How many here think that Gore is "bullet proof"?

[Ugnmoose]

If he ran, I cannot think of one thing the spinmeister's could come up with to take him down. Inventor of the Internet ain't gonna cut it anymore. Ozone Man would be a compliment. They can't challenge his experience or patriotism. He was dead on the money about Iraq, the NSA Spying and the coopting of the media. And I think the electorate is finally smart enough not to fall for superficial media hype such as sighs and facial expressions. All of the other candidates have an achilees heal of some kind that can be exploited, but our guy Al appears to me right now to be bullet proof.

[trumad]

1. Ironic that his internet exposed those who trashed him in the past.

[muntrv]

2. Never underestimate the power of the 30 percenters.

[rurallib]

3. Sadly you are right.

Those who destroy are powerful indeed.

[walldude]

4. Are you kidding?

Kerry was "bullet-proof" against Bush on his Vietnam service, and we all know how that one turned out. If they can't find shit they will make it up.

[Ugnmoose]

8. Kerry was a wimp

He could have rebutted it but chose to ignore it, once again listening to the beltway pundits. Al has been there and done that. He is not going to let that crowd run the show this time. Lesson learned.

[nevergiveup]

5. With all due respect

you need to take a couple of reality pills.

[billbuckhead]

22. The worst offenders in the "Assault on Reason"? Why we are in a national freefall

Heston Suggests `Lynching' As Appropriate Response to Al Gore's Gun Policy

WASHINGTON - October 20 -"Now, (Al Gore is) saying 'I'm with you guys on guns.' In any other time or place you'd be looking for a lynching mob." The crowd responded with "let's do it" and "I've got a rope." -- The Grand Rapids Press, October 17, 2000 quoting NRA president Charlton Heston and describing audience reaction.
-----------------snip-------------------------

Yet, many Dems have Stockholm Syndrome when it come to dealing with the gun lobby, it's ugly minions and the national tragedy and humiliating embarrassment of America's failed gun policy which leads us to always look to guns as a solution. Are we scared of these gun lobby minions because they have guns? Laws are greater than any gun at the end of the day. Maybe 10 years ago, if liberals would have stood up to the gun lobby about a 1/10 as harshly as the reichwingers stand up against a womens' right to choose, we wouldn't be in Iraq and in a national freefall.

Are American liberals too cowardly to have Al Gore as President because it means confronting gun owners and telling these people it's not cool anymore to own guns, among other reichwing pursuits?

We keep hearing over and over again that Al Gore lost because of the gun issue. It's time to withhold our love, respect and money from the gun crowd till they scream uncle loud and clear. Throw them out of our families, workplaces, places of worship and elected offices like the reichwing PROUDLY have done to liberals in the past. Until the NRA-GOA crowd is crushed, we''ll never have a decent American leader.

[benEzra]

26. Dems who own guns are evil blah blah blah...

Yet, many Dems have Stockholm Syndrome when it come to dealing with the gun lobby, it's ugly minions and the national tragedy and humiliating embarrassment of America's failed gun policy which leads us to always look to guns as a solution. Are we scared of these gun lobby minions because they have guns? Laws are greater than any gun at the end of the day. Maybe 10 years ago, if liberals would have stood up to the gun lobby about a 1/10 as harshly as the reichwingers stand up against a womens' right to choose, we wouldn't be in Iraq and in a national freefall.

Are American liberals too cowardly to have Al Gore as President because it means confronting gun owners and telling these people it's not cool anymore to own guns, among other reichwing pursuits?

We keep hearing over and over again that Al Gore lost because of the gun issue. It's time to withhold our love, respect and money from the gun crowd till they scream uncle loud and clear. Throw them out of our families, workplaces, places of worship and elected offices like the reichwing PROUDLY have done to liberals in the past. Until the NRA-GOA crowd is crushed, we''ll never have a decent American leader.

"Dems and indies who own guns are evil, cast Dem gun owners out of the party, blah blah blah..."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1689245

This part is pretty revealing, methinks:

It's time to withhold our love, respect and money from the gun crowd till they scream uncle loud and clear. Throw them out of our families, workplaces, places of worship and elected offices

If you threw the pro-gun-owner Dems out of office, then the Senate would be run by the repubs, and my state of NC would have a repub administration. But then again, Sarah Brady IS a repub and proud of it...

Truth is, Gore only bombed on the gun issue because he was misled as to what the Feinstein bait-and-switch and Brady II covered, and was misled on gun-owner demographics and the spectrum of gun misuse. Prior to falling for those lines, he was actually very appealing to gun owners on the issue.

He did lose TN and WV on the gun issue, but a more informed approach (i.e., ditching the ban-nonhunting-long-guns thing, since 80% of gun owners are nonhunters) would go a long way toward reversing that. And he is a very attractive candidate here in middle America, other than that.

