in opposing Al Gore in early 03

but, Gore was never actually a candidate. He considered running but opted out before becoming a candidate (I think that was in June 03). I recall some vocal opposition against Gore on DU at that time including material you mentioned (i.e. love canal), but it did not seem to be on a grand scale (enough to say that DU was against Gore).

The 04 primaries produced a lot of partisan comments on DU, but I don't recall a large movement opposed to Gore's candidacy before he announced he wouldn't run.

peace

[jobycom]

38. I do. He had just as much opposition as Clinton. Look downthread

There is a least one post whining about Gore and NAFTA.

Not everyone was against him, just as not everyone is against Clinton. But there were days when GD was full to the brim of Gore posts, for and against. He wasn't electable, he had already lost once, he was a sellout, he had betrayed us by not fighting the SCOTUS ruling (never did understand what they thought he was supposed to do), he was NAFTA, he was corporate, on and on. Literally most of the attacks on Clinton are the very same charges thrown at Gore. It wasn't just in the context of the 04 election, it was continuous. Even when he opposed the Iraq war he was criticized for not doing more.

It's all down the memory hole, I guess. In another four or five years, people are going to say they don't remember Clinton being hated, too.

[TheDoorbellRang]

34. Same here, joby com

And I'll go one step further.

I was absolutely devastated when I finally realized Gore was not going to get into this race. I ended up with Obama almost by default. But watching this campaign unfold has convinced me of one thing -- Obama is a leader. We will need a leader in the days, months, and years ahead. Someone who can keep us uplifted and focused thru what I fear are some pretty bad days to come. Obama can do that. That's what we will need. Much as I love Al, unless he's fired up as in his MLK speech, his delivery is not that inspiring -- it's just chock full of logic and facts, but it doesn't grab your heart. FDR used his fireside chats thru the Depression to keep people uplifted. I think we're gonna need that ability.

Now here's that one step further: I think Gore should be the VP. I've never seen Gore as power hungry, but rather a man who loves his country and his world. If Gore were offered the VP slot by Obama with even more say in policy than he had under Bill Clinton, I think he might take it. I know a lot of you will poo-poo this idea, but IMO it would be both awsome and unbeatable. Those two policy wonks would kick some serious D.C. butt.

[msongs]

5. hhmm, 2 imperialist war loving corporate commodities vs Al Gore? tough call nt

[high density]

Al Gore was the largest whore for NAFTA

But nobody seems to remember that.

[bahrbearian]

7. Are you trying to get people Banned?

People have been banned here for the way they vote.

[Zenlitened]

8. Unfortunately, if Gore steps in he risks being cast as the man who...

... thwarted the opportunity for America to elect its first (African-American)(woman) president.

I think that's why (or at least partly why) he hasn't even endorsed someone yet.

To step in at the end and say, essentially, "Sit down, you two, I'm in charge now" would be very dicey, IMO.

[Alhena]

14. It'd only work if the party turned to him, not the other way around. But that's

the situation I envision. In case you haven't noticed, our party is in deep shit right now. It's not like we have to manufacture some crisis- it's staring us in the face.

[Zenlitened]

23. Um, in case you haven't noticed....

... the sense of "crisis" is being experienced largely by the True Believers --aided, as they are, by the blowhards in the media -- who can't sit still and let the primary process work itself out for a few more weeks.

For most of the voting public, even those who consider themselves politically engaged, this is interesting, perhaps a bit unusual, and certainly still up-in-the-air.

But it's not the garment-rending, panic-inducing Pit of Everlasting Despair that some folks on th' internets seem to believe.

Stepping away from political websites (not to mention those worse-than-absurd political talk shows) gives one a very different perspective, it really does.

[Alhena]

25. But if this goes to the convention the crisis will be much more real

including supporters of each candidate gathered in hostile anticipation.

[Zenlitened]

33. I don't think the hostility actually exists to the extent displayed on DU...

... and other political websites. Nowhere near the extent.

Most people seem to like some things about BOTH our candidates -- and dislike some things about BOTH of them as well.

We plan on giving one of them a vote, not donating a kidney.

In any event, I trust that Sens. Obama and Clinton have the skills and the savvy to work toward a conclusion that does NOT result in them both being sent to bed without any supper.

[tritsofme]

9. Someone will win on the first ballot if the delegates vote.

Second ballot only happens if delegates are split between more than 2 candidates.

