"Al Gore is calling around about getting in the race," says Al Hunt

[chimpymustgo]

on last night's Capital Gang (CNN). Not just his supporters, but Gore himself is taking the pulse of other Dems, said Hunt.

Gore is seriously considering getting in the race. October surprise?

[Cheswick2.0]

1. I would question how Hunt knows this

I hope he does run, however gossip is such a bore. I am not saying you are gossiping....but rather that the people on these news shows are such old biddies.

[Q]

2. I'd love to see him enter the race...

...but I'm not so sure the New Democratic party deserves him.

[liberalnurse]

3. I would find it repulsive.

If he enters the race now, he will be a Nader divider.....The other candidates and supporters have invested much time and energy into campaigns. I would never vote Gore if he did this.....I'd vote for anyone but Gore and *bush......

[Cheswick2.0]

6. really?

How would he be a nader divider? Someone will win the democratic presidential nomination, Gore will not be running against or campaigning against that person if it is not him. However there is a good chance that there will be third party candidates running and you will be free to make up you mind to vote for whomever you like.

[liberalnurse]

7. Absolutely.

n/t

[Kahuna]

15. A "Nader divider?" How is that? Gore would not run third party..

He would run as a mainstream Democrat who would receive the MAJORITY of votes because that is who the MAJORITY of the voters want. Unlike Nader who never polled higher than 6%.

[seventhson]

18. Hi Karl!!!

:puke:

[NicRic]

4. I dont like being teased !!!

I believe strongly that Al Gore coming back into this race would instantly give us Dems the upper hand in the 2004 race. He never should have annouced that he was not running ! Who ever advised him not to run ,was wrong. The Dems are hungry for this rematch ,and only Gore will win handly in 2004. I dont want to take any chances of bush actually being elected, so this to me is very good news ! GORE 2004!!!
!!

[Kahuna]

20. Remember Barney Frank and Byran Dornan (sp?)? Those two clowns..

publically admonished Gore to stay out. I'm sure there were many others in our party who advised Gore to sit this one out. Traitors, all.

[tedoll78]

5. I put it like this:

Ever get jilter by a lover? Someone you thought you were with for the long haul?
And then, after a period of mourning and self-reflection, you fall in love with someone else?
And then the guy who left you returns, wanting you to go back to him?

Gore is the guy who left. And then I fell for Dean. And while I still harbor strong feelings for Al and will probably always, I'm very very very happy with the new guy. Of course, if things don't work out and Al is free, I won't rule-out another try at things.

That's how I see it.

[robbedvoter]

11. You must take this less personally. Picking a candidate

should be a rational decision, unlike falling in love. I for one intend to make the best choice and then support that candidate. Unseating bush had nothing to do with having crushes on different celebrities - the stakes are more important.

[tedoll78]

14. Ahh..

It was the best metaphor I could come-up with :-P

[loyalsister]

44. I thought it was a good metaphor

Many of us have moved on and are over his decision to not run. In fact, Dean speaks to me a little more than Gore ever did.

[seventhson]

19. Hello asgain Karl

:puke:

[muchacho]

8. waffling

Like conceding to Bush and then retracting it...it'll do him in.

Personally, I've never liked him.

[w13rd0]

9. When Gore dropped out of the race...

...or announced that he wasn't a contender, many speculated that it was because the DLC had said they wouldn't back him, and thus, he doubted his ability to garner support and raise funds. Now, several months later, we have examples of candidates that are raising funds and garnering support lacking not only the blessings of the DLC, but flipping them the bird in the process. Although I like Gore, he's not the one that did this. The DLC stomped on his foot, and he went away. Does Al think that the DLC will now reconsider their opposition to him in light of recent events? I don't think they will. Does he think he can flip them the bird as well? Maybe, but he'd be hard pressed to do so, especially considering that he hasn't shown the...intestinal fortitude...Al likes to be liked. Right now, I don't think that's what we need. But for now, it's all rumor and speculation.

[dansolo]

32. The DLC may "support" him

only in so much that he will take away support from Dean. They don't want either one of them.

[Orangepeel]

10. That's fine. It's his choice. But I won't support him.

I want a candidate who wants to be president (and, one who is proud to run as a Democrat).

Al Gore dropped out. Frankly, I don't care whether he dropped out because he didn't think he could win, or because the DLC didn't support him, or because he was tired, or whatever.

He dropped out and that, in my mind, means he doesn't want it enough to be able to win.

[Walt Starr]

12. Gore has Peroted himself

If he gets back in, he looks like a kook.

