Why do people think Gore owes Lieberman anything?

[dansolo]

That is exactly the thinking which has led to Dean leading in the polls. There seems to be an overwhelming sense of expectation on the part of a lot of people. I believe that Al Gore has decided to endorse the candidate whose views that he agrees with. The DLC and the Democratic establishment screwed Al Gore over repeatedly during the last election cycle, and while he was considering a run this time around. Frankly I'm glad that he gave them all the proverbial finger.

[neuvocat]

1. He doesn't.

I think that this is rather strange but I won't put too much thought into it-just wait until (hopefully) more info comes in and we can figure out why Gore didn't endore Lieberman.

[DrWeird]

2. Me too.

I think Leiberman sent a lot of votes to Nader.

[LuminousX]

Lieberman vs. Cheney

I think right there we have the reason why Gore owes nothing to Lieberman.

That isn't enough? How about Lieberman "Count all the military votes, even the ones postmarked December?"

Nada, nothing, zilch. Lieberman has spent the good faith we had in him, that Gore had in him.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

3. What kind of an idiot would endorse Lieberman?

And I dont think anybody's suggesting that Gore is an idiot. To endorse Lieberman, quite simply, would be moronic.

[deminflorida]

4. He does not owe the guy anything, but I did'nt have to slap the

guy in the face either. Oh wait a minute he slapped me after I stayed up and watched him on Saturday Night Live as well. I remember that real well.

[Cleita]

5. Lieberman did Gore no favors in the last campaign.

In some instances he left Gore hanging on the line, especially during the debates. I don't think he expected to win and acted accordingly. I mean why did he run for his senate seat again as the same time?

[Toucano]

6. He doesn't owe him anything BUT

it does seem strange to some that 3 years ago, Gore thought Lieberman was suitable to be president. Other than strategic value, that's what the VP is for: to succeed if the president is incapacitated.

But it is a VERY different world than it was in 2000. Once Gore decided not to run himself, he is free to endorse whomever he wants to endorse.

This is very good news for Howard Dean. Is it very bad news for Joe Lieberman? I think so, but I bet he stays in until after New Hampshire. It's almost the equivalent of a no-confidence vote.

[eissa]

8. I don't believe so

"Gore thought Lieberman was suitable to be president"

I think Gore let Donna Brazille and rest of the DLC make some really bad decisions for him, and pushing their favorite son Lieberman as his running mate was one of them.

To be honest, were it not my candidate, I think I also would have been offended by this endorsement. Someone this high up the democratic ladder should really reserve their support till after the primaries. But I'm happy to take it! I think it really shows how confident many leading democrats are with Dean. For Gore to endorse him (someone who wants bush out of the WH probably more than we even do) says a lot.

[lcordero]

7. He does

a good swift kick in the ass

[IronLionZion]

9. Lieberman definitely hurt Gore

and any conservative or Jewish votes he got were offset by the votes he lost for having a conservative Jew on his team. Why else would Nader get so many votes? Bush was obviously a stupid chimp before he was selected.

Gore is an intelligent guy and had a solid platform, but another thing that hurt him was himself. He didn't fight the bullshit the Republicans threw at him so many people got the wrong idea about him. He did not come across as a confident leader.

He initiated the Supercomputer Networking Act and similar legislation but never took credit for "inventing" the network of computers that is the Internet. He's also a friendly guy with a good sense of humor, but after people heard that he was a robot he ended up appearing that way to them.

[IronLionZion]

10. Gore owes him a swift kick in the butt

:kick:

[lcordero]

11. JINX!!!!

gotcha:D

[IronLionZion]

14. shit...somebody unjinx me quick!

[alphafemale]

12. He owed him a phone call before the announcement. Nothing more.

I'm almost certain Gore had the dignity to not let Lieberman hear this for the first time flat-footed.

And perhaps Joe has known this for awhile and it caused much of his hostility toward Dean.

[littlejoe]

13. I didn't know that anyone said Gore owed him a thing.

Free from the crushing constraints of feeling as if he had to run a safe campaign, Gore is now very much a populist, and not afraid to express himself. It doesn't surprise me at all that Gore has endorsed Howard Dean.