Free Republic

Hubert G. Locke's argument ("Even friends abroad decry America's arrogance," Sept. 27) that America is divided into two very different political cultures is easily illustrated by looking at the state-by-state results of the 2000 presidential election. Several months ago, I analyzed these numbers from the 13 states associated with the historical Confederacy (Kentucky and Missouri -- which, granted, did not secede but did send representatives to the Confederate Congress -- along with Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas) and contrasted them with the rest of the country. The results are striking. In...

Tipper Gore and the former vice president leave the Brookings Institute in Washington Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 after his economic policy speech. – RICK BOWMER | AP Photo ASHINGTON—Al Gore urged President Bush on Wednesday to focus on the nation's stalled economy the way he has on international affairs because "America's economy is in big trouble." Gore called for a short-term stimulus program that would include extended unemployment benefits and help for small businesses "to jolt the U.S. economy out of stagnation." He warned against waiting until Congress returns next year to consider economic steps because "in the interim,...

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Al Gore, who launched a broad attack on President George W. Bush's Iraq policy last week, will give a "major" policy speech on the U.S. economy in Washington on Wednesday.Stepping up his political profile as he prepares to make a decision on another run for the presidency, Gore will give the address at Washington's Brookings Institution, spokesman Jano Cabrera said.Gore's Iraq speech in San Francisco last week galvanized Democratic concerns over Bush's plans for a military move against Baghdad and helped slow down what was expected to be quick congressional approval of a resolution on...

PORTSMOUTH - With the drama of last week’s midterm primary barely past, the stage is already being set for 2004. Apparently, Al Gore is interested in reprising his role. Sunday night reports began circulating that Gore has confided to his top aides that he will take another shot at the presidency. Almost immediately, people in the Gore camp denied the reports. With scheduled stops in Iowa, New Hampshire and the focal point of the 2000 election, Florida, it’s hard not to see Gore is preparing another presidential bid. The Portsmouth Democratic headquarters is still strewn with the mementos of Gore’s...

Al Gore. State election officials ultimately declared George W. Bush the winner by a margin of 537 votes, but during and after the election dispute, questions remained about the uncounted ballots of 175,010 voters, ballots that had been rejected by error-prone tabulating machines employed in many Florida counties. Confusion and conflict, much of it generated by partisan intrigue, prevented these ballots from being counted during the election controversy. However, in 2001 every uncounted ballot was carefully examined in a scientific study by the University of Chicago, which concluded that when all the votes were counted, more votes had been cast...