"I would vote for Gore if...

[JuniperLea]

I'm seeing such wildly varying opinions here today, so I thought I'd combine thoughts I've read on several threads into one poll.

[book_worm]

1. I would vote for Gore if he ran as a Democrat. He would never even consider running as a third

party candidate.

[JuniperLea]

10. Why not? eom

[Az]

2. He is more important doing what he is doing than wasting time in our political swamp

Politics needs to be reformed and its not going to happen at the hands of those within the political system. It needs champions informing the people what is wrong out in the world. And that is what Gore is doing. Sending him back into the political arena would destroy his efforts and place him back in the same system that he is railing against.

[JuniperLea]

4. You don't think the system can be changed from within?

What's the point in electing someone if we can't expect them to change things? Are you saying that no matter who we put in office, we can't expect things to change?

[Az]

12. Not yet

The system is corrupt top to bottom. The media, the Corporations, the money in the system... anyone able to run in this system is already pulled into the corruption whether they resist it or not. Money money money, you can't get elected without the money. You can't get elected without the consent of the Corporations. Thats simply how it is right now.

[JuniperLea]

21. Seems to me that's all the more reason...

For Gore to run as a third party candidate:)

All those things you cite are the reasons things will not change, no matter what. What I think we have in Gore is someone who doesn't need to go with that flow.

[Az]

39. Running as a candidate does nothing to change the system

As it stands right now he would be even more cropped out of the picture than Kuccinich was. A third party system would not get the time of day in our media. Money and Influence is what anyone running has to beg for. And that makes them a victim of the system rather than a champion of change.

As long as he remains removed from politics he can speak his mind and champion ideas that he dare not speak for fear of spooking the money behind him or the Corporations investing in him. Free he is able to change things. In politics he would be chained by the power he seeks to right.

[RiverStone]

3. I'd vote for Al if he ran as a waffle iron!

Of course, I've worked real hard trying to STOP wasting time on "what ifs" regarding President Gore running (again).

I'll believe it when he says it.

[JuniperLea]

6. You may say that I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one



:hi:

[RiverStone]

16. Dream weaver....

Dreams do come true --- sometimes:)

I simply chose to put my energy toward other battles at hand. Believe me, if Al were to jump in - with all due respect to DK - he'd get my vote, my $$$, and my total enthusiasm!

[ForeignSpectator]

18. That made me want to listen some Lennon again... ;) n/t

[LSK]

5. He will certainly not run as an Independent.

Hes smart enough to know that he would alienate the entire Congress doing so and that he has a good chance of winning the Dem Nomination.

[JuniperLea]

8. Now that is the most intelligent thing I've read...

I think Congress could be the greatest factor in this, but I don't believe it's insurmountable. Congress sways with the political breeze... they aren't even with it enough to understand that their approval rating is down because they aren't doing what we elected them to do.

[TwilightZone]

7. Too bad that DU isn't representative of the real world.

Otherwise, Wes Clark or Howard Dean would be president. And, Al Gore would have a chance in hell of winning as a third party.

Never mind that there's zero chance of him running as a third party.

[JuniperLea]

9. I'm so very happy that what you say...

has zero chance of setting the rules in this world.


:hi:

[TwilightZone]

17. What possible motivation could Gore have to skip the primaries and run as an (I)?

He'd have a much, much, MUCH better chance of winning the general election as a Democrat than as an Independent.

Do you really disagree with that?

If not, then what possible reason could he have to skip his best opportunity for a complete long shot?

Sorry, but that line of reasoning makes no sense.

[JuniperLea]

24. Would he?

Would he have a much better chance as a Dem?

Seems to me the-powers-that-be want Hillary to win. I'm just saying...

[TwilightZone]

32. He can't win as an independent.

The two parties, love 'em or hate 'em, have too much power, money, and influence for a third party, even Al Gore, to win the presidency.

[JuniperLea]

41. I think that's old school thinking

The entire world has changed since that type of political thought became the archetype.

This particular presidential race is different than all the others that came before.

[porphyrian]

14. That's what people who are unhappy with the results are quick to say, anyway. - n/t

[TwilightZone]

19. I'm not unhappy. I'd love to see Al Gore enter the race. As a Democrat, though.

Apparently, people think he should just skip his best opportunity at the presidency - running as a Democrat - to take a long-shot bid at the presidency as an Independent.

Simple question: why?

[porphyrian]

22. I don't personally care what he runs as.

Right now, he would be the best candidate, period. As for your question, I don't know. I never suggested such a thing.

[JuniperLea]

28. I agree eom

[TwilightZone]

31. He can't win if he doesn't run as a Democrat.

That's my point. If he wants to win, his only shot is as the Democratic nominee.

