September 9, 2007

The Gore Endorsement - The Non-Story

Will Al Gore's endorsement bring a boost to whomever he blesses, or will it represent the kiss of death to its victim? The Washington Post analyzes its potential and comes up with little more than a shrug:

Former vice president Al Gore's pronouncement that he is likely to endorse one of the Democratic candidates for president before the primary season is over has set off a slew of speculation about who his choice might be.

Truth is, the courting of the "Goreacle" began many months ago. Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) and Gore huddled in Nashville in December, and Gore has also met with former senator John Edwards (N.C.). Gore and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (Conn.) conferred as recently as last week. ...

It seems safe to predict that Gore will not be endorsing the bid of the senator from New York. A more open question might be whether he would throw his support to Obama -- the only candidate in the top-tier who, like Gore, opposed the war in Iraq from the start -- or another surging contender at a critical moment to try to derail Hillary Clinton's quest for the nomination.

Chris Cillizza and Shailagh Murray don't want to reach a conclusion, so let me help them. Gore's endorsement will mean absolutely nothing in the primaries, and for one very clear reason -- no one will beat Hillary Clinton for the nomination except Hillary Clinton. As the pair write, Gore will have nothing to do with Hillary, thanks to the falling out between the Clintons and the Gores in the 2000 race, and an endorsement of any other candidate would only have an effect if Hillary withdrew from contention ... and that's as likely as snow in Orange County during my West Coast trip.

Besides, who would Gore endorse? The only candidate with even an outside shot at derailing Hillary would be Gore himself, and that's still long odds. Barack Obama might have looked promising in April and May, but he's shot himself in the lip more than once since then. Even if Obama got the Gore nod, exactly which voters would it convince to switch from Hillary? For John Edwards, it might mean moving voters from Obama to his column, but it just changes the #2 and #3 positions without affecting the front-runner at all.

He's not going to endorse Chris Dodd or Joe Biden. Neither of those men have a prayer of finishing in the top three, and Gore won't waste his breath on them. Even if he did, he'd look silly and out of touch with the party -- and again, his endorsement wouldn't move the needle.

It's not as if Gore's endorsement did Howard Dean much good. After stabbing Joe Lieberman, his former running mate, in the back by endorsing Dean without so much as a phone call to warn Lieberman, Howard Dean flamed out three weeks later in Iowa. Gore doesn't have a great track record for loyalty or political insight with his endorsements, making them both ineffectual and somewhat undesirable.

Who will Gore endorse? A better question to ask is who would consider it an issue?

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Comments (32)

Posted by John Wilson | September 9, 2007 10:25 AM

This is the best assessment of Algore that I've read in a long time. Could you pop his econut bubble next, please?

Posted by vet66 | September 9, 2007 10:33 AM

The photo of Gore's private jet on the tarmac with attached limo service says it all: do as I say, not as I do.

Gore is out of touch with reality and America. He lives in a world of his own that any smart politician would abjure. Global warming to Gore will be as damaging as $400 dollar haircuts are to Edwards. The problem with these people is that they want the rest of us to give up whatever good life we have for the sake of the cause du jour. The Brahmins, on the other hand, want power and are willing to give up nothing. They do nothing for their credibility.

Posted by Keemo | September 9, 2007 10:39 AM

Al Gore will be destroyed tonight on Hannity's America...

The truth about Al Gore will set us free...

Good take vet66; nails the situation perfectly.

Posted by docjim505 | September 9, 2007 10:52 AM

Keemo,

I don't think so. Gore's been living a life of conspicuous consumption since he was born. But he CARES! That's all the libs will see. Showing a pic of him getting off a private jet and getting into a gas-guzzling limo will make no difference to the average lib. Remember how the story about his huge energy bill was treated? People who take Gore seriously will continue to do so no matter what he does. He could strip mine a rainforest and it would be the same.

Posted by Bennett | September 9, 2007 11:09 AM

I agree who cares about Al Gore's endorsement? I'm waiting to see which candidate Mike Dukakis goes with.

Something I will always wonder: was Al Gore always this cartoonish or is it just the byproduct of his crushing loss in the 2000 election? That was he near normal until then and has just never fully recovered. Or...who we see now is who he has always been.

I've never thought endorsements mattered much anyway, other politicians, the newspapers, etc. They really don't count except the ones that come with money (like the unions).

Posted by kingronjo | September 9, 2007 11:31 AM

Al WHO?

Posted by unclesmrgol | September 9, 2007 11:48 AM

kingronjo,

Oh, come now!

