Why the HELL is Gore stirring up a hornet's nest in Florida?

[dolstein]

I don't like what Penelas did in 2000 either. But why on earth is Gore wading into this hornet's nest? It's bad enough that Penelas and Deutsch are attacking each other with rhetorical flame-throwers. But now Gore is turning this into a national issue. It would have been far more productive for Gore to endorse Betty Castor (who seems to have risen above the fray) and hold his tongue about Penelas. After all, the party is going to have to come together to win both an open senate seat AND a presidential contest. Turning the current mayor of Miami into a political pariah isn't going to help matters. We're going to need every Democrat out there stumping for the eventual senate nominee as well as Kerry. I for one don't want a repeat of 2000.

[JI7]

1. i like Deutsch

[dolstein]

3. Castor is the only candidate everyone can unite behind

Deutsch and Penelas can't stand each other. If either gets nominated, the other one will sit out the fall campaign.

[JI7]

24. then Castor might be the right one

i read somewhere that she does well in polls against possible opponents. and deutsch and penelas have not shown they do as well.

[Senior citizen]

2. If I was Gore

I'd put some armor plate on a bulldozer and level the whole state.

[madfloridian]

5. Jeb and Glenda are already bulldozing our state..

Gore has every right to speak out about the recount. It was down and dirty, and they did not back him up.

[rasputin1952]

4. I don't think we're going to have a 2000 repeat...

in fact, I think Kerry is going to win by a wide margin.

Let Gore do what he is doing, bringing issues to the forefront. People HAVE to know what is going on, Gore is doing a fine job; he's got the RW spin machine in an uproar, and that takes pressure off of Kerry. For that matter, Kerry is doing a fine job just staying out of the fray while the GOP is in self destruct....why waste your ammo.

I also think it is important that Gore remind the good people of FL that there was intense manipulation of the polls down there...maybe those thousands knocked off the rolls will get a chance to vote this time......It is not ALWAYS bad...:)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Yep. Might as well get the blood flowing through moribund veins

and let Gore do the hacking away.
Kerry should win it big.

[dolstein]

8. Well, what Gore is doing

is calling the mayor of Miami and a Democratic candidate a lying, treacherous bastard. Keep in mind that this lying, treacherous bastard has endorsed John Kerry. Gore needs to recognize that this isn't about him anymore.

[Cheswick2.0]

28. It is about him and us and the people of florida

Someone has to call a spade a spade. Thank God there are democrats willing to do so.

[David Dunham]

35. Gore is right about Penelas.

[rasputin1952]

37. If the Mayor of Miami is a lying, treacherous bastard...

call him that! If there is proof that the guy is a crumb, call him out...let the people of Miami get rid of him.

As long as it is the truth...so be it.

[Classical_Liberal]

87. Since they are doing another vote purge, what has changed

since 2000. I am glad he is speaking out.

[madfloridian]

6. I don't think we can keep being silent and making no waves.

It just is not going to work. There is nothing wrong with speaking out. I am proud of Gore for doing this.

[dolstein]

9. Yes, there IS something wrong with speaking out

Calling the mayor of Miami -- who, like it or not, is a powerful political figure in the state of Florida -- a lying, treacherous backstabber may make Gore feel good, but it doesn't help the Democrats in Florida. It certainly doesn't help Kerry.

[madfloridian]

13. The mayor of Miami should not have gone on vacation during the recount.

The Cuban community is very divided now, and I doubt that will make much difference. It certainly will not bother folks here in Central Florida. Castor is the favorite here anyway.

I think Gore, Dean, anyone....has a total right to speak what is on their minds. Hushing people up, being PC, has gotten us where we are today.

[Bombtrack]

21. He DIDN'T go on vacation during the recount

that is a peice of shit lie. He went on a long scheduled trade mission to Spain BEFORE the election.

He also got the cold shoulder from the Gore campaign after endorsing Gore and offering his help but the Gore folks were mad at him about Elian. Now they act like they were begging and Alex refused. This just shows what a dickhead Gore is.

[Cheswick2.0]

30. bullshit

I lived in Florida for a long time. I know the players.

