Al Gore on our mind...

Posted: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:31 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Democrats

From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
It's been a while since we've heard Al Gore buzz. Expect more to come in the next six weeks as the Nobel prize campaign wraps up (the winner is announced on October 12). If Gore wins it, watch for buzz to explode again.

An Oscar, a Nobel prize, why not filing papers too?

What has piqued our interest in Gore is a new article in Vanity Fair -- written by the daughter of Gore friend Marty Peretz -- which notes the critical press coverage Gore received during his 2000 campaign. "Eight years ago, in the bastions of the 'liberal media' that were supposed to love Gore—The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, CNN—he was variously described as 'repellent,' 'delusional,' a vote-rigger, a man who 'lies like a rug,' 'Pinocchio.' Eric Pooley, who covered him for Time magazine, says, 'He brought out the creative-writing student in so many reporters... Everybody kind of let loose on the guy.'"

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Comments

Go Al go! It will certainly piss off the right wingers, like when Jimmy Carter won it.

AOwaytogoOhio (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:42 PM)

'he was variously described 'repellent,' 'delusional,' a vote-rigger, a man who 'lies like a rug,' 'Pinocchio.'

This all seems fair !!
Remember they're describing 'Lyin' Al Gore' !!
Does anyone remember Al Gore 'inventing the internet' ?
Does anyone remember Al Gore being the model for 'Love Story' ?
Does anyone remember all those, new 'high paying' jobs that Al said NAFTA would bring us ?

If Al Gore is nominated for the Nobel Prize (for creative lying ?), he'll be up there with Tookie Williams and Benito Mussolini !!

Go ! Al Go !!
(away)

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:43 PM)

I'll take Al over any of the midgets in the other Party!

Lefty (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 3:57 PM)

Maybe this is just sad but it’s probably reality, if you can’t win an election to be president you probably are not qualified to be president. Love him or hate him Al Gore had his turn and he lost. This doesn’t make him a bad person in fact losing the election the way he did most likely make him a better person.

In the end though the Democrats have a completely different sort of problem, they have many very qualified candidates who have been able to generate enough financial support to wage a competitive election. If there were a republican version of Al Gore out there who could jump in and generate much needed enthusiasm (and cash), the who story might make sense.

Ralph Mexico, NY (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:05 PM)

Sierra, go lie down. The heat is getting to you.

Of course, Al Gore is dishonest and repellant - he's a politician. But for a politican, he is also intelligent, precient, amazingly committed to a cause greater than getting elected, and someone who will leave this life better than he found it. He was also, in my opinion, the candidate we elected President in 2000.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:12 PM)

Sierra - Nope. Al Gore never said he invented the internet. He never said he was the model for Love Story. He never said he "started it all" with Love Canal. Even the earth tones' canard is pure bs. Check out http://mediamatters.org/items/200703090004 and http://mediamatters.org/items/200708110001.

Roger, Oakland CA (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:22 PM)

Al Gore had the problem in 2000 of being linked to a problem that shouldn't have been there -- Starr's investigation of Clinton's private life. Gore is a good man and one I would vote for again if he was running.

Let's face it people, that we should want a president who looks, acts and is actually smart. Yes, it is nice to have a president that has lots of good advisors, but there is no subsititue for know what is going on yourself as my father correctly believes. There seems to be the question as to who really sets the policy in the Bush-Cheney administration. The president should be doing that, and Al Gore would have if there wasn't the problem in Florida.

S. B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:25 PM)

Sierra, can you read? Every example you cited has been debunked, time and again.

I remember Vinton Cerf and Newt Gingrich giving Al credit for making the Internet what it is today.

I don't remember the "Love Story" controversy, since it is a bunch of meaningless crap.

I do remember that Al was right about Iraq before the invasion and had the guts to say so publicly.

I do hope he runs (and wins) again, so that jingoistic sychophants like you have something to whine about, you wretched nematode!

MF, Chicago (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:26 PM)

"Al Gore on our mind..."

if al gore is on your mind, I would suggest an immediate cat scan

MK,MO (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:27 PM)

Ralph - He wouldn't be the first person who lost a bid for the presidency and then won in a subsequent election. I'm sure there are others, but the only one coming to mind right now is Nixon.

Carrie, Eastern Iowa (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:42 PM)

Anyone who expects Gore to run is insane and naive. Take the dude at his word.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

mpp (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:44 PM)

Sierra,

Go read the article in Vanity Fair and you'll realize that the very things that you are pointing out are the very fabrications that were created by the media. For serious. It's documented. Don't perpetuate untruths.

