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Inconvenient Candidate? Gore Wins Nobel Prize
This morning, former Vice President and 2000 Democratic Presidential nominee Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on climate change. Gore will share the award with the United Nations Panel on Climate Change. The Nobel Committee said that Al Gore was the, "[S]ingle individual" responsible for convincing world government's that climate change was real, caused by human activity, and posed a threat to society.Anticipating his award (there were 180 other nominees), American cable news shows were abuzz Thursday with speculation about a possible revival of Al Gore the presidential candidate.
Yesterday, a Draft Al Gore committee placed a full-page ad in the New York Times claiming to have signatures of more than 100,000 would-be voters in favor of a Gore campaign. In Michigan, supporters are desperately circulating legal petitions to meet the requisite 12,000 signatures to place Al Gore on the Primary ballot (which would also require his signature on an affidavit). And with all of the chaos in the calendar, the New Hampshire deadline for getting on the ballot was pushed back to November 2nd.
But is all of this swirl, speculation, and verbosity heralding a real change in the dynamics of the 2008 contest? According to those close to Al Gore, he is not running. The Washington Post got this response from Gore confidant Carter Eskew:
His mind is trained on solving the global climate crisis; it really is. He's much more likely to view a possible Nobel through that prism than through a campaign for president." Michael Feldman, another Gore adviser, said a Nobel likely would help advance the cause of dealing with climate change more than it will prompt Gore to look seriously at running. "There's a lot of things swirling around but he is basically in the same place," Feldman said in an email. "He is not planning a campaign and continues to spend as much discretionary time as he can trying to solve the climate crisis."Yet, the speculation is fun. And this Gore talk is a more substantive discussion than lisps, flag lapel pins or hem-lines, even though it appears to be quickly headed to the same silly file.
It was instructive, however, to watch Hillary Clinton not answer a question from MSNBC's Keith Olbermann Thursday night. Asked, "How would you feel about Al Gore running for President?" Clinton's dodge was:
"I think we've got great candidates running. We have a wonderful field. We don't have to be against anybody. All you have to do is to find who you're for. And I'm just going to keep doing the best job I can to earn the support of as many voters as I can reach."Given the legal requirements for launching a campaign, the Gore season for demurring on a campaign will be short-lived.
With two national polls now showing Hillary Clinton over 50%, all of this Gore talk is demoralizing to the Edwards and Obama efforts. Clearly, Gore is seen by some as a more viable alternative to Clinton.
It is well known that the Gores and Clintons lack warmth for one another. This also causes speculation that Gore will endorse a candidate and make an impact. Could be. And more than likely he will endorse. And it might even have some impact (candidate endorsements seldom deliver on their sizzle).
But if Gore's mission focus really is climate change and he's now obtained international senior statesman status as conferred by both the Nobel Committee and the Academy in Hollywood, why cheapen his brand with political theatrics? If his endorsed candidate looses, his political stock (such that it is) drops. If he endorses a front-runner, he's simply an establishment shadow.
Being above the fray allows Gore to be a strategic arbiter if the Party finds itself embroiled at a convention or in a future situation of intra-Party nonsense.
Recent Comments
(Page 1 of 58)Dr. Lee10:27AMOct 12th 2007
gore is getting paid way more with his climate change and not being under the Gun, if president...Its all about the money for him...He is out for himself .....
carmen10:28AMOct 12th 2007
i AM VERY GLAD THAT MR GORE WON THE AWARD, I FOR ONE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AROUND THE WORLD WITH GLOBAL WARMING, SINCE SEEING HIS VIDEO AND HEARING HIM SPEAK SO KNOWLEDGABLY I HAVE SO MUCH INFORMATION IN WHICH TO SPEAK TO OTHERS ABOUT THE SITUATION GOING ON AROUND US... THANK YOU MR GORE FOR THAT BEAUTIFULLY PUT TOGETHER VIDEO!
John T. Fogarty10:36AMOct 12th 2007
Mr. Gore's views on the weather, whether cold or hot, doesn't merit a Nobel Prize; historical opinions upon mini-iceage weather and its effect on French aristocrats, in a time of famine and the consequent French Revolution, may inspire understanding, but an eye for obvious cause and effect, also, does not merit a Nobel Prize. After all, a prize can also be a gift of chance, rather than of achievement.
Lono10:46AMOct 12th 2007
Odd that Al Gore wins the Nobel Peace Price, when Pope John Paul II, who spent three decades crusading for actual peace in the world, was denied the award. This, in my opinion waters down the value of the Nobel awards
Lori Callies11:03AMOct 12th 2007
Hats off to Mr. Gore - imagine that - despite the disappointment of the elections he found the path his father found many years ago. His father - well - he couldn't be prouder -
It would seem there was a 'future' reason and purpose not foreseen during the 'disputed' presidential election - Mr. Gore needed to be elsewhere.
