September 14, 2007

Things Are Looking Grim...

Hatched by Dafydd

...For my prediction that Hillary Clinton would never be the Democratic nominee. I was sure that as Edwards and Obama faltered, and Hillary started to pull away, the dynamic would induce this loony to throw his own head into the ring:



Rantin' Al Gore

Am I re-elected yet?

It seems that Rantin' Al Gore is resisting the siren call, at least so far. But I still don't understand why; this seems the perfect opening:

  • Gore has the biggest personal grievance of anyone in the race, since by now he has convinced himself (and about a quarter of the country) that he actually won the presidency in 2000 in a "landslide;"
  • Edwards seems tired and worn out, like yesterday's ambulance chaser;
  • Obama turns out to have feet of dullness;
  • Hillary is skating, nobody asking her any tough questions at all -- just as in the 2000 Senate race, where Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY, 95%) simply rolled over and ushered her in; or as in 2006, when the Clintonistas and the elite media formed a protective cordon around her to prevent anyone from poking around where he shouldn't be.

But the openings are there: Norman Hsu reopens all those questions about greenbacks from Red China -- though of course, Gore has his own problems in going there. Still, she has never really clarified what she plans to do in Iraq... withdraw -- but how many? How fast? Leaving how many in country? With what mission? And it was her husand (and herself, as "co-president") who signed the welfare-reform act that I suspect the new Al Gore despises. And what hand did she play in the 11th-hour pardons? (Oh, wait, another one that Gore must stay far away from.)

Anyway, consider this an open thread on the question: Why hasn't Albert Gore entered the presidential sweepstakes yet? Is the entire Democratic field so afraid of Hillary that she will slide by without serious competition yet again?

I'm resigned to losing this prediction; but by all the saints, I'll find out why I lost. Post your answers in the comments: Funny answers, sure, by all means; but also some serious explanations, please... inquiring minds want to know -- and so do I.

Hatched by Dafydd on this day, September 14, 2007, at the time of 4:10 AM

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Comments

The following hissed in response by: howardhughes

A possible answer to Dafydd's question " Why isn't Al Gore in the race?" Al gore like Fred Thompson recognizes the benefits of staying out as long as possible, collecting free media content while avoiding direct confrontation and attack by other candidates. This Presidential season is longer than ever. Democrats know this is a plus for them as it allows the media more time to promote their world view. Meanwhile a non candidate like Gore avoids commitments and mistakes while candidates get tarred with theirs. If Hillary makes a serious mistake or is challenged seriously by Edwards, Obama, for example, Gore could enter the race in November, about a month or so before the Florida primary, without having lost promotional media attention he gets from his Global Warming Scam and avoiding the sharp knives of his rivals.

The above hissed in response by: howardhughes [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 4:57 AM

The following hissed in response by: LarryD

Or Al Gore may prefer his new role as the Elmer Gantry of Global Warming.

The above hissed in response by: LarryD [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 6:15 AM

The following hissed in response by: nk

How could he reconcile "a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage" with global warming?

The above hissed in response by: nk [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 6:25 AM

The following hissed in response by: RunningRoach

Dafydd,

The way I see it, more and more people of two digit intelligence are beginning to see Big Al for the self inflated, over bloated, flaming idiot that he is. Being a serial loser, he has about as much a chance of being nominated as Dukakis or Kerry. Besides, he is at the kick off point of his carbon credit scam and will put too much ($) at risk by taking the time to run a one issue campaign that, based on manmade global warming, will be shredded by emerging scientific findings along with common sense, and overwhelmed by the Clinton machine and the Iraq debate. I think that his next greatest contribution should be to invent something useful ...ah like a fusion reactor fueled by sea water to fulfill our power needs into the next millennium.

He is too big an ass or asset to the world to be wasted on merely being POTUS

The above hissed in response by: RunningRoach [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 6:26 AM

The following hissed in response by: Stephen Macklin

I think al Gore is more afraid of Hillary than he is of melting glaciers. Whatever dirt there is on him from his days as Slick Willie's VP - she has has it.

Right now he has a good thing going. Hanging with celebrities, traveling the world. Hillary would destroy that 10 minutes after he entered the race.


As for the Democrats letting her skate unchallenged and unquestioned to the nomination, that's just fine. As long as the Republican's don't let her skate into the White House.

The above hissed in response by: Stephen Macklin [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 6:27 AM

The following hissed in response by: snochasr

I think too many people assume that Al Gore is making some intelligent decision to stay out of the race. I don't believe that. First of all, because Al is a liberal, and intelligent decisions are not their strong suit. I think it far more likely, as a previous poster noted, that Al Gore has taken his vows as the High Priest of the New Church of Global Warming, er, ah Climate Change. He's committed. Or should be.

The above hissed in response by: snochasr [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 7:16 AM

The following hissed in response by: FredTownWard

Three Words:

Fort Marcy Park

People who get between the Clintons and the fulfillment of their ambitions are statistically above the national average for shooting themselves in the back of the head.

The above hissed in response by: FredTownWard [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 7:39 AM

The following hissed in response by: levi from queens

I hope she gets the nomination. Saddam Hussein told the Baathist terrorists that their goal was for a Democrat 2008 candidate to be an opponent of the war. Hillary is the only viable candidate who is not. I am really more afraid that the Hsu scandals or something else will prevent her nomination.

