Just a hunch, but is Vanity Fair magazine helping to clear the path for a Gore candidacy?

[Apollo11]

This fall, Vanity Fair has published 2 major articles looking back at the Clinton-Gore administration and the 2000 election.

First in the October issue, Vanity Fair revealed how the mainstream so-called liberal media was unfair to Gore in its reporting of the run-up to the 2000 election. This issue had previously been explored online, but never in the mainstream media.

Vanity Fair, October 2007

Going After Gore

Al Gore couldn't believe his eyes: as the 2000 election heated up, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other top news outlets kept going after him, with misquotes ("I invented the Internet"), distortions (that he lied about being the inspiration for Love Story), and strangely off-the-mark needling, while pundits such as Maureen Dowd appeared to be charmed by his rival, George W. Bush. For the first time, Gore and his family talk about the effect of the press attacks on his campaign—and about his future plans—to the author, who finds that many in the media are re-assessing their 2000 coverage.
by Evgenia Peretz

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/10/gore200710?currentPage=1

Now in the new November issue, Vanity Fair publishes an extended extract from a new book looking at the working relations between Bill, Hillary and Al in the aftermath of the Lewinsky affair and during the run-up to the 2000 election.

Vanity Fair, November 2007

White House Civil War

Promised real power as Bill Clinton's vice president, Al Gore found he had a rival for that role: the First Lady. And when Hillary decided to run for the Senate, a tense competition got ugly. In an excerpt from her new book about the Clinton White House years, the author reveals how conflicting agendas—the triangle of a scandal-ridden lame-duck president, the wife he'd betrayed, and his designated successor—sapped Gore's 2000 campaign as the bond between two couples dissolved into distrust, anger, and resentment.
Excerpted from "For Love of Politics — Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years", by Sally Bedell Smith, to be published this month by Random House, Inc.; © 2007 by the author.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/clinton200711?currentPage=1

Maybe I am going crazy, or just over-optimistic, but don't you think these articles make it more likely that Al Gore will suddenly "change his mind" and make a late entrance into the race to seek the Democratic nomination for 2008?

Please share your thoughts (and recommend this thread - thanks!) B-)

www.algore.com :patriot:
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com
www.americaforgore.org

:kick:

[robinlynne]

1. i think it's getting a bit late.

[Turn CO Blue]

9. JFK didn't get into the race until Jan 2nd of 1960... n/t

[saltpoint]

14. And RFK didn't get in until what -- March? Something like that.

The wild dogs of caucus/primary scheduling need to be kenneled. It's a real mess right now.

France gets it. We don't.

[BobRossi]

2. Time for coffee

Wake up! GORE IS NOT RUNNING!

[Nightjock]

3. Still waiting

and I still believe he is getting in.

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

4. Hillary Has "WARNED" Him That He Better Not Run!!

In no uncertain terms, he has VERY likely been Told that it would be in his and his family's best interests, if he doesn't run, and continues doing what he has been doing these past 8 years.

Hillary Clinton WILL BE our next President, and she's not going to let some goodie two shoes, honest gentleman like Mr. Gore, Fuck that up.

[cascadiance]

7. When Hillary speaks...

Rahm said so!

[AtomicKitten]

5. There still is a window open and

if he throws his hat in the ring, a sigh of relief across the planet.

[Uncle Joe]

6. His more delicate role was taking a 10 minute stroll down the hall,

when it came his turn to speak at the convention, so much for humility.

"During his all-night conversation with Ken Burns in June, Bill "spoke movingly of the Democratic National Convention that was coming," Burns recalled, "and how because he was on the backside of scandal and impeachment he had a more delicate role to play."

[karynnj]

8. Didn't he have sun glasses - or is that a fake memory

of a Rock Star entrance.

[Apollo11]

10. The book "For Love of Politics" will be out October 23rd

For Love of Politics
Bill and Hillary Clinton: The White House Years
by Sally Bedell Smith

You can pre-order this book on amazon.com for $18.45

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Politics-Hillary-Clinton-White/dp/1400063248/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-9775370-7225231?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191310494&sr=1-1

Or an even better idea, send your $20 to www.draftgore.com

[Milo_Bloom]

11. He wouldn't have to "change his mind".

He has stated in the past that he may be "forced" to run if no one properly addresses the climate crisis. His last statement on the subject was that no one was properly addressing the climate crisis. He left himself a huge gaping hole in which he can drive his candidacy right in without looking like he had some change of heart.