Perot pulled this crap in '92. When he first got into the race, he could have won. When he got out and got back in, all he could be is a spoiler.

The same holds true for Gore. He announced he would not run. Said so specifically. If he changes his mind now, there is absolutely no way whatsoever he could win the election.

His only chance is to be drafted at the convention.

[legin]

13. As a personel opinion

Going into the next election with the campaign platform of:

" X (fill in appropriate candidate) is the man. X has the best gasp of foreign and domestic policy. X is the most qualified person in America to lead the nation in these difficult times.... well actually he's not because really we would have perfered Al Gore or Hilary Clinton as our candidate... but X is the person to beat bush*."

May not be the most successful strategy.

To be fair I would have recruited a team of TV soap writers to script the Democratic Parties actions up to the next election to basically keep bush* out of the news, i'm just not quite sure whether I like this particular story line.

[seventhson]

16. Gore is exceptionally Shrewd and Wise to have stayed off the front lines

I think that in his 2002 announcement he did what he thought at the time was best -- and he telegraphed his displeasure at the DLC assholes by saying basically that he wanted to run but that no one in the democratic reich was helping him.

Now the DLC poster boy (Kerry) supported by Pitt and BLM and others on this board has proven to be a skunker of a candidate and Dean is just not well enough known or trusted to carry the ball.

Gore suffered an incredible defeat at the hands of the crypto-fascist on the Supreme Court guided by the puppeteers of Baker and the BFEE corporate military operation. He needed a big rest to recuperate and think things through without the constant haranguing and decide whether it is really worth risking his life to go up against the people and organizations who backed Hitler and who have no qualms about destroying Democracy via assassination and subterfuge.

Anyone seen the Manchurian Candidate or the Quiet American lately. I watched them both iun the past week and we are woefully ignorant and stupid if we do not see the corruption of this administration and its forebearers.

But it was ROVE whop said you never realease a new product in the summertime.

Gore needed to wait to strike when the iron is hot and is getting hot now. People are fed up with Bush and they want the man they elected in the first polace to dig us out of this (ass)hole that Bush has stuffed us all into.

I am sure that Gore follows what happens on this board via his savviest mnedia advisors - his daughters - and he knows the pulse is in his favor.

But things have changed 180 degrees since his tepid "withdrawal" in 2002.

He did the smart and wise thing then - never ruling out a return or a draft.

He knows the majority of Americans wish he had won the seat fair and square (instead of being cheated out of it).

But by keeping this exceptionally low profile he has kept BushFEE from making HIM the issue so that Bush can grill himself on the barbecues of his own conflagrations and endless stupidities without too much distraction.

Gore MUST stay out of small airplanes (or large iones for that matter). He MUST select a running mate who is LESS likely than him to cater to the right (RUSS FEINGOLD or DEAN would make fine choices - maybe Barbara Boxer to secure the female vote - altho I am not sure she is that appealing to many). He MUST stay away from those too close to the BFEE-PNAC-DLC like Lieberman, Kerry or even Hillary

[chimpymustgo]

22. Nail on head, Seventhson. He has stayed above the fray.

Otherwise, Dean would have pecked and scarred him, and he would be perceived on the same level as the others.

There is absolutely no comparison to Perot.

Not to mention, I don't see how anybody cobbles together enough delegates to get the nomination - other than Gore.

[seventhson]

24. Thanks - I think many see this clearly

but without a PR operation like Rove has it is hard to repel the bullsit talking points of public strategies and Rove and assholes like Begala who work with them IMHO.

We need to respond point for point to the talking points raised by socalled Dems here who are so quick to bash Gore and who seem to pop up like internet ads whenever Gore is mentioned here.


GORE is going to be elected President (AGAIN) in 2004!!!! (God(dess) willing)

[joshcryer]

30. Agree with that, very much.

:)

[Kahuna]

17. I really don't that this story is true. It just doesn't sound like..

something Gore would do. Al Hunt should be ashamed of himself for reporting this crap.

[seventhson]

21. It rings true to me. Gore may want some honest opinions, and I want him

in the race so badly I can taste it.

I think many of you just do not understand the circumstances.

This is life and death stuff. Gore will be putting his life on the line for US and he does not have the BFEE to protect him as Kerry and some others probaby do.

It was SMART of him to take himself out of the "race" when he did and the way he did it. He did not rule out a draft or a return - but he had to make it LOOK like he was out for the time being.

But I have said it before and I will say it again. Most of the naysayers and Gore bashers on this board are only helping Bush and probably reading directly from Rove's hadbook of handy antiGore talking points.