[Bombtrack]

49. Oh, what a cogent refutation

Oh, wait. I corrected you on something that is easily backed up by objective news coverage. That he went on the trade mission before the election, and you just say "bullshit". This is the kind of response from someone driven by immature emotion and not fact-based logic, probably in reaction to you're Gore-love. Good luck next time.

[Cheswick2.0]

70. so show me the facts

show me the news coverage that proves your point. I lived there. I know the players. Your argument is nonsense. Penelas took money from the Gore campaign and then stabbed all of us in the back because he has made a deal with the republicans who, BTW, he also has raised money for. Penelas is a democrat because it pays to be a democrat in Dade county. Otherwise he would be a repuke just like his other rightwing Cuban friends.

[Bombtrack]

90. Ok I'm posting it but I doubt you'll ever admit to being WRONG

< Penelas narrowly won re-election in September 2000 and attended a trade mission to Spain in MID OCTOBER >
http://sptimes.com/2004/06/08/State/Gore_s_remarks_add_bi.shtml

There it is. Now you could have easily found that out yourself, but I guess you were incapable of doing so because it violates your propaganda-addled viewpoint of seemingly all situations you want to believe, in this case the pseudo-infallability of Gore and the Deutsch campaign he's pimping for.

[Cheswick2.0]

111. show me some facts!

If you can't do that then shush.

[Cheswick2.0]

29. the truth is always welcome

Penelas is a republican in a donkey suit.

[cally]

10. I think Gore has made a personal decision to not spin but

just speak his mind. He got spun to defeat in 2000. I also think that this is payback time. Go Gore.

[dolstein]

11. In other words -- "f*ck Kerry, I want some payback"

Perhaps Gore should realize that something a little more important is at stake in this election than settling some old scores.

[cally]

15. Why does this hurt Kerry?

I think I missed something. If it's just that Gore is trashing someone that Kerry endorsed then so what. I'm now a Kerry supporter, I like him and am very enthusiasitic, but he did disappoint me greatly during the re-count.

16. Perhaps YOU should realize the same thing

This is NOT about "settling some old scores." This is about setting the recdord straight and speaking the truth.

It's a shame you don't appreciate that.

[madfloridian]

42. Gore is NOT hurting Kerry. That is baloney!

Pure baloney. Besides, are you saying that no one must speak out for fear of hurting Kerry? Wow, what a notion.

[Classical_Liberal]

88. Kerry is hurt because of the vote purge, not this.

.

[kargoman]

102. Gore needs to get over it!

Gore is hurting the party and is coming across as someone consumed with getting revenge. The wild out of control statements will leak over into Kerry's campaign in the public's eye. Showing anger didn't work for Dean and someone needs to shut this asshole up NOW!

[Jim Sagle]

12. We tried it your way in 2000. Fuck that bullshit.

[WillyT]

61. Bingo !!! - We Have A Winner !!!

All the little DINOs down in Florida (and everywhere else for that matter) have a decision to make this time around. For THEIR sake, I hope it's the correct one!!!

:mad::kick::grr:

[poppabear36]

14. Miami Police Riot

Penelas was entirely supportive of the police tactics used to terrorize retirees and other peaceful activists last year at the Americas Trade meeting.
Penelas can go to hell and die.

[madfloridian]

18. Like these riot police....when there was NO riot at all?

Take a look on the ground.

[Skip Intro]

94. You sure that's Miami and not one of them evil-doer countries?

That's a jolting picture.

I feel like I should know when that took place, but I don't. What's the story there?

[madfloridian]

96. Miami recently.

Yes, it is. FTAA protest....are those the right initials?

[JI7]

17. what exactly did al gore say

and did gore endorse anyone in this senate race ?

[madfloridian]

19. Bob Graham says the kind of thing that makes me angry.

''People in Florida who know Alex Penelas know he is a quality person and has been a Democrat under difficult circumstances,'' Graham said in a telephone interview with The Herald that was facilitated by the Penelas campaign. ``It is not easy in Miami-Dade County to be a vocal Democrat as a Cuban American."

