Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize

Earlier this year, an Emmy and Oscar award, then a NYT's #1 bestseller, and now the Nobel Peace Prize. His statement:


I am deeply honored to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.  This award is even more meaningful because I have the honor of sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change--the world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis--a group whose members have worked tirelessly and selflessly for many years.  We face a true planetary emergency.  The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity.  It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.

My wife, Tipper, and I will donate 100 percent of the proceeds of the award to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan non-profit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion in the U.S. and around the world about the urgency of solving the climate crisis.

What's left for Al Gore to do is decide this year is if he wants to lead the way as President.

Update [2007-10-12 9:14:6 by Todd Beeton]: I thought the reasoning behind awarding the Nobel peace prize to Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was worth noting, since it eloquently expresses the nexus between the health of the planet and the peace in which the people who live on it exist. From NobelPrize.org:

...for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.

Indications of changes in the earth's future climate must be treated with the utmost seriousness, and with the precautionary principle uppermost in our minds. Extensive climate changes may alter and threaten the living conditions of much of mankind. They may induce large-scale migration and lead to greater competition for the earth's resources. Such changes will place particularly heavy burdens on the world's most vulnerable countries. There may be increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states.

And what about the elephant in the room, the question as to whether Gore will try to parlay this award into a presidential run? Don't bet on it. From The AP:

Two Gore advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to share his thinking, said the award will not make it more likely that he will seek the presidency. If anything, the Peace Prize makes the rough-and-tumble of a presidential race less appealing to Gore, they said, because now he has a huge, international platform to fight global warming and may not want to do anything to diminish it.

And from CNN:

A source involved in Gore's past political runs told CNN that he definitely has the ambition to use the peace prize as a springboard to run for president.

But he will not run, because he won't take on the political machine assembled by Sen. Hillary Clinton, said the source. If the senator from New York had faltered at all, Gore would take a serious look at entering the race, the source said. But Gore has calculated that Clinton is unstoppable, according to the source.

CNN and The Wall St. Journal have web polls asking people if they think Gore deserves the honor. The results are essentially inverses of each other, I'll give you one guess as to whose readers say Yea and whose say Nay.

Congratulations, Al!



Display:


We need to convince him (2.00 / 1)

If we want to see Gore get into the race, we need to take the message directly to him:

Announcing ForGore.com


Leftmost Bit
by Luigi Montanez on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 08:22:04 AM EST

Re: We need to convince him (none / 0)

If Gore gets into the race, I think John Kerry should also get in the race.  Kerry received more votes than any other democrat in history.


by allmiview on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 08:43:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: We need to convince him (none / 0)

Kerry is a good guy, but Gore is the one that would chart the right course for the country at this point, esp. so with Obama on his side.


Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers
by NeuvoLiberal on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:52:24 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Once (none / 0)

Gore joins the race I'd like to know what he thinks about residual troops in Iraq?

And what he thinks about the Iranian Revolutionary Guard?

I hope he joins the race soon!

Go Al Gore.


by Edgar08 on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 08:30:43 AM EST

Re: Once (2.00 / 2)

Who cares!  I want to know if he will wear a flag pin.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 08:40:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

I voted for Al in 1988, I was pleased to see him on the ticket in 92 and I voted for him in 2000. I'd vote for him for President today, were he running. I think he would be a great president. That said, I don't know that he is a great candidate. All the thinking people in the country would vote for him- but he needs more than that to win- he needs a majority.

Seriously, I don't know that Al wants to be a candidate again. Can't say that I blame him.


"Once in a while you get shown the light In the strangest of places if you look at it right"
by molly bloom on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 08:34:44 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

That said, I don't know that he is a great candidate. All the thinking people in the country would vote for him- but he needs more than that to win- he needs a majority.

Ah, Adlai Stevenson.

During his 1956 presidential campaign, a woman called out to him, "You have the vote of every thinking person!" Stevenson called back, "That's not enough, madam, we need a majority!"

It's off-topic, but thanks for reminding me of that.


