Al Gore Catch-22
May 23rd, 2007 by ROBERT STEIN
In today’s New York Times, Maureen Dowd says “leading Republicans and Bush insiders think a Gore-Obama ticket would be unbeatable.†But there is a catch.
If the former Vice-President had been the way he is today-—outspoken, self-confident, at times a bit confrontational–he might have won the 2000 election by an indisputable margin.
But today’s Al Gore isn’t running for President. If he decided to go for it next year, would he revert to the wonky version of 2000?
That question is raised by the mega-attention of the past week–a cover story in Time, reviews of his new book, “The Assault on Reason,†and endless press about how he has “fallen out of love with politics.â€
“Free to Be Al Gore†is the theme of an E. J. Dionne column in yesterday’s Washington Post: “It’s entertaining to talk to Gore these days because he’s so clearly enjoying himself…(H)e did not speak as if there were focus-grouped sentences dancing around in his head. Nor did he worry about saying things that some consultant would fret about for weeks afterward.â€
Pick a point of view about the New Gore, and the New York Times has it. Today Dowd says, “He is so fixed on not seeming like a presidential flirt that he risks coming across as a bit of a righteous tease.â€
In the Times’ Sunday Magazine, James Traub concludes Gore has attained “prophetic status†by “acting as he could not, or would not, as a candidate–saying precisely what he believes, and saying it with clarity, passion, intellectual mastery and even, sometimes, wit.â€
A Times review of “The Assault on Reason†says it “shows a fiery, throw-caution-to-the winds Al Gore, who, whether or not he runs for the White House again, has decided to lay it all on the line with a blistering assessment of the Bush administration and the state of public discourse in America at this ‘fateful juncture’ in history.â€
In Time Magazine, Gore sums himself up: “There’s no question I’m freed up. I don’t want to suggest that it’s impossible to be free and authentic within the political process, but it’s obviously harder. Another person might be better at it than I was…Obama is rising because he is talking about politics in a way that feels fresh to people …
I came through all of that and I guess I changed. And now it is easier for me to just let it fly. It’s like they say: What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
In politics, as in singles bars, hard-to-get can be sexy–up to a point. Over the coming months, Gore will be forced to resolve his ambivalence.
If he goes for it, he will have to give up overeating just as Obama has stopped smoking. As a team, they might be inspiring in more ways than one.
Cross posted on my own blog.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007 at 8:00 am and is filed under Barack Obama, Media, Al Gore, George W. Bush, Democrats, Politics, 2008 Elections, Books. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:27 am
Gore had his chance - its time for others to step up.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:37 am
There’s no law that says he can’t try again- look at Nixon and Reagan- both ran several times before eventually winning. But Gore’s problem has always been that he’s a better policymaker than politician- he hates campaigning but likes to work out policy details. Also, I’m sure he does not want to go up against the Clinton behemoth. Still, I hope he does run, because he genuinely cares more about the country and the environment than power for its own sake.
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:45 am
Sorry to disappoint you, kritter………..
But on “Good Morning America,” Gore told ABC’s Diane Sawyer that a presidential run isn’t on his radar.
“I’m not a candidate,” he said. “I’m not pondering it, I’m not focused on that… I’m focused on how to solve the climate crisis and in order to solve the climate crisis I’m convinced we will have to fix the cracks in the foundation of democracy.”
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/Politics/story?id=3195443&page=1
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:49 am
He may actually mean it. People are so used to politicians saying one thing and saying another. But what if he truly feels liberated from all of the expected verbal ballets that people who run for public office are expected to perform. How many politicians really get to say what they feel? I’m maybe one of the few who takes Gore at his word (but then I have been known to be dumb before, as many readers of this site remind me in emails…)
May 23rd, 2007 at 8:50 am
Well, I saw him on LKL, and he wouldn’t rule it out either. I actually think that if Hillary weren’t running, he would get in in a heartbeat. It would be awkward to go against the Clintons and he knows the primary fight might be a killer.
Yes, his first concern is the environment, but his book was written in the recognition that he can’t get anywhere because of the political environment. That to me, indicates he still is thinking about it, because he knows as president he could have the power to make some of the changes he’s convinced are necessary. Until then, he’s just another head of jsut another interest group.
May 23rd, 2007 at 1:50 pm
It’s been almost 20 years since Gore first ran for President. Not sure how that relates to now, but thought I’d mention it.
I think Gore gets in if both Edwards and Obama falter somewhat but Hillary is not clearly in command. Maybe Wesley Clark talks him into running with Clark’s visible support, or maybe even Obama does–I believe almost all his support would transfer fairly seamlessly to Gore.
Gore doesn’t have to want to run yet. I think he’ll want a fresh wind to his back, and it’s hardly out of the question that such could occur.
May 23rd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
Robert: an honor to have you on board sir. Question: do you happen to be related to Gertrude Stein?