The Vice Presidency of Al Gore, 2009-2017

This presidential year is a year of firsts: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, the first serious African-American and female presidential candidates.

Barack Obama is now the presumptive nominee.

I think he is the ideal candidate for our times.

Obama's experience as a community organizer and a professor of constitutional law will be invaluable as we try to mend the torn fabric of the community of nations, our own national community, and our Constitution, all so shredded by Bush 43.

Hillary Clinton is being talked about as a possible vice presidential choice.

Some have said that if Obama does not choose Clinton, her supporters will complain that she was the strongest choice, and that anyone else is inferior.

This argument has some validity, though Bill Richardson and some others are plausible refutations.

I have been thinking, though, that Al Gore would be the best choice.

This would be another first in a year of firsts:

The first person to serve as vice president in two different presidencies.

Gore is certainly the most qualified for the job.

He has eight years' experience in it, and in 2000 he won the popular vote and should have been serving the last year of his presidency as we write this.

But there was that Bush coup we have all been suffering through.

Since 2001, Al Gore has won an Oscar, a Grammy, and a Nobel Peace Prize.

His knowledge of the worst problem humanity faces, global warming, is unsurpassed.

If Barack Obama chose Gore, the new vice president's first and major mandate would be to reverse global warming. He would start to work on (awful phrase) day one.

I am enormously impressed with Barack Obama's judgment, background, eloquence, and even wisdom. He opposed the Iraq war. He ran a true grass-roots campaign and became our nominee. He, as President Clinton used to say, "worked hard and played by the rules." And he won.

And so I offer this idea humbly.

Comments

[Republicnotademocracy]

Not a good idea. The media would have a field day mocking and heaping scorn on Gore (again). This would diminish Obama in the eyes of the electorate.

[JamesA1102]

It is an insult to Al Gore to suggest that he should accept the position of VP again. Even back in '92 many said the the ticket should be reversed as Gore/Clinton.

If Obama picked Gore it would be taken as an admission that he was not ready for the top job. Gore would be pilloried as being a coward for not going for the top job as well as needing to ride on someone else's coat tails to be elected to office because he could do so on his own.

When Obama was asked about this several months ago, he said that VP would be beneath Gore now. When Gore was asked if he would serve in other administration he said he would only do so as President. Gore didn't run this year because he felt that he could do more good as a private citizen than as President, so why would he then think that he could do more good in the lesser position of VP? There is just no logic in this idea.

[bwither]

Al Gore would also not be the first person to serve as VP to 2 presidents

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Clinton_%28vice_president%29

That guy was.

More anti-Clinton media bias? lol.

[Krikkit]

Two comments regarding Al Gore:

First, the man has unequivocally stated he would accept no positon in any government, so what makes you bring this dead horse back for us to contemplate?

Second, Gore has now "endorsed" Al Franken for his senate seat. What business does the Statesman from Tennessee have "endorsing" a Senate candidate from Missouri? And why hasn't he endorsed our Democratic Presidential nominee yet? WTF is wrong with this guy?

[bwither]

I don't want to nit-pick. . . but George Clinton was a vice president who served under both Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

Al Gore serving under Obama wouldn't exactly be a first.

[joanndarc]

"This presidential year is a year of firsts: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, the first serious African-American and female presidential candidates."

Barack Obama is in fact AfroEuropean-American.

[9liberal]

I don't know who Obama will pick, I'm so excited he is our nominee. He had me at common sense. What I do know about Obama is that he is a brilliant man....he will pick someone that is right for him andright for our country...I have no doubt about that.

[DCtrain]

I think it is very unlikely Al is interested in office again, save the top spot.

[rabiabidabi]

How can Obama be considered a candidate of change if he brings in one of the old guard as VP? We can't have anyone from the Bush/Clinton/Bush years on the ticket.

[blueraven]

For pity's sake, why should he allow himself to be hamstrung like that?

[Karoli]

You're joking, right? Al Gore is far, far more effective outside of politics than he ever would be inside politics. And after sitting 2nd chair for 8 years, why on EARTH would he give up the voice he's made for himself in the climate change arena to sit second chair to an imminently qualified candidate?

Give Al Gore some credit for making his own marriage after being a groomsman for 8 years and the jilted groom in 2000. He's perfect where he is. A dignified, qualified voice outside of the political arena.

[TedB]

I seriously doubt that Gore would be interested in the job. He has a much more important task already.

[ObserverinVancouver]

I doubt there's any chance that Gore would agree, but if he did .... wow!

[tcagle]

Give it a rest already. He has a better job.