Now if you want to talk about lying, we could talk about the last 7 years. The amount of lying that has been generated by the people who were supposedly going to restore honesty and integrity to the White House is astronomical.

I say, RUN AL RUN. We need someone of your caliber. There is no one else qualified in either party in my mind

Dan, Bangor Maine (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 4:55 PM)

If I am Al Gore I would decline receiving the Nobel Prize. It is an award that lost any credibility after it was given to Arafat, a terrorist.

Olimpia Aneiros, Boca Raton, FL (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 5:00 PM)

Actually, Al Gore didn't lose in 2000. BushCo. usurped the presidency.

Why can't the wingnuts get the story right?

Vicki Stein, Grand Rapids, MI (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 5:01 PM)

Mssrs. Todd, Murry, Montanaro, et al:

As is NEWSWEEK, you folks are trying way, Way, WAY too hard to MAKE an "interesting" race regarding the '08 Democratic presidential primaries. While I appreciate honest commentary, your attempts to "create" a race or races by suggesting they might be more close and interesting than they really are, are more than a tad palpable and becoming qute obvious.

Please just "report" and present straight-forward commentary rather than trying to create stories and interests upon which you can report.

Stu Hyvonen, Saginaw, MI (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 5:03 PM)

Al Gore can bring something to the table that the other candidates are not able. New industry. For years, Gore has traveled the globe speaking of Global Warming. The boys in Silicon Valley know that a Gore presidency brings interest and financing to renewable resources and stem cell research. This country is in desperate need of jobs. Our manufacturing jobs have been outsourced. New industry means new jobs. The employees in these new jobs will spend money which will stimulate the economy and create more jobs. This is why regardless if he enters or not, I will cast my vote for Gore. I decided I will no longer choose between the "lesser of two evils" or "who I would want to drink beer with". I am casting my vote for the one I WANT to lead my country forward. Al Gore.

Gabrielle, Tampa, FL (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 5:08 PM)

Gore was right about Iraq?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JE48XHKG64

Dave, Tn (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 5:36 PM)

Are there people who still believe Gore claimed to invent the internet? He only said he was the first one to support legislation promoting the internet which was completely true. The media, infatuated with frat boy Bush, took that information, twisted it into something completely ridiculous and everyone pretty much swallowed it along with various other lies that have all since been debunked.

The fact is, Gore's foresight regarding the internet, the Iraq war and Global Warming is so on target it's scary. Unfortunately too many of us discarded intellect and wisdom as presidential qualities and instead chose someone we could picture having a beer with. That was one damn expensive beer.

AP from IL (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 5:42 PM)

Just being in the media spotlight, esp. as a candidate for the presidency, magnifies a man's attributes out of proportion. Al Gore is so bright and competent, I just want to tear my hair out when I remember how that ignorant heir to the arms manufacturing/oil industry rigged the vote in Florida. I would vote for Al over anyone, in a heartbeat. He doesn't have to be perfect, just be competent and have his heart in the right place.

S.P. Wiliams, Lakewood, CO (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:04 PM)

The You Tube video is from 1992. In the video, he is describing how the Reagan/Bush administrations were ignoring Iraq's threat. If you recall, both Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell told us that Sadaam Hussain was "contained" prior to the invasion. So I guess Iraq became "contained" between the years of 1992-2001. Gore was the VP during these years. If you want to read Gore's speech of 2002, you will see, yes indeed, Al Gore was correct on the invasion and occupation of Iraq we are currently engaged.

Gabrielle,Tampa,FL (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:26 PM)

Just think, if the people (outside of washington) who know Algore best, his former constituents in Tennessee, had voted for him, he'd be president. Interesting, n'est-ce pas?

I don't see any groundswell for this animatron to run though.

Bruce, NV (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:38 PM)

Sorry, Roger, Oakland; MF, Chi; Dan, Bamgor....
Al Gore IS A PATHOLOGICAL LIAR !!
He debated Ross Perot about NAFTA and was so full of lies, it's not at all funny.
That boy can't tell the truth !!
I HEARD HIM SAY HE HELPED DEVELOP THE INTERNET !!
Nit pick all you want, HE LIED !!
A saw the Demo Presidential contenders debate with Bill Bradley in 2000 !!
He flat out lied about Bradley not supporting intervention in Bosnia !!
That's Lyin' Al Gore, a pathological liar !!

Can any of you three show me those 'high paying jobs' Al claimed that NAFTA would bring us ?

