How is John Kerry a better candidate than Al Gore?

[tinanator]

It would appear that at some point certain individuals made the decision that Al Gore should not run this year. It was pretty clearly not his decision. Can anyone tell me why they seemingly preferred Kerry? Was it just an IWR thing?

[Scott Lee]

1. See, it's "his turn"

Its all about entitlement. Senator Kerrytox gets to take his run at president, lose honorably (and horridly) to a fellow Skull And Bonesman, and he goes back to his cushy Senate seat with an addition to his resume.

Everyone's happy but the American people, who got screwed right in the ass.

[movonne]

2. I doubt that Kerry is a better candidate over Gore...Gore would have made

a wonderful president

[slackdude]

3. Hopefully he hired better campaign staff

...and learned from the mistakes Gore made.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

4. At the beginning of the race

Shrub looked like an insurmountable favorite. If you remember he somehow duped the public into an 80% approval rating at the time Gore was mulling his decision to run or not run.

Now that Shrub looks beatable the decision to not run may well be one that Gore regrets, but it's too late to enter the race now. Especially when you consider he not only made his decision not to run public, but he also endorsed a candidate!

But yeah, I would prefer Gore over the others.

Thank god he's not talking third party. ;)

[tinanator]

10. It wasnt Gore's decision not to run

do you see what Im saying? Gore wanted to run, but was told to get lost.

[POed_Ex_Repub]

15. I didn't hear anything about that

:shrug:

But then, I wasn't following this election that far back.

[Leilani]

36. I read or heard that the big money

people in the party said no to Gore.

[Carolina]

52. the party couldn't bear a Gore v Bush rematch

so they're force-feeding us the next best thing: Kerry v. Bush

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. My speculation is there was a perception, correct or not, that Gore might

be a bit of a loose cannon, even possibly to the point of deviating from the status quo, especially regarding certain aspects of US policy.

I could be wrong about that, but even if I am, Gore is neither as charismatic nor telegenic as Kerry, and does not have his oratorial gifts.

Kerry will be able to present even the most unpalatable-sounding aspects of policy toward US extra-territorial properties and the natural resources they contain in a much more attractive way.

[adadem]

46. Very true plus

it didn't help that Gore didn't fight back as forcefully as he could have. That always drove me nuts...there was this avoidance of appearing negative when there were clearly times when he should have.

[AngryYoungMan]

6. List of reasons.

1. He can give a speech.
2. In Vietnam, he was a soldier, not a reporter.
3. He won't run away from Clinton.
4. He won't let Naomi Wolfe or anyone else put him in orange makeup and beige clothes.
5. He's campaigning hard.
6. He won't pick a right-wing collaborationist as a running mate.
7. He fights back.
8. He knows how to talk about budgetary inequities without ranting or being boring.
9. "Love Story" wasn't based on him.
10. He had to campaign his way through the primaries rather than be "annointed."

But even without the above, he has the advantage of being the Democratic frontrunner this year, rather than in 2000. The mood of the time is rage, not complacency.

Let me say that again: The mood of the time is rage, not complacency.

[adadem]

47. The mood

will, imho, will lead to huge voter turnout. And I totally agree with your points.

I worked on the campaign and it was not well organized. I will always stand up for Al but I'm sorry, that campaign was poorly run at least where I live.

[seventhson]

7. DLC/PNAC HATE Gore. Kerry is their man

Gore was not playing ball with them. He was his own man -- an independent and, despite the media, NOT enough of an insider.

He would have been ruled by his heart and not his wallet and desire for power.

Kinda like Edwards and very unlike Kerry IMHO.

[Crunchy Frog]

43. Is that why he picked Lieberman

as his running mate? PNAC love Lieberman and the feeling is mutual. Did the DLC force him to pick Lieberman? If so, what does that say about his being his own man?

[seventhson]

45. Two good reasons for picking Lieberman 1. Balance the ticket

2. It was a bold and historic move to pick an older Jewish man who has pretty good liberal credentiasls on domestic issues.
He would not likely run for Prez in 2008, and he would win him many votes/

VP's have almost no power and do what the president says.

