Oh, what might have been…

May 15, 2006

In the third week in February, speculation about [tag]Al Gore[/tag]’s future picked up considerably with high-profile columns from Roger J. Stone Jr. and Dick Morris. In the third week in March, a cover story for The American Prospect renewed talk about another [tag]presidential[/tag] [tag]campaign[/tag] for Gore. The third week in April, it was once again the hot topic of conversation.

And at the start of the third week in May, [tag]Gore[/tag] is once again on the political world’s mind, thanks to a very funny [tag]appearance[/tag] on [tag]Saturday Night Live[/tag].

As the make-believe presidency of The West Wing came to a conclusion, Americans got a taste of another alternative political reality when Al Gore appeared on the comedy show Saturday Night Live to address the nation as “President Gore”.

Basing his sketch on the premise that he had emerged triumphant, instead of defeated, from the presidential election acrimony in Florida in 2000, Mr Gore appeared in a mocked-up Oval Office and assumed a grave expression.

After six years of his presidency, the country faced many problems, he admitted: the gigantic budget surplus was “down to a perilously low $11 trillion”, while the US was so popular worldwide “that American tourists can’t go to Europe any more without getting hugged”.

If you haven’t seen it, this is one of those must-watch clips. You Tube has the [tag]video[/tag], as does C&L.

Moreover, Andrew Sullivan and Josh Marshall are talking up the possibility of another Gore campaign.

On a related note, the latest Newsweek poll asked Americans whether they had a positive or negative impression of several leading Democrats. Gore had the second highest favorable rating (49%, trailing Hillary Clinton’s 53%), but also had the second highest unfavorable rating (43%, behind Ted Kennedy’s 45%).

I get the feeling Gore’s growing popularity among the activists, bloggers, and the netroots has not yet spilled over into the general public. At least, that is, not yet.

May 15, 2006 at 9:30 am

I haven’t checked in with the right wing blogs yet, but I’m pretty sure they will use the SNL routine to pound him over the head for claiming he would have prevented 9/11. It’s not like these guys can take a joke. And, of course, the MSM will spin it as more Gore lying. He may well have blown his foot to smithereens

I assumed he had written off elective politics forever before he decided to do his post-election SNL hot tub skit – which the R’s would surely use to show he is an immoral libertine.

That said, if the real, unhandled Gore were allowed to re-introduce himself to the masses, I suspect they may warm to him like the blogosphere has.

The general public is a hard nut to crack. They’re over-worked, one-third crazy with superstitious beliefs, TV-drugged, etc. Those capable of rational thought have much to worry about in their private lives: medical care for their parents or themselves, how they’re going to meet the advancing adjustable rate mortgages they were forced to take, how to pay the bill at pump now that they’re stuck with an SUV, whether an all-fast-food diet and 64 oz. sodas is the best they can do for the kids, priestly pederasty, college tuition, etc.

Unfortunately, about the time it will take the GOP’s miserable record to penetrate the glazed-over brain pans of the general public, Bush/Cheney will be whipping up yet a third war (Iran) for which it is already sending an additional two carriers. Whether this trick will work the third time remains to be seen.

Gore’s appearance on SNL was well worth watching. It proved, once again, the man has a genuine sense of humor (and irony). His major orations over the last year outstrip any other candidate in “gravitas” and anger – a difficult combo to effect. Gore’s my choice provided he drops his DC handlers (“consultants”). I think the country is now ready for his “green” message. Edwards as his sidekick would provide another tradtional Democratic theme (long forgotten): the working class (i.e., anyone who makes less than a million).

Let’s see if his film has a positive impact on his appeal to the general public. True, most might not get to see it, or choose not to if they can, but word of mouth alone might have an effect. Especially if he does promotion on Oprah. the View, Regis/whoever, Judge Judy, and Jerry Springer — in addition to serious shows.

Because of the religious idiot that gore has married -remember tiiiipppppeeeyyyy looking for the devil in Ozzie’s songs, please DO remember that at least- the best Al can/should hope for is become the VP for Dean …

Rolandc, I don’t see how you can say that Tipper’s religiousness is a liability. You do know the current President is an evangelical Christian, right?

