Al Gore to announce he will NOT run in 2004!

[Imran Siddiqui]

Committee ties really don't matter... who controls the agenda matters.

Why? Because there is always a at least conservative Dem on every committee, and the Republicans have had amazing party discipline lately.

[Shi Huangdi]

Those were just rumors Lott would resign if he loses his leadership. He has publicly stated that he will serve out his term until 2006.

[Zkribbler]

It doesn't really matter who the Dems nominate. Bush's re-election hinges on:

a) how badly he screws up the U.S. economy and

b) how the nation-building in Iraq is going after Saddam is toppled. If we're bogged down in a guerilla war with suicide bombers routinely killing our soldiers, Bush is on the next train back to Texas.

[Sultan Bhargash]

It still matters who the Dems nominate.

[Zkribbler]

Oh, in that case, Howard Dean, Gov. of Vermont. He's a McCainian type of Democrat, says what he thinks and acts like a maverick. Pro-gun. Is most proud of signing the domestic partnership act into law.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Dems won't nominate a maverick either.

[Shi Huangdi]

Right Imran, I can just imagine the nasty attack ads run against Dean saying how horrible guns are....... That'd get him killed among the Democratic base probably.........

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Sultan Bhargash
Maybe McCain will jump ship now (giving the Dems the senate back) and be allowed to run as the dem candidate. He'd win easy...

McCain is every bit as conservative as Bush, maybe even more so. He just lacks Bush's weaselness.

[Jaguar]

Weaselness?

[Sultan Bhargash]

You know the beady eyes, the sharp teeth, the clever stratejory and survival instinct...

[Ramo]

The only hope the Dems have of beating the Republicans next election, particularly if Gulf War II happens, is to energize its base (i.e. pulling off a Reagan). That certainly won't occur with someone like Gore, so it's a good thing for the Dems that he isn't running. They need someone with a spine if they want a victory.

[Ned]

I think either Leiberman or Feinstein would make fine candidates.

But honestly, with Gore out of the way, the big star in the Democrat party is, none other than, Hilary Clinton.

She may run.

[Gatekeeper]

Right now, Bush Jr. and friends are in something of a minefield. They can afford to step on the little ones — i.e. Sen. Trent Lott — and heal to a large degree from those detonations. But if they ever step on a large mine — i.e. Iraq, North Korea, al-Qaida and/or the U.S. economy — it'll be the end of them all.

I'm sorry, but if we go into Iraq and our troops get gassed or hit with God knows what else while we're trying to dig Saddam Hussein out of his hole, I'm holding Bush accountable, along with the Pentagon.

Furthermore, Bush says he won't have to ever use military pressure on North Korea. Yeah, right. Hell, even former President Bill Clinton says had had plans drawn up to blow the hell out of the NK nuke reactor back in 1994, and he let NK know what was going to happen if they didn't bend to U.S. will. Well, do you really think anything short of a military strike will scare the bejeezus out of NK now? Tell me, Mr. Bush, what can we do to make NK toe the line again? Not much! They break agreements in an almost whimsical manner and now they have the balls to blame the U.S. for the current situation. So, Mr. Bush, how to handle them ... ? I bet NK will be a tougher nut to crack than even Iraq.

Sometimes I can't help but feel that if al-Qaida strikes U.S. soil again, it can only help solidify the growing power of the federal government's "security" measures. What are we going to end up with? Poindexter on security steroids? That gives me chills. Anyway, if al-Qaida were to get successive strikes in on American soil (causing mass casualties), it'd be a blow to Bush and company.

As for the economy, well, it's hard to blame Bush for all the trouble. I lay a good deal of that at the feet of irresponsible corporate accountants and executives. Although I also think Bush and Cheney would do well to 'fess up to "improprieties" of their own while in the corporate world of the 1990s.

Bush is far from a guaranteed victory in 2004. Hell, he just has to look up to his father to learn that lesson.

Gatekeeper

[Dis]

Gore would stomp Bush if he ran in 2004. Assuming Nader or Buchanan doesn't run

And BTW Hillary isn't expected to run for president until 2008.