Howeverm the creepier theory is that Gore was set up to take Liberman so that he could get JFK's and the PNAC/BFEE would have a pawn in power.

Either way I think it was a decent choice at the time. I would have preferred a Wellstone or Feingold - but I think Gore wa thinking in historic terms and truly it was a noble deed to try to get a Jew on the ticket when the BFEE is predominantly a WASP organization (with some fasacist Jewish idealogues in tow) full of hate for Non Wasps.

Anyway, his choice of Lieberman says almost nothing about his political outlook other than he thoiught he had the ability to rule if Gore fell out. Maybe he figured he would be less of a victim. Who knows?

[hovsep76]

55. Lieberman sucks

I think Lieberman's "liberal credentials" are almost non-existent and the importance of his Judaism is way overemphasized. Jews have lots of political power as compared to all other minority groups, including blacks, women, gays, Asians, etc. (I think last count had 10 Jews in the Senate). I think its great to have diverse representation in all branches of government. But Gore could have made real history by picking someone liberal, passionate, and electable. I think Gore chose him because he is pious, not-liberal, and un-controversial. Gore caved into pushing a boring, mediocre campaign out of fear of being labeled too liberal or controversial.

[RichM]

8. Both of them stink, but Kerry may be better than Gore in one way -

he'll fight back. I'm not behind Kerry in any way. But I do think he'll fight. He'll be a formidable opponent for Bush.

PS - when I say Gore stunk, I mean the Gore of 2000. It seems possible to me that he's had some kind of transformative experience since then.

[saltpoint]

9. For one, Teresa Heinz Kerry hasn't held hearings --

-- on the evils of rock'n'roll. A major plus in my book.

And the person who most decided Al Gore shouldn't run this time was Al Gore. He's a big boy. He can make these decisions for himself.

[disenfranchised]

17. But she worked with Ken Lay.

Lay was on the board of her non profit org up until a year ago.

I'd prefer a cencorship freak.

[saltpoint]

19. Could we allow that Mrs. Kerry was unaware of --

-- Ken Lay's defrauding of his own employees at Enron?

Any number of politicians of both parties have accepted money and support from Enron and its ilk. Don't assume because Shirley went dancing that she was whoring in the alley inbetween tunes. She might just have been dancing.

[disenfranchised]

28. I'd prefer to leave the wives out of it.

But, wasn't he on the board after the Enron investigation? If Mrs. Kerry was unaware then she must have been living in a bubble.

[saltpoint]

33. If you have something you are accusing Mrs. Kerry of --

-- state it. Otherwise like everyone else, she is innocent. Guilt by association doesn't wash. Again, you need some persuasive evidence that Mrs. Kerry and Kenneth Lay are somehow conspiring against others. I'll listen to it if you provide it. If the evidence you find violates established law, by-pass DU forums and turn them in at once.

Shy of that, you don't have a case, no matter if or when Lay sat on the board.

===
edit: typo

[disenfranchised]

34. Fair enough.

Sorry. I got carried away because I like Gore.

[saltpoint]

38. I think you're right on Gore --

-- he was a qualified man for the job last time and it broke a lot of hearts that Florida was stolen from him. I'm far to Gore's left, but Bush was pounding on the gates, so I supported the party ticket.

I wasn't hogwild for his VP choice, but I understood it, and I think Gore's speeches this year against Bush have really gleamed.

If a Democrat wins in November, I wouldn't be too surprised if Gore got a Supreme Court appointment. I think he'd make a good addition to that group.

[IndianaGreen]

11. Kerry is not a better candidate than Gore, far from it!

Gore opposed the war in Iraq and PATRIOT Act. That alone puts Gore head and shoulders above Kerry!

I wish Gore were running now!

[MurikanDemocrat]

12. Fair or not, Gore was damaged goods

Partially due to Clinton bathtub ring, partially due to how media skewers him. other reasons mentioned in this thread.

