Why doesn't Gore want to run in 08

[wakeme2008]

I see a lot of support for him and the things he is doing on here and other places.

So, why is he so dead set against running ?????? I am confused....

[Nickster]

1. I think he's looking to be "drafted" rather than taking the usual route.

I don't see the establishment taking him in as the next candidate, but it would be hard to avoid if a popular uprising happened and the people demanded his candidacy. Just my thought.

[father_of_hope]

2. why?

I'll tell you why:

He doesn't want to die in a plane crash like Carnahan and Wellstone.

[karynnj]

3. Gore is a very good man

who went through hell in 2000. His 18 month disappearance was likely very necessary for him. The 2000 election was less intensely negative than 2004. We had a fairer shake with some of the media - it was already unfair though.

A 2008 run will bring the same intense scrutiny that will take everything he has ever done in the worst light positive distorting it out of recognition. Gore, who was considered a boy scout, did a huge amount of the Clinton fund raising. There were things not totally kosher and they were taken out of context and turned into major deals.

Gore seems to not want to go through all that again. I'm amazed that Kerry is willing to go through that again.

[wake.up.america]

5. Gore can get more done for the country, not being the President.

[FreedomAngel82]

38. Maybe Gore likes what he's doing now I don't know

I'm surprised too anybody would go up again for that type of job after the shit they were given and their families. Kerry must really want it.

[SheilaT]

4. It's very difficult

to the point of being almost unheard of (Richard Nixon being the one exception I know of) for a candidate to lose the Presidential election and come back and actually win later on.

There are also a lot of us who feel that he betrayed us by not fighting hard enough for the win, and conceding so readily. Many of us also feel the same way about John Kerry.

[Mabus]

7. Andrew Jackson was another

who lost a hotly contested election and came to win.

As for Gore betraying and conceding so readily I respectfully disagree. The election was decided by SCOTUS where was he supposed to appeal that ruling? Don't forget how the media treated both the voters (too stupid to vote in Palm Beach) and Gore personally. The media wanted Bush in the WH.

[SheilaT]

9. He did not respond with any

forcefulness to the shameful bullying of the ballot counters in Miami. He did not continue to question the entire problem with the butterfly ballots.

Of course, he made more mistakes during the campaign than is worth mentioning, but he tried to play the gentleman, and he should have understood quite clearly, as though of us outside his circle watching what was going on, that the Republicans would do absolutely anything to steal the election.

Thank you for reminding me about Andrew Jackson, although that was some 170 or so years ago, and I'm referring to modern elections, or at least 20th and 21st century elections.

[Mabus]

11. LOL Well, I can't use Taff as an example

because he kept losing elections, one after another, until he finally got himself convicted :rofl: .

What should have happened, imo, was that the Democratic Party should have stepped up. Does Bush fight his own battles? Hell no, that's what the operatives are for. The candidate is supposed to stay above the fray. Instead, there appeared to be very little support from Terry McAuliffe and his DNC. The party failed him. Remember all the GOP congressional staffers that helped shutdown the recounts? They were paid, had housing and other resources. I just didn't see the same support from the Democratic Party with our candidates. Lieberman didn't help when he caved to Russert on counting military votes (no matter how suspicious) while not standing up for all of those non-military overseas ballots.

[SheilaT]

13. Thanks Mabus.

Were you at Washington Jefferson days this weekend?

[Mabus]

15. Yes I was

I was in the rally room. In fact, our favorite new saying is "smoke farts" thanks to Obama.

[FreedomAngel82]

39. That's why I'm glad Dean is the chairman

I think that's his perfect job. He seems to know how to campaign and what works etc. So now with Dean the head of the DNC I'm sure he'd do a lot better job. Remember McAullife didn't want any Bush bashing at the convention? That was pure crap I think. Remember Al Sharpton.

[Mabus]

42. Remember it? I was there.

I was never so pissed.

BTW, Sharpton made my day when he started talking about the Republicans.

SHARPTON: Mr. President, as I close, Mr. President, I heard you say Friday that you had questions for voters, particularly African- American voters. And you asked the question: Did the Democratic Party take us for granted? Well, I have raised questions. But let me answer your question.

You said the Republican Party was the party of Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. It is true that Mr. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, after which there was a commitment to give 40 acres and a mule.

That's where the argument, to this day, of reparations starts. We never got the 40 acres. We went all the way to Herbert Hoover, and we never got the 40 acres.

SHARPTON: We didn't get the mule. So we decided we'd ride this donkey as far as it would take us.

(APPLAUSE)

Mr. President, you said would we have more leverage if both parties got our votes, but we didn't come this far playing political games. It was those that earned our vote that got our vote. We got the Civil Rights Act under a Democrat. We got the Voting Rights Act under a Democrat. We got the right to organize under Democrats.

