Simple yes or no. If Gore runs, can he win?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

As much as I appreciate opinions, I'm just looking for a simple yes or no vote.

[NYCGirl]

1. Hell, yes. NT

[Blue Belle]

2. yes.

[liberal renegade]

3. By a landslide

[proud patriot]

4. Yes

[FyurFly]

5. YES, Gore has the REAL "star power" n/t

[evlbstrd]

6. Yup.

[Nite Owl]

7. Yes! n/t

[lonestarnot]

8. Yes.

[Fresh_Start]

9. yes, Bush voters looking for a mulligan

will push him over the top.

[Monkeyman]

10. Yes

[lostnotforgotten]

11. Yes!

eom

[RestoreGore]

12. In what system? n/t

[tinfoilinfor2005]

19. Solar. n/t

[RestoreGore]

29. I'm talking political n/t

[ruggerson]

13. Nope

[Perky]

70. No as well

He will be painted as a has been and radical fringe. The Dem counter-punch is notoriously weak.

[in_cog_ni_to]

14. YES. n/t

[Justice]

15. yes

[Botany]

16. Yes

[tinfoilinfor2005]

17. I do know that many political analysts observe DU for trends

so maybe they should pass the word on to AG. So far I think I'm seeing a trend here. :)

[RestoreGore]

27. But why are people saying yes...

That is the question. A little more truthful substance behind the one word answers would give a better insight. Could he win hypothetically in a system that wasn't like the current military/industrial complex one we have? A system that Jefferson envisioned? A system where the people are informed and actively involved in Democracy instead of distracted by mindless entertainment and media propaganda? A system where ideas and principle trumped being "popular?" A system he actually WANTED to enter? Sure. Again, if he wanted it. However, you cannot in my view just blurt out a yes to this question with any guarantees knowing the kind of political process we have now, the state of our media, the state of our voting apparatus, the "good ole boys" network in place, the amount of truly uninformed and apathetic people due to the media and the subtle steady wearing away of Democracy and debate in this country, and the history behind why he didn't get there the last time, especailly when those obstacles are still there now. Can he win is not the question. Would he win is really the question, and based on what we know of this system today, that answer is not a guarantee.

[ms liberty]

59. "they system Jefferson envisioned"...take off your rose-colored glasses...

In a recent post, you added a plethora of quotes from Mr. Jefferson. The majority of those quotes came from a time BEFORE he won the Presidency. He knew the system wasn't perfect, that it was in fact very IMperfect - but he ran anyway. Why? Because he believed he could accomplish important things, that he could make America better. He ran, knowing he would be trashed and smeared. And he was - when he was a candidate, his opponents made hot topics of his friendship with Tom Paine (headlines: "Jefferson is an athiest - he's friends with Thomas Paine!") and his alleged (at the time) affair with Sally Hemings (headlines: "Jefferson cavorting with slave!"). And according to contemporary accounts, Jefferson was not an engaging or charismatic speaker.

Politics has NEVER been what the founders envisioned, because their ideals came smack up against the reality of human nature. The media/press has never been as unbiased and informative as we want it or thought it was. There's always been a 'good ole boy' network (of which the founding fathers were a part, BTW), and the populace has always been easily swayed, and many citizens vastly uninformed. People used to give their vote away for tankards of ale, and for a few coins. Poll taxes kept the poor away from the election booths. Women and blacks couldn't vote. When our country started, no-one could vote unless they owned property.

We've never lived up to the ideals expressed in our founding. But we continue to strive for that goal. Opting out of the system because it's not what it should be will NOT get us any solution, it will only get us elected officials who are committed to maintaining the status quo, or regressing our rights and liberties. If we want to change the system, if we want to make it better, we have to participate and change it from the inside.

If/When Al Gore runs, it will be with the full knowledge that the political system and elections are not what they should be. He will do it knowing full well what our problems are - he understands it now and always has. He's studied it closely; he saw it when his father was in office, and he's seen it first-hand in his own career.

If and or when he runs, it is up to US to make sure he wins and takes office. We were caught unprepared in 2000, and we didn't fight as we should have. We know better now, and we can't let it happen again. I for one don't think we will - especially if Al Gore is our nominee. We understand now as we did not then how important the stakes are.

[RestoreGore]

68. I think it is you who sees nothing but roses

And again, Jefferson's tombstone has an epithet written by him, and he requested no one add one word to it. On it were the three accomplishments in his life that he wished to be remembered for. They were, writing the Declaration of Independence, the religious freedom in Virginia statement, and being the father of the University of Virginia. He never once mentioned being president as an accomplishment he wished to be remembered for. He is also not predominantly remembered by most simply for being president because his term wasn't exactly stellar. He accomplished more outside the confines of politics and is remembered as a statesman, author, inventor and a host of other things.

But of course, instead of discussing the TRUTH of what is today in relation to what Mr. Gore himself has stated which I agree with which is FAR from roses, you instead seek to point a finger at me. And don't tell me what Al Gore understands. I know full well from his own words that this system is TOXIC exactly what he understands. Perhaps you need to look beyond your own desires to actually see them too.