[Awsi Dooger]

44. Correct, and a rematch would have favored Bush

People don't like to be associated with "losers", regardless of the truth about Florida. Within months of that election, a survey indicated a sizeable chunk of people who voted for Gore denied supporting him.

2004 would have been characterized as a replay of 2000, every issue assessed as such. We are much better off with a fresh start. The swing voters who decide elections would retain a fuzzy image of Gore as an exaggerator and a sigher and a runnerup.

Politics at endgame stage is similar to boxing, one-on-one. And anyone who follows boxing knows that the original victor in boxing inevitably prevails in the rematch, usually by a much greater margin. That would have been Gore's fate in 2004, and I applaud him for recognizing it and bowing out.

[David Dunham]

13. Simply put, Kerry chose to be a candidate, Gore passed on it.

Al Gore, whom I know and like a lot, chose not to run. I had been meeting with his daughter Karenna throughout 2002 and doing issue research for a potential Gore run in 2004. However, he on his own chose not to run. Had he run, I was going to go all out for him. But he chose not to do it.

[katieforeman]

14. He's married to an heiress?

[saltpoint]

16. Kerry is, yes. A wealthy-than-usual widow of --

-- Senator John Heinz (R-Pennsylvania), and now wife of Senator Kerry (D-Mass).

This heiress is a very bright soul as well -- an intelligent imagination to match her money.

[sidwill]

18. I just can't understand you people

The voters have spoken via the primary system, rtesult Kerry leads.

Gore IS nor running and if you remember he said he wasn't running way back.

BUsh is now vulnerable, very vulnerable, yet y'all want to look a gift horse in the mouth and start bustin on Kerry, a very liberal senator, AND in the process put forth alternatives like DK and Nader, neither of whom have wide appeal.

Bush is by far the worst president in the history of this country, so instead of crying over your fallen or unpopular personal choices, start thinking about what would be the best for your fellow citizens and the future of this country instead of cryin over spilt milk.

[saltpoint]

21. Hi, Sidwill. Good words & right-on, too.

I see your Clark avatar...I expect the General to be in a high place in the next Democratic administration, no matter who our nominee is. VP, maybe. Pentagon Chief. He's a hell of a bright guy.

[Scott Lee]

22. Can you understand this?

Kerry and Bushhole are mere versions of one another. Do you know how much difference there is between the two men on the most pressing issues of the election? Almost none. Kerry supported Bush on:

The Iraq War

The Patriot Act

No Child Left Behind

Now on ANWR drilling (in fact Kerry goes farther and wants to drill up the whole US looking for oil)

PNAC agenda (kinder gentler imperialistic global hegemony)




So, if you celebrate a Kerry innauguration, you celebrate Bushhole's.

[saltpoint]

25. We understand your position --

-- but we reject it categorically.

Democrats win the White House in November.

[Scott Lee]

31. So you can't refute a single point.

Thanks.

[saltpoint]

35. As recently as last evening, you invoked the same --

-- strategy in a discussion to unpersuasive effect. Examine the thread and you will discover how far from context you've wandered.

We're a mere handful here, Scott, but Democrats iin Iowa, New Hampshire, and other states have so far turned out in record numbers to vote for someone other than your favorite candidate. Take the issue up with all of those voters first. They've voted before many of us have even had a chance to.

And they did not give your guy the victory.

[wuushew]

26. Please provide link on Oil drilling/ANWR

That position seems inconsistent with his past record regarding the environment.

[Scott Lee]

30. You're right, Kerry has flip flopped.

The issue was Hoffa, speaking on a recent Hardball with Chris Matthews ( I don't have the link handy but I'm sure that you could find a transcript at the site). Anyway, Hoffa claims to have spoken at length with Kerry about ANWR and America's domestic oil problem. According to Mr Hoffa, Kerry not only espouses drilling in ANWR, but "all over the USA" (!!), not exactly something I see endearing him to the environmentalists.