I think he is running AND I think some other people now know about it. (hints are being dropped all over).

[Apollo11]

12. I agree - the door is open

I always put "change his mind" in quote marks - because none of us has direct access to Al Gore's thought processes. But he said several times in the past year "I have no plans to be a candidate". So for him to become a candidate again would involve some kind of "internal shifting of gears" (to use another Gore-ism).

I thought it was very interesting what Gore said to Wolf Blitzer on CNN last week. The interview was replayed on Sunday's "Late Edition". It looks like Gore is keeping his options open.

BLITZER: You're looking ahead to the next U.S. president. Who among the candidates, Democrat and Republican, do you think is most committed to where you stand in terms of the need to deal with global warming?

GORE: Well, let's give them more time. The process still has a long way to go. Several of the candidates on the Democratic side have spoken out forcefully on this issue. None has yet presented a truly comprehensive plan. But I'm optimistic that as the debate continues, they will.

On the Republican side, I haven't heard much about it. John McCain has, in the past, had a very responsible position, but competing for the votes in those primaries, I guess, has led him in another direction.

But I really am optimistic that both political parties will make this one of the core issues, and I'm very optimistic that the next administration will be very different from this one.

BLITZER: I know you're studying all the candidates and their positions on this and other issues. Four years ago, you endorsed Howard Dean. What about the prospect of Al Gore endorsing any of the candidates this time around?

GORE: I don't know if I'll make an endorsement or not. I just don't know.

BLITZER: Because the president, you heard him say this week, that he thinks Hillary Clinton is going to get the Democratic nomination, but then lose to the Republican next -- a year from now, November. What do you think about that prediction by President Bush?

GORE: Well, I think it's too early to make predictions, at least too early for me to make predictions about it.

BLITZER: But you're not ready to jump on the Hillary Clinton bandwagon yet?

GORE: I'm not ready to endorse a candidate or to decide whether I will. But I appreciate your interest in it.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0709/30/le.01.html

[Kira]

18. what hints are you talking about?

I have been looking for something to give me hope that he will run.

[Milo_Bloom]

20. A couple of different things...

Read the Christopher Hitchens article in which he states, " Several people, some of them well-informed, have been saying to me that Gore will wait until the Nobel committee's announcement before he makes up his mind." Forbes included Al Gore in their candidate grouping, there is the vanity fair love he is receiving, the Rhandi Rhodes story and his continued refusal to issue a denial.

[saltpoint]

13. I honestly can't say what they might be up to over at VANITY FAIR because

I'm reading THE POWER OF ART by Simon Schama -- on the recommendation of some very astute DUers -- and am happily drowning in it. More water! More water! Soak me!

Al Gore is well-positioned to do anything he damn well feels like doing. He could become the president of a major university. They'd be lucky to have him.

He could continue to write books. He's got the training in language and journalism and is no slouch at sentences.

He could globe-trot and urge environmental reform. It's very high public service in and of itself, not to mention, extremely timely.

Or he could run for president. If he does, I believe there'd be a much, much tighter race for the nomination, and I think more people who comprise country Democratic organization coast to coast would prefer Gore to the current frontrunner.

[Cameron27]

21. The Power of Art

Thanks for the rec, it sounds like something I'd enjoy.

[saltpoint]

23. Some VERY sharp-minded DUers recommended it to me and I'm happy to

pass it along, seasonedblue.

Schama is not for the timid. But my god what a talent.

[Uncle Joe]

22. PBS telecast several programs on that as well,

it was an outstanding series. I've always enjoyed history but I learned more about art in a historical context from the "Power of Art" than I ever did in school. This program gave me a new appreciation for art and the artists who put their passion in their work.

[saltpoint]

24. Hi, Uncle Joe. Yes! I was lucky to catch 2 or 3 of those PBS episodes

and want to rent the others. Or maybe even buy the whole set.

It was just a wonderful thing to sit back and let Schama give me the span of centuries and the details & big picture at the same time.

