Does Al Gore understand the difference between a Republic and a Democracy?

Question

I just saw him on GMA. He referred to our democracy at least ten times. We do not have a Democracy, we have a Representative Republic which is much more protective of individual rights and freedoms. I can't understand why almost half of the population voted for this buffoon in 2000. If the Democrats want any credibility they need to find more intelligent people with greater integrity. There current crop is no better even if they aren't as big liars.

Answer 1

I'd be inclined to think false any claim made by the man who "invented the Internet" and publicly said he'd done so while campaigning for President.

Looks to me like his ego is at least as big as his electric bill -- which is certainly enough by itself to bankrupt me.

:-)

Answer 2

A "democracy" is any form of government where the people play a role in deciding who forms the government, make their own laws, and are capable of legally removing a government that they disagree with. In most forms of democracy in current use, this revolves around the people electing representatives to form a government, which must be continuously re-elected. There are several definitions of just what a "republic" is. A useful definition is some kind of system where the head of state is decided by the people or the government, not by succession as in a monarchy. So the US is a republic, because the head of state is elected by the people. The UK is not, because the head of state is the monarch. Both are democracies, because the government is elected directly be the people and laws are made by the elected government (the UK monarch has no actual power).

Answer 3

Yeah, the Cons sure have some winners in the ring right now.

- A three time loser who can't decide if he's moderate, conservative or ultra-conservative.
- A cross-dresser/womanizer.
- A flip-flopper on almost every issue with every other interview, depending on the audience.
- The worst governor Virginia EVER had, by far.

If you don't know who I'm referring to, just associate any of the candidates to any of the categories, you'll probably find a fit there somewhere.

The only decent one in the group seems to be Ron Paul.

Answer 4

Gore doesn't understand the directions to his own bathroom let alone the differences between a republic vs. a democracy. Since we have the chimp and he has tried every crooked and illegal way there is to remove nearly every basic right we have guaranteed to us by the US Constitution, we do not need another @sshole as a temporary tenant of the White House!

Answer 5

Is it just when Al Gore says that or is it everyone who says it that offends you? Didn't the G. man say he was "bringing (sic) democracy to Iraq?" Don't all politicians misuse that term simply because it sounds better or is easier? I have rarely heard a politician refer to any nation as a republic even though there is not a single democracy in the world.

Answer 6

At least Gore has not invaded any countries to bring them 'democracy'. I guess that is where Bush's plan went wrong, huh?

Answer 7

At least the guy can talk, so you telling me you voted for a doofus like Bush? Or a cretin like Nader?

Answer 8

I'm not sure he is bright enough to understand the difference, but he IS con man enough to LIE about it if he does!

Answer 9

He doesn't see why DDT would save the third world from Malaria either.

Answer 10

No. But then again, most people ( regardless of politics ) don't understand that. The trick is, though, if liberals say it enough, it will be a truth. That is their nod to Huxley.