Ed – I totally agree with your assessment of the general public. I see it everyday with some of my friends and neighbors. They are oblivious to all but their immediate surroundings. If there is one thing the W presiduncey has influenced, it is that more and more Americans are living in bubbles where unwanted information is unable to penetrate.

Where the hell was this Al Gore in 2000? Proof political consultants need to be banned in this country.

Considering the wingnuts who post here only do it when you say “Bill Clinton” or “Al Gore” (see CB’s Saturday post comparing Bill to Dubya), I can expect a few dozen rants here by lunchtime.
It’s like Pavlov’s dog. Show how much Bush and the GOP are destroying our country, nothing. Say “Clinton”, and the keyboards are on fire.
Just an observation.

Ed–I agree with you completely but I’d put Wes Clark in as VP and you’ve totally defanged the soft ’60s Dems argument of the Rethugs. You’ve got to show the somnolent masses who can be scared into the voting booth that you’ve got more to offer in security than a World War II on Poverty. Wes is a fighting Dem who doesn’t take crap from anyone. Then good to go.

2Manchu–absolutely right too. Everyone take a look at who’s been dropping by. Separate posters even paste in the SAME drivel from nutjob sources. Can’t they read? These folks are programmed to go off when the words Clinton or Gore are spoken. It’s like having someone fart on cue in your livingroom.

Among Democrats, I would love to see polling that indicates which potential candidates would be “the most viable” and “the least viable” for 2008. I consider Al Gore among the most viable, and while Hillary Clinton has her appeal (and detractions), she, in my opinion, is among the least viable. Note: Define “viable” as most likely to win.

CB, perhaps this could be put up as the “Sunday Discussion Issue” sometime.

I think Al Gore would make an excellent president, and he’s my personal choice. I also think he has the best chance of winning at this point. I don’t think the public is yet aware how Hillary has so utterly sold out the progressive image that she once cultivated. I think she’s toast when they wake up – if they do. But the Republicans will wake them up if no one else does and she gets the nomination. They’ll smear and Swiftboat her into the river before she gets started. She’s the biggest flip-flopper of all, next to McCain, as she panders to the red staters.

I’m also amazed that Gore is now in second place, not far behind Hillary. Think what could happen if he starts to campaign for the office.

Let’s see what the Republicans do about his film. That should be very interesting.

I agree with hark. Hillary is a loser by every measure. A do-nothing Senator who continues to sell out progressive values. I think people (the MSM in particular) will be surprised at how poorly she’d do in the primaries. Gore can remind us of what was good about the Clinton era and perhaps he’s learned how to fight since the last time he won the Presidency.

Frak hoped that

Gore can remind us of what was good about the Clinton era and perhaps he’s learned how to fight since the last time he won the Presidency.

Of course, the two parts of that sentence — that need to be read in reverse order — are critically related. Gore lost the last fight because, in a move that can only be explained by his head being firmly inserted in his ass, refused to “remind us of what was good about the Clinton era.” A first-year poli sci student would have run on “8 years of peace and prosperity – why stop now?” and “Are you better off today than when the last Bush left office?” Instead, Gore ran the “Bill who? Never met him.” campaign and cost us 8 years of the Worst. President. Ever.

Yeah, I’m still a little bitter at Al. But that’s nothing – dont get me started on Naderites.

I’m still bitter about that too, Zeitgeist, and for exactly the same reason. This could be a chance for a do-over. Too late, yes. But now the beknighted voters can really see the contrast. Make lemonade out of 8 years of sh*t.

53% for Hillary and people still think she can’t win? Why not? I’ve heard precious little about that.

Gore, well, let’s hope he actually does run. Currently he doesn’t intend to and we keep waiting for him to say otherwise.

“I’m pretty sure they will use the SNL routine to pound him over the head for claiming he would have prevented 9/11.” – Martin

General Michael V. Hayden claims he could have prevented 9/11 if he had his new spying programs in place. Which kinds of ignores the fact that:
1) he had the intercepts and could have prevented 9/11 by translating them,
2) he would have had to give the tips from his programs to the FBI, and they would have ignored them like they did the warnings coming from their own agents.