Well, Bob Graham, I disgree with you. It ain't easy being a real Democrat anywhere right now. Bob always played along with the Cuban community, I think. I like him, and have always voted for him in state elections, but it should NOT be hard to be a Democrat....just SPEAK UP.

This is from the Miami Herald, but they have a new deal about sharing links. I won't ever use a link from there.

[flpoljunkie]

26. Bob Graham is right. He knows how to win in Florida. On the other hand,

I am supporting Betty Castor, and agree with dolstein that Gore's remarks serve no good purpose for John Kerry in Florida.

Peter Deutsch's campaign's first email to me was an attack on Alex Penelas; I immediately unsubscribed. Betty Castor stands to benefit by continuing to stay above the fray.

[Cheswick2.0]

31. you unsubscribed because they told the truth about their opponent?

Penelas is okay because Kerry endorsed him?
I wouldn't be surprised if Kerry was part of the reason Penelas left town and didn't support Gore. After all Kerry wanted to run in 2004. Sorry but I trust Gore more than Kerry.

[JI7]

34. maybe penelas is going to be kerry's vp

[Freddie Stubbs]

53. Rather doubtful

The highest position that he has held was Mayor of Miami-Dade County. If he is going to choose a Floridian, it would be Graham or Nelson, both of whom have been elected to state-wide office several times each.

[Cheswick2.0]

71. that would lose Kerry my vote

no doubt about it.

[flpoljunkie]

36. I unsubscribed because Deutch's first response was to smear his opponent.

As for your assertions re Kerry, they are as ridiculous as they are unfounded.

[Cheswick2.0]

72. Oh please

don't try to make a saint Kerry argument with me. He is as much backstabbing politician as anyone I have ever known in politics.

[flpoljunkie]

98. Totally unfounded accusations like these strip you of any credibility.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Kerry was part of the reason Penelas left town and didn't support Gore. After all Kerry wanted to run in 2004. Sorry but I trust Gore more than Kerry."

This is an utterly absurd accusation, totally without foundation, and you ought to be willing to say so.

[Cheswick2.0]

110. make me

:7

[Bombtrack]

50. Penelas endorsed Gore. What is so hard about not lying?

It stands to Logic that people who want Kerry to win realize that Penelas is the candidate that will help him win Florida most.

This reeks of partisanship for that blowhard Deutsch, the same blowhard that has attempted to distort and smear Castors record the same way he has Penelas.

[Freddie Stubbs]

52. Kerry has not endorsed Penelas or any other candidate

[dolstein]

57. He hasn't called Penelas a liar or a traitor either

NT

[Freddie Stubbs]

68. He doesn't have a personal beef with Penelas either

Gore does. This is going to be a messy primary wheather or not Gore gets involved. Gore's strategy is just to ruin Penelas' career and let someone else get the nomination.

[dolstein]

84. So Gore wants to ruin Penelas' carreer -- how does this help Kerry?

Even if Penelas doesn't win the nomination, as mayor of Miami-Dade county, he can be a useful ally for Kerry in the fall. Just because Gore has a personal axe to grind doesn't justify his going out of his way to make Penelas an ineffective surrogate for Kerry.

Sorry, but Gore is clearly putting his interests above those of the Florida Democratic Party and of the Kerry campaign. I suppose this kind of selfishness appears to some DU'ers. But as someone who actually wants to take back the White House (unlike many DU'ers, who actually savor political defeal), I don't appreciate what Gore is doing. He should have saved this kind of dirt for his memoir.

[trumad]

86. Oh please

You make it sound like Alex is the leading canidate here and the only chance for the Dems to win in NOV. The dudes not even leading in the Polls. Oh sure he may do OK down in South Florida but that don't mean shit to the folks up here in the I-4 corridor.

There are a whole bunch of Democrats who are seriously pissed off at the vanishing Alex and the're a whole bunch of Democrats who are giving major props to Big Al for telling little cowardly Alex to go fuck himself!

[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bombtrack]

105. While I completely agree with your characterization of this DUer, an edit

of your message is probably a good idea, as the moderators will probably delete your message.

