More stupidity from Tobin
Nonetheless, I don’t know why people cling to this guy Gore. He’s pretty much a stiff, and, as for keeping us out of a post-9/11 war, I don’t know how anyone could presume that. Bush’s post-9/11 thing has been a holy horror, no question. But Gore, or any other president in that circumstance, might well have driven us into another kind of holy horror.
I’m too mad to think of what to say. Let me know what you think in the comments.
I’m thinking that since Maggie Brooks reamed him out in public, he’s trying to be as conservatively obnoxious as possible to get back into her good graces.
A lame, pathetic attempt by a very small man.
You doing all this from an airport?
Weird, I was thinking the same thing– “Wow, since Maggie put Tobin in his place, he’s been working overtime on his conservative bona fides.”
There are two issues here.
First, was Gore a stiff in 2000? Yes - he was a wooden candidate and a terrible campaigner.
Second, would Gore have gotten us into the Iraq mess? No - he’s a rotten campaigner but one of the smartest and most reasonable thinkers around. We’d be in a far better place with Gore as president, and I think everyone knows it.
Come-on Rotten, tell us what you really think.
I also think Gore tends towards pomposity and condescension.
However, I admire his intellect and think he’d have been a good, but not great, President.
“as for keeping us out of a post-9/11 war, I don’t know how anyone could presume that.”
EXCUSE me. Aren’t we talking about TWO post-9/11 wars that this maniac started? Which one wouldn’t Gore have been able to keep us out of?
I think Tobin’s post says more about Tobin than he realizes.
When we’re selecting someone to be president of the United States, what are the qualities we seek? Those of us who care about important issues seek someone who is intelligent, humane, worldly, creative and forward thinking. I’m sure you can all add to the list. And most people probably want to be thought of as someone who cares about good leadership and good values. The people who worry about whether a candidate is stiff obviously have a different set of priorities. But the decision of who would best lead this country through the complicated issues of our day shouldn’t be based on how warm and fuzzy a person is. And for those who wanted someone laid back, affable (at least when he’s aware he’s being watched), maybe not too intellectual - they got him. Most of the citizens of this country now realize the country is headed in the wrong direction, and this guy’s doing a poor job, with the warm fuzzy candidate.
Would Gore have gone to Iraq? Of course not. Afghanistan perhaps. Would he have let the bin Laden family members fly out while planes were grounded? Of course not. Would he have claimed there were weapons of mass destruction when the proof showed otherwise? Of course not. Would he have allowed the outing of a CIA agent by his own staff? Of course not. Would he have lost track of weapons that did exist, fired the organizatios that helped to keep order, failed to protect the resources, allowed companies like Haliburton to bilk us, allowed contractors like Blackwater to kill innocents? Would he have written off the deaths of tens of thousands of Iraqis?
would he have jailed innocents and suspended their access to courts? Would he have ever, in a million years, approved of torture by calling it something else? Would he have extended tours of duty, stretching our military to the limit, failed to sufficiently fund health insurance, and copped a feel when talking to the German Chancellor? Would he have stumbled and bumbled his way through the English language, using wires and cue cards to help him because he’s incapable of thinking for himself? Is the one who did these things the one who Tobin wants representing him in the world? If so, does anyone here want to be thought of as a Tobin?
Your trenchant analysis raises a broader question. Why are the publishers and readers of this blog getting worked up over what some has-been moron posted on his little-read blog?
Because he’s an editor at the D&C. Those attitudes come out in published editorials, as well.
You know what galls me about this? Tobin’s crucifying Gore for something that didn’t happen. “But Gore…might well have driven us into another kind of holy horror.”
WELL THANK GOD WE DIDN’T ELECT HIM! Imagine, the things he could have done….
Look at what the man’s accomplished - rising from an ignominious defeat to a Nobel prize, versus what Bush has accomplished. There can be no doubt that he’s the better man, and would have made the better president.
I mean, political affiliations aside, I’ll take the “wooden” genius and over-achiever over the affable frat boy underachiever any day.
There is a belief by many people, and it seems that Tobin is in this category, that Gore would have done NOTHING after the 9/11 attacks. That Democrats would have done NOTHING in the face of terrorism. Tobin, and everyone in this category, are morons.
Of course, this is a ridiculous belief, not supported by any evidence, but like so many lies about Gore, it persists.
Nevertheless, it seems incomprehensible to me that some people think Gore would have been a worse president than Bush, but yet some people think that.
To answer a few questions here:
(1) Yes, I did this all from the Jet Blue Terminal at Kennedy. In fact…I did it all from a stall in the men’s room. Someone in the next stall kept tapping my foot from under the divider so I got a little distracted at times.
(2) Rotten: I urge you to read the Vanity Fair piece on how the press treated Gore in 2000 before making any conclusions about his talents as a campaigner. He was sandbagged.
(1) You need to take some of the blame - from what I hear you take a wide stance.
(2) I’ve read that piece. But the fact remains that Gore’s no Clinton, in terms of his ability to campaign and connect. Also, the Gore we see today is more relaxed and more energized, and his message is much clearer. In 2000, Gore’s message was weak because he was running away from Clinton in all areas. He needed a message that rejected the Clinton pecadillos but embraced the economic success of the 90’s.
What is missing in these discussions is that Tobin and crew will actually endorse someone in various local political races.
And, lessee. Given that Tobin 1) appears to favor smoothness over intelligence, and 2) predicts different catastrophes no matter who gets elected, would his endorsements go something like this?