Walberg Watch - Following Radical Conservative Rep. Tim Walberg in MI-07
by Fitzy on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 09:06:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (2.00 / 1)

Uh, Al Gore won in 2000 by 543,895 votes.


543,895 votes
by Michael Bersin on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 09:28:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

I am painfully aware of that.  However, I was referring to 2008.  


"Once in a while you get shown the light In the strangest of places if you look at it right"
by molly bloom on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 07:47:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

He has said he is not running. What more can he say?


by bruh21 on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 08:49:24 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Congratulations! Al!


On Thursday, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) said she was "so hoping that he wins the Nobel Prize.

"There isn't anybody who deserves it more, for the work he's done for the last 20 years or more on behalf of sounding the alarms in the world concerning global warming," she told MSNBC's Keith Olbermann when asked about the prospect of running against Gore.


Hillary: We will finally have a president who doesn't mind pulling over and asking for directions. Am I right, ladies?
by areyouready on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 09:06:57 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Amazing how you can make a congratulatory post ALL about Hillary.  Seriously, how can anyone be that much of a shill.


by yitbos96bb on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:15:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

'Alarmist' is the term denialists use to bash non-denialists.

It would be nice if Hillary said/says this:


...20 years or more on behalf of sounding the alarms raising awareness in the world concerning global warming.


Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers
by NeuvoLiberal on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:28:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

He deserves the Nobel, and good for him. But he's not running.


by Korha on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 09:27:15 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (2.00 / 1)

so he called and told you that did he?  Or are you a mind reader?  


ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party.

by MollieBradford on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:09:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

I agree that Gore will not enter the race for president, a race that he has already won once.

The main reason: Hillary and her strong campaign.

Second reason: Any of the top three contenders would win the general election.

And of course the nice life he is enjoying now.

homer  www.altara.blogspot.com


by Homer on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 09:58:54 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (2.00 / 1)

unnamed sources are useless.  They could be people working on other campaigns who don't know a damn thing or don't even like Gore etc... Who cares what they say.  I never take unnamed sources seriously, particularly those who work as political hacks.

I do not see how Gore can not run.  He knows that no one else is going to do a damn thing about Global warming while in the white house, not in any real way.  We can't wait.  Forget the idea that Clinton can't be stopped.  She can't be stopped by Edwards and Obama, but Gore is a different matter.
If he doesn't run I don't think he has done everything he can about Global warming or any of the other issues he talked about in "An Assault on Reason".
I know it is a terrible commitment, but I hate to say it, fate has put him in a unique position to answer a call none of the rest of us are qualified to answer.


ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party.

by MollieBradford on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:04:51 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Well the real question is can Gore get an organization together and enough funds quickly enough to be able to beat Clinton.  There are less than 3 months until Iowa... That is NOT a lot of time... The other question is can Gore take enough of Clinton's supporters, along with Obama and Edwards.  

To be able to win, he'd have to win Iowa and probably Parlay that... my guess though is it would be a NASTY NASTY Fight.  Of course if Inconvenient Truth Gore shows up on the stump (versus 2000 Gore who was no where as loose as Inconvenient Truth Gore is) and keeps it simple... Healthcare, Enviroment, Iraq then there is a BIG contrast with Hillary Clinton and the Calculated Cackle.  

All I know is that I'd be MUCH happier with Gore, Obama or Edwards as a candidate than Hillary.  


by yitbos96bb on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:23:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

money and organization (none / 0)

I am not worried about.  I think there will be defectors all over the place from other campaigns.  I don't think Clinton will be easy to beat and Iowa would be tough because he would really have to go there and talk to lots of people over the next few months.
I agree that it will be nasty. But Gore would have to get in even with the idea that he might get beat.  But no one else is going to talk about the issues he will an any sort of real way. They are all too scared.  He has been polished by the fire already and in 2002 he said that if he ran again it would be a whole new type of campaign.  I believe him.
I think he would take people from all three campaigns.  I think he would wipe Edwards out immediately.  I think he would take Obama's Hollywood support and big money.  And I think a decent 2nd place finish in IA would be acceptable.