Is it a 'complete truth' in his film work - ? Totally irrelevant in the long run, but close enough to the truth to have become the 'success' it has.
And like 'Sicko', they do not become valid, if not complete truth, it begans a conversation and 'wake up' call to the world.
Al & Michael need to keep finding 'controversy' in matters of 'hidden' truths in where ever the 'truth' becomes apparent, even if briefly or laden with 'cover stories and excuses.'
Al Gore has my support in his new mission. It is a valid reason and a noble purpose.
Eleanor11:07AMOct 12th 2007
Al Gore is a man of integrity, intelligence, and cares a great deal for our Country! I think the big difference with him and the Clintons are morals - he doesn't do well when it comes to the "political games" or "pretending" go along with something he doesn't truly believe is right. To understand him better, take a close look at where his heart is....
MOOSE11:07AMOct 12th 2007
THE SUPREME COURT TOOK AWAY HIS PRESIDENCY, BUT EVEN "BRING EM ON BUSH" CAN'T TAKE AWAY THE PEACE PRIZE OR THE ACADEMY AWARD. GORE CAN SAY WITH PRIDE, "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"
Fritz11:13AMOct 12th 2007
Congratulation Al Gore, you won the award. You surely deserved it.
Please place yourself on the nomination list for president. WE NEED YOU more than ever !!
DHS11:13AMOct 12th 2007
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WAS AWARDED TO SOMEONE WHO WAS/IS PROMOTING PEACE--NOT A SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION SUCH AS GLOBAL WARMING.................
dick leeky11:20AMOct 12th 2007
Will Al Gore sell one of his three mansions to reduce his fat carbon footprint?
RWSP200411:21AMOct 12th 2007
This award once again illustrates what a joke the Nobel Peanut Prize has become.
Phil11:21AMOct 12th 2007
This farce already has the black prince and the evil queen so why not add the court jester?
Norm11:24AMOct 12th 2007
Good for AL...good for the world!
JB11:24AMOct 12th 2007
What are you left-wing tools going to do when Man-caused global warming is exposed as the socialist hoax that it so obviously is. I know - lie about it.
george11:24AMOct 12th 2007
Your kidding, right? All politicians lie and he is one of the worst " Do as I say, not as I do" guys in the world. He uses more energy in one week than my family uses in a month!
How easy it is to dupe liberals.
russ horton11:25AMOct 12th 2007
Run Forest Run
Matt Varden11:26AMOct 12th 2007
Gosh, I didnt know Sandy would be so mean to MoveOn.Com
Gwynne11:26AMOct 12th 2007
A travesty of a once proud and relevant Award. As it was predicted by Alfred Nobel himself, the awards have become politicized and thus yet another vainglorious outlet for those who would preen and strut their personal and political agendas in the name of 'Truth.'
Shame on that once illustrious group in Sweden. You have come back to Earth finally and reduced yourselves to manipulative chicanery in the name of politics.
That rumbling you hear is Nobel in his grave damning the lot of you to Hell and wishing the rest of us would wake up.
I mean, Al Gore for God's sake!!!
Embarrassing.
Fran Amos Cook11:26AMOct 12th 2007
CONGRATULATIONS MR. GORE. IF IT WASN'T FOR YOU, PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN THE GLOBAL WARMING PROBLEM SERIOUSLY. NOTE TO EVERYONE....DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHETHER MR. GORE SHOULD RUN.....BE THANKFUL HE IS DOING ALL HE CAN RE: GLOBAL WARMING.
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sandy10:25AMOct 12th 2007
I could tell it was Nobel Peace Prize time yesterday as soon as I turned on our local far right-wing-smear-machine-radio station w/ its ultra-conservative attack dog host ripping into Gore. I listened in amazement at 15min of Hate and remembered it's a tactic... How sad...These architects of our disastrous policy get and cling to power, not because of competence or success, but by lies and never-ending attacks from their heavily bankrolled "MOVEMENT."
By helping to publicize the growing climate change crisis, Gore has made the most powerful enemy of all in this cabal - the worst robber barons of our time - The Oil Lobby.
Thanks, Al, for your continuing service to our country and the planet.
And shame on Bush for your tax subsidies to oil, for allowing oil companies to write energy policy and for censoring climatologists who tried to give us the facts. Your failure to act on global warming may well have even worse consequences than your reckless foreign policy