Al Gore won't run for president in 2008 (Chris Matthews)

More speculation today for the ’08 Democratic nomination run from Chris Matthews, who is reporting that Al Gore won’t run in ’08. It seems that the speculation makers are having a hey-day today…

Al Gore won't run for president in 2008 (Chris Matthews)

The 2008 Presidential campaign will not include Al Gore. I'm reporting tonight that the former Vice President and 2000 Democratic Presidential nominee will not run for President. I've been given this scoop from a perfect source who informed me that the purpose of this disclosure at this time is to end speculation about a campaign that will never occur.

So, now that Al Gore is out... what does this mean for the likely 2008 battle between Hillary and John Kerry?

http://www.lightupthedarkness.org/blog/default.asp?view=plink&id=477

and campaign buttons "updated?" I just recycled all of my literature for Kerry 2004.

I'm thinking about 2006, frankly. :eyes: And that's not a Presidential Election Year, in case you didn't know.

we trust Chris Matthews on this? Or anybody from the media?

Firm in Florida election fiasco earns millions from files on foreigners

Oliver Burkeman in Washington and Jo Tuckman in Mexico City
Monday May 5, 2003
The Guardian

A data-gathering company that was embroiled in the Florida 2000 election fiasco is being paid millions of dollars by the Bush administration to collect detailed personal information on the populations of foreign countries, enraging several governments who say the records may have been illegally obtained.

US government purchasing documents show that the company, ChoicePoint, received at least $11m (£6.86m) from the department of justice last year to supply data - mainly on Latin Americans - that included names and addresses, occupations, dates of birth, passport numbers and "physical description". Even tax records and blood groups are reportedly included.

Nicaraguan police have raided two offices suspected of providing the information. The revelations threaten to shatter public trust in electoral institutions, especially in Mexico, where the government has begun an investigation.

The controversy is not the first to engulf ChoicePoint. The company's subsidiary, Database Technologies, was responsible for bungling an overhaul of Florida's voter registration records, with the result that thousands of people, disproportionately black, were disenfranchised in the 2000 election. Had they been able to vote, they might have swung the state, and thus the presidency, for Al Gore, who lost in Florida by a few hundred votes.

Legal experts in the US and Mexico said ChoicePoint could be liable for prosecution if those who supplied it with the personal information could be proven to have broken local laws. That raises the possibility that any person whose data was accessible to American officials could take legal action against the US government.

"Anybody who felt they were affected by this could take the US government to court," said Julio Tellez, an expert in Mexican information legislation at the Tec de Monterrey University. "We could all do it ... We are not prepared to sell our intimacies for a fistful of dollars."

How the US is using the information remains mysterious, although its focus on Latin America suggests obvious applications in targeting illegal immigrants. Whatever the reasons, its commitment to ChoicePoint is long-term: last year's $11m payment was part of a contract worth $67m that runs until 2005.

ChoicePoint denied breaking any laws. "All information collected by ChoicePoint on foreign citizens is obtained legally from public agencies or private vendors," it said. It also denied purchasing "election registry information" from Mexico.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,949709,00.html

but that doesn't mean that we can't start a Draft Gore campaign.

Personally, I think that a Gore/Kerry ticket would be ideal! When Gore made his concession speech and stopped listening to his "groomers", I remember a lot of people said they would have voted for "that man" if they had seen his "real side" earlier.

Plus, as has already been pointed out, he already won!

Kerry already won!

Gore as Pres, with Kerry as VP in charge of the Senate with his Senate experience, WHOA, BABY! Then we REALLY have a chance to get this country back on track!

Then, that opens up the Kerry/Edwards ticket again, or maybe a Kerry/Clark ticket. Either way:
:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Howard? I think Howard has found his calling. He needs to stay right where he is, and stay there a long time! It may not be as "glamourous" as President, but it's just as important, and judging from his first few weeks I don't think anybody could do it better!

edited to add more bouncies - one just didn't cut it!