Al Gore along with the UN climate change panelwon the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Certainly the country would have been better with Gore in the White House following the 2000 election, but I think that for him personally, he did a lot better for himself as a private citizen. I have similar thoughts with the flurry of “Will he run for President, now???” articles. Sure, I think he’d do a good job as President, but why would he want to? He’s wealthy, well-liked, and respected now. Even more, he seems to be enjoying what he does.
I would like to think that perhaps even more important than his wealth and stature is his internal sense of how effective he could be as a politician again. In his statements made since leaving office (and certainly in his film), Gore has questioned the ability of the U.S. Congress and Presidency to do much good for the country, at least when it comes to living out the reasons he got into politics in the first place. I’m not sure how he could reconcile his disillusionment with another jump into the madness of a presidential run.
Chris
I find it strange that Professor Lonnie G. Thompson, of Ohio State University, School of Earth Sciences & Byrd Polar Research Center didn’t receive 1/4 Nobel Prize with Mr. Gore. According to the Nobel Website 1/2 the Nobel Peace Prize went to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and it was split with Mr. Al Gore. I think it would be only right that Mr. Gore should split 1/2 his prize with Professor Thompson.
If one didn’t fall asleep in Mr. Gore’s movie, one would know Mr. Gore received a majority of the Scientific Date and Information for his movie from Professor Lonnie G. Thompson, a man who has spent more time above 18,000 feet than any other person on Earth, according to Rolling Stone Magazine. Can someone tell me why the Nobel Foundation didn’t recognize Glaciologist Professor Lonnie G. Thompson and why he didn’t receive 1/4 award, if Mr. Gore presented his Scientific Date / Information in his film?
Well Doug, I’ll give ya this, One out of three ain’t bad, he IS wealthy.
It’s hard for Gore to earn the respect of people who think Bush is ok. Gore can’t sink to the necessary level of ineptitude.
He’s generally respected, if not revered, by many accomplished people such as the talented folks at Apple, Google, etc. A lot of people in trailer parks don’t think too much of him, though. Too smarty-pants for the “my kid beat up your honor student” set.
Professor Thompson was my Earth Sciences instructor when I attended Ohio State University from 1986-1989. He is also featured in a recent Smithsonian Magazine article- I dont have the exact date, but I’m sure its on google.
On first glance, and the ridicule XVP gore has been dished from the right-wing neanderthals ; “Al Gore wins Nobel Prize” soundes like a supermarket tabloid headline.
note: I think al gore is far more intelligent than he has been given credit for. I guess the lone voice crying out in the wilderness is eventually heard.
Congratulations Al! and Thanks Dr. Thompson for putting true credibility to the global warming story. (aka “A real-life Indiana Jones”) as I respectfully used to refer to him as.
*
Now all we have to worry about is the “Angel of Death” Comet/Asteroid that will destroy us all in 2012 (google the year 2012).
have Masson prepare your will today! (giggle)
Fascinating insight T. I wouldn’t have thought the less financially fortunate among us (trailer park folk, as you describe) were big time Republicans. I always thought that segment of society (poor folks) were primarily a stable of the Democrats, but you say the Goracle supporters are now the Ueber-rich and tech-savvy elite? Wow, who’d a thunk it?
By the way, in r/e his grades at Harvard:
http://www.insidepolitics.org/heard/heard32300.html
Not exactly exemplary.
Wow–college grades! Well, never mind what’s happened since then. Clearly Bush is a better *decision maker* than Gore–just look at their grades in the 1960’s.
OK–trailer parks in the South, let’s say. And the South seems to start at the Ohio River. The tech-savvy people especially in the two example I gave tend to be pro-Gore. At least that’s what they say in interviews.