I know these people who keep repeating the same FALSEHOOD over and over despite refutations of that falsehood by news reports are very frustrating, but I think you should edit out what will be viewed as a personal attack.

[Cheswick2.0]

73. so penelas hasn't lied and betrayed Kerry

give him time.

[dolstein]

85. Yeah, you just can't trust those Cuban Americans

Sure, who cares if he's a Democrat. Who cares if his positions on the issues are progressive. Who cares if he has been a constant thorn in Jeb's side, particularly on the classroom size initiative. He's a Cuban American, right? So that means he must be up to no good.

Plus, he and Gore don't get along. And as well all know, Gore gets along with EVERYONE. So if their relationship is strained, it MUST be Penelas' fault.

[Cheswick2.0]

112. stop with the victim act

Penelas isn't even the front runner. He played a risky double crossing game in 2000 and now he is paying the price.
Waaaaaaaaa.... I guess he will have to go get a real job.

[deminflorida]

20. Gore wants to run in 2008....

It's the same reason he endorsed Howard Dean in 2004.

It was you Gore that abandoned the party...not Penelas. Keep your sorry ass concerned with Tennesee from now on and not Florida.

Your a civilian now, so stay one.

[bitchkitty]

27. I beg your pardon?

Gore is a sorry ass because he endorsed Dean? What a pathetic frame of mind.

[Cheswick2.0]

32. baloney

Gore endorsed Dean because he was sick of the DLC politics.
Given the fact that you are sporting the avatar for a man who ran just to stop Dean, I will leave my faith in Dean and Gore.

[Freddie Stubbs]

97. Clark did not run to stop Dean

He ran to stop Al Sharpton. And he was quite successful.

[Cheswick2.0]

113. he said so himself on Charlie Rose

He said he was supported in his rum by people who talked him into the race to stop Dean. There is a TV record of that conversation. I don't know why you would bother to deny it.

[madfloridian]

40. Gore and Dean see what is happening to the party and country.....

They are not afraid to speak out. Calling either names is really sad.

[deminflorida]

46. Not to say I don't like Howard Dean...I'm saying that I believe

Gore thought Dean couldn't beat Bush, wanted his supporters in 2008 and that's the only reason he endorsed him.

Do any of you live in Florida?...well I do, so like Gore, keep your politics in your own state....we don't need Gore down here stiring it up with the Cubans just because his lazy fat ass wants to run when Bush has finished destroying the nation.

There are lots Floridians working hard right now for John Kerry. What Kerry maybe needs to do is put his foot up Gore's ass and tell him to stay out of Florida...

[Cheswick2.0]

75. nonsense

Gore has been a loyal democrat and a loyal American Patriot. He is not the calculating politician you portray him as. He endorsed Dean because he like Dean and thought he would be the best candidate.

[JohnLocke]

66. THANK YOU!

[Cheswick2.0]

74. you'd be singing Gore's praises if he endorsed Clark

get over it already.

[auburnblu]

115. Gore can run, but he won't win

He's had more WWE like sound bites than Dean recently. He's fired up, but most voters are not college campus activists.

[The Backlash Cometh]

22. Do you live in Florida?

The hornet's nest is still very much alive. Maybe the rest of the nation has forgotten, but many of us still are looking for justice. I'm glad Gore came out and finally spoke out. Things went terribly wrong in Florida in 2000 and if there is no accountability, it can happen again.

[Nicholas_J]

39. One thing that is happening in FLorida

The proportion between registered Democrats and Republicans is becoming much wider again. At the time of the 2000 election, the number of regered Democrats exceeded the numbers of Registered Republicans by about 140,000, but after the elections this number fell below 65,000. Just two weeks ago, the state board of Elections released a new count and while they did not give numbers on the station I saw the release on, the breakdown of voters became much wider, with Republicans accouting for about 34 percent of the electorate, and Democrats making up about 46 percent of registered voters, The rest being independents. Most of the independents are supporterd of parties that lean towards the liberal end of the spectrum.