As for my question, the suggestion is inherent in the poll.

[porphyrian]

33. How do you know that? Prove it.

Otherwise, it's just another baseless claim. Give me any evidence you have to suggest that Gore cannot win as anything other than a Democrat.

[TwilightZone]

35. It's not just Al Gore.

No third party candidate is going to win the presidency in '08.

[porphyrian]

36. Another baseless claim. What are you, a psychic?

Prove it, or stop wasting my time.

[TwilightZone]

38. There's nothing to prove.

There isn't one shred of evidence that a third party can win the presidential race in 2008.

If you think otherwise, you're dreaming.

If you think Al Gore is going to magically run as an independent, you don't have any idea who he is.

[porphyrian]

40. Ha! You think I'm the idiot.

You made the baseless future-predicting claim that "No third party candidate is going to win the presidency in '08." The burden of proof is on you, not me.

I may be dreaming, but at least I'm not just making shit up.

I don't think Al Gore is going to magically run at all. If he does, it will most likely be in the total absence of magic, although I am unfamiliar with his current religious practices. And you have no idea what I do or don't know.

[JuniperLea]

43. I think TZ's thinking is based on what used to be

Not what is. It used to be that a third party candidate, such as Perot or Nader, caused a split in votes along party lines and diluted the outcome. I think this kind of thinking is a) passe, and b) dangerous.

We need a new paradigm for this new world in which we find ourselves.

[porphyrian]

45. I wouldn't want to guess, but I think you're right in our need to change.

Perhaps a bunch of the anxiety over how people will vote is due to clinging to the status quo "reality" in the face of the unknown we actually face. Your guess is as good as mine.

[JuniperLea]

42. This kind of thinking is based on the way things were...

Not on the reality, the new reality, that is the world today.

[daninthemoon]

11. IF...He had decided to run instead of deciding NOT TO.

[porphyrian]

13. He may even get my vote if he doesn't run at all. - n/t

[Flabbergasted]

15. I look forward to February when Gore threads won't come up anymore.

[TheUniverse]

20. If he ran as a Democrat

or an independent who has an actual chance of winning like Joe Lieberman or Ross Perot. But I wont throw my vote away if I feel he had no chance of winning.

[JuniperLea]

29. This is not the same world Perot ran in...

Perot split the vote. People are not as loyal to any party these days, but rather are hell bent on finding a better way. I hope the Democrats take back our party! Don't get me wrong, but we can't continue the way we are goind.

And pardon me for saying, but your logic is precisely the problem. We shouldn't be voting for the "yeah team" candidate, but for the candidate that more closely represents the way we feel.

If everyone voted for X because they felt X had a better chance of winning, but most of those people really in their heart of hearts felt that Y would be a better president, then we are screwn.

[TheUniverse]

46. Perot had an actual chance of winning.

He was actually ahead in the polls before he dropped out and reentered.

[Tesha]

25. Why? Who gets nominated in February? (NT)

[Flabbergasted]

26. If it's Gore it's fine.

I just think the pleading/wishing/hoping Gore threads are not worthwhile and got old months ago. I seriously doubt he will run.

[Pastiche423]

51. I look forward to February when johnnyboy threads won't come up anymore

[Sweet Freedom]

23. I would vote for Gore

even if some evil witch turned him into a wood roach. As such, he would still outshine any of the GOP contenders.

[JuniperLea]

30. And even if he never got better...

He'd still be better than that line up. I think ANY Democrat could win against that line up.

[lateo]

27. As long as LIEberman isn't on the ticket.

[Swamp Rat]

34. Al Gore/Anybody Else 2008

:)

[Snarkturian Clone]

37. shit, I'd vote for him if he ran as a repuke NT

[JuniperLea]

44. I like that rebel tone! Now that's saying something!!! eom

[stranger81]

47. All of the above . . .

and if I get tombstoned for saying so, then so be it.


RUN, AL, RUN!!!!!!!!

[Warren DeMontague]

48. Gore would run as a Democrat, or he wouldn't run.

Run as an independent? It wouldn't happen. Not Al Gore. He has too much integrity and respect for our party.

[stranger81]

49. what does integrity have to do with

whether he runs as a Democrat or an Independent?

[Warren DeMontague]

50. It has a tremendous amount, to someone like Al Gore.

Think he has any "respect" for the unproductive crap Ralph Nader pulled in 2000 and 2004? Or for what Lieberman pulled last year, for that matter?

I don't.

It's all about integrity. Gore believes in our party, he believes in our process, and frankly, if he wanted to run he would be, IMHO, a shoo-in for the (D) nomination.