Alex

Not quite the whole south. Until this year, Florida was considered a safe republican state.

Troll, The issue is the group of advisors both of them have. I mean (BG) Gore's got all those liberals and god knows, put three of us in a room and we'll come up with ten solutions, none of them having anything to do with where we started. Conversely, the harm done is far less. Bush and his advisors have a very clear idea of what they want. Sadly, what they want will probably do great harm to the environment and make his supporters lots of money. The social programs that Gore might propose may do harm (in your opinion). That harm is reverseable. The harm Bush can do is far worse and less fixable. IMO

Lets by all means privatize Social Security. Great windfall for all the brokers (who tend to be big money republicans but probably just a coincidence), whether the market is up or down. As long as it sup, recipients are fine, when it goes down, they lose. What if we have the equivalent of the Savings and Loan fiasco? We can always get Neil Bush to run the program, just to make sure.

Or talking about his commitment to healthcare for everyone. A speech (in Ohio I think), was on the same day a Federal Judge ruled that Texas was in violation of Federal law and illegally denying medicaid to citizens. On the order of the Govornor. Not lying? Or perhaps a just a difference of opinion.

Gore lies? So does Bush. Look at his statements on the level and quality of education in Texas. (And while the Govornor of Texas has limited legislated power, he has fairly wide discretion in political patronage, which means a whole lot of people are beholden to him). But it gives him great deniability. Gore takes credit for things he didn't do, Bush denies responsibility for thing she did. And the difference is....?????

My problem with Bush (as you know) is that he seems to be an elitist without a sense of noblesse oblige. I don't think he is stupid. Lets face it, coming across as well educated (even if you are) isn't a big plus in Texas politics. You dislike the group around Gore. I deeply distrust the group around Bush. Gore may do harm. Bush almost certainly will. (IMO)

Lets remember another time. And a democratic government that was going to remake the world. Brought in lots of high powered business men. The Brightest and the Best. They viewed government as a big problem in management. forgetting that what they were managing were people, not statistics. In Bush and his advisors and backers, I see the same blindness and indifference and basic snobbery.

It really does help get through all this if you're a cynic about politicians. You have such a low opinion of them and they rarely disappoint.

Regards John