Why Gore would be a Shoo-In (more wildass speculation from

[Jackpine Radical]

out in the jackpines; maybe I've been communing with my wood pile for too long):

First, I think Gore is quite serious about staying out of the Primaries, at least until after the field has narrowed considerably, but you're not a loyal DUer if you can't invent a Gore nomination scenario (or at least crib one from any number of threads around here).

Bush is at 31%. Maybe 30%. Maybe 18%, if we could know the truth. There are lots of people who are thoroughly disgusted with him & ready to buy the idea that he and his Brownshirt gang stole 2000. They thoroughly wish Gore had not been cheated out of his Presidency. Many now regret voting for Bush and want a Do-Over. Others are just still mad at what happened in Florida. They want a Do-Again. Run Gore with a good VP candidate, and he'd win in a walk.

[hamletsophelia]

1. Nope, fresh blood is needed, stick to what he seems to know, global warming

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. he was VP for 8 years

in the Senate for 12 years, the House for 8.

Global Warming is not all the man knows.

He would be a extraordinary President.

[dalaigh lllama]

32. He would indeed be an extraordinary president

Not only with all the years of experience you noted, but with the integrity of a Jimmy Carter, and at least familiarity with the wheeling dealing skills of a Bill Clinton, and after I saw his MLK speech a year ago, I've no doubt he's got some fire in his belly.

I can only hope he decides to run.

[calimary]

41. I'd give my all for Gore. I'd do WHATEVER it took. And more.

Gore would be SO healing for everyone. And besides, he's owed. It was his job, to begin with, and bush stole it. And I think by now pretty much everybody realizes that. It would be a HUGE gesture toward rectifying things, by restoring the job to the man who was cheated out of it.

[Warren DeMontague]

15. What he knows is what this country NEEDS. He's the best one for the job.

Far and Away. I think the corporate media and the powers-that-be are terrified he's going to run, because if he runs, I think he'll win. BIG.

[Rhiannon12866]

20. I agree.

We need Al Gore, and his ideas now, more than ever. He's a brilliant man and I think he stands an excellent chance, this time around...:-)

[madokie]

24. I think that if Mister Gore runs he will win in the biggest landslide ever ever

and that there will only be token opposition in '12 because there will not be a snowballs chance in hell that Big Al could be beat and the :puke:s know that. Thats what I think

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. ..

:eyes:

[bowens43]

2. Gore is finished. He's damaged goods.

Time for a new candidate.

[StClone]

5. Damaged Goods who isn't?

Obama? Give the co-opted media, Swift boaters and Rush a chance will you. Was Reagan damaged goods after three tries. Guess he was a great candidate even after two losses.

[stlsaxman]

29. The media has NOTHING on Gore. Cece Connelly's fabrications from 1999 have all long since

been debunked- and the GOP knows it-

"Invented internet", "Inspired Love Story", "Did Nothing Against Terror" and so many other stories have all been proven and accepted as the lies they are. Hell, Al has even stood up and said- "I smoked pot, who here hasn't?" during the debates oh so long ago. What are they gonna say about Gore?

The GOP and even the DLC (Clinton, Obama) are terrified Gore will utter a simple, one syllable word- "Yes".

[johnaries]

38. Agreed! And the fact that those have been debunked helps him.

If - sorry, WHEN - they try to Swiftboat him again all Dems have to do is point out these debunkings and then say "they're at it again".

I do occasionally hear the "invented the internet" thing brought up, although it is extremely rare now. All I do is point out the debunking and the fact that he received a Webby Award present by Vint Cerf "father of the internet" himself, and they shut-up.

http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/specialwin.php

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-05-04-gore-webby_x.htm

[w4rma]

31. You think every candidate but your secret one is unelectable, bowens43. (nt)

[ms liberty]

36. You are WRONG...

Al Gore is the ONE Democrat who had been dead-on right on every issue we've encountered since the criminal in the WH was SELECTED by the treasonous 5 in the Supreme Court.

[Patchuli]

40. Cheated doesn't = "damaged"

We need a pro in charge; not a kid. This country isn't ready for Obama nor is he ready for that kind of leadership. Gore is.

