# Preach it, Al! (Gore Speaks...and the truth shall set us free!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 7, 2003, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665 "2003-08-07T20:46:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/41 "2003-08-08T16:09:39Z")
(sigh) But still, Al picks NOW to start sounding presidential? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/42 "2003-08-08T17:06:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ralph124c \* > yes, I don’t agree with Bush on Iraq…but he’s MILES aheadof Al Gorei n understanding basic economics! Only if you redefine “miles ahead” to [“hiding and ignoring economic news and data that contradict your own fantasy wishes,”](http://slate.msn.com/id/2085481/) anyway. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/43 "2003-08-08T17:17:44Z")
I want to use this few seconds in the spotlight to express my agreement with the chosen few, that already spoke so eloquently about sheer stupidity of Mr. Gore. Even if we, for the sake of argument, peg Mr. Bush down as a complete idiot, that only makes Mr. Gore look even more ridiculous for loosing the 2000 election. The stupid jerk didn’t even need FL, all he needed to do was to carry his own state! Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/44 "2003-08-08T17:34:04Z")
**treis** spewed: > [@](#): > > I believe it’s still accurate to say that the recount Gore requested, which focused on undercounts, if it had proceeded, would have resulted in a Bush victory, if the newspaper consortium is to be believed. To speculate what Lewis might have done is, well, speculation. We know what the Gore camp requested and what the Florida SC permitted. And that would have resulted in a Bush victory. All of which totally ignores the real question of “who got the most votes.” That’s what you have to do when you’re trying to make Bush look legitimate. But hey, I don’t want to rehash all that crap. It makes me ill. And, truth to be told, I don’t think I want Gore to run again. I think he blew the election, both stratgically during the campaign and tactically during the Florida recount. If not being in politics is what it takes for him to speak his mind, then so be it. Let him go on a speaking tour. That’s where he’s going to do the most good. The cool thing I see here is that here’s a mainstream politician (the man who is rightfully President) finally telling the truth in pain English, not a bunch of folks on a message board. These aren’t the DNC talking points, either–remember, most of them voted for the invasion of Iraq. But if the DNC is going to take these up as talking points, then more power to them. What a shocking thing to see someone’s talking points correspond with the truth. Bush fears the truth, and rightfully so. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/45 "2003-08-08T17:38:28Z")
Oh please with the “carry his own state” crap already! His own state is friggin’ \* Tennessee! \* As the spawn of that beautiful state, lemme tell ya: you don’t want to carry Tennessee. Really, you don’t. Carrying Tennessee for a modern democrat is not a good thing. Now, about Al and the 2000 campaign: let us not forget that there is frequently a chasm between what constitutes a good campaigner and what constitutes a good leader. Al Gore is a shit campaigner, Bush is a masterful one. Bush is a horrific president, Al was an excellent vice-president and would have made a decent president. Saying Al is unfit to lead this country because he wasn’t slick and slimy enough to play the media and hence the nation is a false conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/46 "2003-08-08T17:47:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > I’m just absolutely floored that anyone would think Gore would be a good candidate in 2004. Granted, none of the other candidates stand out yet, but A) it’s early, and B) none of the other candidates have ever blown a Presidential election like Gore did. I mean, Gore’s brutally conducted campaign was **just three years ago.** Have people forgotten it already? You do remember that he lost this same competition to a draft-dodging dimwit, right? Blather about Florida all you want; a decent candidate should have won 400 electoral votes. Clinton might have swept the nation. I’d hardly say Gore “blew” the election. He _did_ win the popular vote, if you recall, and came within a hair’s breadth of winning the electoral colllege. You and I may both know Bush is a dimwit, but there happen to be a lot of people who think he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/47 "2003-08-08T17:54:30Z")
blowero, if the New York Yankees were to play the AAA Syracuse SkyChiefs in a 7-game series and lose - an unlikely event, but it is remotely possible - would you argue that they DIDN’T blow the series? If they outscored the Chiefs in runs overall, but still lost 4 games to 3, would that really make it any less a choke? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/48 "2003-08-08T17:54:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vibrotronica \* > I think he blew the election, both stratgically during the campaign and tactically during the Florida recount. How did he “blow” the recount? It was halted by the Supreme Court; what should he have done, gone over their heads?😉 > [@](#): > > The cool thing I see here is that here’s a mainstream politician (the man who is rightfully President) finally telling the truth in pain English Hee, hee. “Pain” English? I think that’s what _Bush_ speaks.😃 ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/49 "2003-08-08T17:57:20Z")
**Stoid** , speaking as a lifelong Tennessean, Little Al should have carried Tennessee. It wouldn’t have been impossible if he’d beeen smart about it. Case in point: Tennessee elected a Democrat, Phil Bredesen, governor in 2002 when the rest of the Democratic candidates nationwide were getting their asses handed to them. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/50 "2003-08-08T18:00:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Stoid \* > \*\*Oh please with the “carry his own state” crap already! His own state is friggin’ \* Tennessee! \* As the spawn of that beautiful state, lemme tell ya: you don’t want to carry Tennessee. Really, you don’t. Carrying Tennessee for a modern democrat is not a good thing. \*\* Apparently it was a good thing for **Bill Clinton,** who along with Gore carried Tennessee both times he was elected. So what the heck are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/51 "2003-08-08T18:01:38Z")
Over on something awful they are talking about the action figure… evidently it keeps saying over and over again “What does this button do?”. Where are all the Bush defenders? I thought surely they would rush right in here to clear up all these lies that Al is telling… ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/52 "2003-08-08T18:05:59Z")
