Of EVERYONE, Gore has the most credibility

[Guaranteed]

Al Gore is probably the most die-hard ABB advocate in the entire world. You KNOW that he HATES Bush. Do you REALLY think that he would endorse Dean if he didn't think that Dean could win? Keep in mind that he's had three years to think about what's happening, and what needs to be done to stop Bush.

I said this months ago, but anybody who's ABB, and that includes me, ought to just go with whatever Gore thinks. He has the most credibility of all of us, when it comes to getting rid of the Chimp. He's made it his mission in life.

[mmonk]

1. A matter of opinion

[Cha]

2. I'm Estatic that Gore endorsed Dean but

everyone should think for themselves. I'm looking forward to the Gore campaigning, though. :D

[Myra]

25. Thanks zidzi. I respect Gore but I will decide for myself.

Congrats on a huge endorsement though.

[mikehiggins]

3. Not at all

Gore may think Dean can beat Bush, but does that make him right?

Don't forget Gore managed to lose to Bush in 2000, even if it took a fraud to cap the deal. If Gore had picked up one or two more states, what difference would Florida have made?

He was the Vice President during one of the most productive administrations in US history, headed by a President who was one of the most popular chief executives since JFK. He is a man of great accomplishments with a sterling record on the environment, and a man who can give great and inspiring speeches.

And he dropped the ball during one of the most inept campaigns this nation has ever seen.

So, don't put too much emphasis on Gore's political savvy. If he was that good 2000 would never have taken place.

[Guaranteed]

5. Times have changed, though, and he does nothing but think

about this, I'm sure. He was in Bill Clinton's shadow in 2000- I don't think he was a real leader back then. That was the problem. But, I also think that both Gore and Dean have learned something certain "other" Democrats didn't learn in 2002: the value of real leadership.

[dobak]

4. Drink the Kool-Aid, Ok!

Come on!

Everyone here thinks for themselves.

What about Ted Kennedy? What about Robert Byrd?

Those guys are anti-Bush and I bet neither one backs Dean.

[Guaranteed]

6. Drink the Kool-Aid?

You read my post, right?

<scratching my head>

[dobak]

14. yes...

I said this months ago, but anybody who's ABB, and that includes me, ought to just go with whatever Gore thinks

Like I said..

Drink the Kool-Aid, Ok!

[Guaranteed]

17. No, the Dean-bashers Can Drink the Kool-Aid

because THEY are the perpetual losers. WE, on the other hand, are going to win this.

[dobak]

19. Optimism = Good / Arrogance = Bad

[kerryistheanswer]

7. Exactly - Ted Kennedy backs Kerry

as does Gary Hart and Mike Dukakis - three former progressive Democrat candidates.

Um - remember the democratic wing of the democratic party? Was Al Gore there in the late 80s?

[Guaranteed]

12. Kennedy endorsing Kerry is no surprise.

They're both from Massachusetts.

Gary Hart? Who's that? <sarcasm>

And Michael Dukakis? Talk about getting your ass beat by Bush in an election.

As far as Gore's change in positions from the 80's: hell, well, Dean cut taxes, twice, in the 90's...now he's talking about raising them. Different times call for different measures.

Gore knows the only way to beat Bush is through direct and clear opposition, and that's Dean's strength. He's a leader.

[Rose Siding]

8. Senator Byrd hasn't endorsed anyone yet

Kennedy, as senior Senator of MA, endorsed Kerry.

If Byrd endorses anyone, I wouldn't bet the rent money against Dean. During the IWR vote, Byrd was profoundly moved by all the calls and correspondence he received. He spoke of it on the floor again and again. He kept a count and spoke to the camera with his finger pointed: "I know you're there, I know you're listening".

The characteristics of the Dean campaign are probably very enticing for him.

[grasswire]

9. A lot of lefties despise Gore, though

....and so a Gore endorsement to them is a kiss of death.

[Terwilliger]

10. lefties may dislike Gore...

but they know he's awfully similar to Dean

[Rose Siding]

13. I haven't found that sentiment to be so widespread

as to be a concern.

[meow mix]

11. if byrd endorsed

omg. then id be hella impressed with whoever it was. =)

[Terwilliger]

15. no, but what does that matter?

why is everyone picking on Gore now? Why didnt you do this in 2000?

[Guaranteed]

16. Oh, I just saw this:

Josh Marshall agrees with me.

In regards to Democratic bitterness toward Gore:

"But I think that's very much a DC reaction, and not one, I think, that's shared very widely among Democrats around the country. Whatever they thought of Gore going into 2000, I think most Democrats around the country see him as someone who by every measure was robbed of the presidency and thus has great credibility to make such an endorsement. (It's an estimation I agree with.)"

[HEyHEY]

18. I just wish Gore had decided to run again

I'm sure he would have blown Bush away.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

20. What kind of credibility? As in from which angle?

I understand he has the most credibility as a Presidential choice that had the office stolen from him. Since he is the only one.
But what other direction does this credibility come from?

TWL

[Guaranteed]

21. He is clearly the most motivated to get Bush out.

That's where his credibility lies. He's the ultimate ABB advocate, SO, to those who say we, more than ANYTHING, need to get Bush out of office, I give you AL GORE'S ENDORSEMENT OF HOWARD DEAN.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

24. hmmm...

He is the ultimate ABB advocate? I could probably find someone on DU who has done more relative to their ability and power to support ABB.

Why is he clearly the most motivated? Did he show you that by backing down during the election controversy? You would think if he reallllllly wanted Bush out he would have done more to keep him out in the first place.

I am still not sure what you mean by 'most credibility'.

TWL

[John_H]

22. I'm amazed at the angst/elation about this thing

Nobody I know who's been following politics for a long time is blown away one way or another over the Gore endorsement. Any of the campaigns would take it, but it's pretty babe-in-the-woods to think it's decisive. I don't blame the Dean folks for saying it's all she wrote--that's exactly what I'd do too.

The bottom line: it's very good news for Dean, good news for Clark and Kerry, awful news for Gephardt and Edwards, campaign killing news for Lieberman and irrelevant to the irrelevant campaigns of Kucinich, Mosley-Braun and Sharpton.

Realists desiring to move past boring spin will ask themselves the following questions. We already know where the votes Kerry's losing are going--will this trend continuw if Kerry's campaign continues to falter? If Edwards goes away after the southern primaries, will his couple of percent in the rust belt go to Clark or Dean? Will Gephardt's union supporters to Dean, Kerry or Clark? What about Liebermans 8-9 percent in the South? Will Rove's whores use the Gore endorsement to continue their quest to help Dean secure the nomination or will they succumb to their dislike of President Gore and do their best to make it a liability?

It's December 8th, and there are still a ton of ifs

[Guaranteed]

23. You know, those are good questions.

"We already know where the votes Kerry's losing are going--will this trend continuw if Kerry's campaign continues to falter? If Edwards goes away after the southern primaries, will his couple of percent in the rust belt go to Clark or Dean? Will Gephardt's union supporters to Dean, Kerry or Clark? What about Liebermans 8-9 percent in the South? Will Rove's whores use the Gore endorsement to continue their quest to help Dean secure the nomination or will they succumb to their dislike of President Gore and do their best to make it a liability?"

To those who think that all of those drop-out votes are going to go to Clark, I submit that Dean's frontrunner status and the coinciding national exposure will collect at least half of them. As the frontrunner, many people outside of DU would find more comfort in supporting him, who they see as having the greatest chance of winning, as opposed to hiding behind Clark's military experience in an effort to "not lose," which seems to be the prevailing sentiment now here at DU.