"Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world/Like a Colossus..." ~Shakespeare
Al Gore might not be the next Julius Caesar, but his influence over the Democratic Party at this point certainly parallels that of J.C. over the Roman Republic.
If Gore decides to run in 2008, Democratic voters have a counterbalance to their party's most visible current candidates: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards. More than any other candidate, Gore would remind the Democrats that they have "unfinished business" ... a reckoning with the Republicans after the Supreme Court decision Bush v. Gore gave the presidency to George W. Bush in 2000.
The Democratic debaters on Monday night realized this. Only Sen. Joe Biden responded to a two-person question sent from Murfreesboro in Gore's state of Tennessee.
"This here question's for all you candidates," the Volunteer State duo said. "Mainstream media seems awfully interested in old Al Gore these days. Is he losing weight? What's it say in his book? Is he still worried about all the ice? They interpret all these as signs that he may or may not run. They really want to know if Al Gore's going to run again. Yes. Well, what we want to know is does that hurt you-all's feelings?" (Biden said it hurt Tennesseans' feelings.)
Even if Gore does not run, he can relish in establishing an "electoral footprint" on the candidates. For they are sounding increasingly more liberal and less Republican-lite. Their comments reveal this. Clinton said that "we haven't really seriously addressed this incredibly important issue of global warming and energy efficiency."
Edwards told a different questioner that "We need to find fuels that are in fact renewable, clean, and will allow us to address directly the question that has been raised, which is the issue of global warming, which I believe is a crisis." And Obama's proposals ranged from exploring nuclear power to developing solar power to "drastically increasing fuel efficiency standards on cars."
Gore's heirs are sounding more faithful than Mark Antony ever did. Perhaps that sigh you just heard from Gore is one of contentment.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 6)
16. al gore is one great guy i should know my wife and i have picked up trash with him in tn. to help clean up rivers and streams when he was senator al gore
bobby perry at 4:11PM on Jul 25th 2007
17. C'mon Al......WE NEED YOU DUDE!!!!!!! You HAD IT before...you were ROBBED!!! I know it, you know it, the whole freakin' country knows it! RUN and HELP US!!!!!
Dorothy at 4:04PM on Jul 25th 2007
18. Gore/Obama in 2008 would be a history making ticket!!
Clinton could never serve under Gore - her ego would get in the way. She'd never be a trustworthy VP.
nemooka at 4:23PM on Jul 25th 2007
19. If ever there was a time for a green presidency this is it. The Country seems to be in tune with this issue. As a platform no one I know of has better credentials. Like ability, Experience and deniabality on the Iraq War. The time is now for Al Gore. Can you raise the money?
AJ at 4:24PM on Jul 25th 2007
20. gore/obama would finish us. the way we're going now we won't have a country in the next 20 years. we will be mexestates!
bud at 4:50PM on Jul 25th 2007
21. I think if Al Gore ran for president he would win hands down. I myself thought we needed him to run for the betterment of our planet. But, right now he is able to focus all his attention on enviromental issues, if he were to become president he would need to spend more of his time, time taken away from enviromental issues, on other world issues. I think Gore needs to stay right where he is, we just need a president that believes the same way and will support Gore in his efforts.
ptcline at 4:49PM on Jul 25th 2007
22. Al Gore, always the decent, introspective statesman, would most definitely be the country's choice. He already won the presidency, even before Bush DEMONstrated his arrogance, audacity and disrespect for his country and this country's citizens. Gore IS the peoples' choice, but I don't believe he thinks the Republican machine would ever allow his Presidential Office one moment's peace, or the breathing room to implement any of his agenda.
Just knowing Gore would win the election probably sounds just fine to him right now...without being "drawn and quartered", as he would be if he were to become the next Democratic President.
I so admire and respect Al Gore and believe he will win if he chooses to run, whether with Clinton, Obama or Edwards as a running-mate, although he could use the first 4 to six years spending good time grooming Obama for the 2016 election. By them Barak will be the perfect age for the president of the United States.
Karen Lee at 4:56PM on Jul 25th 2007
23. You've all got to be kidding about Gore being good for this country! He preaches "green," yet he lives like a king. If you look at Bush's ranch in Texas, you will find it to be more efficient and "green friendly," than Gore's personal home in Tennessee. He may be a nice guy, and he's on to what Ralph Nader has been preaching for years...awareness. If we all are responsible people, the earth will recover. Gore's efforts are commendable, but it took thousands of years for the earth to get to this place. It won't be changed in 10, and Gore and most of the people in congress, are on the bandwagon, not because they actually believe all of the hype, but because it sells fear, and democrats are huge on fear and herding. Gore makes my stomach roll.
Donna at 5:09PM on Jul 25th 2007
24. LET'S HAVE A GROUND SWELL FOR ALBERT GORE......WE NEED HIM IN 2008!!!
RALPH LIEBER at 5:32PM on Jul 25th 2007
25. I always thought the 1992 and 1996 ticket would have been better if it had been Gore/Clinton instead of Clinton/Gore.
Geoff at 5:33PM on Jul 25th 2007
26. Al Gore and Obama is the only dream ticket for 2008
with Clinton as Secretary of State.
Byron West at 6:03PM on Jul 25th 2007
27. I hope Gore runs and wins. He will give all the illagals de citizenship papers and let us vote for the Demo's every time guy. We will take our country back with his help. Viva Gore and Mexico
Poncho at 6:05PM on Jul 25th 2007
28. Gore should run. If he wins we all get everything free
Poncho at 6:13PM on Jul 25th 2007
29. We need someone who sincerely cares about this country and Al Gore has proven this in so many ways. We need Al Gore for our President.
lee dearden at 7:50PM on Jul 25th 2007
30. The funny thing is that Gore is not the "liberal" you all hope for. His wife campaigned against rap music in the 80's and forced record companies to put labels on music. That ain't liberal folks.
He's made a name by promoting global warming that in spite of what you've all heard isn't fact. It's a theory that Gore has used to prosper.
Gore would get absolutely crushed should he run and I for one wish he would so he would please just go away. And take Jimy Carter with you, Al!
Scott at 9:10PM on Jul 25th 2007