Evans & Novak Believes Gore Preparing for 2008 Run

[kpete]

Evans & Novak Believes Gore Preparing for 2008 Run
Posted by Ron Chusid
June 28th, 2006

While Al Gore has frequently denied plans to run in 2008 (while never totally closing the door), Evans and Novak do not believe him. While we obviously have reservations about everything they say, I just received today’s Evans-Novak Political Report, which leads with this:

Former Vice President Al Gore is now raising money on the Internet with the charge that the Bush Administration has an “unprecedented … contempt for the truth” and accusations of Bush’s being “a President who breaks the law” and “poses a threat to the very foundation of our democracy.” While denying interest in a 2008 White House run, Gore continues to set himself up for one.

John Kerry is also mentioned and this might be taken as an indication of who is in tune with the Democratic base for 2008:

Senate Democrats got their act on Iraq a little bit in order by getting a substantial majority in favor of a resolution calling for a partial troop withdrawal with no complete removal. That’s the position of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), but it has two failings: First, it may not be that far from the actual Bush policy. Second, the party’s base still wants total removal, as proposed by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.).

http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=3463

[bryant69]

1. I don't know

I"m sure that it's on the menu. I'd certainly like to see him run, but I would totally understand if he is unable to run.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[AndyA]

2. What would a Gore/Kerry ticket in 2008 do for the Dem party?

Both men beat Bush in the elections, Bush had to resort to having his cronies cheat the system to get him in. Would Kerry run as Gore's VP?

[kaygore]

17. Not Kerry!!!! I don't think he had any intention of winning and I say

this having worked for his campaign!

[AndyA]

18. Personally, I'd like to see a Gore/Feingold ticket. n/m

[kaygore]

19. Y*E*S!!!!!!!!!

[goodhue]

3. I believe so too

Looking forward to it

[katty]

4. Pres:Gore Veep: Kerry Sect of State: Biden? DoD: Clark

Although I have serious reservations about Kerry and Biden.

[Totally Committed]

9. Clark cannot serve Sec of Def until he is out of the military for 10 yrs.

That would be 2010, I believe.

TC

[katty]

10. okie dokie, well then that's out

[WI_DEM]

5. I thought Evans was dead, does Nofacts communicate with him

from beyond the grave or have his corpse in a sitting up position at his desk?

[Totally Committed]

6. I was just going to post that same thing...

Evans died a few years back. So... huh?

TC

[Hand]

8. Yep-was wondering that myself...

Evans has been dead since 3/23/2001. Brain-dead for several prior decades, IMHO.

[Jeanette in FL]

13. That was my first thought as well

as I read the headline. Too funny.

[madinmaryland]

15. If you read the crap he writes,

it really does sound like he has been communicating with dead people!

[Fleshdancer]

7. Novak was SOOOO certain Hillary was going to run in 2004 too

As much as I love Gore, it sounds like he really just isn't interested in jumping back in. If this is the case, everyone should respect that.

[The_Counsel]

11. I Think I Got That Letter Last Week...

...it's in the same vein as the fundraising Gore's done for the Democratic Party at large since 2004. Nothing out of the ordinary here.

But man, would I LOVE for Al to run again. All he has to do is say "I told you so" for the next two-and-a-half years and he'll be in. But he insists he's not running; and to get in after denying as vehemently as he has would only hurt his credibility. It's too bad, really...

[NYCGirl]

12. He's never "insisted" anything of the sort. He says he's not "planning to

run." There's a hell of a lot of wiggle room there.

[patricia92243]

14. Yep!

[Lisa0825]

21. Exactly!

Everytime he says "no," it's a "qualified" no with a big, gaping "way out"!!!

[Mabus]

20. About the notion that a denial is detrimental

Gore has not made the Sherman statement. Nor have a number of other possible candidates (Hillary, Condi, Barack among them) whose supporters, here and elsewhere, openly encourage them to run for presidency.

Even if Gore made a Sherman statement and changed his mind, I don't think it would hurt him because history is on his side. I found this article showing that even direct Sherman statements are not detrimental to a candidate for president.

As categorical as General Sherman’s statement was, it is seldom really believed by voters and often eventually ignored by politicians uttering it. In 1948, another retired general, Dwight D. Eisenhower, implored by leaders of both parties to run for them, did stick to his word, but relented in 1952, ran and was elected.

In the 1968 presidential cycle, Republican Gov. Nelson Rockefeller of New York, backing the struggling candidacy of Gov. George Romney of Michigan, flatly said “I don’t want to be president.” But he finally gave in after Romney folded and Rocky’s longtime foe, Richard Nixon, seemed to have a clear field for the nomination. He failed to stop him.

***

In 1980, when George H.W. Bush was seeking the Republican presidential nomination against Ronald Reagan, he repeatedly turned aside suggestions that he be Reagan’s running mate. “Take Sherman and cube it,” he would say — a clever phrase to express his disdain for the vice-presidential nomination.

***

Sherman-like statements, be they uttered regarding the presidency or the vice presidency, are not —in the immortal words of Samuel Goldwyn — worth the paper they’re written on. http://www.examiner.com/a-128881~Jules_Witcover__There_s_that_Sherman_statement_again.html

You might also be interested in this diary at Kos: http://gmoke.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/6/21/51156/7738

Sherman statements and draftable candidates
by morinao
Wed Jun 21, 2006 at 02:11:56 AM PDT

In 1884, William T. Sherman famously declined to be considered for the Republican presidential nomination by stating, "If nominated, I will not accept, and if elected I will not serve." Ever since then, an unambiguous repudiation of a potential candidacy has been known as a Sherman statement.

The key word here is repudiation. Mere denial of political ambition typically does not dissuade motivated parties from hoping to convince or draft the reluctant candidate. And it's very easy to tell the difference.

Exercises beneath the fold.

* morinao's diary :: ::
*

With experience, anyone can distinguish a Sherman statement from a non-denial denial. Here's a practice example:

Sherman statement (Jun 8 2003):

Asked what she would say if Democrats asked her to run in 2004, said, "Absolutely, I would say no."

Not a Sherman statement (Jun 8 2003):

In the interview, is asked if she plans to run for president in 2008, and answers: "I have no intention of running for president."

[Minnesota Libra]

16. I sure as hell hope so!!!!! nt