Question for those of us who voted for Gore on 2000...

[JaySherman]

That "liberman" post got me thinking. So many people here seem to be pro-Gore/anti-Lieberman, but how many actually considered the implications of Lieberman being on the ticket and almost a heartbeat away from the Presidency? If the question were to (or already has) come up in conversation -- say with a freeper -- how do you justify being so pro-Gore, and voting for him in 2000, yet also being so strongly anti-Lieberman?

I'm curious to hear people's answers.


As for my own answer, I do include myself in this. I admit to not being as informed as I am now. I didn't really give Lieberman a second thought, which looking back is disturbing. I thought even back then that Bush was bad news. I remember telling all my friends not to vote for that guy because he'd be a puppet for the right and the fundies would go crazy. In my mind, Gore was the best alternative, even if I wasn't in love with him. Since then, my opinion of Gore has risen steadily, my feelings about Lieberman have declined every time he's opened his mouth.

[woofless]

1. I thought Lieberman was a lousy choice then

and haven't changed my mind.

[pansypoo53219]

7. AGREED!!

it was all to be squeeky clean after the monica debackle. it is too bad he did nt look at the polls that said most people still supported clinton during that bullshit. his advisors were idiots. far to DC.
i am sure that is why he supported Dean. AND STILL JOE DOESN'T GET IT.

[sandnsea]

9. Me too

I was just distraught. My mom liked him though, so there you have it. Mr. Good Guy to balance the swinging Clintons. Al Gore did smoke that joint you know, who knows what crazy thing those boomers will do next!

[Bill McBlueState]

2. for me it was ABB in 2000

Say Lieberman's a heartbeat away from the Presidency. As people have pointed out in his Daily Democrat threads, even a center-right Democrat means no neocons in the White House. I was more than willing to tolerate someone like Lieberman as VP if it meant continuing (effectively) the Clinton administration.

[eileen from OH]

3. I could see it is a plausible choice

and didn't have a problem with it. . . UNTIL the debate between him and Cheney. Lieberman did everything but kiss his ring and after watching even I was ready to vote for Bush (I sobered up, don't worry.)

But the kicker, the absolute kicker, was when Lieberman pandered to the right with his "let the military vote, even if they vote illegally" crap. I knew then, and nothing has changed, that Joe is the epitome, he is the DEFINITION of Bush lite.

eileen from OH

[Eric J in MN]

8. Eileen - I was also appalled when Lieberman advocated

Eileen - I was also appalled when Lieberman advocated couting illegal ballots from overseas soldiers.

But there seems to have been one article after another this past week about Gore "betraying" Lieberman, with no mention of what Lieberman did during the 2000 Florida recount.

[gmoney]

4. ABB and Gore was young and healthy...

...besides, no James Earl Ray or Lee Harvey Oswald would even attempt to take out Gore since it would put Lieberman in the Awful Office. Joe was sort of Gore's life insurance policy... similar to Bush having Quayle as Veep, only different.

Also, Lieberman has gotten decidedly more icky and Repug-nant in the three years since the election. Nobody knew him then, but a lot more people know him now, and dislike his Zell Miller vibes.

Someone pointed out that both parties managed to nominate the ONE guy in America that couldn't manage to beat the other guy. McCain would have trounced Gore, no recounts needed. But then, that wouldn't fit in with The Master Plan, now would it?

[DrFunkenstein]

5. Should've Gone With Kerry or Graham

Oh, well.

[dsc]

6. I don't have that much problem with Lieberman

though lately he is digging a deep hole. I also don't think of VP. Gore was young, healthy, and Bush was evil. The choice was easy. It is easy this time. The nominee and the VP nominee no matter what.

[genius]

10. I didn't like Gore's VP choice in 2000

I didn't vote for Gore in the primary either but I strongly supported Gore in the general election. If Gore had asked me, I would have told him to pick a different VP candidate.

That being said, I don't have that much problem with Lieberman. In general, he's better than Dean on social issues, the environment and labor. He's not Kucinich or even Kerry but he's okay. I strongly disagree with Lieberman on the Middle East. But the Middle East is not the only thing that matters in this election.

[TolstoyAndy]

11. I thought Gore was a lousy choice

though I did change my mind later on.

I'm an old commie who thinks we should get rid of the army and spend the money on housing and health care,
so I'm obviously crazy, but I had moved out of New England long before and never had heard of LIEberman till Gore picked him.

It didn't bother me at the time because I have hated GWB since I heard he got elected gov in TX on his daddy's name. I'd have voted for bellybutton lint before GWB, so Holy Joe didn't come into my decision.

Re-reading what I've written, I am still for getting rid of the army and spending the money on housing and health care for the :nuke:ing VETERANS GETTING SCREWED!

[Mairead]

12. I thought Gore and Lieberman were both crap

Gore's choice of Lieberman merely confirmed for me that he was very definitely the lesser evil, and not a positive choice in any way. But I drank the koolaid, held my nose, and voted for him anyway.

Never again.