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Bob Franken

Bob Franken

Posted: October 12, 2007 11:27 AM

The Real Prize


First let's make this absolutely clear. There is no plan by the Supreme Court to steal Al Gore's Nobel Prize and give it to George W. Bush. That is soooo 2000.

Congratulations to the former vice president. In the same year he's received not only the Nobel Prize, but that real biggie, the Academy Award. All that's left for the Hat Trick of three awards would be a victory on American Idol.

Of course there is a bit of irony here. On the same day that Gore wins the Nobel, a British High Court judge rules his movie An Inconvenient Truth contains nine factual errors..."In the context of alarmism and exaggeration". As the Church Lady might say "How Inconveeeeenient!!"

But let's not be guilty of exaggeration ourselves. Nine crummy mistakes in the movie is certainly no big deal when you consider how Mitt Romney and Rudy Guiliani misrepresented facts as they tried to flog each other with distortions during this week's Republican debate. It even amused Fred Thompson who probably had no earthly idea what they were talking about.

And speaking of Thompson, and speaking of Gore and speaking of presidential politics (was that a hell of a segue or what?), we have made much of the possibility that there would be a "Subway Series" general election race between Rudy and Hillary. Both are New Yorkers... well one sort of is, but I'm veering off the point.

What if Al Gore actually decides to get in and what if he wins the nomination? Never mind the denials and tantalizing semi-denials. Right now their primary situation is in such an uproar that anything is possible with the Democrats.

And what if Fred Thompson becomes the Republican nominee, and agrees to work at it if necessary?

What would we call a race where both major party candidates were from Tennessee? A Waltz? A Smoky Mountain Smokescreen?

Am I getting too far out front here? I don't think so. It is true, there are some petty details to deal with, not the least of which is that Al Gore is not a declared candidate. But that's easy. All he has to do is stop pretending that he and his people are not really running the "Draft Gore" movement and true to his Tennessee heritage "volunteer" to officially join in.

Yes, getting in at the last minute puts the candidate way behind when it comes to fundraising and organization, stuff like that., But hey, Thompson entered late and is catching up without breaking a sweat.

So a Gore presidential run is not an impossible dream. I mean, who in his or her wildest fantasies would have pictured him as a leading man?

In fact, not only could both nominees be from Tennessee, but both could be coming from careers in movies. That's it! We could call the race the Hollywood Bowl. Only in America.

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12:42 PM on 10/13/2007
Tennesseans voted for Bush in 2000. Al could try to steal another election but only Yankees would vote for him.
06:44 PM on 10/12/2007
A JUDGE ruling on scientific errors?

I'll take my scientific rulings fron scientists, thank you very much.

Congratulations to Al Gore!

Good day for all,

Ani
04:12 PM on 10/12/2007
Al Gore will not run for President. Why risk losing in the primaries to Hillary? He's riding high & he has to know Bubba is seething with jealousy. If he did run against the Clintons he might turn up in Fort Marcy Park like poor Vince Foster.
03:37 AM on 10/13/2007
You're a jackass. Once again, bringing up the right-wing slander against the Clintons in something that was laid to rest by KENNETH STARR of all people.
Go back to your right-wing troglodyte site, pal, where you and your fellow cavemen can keep on living out the Scaifist fantasies.
03:39 PM on 10/12/2007
Sir:

You do dreadful disservice to both Al Gore and the Draft Gore movement with the following assertion:

"All he has to do is stop pretending that he and his people are not really running the "Draft Gore" movement and true to his Tennessee heritage "volunteer" to officially join in."

Draft Gore is not affiliated with Mr. Gore, and Mr. Gore is not affiliated with us. Not formally or informally, not officially or unofficially -- not in any way. We have no contact with him, nor does he have contact with us. All we know is he has "no plans" to run in 2008, and we're trying to persuade him differently.
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marignymitch
E pluribus unum percent
03:09 PM on 10/12/2007
Al Gore now has won a presidential election, an Academy Award and a 2007 Nobel Prize. I doubt he feels the need to further prove himself.
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03:08 PM on 10/12/2007
AL GORE, President of the USA, hey, hey sounds OK;
And how about Kucinich for VP of the USA
Could this be the turning point in our history?
It's only when things get the worse that things get better. How worse can things get with Bush/Cheney in charge?
I'll come back to voting Democrat only if Gore runs for Potus
02:54 PM on 10/12/2007
I've lived in Tennessee most of my life, and I don't think it's a good idea to let Tennesseans decide about the presidency. TN had a chance in 2000, and rejected a decent man for a neocon-trolling money-whore.
Gore is too smart to run again, and Freddie is a neocon 2nd-teamer because McCain is too nuts even for the wingnuts.
Tennessee on the whole is still obsessed with gays, abortion, Jesus-spouting preacher mans, and family values, even though we are the national divorce leader! On the financial responsibility scale, we annually challenge Mormon Utah for #1 in bankruptcies! HOORAY!
In short, I am not a TN-hater, I'm one myself! But for historical, economic, and social reasons, believe me, TN should do less talking and more listenimg for a few years!
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mimsnpips
it just keeps gettin darker outside
02:02 PM on 10/12/2007
"Am I getting too far out front here?": Yes
01:59 PM on 10/12/2007
I miss you, Bob Franken. Miss watching you do standups outside the courthouse(s)... Glad you're blogging.
01:42 PM on 10/12/2007
What evidence do you have that Al Gore is "running" the draft Gore movement? I've been talking about drafting him to run for about two years now, and I am not one of his "people," nor have his "people" ever been in touch with me. Your breezy post assumes in a very smug, know-it-all, echt-insider way that we all believe what you apparently believe--that Al Gore is just another lying, scheming, manipulative politician. Many of us don't think that, of course; and we don't think as much of you as we did yesterday.
01:30 PM on 10/12/2007
Phooey. Can't think of anything intelligent to say about this no-brainer, the ultimate decline of America into a B movie.