Hints:

a) Invented the internet
b) Invented mathematics
c) Headlines a famous band

Posted by skippystalin | September 9, 2007 11:48 AM

I disagree with your assessment of the impact of a Gore endorsement. The difference between now and 2004 is that no one was begging him to run in '04, which several Democrats are now. There is also the superficial, if still important matter of his Oscar.

Furthermore, there wasn't the digust with President Bush in '04 that there is now. The candidaes in both parties are going to be running against Bush if he numbers don't change very soon. That being said, Democrats are going to be paying particular attention to whatever the guy who beat Bush in the popular vote has to say.

There are wide segments of the party that horrified by the prospect of Hillary getting the nomination, and if Gore supports,say, Obama before Iowa, the Anybody But Clinton forces could coalesce around that.

Sure, it's a long shot, but it is within the realm of possibility.

As much as Al Gore makes my skin crawl, I think that it's a mistake to overlook the influence he could potentially have in this campaign.

Posted by Carol Herman | September 9, 2007 11:51 AM

You know what I'm waiting for? HAND SIGNALS!

Seems hand signals developed among those without a hearing handicap. Developed in places called "John's." Did you ever wonder why men go to the bathroom?

I thought: To go to the bathroom. (And, I remember my kid, when we were out shopping; pulling on himself, and crossing his legs; to give his mom the "non-verbals" of "gotta go, fast."

Today?

Well, what's happened to good old fashioned language? And, then I figured it out.

Ya know, if a normal man goes to use a public toilet, and was accosted by a man "looking for a quick date," I think the words would set off fireworks.

Hence, a system of hand signals developed.

Why not put them to good use, here? My middle finger goes up to "salute" Albore, the sore loser, every time I see his name mentioned in print.

If affirmative action hires can't be tossed out by the voters, coming in 2008; then they're using super-glues to stay attached to their seats. Or? Lawyers.

Posted by viking01 | September 9, 2007 12:03 PM

In related, yet opposite, news my dog "endorsed" a tree this morning.

Posted by Scott Malensek | September 9, 2007 12:51 PM

I missed the text of Gore's endorsement. Was it the one that blamed all the world's woes on "major corporations" and "neocons"?

No wait...that was Ron Paul's debate comments right?
Or was it Kucinich's interview with the Syrian reporter after meeting with Syrian dictator Assad?
Maybe I'm thinking of someone else

Dean?
Kos?
DU?

No...Aw shucks, I can't remember which nutjob was blaming everything on "major corporations" and "neocons." It sure sounds like Gore, but it coulda been any of the like-minded loons I guess.

;p

Posted by Carole | September 9, 2007 12:53 PM

I am getting tired of the assumption that only
Hillary can win the nomination.

If the conservatives think like this, what are
you telling the world? No-one is better than
Hillary or are there enough stupid people in
America who would vote for her?

Everyone knows her and her husband's history
in graft, lies, and all the women he hurt,
so why would she be elected? She enabled him
for many years with his behavior and what
does this tell us about her?

Do conservatives ever fight back? Ever?

As for Al Gore, he is a spoiled, rich, still
a child, man. Everything he does is done by the
fact he has the money and time to do it and
even then he cannot win. The oscar was a set-
up, just as his book was, as for running
for the nominataion. Think about it? Would it
help or hurt Hillary will be the only question
asked and if it will, do you think they would
let him run?

Posted by Carol Herman | September 9, 2007 1:28 PM

BRAVO! Viking01

But I wouldn't call it an endorsement; unless fire shot out of his ass.

Ditto, for "the man who invented the internet, and forgot to invest in the patent."

Posted by unclesmrgol | September 9, 2007 1:31 PM

We enter the fabled land of Gordor. It's a land of blight and bleakness. A land where optimism, no matter how true, has no place. As we are hiking down the road, we notice that the air is hot, still, and suffocating. In a moment, we see the reason. On the horizon, parked across the road, there sits a gigantic flying machine, belching smoke, parked next to a dark black wagon. Standing next to these behemoths is the man who is obviously their owner.

As we approach and the scene becomes clearer, we notice that man's visage radiates a subtle vileness -- a sneering smile cuts across the man's face, and his eye's seem to radiate spears which cut right through us. I grip my walking staff more tightly, suddenly afraid...

We turn to try to escape, but we are suddenly pinned in place as if held by a gigantic network of webbing. The man walks forward; as he approaches the temperature seems to rise and all moisture is driven from the air. His penetrating glare softens as he notices the "I voted" stickers on our collars, the symbols of our own powers.