And FWIW, had Gore not lost TN and WV over his support of banning lawfully owned, rarely misused nonhunting guns, we wouldn't BE in Iraq, now, would we?



---------------
Dems and the Gun Issue - Now What? (written in '04, largely vindicated in '06, IMO)

[billbuckhead]

30. Sorry, that's part of the liberal deal around the world

If gun freaks would see reason then America would be a reasonable nation. Balls in your court bud, you don't get real liberal government without stronger weapons laws, it's that way around the world. Give up on virtually unlimited gun rights or embrace fascism. I can stand RepuKKKes predatory economic policies, it's the lack of morality in America I can't stand and I see America's gun regulations and cultural norms about guns as issue number one. I don't think we would be in Iraq or generally on the road to hell without out the NRA and our gun culture conning Americans into thinking guns/weapons are the best solution to most problems. You guys real solution is a lock down society with metal detectors and kevlar everywhere with police patrolling with M-16's and driving armored cars. That's the logical end of the domestic gun lobby arms race, they'll make profits coming and going.

[sandnsea]

34. Can't say it enough

"You guiys real solution is a lock dowm society with metal detectors and kevlar everywhere with police patrolling with M-16's and driving armored cars."

That or a free-for-all that would rival the gang wars of the 30's. I can't understand why they can't see it.

Agree with your take on Iraq too, it's realiance on our belief that our weapons will solve everything that prevents us from seriously implementing peaceful means to influence change.

[benEzra]

39. Not in most U.S. states, it isn't...and you are living in a fantasy world

if you think that gun bans of the sort you advocate will fly in most states. Just look at the backlash against the 1994 Feinstein ban, which merely raised prices on pistol magazines and required civvie AR's to have fake adjustable stocks instead of real ones. H.R.1022 would be ten times worse, never mind the sweeping confiscations you envision.

You have your gun-ban utopias in California, New Jersey (almost, although peons are still allowed to own AR's there), Chicago, and the District of Columbia. Pretty much everywhere else has considered and rejected such bans, and will continue to do so.

Around 80 MILLION people own guns lawfully and responsibly, approximately half of whom are Dems and indies. Stay the hell out of our gun safes, please.

Gore tried your approach in 2000, bill. It bombed.

[Adelante]

6. Nobody is, nobody

If they don't have something they will invent it.

[Ugnmoose]

12. You guys are really sadly jaded

You underestimate the intellect of the guy and the experience gained from the 2000 race. Just look at how he has positioned himself over the past 6 years. He has made all of the right moves. Make no mistake he is a politician extraordinaire who knows how the other side thinks and acts. He has their number and I think he would like revenge for all the shit that was heaped on him the last time around.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. Look what they did to John Kerry.

He was a war hero.

[Cha]

7. NObody is

fucking bullet proof.

[waiting for hope]

9. Well, there is the House issue...

The RW exploding heads are still talking about Edwards $400 haircut - how soon do you think it would start going around again about how much he pays for his electric bill and then you have the ones that absolutely hate all those "Hollywood Liberal" types and God knows what they would say, since they will say anything. Being bullet proof in this day and age would take the second coming of Christ, and I don't think even He could stop the spin that would be dredged up.

[Fridays Child]

10. I have no doubt that, if he were to run...

...the RNC would dust off all of the old canards and manufacture plenty of new ones, to boot. But their lies didn't succeed in keeping him out of the White House, in 2000. It took a series of criminal acts to do that.

[Ugnmoose]

15. Yes let's not forget who won the popular vote

Is Al more popular than he was in 2000?

[wildhorses]

11. he may not be bullet proof but, he is the BEST non-candidate.

i say this with the utmost respect of all those who are currently running:patriot:

[Wiley50]

14. But, It's the bullets I (and probably him) are worried about most

He's the closest we've had to JFK and RFK in 40 years

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

16. If he were to run, the Focus Groups that try to

surround him and smother him, would not be bullet proof. He HAS to do it on his own. Tell the focus types to go Fuck themselves. It's the best for the country, and maybe, they will have some fun fucking themselves. Good all around!

[Rydz777]

17. Well put. Everything they've tried against him in the past now

looks so petty. On the big things he was right all along - on the war and on the environment. And he has shown such strength of character, rising above the disappointment of 2000 to become a statesman respected around the world.

We have a chance,if he can be persuaded to run, to restore our nation's position in the world and set it on a rational course into the future. After the disastrous Bush years, it would be tragic if we lose our chance - for a second time - to have this good man as President. I honestly think he would win in a landslide.

[Ugnmoose]

20. You said it - Statesman

That is what is so desperately needed and what we have been lacking in a President for so long.