[RestoreGore]

15. I think it's the same media rhetoric he wrote against in his book

But seeing as how people eat it up I can also see what any "political" campaign he would run would be like now with certain peoples' iinfluence and it isn't something I would wish to be a part of. It seems certain people only really want him to run in this decrepid system to get revenge and it is obvious that that is all that would be on these blogs since the hype and muck still get more notice than his actually efforts. Seems for all of the talk about hating the press the same people eat it up.

But it is obvious now that all we would see on many of these venues is back and forth sniping about the past as illustrated by the glee in posting it, and frankly, I don't have the interest or the stomach for it and I don't think Mr. Gore wants that either. All of the mudslinging and digging into the past does absolutely NOTHING to bring us forward now. I'm just waiting for all of the people pushing him now on these "political" forums and in these "draft" groups to admit why they really want to push him into this now and think that all the prizes he has gathered would be good ammunition to throw into it... to see the knock down drag out fight they want, because well, everyone likes a good fight, especially the media, right?

It has nothing to do with "global warming." Not on a "political" blog and that is evident now. It is disappointing to see that the past is all people want to read and feed on and that all of his talk about the climate crisis and issues needing to be first is really going unheeded, though it isn't surprising. Nor is it a surprise that people who claim to support Al Gore still eat this hype up. The "usual" websites do nothing but hype the crap up over his own work. I have not seen ONE website supposedly for him that openly has stated they support his work now regardless of any political decision now or in the future. But do you honestly believe he would only run now to "get revenge?" Even after the fire he has gone through? Are you saying all he has done to this point is merely a smoke and mirrors show to his own desire to just get revenge? And you could support that if true?

You actually find him that petty, shallow, and self serving? I can't stomach the beltway political process as it is in this country which is why I don't discuss it as it pertains to this "campaign" and to see Al Gore become part of it again when he now rises so far above it would absolutely disappoint me after seeing the great strides he has made since leaving that beltway which actually ARE bringing about change on a global scale. But yeah, you and your fellow politicos on the blogs keep on trying to push him back so you can see the bloody fight you want and make this bs campaign more "fun." That's what it's really all about, right? While there are those of us out here who are sincere about what he is doing now, have moved on and are looking at the big picture, leave it to the "political" blogs to do nothing but make it all about hype.

You can't go forward if you live in the past. And unfortunately while what is done is done and can't be undone, Mr. Gore has done more as a man living his conscience away from all of this than he ever could do if his heart was to turn to doing any of this out of revenge. I truly hope he is above it all as I believe he is now because it serves no good purpose, and the "temptations" to push him in just for the self delight of others is not a good enough reason to run for anything. I will not support any political campaign based upon rehashing the past... period. I just hope he is strong enough to resist the temptations of insincere people who may have his ear now who only want him to do this again based on their own penchant for revenge without seeing the big picture.

[Apollo11]

16. Thanks for your input, RestoreGore

I wrote in the OP that I wanted people to "share your thoughts" on my little theory and I appreciate that you took the time to do just that!

I think it's great that you have mainstream magazines like Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair that make people question some of the wrong assumptions that a lot of people still believe in this country.

I'm thinking of Robert Kennedy Jr.'s piece in Rolling Stone on how the 2004 election was stolen by Kenneth Blackwell and other friends of the Bu$h-Cheney-Rove regime in the State of Ohio.

These pieces in Vanity Fair actually get people to think back to 2000 and consider the question: "How did we wind up with G.W.Bush as our President in the first place?". A lot of people believe a lot of cr@p about Gore, like he claimed to have invented the internet, he was a serial exaggerator, he was "too stiff", etc.

The new book about the Clintons is obviously not supposed to be a philosophical text, but focusing more on the working relations among the key players in the Clinton-Gore Administration, namely Bill, Al and Hillary.

Even here on DU, there are people who make ignorant assumptions like "Gore lost the 2000 election because he refused to let Bill Clinton help his campaign" or "Of course Al Gore will support Hillary because the Clintons and the Gores go way back". So I am happy that here is one magazine helping to put the record straight.

I accept it's unlikely that Gore will suddenly decide to seek the Democratic nomination for 2008. But I think that is a real shame, because he is obviously the best person for the job.