"Welcome to Gordor. Care to rideshare?" he says, "I have many extra seats, each costing only $4,600 per use..."

Posted by Carol Herman | September 9, 2007 1:53 PM

What does the future hold for gore's reputation?

He lost his own state, Tennessee, in 2000.

Okay. And, idiots in Palm Beach, Florida, confused by butterfly ballots; managed to vote for Pat Buchanan. How sinister is that? The morons and their man. MET.

Then, if you go back in our history, you'd find that somewhere in the late 1800's; there was a similar "schtick" parlayed by Floriduh. In da' Big House. Where the votes got twisted. Tilden, who may have "won," didn't get the electoral college votes. Hayes got em.

Hayes was a 4 year non-entity; president.

While Tilden went home and got none.

Algore, on the other hand, was sure the lawyers could crown him with the American award. Well, they failed.

And, he's been a sore loser ever since.

Yes, he spread the Bush Derangement Syndrome disease. But he actually did more than that. He went and ripped up 200 years of accords ...

Um. Adjust that. The senators in congress went nuts in the 1840's. Didn't see what was coming. And, we did have a "rift."

But this time, the "rifters" don't carry guns.

They remind me, instead, of the small percentage of men who prefer hand signals in men's toilets. Where they can find someone nice to play with their peckers.

Then, the lawyers came out and said "this sign language doesn't exist."

Well, if the "not deaf, but hand-signalling crowd" gets left to having to use verbals ... (Since the hand-signals, ahead, will also be recognized vor what they are) ... We may hear sounds for the Johns, where there's some head dunking in flushing toilet bowls going on.

You think I'm kidding?

The Bonkeys are too stupid to know that they have problems with their talent. Just as hollywood does.

Can't sell the crappy movies, either.

And, yes. Algore does suck the oxygen out of rooms.

But he's leaving a trail, where in the future, some kid's gonna point out ... just like a kid did to tell the emperor about his new clothes ...

That sore loser status is not the best rep to have. When ya want to win public support.

So, Al. Bring it on. I fart in your general direction.

Posted by MarkT | September 9, 2007 1:57 PM

> Barack Obama might have looked promising in April
> and May, but he's shot himself in the lip more
> than once since then.

Only from the viewpoint of the far right (i.e. most of the people here).

I don't mean this as an insult - I think extremists on both sides believe the opposing party's candidates are incompetent.

Posted by Carol Herman | September 9, 2007 2:09 PM

Mark T. You're welcome to your views. But I once did vote for democrats. My parents tuned in when Adeli Stevenson, spoke. His candidacy (against Ike), was something we were proud of. Even though Ike won two races. Where Stevenson came in second, in both.

I also know Eugene McCarthy had a terrific sense of humor. (They said, after his run, that it just proves you can't laugh your way into the White House.)

Ah. But I do have a comedy album he made with Mort Sahl.

And, of course, all that comedy that used to appear on TV. Some very bright, and funny people, had no trouble talking up democrats. It was the republicans, then, who appeared stiff.

Sure. Flux happens. But once Ronald Reagan won, there were some pretty big changes in the political world. That's now being challenged by ordinary folk. Who have computers. And, they can visit sites, just like these, and pepper back comments; into a world that was once owned by punditry.

How big a change is that? Similar to what happened to the Catholic Church, way back when Martin Luther thought you didn't need a priest to help ya read your Bible.

That's a very big change.

Now, we're at the cusp of a new one.

As to Barak Obama, what can I say? It's not funny enough to double-over in laughter. On the other hand? He's probably perfect for the affirmative action crowd. They got used to their perks.

Now? It's just a question if Americans, in 2008, prefer to sleep through election day, rather than go out voting in droves.

Me? I ain't placing any bets.

Posted by Otter | September 9, 2007 2:17 PM

MarkT~ I very much Doubt most of those here are 'far right,' and Yes I DO believe you meant that as an insult / slur.

In any case: 'suddenly pinned in place as if held by a gigantic network of webbing'

unclesmrgol, that was Perfect. Best laugh in the whole yarn.

Posted by MarkT | September 9, 2007 3:13 PM

> Posted by Otter | September 9, 2007 2:17 PM
> MarkT~ I very much Doubt most of those here
> are 'far right,'

Have you been reading this blog for very long? I enjoy the Captain's opinions, but many of the commenters are far to his right.