The Justice Department claimed in the 20th Highjacker trial (sorry, forgot his name, as we all should) that if the wantabe terrorist had just told the FBI about the 9/11 plot they could have upped the FAA’s security procedures and stopped the plot. Again, this implies some sort of competence somewhere.

Gore, on the other hand, would have done the following:
1) Kept Richard Clark as a member of the Principals meeting,
2) Paid attention to the Presidential Daily Briefing, rather than going off to Crawford on vacation when the country needed him.

And of course, Gore and Clinton proved they were ADULTS by stopping the Millenium plot.

Let the Republicanites scoff at Gore’s assertions. They are far more valid than Bush’s et al.

Lance replied:
And of course, Gore and Clinton proved they were ADULTS by stopping the Millenium plot.
Let the Republicanites scoff at Gore’s assertions. They are far more valid than Bush’s et al.

Gore was/is always better on the facts, but that didn’t save him the first time around. Do you think it will next time?

Both Gore and Hillary currently have negatives in the 40s. That’s not good.

Gore had a bunch of major, major advantages in 2000 – a good economy, an undefined opponent, etc…..and he proceeded to blow what should have been a 2,3,4 point win.

I trust Al Gore with almost anything…..except a political campaign.

Run, Al, run.

Remember when – before this entire country went down a rabbit hole of corruption, lies, death, and neglect – remember when one of the biggest knocks on Gore was that he was boring? As if that were a bad thing for a president?

We could from petulant to competent. From vapid figurehead to serious statesman.

Goddam, wouldn’t that be great?

If he does run, someone will need to make hard copies of everything that Bob Somerby has written about the media’s War on Gore and confront those people with their idiocies.

Re: #16

Compare the differences between 2000 and 2008. I think a lot of the commenters here optimistically hope that 2008 would be a repeat election of 2000, with the sole exception of eight years of hindsight in Gore’s favor. I have no idea how realistic of a prediction this is. For one, the country has definitely become a lot more polarized, with a lot more Republicans saying they will never, ever vote for a Democrat. Most of my GF’s co-workers are conservatives, and last weekend she mentioned that one of the few she thought were liberal told her he voted for Bush because he couldn’t vote for Kerry. He considered it voting for the “evil you know”. I couldn’t help but think in response, “So if it was an election between Satan and Kerry, he would have voted for Satan?”

I don’t get it either, but that sort of thing just seems to be more pronounced. That and the number of bumper stickers. Even two years later, people seem to prefer to retain their “W ’04” and “Yes on 36” (gay marriage ban) bumper stickers, or maybe I’m just living in a more rabidly conservative part of town this time around.

Rian, what I find scarier than people who have left their W 04 stickers on are the seemingly even newer “W – Still My President” stickers.

Ewwww.

Don’t forget, Gore ran in 1988, and ran poorly. And then, after 8 years as VP, couldn’t run a good race in 2000. I don’t wanna gamble on whether he’s “learned” yet. If he couldn’t learn the press and national campaigns and big-picture message in the intervening years between 88 and 2000……

The internet traffics in hope in Presidential campaigns.

Yes, tragically, Gore did walk away from the Clinton record for silly reasons in 2000 when we were a happy and bloated surplus nation worrying about moral values. How quaint in retrospect. I don’t know if he could win with our weird electorate in 2008 but let’s not forget that he DID WIN in 2000–won the popular vote and had the Supremes and the Rethugs steal the election from him in Florida. If we are ever to have a Dem president again, we have to make sure our elections are not selections and are fair. If anything, Diebold is on the march. What are we doing to insure fair elections? Not much, unfortunately.

Gore’s working a great strategy. Stuff like the SNL skit chip away at the negative image of stiffness that was such a concern in 2000. He’s creating a buzz at a time when no one else really is and his new movie will show he’s the smarter one without saying “I told you so” when he has every right to say it.

The Repubs are now facing what Gore faced in ’00: the’ll have to distance themselves from the Bush fiasco and reinforce who they are not while Gore won’t be in anyone’s shadow and can say who he is.

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