I Don't Understand the 2000 Election

[SeanOhio]

I was a politically minded high schooler in 2000. Unfortunately, I did not understand certain aspects of politics. One of these aspects is the simple notion of why people opposed Gore (or Democrats). We had a great economy, peace, a budget surplus, jobs, and all of the other benefits we desperately desire today. What were the Republicans running against? The Clinton scandal? Eight years of a Democratic president?

I don't understand how people opposed all of the good things we had.

[ibegurpard]

1. Hey, I'm almost twice your age and I don't understand it either.

Assuming you believe the election was completely legitimate, which is debatable.

[SeanOhio]

3. True

The whole recount issue aside, though, I still don't understand what made the Republicans attractive to voters--perhaps that better explains my question.

[Eric J in MN]

2. We can look back on the economy of 2000 as the good old days, but

at the time, lots of people were unhappy with the economy.

There were plenty of people who felt like they weren't getting ahead, college costs were skyrocketing, Gore was supporting more Technical Visas to replace American workers, etc.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Because some of us wanted something even better

At least, those of us who were voting for candidates further left of Gore/Lieberman.

Can't say as to why so many folks voted _for_ *, except that he ran as a moderate with slightly different stances from Gore on certain issues. I guess in that case the Anti-abortion and Anti-gay voters eeked things over the edge there?

[kaitykaity]

5. Number one, Bush ran as "compassionate conservative"

promising the same kind of pease, prosperity, et cetera,
but without the "scandals", with "grown-ups in charge,"
"changing the tone," "bringing honor and dignity back to
the White House."

And the goddamn media sold the package, going easy easy
easy on Bushie Boy for the ENTIRE campaign.

Things were good, and so the conservowacknuts were able
to sell enough people on the importance of the "culture
war" to make it close enough for the BFEE to steal.

JMHO.

[BlueCollar]

6. the NRA

was very effective in turning out the pro-second amendment voters...Gore wants to take your guns was the slogan...

unfortunately, the dems did a lousy job of defending our legal rights to own firearms...

Down here in the South the Republicans run on the three "G"s ... God, Guns and Gays...and the Dems do a lousy job of defining the issues, allowing the repubs to do the job

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Oh yeah, the gun issue must have had an impact.

[Brucey]

9. Lots of Repug groups

Guns, abortion, neocons, religious right, capitalists, the rich, the stupid, businessmen, women haters, moralists, etc.

[DaveSZ]

10. Yeah I'm sure it did (does)

Unfortunately Kerry won't be any better than Gore on the guns issue, but when you compare him to Bush and the neocons, overall he'd be better for civil liberties.


Ashcroft is basically a fascist who wants to peer into your bedroom, and over your shoulder in the library, etc.

[napi21]

16. You're wrong on Kerry & Guns.

He is a hunter and owns his own guns. That's a plus, and although they can lie, Kerry can fight them on this one.

[featherman]

8. Many complex threads woven together for that debacle

A couple:
1. yes, the media was "taking it out on Clinton" by dissing Gore big time.
2. Peace and prosperity worked against the incumbent's successor for a change. Disrespect of Clinton's enormous ability and achievements led to a general mood of "anybody can be President and do as well". This opened the door for the "compassionate conservative" amiable lightweight Bush.
3. From a "nuts and bolts" campaign standpoint, the Gore people made some major errors, some due to lack of money, some just careless. They either let go or pulled out of OH, WV, NH, TN, NV, AZ, etc to put all their marbles on FL. Any state...any state would have given Gore the Electoral majority.
4. etc. etc. etc

[radwriter0555]

11. People opposed Gore because they were ROVED. KKKARL ROVE took

control of the media and every iota of information on Vice President Gore was manipulated and distorted into oblivion, and even more sadly, MOST of America FELL FOR IT.

Well Kkkarl Rove is TRYING to do it again to President Kerry... so we must NOT let him -- at all, ever again.

[whistle]

12. Okay Sean, this may be sacrilegious coming from a DU'er...

...but you asked and therefore I am compelled to answer because:

There are those who don't know that they don't know,
and there are those who know that they don't know,
and there are those who don't know that they know....

but when you know that you know, you gotta share!

<link> http://www.perkel.com/politics/gore/repub.htm

What Gore did Wrong
Gore failed to become president by distancing himself from Clinton and being untruthful and spineless. This page contains a detailed critical analysis of the Gore 2000 campaign and e-mail correspondence between me and the Gore team urging Gore to not be stupid. I created the first Gore 2000 web site. Gore ignored all my suggestions. For historical purposes, and for anyone who is writing books about the 2000 election, I offer this opinion and emails for the purpose of historical accuracy.

I also make the point that in the 2000 election, there were no good guys. That the fact that Bush stole the presidency doesn't make Gore the good guy. This page contains information and language that will offend every reader no matter what side you are on. But, this is my web site, my web page, and I can say whatever the fuck I want. I'm a connoisseur of free speech and free expression and use language of color to make my points.

<more>

I do not endorse this site, but it is what came up from a Google Search (tm) when I put in: why Gore lost 2000 election

<other sites>

http://www.bushwatch.com/gorebush.htm

http://static.highbeam.com/p/politicalsciencequarterly/june222001/the2000presidentialelectionwhygoreloststatisticald/

http://cagreens.org/alameda/city/0803myth/myth.html

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/voting_behaviour_in_america.htm

http://www.lumpen.com/coup2k/

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/06/20/ING2976LG61.DTL&type=printable

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0310/S00211.htm

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/may2001/flor-m28.shtml

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48690-2004May22_2.html

http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=217&row=2

http://www.angelfire.com/ca3/jphuck/Book10Ch.3.html

http://www.pollingreport.com/wh2post.htm

We have a divided nation and the answer is not an easy one. Keep asking the right questions and stay informed!

[whistle]

13. P.S. every vote does count, so what ever you do, vote!

[SeanOhio]

15. Interesting

Interesting. This whole idea has just confounded me for the longest time.

[wurzel]

14. The relentless media attacks on Gore.

Negative media stories (mostly total distortions) were over 75% during last month of the campaign. Media stories on Bush (mostly garbage) were 75% positive. This included the NPR Frontline program on comparative biographies which must have been produced by the RNC. I canceled my membership after that program.

[napi21]

17. Gore did make some BIG mistakes.

I remember watching one of the debates, and hearing all those sighs. At first, I didn't know where they were coming from, but then the camera picked it up. I kept saying to the TV...please stop that, you look silly.

I also remember one of the debates where Gore "agreed" with the Governor on almost everything!

Those weren't the only reasons Gore lost so many states he should have won, and Rove did play a big part. It wasn't a very well run campaign, I'm sorry to say.