Gore: Still hasn't endorsed anyone (AP Photo/Jennifer Graylock)
The return of Al Gore
What happenedBarack Obama said on Wednesday that, if elected president, he would offer former vice president Al Gore a Cabinet position, or even a higher post, in the administration. Obama said Gore, who has won a Nobel Prize for his environmental advocacy, would help shape an Obama administration’s policies on global warming. “Al Gore will be at the table,” Obama said, “and play a central part in us figuring out how we solve this problem." (Reuters)
What the commentators said
Does this mean that Gore is about to burst back into presidential politics? said Mike Dorning in The Swamp blog via the Baltimore Sun. Maybe. “The only position higher than a Cabinet post is vice president,” so Obama “seemed to dangle” the possibility of an Obama-Gore ticket in front of voters as he tries to muster enough support to win the Democratic nomination over Hillary Clinton. But Gore hasn’t even endorsed one of the candidates yet.
Maybe that’s because it’s not the vice presidency he’s after, said Steve Gill in the Nashville, Tenn., City Paper. Columnists, including Joe Klein of Time, have noted that Gore could “provide the Democrats a winning exit strategy from the protracted Obama-Clinton primary battle” by swooping in as a compromise nominee in a deadlocked convention. He could have swiftly “put the 'Al Gore scenario' to rest" by simply making it clear he has absolutely no interest in the Presidency in 2008”—instead he’s “sitting back,” slowly raising his profile with proclamations on global warming. “The longer this plays out, the better things look for Gore.”
This race is messy enough without injecting “fantasy candidates” into the picture, said Paul Beston in City Journal. It’s understandable that Democrats want someone to rescue them from their “bitter primary battle,” and Gore has achieved “near regal stature” among progressives thanks to his Nobel, his documentary An Inconvenient Truth, and his 2000 electoral martyrdom. “Yet the idea of Gore’s becoming the nominee isn’t just implausible; it’s ill-advised”—you don’t return to politics after the “infamous Florida recount” by becoming the nominee without winning a single vote.
So, what’s Gore’s “game”? said Dick Morris in RealClearPolitics. He’s probably “keeping his powder dry” by not endorsing anyone before the primaries end in June, so that he can act as “an honest broker” and persuade the superdelegates to rally behind the Democrat who wins the popular vote. He won’t end up in the Oval Office, but he’ll win his party’s eternal gratitude for being the one who prevented a “civil war.”
Comment on this article
Recent comments | 2 total
For My Birthday Al Gore AND Tipper Will Be Invited To Dinner And I mean that in all seriousness. No lie. As a matter of fact, I will give Mr. Gore and Tipper advance notice so there is no scheduling difficulties. I’m sure Mr. Gore will jump at the chance, because I have worked so hard and passionately on his behalf and his mission. I’ve gathered signatures. I’ve handed out fliers at various events and movie premieres. I had a party and handed out florescent light bulbs. And I’ve held visibility events holding a banner I made with my own two hands. So surely he and Tipper will come, because I have actually walked the talk, not just called him for advice. Mr. and Mrs. Gore, the date is July 28. I hope this advance notice will be sufficient time and I leave the restaurant choice up to you. If Mr. and Mrs. Gore are unable to make it, I guess I can understand their position and schedule does not allow them this opportunity. And surely it would be rude of me to continue insisting they attend. And I guess it would be equally in poor taste if I were to continue using Al Gore and Tippers name to promote my Birthday party even if I knew there was no chance in them attending. Do you think? So why cannot Mr. Obama learn from his previous lessons of doing anything possible to associate himself with Al Gore, with hopes that might garner him some more votes? Really, we know he kept releasing press that he calls Al Gore regularly for advice on Global Warming. First it was every 3 weeks, then it became every 2 weeks. But Mr. Gore just held an interview this past weekend on 60 Minutes with Leslie Stahl, where Mr. Gore was asked about contact with the presidential candidates and he replied that he speaks with BOTH candidates. So I guess he couldn’t continue that method of association. If only Mr. Obama would heed Mr. Gore’s many suggestions and advice on Global Warming, as opposed to name dropping. You know, like Liquid Coal is REALLY BAD for the environment and would add so much more CO2. Or maybe his call for a moratorium on Coal Fired Power Plants. Also, he could increase conservation and require higher CAFÉ standards, you know, like even Hillary Clinton is calling for increases to 55 mpg. Maybe Mr. Obama might join the other recommendation that Hillary also did of Mr. Gore’s recommendation to offer a Connie Mae for mortgaging GREEN Building technology in homes. But if anything, maybe Mr. Obama would just acknowledge Mr. Gore’s own words on the subject and stop his continuing efforts to make people think he would get the Nobel Laureate and Environmental Crusader to align with him. The last time Mr. Obama threw Mr. Gore’s name out as a position in his administration, Mr. Gore was asked that question specifically and stated THEN, the only way he would return to politics, is as President. But he added: \"You know, I haven\'t ruled out the idea of getting back into the political process at some point in the future. Don\'t expect to, but if I did get back, it would be as a candidate for president, not in any other position.\" So, isn’t this a bit rude to continue propagating a falsehood when the Vice President has already addressed this numerous times? It becomes a bit embarrassing to keep repeating a tale that has as much chance as adding Albert Einstein to his science department. Maybe David Axelrod didn’t tell Obama when he reused the same words in his latest comments and press release.
So, now, we might have three decent candidates instead of two: Obama, Gore and McCain.
digg del.icio.us stumbleUpon newsvine reddit furl