[Alhena]

11. The Gore supporters could make that happen, such as by voting Edwards

or by abstaining on the first vote. I'm no expert on this, but I can't imagine procedural rules stopping this from happening.

[DJ13]

12. Gore would be more effective throwing his weight behind the delegate leader

I dont like the idea he would take the nomination without campaigning for it, and this race needs to end ASAP.

THAT is what real leadership would do.

[jobycom]

20. Or behind the candidate he thinks should be president.

Might or might not be the same person.

[olkaz]

16. This would be flat undemocratic.

He didn't run. Don't give me a candidate out of nowhere at the end. That's some banana republic crap.

I love Al Gore, donated to him 2000, supported him all the way, but don't screw up the process.

[brentspeak]

30. No, it's not, because Michigan and Florida's votes don't count right now

The Democratic nomination process isn't very democratic as it stands right now. So what difference would it make? None.

[olkaz]

37. That's pretty ridiculous.

So because two states' leadership gambled and lost, we should just throw everything up in the air?

Maybe you're right. I'm in!

Killface for President!

[brentspeak]

39. No, because two states' votes won't be counted

I'm not interested in the reasons why, or who's to blame. The point is that since the votes of two large states won't be counted, it's a joke to claim that the will of the People would be undermined by a second ballot at the convention.

[olkaz]

41. ugh

"it's a joke to claim that the will of the People would be undermined by a second ballot at the convention."

The Democratic voters were told that their votes would not count. Even as far back as August and earlier. So, when it came to primary time, they figured, hell, I may as well screw with the Republicans. There were calls for this in the blogosphere and on the radio. I can't remember who they were told to vote for, but whatever it's irrelevent now.

So now, all those folks who thought they were at least accomplishing something by voting (screwing up Republicans, or picking the best of the worst), by these new rules, couldn't vote at all. That's not a fair election.

Of course, there was also the fact the the new election would be a privately funded rushjob (which screams fairness).

Find a way to publicly fund it, allowing all Democrats to vote (including those that voted in the Republican primary), and don't make it this big rushjob, and I'll support it 100%.

Doing it any other way would be disenfranchising the voters in the states that did things right.

[trueblue2007]

18. I support GORE with Hillary or John Edwards as VP

I don't feel Obama has anything to offer.

[brentspeak]

32. As Edwards has already stated a thousand times before, he's already "done that"

He's not going to be anyone's running-mate a second time.

[Clovis Sangrail]

19. how about a "No I wouldn't support him because he wasn't on the ballot"

If the circumstances were that he had been on the ballot I'd support him over either Obama or Clinton.
BUT he wasn't on the ballot

This thing with selecting Gore at the convention isn't just UNdemocratic it's a really stupid idea strategically.
He would have essentially 9 weeks between the convention and the general election to build nationwide campaign from scratch... and have it be successful against somebody who has had over a year to do the same.
Contrary to the belief of some around here this would be the single best thing that could happen to the McCain campaign.

[olkaz]

22. /signed

I figured this was the option "wouldn't want it under any scenario".

[girl_interrupted]

26. Absolutely Yes! I would support Gore

He would wipe the floor with Mc Cain! As far as NAFTA neither Hillary or Obama would get rid of it anyway, they may make some adjustments to it & so could Gore.

[MethuenProgressive]

24. Absolutely!

He was always at the top of my list!

[gravity]

27. Al Gore had his chance already

I don't have anything against him personally, but I think Obama would be a better president and a better candidate to run in this election.

[RichardRay]

28. 5th Ballot? 8th Ballot?

If it goes into a serioius deadlock like conventions of yore then I could see supporting Al Gore as a compromise. First it has to be conclusively demonstrated that niether of the candidates who got through the nomination process can be selected by the convention.

My favorite Al Gore joke, told by Al Gore:

"Al Gore is SO boring, that his Secret Service code name is... 'Al Gore'."

[Ysabel]

31. sorry but you don't seem like a "strong" obama supporter to me...

- i didn't take the pill er i mean poll...

[crankychatter]

35. Al Gore was a WEAK Candidate

He didn't show any balls till it was all over.

I don't dislike him but...

Now he gets to be the elder statesman... NOT THE CANDIDATE.

[ecstatic]

36. That wouldn't be fair, would it?

[Texas Hill Country]

40. i would be friggin shocked if Gore even wanted the job tbh