[bahrbearian]

4. I've been out walking among my trees and talking with them

and they tell me the same thing, even the Frogs are croaking about it.
Run Gore Run

[heldmyw]

6. It's sad, but, I think, not likely...

..after his hiatus, he walked away from the issues at hand and went off on the Global Warming trail... a trail that never got the traction it should have provided, and seems to be more and more under fire, too.

That was probably a mistake, because the candidate doesn't get to pick the issues that the electorate is concerned with. The war, economy, ethics in government, etc. are the items on the ol' plate.

Things would certainly have been different had the election in 2000 turned out with Al in the White House. Now, I fear that there is just a general fatigue with 'old faces, old news, old issues', and Kerry/Gore/Clinton/Biden, and even Edwards, Vilsack, and Kucinich are being wished away.

I know I dread the inevitable raking up of all that dreck in the next election cycle and wish we had a clean slate, not just an "electable" candidate. It sort of explains the fascination with the relatively untested and unknown Barack Obama, though.

Shame about his name, though. You can count down the minutes before the repubs start with the "Obama-Nation" smirks.

[KoKo]

10. He gave three major speeches and MoveOn.org carried them and C-span

where he spoke about all the issues we are faced with including the War and Bush's violation of our Constitution.

He kept in there even when he was forgotten by the MSM his supporters knew where he was and he kept in touch.

He went back to a cause he cared about after taking a year to teach at Columbia and get his bearings after what he went through in Selection 2000.

He's the most experienced. Whether he will run or not...we couldn't do better for experience and heart.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Actually, I think he's really proved his worth these past 6 years.

He's displayed integrity, courage, intelligence and a shrewd grasp of policy. He's been right on the Iraq war from the get-go, and unlike various other names that get floated for 2008, he doesn't have a vote for the IWR to be albatrossed around his neck like they did to Kerry in 2004.

Sorry, as much as I like Barack Obama -and I thought he gave a great speech at the '04 convention- he's not ready for the top of the ticket. And I think the floating of his name is being done my a corporate media crowd that knows that despite their pre-selection of her as the 'front runner', Hillary probably aint gonna get the nomination, so they better come up with a DLC approved, corporate-friendly "alternative" candidate. Hence, Obama.

Global Warming "hasn't gained traction" and is "increasingly under fire"? What planet do you live on? The Environment -not Bush's fantasies of a Christian crusade against evildoing islamofascists- is going to be THE NUMBER ONE security issue facing this nation in this century. Al Gore is the RIGHT MAN for the JOB.

The question isn't "Can He Win", but "Will He Run?"

If Al Gore Runs, AL GORE WINS.

[John Q. Citizen]

21. A follower doesn't pick their issues, but a leader does.

[madokie]

25. I beleive he was on the trail of global warming long before his Whitehouse 8 years

It'll be Gore if he runs and He will run because he knows the mess we are in and he also knows how to get things done. Read a little about Katrina and Big Al, you just may be susprised

[tinrobot]

30. Ummm... Global Warming is totally tied to Iraq

Global warming is mostly caused by oil... the Iraq war was mostly waged for oil... and those terrorists who attacked us were mostly funded by oil. If the world stopped drinking oil from the middle east, it would be a lot different.

On top of that, Gore has an excellent grasp of both foreign and domestic policy, plus he's downright brilliant. Most of all, he's finally learned to speak truth to power and that's very hard for GOP liars to oppose.

He'd be a great candidate.

[Uncle Joe]

44. Excellent observation tinrobot and

thanks to the O.P. for the thread

Kicked and recommended

:kick:

[ms liberty]

37. He's given speeches at regular intervals that have addressed every issue..

we've faced since the SCOTUS decision. Where have you been?

[AtomicKitten]

7. I'll have some more Gore, please.

[madokie]

26. along with a Tipper on the side

[dpbrown]

8. Gore/Feingold 2008

Run with a Jew who isn't a sell-out to the neocons and the DLC and then you're talking about a real candidacy!

[cascadiance]

23. That's my dream ticket!

I DON'T think Gore's damaged goods! I think he's a man that has aquired a lot of wisdom over the last five years. I've got confidence that not he's learned from his experience with the DLC that they are the ones that are screwing things up for the Democrats, but that they are a hard entity to contend with, and he's right there. He's being very cautious I think before he enters the race. I think he wants a precipitating event that might expose the corporate owned DLC or the like before entering so that he doesn't have to take them on at full strength.