**blowero** , I think he should have immediately called for a _statewide_ recount, not just a selective recount of counties he thought he could win. This gave the Republicans ammunition and formed part of the basis for the eventual Supreme Court decision. He also forbade organized demonstrations on his behalf–you’ll recall the bought-and-paid-for “riot” that stopped the Dade county count long enough for the Supremes to step in. In short, I think he was too timid. He was trying to appear statesman-like, while the other side took the gloves off. Oh crap. I’m talking about it. Urge to kill…rising… I’m sorry I brought it up. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/53 "2003-08-08T18:10:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by treis \* > I don’t want to break up the Democratic cirle jerk by introducing facts here but after all this is Great Debates not a Democratic bordello. Well put. You beat me to the punch, down to the “circle jerk” reference. What’s wrong, guys? Bored since **Reeder** hasn’t posted a Bush-whacking thread in a few days? ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/54 "2003-08-08T18:16:08Z")
So where are all the facts you guys are promising us? All I see so far is a bit of whining and a few weak taunts, neither of which qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Wake\_up\_call](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dec6dc/32.png) [@Wake\_up\_call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wake_up_call)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/55 "2003-08-08T18:17:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RickJay \* > \*\*That Gore can give a speech reciting truths long after they’re self-evident impresses me about as much as if he had read from a phone book. \*\* You see **RickJay** , here is the dilemma: According to you, the plain truth and self-evidence is right there in front of the American people. But, somehow, [over 57%](http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm) of Americans are still fully behind Bush and his policies. Obviously what is true and self-evident to you and I is NOT evident to the majority of Americans. So, how do you suggest we, in the minority, get the truth across to those 57% Bushies without banging them on the head with the phone book? ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/56 "2003-08-08T18:37:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by New Iskander \* > \*\*I want to use this few seconds in the spotlight to express my agreement with the chosen few, that already spoke so eloquently about sheer stupidity of Mr. Gore. > > Even if we, for the sake of argument, peg Mr. Bush down as a complete idiot, that only makes Mr. Gore look even more ridiculous for loosing the 2000 election. The stupid jerk didn’t even need FL, all he needed to do was to carry his own state! > > Thank you. \*\* Why don’t you make use of that “spotlight” to rebutt the issues brought forth? Beyond the fact that “stupid jerk” Gore, won the popular vote and was ultimately “defeated” by a SCOTUS split decision, what, if anything, do you disagree with in the speech? IOW, instead of slinging partisan tripe, how about addressing the [serious] charges Gore just made? Seems to me, a good place to start would be to actually _read or watch_ the speech instead of allowing spastic reactions play havoc with your chompers. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/57 "2003-08-08T18:43:30Z")
'zackly, Wake. Tis hardly enough that we on the Dope are already aware. But see, this goes right to the core of what has kept me away from these forums… I am utterly confounded and completely devastated by the collective cluelessness of a good chunk of the American public. When the studies showed that some ridiculous percentage of Americans had come to believe that Saddam and Iraq were somehow responsible for 9/11, my head very nearly exploded from the deafening “baaaa baaaaaa” in my ears, and I knew it was time to seek a little quiet. And so it remains, but I get these little glimmers of hope. I watch His Loathsomeness and I see the absolutely jaw-dropping hubris, and I have faith that the American people cannot possibly keep putting up with it. It’s not a quality we care much for. Fool me once, and all that… ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/58 "2003-08-08T18:57:23Z")
I suppose I should have read the whole OP, but I got to the part where **he** was criticizing the Bush administration for not sticking to the truth, and I got the giggles and couldn’t continue. Poor old Al. He is never going to get over losing the 2000 election. And neither are any of you. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![xenophon41](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xenophon41/32/253_2.png) [@xenophon41](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xenophon41)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/59 "2003-08-08T19:06:46Z")
So I take it you can’t actually dispute anything in the speech then, **Shodan**? ---
**Author:** ![blowero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/41988e/32.png) [@blowero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blowero)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665/60 "2003-08-08T19:27:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by xenophon41 \* > \*\*So I take it you can’t actually dispute anything in the speech then, **Shodan**? \*\* How could he? He admits he didn’t even read it. But Shodan makes a great point. I can see how slightly exaggerating the influence you had in developing the Internet and inspiring a character in a movie is EXACTLY THE SAME as deliberately using discredited information to start an illegal war.:rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/preach-it-al-gore-speaks-and-the-truth-shall-set-us-free/193665.md?page=4)