September 21, 2007
If Al Gore Wins the Nobel Peace Prize (Brent Budowsky)
It is possible that in a few short weeks America will wake up to news from Europe that Al Gore has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace.
If this occurs, it will be a powerful transforming event in American politics that will bring a surge of patriotism and pride to a nation that has been torn by war, divided by partisanship, trapped in a quagmire and alienated from what Jefferson called the decent opinion of mankind.
Let's set aside for now the question of whether Al Gore runs for president — which is unlikely, though world events can change our politics in a heartbeat.
The more important matter is what happens to our national dialogue and our democracy if indeed the Nobel Prize is awarded to Gore.
From the moment his award is announced through his speech in December accepting the prize, Al Gore will be the most influential living American in defining the terms of our national debate.
From the immediate surge of media attention until the aftermath of Gore's acceptance speech there will be a profound surge of international and national attention to what Al Gore stands for, and what he has done.
For the first time since Sept. 11, 2001 was hijacked as a pretext for the Iraq war, there will be a powerful, compelling and global discussion of the America that has been and should always be a genuine beacon of hope and light for the world.
At first there will be saturation coverage of the dangers to Planet Earth, the crisis that poses the ultimate danger comparable to, and possibly even surpassing, the threat of nuclear weapons during the Cold War.
There will be a national and global debate, led by Gore, about the "war of the worlds" between the corrupt and destructive oil-based energy that creates pressures for war and dangers for the earth, against the new-energy economy that would benefit citizens, consumers and the planet itself.
Within hours of the Nobel announcement there would be a global statement of American ideals, American values, American traditions and American notions that have been honored for more than 200 years, and placed under attack by George W. Bush and enabled by a submissive Congress unable and unwilling to stop him.
There would be a statement to Americans, and to the world, that the real America is the nation that respects and rallies the free nations of the world rather than the pre-emptive and arrogant power that alienates freedom's best friends everywhere.
There would be a statement to Americans, and to the world, that we are the nation that agrees with George Washington and believes torture is a crime unworthy of our society, and agrees with generations of military commanders and troops who believe that the Geneva Convention is right, good and noble and serves the safety of our troops while standing for the values of our country.
There would be a statement to Americans, and to the world, that we are a nation and a people that believe in the sacred trust embodied by our Constitution, in the 200-year legacy of the rule of law, where the king is not the law, but the law is the king.
There would be a statement to Americans, and to the world, that we are indeed the leader of the free world, the champion in the battle of ideas, the aspirational hope of good people everywhere that is the friend of those who dream, the ally of those who hope, the partner of those who seek to build a better world and that the arrogance and corruption of recent years is not the real America.
What will happen, if Al Gore is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, is that his issues will be championed on the front pages and on the television screens, stronger than ever, across America and throughout the world.
If Gore chooses to run for president he will have an opportunity to mobilize the nation in a manner similar to Robert Kennedy's late entry in 1968.
More likely, if Gore does not run, his issues will be championed stronger than ever by candidate Clinton, candidate Obama, candidate Edwards, candidate Richardson and the others and will be acted upon, with greater commitment, by President Clinton, President Obama, President Edwards, President Richardson or whoever is elected.
The Democrats will be stronger candidates; the next president will be a stronger president; the American people will feel a resurgence of the patriotism and pride when people around the world once again applaud an American leader who speaks for the authentic voice of America as world leader and beacon of hope.
The recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize cannot be predicted, but with the announcement to be made within a few short weeks, there is the real possibility of a transforming moment that will lift our spirits and our national debate at a time when Americans are cynical and distrustful of their politics and government.
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The "authentic voice of America?" Fortunately, that won't be you or Al Gore.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — September 21, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Hm…a snake-oil salesman joins mass murderer Arafat, Iran stooge ElBaradei, anti-semitic, ayatollah-enabling Carter as a recipient of the most worthless Nobel prize? This ain't a physics, chemistry, or medicine Nobel prize, this is the one for the current liberal world darlings.
Comment by Igor R. — September 21, 2007 @ 4:03 pm
Wow…the Bush enablers are quick off the line.
I predict that he will win ( likely in conjunction with a famous Canadian enviromentalist), and that he will run..and win.
I am looking forward to an America that we can take pride in, instead of a war-profiteering cabal .
They say out of one side of their mouths that they support the troops, and on the other have never given them the REAL support - equipment, rest, etc- that they need.
That is why by the way, the name "Betrayus" was invented…it came from the grunts.
Al Gore is respected ALL OVER the world..in contrast to the stupid bumbler we have in that high offce now.