Al was a founding member of the DLC along with Bill Clinton, Joe Liebermann, 'Scoop' Jackson, and a whole list of villians !!
They were the pro-Vietnam war crowd that lead the Democrats into the wilderness and started us catering to corporate interests !!

Sorry, I don't feel one bit sorry for Al.
Had he been elected, we'd be at war in Iraq AND IRAN !!
Karl Rove earned his 'get into heaven free' card by preventing Joe Liebermann from becoming VP.
Joe Liebermann would have been a WORSE VP than Dick Cheney !!

Why did Al Gore run 'away' from Bill Clinton in 2000 ?

Any answers ??

Sierra, SF (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:43 PM)

Al Gore in 2000 was being punished for being Bill Clinton's VP. The right hated Clinton and spent years and millions trying to prove anything, and got infidelity. Clinton is/was slippery, Gore is not, and so he took the hits.
The Bushie's have no substantive message and honed winning by every sleazy trick ever used. They are basically just bullies. Politics has always been a dirty game but it's plummeted to new lows in the last six years.
I would love Al Gore to run again. It now appears unlikely but it would be fantastic to vote for him again and if he won, over the moon.

K. N., Honolulu, HI (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:48 PM)

AP from IL: How big his prescient Al's carbon footprint? Is he still flying around in a private jet? Al's manmade global warming scam is just that--a scam.

You know what the problem with DEM politicians is? By and large, they've never worked in the private sector; they're whole careers have been at the public teat and they don't understand real problems. When Algore gives up his 4 estates and private jets, and convinces china and India to cut their emissions, then maybe, maybe I'll consider making a change. In the meantime it's all shuck and jive.

Hummer Driving Daddy (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 6:56 PM)

He's not on my mind.

American Voter (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:10 PM)

Wolf Blitzer just said Gore will be endorsing a candidate - but not necessarily Hillary.
We all know he's smarter than that!

Jennifer, LA (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:39 PM)

Sierra SF is becoming unhinged. Predictable.

Hmmm. Amazing, how these wingnuts seem to fear Gore's popularity.

Gore beat the AWOL drunk buzzard in the popular vote in 2000, even with Nader stripping away some of it.

s. katz Boston, MA (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:41 PM)

Sierra: At the risk of being nitpicky: prove it. I've provided you with two links supporting my premise. Please do me the courtesy of doing your own investigations. If you heard him say something, point me to a transcript. Why should I give you any data about high paying jobs due to NAFTA when I don't even have a link demonstrating he said what you said he said?

You don't like Gore or his policies...fine. But you stuck your neck out with a claim. Back it up.

Roger, Oakland, CA (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:57 PM)

Vicki Stein, Grand Rapids,

## Actually, Al Gore didn't lose in 2000.

Strike one.

## BushCo. usurped the presidency.

Strike two!

## Why can't the wingnuts get the story right?

Strike THREE!!

Steve Palermo (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 7:59 PM)

>>> Wolf Blitzer just said Gore will be endorsing a candidate - but not necessarily Hillary.
We all know he's smarter than that! <<<

Well, if Wolf said so, then it must be true.

Al, smart man for not jumping on Hills Chinese funded richshaw.

He'll probably blow the deal by endorsing Kucinich.

Heather Miller (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 8:02 PM)

Al & Kucinich, wowza. Okay, that's it, I'm doing a novena for this. Amen.

Marjorie Drake Rosarito Beach, Baja CA. Norte, Mexico (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 10:09 PM)

Gore, if he ran, would likely become the only person to win the popular vote twice.

Blake, Somerville, MA (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 10:34 PM)

Least we forget, he won the popular vote in 2000. Probably could do it again. But he won't try.

Gordon Brown (Sent Tuesday, September 04, 2007 11:59 PM)

Al Gore and Love Story:

The Inspiration for Love Story

In 1997 Gore claimed to reporters that he and his wife, Tipper, were the inspiration behind the novel Love Story (Time, Dec. 15, 1997). In fact, the books author, Erich Segal, stated that he has no idea what Gore is talking about.

Al Gore and the Union Label Song:

The Union Song Lullaby

In September, Gore, boasting of his heritage of support for trade unions, claimed that the union song Look For The Union Label was sung to him as a lullaby when he was a child. In fact, the TV jingle came out in 1975 when Al Gore was 27 years old (Washington Times, Oct. 2-8, 2000). Gores staff tried to say that their man was actually referring to a 1901 union song, but Gore himself admitted that this was not the case and claimed that it was a joke!

