Nixon lost a bitterly contested presidential election, then later won. Are

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

things so very different now that candidates who have lost close elections, Repub or Dem, are irreversibly tainted by the loss and whatever mud has stuck to them from the campaigns so as to never be a viable candidate again?

Obviously I'm thinking about Gore or Kerry, but also any Republican nominee who might lose some future, unrigged, election, and not have specific problems like Dole being too old etc.

Thoughts on this?

[don954]

1. I think Al Gore 2008 would be a land-slide after 8 years of BUSH

[GrumpyGreg]

2. No they aren't any different. With a strong "machine" behind them any

previous loser could win.

After Nixon lost the CA governor's race I thought he would fade off into obscurity but he had powerful friends.

[ReadTomPaine]

3. Many go into media and find the patronage system there very comfortable.

It pays quite well too.

Others go into lobbying. Some do recycle in government, tho more often in appointed roles.

It's a revolving door, however. Don't be mistaken.

At the presidential level it's a bit different. I'd love to see a Gore White House. Strictly speaking, we owe him one.

[bananarepublican]

4. Nixon was the one who got the Bay of Pigs ball rolling!

The militarists of the day wanted Nixon to win in '60 so that a war, much bigger than Vietnam, could be provoked. JFK's father outmanouvred Nixon's money men and the rest as they say is history.

Even though LBJ stabbed JFK in the back, he decided on a more limited, but still very profitable, conflict in South East Asia. This allowed him to keep the right wing loonies off his back and appease the increasingly troublesome civil rights movement at home.

Nixon was at a party held by Clint Murchison the night before the hit on JFK. Also in attendance at this festive event were:- J. Edgar Hoover, LBJ, Jack Ruby... need I say more? Party venue: Dallas, Texas.

Gerald Ford served on the Warren Commission. He was J. Edgar's inside man. 'Lo and behold' upon Spiro Agnew's departure, in steps Gerald.

Where was George Herbert Walker Bush on November 22, 1963? (Also, where was E. Howard Hunt (one of the Watergate plumbers?) I'll give y'all one guess!

Kennedy potentially saved 70 million American lives because of his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. And yet his "swiftboating" continues to this day.

WHEN CAN EVERYONE INVOLVED IN HIS DEMISE AND THOSE WHO STILL COVER IT UP BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE? Until then... America... superpower, or, banana republic...? Given 2000/2004... democracy, or, banana republic?

Phew... that rant felt good.