Over three TRILLION dollars spent, a war longer than WWII, and 60 to 90 America soldiers killed each month…for what??
Comment by New Mexican — September 21, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
[…] If Al Gore Wins the Nobel Peace Prize […]
Pingback by Make Them Accountable / Brent Budowsky: If Al Gore Wins the Nobel Peace Prize — September 21, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
The 70% of the country who doesn't support the present Idiot in Chief is SO ready for the psychological do-over of a Gore candidacy, that even the 1st two commenter's 'wishful thinking' couldn't stop it from happening if Al decided to run. And it TERRIFIES them.
Comment by Joshua E. — September 21, 2007 @ 6:00 pm
You're the name caller of the week, Igor. President Gore is a credit to this country and one that we can be proud of. He has been a Senator, a Vice President, and an elected President. He has called it, as it is, since the Supreme Court took his Presidency away from him. He is making a generational and historic contribution that is unparalelled, by calling our attention to the climate crisis.
YoNow as for El. Bharadei. you hated him when he told you that Saddam had nothing. The sociopath and liar in you refuses to be graceful even though he was proven right. now you're doing the same thing with Iran.
In Wingnut world facts mean nothing, results mean nothing, people of good will mean nothing.
I can't wait to hear your report on the inauguration of President Clinton II, you hater.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 21, 2007 @ 6:14 pm
If Al Gore wins the Nobel, it will indeed be a
reassuring inspiration for America and the world.
For the Republicans, who do not value Peace, it will instigate a massive smear campaign against Gore and the whole Nobel process.
Pressure will be put on the corporate media to
get Gore off the news as soon as possible. He
will be mocked and the Nobel, itself, will be mocked.
But, for people of sound thought, Gore's example of leadership will resonate and we
will have someone to be proud of during this
long dark night of Republican authoritarianism.
Comment by banjobailey — September 21, 2007 @ 6:26 pm
Brent what a lovely dream, but maybe — hopefully not — your dream and mine and millions of others is just that, a dream. A dream of the past when America was respected and Americans were free. Today America is an object of derision and the most mistrusted and hated in the world. Even Iran scores higher with the rest of the world.
Instead of hope, fear leads the nation.
Instead of abiding by the rule of domestic and international law, the country acts like a rogue nation.
Instead of applying reasoned logic and common sense, illogic and ignorance dominate.
Instead of respecting world leaders, they are treated with disrespect.
Instead of caring about people, the US chooses to ignore the: humanitarian crisis especially in Iraq and Darfur; the tragic 1.1 million dead Iraqis; over 4,000 US troops killed; the 40,000 US soldiers seriously injured; the millions of grieving families; and millions more Iraqis living in refugee camps outside Iraq and another 2 million displaced inside.
Instead of promoting peaceful solutions, billions of dollars of weapons were sold to foreign countries to settle differences. (ensuring perpetual wars)
Instead of showing concern for the hungry, the sick, the poor, big corporations are subsidized, deregulated and empowered.
Instead of championing human rights and civil rights, the executive does opposite — all in the name of national security.
Instead of encouraging hope the government uses fear and intimidation tactics to turn Americans into a compliant public willing to give up liberty.
By all indications Bush-Cheney seem to believe freedom means "freeing" large corporations from taxation and regulation. In contrast they seem to believe a free society means 24/7 surveillance, denying individuals their civil rights, even the most fundamental human right to habeas corpus, an 800-year old law shy of six-hundred years before America was America.
After Bush and Cheney hijacked the country and usurped powers fit for a king, they turned everything upside-down. Never in my life did I ever expect to see American "leaders" become the enemy against everything this country has stood for.
More than ever American citizens need to grasp what is at stake. If you think it can't happen here you are ignoring the facts. For instance, about a year ago Bush via executive order basically nullified the posse comitatus act and the insurrection act that prohibited the military to serve as a police force within the US. Today that is no longer the case. The NYTimes, the first to report it, suggests how easy it would be for Bush or any future president to declare martial law.
The Constitution is not self-enforcing. Previously Americans were not concerned — we had trust in the system. However that system is in tatters. It is up to us, we the people, to demand our Constitutional rights are restored and enforced because clearly the government won't, as many of us are well aware of now. Re_member the McCarthyism era? Probably somewhere down the line, this may come to be known as the Cheney-Bushism era having surpassed the McCarthyism nightmare long ago!
Can this country be saved? Not unless we, the people, stand up and say enough already! If not, then we deserve what we get!
Otherwise, "Give me Liberty or give me death."
Giving up freedom is too high a price and unnecessary. We can still be a safe and free country and retain our civil rights ONLY if we want to keep them. If not, then we deserve what we get!