[illinoisprogressive]

18. gore was in politics because it was expected by his family. He is now

doing what he loves. Why do so many people want him to go back to doing what he did not love but, was obligated by family to do. If you really cared about him you would let him be happy and at peace

[Pirate Smile]

19. Nobody is "bullet proof". They are experts at smears and the media plays a willing ally. It will

be a battle no matter who is the nominee.

[BeyondGeography]

21. Come back after/if he declares

One week later, he will have more arrows in his ass courtesy of the MSM and his Democratic opponents for the nomination than he can shake a fist at.

[Mojambo]

23. He has ascended above that stuff.

And if he comes back down to run for office I imagine it would be something like the end of the Matrix when Neo finally comes to believe he is the One. He'll stop dodging the bullets and just put up his hand and the bullets will drop to the ground.

Al Gore is the One.

Start believing.

[pitohui]

24. no one is bullet proof EOM

,

[idgiehkt]

25. I don't know

but I think he would be a good bet. Look what has happened since the boy-king took power...9/11, Katrina...I remember the years of peace and properity, as the saying goes, under Clinton. I would love to see the wrongs of the 2000 election righted. It might bring some healing to this country, and I am sure I am not the only one that feels that way.

[bryant69]

27. If anybody thinks Gore is Bullet Proof they are kidding themselves

I like Gore a lot; particularly since the campaign. But he's got these problems to overcome

* The Right Wing lies about him are already set in stone, and field tested.
* The Mainstream Media hates him, and will trash him nonstop.
* The Left Wing has shown little ability or even desire to defend him from these kinds of attacks.

I would really like him to be President, but insofar as I like the guy, I have a hard time hoping he runs because of the amount of shit he's going to get dumped on him.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[TwilightGardener]

28. I think he'd be a stronger and wiser candidate this time around, but

negative images take a long time to die in the public sphere, and I'm not sure 7 years is long enough. It wouldn't take much more than one or two gaffes to remind voters of that previous characterization, or to reinforce it.

[deutsey]

29. They'll attack his strengths, just like they did Kerry

Standard Roveian tactic.

I just hope that Gore (or whoever gets the nomination) is prepared to fight back and hit damn hard when the spin machine starts taking potshots.

If the Dems are just going to play by the Marquis of Queensbury rules, they're going to get metaphorically kicked between the legs all over again.

[RestoreGore]

31. His body isn't bullet proof

And I do fear for his safety.

[sandnsea]

32. If Democrats support him

then he's bullet proof. If Democrats repeat the right wing's garbage, in the interest of "open-mindedness" or "smoke and fire" or whatever other stupid-ass excuse people give to bash their own candidate - then no, Gore and nobody else is bullet proof.

[RestoreGore]

33. And in what system would this supposed running take place?

The corrupted one he excoriates in his book?

[lonestarnot]

35. Literally, no one is bullet proof. They lie you know. Just depends on how many voters

read and know the truth, no matter how inconvenient.

[BlueIris]

36. I don't know about bulletproof, but as a celebrity he's got a big. fat. suit of armor

on him with virtually no chinks in it. In the 21st Century, the Cult of Celebrity (to which Gore was admitted for a good reason) is practically better than being beautified. Celebs are America's royalty after all, and most folks, even those who despise "real" royalty, love 'em.

He's also free from association with the scandals of BushWorld, and can in no way, shape or form be construed as having been one of the Dems who "enabled" BushCo's actions. Well, except by batshit crazy fake progressives whom I still sometimes hear whining about how Gore "didn't fight" the SCOTUS decision hard enough. But I don't think even that crew could dampen the love Gore's old (and especially new) faithful have for him.

Plus, CIA wants him. They'd rather have him than Kerry, after all. Even Richard Clark is out there shilling for Gore. Of course, he could be doing that to try to taint Gore's credibility with the far left, I'm not sure. Good luck to Clark, though, if that's his agenda.

Still...this is Rove and the Economic Freedom Fund we're talking about. No one is bulletproof to those fascsist sociopaths. They'll say anything, and the more unbelievable it is, about Gore or anyone else, the better (and more likely it is to appear on television).

[ThomWV]

37. I Think The Presidency Is His For The Asking

And if he asks me I'll do everything I can to make him Presidnet.

[charlie]

38. He was bulletproof before 2000

Beltway wisdom was that he was a Boy Scout, no skeletons, no peccadillos. Most hands-on Vice President in history. Policy maven. Southerner. Excellent debater. Self-deprecating charm. The grownup who genuinely loves his wife, in contrast to the horndog-in-chief. Pundits mused about whether Democrats finally found someone unbeatable (much of the same was said about Dukakis, BTW). Look at what a mutant freak they made him out to be.

No one is bulletproof. Anyone who forgets that for a second will lose.