Does anyone think that Gore is supporting Dean simply for a Cabinet Post?

[sleipnir]

I've thought about this a lot tonight. I've come to the conclusion that Dean is, well, probably going to win the nomination. Everyone "says" its a done deal, and when someone hears it enough, they start to believe it. I think America has heard over and over that Dean will win the nomination, therefore I think he will. People are now less likely to start getting involved with anyother candidate. Notice, I say start, those who continue to support other candidates will probably stick with those choices.

I just wanted to state, first, why I feel that Dean will win the nomination, despite the fact that no votes have been cast. I'm not necessarily for Dean, but the reality is there and the mindset of the American public is, if you repeat it enough, it's the Truth.

That said, I also feel that this early support of Dean is possibly a cheap shot to get aboard the Dean bandwagon before it leaves town and goes on a victory lap. I think that Gore is trying to get his name out there, in association with Dean, so that he can futher his own political goals, including a lucrative Cabinet post. Or even, this is a little far fetched, a Veep Nomination. Will I see buttons in ten weeks announcing a Dean/Gore ticket?

I'm 95% sure that Gore's endorsement is self-motivating, I'm just not sure to what end.

[demgrrrll]

No I don't think so. n/t.

.

[ibegurpard]

1. no

n/t

[kentuck]

2. No, but I think Gore would love to be the UN representative.

And he would be ideal for that job.

[virtualobserver]

3. I don't think that at all

If you compare Dean's message with Gore's speeches to Moveon.org, they are completely in sync.

Gore agrees with Dean, and that is why he endorsed him.

[dsc]

4. He is making more money now than he would in the cabinet

Cabinet positions pay around 200k while he is making in the low seven figures currently as a professor and board member of various corporations.

[sleipnir]

7. If he's in it for money, but I think influence is more important

He's "out of the game" right now, not in the "inner circle." That's why I feel he may have jumped onto the Dean bandwagon. Dean's going to be the "new inner circle," and Gore was facing a hard future from the outside looking in.

He seems to be a man who'd like to try to change the world rather than make a few bucks, but I could be wrong.

[TruthIsAll]

5. Gore is a patriot. Any Dem would ask him to serve.

Even Lieberman.

[southerngirlwriter]

8. The truly elected President of 2000....

...could get any Cabinet post he wanted from any Dem.

[SahaleArm]

6. Politics - Where everyone plays an angle

Gore is looking for a position within the next Democratic leadership team, assuming Dean wins the nomination and the presidency.

[Bertrand]

9. No

Gore is trying to latch onto what he percieves as Deans strong base within the rank and file to maintain himself as relevent within the Party, possibly for a run in 08.

[jeter]

12. Bertrand I agree completely

I think Gore miscalculated. But that is the logic behind the move.

There are two groups in the Democratic Party right now:

The Clintons and their supporters (including the DLC and Terry McAuliffe and other high ranking officials).

And the Dean machine.

Gore signed on to the latter group. It's a win-win for Gore. If Dean wins, then Gore supported Dean earily and will be in line for a heavy position in the administration. If Dean loses, Gore inherits Dean's machine in the 2008 showdown against Hillary Clinton.

[ringmastery]

10. I think he would make a good secretary of state

in a dean administration.

[Toucano]

11. No, I don't think so.

Why are you so sure it's self-motivating? Gore could have the freaking nomination if he wanted it! The slogan could be "We beat him before, we'll do it again!" or "This time, it COUNTS!"

You think maybe he wants something more powerful than POTUS?

[aquart]

13. Well, that smears Gore AND Dean. Well done.

Always go for the twofer when sliming.

[Jim Sagle]

14. The old circular firing squad syndrome at work.

[Myra]

15. No. I think Prez Gore is a man of principle and acted accordingly.

He's had the friggen white house stolen from him,
then seen the same thing we've all seen for years-
democracy going toes up, corportate owner ship of gov't,
media, courts...He knows the earth is out of balance.

Joe Conason had a great analysis of Gore's choice:

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/12/08/gore/index.html

Was probably posted elsewhere.

[Cheswick2.0]

21. I think conason has it somewhat wrong

I think Gore compromised with the DLC in 2000 but I don't think he has ever been a corporate centrist. He is not radical left either....but then neither is Dean.
I think his epiphany happened during the 2000 campaign when he decided he should be himself and not so willing to cooperate with people like Joe Lieberman and Co. I think he was too tied up to the machine at that time to extracate himself completely. I think they let him know clearly they would not support him in 2004 and he finally woke up to the fact that he should not try to cooperate with their aggenda anymore. I think the change started during the spring and summer of 2000.

[Paschall]

16. Why?

"I'm 95% sure that Gore's endorsement is self-motivating."

Why do you assume this? His endorsement is not that "early," lots of other endorsements have already come down.

[patricia92243]

17. gore is a good environmentalist

no matter what his motive, gor would be good in dean's admoinistration as whatever department controls polution and that sort of thing

[nomaco-10]

18. "I'm 95% sure Gore's endorsement is self-promoting".....

This is truly sad. The kind of thinking and posting that's gone on here today is really indicative of what we as Americans and democrats have been reduced to. All the paranoia and conspiracy theories, deals were cut, airplanes may crash has got to stop. I don't blame the people that post such things as much as I blame it on the fallout of the theft of the election of 2000, the Patriot Act, the Iraq war, in other words the hijacking of our country by the neocons. Is it possible that Al Gore cares enough about his country to want to help get someone elected that truly reflects his views? I do, you probably do, hell, everybody that takes the trouble to sign up and post here probably do.
Pull up you blinds, let the sun shine back into your lives and TRUST somebody again. It feels pretty damn good.

[FDRrocks]

19. Al Gore, the despot

Who gives a crap. I hope to hell he doesn't get a post.

[Q]

25. Despot?

- I'm not sure you understand the meaning of the word.

[Cheswick2.0]

20. you think he wants to be in someones's cabinet?

nah

He probably did it to push the person he thinks is the anti DLC candidate.

[Exultant Democracy]

22. I think that seems a little silly

I doubt that Al will take any position in the cabinet.

[ima_sinnic]

23. Al Gore has enough going, and enough going for himself,

that he doesn't need to stoop to buying favors from anyone. As someone notes above, you've slurred both Gore and Dean. Since when has Al Gore ever done something particularly selfish/"self-motivating"? His fabulous speech to MoveOn a few months ago was basically a heartfelt, eloquent, and selfLESS plea to people to see B*shCo for what it really is and work together to restore democracy to the USA.

[bowens43]

24. I think his endorsement comes from

wanting to get bush the hell out of the oval office.

[opihimoimoi]

26. I concur, Gore wants Bush out and looks at Dean for the best shot

If some cookies result, it would be his choice to taste them or not. But the larger picture shows Gore is a patriot and wants the Nation moving in the right direction once more.

I happen to think Gore is a good man. He seems to have gotten some bad advice perhaps and he had his time in the limelight. Why he did not pick Joe is another story for another time. But he coulda at least called the man. Maybe something deeper unknown exists, maybe not.

While no votes have yet to be cast, Dean looks like the man with the odds. The Fat Lady has not sung her song HAPPY DAYS are here again but she is practicing. Unless something drastic emerges to alter this picture, it looks to be DEAN.

Come, we hold hands, we Hooponopono. Sincerely Reconcile with good hearts.