(APPLAUSE)

SHARPTON: Mr. President, the reason we are fighting so hard, the reason we took Florida so seriously, is our right to vote wasn't gained because of our age. Our vote was soaked in the blood of martyrs, soaked in the blood of good men (inaudible) soaked in the blood of four little girls in Birmingham. This vote is sacred to us. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21903-2004Jul28.html

If more people had come out swinging like Sharpton did it might have changed minds. Instead, it was what is was.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

31. As to mistakes in his campaign, the popular wisdom

IMO is gravely mistaken. Sure he made some, but actually he ran an excellent campaign. The empirical proof is simple: he started about 20 points down in March, 1999, yet won. All that despite a very significant headwind:

1) Nader

2) 2-1 money disadvantage

3) unprecedented MSM attacks and spin

4) Monica

5) As already noted, disadvantage of being sitting VP

He couldn't have overcome all this without running an excellent campaign, IMO.

[RDU Socialist]

21. jefferson lost to adams in 1796

but went on to become vp because of the fucked up methodology of electing executives back then.

[FreedomAngel82]

40. Well remember Alexander Hamilton

He tried to get EC voters to vote his way and got his buddies to manipulate the vote. He was jealous and a sore loser and had an ego.

[DrGonzoLives]

25. Different time

Elections were much different back then, in addition to the fact that there was virtually no such thing as "mass media." Any campaigning was done by party faithful at a local level, since it was "unseemly" for candidates to stump themselves. Jackson was also just a Representative, I believe - Gore was a VP and lost, and that can be hung on him badly.

[Mabus]

27. She said she could only think of one

I mentioned another and someone else mentioned a third. I agree that the times were different but that wasn't a variable brought up at the time.

As for VP's, the elected VP in modern times to win election was Bush I. Before that it was Van Buren in the 1830's. So, it appears that a VP who isn't elected isn't such a rarity after all. BTW, Mondale (who had been the previous sitting VP) lost by a huge margin (approximately 40% Mondale and 60% Reagan for Reagan's second term) compared to what Gore actually won by. Ford wasn't elected VP but even he lost his election bid to Carter. Ford was one of nine VPs who ascended to the Presidency. The last who ascended to the presidency and was elected to a full term was Johnson.

[Uncle Joe]

47. Let us not forget Grover Cleveland,

an incumbent President that lost (due to some shenanigans in Florida of all places) only to come back and win it four years later.

[Mabus]

48. To tell you the truth

I mentioned Jackson because he, like Gore, is from Tennessee. Yes, I know Jackson was born in South Carolina and Gore was born in D.C. but, for me, both are synonymous with Tennessee. I've been to Tennessee twice now and I was knocked out by how friendly the people were to both me and my husband. The only thing more beautiful than the people was the landscape. My husband's friend works at Vanderbilt and we visited him once on our way to D.C. The second time I was there it was because I was attending the First Annual Gore Family Dinner this past summer, but I digress.

Moreover, I mentioned Jackson because both lost a hotly contested election and both were viewed as "men of the people". I was emphasizing that I think, Gore, like Jackson, could win if he ran again because the people know the election was stolen from him.

[Uncle Joe]

49. I agree with you Mabus on all counts.

Speaking of Jackson, my office is only about five minutes from his home at the Hermitage.

[Mabus]

50. Thank you

Another small confession. Jackson isn't one of my favorite presidents because of his removal policy. :shrug: On the other hand he did adopt a Creek child. I'm also struck by how sympathetic he was to Eaton's and and how he stuck with them during their "sex scandal". That says a lot about him. If I remember correctly (and I majored in American history over ten years ago, so I'm a little rusty) most historians think he stuck by the Eaton's because of the way his wife was treated by his political opponents and the junior Adams in particular.

Still, there's that whole "Trail of Tears" and the Cherokee cases...

I do love Gore and wish he would consider another run. For one thing, he has foreign credentials that will help regain the trust of other nations for America. If we want to be part of the world again we need to consider how to rebuild trust with them. One person I think they do trust is Gore. Among other things they know him because of he pushed for intervention in Bosnia, his work on global warming (Kyoto, "Earth in the Balance" and his continued work) and his speeches since the 2000 election. Not to mention that Gore was, imho, correct both times on Iraq. He voted "for" invasion when Iraq attacked Kuwait and he spoke out "against" Bush's holy war. Is everyone in Tennessee this prescient? I guess Gore does it the old-fashioned way, he educates himself.

