Al Gore: Will he run? Should he run? What are his chances?

redwards · 05-31-2007, 02:18 AM

There's a lengthy article in a recent Time magazine called "The Last Temptation of Al Gore." While I fully get the impression that the journalist was swinging from Gore's sack, I didn't realize that so many other people were. Gore sits on the board of Google (since before the IPO) and Apple. Jobs and and the Google guys are huge supporters and promoters.

Gore certainly doesn't sound like he wants to run, but he's been very careful not to rule it out. It looks like he could probably raise the money overnight, and a lot of his supporters think he'd clean up in the primaries and in the election.

Dems/Libs: Do you think he should bother? Do you prefer him to any other candidates?

Reps/Cons: Would you be more afraid of Gore than Hillary or Obama? Do you see anything you like or dislike in him more than the other Dem candidates?

motivez · 05-31-2007, 02:34 AM

Gore won the popular vote in 2000 despite his lack of personality.. and considering an obvious narrative that his campaign could paint (ie: Bush was elected, and look what happened, had I been President, I would have... and we'd be much better off), I think he has a decent shot.

All of the top tier Democratic candidates have a major flaw.

Hillary has too many negatives, she's a Clinton, meaning we'd have Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton in the White House, something that's sure to be played on if she were to get the nomination.

Obama lacks experience. Sure he has more public service than just his time in the Senate, but he still does not have the experience on a national scale.. This can hurt him because regardless of the fact that he has as much experience as JFK or someone of that stature, Republicans will paint needing an experienced leader in the "times we live in"..

And so on and so forth..

But what can they go after Gore for? That he believes in Global Warming (like most of the population?) That he wants alternative energy? That he's stiff? If they make the campaign about Global Warming they're going to lose, if they make it on some of his more wacky economic ideas, they're going to lose, because people don't care about that nearly as much as the price of gas, alternative energy, and the war in Iraq.

The fact that he did win the popular vote in 2000 should make Republicans scared of him, because he's only gotten better, improved his image, gained in popularity, and relaxed since losing.. He'd get tons of support from the netroots activists, and I think has a real shot at winning if he was nominated..

Republicans have a hard choice to make, whether they're going to nominate a moderate and hope to win over Independents despite Bush's massive fuckups, and risk losing some of the fringe who wont turn out to vote for a pro-choice, pro-gay rights person like Rudy.. someone like Romney, who's flip flopped on every major issue depending on the office he was running for, or another hard liner (Like McCain is trying hard to become or Thompson or someone like that).. and risk losing the middle.

I think their only hope at this point is to hope for turnout again from the evangelicals and hard liners, because the middle is so dissatisfied with them at this point I don't think they have a shot.. and I don't think they win against someone like Gore.

Dumpy Dooby · 05-31-2007, 03:49 AM

I'm neither Democrat nor Republican, so I guess I can't answer any of your questions.

I think Hilary and Obama should be more scared of Gore than the Republicans. Gore would win it hands down. The Dems picked the worst election possible to make their front runners a woman and a black guy. No offense to either, of course, but it's the truth. There are far too many people that think women don't make good leaders, and there are far too many people that equally dislike Obama's Muslim background and his skin color. The Republicans aren't exactly shining stars either, as these last eight years have evidenced. But honestly, the one year that the Dems have the election by the balls, they decide to front run the two worst possible candidates. If the Dems want to take the election by the balls again, they'll need someone like Gore.

I don't thin Gore will do it, though. He's got far too many revenue streams in his back pocket. It would probably be in his best interest to retain his current position. He would lose those financial affiliations if he became President. Being President wouldn't improve his current position at all.

Cliffs:
Yes, I think he would win if he went for it.
No, I don't think he'll do it.

Roonie · 05-31-2007, 10:23 AM

I would probably vote for Gore if he ran. I am somewhat educated on politics and take the average American who is not. Gore has become a household name in other ways other than politics. He has the branding image already it would just be a matter of capitalizing on it. My point is that most people know his name on the ballet card and would likely vote him as they know him. Folks also know Hillary but she has many negative comments and things surrounding her image. I think Gore would win by a lot if he ran. As I said I would vote for him and everyone I have asked so far has said the same. Everyone is sick of Bush and his neocon agenda.

redwards · 05-31-2007, 12:32 PM

I still wanna hear from some conservatives, but it's interesting that all of you so far agree that Gore would smoke the other candidates. Steve Jobs said the same thing.

Linzyhop · 05-31-2007, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by redwards

I still wanna hear from some conservatives, but it's interesting that all of you so far agree that Gore would smoke the other candidates. Steve Jobs said the same thing.

smoke other democratic candidates.... but i haven't heard about him going up against any repubs.