Al Gore and the Iowa Old lady that had to collect cans to pay her prescription medicine:

Gore said an elderly woman in Des Moines, Iowa, Mrs. Skinner, has to collect empty cans along the highways seven days a week so she can pay for her prescription drug bills. Gore claimed this illustrates why the federal government must provide more money. In fact, CNSNews.com Executive Editor Scott Hogenson took the initiative to call Mrs. Skinner and found that the Gore portrayal is a lie. She made it clear that she's not interested in federal assistance. ahh, no, I don't want the taxpayers to pay for my medicine. I'm a proud person and I want to earn it and I want to do it on my own. I don't accept charity and I don't get food stamps. I qualify, but I don't get them because I don't want the taxpayers to support Mrs. Skinner's children are financially comfortable, but she won't accept any help from them.

Let Al run, we are running out of those weird stories he tells. Next story he will tell is of how he made a Vikini war boat all by himself and sailed to Oslo to accept the award.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:29 AM)

to all right wingers i would like to say, take away those callouses from your eyes and shake the hang over of 2000 elections. if you remember the elections were decided by the florida supreme court vote. and subsequently we have an incumbent who was on the job training in the white house.
al gore might have been a stiff, cold, intellectual but he had an inside track of what the country was going through in 2000. and could have been the president that could held the country on stable ground since then.
internet, NAFTA and the other issues pale in comparison to what we have right now, Iraq, global warming, stagnant economy, out-of-control budget deficit and a housing market debacle.
so, if ever al gore would run again, it would be a significant progress for the democrats. i just dont know if the clinton camp would embrace him because if they do, it would be a scary situation for the republicans.
so, to my republican friends please dont too harsh on al gore because he made a supreme sacrifice of conceding defeat rather than ripping this country apart just to satisfy a selfish ambition of becoming the president. he is a gentleman and stateman.

vince garcia, oakland, california (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 1:48 AM)

Why is Al Gore being put up for a Nobel prize? Good lord, even Richard Nixon had more class than this fool.

William, Little Rock, Ar. (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 3:47 AM)

Dick Cheney worked in the private sector and look at where that has gotten us. It has worked out well for the boys at Haliburton but not the US tax payer. GW Bush worked in the private sector and how many companies with which he was associated went bankrupt? To suggest that either of these men understand "real problems" is absurd. What is a real problem to Bush, not being able to choose between steak or lobster for dinner? The Republicans are a revolving door on private sector/public service. Shultz is now the head of Bectel. Condoleeza Rice was an executive with Chevron. All they ever gave us was war and debt.

I believe it was Aristotle who wrote that the elite must keep their slaves different from one another as to cause them to fight amoung themselves instead of overthrowing those in power. (paraphrase) Karl Rove took a page from Aristotle's book. As long as he has kept the citizenry fighting about race, religion, sexual preference, party affiliation and anthing else he could conjure, the citizenry has become more divided and less likely to do anything to reign in the power of an arrogant, elitest, lazy, spoiled, boy king.

Gabrielle (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 4:59 AM)

it's amazing they (the homo repuplican party) call Al Gore a liar. When there are many Gay republicans saying they are not gay. And let's not forget there was fraud in the last presidential elections by...Yes, you guess it by the Gay-republican party. And who can forget about that illigal president person, warming the presidential chair, who lied about not knowing, 9-11, or Katrina, or Iraq WMD, or about the civil war in Iraq, or loosing the war in Afganistant. Yeap, that's a true, liar, liar, liar. Worst president ever. President of the Gay party.

N F, ca (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 5:10 AM)

The Republicans are right---the sheep and the proles and the inbreds are scared and resentful of a president who may be smarter than they are (hence the nomination of people who can't spell tomato or speak the English language correctly. Gore may not have created the internet, but Bush created the internetS, the war, the deficit and an economy given soley to the rich and stolen from the rest. Run, Al, run!!

Class Warror, D.C. (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 7:32 AM)

AL GORE SHOULD NOT RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY! WHY SULLY YOUR REPUTATION, BY GIVING A HISTORY A COMPARISON TO A RELIGIOUSLY-MORONIC DRUNKARD, WHOSE STATED GOALS WERE TO RETURN AMERICA TO THE GUILDED AGE AND ERASE THE SOCIAL PROGRESS, AS WELL AS THE MIDDLE CLASS, SO THAT THE ARISTOS COULD RETURN TO THEIR PERCH ATOP THE PYRAMID, MAKING IT EASIER TO "TOUCH" THEIR "GOD ALMIGHTY"

THOMAS TYSKIEWICZ, FOREST HILLS, PA (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 7:32 AM)

there is zero chance al gore is running. the democratic electorate is too satisfied with their current slate and hrc is showing no holes.

will gibbs (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 7:47 AM)

sierra IS REALLY Jeryy folks. he cant decide if hes male or female. for real.