[Uncle Joe]

51. Yes the Trail of Tears and displacement of the

Cherokee was a dark episode. Andrew Jackson was a product of his time and place with all the virtue and vice that go with it.

Two points about Andy, he knew how to party and he was a hell of lot better shot than Dead Eye Dick.

Regarding Al Gore, I cannot think of anyone that brings so much bounty to a barren table, as Al could.

[Mabus]

54. LOL

RE: your two points: Jackson probably didn't party then hunt.

To the other two sentences, I agree.

:hi: See ya 'round the forum. I've really enjoyed this exchange.

[Uncle Joe]

55. Likewise

:hi:

[Radical Activist]

45. Jackson was also denied office after winning the popular vote

against the son of a former President and was from Tennessee. Fun similarities.

[karynnj]

23. So, to what court should he have appealed the SC ruling?

Both he and Kerry did what they could, in the circumstances they were in, both gave very classy, dignified concession speeches - after unfair fights that in a fair world they would have won. I am totally convinced both love the country and are doing what they can to make things better.

[Mabus]

28. Exactly

Very well said.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

29. I definitely agree it is difficult for a sitting VP to be elected, but

as to close, controversial races actually there are, I believe only four examples:

1) Andrew Jackson 1824

2) Tilden 1876

3) Nixon 1960

4) Gore 2000

In two out of three, the original "loser" went on to win in a subsequent cycle. Gore would make three out of four. BTW, Tilden never ran again.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I think he's afraid he might win.

I mean, holy shit, think about it for a minnit.

[OnionPatch]

8. Even if he did want to run

I doubt he would announce it so soon. It doesn't make sense in many ways. For one, it gives the right extra time to trash him.

I wouldn't count him out yet.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

32. Definitely.

It is axiomatic that you enter as late as practical. The heat goes up after you declare. Better to let Hillary get beaten up for now. Kennedy actually waited till the NH primary in January 1960.

[Clark2008]

10. Because he's tired of politics.

He's not tired, however, of working to make this country a better place, but, after all the hell he suffered through, I'm sure he's much happier doing things his way instead of the political way.

That, btw, is going to continue to be a problem getting good people to run for office: good people don't want to be KKKarl Roved and won't put their family into that shit.

[FreedomAngel82]

41. And maybe he's more free now too

He can do things his way etc. Nobody to hold him back from what he wants to say or the actions he wants to do etc.

[Libby2]

12. Who the hell can blame him?

[AndyTiedye]

14. He Knows He'll Just Get Robbed of the Presidency Again!

We all know Gore got robbed in 2000.

I think it has been made clear to him that he will never be allowed to serve as President,
even if elected. If fraud doesn't work, there are guns between Gore and the Presidency.
If Gore had beat the fraud in court, he would have been JFK'ed. (Lieberman would have happily
played the part of warmonger LBJ).

Since 2000, our chances of prevailing in court have plunged as more Bush** toadies have been
appointed to the Supreme Court and to other Federal benches throughout the land.
Thousands of Diebold Republican Electing machinez have been installed across the country,
funded and mandated by the Help America Vote (Republican) Act. Laws mandating a paper trail
are frequently ignored, or the equipment simply isn't used if it is there.

Efforts to restore democracy in Ohio failed miserably as the referenda themselves were
robbed of as much as 30% of the entire statewide vote. Those referenda WERE our plan to fight
the fraud and now our efforts are in tatters. The California SoS is doing a Blackwell here and
installing Diebold machinez in defiance of state law. He knew that the required public hearings
would go badly for him, so he simply didn't hold any.

The election theft situation is far worse than it was in 2000.
Why should Gore have another spin at a wheel that is even more rigged than ever before?

[Divine Discontent]

16. third times a charm....

meaning, I won't take this shit come 2008, grudgingly took it in 2000, was very active in 2004, but quit when kerry gave up. they have to be evicted from power. I hope that all citizens show up to vote in such a turnout it cannot be ignored. by then, so many people will be pissed they might.

[snowbear]

17. Karenna Gore-Schiff on CNN last week said "NO way, dad is DONE w/running"

She was talking about her new book in the CNN studio last week (her book sounds awesome btw!) and she was asked about the chances that we'd see her dad run again in 2008.

Karenna had that look of.. "I knew they were going to ask this....."

She said something to the effect of.. "you don't know how hard 2000 was on dad, on our family. No, he's moved on, he won't go through that again."

It was sad listening to her talk about it.

She seemed to light up though when she talked about what issues he's dedicating his full time and attention to now. The environment, global warming, etc.

If I were judging the possibilities of whether he'd run again in 2008, just by his daughter's reaction to the question and the way she answered it, I'd say NO way.

He was elected in 2000 fair and square. And look what we wound up with.