[dolstein]

55. I live in New York, and remeber the toxic primary of 1992

The race between Deutsch and Penelas reminds me of the toxic New York senate primary of 1992. It was so ugly that the losing candidates (including Geraldine Ferraro) wouldn't lift a finger to help the eventual nominee, Bob Abrams, who ended up losing to D'Amato.

Sorry, but many DU'ers, including some who live in Florida, are blind to the serious political consequences that flow from a primary as ugly as the one we're seeing in Florida. And Gore ought to know better than to douse this political fire with gasoline. While many DU'ers would be more than happy to lock arms and chant "burn, baby, burn!", I'm one of the pragmatists who is actually interested in winning elections. Like it or not, somebody is going to emerge from this primary as the nominee, and the chances of the party uniting behind that nominee look increasingly bleak, and Kerry desperately needs a united Democratic Party in Florida. Gore, by ratcheting up the rhetoric, has done Kerry no favors.

[w4rma]

101. You should call on Penelas to drop out then. (nt)

[Bombtrack]

104. Deutsch is the ugly one in this primary, and Gore has become his bitch

Both Castor and Penelas have been amazingly civil despite the smears of both of them by Deutsch. If anyone should drop out to help the party it's Deutsch-bag

[Awsi Dooger]

23. You're expecting astute foresight from Al Gore?

I gave up on that in probably March of 2000.

I agree with dolstein, and hope Kerry is wise enough to limit Gore's erratic rantings in Florida this fall. We can make a much better case than have some bloated runnerup squawking obvious crap like, "Don't tell me one vote doesn't matter."

[Cheswick2.0]

33. yup, but we should have all supported a man who served not even one

term in the senate..... Sorry, but I will stick with the man who has spent his whole life serving the democratic party and the people of the USA.

[Bombtrack]

62. Gore going into politics wasn't exactly a big sacrifice or risk

He was a pot-head who wasn't going anywhere in journalism so he went into politics on his families name. Wow, how breathtakingly unique.

[Cheswick2.0]

77. Pot head... LOL

who wasn't in the 70's? Really, what an idiotic statement.

[Bombtrack]

91. Uhh, most people who had to work hard and weren't political and

economic royalty, who had to worry about things like paying for education, food and shelter.

[Awsi Dooger]

67. I question Gore's style and likeability, not his record

I saved 12 VCR tapes from 2000 and have been reviewing them. Gore absolutely sucked, period. He sucked worse than he got robbed. It's painful to watch.

I believe in a pedigreed or dosage index form of political handicapping, not issue-oriented bullshit. The issues take care of themselves if we have any Democrat in office and not any Republican. As much as I love and respect a Paul Wellstone or Dennis Kucinich, they were eliminated at birth from presidential contention.

John Edwards was the correct choice. An upbeat populist message, charisma, speaking ability and looks overcome a tender resume with percentage points to spare. Now we are stuck with Kerry and pessimism. Basically, that requires Bush to implode.

[Cheswick2.0]

76. John Edwards is a conservative wealthy lawyer

and looks like an aging Tiger Beat cover boy. He voted for all the worst legislation the senate passed.

[Name removed]

92. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Cheswick2.0]

78. The majority of the people who voted in 2000 do not share your feelings

BTW he won every primary in 2000. Edwards main attraction is his pretty boyt image and he is not even close to being a convincing populist.

[Mr.Green93]

25. President Gore speaks truth to power

[dolstein]

43. "Speaks truth to power" is a euphemism for . . .

wandering in the political wilderness.

After all, McGovern "spoke truth to power." So did Mondale. Gore's career in elective politics is over, so now he's trying to refashion himself as a hero to the far left -- the same far left that gave him the back of their hand in 2000. Which is fine, as long as he stays out of Kerry's way, which he clearly is not doing in Florida. But hey, the left sure loves this kind of self-centered behavior in their politicians -- hence the popularity of Ralph Nader.

[ibegurpard]

48. No, it's just a meaningless cliche.

HOWEVER, I would put forth the opinion that it would be FAR more beneficial towards the Democratic Party in the long run to be intolerant of corruption in its ranks. Instead of sweeping it under the carpet, by publicly castigating it we could go a long way toward regaining public trust and being able to claim the moral high ground.