Back in 2000, I was about to vote for Nader. Things bothered me then about Gore, and I at the time didn't know what the DLC was then. But it smelled that he wasn't running himself, but running as someone trying not to be Clinton. Looking back at that, he rescued his poll numbers at the end of that campaign by appealing to the people. With the DLC controlling Lieberman, etc. and discovering that he wasn't going to be "their boy", it's probably not too hard to see why they didn't fight that hard for him in the post election situation.

I though Gore gave one of his best speeches with his concession speech. I'd really wanted him to say the things he did then earlier in the campaign. Thought that show of heart might have made the difference. I think this time around, I don't think we're going to see the "wooden" Gore that Fox keeps trying to rationalize him as when he was trying to keep in line with the DLC. We'll see a man of passion, and THAT will win him the election!

With Feingold out of the race now, there's many like me that REALLY want to see Gore in. And it would be made even better if Feingold were part of that ticket too. Then we'd be voting for an 16 year dynasty I think that might fix things like an FDR administration did in the early parts of last century.

[mitchtv]

9. Partner and I still curse the Florida affair daily

We want our president Gore

[jefferson_dem]

11. This might make me a "disloyal DUer" but i'm not so sure about Gore in 2008.

I absolutely love the guy and could vote for him in a heartbeat. However, at this point, i do not think he would be the most desirable candidate for the nomination or in the General. My concern is that, after his eight-year layoff from politics, too many people will be looking for "something fresh and new." That might not be fair but that's the reality. A test: Go ask someone you know about Gore and 2008, someone you respect and who votes but is not a political junkie like us. See what response you get.

[Warren DeMontague]

18. Naw, there's only candidate whose supporters tend to EXPECT you to automatically be on board.

Cough. HRC. Cough.

You know, because the media sez that person is the "front runner". Jump on the inevitability train!

Actually, though, you're right- on DU, Gore is the front runner. But until we have a nominee, as far as I understand it, you can be a "loyal DUer" and support any Democrat.

Personally, although I like Obama alot, I think he's too fresh and inexperienced to be at the top of the ticket (#2 slot, maybe) and I'm not sure I like the way he's cozied up to the corporate establishment. I also didn't appreciate the little pot-shots he took at atheists and other alleged secular "extremists" in his speech to the Evangelicals.

And I take issue with the DLC-style wisdom which motivated that speech- frankly, I think the religious right and Evangelicals are already over-courted in our politics.

The voters we really should be trying to appeal to are the millions upon millions upon millions of unaligned personal freedom minded social libertarians, alienated by the GOP's authoritarianism and theocratic bend.

[dalaigh lllama]

34. But that's where we come in.

The netroots are a force to be reckoned with. It'd be interesting to see just how much influence the netroots had on the '06 elections, and its influence is just going to grow every year, as more folks turn to the web for their information. We here are all familiar with his heroism at Katrina, his MLK speech, and his AIT documentary and work for the environment. I can't remember how many here have said they'd work their butts off for Gore if he runs, and it's not just on DU, either. I've seen the same excitement for him on other liberal sites, too.

How ironic is it that Gore's support of the internet and its subsequent ubiquity in the world has been such a major force in exposing the neocon lies; the ultimate irony would be Gore's election in '08 because of the power of the internet.

[BlueStater]

12. Speculation is that he's even running at all

I think he's happy to be out of politics. Why would he want to go through all those disgusting Republican smears again?

[Patchuli]

42. I think they'd have to fish deep

to find new "smears" on Al. I think they'd have to invent them (not that they don't usually) and I don't think they'd be very successful. The man lives a clean life...

[zonkers]

13. Here, here, Jackpine! Don't apologize for your sound prognostications...

I always thoughti it was a great idea. It's been said before but Clarke would be a safe, solid VP choice. I am really not sure who else would be a good choice but its still early. I

like what losing in 2000 has done to Al. And BTW, I think we should all just call him Al from now on. No more "Gore". Shit, he's beein around long enough to deserve a first name basis.

I like cheerful swagger Gore has had for the past two years. I like the respect he has world wide. I like his kids. I hope he is our next Pres.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. My personal favorite would be Gore-Feingold, but I think Gore-Clark would be tough to beat.