I don't know if there is another candidate who would have the guts and strength to take the radical action that is now necessary to limit the speed and impacts of the climate crisis.

I don't even know if it's possible to slow down our energy consumption in the capitalist system. Maybe we can slow down the rate of increase. But it seems to me that the only way we will stop burning oil and coal is when we have completely run out. The only question is - how many years can we make it last?

If you go to England you will see people lining up in their cars to pay more than $7.50 for a gallon of gasoline. Yet each year there are more cars on the road than the previous year. So even if you introduced pollution taxes at a level that most Americans would find politically unacceptable - there is still no guarantee that it would bring any net benefits to the global environment.

But if there is anyone who can provide the leadership that is necessary to help us face the climate crisis and overcome its impacts in the coming 10 years, I believe it is Al Gore.

[RestoreGore]

17. Do you know how many tears I have shed about all of this?

How my heart aches for what was done to this man and to this country? However, there are some wounds that simply will not heal, and what happened then is one of them. I believe firmly in Mr. Gore's words to move on, and that is what I have done after holding out my own hopes for so long. I will no longer entertain pie in the sky notions and romantic theories regarding any aspirations other then the reality of what is happening now and our part in fixing it. Those romantic notions and pie in the sky theories only leave you empty. And all of the political backbiting and positioning that adds to them is simply not what I believe this man should be spending his time on now and is definitley not what I wish to spend my time on now.

He has far surpassed that rhetoric and I for one am tired of it, because I believe it is detracting from the realization of his goals and the time we should be taking now to help him. I will support Mr. Gore in whatever capacity he chooses to change this world for the better (though I make no bones about how much I detest the political system in Washington DC and what I believe politics does to your soul in general) and will work to then do all I can as a citizen to change what was done to this country so in time IF he should ever wish to revisit it, it will be worthy of him.

It isn't now to me, and the hurt is frankly still too deep. And the planetary emergency we now face that has been building as we were spinning our wheels in all of this political muck is now crashing down upon us. I then also believe he is right to approach this as he is doing, and I hope with all of my heart that his efforts in that vein are a success, which is why I am doing all in my power to see that happen because our continued ability to sustain ourselves on this planet is truly at stake.

I actually believe he has been very tortured with all he has had on his shoulders, and the way he has carried himself out of that fire is something to be appreciated and respected. He now has every right to be a free man of conscience, and I love seeing him that way and am very happy for him. I just see no good in wallowing in the past or basing any campaign on it or revenge. Thanks for being civil in your response. I am sometimes hesitant to click on responses to my posts for fear I will get another lashing.

[Apollo11]

19. I think it will be a real test of our resolve

While I wish Al Gore would run again for the Presidency, I can understand his reasons for staying out of the current race. Even if he is undoubtedly better qualified to be President than any of the candidates who are currently seeking the Democratic nomination.

During the coming 13 months, we all need to support Al Gore in his efforts to create a seismic shift in public opinion and help people "WAKE UP" to the climate crisis, and make this an issue in the primaries and all the way up to election day - November 4th 2008.

Right now it looks like Al Gore does not want to be a candidate. He is spending his time on many important projects, like writing his next book "The Path To Survival" (due April 2008).

Gore has made commitments to speak at Conferences in the US and worldwide during the coming months. On January 22nd he will be in Sweden to receive the Gothenburg Sustainable Development Award.

I think Gore might decide not to endorse a candidate for President. He might comment on their environmental plans, without making a formal endorsement. He needs to be able to work closely with the eventual Democratic nominee - and with whoever becomes President in January 2009.

If you look back at December 2003 when Al Gore endorsed Howard Dean, they both stood against the War in Iraq. But in the end it did not affect the outcome of the primaries.

Since 2004, Al Gore has established himself as an global ambassador on the climate crisis who is widely respected and seen as being above partisan politics. For him to get involved in the Democratic primaries - even with an endorsement - would put at risk his hard-won status.

But that doesn't stop me wishing he would change his mind! B-)

[Apollo11]

25. My idea of fun ...

is kicking my old threads! B-)

:kick:

[Swamp Rat]

26. Ga-Ga for Gore

:D