Posted by Jason | September 9, 2007 4:27 PM

@ MarkT

"Only from the viewpoint of the far right (i.e. most of the people here)."

I see, so when Obama advocated invading Pakistan, it was only "far right" that viewed this as insane?

Please do get over yourself you preening jackass.

Posted by richard mcenroe | September 9, 2007 4:42 PM

The hell with Al Gore. Who are McGovern and Tom Hayden endorsing?

Posted by Old Mike | September 9, 2007 4:49 PM

Barak seems like a nice young man to me, well educated and intellegent. His problem is that he has no walking around sense. He's the kind who always gets hit in a bar fight while he's still talking.

Posted by MarkT | September 9, 2007 5:17 PM

> Posted by Jason | September 9, 2007 4:27 PM
> Please do get over yourself you preening jackass.

Nice.

Posted by SonnyJim | September 9, 2007 5:30 PM

Al Gore endorsed Howard Dean. That worked out well.

Posted by Carol Herman | September 9, 2007 6:12 PM

Well, Osama sure presents a world of contradictions.

Where, today, he got Oprah to throw him a fund raiser. And, yes. It tied up Santa Barbara traffic.

So you see a billionnairess, who sez "she never had any reason to get excited about an American politician, before Osama came along."

And, ya gotta wonder? What's Osama's claim to fame? Could it be his skin?

Are we now purposely looking for "skin color" as a qualification?

Ya know, I must be missing something. Because Oprah became a billionnairess; but now, for her, it's the first time she's actually excited "to be an American."

And, the Bonkeys are overboard, on this one.

You bet, the affirmative action crowd got this far.

There's no way 2008 is gonna mend anything. Because there's no way these people (whom I'm referring to "as these people") will ever establish contacts with the mainbstream.

Especially those elites who are extremely rich. They're not gonna be interested; after the results are in. Of doing much you haven't already seen done, before.

Yes, I know.

Once we used to have elections; and it didn't matter what party the president was from. Americans got behind the guy who was elected to serve in the White House.

Well, at least Europeans are clamboring up the right. They're not voting like they use'ta.

Heck, there's even movements afoot to demand English. WHile the Bonkeys, per Drudge's headline, now. Are going to have debates carried by Spanish TV.

Only in America.

Posted by Carol Herman | September 9, 2007 6:14 PM

Make of it what you will, but Algore wasn't invited to Oprah's love fest fund raiser for Obama. Not hollywood enough?

Posted by the fly-man | September 9, 2007 7:24 PM

At least Gore will have a reasonable choice to endorse.

Posted by richard mcenroe | September 9, 2007 7:54 PM

How can anyone deny Al Gore is a Very Serious Fellow?

Posted by niccolo | September 10, 2007 3:21 AM

So what does all this say about Al Gore?

He flunked out of divinity school, scotching his plans to create a megachurch. AlGorean Global Man-Caused warming is his last desperate chance.

The evidence against:

The citrus line has moved 600 miles south in the last 50 years. That's the line north of which you can't grow citrus due to frost problems. The wheat line in Alberta and Saskatchewan have moved similarly.

The Arctic Ice runs on a 30-year cycle from melting in summer at the edges to melting at the middle, and back again. The Canadian authorities say this is going on normally, and the polar bears are doing just fine, having hard times on the western coast, thriving on the eastern coast.

-------------

But what's the use explaining any of this to the AlGoreans who might be reading?

They'll only deny it.

The fundamental truth is we're fleas on the elephant's back. The planet is going to do what it's going to do. John Gribben predicted it many years ago: another Ice Age. We're 1200 years overdue.

Maybe we've staved it off for a while.

Posted by bob | September 10, 2007 3:35 AM

Personally I think Gore aligns most closely with Kucinich, maybe thats who he will endorse.

Posted by davod | September 10, 2007 4:45 AM

The only way to stop the Goremeister and his Gorebots is with satire.

Imagine a cartoon (I would show you the cartoon only I am no artist) with a grass hut at the bottom of a hill. Outside the hut is a woman, surrounded by her young children (not wearing diapers), waiting for her solar oven to finish cooking a meal. Meanwhile, on the hill, there is the Gorebots mansion with limos and SUVs parked outside. A keyhole picture of the kitchen shows the staff cooking up a banquet. The title of the cartoon - Global warming - You (underlined) need to change.

Posted by Jay Vee | September 10, 2007 2:25 PM

8 paragraphs on a "Non-Story" ??

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