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karynnj

(59,498 posts)
45. Even one change would change the entire future
Mon May 22, 2017, 12:59 AM
May 2017

Had Gore won in 2000, Gore/Lieberman ( unless Gore changed VPs - remember that there were many things that Gore and Lieberman agreed on in 2000. Events in 2000 and afterward moved Lieberman to the right (and neocon) and Gore to the left. ) Nothing would have happened in the same way. I don't think Gore would have ignored the Rudman/Hart terrorism report and might have tightened obvious security weaknesses. Airplanes having unsecured cockpit doors was something already corrected on El Al - it was a known risk, but it was thought that the cost was too high given the risk. Let's assume that this prevented 911. Ironically, Gore/Lieberman might then lose 2004, with a Republican, who ran on small government claiming all these environmental and safety regulations slowed business growth!

In fact, sitting in 2017, we might be speaking of how Gore/Lieberman made a serious effort on climate change, but their legacy also included a weakened economy at the end of their term. Their legacy might actually have been more positive, if they lost in 2004.
Many factors that caused 2008 were already in play before 2000 - I would hope that Gore/Lieberman would have responded better and faster to the mortgage crisis, but there would have been a big dip. Remember no one would have the actual 2008 to compare it to.

At any rate, the next time a Democrat ran - not primarying a Democratic President would be 2008 at the earliest. If Gore/Lieberman were ending their second term, you would have to consider that Lieberman might be seen as the establishment choice. Clinton would have been a 6 year Senator, who might be helped by the Clinton reputation on the economy .. or hurt by some blame for the bills that left derivatives unregulated and removed the wall between banks and investments. It is not a given she would have won the primary. With the economy a mess, it is possible that someone like Gephardt, who was pro-union and (I think) not for trade deals, could fit the times.

At that point, it is impossible to think what the votings issues would be, though it is pretty likely that a terrible economy could be the issue. It is not obvious that Gore/Lieberman would have picked Obama to give a keynote speech - Kerry met Obama after a Chicago finance person with a home in Nantucket suggested he look see him when he was in Chicago. So, he would have been a 2 year Senator, without that much name recognition. Not to mention, under the scenario that there have been 4 consecutive Democratic terms and the economy is bad, I assume the very young Obama would wait a better year. Edwards, with no scandal, would likely not be in the running because without 2004 he would have had to be campaigning in Iowa etc in 2007 as he learned his wife had stage 4 cancer. Dodd and Richardson got absolutely no traction in 2008 and there is no reason to think any would have been better. Then there are likely many others - that none of us would think of.

Edwards, with no scandal, would likely not be in the running because without 2004 he would have had to be campaigning in Iowa etc in 2007 as he learned his wife had stage 4 cancer. Dodd and Richardson got absolutely no traction in 2008 and there is no reason to think any would have been better. Then there are likely many others - that none of us would think of.

If the Republicans did win in 2004, that might make Lieberman less likely to be a serious contender, which opens up the race to many Senators to challenge Clinton. Again, it might have been someone seen as someone who wanted the banks held accountable.

The Democrats need a candidate with no history leftstreet May 2017 #1
The American people got it, well most of us anyways. William769 May 2017 #2
A candidate with "no history" would have made no difference in the outcome of 2016. mhw May 2017 #5
Wow! sheshe2 May 2017 #7
* mhw May 2017 #11
Here are some facts to consider.... Trial_By_Fire May 2017 #9
Take a good look Mr.Bill May 2017 #15
Of course... the only way republicans can win is if they cheat... Trial_By_Fire May 2017 #19
And the number of voters purged with Interstate Crosscheck, now used in 30 states, Amaryllis May 2017 #32
Those number comparisons were irrelevant in 2016. mhw May 2017 #21
Why? Trial_By_Fire May 2017 #23
How about 2012? progree May 2017 #26
How can they be relevant? mhw May 2017 #29
why are you skipping 2012 ? JI7 May 2017 #42
Because... Trial_By_Fire May 2017 #48
Why did you skip 2012 ? JI7 May 2017 #41
+1 dalton99a May 2017 #10
Amen, Brother, Amen! BarbD May 2017 #27
I disagree Motownman78 May 2017 #33
Great post wysi May 2017 #36
It doesn't matter. DK504 May 2017 #24
Exactly. Thank you mhw May 2017 #30
I'd just like to amend your statement if I may justiceischeap May 2017 #35
Yes! mcar May 2017 #3
If we lived in a democracy... yallerdawg May 2017 #4
Just a clarification... Trial_By_Fire May 2017 #6
The reason we have the Electoral College Locutusofborg May 2017 #13
What?? There have been numerous amendments proposed (and passed) 20th century... JoeStuckInOH May 2017 #49
I'm pretty convinced Mr.Bill May 2017 #18
Clinton never got 50% of the vote so I doubt it. former9thward May 2017 #38
Reagan would not do well in the Country as it is Today . he would not win California . JI7 May 2017 #44
I like your plan, no invasion of Iraq, perhaps no destablization of the ME, and best of all Thinkingabout May 2017 #20
Even one change would change the entire future karynnj May 2017 #45
+1000 sheshe2 May 2017 #8
Yes shenmue May 2017 #14
Yes we do sheshe2 May 2017 #25
And a quarter-century of manufactured bile and foam-cannonades JHB May 2017 #12
When a GOP politician says "Americans voted for Trump" it means YOU ARE NOT an American! JoeOtterbein May 2017 #16
K&R. dchill May 2017 #17
Trump'll be haunted by HRC's numbers for the rest of his miserable days. oasis May 2017 #22
Great tweet Gothmog May 2017 #28
He lost the popular vote by 10 million dflprincess May 2017 #31
Those 7 million were against Hillary also. former9thward May 2017 #39
True.Hillary won a plurality not a majority dflprincess May 2017 #40
she still got millions more votes than Trump JI7 May 2017 #43
K & R SunSeeker May 2017 #34
YES, THIS EXACTLY! onecaliberal May 2017 #37
So the football team who held the ball the most wins the game? Baconator May 2017 #46
Until we abolish the electoral college, no president is elected by the voters. Voltaire2 May 2017 #47
So trump only won the most states. Unfortunately he still won the election. jmg257 May 2017 #50
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