ABO... Anybody but Obama. I LIKE the democratic party.

by MollieBradford on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:42:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Here is a quick way: early Gore/Obama ticket (2.00 / 0)

Fastest route for Gore to get an organization underway: adopt Obama's.

Let's say Gore and Obama hook up towards an early announced ticket. Obama supporters/staff could then go over to the Gore tent and essentially resume what they've been doing. Gore and Obama can criss-cross the land and bring about a groundswell like never before, and win landslides in both the primary and the general. It ensures that Obama will be in the whitehouse come 2009, and on his way to assuming the Presidency later.

That's a neat approach. Don't you think?

I have no doubt that Gore/Obama leading to Obama/X later would do miracles to the party, the country and the planet.


Obama's Pop. Vote LEAD = 600K | Clinton & McCain = WAR Authorizers
by NeuvoLiberal on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:50:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Gore is very unlikely to run.   How many debates have there been already?  Are those many, many people who are serious Democrats and attended these debates not entitled to a full vetting right in front of them of Gore's viewpoints on all those issues?  I don't even think Gore would want to run last-minute like this.  He is a very conscious man who would probably feel himself that he needed to be there early on, be there for the debates and campaigning in the states, or not at all.

I believe Gore is happy with where he is at.  Good for him.  It is a different platform, but he can still work closely with the eventual president (if that is a Democrat) on achieving many of the goals outlined, as well as with many of the other heads of states in Europe, Asia, Africa, etc.


by georgep on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:43:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Congratulations !  How sweet it is ....

Imagine: if Democrats win the Presidency and Supreme Court seat becomes open ...

who's the first person we could nominate ? :)

(assuming he would accept ... but just the thought of it ...)


by silver spring on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:31:50 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (2.00 / 1)

Congratulations, Al.  You deserve it.


by georgep on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:35:01 AM EST

What You Can Do (none / 0)

* Step It Up: get your congresspeople to call for progressive action on climate change on November 3.

* Request a presentation of Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" slideshow given by one of the people trained by his group.


by The Cunctator on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:54:19 AM EST

I'm so proud of Al! (none / 0)


by bookgrl on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 10:54:40 AM EST

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Congratulations Al Gore! Proud of you!

As for him running, it would be devastating to both the Edwards & Obama campaigns. If Gore jumps in , its over for Obama & Edwards.

Its an irony that Gore's loudest cheer & encouragement to run comes from current Obama & Edward supporters. The same supporters who would switch to Gore if he jumps in the race.

If Al Gore jumps in, expect Obama & Edwards to lose a large & significant amount of support.

Gore would attract a mix of liberal activists, progressives, the White Liberal Elite & the Anti-Clinton democrats ( the anybody but Clinton crowd). The SAME group of people who are currently supporting either Edwards or Obama.

As it is today , Edwards & Obama's combined poll numbers are 20 to 30 points behind Clinton. Put Gore into the equation, that would devastate both camps.

Gore would be an instant second place. However, it would be a very uphill climb for him against Clinton at this point in the race.

The dynamics of Clinton's largest & most loyal supporters of Women, Minorities, & moderates would still be intact with Clinton.

Gore would pretty much peal off from Obama & Edwards.

I don't think Gore would want to risk all his hardwork to get to this Non=Political International Leader.

(Unless he was sure of winning). But at this point, he would be a heavy underdog against Clinton.


by labanman on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 11:15:10 AM EST

Update (2.00 / 2)

The Supreme Court, 5 to 4, just awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to George W. Bush.


by admiralnaismith on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 11:22:34 AM EST

Re: Update (none / 0)

Your mind is evil -  great snark should be rewarded.


543,895 votes
by Michael Bersin on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 01:09:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Al Gore wins the Nobel Prize (none / 0)

Here's a little snippet of Al Gore nostalgia.  Check out how young everyone looks.


"Another problem we have...is that in election years we behave somewhat as primitive peoples do at the time of the full moon." --Harry Truman
by Steve M on Fri Oct 12, 2007 at 01:00:04 PM EST


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