When a cataclysmic event occurs, it will be America's defining moment. And if that takes Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace Prize, so be it. (he deserves to win). Whatever happens I have a fair amount of confidence Americans will do what it takes.
As long as hope still exists the dream we share is not entirely lost.
Comment by serena1313 — September 21, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Dream on, pal. I think your post is wildly optimistic. If Gore wins the Peace Prize, the media will minimalize it as much as possible, and the story will be preempted by some shockingly important story such as Paris Hilton having Britney's baby, or O.J. trying to flee the country in a white Bronco. Meanwhile, Bush will do his part to distract by visiting Australia again. I hope you are right, but I just have to doubt it.
Comment by Steve Hood — September 21, 2007 @ 6:36 pm
RR and Igor are pushing the party of child molestors, whores, rascist, bigots, military refuseniks, hypocrites, liars, thieves and cheats for any Nobel prizes.
Comment by fascismisdead — September 21, 2007 @ 6:45 pm
Though I wish some of what you posture was true. I simply don't believe the US media will make much of Al Gore winning the Nobel Peace prize if he does.
They certainly aren't going to give him much of their time and energy and without a microphone, little of what he has to say will reach the average American's ears. At most, we will get comments about how much weight he has gained or lost.
The US media does not like Al Gore or what he stands for and they control the primary information conduits to the American people.
Comment by Liane Wagner — September 21, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
If Gore wins the Nobel prize, the American media will ignore it the same way they ignored the street demo (100,000+) in Washington last weekend. Like Pravda in Stalin's day. Orwellian. It will be as if it had never happened. The distractions (O.J., film personalities, etc.) will count for more.
Comment by B. Blogman — September 21, 2007 @ 7:28 pm
Al Gore is more like Paul Revere, a genuine patriot. Only this time what's coming is global flooding.
Comment by Sarah McKee — September 21, 2007 @ 8:18 pm
Isn't it about time for you 2(Igor & Rosencrans) to move to Israel with the other racists, extremists, and flat Earthers. Just a thought you cowardly recreants. You're a joke. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Comment by VettaKing — September 21, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
"This ain’t a physics, chemistry, or medicine Nobel prize, this is the one for the current liberal world darlings."
Comment by Igor R. — September 21, 2007
You mean the 90% of the world with a brain. Loser.
Comment by VettaKing — September 21, 2007 @ 9:29 pm
Fantastic! Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" made me intensely aware of the climate crisis. Just today, I shared with my class an important fact from the film: Of over 600 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles about global warming exactly 0 expressed any doubt about whether the climate crisis was real, whether it was serious, whether we are causing the problem. In contrast, 53% of newspaper and popular magazine articles expressed the doubts listed above. Exxon-Mobile public relations professionals feed lazy corporate media lies and the media turns around and feeds it to every gullible, partisan American who is willing to swallow those lies. We need a true revolution of values and I am delighted to see Vice President Gore leading the way. I hope, I pray that the announcement of the Nobel Prize will push citizens to demand that Mr. Gore run for the Presidency. If Clinton and Obama have any sense of decency, respect, and love for this nation they will step aside and allow Gore to ascend to the office that he was blocked from by the U.S. Supreme Court's ignoring the will of the voters. RUN AL, RUN!
Comment by Cindy H. — September 21, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
Ooooh, such sour grapes from the 29%. You go ahead and keep backing that nutcase Bush and you'll be joining your 'lord' sooner than you think. WW3, or worse is right around the corner, so snicker and giggle about the current 'liberal darlings' till your little fat bellys are full, then get ready to enjoy that new waterfront property in Arizona.
Comment by Harry Lime — September 21, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
"there will be a powerful, compelling and global discussion of the America that has been and should always be a genuine beacon of hope and light for the world. … there will be saturation coverage of the dangers to Planet Earth .. There will be a national and global debate, led by Gore"
No there won't, no there won't, no there won't. The media (owned by right-wing and big money interests) will ignore it, the public will tune in to American Idol, and those few aware of it will dismiss the Nobel prize as some cheese-eating european surrender-monkey irrelevance.
"Within hours of the Nobel announcement there would be a global statement of American ideals, American values, American traditions and American notions that have been honored for more than 200 years"
A statement by whom, exactly? On behalf of whom? This is pure fantasy. The legitimate representative of the american people is their democratically elected representative body, and they are too busy stuffing their pockets with campaign contributions. Anyone else is a self-appointed popinjay.