[Bombtrack]

51. Gore is NOT being "intolerant of corruption in our ranks" he's helping out

blowhard Peter Deutsch with a partisan stunt. Alex Penelas is not corrupt, and he is no friend of the GOP power structure at all. Is he friendly with some select Miami republicans that he grew up with? Yes. But his being the thorn in the side of the Jeb Bush/Armando Codina gang is well documented and well reported.

[Cheswick2.0]

79. now you are lumping Gore and Nader?

:eyes:

[djg21]

38. Gore "Moving On"

When Gore gave his speech at MoveOn, and stood at the podium emblazoned with the "MoveOn" banner, I couldn't help from wishing that he'd finally MOVE ON! He has rendered himself irrelevant, and is doing more harm to Kerry and the Dem party than good.

[kargoman]

106. Absolutly agree!! Gore is finished!

Plus he knows it. So watch for him to continue on his chosen path of self destruction. Every word out of his mouth chases more votes towards Bush.

[madfloridian]

41. All our politicians should be stirring up "hornet's nests!"

Gore is speaking the truth.

[dolstein]

45. No, we should be winning elections

This is something many DU'ers will never understand. Many DU'ers would prefer the smug satisfaction that comes from being in the political wilderness. Rather than passing laws that actually advance the political agenda, they'd rather being "speaking truth to power" (despite the fact that power ain't listening) or stirring up hornets nests (even though it's the poor who always end up getting stung).

[madfloridian]

65. You are saying I have smug satisfaction. No, I don't.

Expecting people to tell the truth and speak is not being in the poliical wilderness. Where did you get that term anyway? I feel like we have been in the wilderness forever,and it is now time to quit wandering.

What do you mean by passing laws that "advance the political agenda"?

If you are meaning the GOP agenda, we have been doing a hell of a good job at that.

[Name removed]

80. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dolstein]

93. I support Democrats -- why don't you?

It seems like most DU'ers are more interested in tearing down Democrats then they are in defeating Republicans. If you don't like Penelas, fine -- don't vote for him in the primary. But why spend your time trying to smear him by branding him as a Republican when his positions on the issues clearly demonstrate otherwise?

I suspect that some DU'ers won't be happy until all the Democrats to the right of Cynthia McKinney and Dennis Kucinich are thrown out of the party. That would leave the Democrats with around 20 seats in the House and perhaps half a dozen seats in the Senate. Sure, the Democrats Party would effectively cease to be a viable entity for advancing public policy goals, but just imagine how smugly satisfied the remaining left-wingers will be when they can just spend their time "speaking truth to power." Sure, they'll be steamrollered by the Republican juggernaut, but they'll keep their "principles" intact.

[kargoman]

107. Well stated and happening now.

This is anger and revenge running wild and if continued will ensure many uninterrupted years of Rep. rule. But go ahead - reap what you sow - just shut the hell up afterward!

[TexasSissy]

44. For attention?

[freetobegay]

47. I think he's been to easy on Florida!

When a National election is STOLEN, enough cannot be said. I for one would like to see Gore be even more harsh!

[Freddie Stubbs]

54. Revenge

It can be a very strong motivator.

[dolstein]

56. But wouldn't the best revent be winning Florida?

Sorry, but I just don't see how Gore's wading into this increasingly ugly senate primary helps achieve that goal. Now I know that some DU'ers are defiantly uninterested in winning elections, but I'd like to think that they are in the minority around here.

[Freddie Stubbs]

69. I didn't say that it was the smartest strategy

But if Gore were in the habit of following the best stategies, he would probably be living at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue right now.

[madfloridian]

58. Gore says he will have more to say on this soon. He is not quitting.

I think we should give him a chance to say what he has to say. It is not like him to criticize without reason.

[fujiyama]

59. While I hate to admit it

I don't see how this helps the situation any. I hate to say it, but it might have been better had Gore bit his lip, though he was completely and absolutely correct.