G (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 8:30 AM)

And I thought it took my man FRED a long time to announce. You Al-igators can't complain about the "Red truck Rising" from the Tennessee hills anymore if you continue to delude yourselves about the prep schooled, Cannes film festival-ed, little red hen peck, peck pecking in your slushy minds.

Bunny, Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 9:37 AM)

Before Al Gore decides to run again, he better spend some of his tobacco money and teach people in Florida how to punch a chad all the way thru.

jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 10:03 AM)

Gores campaign bumper sticker:

"Second is First Loser"

Cal Naughton Jr, Wild River NC (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 11:38 AM)

Your man, Fred, likes to ride in his limo to his little red truck, drive a couple of blocks to greet supporters, then drive back to his limo. Same thing Dennis Hastert did and was caught on camera...and you guys think Al is a phony? Even Richard Nixon called Fred Thompson an idiot. You better check out the group that good ole Fred belongs....supports the Nafta Superhighway, Real ID, North American Union, etc. If even Pat Buchanan warns you against Fred Thompson, you may want to take a second look.

Gabrielle, Tampa, FL (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:15 PM)

Right wingers will believe anything that props up their world view:

Al Gore never claimed he invented the internet, thought he was actually an important part in the process of turning Arpanet into the Internet

http://www.snopes.com/quotes/internet.asp

Gore and his roommate Tommy Lee Jones were indeed the models for the character Oliver Barrett in Love Story, though Gore's relationship with Tipper was not the basis for the story and Gore never said it was.

http://www.dailyhowler.com/h052500_1.shtml

Mark R, St. Louis MO (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:46 PM)

Jerry, be patient and read the whole thing (from http://www.dailyhowler.com/h120699_1.shtml):

"The Love Story nonsense began in late 1997—invented by a Maureen Dowd column—and in the aftermath of that piece, Melinda Henneberger wrote a lengthy story on the topic for the Sunday New York Times (12/14/97). No one has ever disputed the facts she reported; pundits have simply preferred to ignore them. But what Henneberger reported, two years ago, contradicts both the things Connolly still says.

"First question: Did Gore "inspire Love Story?" As part of her research, Henneberger interviewed Erich Segal, who had known Gore at Harvard while writing Love Story. And sorry, folks, we hate to upset you, but here's Henneberger, on what Segal said:

"HENNEBERGER: The character of the preppy Harvard hockey player Oliver Barrett 4th was modeled on both Mr. Gore and his college roommate, the actor Tommy Lee Jones.
According to Segal, Jones had been the model for the "macho athlete with the heart of a poet" part of the character, and Gore had been the model for the young college student with a highly accomplished father to live up to.

"So Gore had been a "model" for the part. Parsing pundits will doubtless note: none of this means that Gore "inspired" Love Story. But it also became clear in Henneberger's piece that Gore had made no such claim. Gore's meaningless remarks about Love Story had been made on a long, late-night plane ride, in a conversation with two respected reporters—Rick Berke of the New York Times, and Karen Tumulty of Time. Henneberger interviewed both reporters. Sorry, folks, we hate to disappoint you, but here's Tumulty's account of what Gore said:

"HENNEBERGER: "[Gore] said Segal had told some reporters in Tennessee that it was based on him and Tipper," Ms. Tumulty said. "He said all I know is that's what he told reporters in Tennessee."

"Berke agreed that Gore attributed the story to reporters in Tennessee. And sure enough, Segal confirmed that there had been such a story, in the Nashville Tennessean. Segal told Henneberger that the reporter "just exaggerated" a bit, playing "the local-hero angle;" for example, Segal said the reporter added Tipper Gore into the mix, though she had not been the model for Love Story's other lead character in the tale, Jenny Cavilleri."

Roger, Oakland, CA (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 12:54 PM)

Gabrielle---your socialist slip is showing...

Bunny, Winston-Salem, NC (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 2:19 PM)

AlGore has an ego that is bigger then he is, and that's saying something.

Tips Martin (Sent Wednesday, September 05, 2007 2:20 PM)

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