[politicasista]

18. Gore is a smart man,

He took a beating not just in the 2000 election, but from his own home state (TN). I remember watching all these Bush supporters in his hometown of Carthage, spouting that Gore was "too liberal" and other garbage. It was disgusting to see that these people can live in TN and not like Gore. I know he was trying to mend some fences there, but I never heard how it turned out. :shrug:

He may not want to run again, because he wants to spend more time continuing to speak out against this criminal administration, help others like he did with Katrina, and watch his grandkids grow up. Gore seems comfortable with being himself now.

[ChipsAhoy]

20. Yep, that home state beating Gore took.

But -- somebody here reminded me that Bush didn't win AMERICA. ;)

[lojasmo]

19. He got royally screwed by the DLC in 2004

I wouldn't want to run either.

[Totally Committed]

22. That is true...

They forced Leiberman on him, and then, basically, hung him out to dry in Florida.

Al Gore's family was in politics all the while he was growing up. He saw what was what through his dad, and then got the royal screw-gee himself. Frankly, if I were him, I'd be doing the "Party Elder" thing as he is now, and NEVER go near an election again.

TC

[erpowers]

26. Right

I think you are right. I think many of the DLC members did not want Gore to run and may have tried to stop people from giving money to him. I know two of the big reasons he did not run in 04 is that some Democrats did not want him to run and they did not want to give him money to run. However, I think he would have made a good candidate. He would have called Bush out on all the bad things he was doing. In addition, I think Gore would have won again in 2004.

[karynnj]

30. I question your memory on the Democrats not wanting Gore to run

At least for the first 2 years, I heard many Democrats, pundits essentially say that it was only fair that he get a second chance because he really won 2000. He was highest in the polls, until he said he was uninterested and then Lieberman led.

I doubt this was done out of the goodness of anyone's heart. In 2002, Bush's approval rating was still in the Stratosphere - over 65% (I think), so it may not have seemed such a gift. (Even in an August 2003 CSPAN tape (Road to the White house I think)filmed in NH showing Senator Kerry campaigning had a reporter harrassing him. Trying first to bait him into attacking Dean, with Kerry refusing to take the bait - the reporter then asked what he would do if Gore or Hillary entered the race.

[erpowers]

43. Reports

There were reports that top Democrats did not want to go through the drama of Gore running again. There were Democrats who just wanted the Bush/Gore thing to be over.

[Minnesota Libra]

24. Look what he endured during the 200 election - would any ...........

....one in their right mind willingly chance going through that again?? I'd love to see Gore run again because I'd contribute and work for his campaign from day one - but I also know the man was drug through the mud. Plus, I think there are some hard feelings yet about certain Democrats that didn't try to back him up whole heartedly.

[PresidentObama]

33. Gore Should Run In 2008

But I know he won't. I'm a Kerry fan, but if Kerry doesn't run (which he will) I would love to see Gore run. Gore won fair and square, and it's time he gets to take the cake and win the prize he won fairly in 2000.

Al Gore will have my support no matter what he does (unless he runs against John.) He's a great man!

[Hippo_Tron]

34. He's having too much fun NOT being president

The guy doesn't want to go through 2 years of campaigning and then spend eight years not only running the country but cleaning up shurb's mess. Simply put, I don't think that he wants the job anymore.

[TankLV]

35. Can you really blame him.

It take a lot of sacrifice to put up with repuke lies and slander.

[blm]

53. I doubt Gore or Kerry would put up with much again - they learned that the

media can NOT be trusted to hold the GOP lie machine accountable because the corporate media is now PART of that lie machine.

I wish they would run together. Undergod knows the worst was already thrown at them.

[Sensitivity]

36. Very hard to be Principled and play the political game

[FreedomAngel82]

37. Maybe he isn't interested again?

:shrug:

[cassiepriam]

44. He already won once and no one allowed him to take office.

If I were Gore, I would tell the american people to take a hike.

[LaPera]

46. Shit get real, he got it stolen from him once, why bash his head again...

Now that the republicans are in a even much better position with their electronic voting machines placed everywhere in the country!!!

Aren't you aware of how the voting machines in Florida, Texas, Ohio, Alaska, Georgia and New Mexico have incredible voting irregularities, fraud and outright distortion of votes...and 100% of the time the electronic voting machines own by republicans have favored republicans!!!(And all those states have republican Secretary of State, who count and certify the vote).

Now thanks to Rove, Enron and republican APPOINTED Sec. of State, add California to the list.

[Felix Mala]

52. He should go on a cross-country tour and return to politics

like Bobby Kennedy did in '68 -- a changed man ready to lead the country in a new direction.