The "what really matters on election day" thread has a lot of people fighting the good fight on all the usual issues of an American presidential campaign. Don't bring that mess over here. I already know what y'all have to say about the two most prominent candidates and where y'all stand on the big issues -- it's tattoed on the back of my eyelids and I see it everytime I blink.

All I want to know is, do you thoink Gore would benefit politically from making a statement today to the effect that, "Now I am formally your nominee, and it is appropriate for me to make it clear where Clinton and I differ," or is he better off playing up his role in the two Clinton Administrations?

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Answers

I meant, of course, "do you think Gore would benefit politically."

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

I think Clinton gave an excellent speech on Monday. Maybe his best ever. Even though I do not believe he should get anywhere near the amount of credit he thinks he should get, the speech resonated and he painted a very good picture of why he thinks these 8 years are a positive testament to his Presidency. Because of that, and the fact that I think Gore is somewhat tied to Clinton's name because of their 8 years together anyway, I think Gore's best strategy is to not completely distance himself from Clinton for his own good. There are many, many folks out there that still like Clinton. I think Gore needs to continue sharing in the glory that Clinton sees when he reviews his Presidency, but speak as if he wants to use the success of these last 8 years as a foundation for continuing down the road of success, while also pursuing his new objectives and visions that he is going to share with us tonight.

At least, that is what I think. However, I also think that Gore should never, ever immediately follow Clinton in giving a speech or talking to reporters. Clinton can make anyone look bad because he is so smooth (maybe the best political speaker since Reagan.)

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

As a left liberal (yes, I took the test) I believe that the time for Gore to separate himself from Clinton was a year and a half ago, and it's too late now. Now it would simply be political expediency, just like Lieberman suddenly reversing many of his previous beliefs now that he's the nominee for the Democratic ticket.

Where the hell is Bill Bradley, and why didn't the mofos who actually got to vote in Democratic primaries when they counted vote for him?

Pooks/Pouting in Dallas

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2000

Tom, I think it is really too late now for Gore to distance himself from Clinton, and if he did it now it would appear staged.

I think Gore's greatest obstacle is his silence *during* the Monica and other scandals. He was in a precarious position but I think many felt let down by Gore because he voiced absolutely no opinion of what almost any person would call "bad behavior" at the least. If Gore loses this election I think the aforementioned is the main reason why.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000

Whether he should or shouldn't, he will try to, and this is where GWB's greatest point of attack should be. When Gore attempts to distance himself from that in which he *was* involved, call him on it. When he takes credit for anything in the last 8 years, call him on it, and when he declares how many things need to be fixed or improved, call him on it. So far, so good. We'll see if the trend can continue.

On another note, I can't say how hard I laughed when I heard the news of the *new* Monicagate grand jury being empaneled on this, Al Gore's big day. I'm sooooo evil!

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000

I wonder if Gore has asked his advisors to send out the message that he wants a little distance? Clinton Big Burden, Deeply Flawed

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000

I think Gore should join himself at the hip with Clinton. Instead of wearing his hair and cloths to look like Reagan, he should put on some weight, gray his hair, change his nose to be more pug-shaped, and wear a beret.

He should use "I" or "me" in every sentance. He should make his points by wagging his finger at the camera. He should always be late to everything. He should pull his kids out of St Albans and put them in Sidwell Friends.

He should cry more.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000

I don't think it is too late for Gore to distance himself. As the vice-president, it wasn't his place to publicly criticized a sitting president, his boss. Bush didn't agree with everything Reagan said/did, but he kept his mouth shut, because it was his job to keep his mouth shut. The same was true for Gore. This isn't just tradition - there are very real legal issues at play if the VP denounces the president. After all, if the president is removed, the VP gets the job.

By choosing Lieberman as his running mate, Gore (I believe) is trying to send the message, "I disapproved of Clinton's behavior, but I wasn't allowed to say so at the time". Lieberman himself has said that had he been vice-president, and not just a senator, he wouldn't have said any of the anti-Clinton things that he said.

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2000