And please, "we were caught unprepared in 2000?" Now I've read it all. And how do you explain everything since? Oh and the "we've never lived up to the ideals expressed in our founding" line sounds like you are also excusing this current administration and I think it's time we did live up to those ideals and FAST because as a nation we have sunk below anything the Founders ever envisisoned and until we do, we don't deserve Al Gore up there. He's too good for this crap, but if you think he isn't and want to dump it all in his lap, so be it. But hey, YOU are going to make sure it happens... so let's hear the plan of how you propose that will happen step by step thus GUARANTEEING a win in this Fascist military industrial complex system... I'm all ears. And no excuses. You said he WILL WIN and YOU will make sure it happens. I now want to know specifically how you or anyone can make that guarantee.

[aikoaiko]

18. too close to call.

[KingofNewOrleans]

20. yup

[Bonobo]

21. He'd win.

[Strawman]

22. I wouldn't write him off if he ran

Of course he could win. Would he? No idea.

[kster]

23. Yes!

[Raksha]

24. Yes, against anyone the Repukes could put in the ring. n/t

[Colobo]

25. Can he win? Yes. Would he win? I'm not sure.

[Subdivisions]

26. yes

[rubberducky]

28. Biggest win ever!!!!

[NI4NI]

30. He can and he would!

He's the only candidate so far that would make me leave Edwards, albeit grudgingly.

[Swamp Rat]

31. of course

[WiseButAngrySara]

32. YES! He already did in 2000. ....n/t

[montanacowboy]

33. ABSOLUTLY

LANDSLIDE - VP CHOICE FEINGOLD - UNFREAKENBELIEVABLE COMBO

[tinfoilinfor2005]

34. So, according to the Diebold voting system,

the no's have it...
:rofl:

Sorry (ahem...) Please continue voting.

[JanMichael]

35. "Can" yes. "Would" probably.

[lesab]

36. yessssssssss!

OH YEAH!

[Proud2BAmurkin]

37. fuck yeah

in a walk

[Selatius]

38. Well, he certainly proved that he could win the popular vote back in 2000.

Why wouldn't he be able to do it again? Especially since he's become the virtual billboard of what the country would've been like had he won the presidency.

[Zoigal]

39. No doubt about it..

YES

[RobbinsdaleDem]

40. Yes.

[CK_John]

41. No, IMO he would not get the nomination.

[kimsterdemster]

42. yes

[nevergiveup]

43. Maybe

but it is not a sure thing.

[roamer65]

44. yes

[RB TexLa]

45. No, neither he or Dukakis would win

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

46. Doubtless.

[kath]

47. Hell, yes.

[VOX]

48. Yes, emphatically. He won once, and Kerry lost only by a whisker; Ohio and Florida are the prizes...

Put at least one of those two states in your electoral column, and it spells "Democratic Victory."

[wiggs]

49. Simple: yes. Does anyone really believe the line that he can do more re climate

change by NOT being president?

If he wants to facilitate change, POTUS is the place from which to do it.

[RestoreGore]

69. He already is

Dispute it based on the last thirty years.

[Jack Sprat]

50. yes

[ms liberty]

51. Yes. Yes. Yes. I have NO doubt about it, the answer is YES! n/t

[alittlelark]

52. OOOOHHHH YEAH !!!! (cue Ferris Bueller music)

[ElkHunter]

53. Yes

Damn straights he can win.

[Pastiche423]

54. YES

[HeeBGBz]

55. Yeppers n/t

[Quixote1818]

56. Big Time! nt

[me b zola]

57. YES.

YES!

[Bronyraurus]

58. No, he cannot

[AshevilleGuy]

60. Yes. n/t

[NastyRiffraff]

61. Sure n/t

[jannyk]

62. You betcha!

[orleans]

63. oh yes! n/t

[LeftyMom]

64. I hate to be the voice of dissent here, but no.

People really, really don't like admitting they've made a mistake. It would be much easier to start fresh with a new canidate than to fight an uphill battle to get a convincing margin of people to change their minds about Gore.

Anyhow, if there's one lesson to be learned from the '00 and '04 elections (and no matter which side you think barely won,) it's that being personable counts for more with a lot of voters than knowing what the hell you're talking about. To be on the safe side, we really need to run somebody who seems personable on television AND knows their shit forward and backward. Bonus points if the canidate can convincingly run a populist platform, which Gore can't.

[wtmusic]

65. Yes. That simple. nt

[Kickin_Donkey]

66. He already won once, so yes.

[Vidar]

67. Yes.

[malaise]

71. He will wipe the floor with

the rest of the field.

[OhioChick]

72. Yes n/t

[terrya]

73. Yes.

Against John McCain? Hell, yes. It would be a blowout.

[trof]

74. yes

[madokie]

75. You damn right he will and can

YES

[ecstatic]

76. no. DUers are wrong (and blind) on this. nt

[tinfoilinfor2005]

80. Apparently, since the vote presently stands at 62 - 7

on the YES side.

[Hubert Flottz]

77. Yes!

Gore/Feingold...the 16 year ticket!

[laruemtt]

78. YES. n/t

[samscafe]

79. No. :(

[dkofos]

81. YES

If he really wants to!