Oh, and as for the "becon of hope and light" malarkey, your nation was built on the backs of slaves. Even now, there is no US law I know of stating that a person cannot own another person - that a person is not such a thing as can be owned. There is nothing more hilarious that Americans touting their precious constitution, when under that very constitution one in six persons was kept in chains, their backs laid open by the whip.
Comment by Paul M — September 21, 2007 @ 10:10 pm
And while I'm at it: global in what sense? Will the millions of africans, threatened by if no infected with AIDS know it? Will the billion or so chinese peasants in their farms and toy factories know it? The recent Dr Who hit the nail on the head - the president, meeting with the aliens on behalf of the world, addresses himself first to "My fellow americans". Perhaps I am not making my point clearly enough - perhaps it seems perfectly sane and ordinary to you that he should do so. I don't know.
Anyway.
The world's largest debtor nation is not a global leader. All you had was ownership of the oil (the lifeblood of modern civilisation) by way of military control of the middle east. Well, everyone now knows that the US can take, but cannot hold. And your main oil-producing posession - Saudi Arabia - is running out of the stuff. The situation is almost certainly worse than they admit. The oil of the east - Iran and all that - is going to be owned by the inscrutable cineese.
So fare thee well, USA, and thanks for all the cheeseburgers. Perhaps the next batch of kids will grow up to be more like their great-grandparents, but I doubt it.
Comment by Paul M — September 21, 2007 @ 10:27 pm
Now I understand the concept of tongue-in-cheek!
Comment by Tina Bung — September 22, 2007 @ 1:08 am
I certainly hope he wins. He speaks for many more, than the administration of hate which is presently in power. They do not speak for me, nor do the first 2 "commenters" on this board. Mean-spirited, nasty people, intent upon destroying our planet and using up its resources, should not have their way anymore. It is up to all of the world's people of noble intent to push to the finish line, if we are to avoid the final destruction!
Comment by krose — September 22, 2007 @ 1:25 am
Definitely Gore deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, but that will have zero effect on the so-called Democratic candidates Clinton and Obama. I hope, however, the rest of the crowd can break through the media blackout on them.
Comment by Mallory Mallory — September 22, 2007 @ 1:26 am
If this occurs, it will be a powerful transforming event in American politics that will bring a surge of patriotism and pride to a nation that has been torn by war, divided by partisanship, trapped in a quagmire and alienated from what Jefferson called the decent opinion of mankind.
Here in the real world, recent winners of the Nobel Peace Prize include megalomanaics like Henry Kissinger or Yassir Arafat, incompetents like Jimmy Carter or Kofi Annan– and also the Blue-helmeted kiddy-diddlers…
I'm sure that AlGore fits rather well among this 'august' group!
Comment by fletch — September 22, 2007 @ 2:29 am
Great article. Gore 2008!!!
Comment by Mike — September 22, 2007 @ 9:50 am
Had Bush not stolen the presidency from Al Gore, our country would not be in ruins, and 9/11 would have never happened. He was always for more airline security! He was the first political leader to recognize the importance of the Internet and to promote and support its development. He wrote a No. 1 Best Seller, "An Inconvenient Truth!” Al Gore rescued Katrina victims. While Bush fiddled, Al Gore chartered a rescue plane in early Sept. 2005 and flew to New Orleans to medEvac 100s of patients from Charity Hospital and bring them to Tennessee.
Comment by Nick — September 22, 2007 @ 10:50 am
one thing is sure, you ranting haters of the right will never have to worry about one of yours winning such a prize.
Comment by sue — September 22, 2007 @ 12:20 pm
I'll suggest that if Gore wins the Nobel, the mass media will recycle footage of his debate sighs and bogus tales of his claiming to have invented the Internet until America is lulled back to sleep. If that fails, Coulter and Inhofe will be paraded onscreen until any remaining Gore fandom is drowned out.
They can't fight Gore on facts, so they *will* attack him personally.
Comment by John — September 22, 2007 @ 2:52 pm
Isn't it amazing how the Gore lovers love to label other posters with names that you usually find in the minds of high schoolers? Do your mommies know where you are? Typical liberals.
They can't debate ideas so they resort to name calling reminiscent of ninth graders.
Comment by Robert Rosencrans — September 22, 2007 @ 4:47 pm
I like your optimistic comments BUT Jimmy Carter won the Nobel prize and hardly anyone knows because the "liberal media" does not talk about it. I hope YOU are right.
Comment by Jo — September 22, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
Chris, come on man, you're taking all this a bit too seriously. Just because I'm not a fan of Hillarita Peron-Clinton, Al "Don't I look like Steven Seagal with this new hairdo" Gore, Mo "It would be instanity to pretend that Iran can ever be bad" ElBaradei or Jimmah "The only real crime in history is the treatment of the Palestinians" Carter (not their actual quotes, really), don't call me a hater! Show your love for our beloved current President, appointed or otherwise! I mean YOU are not a hater, right???