Give it a rest will ya? OR If you WANT Bush in 2004 and four more years then BASH GORE so we will know whose f$$king side you are on...

GORE IS MY PRESIDENT AND I REMAIN LOYAL TO HIM!!!

[NicRic]

26. KICK!!!!!!

.

[seventhson]

23. Albert Gore PLEASE: TRUST ONLY YOUR OWN DAUGHTERS!!!

Begalas sold you out as did rethuglican spooks in the DNC and DLC. Clinton was compromised over his Bush ties in Mena and - while he is a good media draw and should be used -- do not trust him not to sell you out.

I urge you to read "Der Fuehrer" by Konrad Heiden to get a better historical understanding of the global corporate fascists who you are up against. He was the first antiNazi activist condemned by Hitler and who escaped to America with the help of Varian Fry and other resourceful Americans working with the European antiNazi underground.

Take your place in history Al. But be prepared for the deviousness of the BFEE and their military industrial intelligence and media complex. They will stop at nothing.

But where would America be without heroes and patriots willing to risk their lives for freedom?

Probably under the Fourth Reich - and that ius pretty close to where we are now.

PLEASE run - but run carefully.

[jfkennedy]

25. Gore cannot win

The Republicans know that the Democrats are at a crossroads of sink or swim. So the Republicans are pushing the polls down to low records on purpose to say well perhaps Bush will not win. If Gore takes the bait, they will start a war and Bush will be a shoe in for 2004. As soon as the War starts Murdoch will come to the rescue for the Republicans high poll numbers and keep them high by every 5 minutes publishing in the media propaganda machine the Bush high poll numbers.

The Republicans want Gore to run more then anyone else.

Gore only won by luck in 2000 it cannot happen in 2004.

[whoYaCallinAlib]

27. I respectfully disagree.

Gore won before, and he can win again.

[NicRic]

28. Wrong -You have it backwards !

Gore can win again ,and even get more votes then he did last time. Many that voted for bush have already stated they will not vote for hom again. Gore won the popular vote by at least 1/2 million votes. He is the best man for the job , when I hear p[eople post this rubish that Gore cant win ,it makes me wonder why they would repeat a repug talking point .The repugs are afraid of Gore more then anyone else ,unless Clinton could run again (Bill). They know Gore beat bush last time ,and are afraid of Gore uniting the Dem party , and the level of excitement about 2004 for the Dems.

[devarsi]

29. Bullshit

Just like your thread that has some unnammed poll showing Clark winning overBush 67% to 33%.

Do you have any legitimate sources for the opinions you portray as facts?

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Upfront]

31. Hope Not

To little to late. Dean is the man. Gore would not run when Bush looked unbeatable, changed his mind now. Give me someone who ran when it looked like mission inpossible. I would vote for any of the nine people in the race now before I would vote for Gore or Clark. I will, however, vote for who gets the nomination.

[Q]

34. Gore running would be the first step in restoring Democracy...

...in America.

- It's shocking to see so many right wing talking points expressed on this thread and others. For instance...why would it matter if it looks like Gore 'changed his mind' when the current occupant of the WH has flip/flopped hundreds of times and broken nearly every promise he made to America?

- It's just plain wrong to blame Gore for 'losing' 2000 and the DLC's attempts to block his run in 2004. Some of you need to study history beyond the revisionism of the right.

[joshcryer]

36. It'd also help restore faith in America...

...a lot of countries feel that the US was robbed during the 2000 elections, and rightly so. If the American populace did a ‘do-ver’ as it were, and kicked Bush* out with a land-slide, then I believe that the restof the world would again look up to America as a place where freedom is truely had.

[nannygoat]

40. Excellent article addressed to Al...

James Higdon: 'Against all enemies, foreign and domestic...'
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=12476

<snip--8th paragraph down>

I tend to think of this incident whenever someone mentions that the United States government should be run like a corporation, and by experienced corporate managers. I know I also thought of it in 2000 when Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris disenfranchised over 90,000 voters in order to steal the election for George W. Bush. While corporatism preaches that the idea is merely pragmatic, history teaches that the notion is encompassed by Benito Mussolini's definition of fascism. In fact, at one point in his political life, Mussolini said that the better name for fascism would be corporatism. It is a prospect completely counter-intuitive to American conservatism, but it is fully supported by American neo-conservatism. America did not defeat fascism in WWII, we merely beat it back - temporarily - and it is now rising again on Main Street, USA.