Matthews got a funny dig in by asking Hoffa, incredulously, what Kerry expected would flow from the ANWR drilling pipes, water?

[mattgabe]

41. Kerry was talking

about the natural gas pipeline.

[newyawker99]

48. Hi mattgabe!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[TreasonousBastard]

27. That's...

bullshit.

Congressional votes are only a small part of the story.

And he has no intention of drilling all of ANWAR. That canard was disposed of a day or two ago.

Besides, it looks like we may be stuck with a choice of Shrub or Kerry, so choose one or the other, as much as it may pain you.

One or the other will most likely be our next President no matter what you do, so suck it up and pick one.

[Scott Lee]

32. you're quite wrong

Hoffa, who spoke to Kerry about the ANWR issue, disputes you. Kerry does not deny Hoffa's relay of the discussion to Chriss Matthews.

One or the other will most likely be our next President no matter what you do, so suck it up and pick one.

I don't hold my nose and vote anymore. I have drawn the line in the sand, and will write in Howard Dean. Kerry and his fellow Skull and Bonesman Bush can both rot.

[w4rma]

37. I need to note my disagreement with you on a specific point, Scott Lee

In the general election, please vote for the nominee, whether that is Kerry or Edwards. A battle has been lost, but the war is far from over. IMHO, the tactic you propose will not help us in the overall war.

[Leilani]

39. Kerry was asked about the Hoffa

statement, & he said there were already leases in Alaska & he supported them, but not ANWR.

[TreasonousBastard]

40. But...

of course, that ANWAR thing was a joke, and Kerry appears to have no intention of supporting drilling there.

Kerry may not be perfect, although it would be difficult to find anyone who is actually perfect, but he does have a long record on his attitude toward the environment.

That record compares quite favorably with others, and very favorably compared to Dean's. It is, of course, vastly more favorable than the present occupant's.

You have every right to write in Dean's name come next November. It will, of course, probably make absolutely no difference but you can go home in sanctimonious glee that you have done the right thing, and there will still be Bush or Kerry, or perhaps Edwards, waiting to be inaugurated.

This is not a schoolroom exercise in teleological ethics. It is a very real and pragmatic choice on the future of this country.

But, you and the rest with such attitudes can do what you want, and in the process make yourselves entirely irrelevant.

The dustbin of history is a fascinating place, I hear.

[katieforeman]

24. Only about a quarter of the voters have spoken via the primary system.

I'm looking ahead to November and I think Edwards is the one who will win.

I'm afraid Republicans will do to Kerry what they did to Gore.

[IndianaGreen]

29. Kerry's "electability" is a phony deal

Edwards is the real deal!

[sangh0]

50. Dean's is the real deal!!!

Dean's gonna win by losing

[Carolina]

53. I'm afraid Republicans

will do to Kerry what they did to Gore says it all, Katie.

They will because Kerry is more 'wooden' than Gore and when he says he'll fight, you just don't get 'the fighting spirit' in his voice, demeanor or mannerisms.

[Scott Lee]

23. TWO of them. (He divorced one, of course)

[w4rma]

20. IMHO, Kerry isn't. (n/t)

[PurityOfEssence]

42. His bark isn't quite as nice, but he's got much better leaves

Whether he is or isn't really isn't the point; there's an infinitely better candidate at hand, and we should avail ourselves of the moment.

Edwards excites.

[atre]

49. He's not.

That's the problem.

[mbee]

51. GORE/EDWARDS would be a LANDSLIDE TICKET!

We need a brokered convention!

[John_H]

54. Gore didn't have 3 1/2 years of Chimp to run against.

[robbedvoter]

56. Gore won. kerry could have a better VP

And what's the alternative? The media removed the good candidates.

[Hippo_Tron]

57. Did you forget what a shitty campaign Gore ran last time?

Why take a risk of him doing the same thing again?

[sangh0]

58. WhyJohn Kerry is a better candidate than Al Gore

Because John Kerry is in the race. Al Gore is not