I agree with Gore completely that Panelas is a treacherous backstabber. He had his own agenda and ambitions and whether it was Gore or Bush that won, meant little. His main aim was to win a house seat in a heavilly republican dominated area.

Here's a NYT article from Dec of '01.

"An associate of the mayor said Mr. Penelas was considering becoming a Republican, and seriously considering a run for Congress in a Hispanic- dominated district that might result from reapportionment in 2002."

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/01/politics/01DADE.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5070&en=e15542e22d190da8&ex=1086753600

Gore had the right to endorse anyone he wanted to, but speaking out means little if it potentially alienates too many people and ends up costing a badly needed senate seat and 27 electoral votes.

Gore may have chosen to voice his support for Deutch or whomever else in a more positive fashion.

[madfloridian]

60. All I have heard at this forum is how Gore should fight back.

He says more is coming out, so let him speak. Perhaps back then he could not fight it. He was under pressure from his own party to back off. Only now are people starting to fight back against the complacency. Give the guy a chance.

[Bombtrack]

63. He should fight back against republicans, not the democrat who has

the greatest chance of helping Kerry win a state the GOP needs to win the electoral college in all liklihood, of any senate nominee.

Having a person who can communicate Kerry's message to the Cuban and overall hispanic community effectively isn't some abstract idea, it's a cold hard plus.

Gore can fight against republicans, not against democrats just so he can help out his prick buddy Deautsch-bag

[madfloridian]

64. Actually Castor is appearing to stay in the lead in most areas.

Many of us are not Cubans. They should have a voice, but so should we. We can not just cater to the Miami area.

[Cheswick2.0]

81. problem is there is no real difference between Penelas and a republican

Gore believes in Democratic party values.

[dolstein]

89. Problem is, Penelas bashers around here don't have a clue

Those that know better wouldn't call him a Republican. The tendency of DU'ers to stereotype Cuban Americans is almost as bad as their tendency to stereotype Jews.

I suppose most DU'ers would prefer to wallow in their ignorance. However, for those are actually interested in learning about Penelas' positions on the issues are invited to visit his campaign web site:

http://www.alexpenelas2004.com/

[trumad]

108. Hey Dolstein... You be talking to a Miami Cracker

born and raised in that crazy ass city... I follow Miami politics almost as closely as National.... I grew up with Cuban Americans and have several who are still my best friends....

SO with that said, since I have no ignorance to errr "wallow" in then I base my opinion about Pinelas from watching the young coward from his early days of his political career. What he did to Gore at the end of campaign 2000 is unforgivable. He vanished from site after he was elected in September until after the Nov election. BTW: Thank God the Democratic Party brought in out of state money to help finance his campaign or else he might have lost.... Ya gotta love the way coward Alex showed his gratitude? please.......!!!!

What I am reading in these threads are a bunch of jerkoff Gore bashers getting thier licks in without knowing shit about little Alex....That's what I'm seeing...

[Cheswick2.0]

109. he's a scum bag

why should anyone care what his position is?

[Radical Activist]

82. Isn't Penelas the guy who oversaw the brutal attack

and facist police-state actions against protestors at the FTAA meetings in Miami? Anyone who would allow that doens't believe in free speech, the right to assemble, or a free society. The actions in Miami during those protests were extreme and using the word facist is NOT an exageration of what happened. Anyone who treats thousands of liberals exercising their constitutional rights the way they were treated should be kicked out of the party, if not the country.

[mzmolly]

83. I think he's letting it be known that he wont lie down and play nice

if they steal another election?

[theboss]

95. Gore needs a job

If we wants to be this involved, he should have run again. Otherwise, he needs to do what every nominee has done and take a step back.

If his track record with Dean means anything, he probably just won the race for Peneles.

[dolstein]

99. I was thinking the same thing . . .

I suppose that Betty Castor is probably more likely to win, but I'm not sure that Gore's comments will prove as devastating as so many DU'ers believe Contrary to popular perception around here, Gore does not walk on water.

[Cheswick2.0]

114. Gore has a job...but it looks like the back stabbing asshole Penelas

will be looking for one soon.

[tom_paine]

100. Electronic voting means the Busheviks have already won Florida