Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall January 24, 2007 11:57 PM

Talking Points Memo: by Joshua Micah Marshall January 24, 2007 11:57 PM:

"So we've had a number of emails from TPM Readers asking about the post below on John Kerry and second chances. 'But in modern presidential politics (say, going back a hundred years almost) you don't get a second chance and probably shouldn't,' I wrote.

A number of you have pointed out that Richard Nixon lost the general election in 1960 and won it in 1968. Adlai Stevenson lost consecutively in 1952 and 1956, both times against President Eisenhower. And others note that many presidential aspirants have run and lost and run again and sometimes even won. Take Ronald Reagan for instance. And then finally there's the implicit question of Al Gore. Can he run again? In 2008 or after? Or is it over for him too?"

So what 's your opinion? Are there second chances in Politics? Or is it one strike and you are out? It seems to me that our country was founded on the principle of second chances. Unfortunately, in politics, as well as in many other areas of life, second chances are not an option. Too bad.