Would you have been happy with a Bush-Gore rematch?

[ALago1]

I remember my early DU lurking days in the winter of 2002 primarily because of all the chatter concerning Gore's possible intent to run again.

It seemed at the time that the majority of DUers supported Gore wholeheartedly and in fact hoped that he would get the nomination.

Remember, this was before the primary season was underway and before any candidates announced their candidacy.

So,lets assume that Gore had indeed expressed that he was going to run. I would guess that he would have gotten the nomination again. Would that have been good and would DUers have been satisfied with their initial wish today? Could Gore surpass Kerry's strengths as a candidate?

Personally, I'm glad it's Kerry. Mainly because the American people would have been reluctant to pay attention due to what would seem like an essential repeat of what happened four years ago. Additionally however, I think Kerry's record of valiant service is a huge plus on the campaing trail.

So there's my opinion. What's yours?

[w4rma]

1. Very. (nt)

[bluestateguy]

2. I would have been happy to support him

But I tend to think that the media would be fixated on the idea of the "rematch", rather than the substantive issues involved. Not to mention all the unhappy comparisons to other two or three time losers like Henry Clay, William Jennings Bryan and Adlai Stevenson.

[iwantmycountryback]

3. I don't know

I think some new blood was necessary for this campaign.

[Gore1FL]

4. I would have been OK with it.

Gore is certainly qualified. At this point, that is my main criteria to support someone.

Of course with a Bush / ????? matchup, pretty much my vote goes to ????? by defaul on thesingle issue of qualification.

[iwantmycountryback]

5. That of course is true

My dog would make a better candidate than Bush. However, sometimes new life is good to convince people who somehow haven't decided that Bush is a complete and utter moron yet to vote for not Bush.

[borat sagdiyev]

6. yes and no

I think Al Gore is a billion times better than Kerry but Kerry probably has a better shot at winning, most likely because the DLC told Al to get lost.

[Mojambo]

7. Gore of 2004?

In a heartbeat.

Gore of 2000? eh.

[fujiyama]

8. Well Al Gore

is a lot more aggresive today. I like the fire in him. I would have supported him.

I think he would have had an even more difficult time running against Bush than Kerry has though. I think Gore also realized that a rematch would have been awkward and that it would have been difficult to convince millions that didn't vote for him last time to vote for him this time.

That too there would have a lot of attention paid to just the recount and the aftermath. I think it might have excited and energized many Gore voters in one way but I'm not sure if it would have helped overall. Most people probably wouldn't want to dwell on that and don't realize what a bad ruling it really was by the SC.

[Cha]

23. I respect Al Gore to the utmost and was crushed when

he said he wasn't going to run. I realize now just how many sacrifices he has made for our Country.

Sometimes being President isn't the best thing.

But I hope it's the Best Thing for Kerry and our Nation!

[Piperay]

9. No

that is what chimpco wanted so they could rerun the 2000 campaign right down to the same old lies. Course they were forgetting that they lost that one but I really think they would have had a much easier time against Gore and this time might have actually gotten elected instead of selected.

[KoKo]

17. I thought no, for awhile, but now I think he could have won easily because

given what Bush has done in the last three years, it would have been clearer that the Bush STOLE the election. What we have now is a repeat of Bush vs. Gore with the media even more "whorelike" this time and with the Bush secrecy causing a lockdown everywhere, except the internet.

I think Gore would have had the same chance as Kerry. The battle is being fought the way it would have been. Gore did serve in Vietnam, so that's the same as Kerry. Kerry was a war hero but the Repugs/Media are effectively making that the issue as they would have with Gore not being a war hero.

I think Gore could have won, I wish he had run again, now. But, before the primaries I had thought he should step back. I changed my mind because seeing what's going on with Kerry I realize it would have been the same for either of them. But I knew more about Gore than I feel I know about Kerry, and would be more comfortable with him personally at this point. I believe Gore would have been free to attack Bush this time and with a new VP would not have been like the "old Gore" who was hemmed in coming off Clinton's mess with Monica. He could be his own person now as he has shown in his speeches the last year.

The attacks go on and we just have to hope that the "People" have woken up enough to see it for what it is come election day.

[Kahuna]

10. Oh, hell yeah! Gore would have bush writhing on the floor...

screaming for his mama right about now. Like he should have done in 2000.

But mainly because I think Gore would make a great president. It's just too damned bad that we'll never have him as our president.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. I dreaded it.

I can't put it into any words besides those.

