Al Gore‘s increasing irrelevancy was noted in this earlier post. But is this his idea for being taken seriously again?
Word to serious Democratic presidential candidates: Steer clear of this loose cannon.
Gore goes over the top
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Category Archives: Politics – General
By the way, remember that guy Gore?
It’s a bit difficult to recall a figure of national stature falling as quickly as Al Gore. This article details how Gore’s endorsement of Howard Dean ended up being the booby prize for Dean. My sense is that Gore’s abysmal treatment of his 2000 running mate Joe Lieberman during this campaign season reflects Gore’s true character.
Bob Dole Speaks Up
Although Bob Dole‘s 1996 presidential campaign was one of the worst of the past quarter-century, he was an outstanding senator and is a great American. In today’s Wall Street Journal, Mr. Dole weighs in insightfully on recent criticism of President Bush’s military service:
On Fox News recently, my friend John Kerry stated: “I’ve never made any judgments about any choice somebody made about avoiding the draft, about going to Canada, going to jail, being a conscientious objector, going into the National Guard.”
Sen. Kerry did make a judgment, in 1992, when Bill Clinton — who did not serve — was running against Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Vietnam veteran. After Bob Kerrey criticized Gov. Clinton, John Kerry said, “We do not need to divide America over who served and how.” He should stick to his previous position by acknowledging the honorable service of President Bush and the hundreds of thousands of other National Guard members defending America every day. The president piloted an F-102 in the National Guard and received an honorable discharge when his requirements were met.
Democratic Party Chairman Terry McAuliffe also said last Sunday that service in the National Guard wasn’t service “in the military.”
These attacks are offensive. Service in the National Guard is one of the finest things any citizen can do, and there are tens of thousands of guardsmen and women serving our country today all over the world. Thousands are serving in Iraq, and some of those have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country.
It should be incumbent upon presidential candidates to disavow accusations that have no proof or substance behind them. Gen. Wesley Clark learned the price of irresponsibility the hard way as thousands of voters deserted him in the weeks since he intimated President Bush might have been a deserter. Enough.
Sen. Kerry is a war hero, but if campaigns were about war records, I would have won easily in 1996. Campaigns are about issues, and the candidates of both parties owe the American people a compelling vision for the future of America.
In a related Seattle Times editorial, Collin Levey makes the accurate point that, among a political candidate’s attributes, military service is generally overrated.
Martha Watch
My wife is reading this daily.
O.K., I admit it, I’m reading it daily, too. ;^)
As to this report from the Martha trial, I can only shake my head, for a variety of reasons.
Campaign Reporting on Steroids
The NY Times has put together a blog for the 2004 Presidential Campaign that is continuously updated. It is reported and edited from the Times’ Washington bureau. The “Trail Mix” section highlights issues, candidates, and regions. In the meantime, The Daily Show is maintaining a clever website called “Indecision 2004“, which is a humorous take on the 2004 Presidential campaign. As host comedian Jon Stewart puts it, “We’re to the news what malt liquor is to reality.” Good stuff for you political junkies.
Good News for Downtown Houston
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that New Houston Mayor Bill White has announced a delay in the Smith Street rebuilding project in downtown Houston. The downtown street rebuilding project in Houston was begun early in former Mayor Lee Brown‘s administration, and it may have been the most badly botched public works project in the city’s history. It’s a good move for Mayor White to attempt to get this mess under control before tearing up Smith Street, one of the main arteries in downtown Houston.
Another Auchwitz?
Sometimes They Do Get it Right
The U.S. intelligence community has endured much criticism since 9/11. For example, Gerald Posner’s “Why America Slept” is an excellent account of the background and result of the intelligence failures that preceded the 9/11 attacks.
However, in this clever piece from the NY Times, William Safire tells an interesting story about an intelligence operation that was a resounding success and reminds us that intelligence agencies perform an essential service. Thanks to my old friend Don Looper for the tip on Safire’s piece.
The Clark Campaign
This Thomas Meaney piece is an interesting perspective on the Democratic candidates to date, particularly Wesley Clark.
Great Quotes
From Ryan Lizza’s campaign journal at The New Republic, on the difference between the Howard Dean and John Edwards’ campaigns:
“If Dean’s events sometimes look like the bar scene from Star Wars, Edwards’s traveling show has the feel of an Abercrombie and Fitch fashion shoot.”
And James T. Hamilton, describing his theory of rational ignorance in his new book, “All the News That’s Fit to Sell“:
“The logic of rational ignorance predicts that many viewers will not choose to learn about politics and government, a logic confirmed every day by the relatively low audience for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS.”