<snip--11th paragraph down>

It is not that I would encourage conservatives to abandon their chosen party, and to become Democrats. I do encourage conservatives to attempt to take their party back. The Republican Party is not the only lost party, it is merely the first to fall. For those traditional Democrats, who wonder why their party has lost the ability to fight, understand that the Democratic Party is within a hare's breath of falling as well. It is not beyond saving, as it seems Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich are attempting to prove, but redemption requires casting off every ounce of apathy. As Burke once said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for some good men to do nothing."

It is also incumbent that downed soldiers must rise to fight again. And here, if I may, I'd like to direct my comments directly to Al Gore.

<snip--13th paragraph down>

The most insidious attack on democracy, in my lifetime, is what occurred in Florida in the year 2000. And yet it is that moment in time that finally turned apathy into action. At a time when America had become bored with American politics, that event ignited a new generation of activists. Such is logical, for it is said that one never appreciates what one has until it is lost. I have never seen a generation of activists more determined to right a wrong, and so unwilling to "get over it." They can only be encouraged if you, Sir, allow them to take that chance. It is only by taking your proper place in the White House that that wrong can truly be rectified.

<snip--16th paragraph down>

When explaining your decision not to run in 2004 you offered that a return to the arena would place an improper focus on what happened in Florida almost three years ago. I respectfully disagree. I cannot think of a more dynamic influence to raise the stakes on what will be the most vital election in this nation's history. There is simply nothing that could possibly influence public interest more. Those who work for your campaign will show more ferocity than you have ever known in your support. I ask that you let us begin that work.

[seventhson]

41. GREAT ARTICLE - A MUST READ

Thanks

[dansolo]

35. My feelings exactly

Gore backed out when promised to take on Bush. Before he announced that he wasn't going to run, he promised that he would come out with a series of talks. Then he withdrew, and never spoke out like he promised. Even if he chose not to run, he should have still spoken out more forcefully against Bush. But he hedged his bets, and decided to lay low. I cannot back a candidate like that. I want someone who will fight for me. Gore had me convinced, until he walked away. I just don't trust him anymore.

[seventhson]

37. Rove talking point alert

IMHO you are repeating the Rove playbook monologue (yawn).

The reality is that Gore was powerless after the Supreme Court ruling. He went quietly away to rethink his life and the needs of his country. He is a realist as well as an idealist and so he knew that unless he could (at that time) get the backers financially to win he would be in a constant punching match with Bush if he stayed in the race.

He HAS to do what is best for America, I believe. He did not abandon US by laying low. He was rebuilding his strength and letting BushFEE destroy themselves and keeping himself out of firing range.

Bush and his asshole PR shills have shot their wad on Gore and cannot touch him now.

Gore can come out with a strong statement saying that this is really a national disdaster and that he can save us from the ravages of the BushII plague the same way he and Clinton saved us economically from Bush Plague I. JOBS JOBS JOBS, SECURITY. SECURITY,SECURITY (AND CIVIL RIGHTS PROTECTIONS) AND INTERNATIUONAL SUPPORT FOR A MIDDLE EAST AND IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN PEACE PLAN!!! ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOT RAPE!!!

There are a thousand ways Gore can capialize on Bush's dangerous incompetence AND he can use the internet now (and maybe run WITH DEAN) to solidify the CORE of the democratic party to WIN WIN WIN!!!


RUN AL RUN!!!!

[knight_of_the_star]

38. He could win it

If he uses the coup of SCOTUS as the central theme of his campaign. He will have to come in swinging and shouting that he and the American people were wronged by the Supreme Court in 2000 and he is here to set things right. He has to come in swinging hard and pulling no punches and with a lot more guts than he did in 2000. He has to base his thing on uniting the party to reclaim what was stolen from the American people if he wants the most solid win he can get. That and he should announce that the other candidates will get positions in cabinet if he wins so as to further unite the party.

[seventhson]

39. Dean - VP. Kucinich - Dept of Peace and Secuirty, Kerry-Doghouse

Gephardt - Dept of Labor
Lieberman - doghouse


Personally I like Russell Feingold as VP, but I think Dean wilol make a stronger ticket and bring ALL his resources to th

[joanski01]

42. YAY! Great thread.

I usually don't read the Gore threads because they are so full of naysayers. Thanks. This really cheered me up!

[seventhson]

43. NH poll shows Gore in lead according to Tweety

if he were to run.

The waiting for the shoe to drop is killing me and it seems like november 2000 and the next six weeks all over again.

It physically hurts it is so painful (just like the Bush theft(.

PLEASE come back Al!!!

HISTORY NEEDS YOU (or history could be all over, frankly)!!!