JaJae · 05-31-2007, 01:11 PM

I think he'd fair pretty well on the Democratic camp. As Dumpy said, the Dems should have this election in the bag. Instead they put up Hillary, an inexperienced black Muslim and a malpractice lawyer. Gore would be their best shot if he decided to run.

redwards · 05-31-2007, 02:35 PM

Didn't the idea that Barack Obama was ever a Muslim get totally exposed as a fraudulent claim? What's up with repeating it over and over?

redwards · 05-31-2007, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

smoke other democratic candidates.... but i haven't heard about him going up against any repubs.

I dunno, the republican field isn't looking too strong to me. All of them have weaknesses at least as large as Hillary or Obama.

motivez · 05-31-2007, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by Linzyhop

smoke other democratic candidates.... but i haven't heard about him going up against any repubs.

I posted a bit about what I thought would happen if it were Gore v the Republican crowd

I think he has a position that would be hard to come down on like they'll be able to on Hillary and Obama

JaJae · 05-31-2007, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by redwards

Didn't the idea that Barack Obama was ever a Muslim get totally exposed as a fraudulent claim? What's up with repeating it over and over?

His father was a muslim, he attended a muslim school, etc. That's gonna hurt him.

nbiggershaft · 05-31-2007, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by redwards

Didn't the idea that Barack Obama was ever a Muslim get totally exposed as a fraudulent claim? What's up with repeating it over and over?

“Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it”

redwards · 05-31-2007, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

His father was a muslim, he attended a muslim school, etc. That's gonna hurt him.

His father was an atheist who was raised muslim, and he never attended a madrassa, that was a lie. He went to a catholic school for 3 years and a public school for 1 year between the ages of 6 and 10. It took me less than two minutes to find that information.

Again, shouldn't you politically savvy internet types know about this shit and stop repeating the lies?

Obama madrassa myth debunked | Chicago Tribune

DosEquis · 05-31-2007, 04:42 PM

I just wish Gore could speak with the same passion he does about global warming when it comes to political issues. When he speaks of the environment he doesn't bore me to sleep and sounds sharp, confident, and speaks with conviction. When he starts talking healthcare or foreign policy he doesn't sound as confident which is a result from speaking way to slow. It is almost like he is trying to avoid stepping on his own tongue.

Roonie · 05-31-2007, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I just wish Gore could speak with the same passion he does about global warming when it comes to political issues. When he speaks of the environment he doesn't bore me to sleep and sounds sharp, confident, and speaks with conviction. When he starts talking healthcare or foreign policy he doesn't sound as confident which is a result from speaking way to slow. It is almost like he is trying to avoid stepping on his own tongue.

If I was talking about those issues in front of America I would be as slow as a snail and everyone would be asleep before I finished a sentence.

Scrum · 05-31-2007, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by redwards

His father was an atheist who was raised muslim, and he never attended a madrassa, that was a lie. He went to a catholic school for 3 years and a public school for 1 year between the ages of 6 and 10. It took me less than two minutes to find that information.

Again, shouldn't you politically savvy internet types know about this shit and stop repeating the lies?

Obama madrassa myth debunked | Chicago Tribune

Google > Right-Wing smear machine

JaJae · 05-31-2007, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by redwards

Again, shouldn't you politically savvy internet types know about this shit and stop repeating the lies?

I was following up Dumpy's post. We both realize he is not a practicing Muslim and probably more Christian than anything else, but he has a Muslim "history" which is going to follow him regardless of how much merit it has.

redwards · 05-31-2007, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

I was following up Dumpy's post. We both realize he is not a practicing Muslim and probably more Christian than anything else, but he has a Muslim "history" which is going to follow him regardless of how much merit it has.

No... he doesn't. His father was an extremely lapsed muslim for a few years of his life. That's it. The rest of it is just a smear campaign.

Thorgrim · 05-31-2007, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by DosEquis

I just wish Gore could speak with the same passion he does about global warming when it comes to political issues. When he speaks of the environment he doesn't bore me to sleep and sounds sharp, confident, and speaks with conviction. When he starts talking healthcare or foreign policy he doesn't sound as confident which is a result from speaking way to slow. It is almost like he is trying to avoid stepping on his own tongue.

He's not running for president so why should he be making big speeches about healthcare when people WANT to hear him talk about global warming?

His presentation is amazing, and everday it's being refined, expanded and more accepted

He has amazing experience as VP and before that...he wouldn't be challenged on security or foreign policy...well anyone would but he'd only be 2nd to richardson on that, he's also very smart, polished, his old image won the popular, his new image would have won by 10pts and that was before so many people couldn't stand the GOP

He's easily the most liberal guy we could get in the WH, and we'd get him in a total walk...it's so frustrating that he HASN'T been running

JaJae · 05-31-2007, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by redwards

No... he doesn't. His father was an extremely lapsed muslim for a few years of his life. That's it. The rest of it is just a smear campaign.

Without a doubt. He's my favorite Democratic candidate right now and would seriously consider voting for him this upcoming election, but I think his muslim history no matter how ridiculous it is is going to hurt him. He looks like a Muslim... and the words are going to keep coming out.