And I like Wes, too. :thumbsup:

[Taylor Mason Powell]

17. I agree. Gore '08!

I have to think Gore/Clark or even Gore/Obama would be unstoppable in 2008. How quick so many of us are to forget that he actually WON in 2000! He can do it again. He's an elder statesman, he's been right about just about everything, and he's actually loosened up a lot. Perhaps I'm naive, but I think America could come to like him. He's a funny guy! I think he's learned a lot from his experience in 2000 and is ready to apply those lessons and not make the same mistakes in 2008.

I'm holding out hope that he'll run. My faith in this country will not be restored until at least one of the following two things happens: (1) Gore becomes president or (2) Bush, Cheney, and/or Rumsfeld get arrested and tried for war crimes. And Rice. And maybe Tim Russert too, just as a warning to the journalism community that sucking up to power has its costs.

Anyway, nothing can set right what has been unleashed the last six years. Nobody's going to bring those half a million dead Iraqis back. But I agree that a Gore campaign would offer the country at least a symbolic "do-over," as you say. If he's smart (and he is) I think he could ride that sentiment straight to the White House. I don't know, maybe it's just me. I'm a huge Al Gore fan. I'll be paying close attention to the efforts to draft him. And probaby sending money, too. If he ran I'd quit my job to go work for his campaign, if I could.

[autorank]

19. You stay in that wood pile - it provides you with wisdom.

It also represents that frontier, woodsy mythology we've got going here every now and then.

Gore is the most qualified candidate, far more so that anyone in the Senate for example, and he deserves to be President. Do we deserve him?

[Hippo_Tron]

22. I think that the key question about Gore is how he would do against McCain

To Gore's credit he has already survived the GOP smear machine and won an election. Against him, McCain would've been a stronger candidate than Bush and probably actually beaten Bush in 2000.

Now lets look at 2008

McCain is not the same McCain he was in 2000, he's a pandering asshole now, but he still has a moderate appearance. Gore is not the same Gore he was in 2000, he's learned a lot since then and I think he's become much more passionate about his work.


If the GOP nominates Mitt Romney or even better Sam Brownback I think that Gore or pretty much anyone else running would be almos a shoe-in. But McCain is going to be the one to beat and we have to ask how each of our potential candidates would do against him.

[AtomicKitten]

27. McCain has forfeited his moderate/maverick status

and moved directly without passing go to pandering, flip-flopping fool.

Oh, and then there's this:

[Warren DeMontague]

46. The GOP base dislikes McCain even more than our base Dislikes Hillary.

Chew on that.

[Laelth]

28. Democrats tend not to support a candidate who lost ...

... in a presidential contest. We remember William Jennings Bryan, whom we ran four times. Bryan lost all four races. Now, we tend to want fresh blood.

Gore, I think, is an exception, because a large number of Americans believe he actually won in 2000, me included. That gives him incumbent status, yet he is simultaneously relieved of responsibility for the disastrous policies of the past six years. Gore never voted for the IWR, and he has consistently opposed the Iraq War. I think he'd win in an honest election in 2008, regardless of who the Repukes ran against him.

But ... for the moment, all I want is to see Bush impeached by the House and convicted in the Senate.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Jackpine Radical]

35. Wow, another thought in support of a Gore candidacy...

People generally assume that ex-Senators can't win the Presidency. That most likely doesn't hold true for people like Gore, who hasn't sat in the Senate since 1992. 8 years as VP and 8 out of power must pretty well insulate him from the usual Puggy skullduggery about finding and distorting some small negative-sounding aspect of some omnibus bill that he voted for and building a propaganda campaign out of it. No "voted for it before I voted against it" nonsense--besides which, I think that Gore thinks faster on his feet in verbal duels than Kerry does.

[ms liberty]

39. I agree K&R n/t

[SPKrazy]

43. I Want Gore To Run Too

give Hillary a run

I think he'd win too

I like Clark but really don't hold much hope for him, and I like Gore fine.

I really like his stances on global climate change and the environment and think that if not in 08, then we are screwn if we don't start dealing with it. It may be too late to reverse course, but we have to try.:patriot:

[Hubert Flottz]

45. Al/Russ for the next 16 years..."FEAR THAT" freeper!

By the time Al and Russ are out of the White House, Al's daughter will be ready to move in!

[dweller]

47. obligatory

<response for dream ticket>


<insert gratitude to John Kleeb for photo, to Jackpine Rad for thread>

<fadeaway back into the woodwork>
dp