Gore's OpEd in the Times

I never was thrilled with Al Gore.

But this is a portion of the OpEd piece he wrote for the Times today- I think it's fabulous. And it makes me think- looking at Bush as a President and his RECORD, not his promises- how can anyone think he's a good President? The fact that there are people out there (about half of the country) that continue to praise his administration befuddles me.

The debates aren't a time for rhetorical tricks. It's a time for an honest contest of ideas. Mr. Bush's unwillingness to admit any mistakes may score him style points. But it makes hiring him for four more years too dangerous a risk. Stubbornness is not strength; and Mr. Kerry must show voters that there is a distinction between the two.

If Mr. Bush is not willing to concede that things are going from bad to worse in Iraq, can he be trusted to make the decisions necessary to change the situation? If he insists on continuing to pretend it is 'mission accomplished,' can he accomplish the mission? And if the Bush administration has been so thoroughly wrong on absolutely everything it predicted about Iraq, with the horrible consequences that have followed, should it be trusted with another four years?

The biggest single difference between the debates this year and four years ago is that President Bush cannot simply make promises. He has a record. And I hope that voters will recall the last time Mr. Bush stood on stage for a presidential debate. If elected, he said, he would support allowing Americans to buy prescription drugs from Canada. He promised that his tax cuts would create millions of new jobs. He vowed to end partisan bickering in Washington. Above all, he pledged that if he put American troops into combat: 'The force must be strong enough so that the mission can be accomplished. And the exit strategy needs to be well defined.'

Comparing these grandiose promises to his failed record, it's enough to make anyone want to, well, sigh.

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

Wow.
Intelligent Post.
Glad we can have informed conversation here.

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

I agree with Gore's post wholeheartedly.

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

interesting article...

dina when are you running for office? i hear there is an opening in JC...

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

That's an interesting article -- thanks for pointing it out. I wish Gore had been more forthcoming and willing to state strong opinions when he was running! It's like he 'snapped' after all of that election nonsense... he's mad as hell and he's not gonna take it anymore!

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

It seems like so much of what's in the media consists of attack ads and it seems like there's so little out there about Bush's record. Right now I am making my decision based on my gut, because it's so hard to find unbiased information. And though it's clear where Gore's loyalty is, it's refreshing that he wrote something that wasn't full of personal attacks.

This was a good piece. Thanks for posting it.

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

That is a great piece, and it is about time someone stopped just merely mud-slinging and though about the consequences of such actions.

I am not fan of the war, nor am I a fan of Bush, but I do believe that it is important to try and get as much information as you can from as many different sources as you can to make a well educated decision. It is too important not to.

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

you know- running for local office is where it starts-and I do plan on doing that one day.. because I think our government and our lives are way too important to be left up to stupid white men who cause nothing but trouble...

Yesterday morning my husband said to me, 'don't you think it's important that we have someone who isn't a flip-flopper in office?'... i SWEAR to God I almost punched him in the grill.

If he votes for Bush- I'm putting all of his underwear in the freezer.

Re: Gore's OpEd in the Times

---

Posted by Sassyz75

you know- running for local office is where it starts-and I do plan on doing that one day.. because I think our government and our lives are way too important to be left up to stupid white men who cause nothing but trouble...

Yesterday morning my husband said to me, 'don't you think it's important that we have someone who isn't a flip-flopper in office?'... i SWEAR to God I almost punched him in the grill.

If he votes for Bush- I'm putting all of his underwear in the freezer.

---

The flip-flopping is a bit scary, but being a complete flop is even scarier.
I particularly liked this quote form Gore 'his performance in office amounts to a catastrophic failure'

I also agree that is begins on a local level...I actually vote in the local elections, because I think it is important. I find myself looking at candidates who want to restructure the electoral college lately!!!!