[Wheelie_Alex]

12. Not the Gore who ran in 2000.

And the Gore we see today is only so passionate because he has nothing to lose. Gore does not have it in him to vociferouly pen himself in on any issue if he was actually running. He would try to run like he did last time, being all things to all people and that blew up in his face. Yes, he barely squeezed out a win in the popular vote, but his support was hemmoraging. If the election had been held in late November, Bush would have won outright. If he ran again he would make the same mistakes (Gore is who he is) and be labeled an appeaser.

Gore's stumbling, floundering campaign cost him by losing him enough votes to where the election was close enough to steal. Not Bush's fault that happened, the fault is squarely Gore's. Bush just went for the opening Gore allowed to happen.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. Actually Gore closed the gap with Bush over the final weekend

DWI weekend. :)

[LiberalCat]

13. I fear Gore would have folded like he did in 2000.

This election is too important. Gore might be more aggressive now, but he is not a fighter like Bill Clinton. I still have my reservations about Kerry's ability to fight off the right wing and media attacks. I hope he'll fight. I hope his "mistakes" being pointed out by others turn out to be a good strategy and not a desperate attempt at approval. I certainly don't want a replay of Gore giving in.

[WI_DEM]

14. Indeed, yes

Especially with the Al Gore we have seen in the past couple of years.

[Julien Sorel]

15. In retrospect, I think Gore did the right thing in stepping away

this time. Had he run, the election would have been as much about 2000 as it was the future and which party is better able to shephard the country going forward. When he dropped out I thought he was pulling another tactical ploy, as he did in 1991-92 when he didn't think Bush could be beaten. But looking at things now, I think he really did choose not to run for the good of the country. Of course, he won't get credit for that, which is too bad. So many Democrats are genuine patriots, and so few get the credit for their patriotism they deserve, it seems, and Gore falls into that category more than most.

[Tactical Progressive]

16. Al Gore would have been a great President.

9/11 would never have happened.

But since it did the media was able to annoint their chosen as a steadfast warrior protecting America. The exact opposite of the truth and all available facts, to be sure, but that means absolutely nothing in the gutter profession of American journalism.

If you look at how today's American 'reality' is rigged:

A Democrat who volunteered for and fought some of the most dangerous duty in Vietnam, acquitted himself with effectiveness, honor and courage, wounded even along the way...

doesn't quite measure up to the 'national security credentials' of:

A priveleged 'champagne-duty' deserter whose unmentionable negligence in protecting America let 3000 people die.

That's a tie game in the insane fantasy world that the American corporate media projects.


Can you imagine Gore against the phony Bush-as-war-hero myth? Gore would be less able than either Max Cleland or John Kerry to survive the right-wing lies of the mainstream media.

No, you need a wounded Democratic hero just to go up against a deserting Republican chickenhawk in this CNN-WaPo America, and even then the constant insinuation is that the Dem isn't 'strong' enough.

[Cha]

24. If the DAMN smearboats don't take Kerry's

Wounds away!

[Nightjock]

19. Al Gore is one of my heros.

I would have supported him fully. The bravery of his concession speech actually made me cry.
I can't imagine what it is like to know you were elected President and have it STOLEN from you.

[Cha]

25. I was blubbering like an idiot!

[MoonRiver]

20. I wanted it desperately.

Now the most important thing to me is kicking those frauds out of Al Gore's house. He'll probably never be able to live there, as is his right, but at least the thugs who stole it will be evicted.

[Cha]

26. And at least when Kerry wins...Gore will be invited

there, no doubt!

[MoonRiver]

27. I know, but it will be sad. He won and this country wouldn't have

gone down the horrible low road * took US had Gore been allowed to serve.
:cry:

[stevedeshazer]

21. No way, no how

He rolled over. Period.

[barb162]

22. Yes

Gore has been speaking the last few years in a much more forceful manner, epsecially on the environment. Kerry isn't really touching that subject and I think it is a total winner. What Bush is doing to the forests, air, water, on global warming, etc., is despicable.

[StrongbadTehAwesome]

28. I think Kerry stands a better chance of winning, but

it would've been fun to make up signs and stickers reading "Re-elect Gore." :)

[JNelson6563]

29. Re-elect Gore in 2004!!!

I was really hoping to wear a tee-shirt that said that.

[Xipe Totec]

30. Yes, I Wrote To Him And Told Him So

In 2001 after Gore conceded the election to Bush. If he had run, I would have supported him.

But he didn't and Kerry did. He is now the nominee of my party and I support him, period.

When he gets elected then it will be time to call on him to move the country in a different direction. Then it will be time to hold him accountable for his actions and demand that he govern as a true representative of the ideals that have made the Democratic party the conscience of this nation.

Until then he calls the shots and I will give him wide latitude to do and say what is necessary to dislodge that fascist imbecile * from the White House.