The above hissed in response by: levi from queens [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 7:52 AM

The following hissed in response by: yetanotherjohn

This raises the question smarter dogs ask themselves, "What do we do if we catch the car?"

Since Al Gore has defined himself as mister global warming, what could he realistically do about global warming if he was president? Now compare the sanctimonious satisfaction he can enjoy jetting around (private jet naturally) scolding everyone about global warming. Sorry, its just not worth it to him.

The above hissed in response by: yetanotherjohn [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 8:39 AM

The following hissed in response by: Big D

It is like asking why the president doesn't step down and run for governor of Texas.

Because global green guru currently outranks the U.S. President. Makes more money. Has more influence, certainly has less responsibility, and certainly has more fun.

The above hissed in response by: Big D [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 8:40 AM

The following hissed in response by: Karl Gallagher

He may be looking at the problems facing the next Prez (Iraq, budget, bitterly divided congress, impending social security/etc bankruptcy) and deciding the job's not as much fun as he once thought it would be. It's better to be outside the tent pissing in.

The above hissed in response by: Karl Gallagher [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 12:24 PM

The following hissed in response by: krkrjak

I've gotta throw in with Stephen M, I think he's nailed it. I believe short of something REALLY scandalous to emerge about Hill that would blow her out of the race she'll get the nomination. She's way the hell up there in popularity with the rank and file Dem's, and I think there is an underlying desire among that base to have Bill returned to the White House...WILL THE REAL PRESIDENT PLEASE STAND UP... I've yet to hear that scenario discussed but I think it's a forgone conclusion that were it not for term limits Mr. Bill could still be the POTUS.

The above hissed in response by: krkrjak [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 8:57 PM

The following hissed in response by: hunter

It is very unlikely that the early front runner lasts to be the nominee. She does not live in a static chamber. She lives in a very dynamic situation, with many variables around her.
Few of those variables bode her well. BTW, it is a popular myth that Bill was ever so popular. As brilliant and charismatic as he tells us he is, he never won a clear majority of the vote, even against Bob Dole.

The above hissed in response by: hunter [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 14, 2007 10:02 PM

The following hissed in response by: Fritz

I wonder if the reason Gore doesn't get in the race is fear. Look at it this way. If he jumps in the race and loses either the primary or the general election he gains nothing and loses prestige. Then, even if he won both, there is still having to deal with the problems associated with being president and he knows he has no solutions for them that have a chance of being passed unless the Democrats get a huge majority in Congress, again putting him in a position to lose prestige. However, if he sticks with being the global warming guru he has prestige amongst certain elements. So he is looking at a lose, lose, lose situation against a proven winner from his perspective. And before writing this off, think about the fact that he did not manage to win when he had a lot of things going for him, such a s a long run of economic growth which was just peaking while he was running. Much like the boxer who gets badly beaten, he knows he can lose and why take the risk when he can enjoy popularity in his new role. Also, if he jumped in he would have to defend some of the things he has said about global warming and even he knows some of what he has said has been proven wrong. So I think he may have decided the risk is not worth the reward. As it now is he can run around and say things which he doesn't have to prove, whereas if he runs he will be challenged on some of them.

His last problem would be where would he position himself to win the primary. He can't go to the right of Hillary and still win the nomination, but if he goes left of her he can't win the general election and even he knows that. So he is faced with having to stake out much of Hillary's positions and then trying to beat her in a popularity contest, one he likely would lose. In the end, there are too many risks without enough chance of winning any rewards and I think he fears the loss of prestige that losing would bring.

The above hissed in response by: Fritz [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 15, 2007 9:33 AM

The following hissed in response by: ras

Gore lives for his ego and he's already got a better ego-stroking gig w/his global warming shtick.

Full Bonus: in contrast to the presidency, the less he delivers, the more they praise him.

The above hissed in response by: ras [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 16, 2007 3:53 PM

The following hissed in response by: MTF

Gore has no money, while Hillary has more than anyone else in the race, the various states are racing each other for the honor of hosting the earliest primary, which means the race will be finished early and money means everything, and Gore has made no effort to even discuss political issues beyond Global Worming, so he'd have a long hill to climb in writing position papers and getting them publicized. Too much homework, too little moolah and too few demands he enter the race. Plus, someone has already occupied "outsiderdom" in the Democrat universe, Obama, so there isn't even a place for Gore to start from in a race even if he wanted to enter.

Unless the NYT is willing to do a serious hit piece on Hillary, maybe by connecting the dots on Hsu, Berger and the return of all the old Clinton scandals, the Democrat elite won't understand they need an "old war horse" champion. It's all in the hands of the Sulzbergers.

The above hissed in response by: MTF [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 17, 2007 8:13 AM

The following hissed in response by: DaveR

Good answers above, but here is a better question.

Why are the Dems looking like they are going with another loser candidate? Not that I'm complaining, but Hilly's negatives are very big. I wonder why the Dems aren't begging Al to jump in?

Hey, maybe he's waiting to be begged? The ego thing again.

The above hissed in response by: DaveR [TypeKey Profile Page] at September 17, 2007 1:28 PM

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