If Gore were to be the Democratic nominee in 2008, I would enthusiastically support him. However, I have several problems with him as a potential candidate, and would prefer someone else --who is NOT Hillary Clinton--be the nominee in 2008.

Some of my problems:

--The scene early Fahrenheit 9-11 before the Senate. It was sad, pathetic, and turns my stomach just to think about it. Gore had his shot. Why does he deserve another after that performance?

--It's just my opinion, but even compared to John Kerry, he's still wooden and lacks charisma. I know he's "loosened up" over the last six years, but I think he has "image" problems that can't be corrected.

--I think it's a huge mistake to have a nominee who can't even deliver the electoral votes for his home state. Gore didn't in 2000, and there's nothing to lead me to believe he could do it in 2008, either. It seems fundamental that a candidate be able to at least bring in his own state. For this same reason, I think Edwards would be problematic as well. I know neither North Carolina or Tennessee carry very many electoral votes, but I think it's a symbolic issue that you don't have to be a wonk to pick up on.

All that being said, I like Gore's politics, and am much closer to him in that sense than Bill Clinton. If Gore is going to be the nominee in 2008, I wish people would start convincing the skeptical voters like me.

Blake Mitchell

Austin, Texas

I can understand why people think Gore is a great guy (even though he dropped the ball in 2000 in probably the defining moment of his political career), but why do people think he'll actually win? Just because he "barely" won in 2000? A lot can change in eight years, and I need some convincing that more than a handful of bloggers on the Salon.com web site still care about him.

Maybe this will shed a little light on that 31%. The lead story at 11:45 Central time on the CNN web site is a story about how the U.S. infant mortality rate is second-to-last among "developed" nations. How does a conservative defend Bush's health care policies knowing this fact?

So you scroll down to their online poll, and the question of the day is, "Is the United States doing enough to reduce infant mortality within its borders? " And the vote breakdown is 25% "yes," and 75% "no."

How can one single person vote "yes"? That's insane! Are they saying that they espouse eugenics or something? And on top of that, what the hell is that "within it's borders" part at the end about? What exactly is CNN implying by putting that there?

We are ALL used by politicians for their own political gain. It's how the system works. Kerry and Edwards used my money and my vote. They tried to use Mary Cheney's sexual orientation, to no avail. But the point is, had Kerry won, gays and lesbians in this country would be better off, to some degree. That's what she should focus on.

But as Tim Grieve suggested, she deserves a little slack on some level. Being the gay daughter of someone like Dick Cheney means her chances of becoming well-adjusted are nearly impossible.

from my panic attack, I think he said that because he knows Jeb isn't going to run, so in his mind, it's kind of a nice thing to say.

However, if Jeb runs and wins, I'll have to reconsider my status as a pacifist.

I'm not sure what Arlen Specter thinks he's going to accomplish. I can't wait until congress starts trying to subpoena members of the administration and then getting "I'm sory, you don't have the authority to order us to testify, this is all classified secret stuff." as an answer. That's gonna go over REAL well.

You're picking the Quote of the Day awfully early; the day is still young. Given this administration's propensity fore saving their best material for Friday afternoon, I'm holding out for something truly eye-opening later today.

I thought the same thing. That if anyone is floating these rumors, it's probably Rove himself.

I was telling someone over the weekend that my favorite example is the rumor that has been circulated around Austin since Bush's days as governor: That Laura Bush was a pot dealer in college at SMU. It's perfect. Those on the left hear it and think, "Hey, she can't be ALL bad!" and those who are fervent supporters would immediately dismiss is as crazy and wholly unbelievable. She gets sympathy points from both sides!

I, for one, am really sick of the Rove indictment rumors. When Fitzgerald says on the evening news that Rove's indicted, then I'll believe it.

with all the cheap labor in Asia and Mexico, they'll be cranking up production on those brown shirts soon enough. They'll be affordable and plentiful.

Seriously, though... my God this is SO outrageous!

That's exactly ow they rationalize their illegal actions during the 2000 and 2004 elections. It the president does it, it's not illegal, right?

When Ben Bradlee tells his two reporters the story of how he was hung out to dry on a story about J Edgar Hoover by LBJ. Maybe Luskin's sources are using him as a means to discredit the "nonrightwing" blogosphere. It's entirely plausible. The thing is, "high level sources" may be telling Luskin exactly what he's been reporting. That doesn't make it true, though.