Comment by Igor R. — September 22, 2007 @ 6:41 pm
To all my new friends, thanks for all the love you radiate!
Comment by Igor R. — September 22, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Al Gore is a divinity school dropout with no scientific understanding. He likes to be around science, he is interested in it and the internet, but the idea of the scientific method as in "you observe, make a theory, make experiments to prove or disprove the theory" and the idea that there is no full-proof theory is alien to him. So many people who like simplistic explanation look to him like he just came down from a mountain with a god-given "the Earth is dying from man-made global warming" commandment.
The data he used just got reshuffled and the hottest year of last century was in the thirties, not the nineties. Yet those of you who are his supporters don't care. You just love this "Capitalism is to blame, we are all gonna die unless we go back to horse and buggy other than Al Gore who will still need to fly private planes to spread the word" idea. Yet there is no proof at all that man is causing global warming. There is only "we know of no other explanation" and unprovent higly complex computer models. Keep believing your Goracle, that fad too will pass.
Comment by Igor R. — September 22, 2007 @ 7:53 pm
[…] (The piece can be found, in its entirety, at pundits.thehill.com/2007/09/21/if-al-gore-wins-the-nobel-peace-prize/.) […]
Pingback by -= NONE SO BLIND =- — September 24, 2007 @ 5:40 am
So Brent, how much does Gore pay you to post propaganda on his behalf? I hope it's well worthy the cost of your integrity.
Comment by John Simmons — September 24, 2007 @ 8:07 am
Global Warming Hysteria Debunked
http://www.euportal.cz/Articles/1852-global-warming-hysteria-or-freedom-and-prosperity-.aspx
Comment by Igor R. — September 24, 2007 @ 9:21 pm
Does this Bush family have connections to rig the Nobel Prize? They owe it to Al. America is awesome. Al Gore is America, both start with an A. George W. Bush is clearly not America, he has no A in his name (the A in Walker does not count, that is a pansy A). GO USA! SORRY OTHER COUNTRIES, YOU ARE NOT AS COOL AS US. We have coolness lessons for $20/hr.
Comment by Zidane — September 24, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
These fools even argue with science. they'll go searching for some dead ender to back up their ignorance. Thanks for the link, Igor.
Comment by Chris Calbi — September 25, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Zidane, no coolness lessons allowed, only "global hotness" lessons.
Comment by Igor R. — September 25, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Igor, do you still live at home in the basement? That is a lot of ranting your carrying on there. Did you vote for Dumbya?
Good job writing Brent.
We all know Al deserves to be the next President as he appears the only one with courage and knowledge. Just think, Gore beat Dumbya when Dumbya had credibility. Think what Al could do today now that we all know the GOP is a bunch of 'America haters'.
Who is the GOP perverts going to pick to run against Al? Fred Thompson, a lobbyist? Romney, the ethically and spiritually challenged geek? Giuliani, the crime-family thug? Larry Craig, the perverted hypocrit? Gingrich, the adulteress misfit?
Comment by Nancy McPar — September 25, 2007 @ 4:20 pm
Nance, you figured me out so completely! Feels good to be understood…
Comment by Igor R. — September 25, 2007 @ 7:04 pm
AMERICA FOR GORE: NATIONWIDE COALITION CREATED TO DRAFT AL GORE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2008
National Milestone Reached in Growing Grassroots Movement
BOSTON, Massachusetts—September 21, 2007—They are teachers and students, scientists and doctors, secretaries and CEOs, store clerks and store owners, factory workers and artists. They represent every demographic group and every geographic region in the country. They are everyday Americans, from coast to coast and across the political spectrum—Democrats, Independents, Republicans, conservatives, liberals, moderates. And they have two things in common: They have become involved in the political process (many for the first time), and they want Al Gore to run in the 2008 presidential election.
And, as of September 2007, the grassroots effort of these thousands of individuals has reached a milestone: They have joined together as a nationwide coalition—America for Gore.
America for Gore encompasses all the major and minor groups within the movement whose goal is to persuade Al Gore to run for president. Among the groups in the coalition are DraftGore.com, AlGore.org, Netroots for Gore, GoreHub.com, AlGore08 MySpace, Draft Gore Facebook groups, GoreforPresidentNow.com, Goreganic.com, RunDammit.com, RunGoreRun.com, and the Al Gore Support Center, as well as hundreds of Draft Gore meetups and groups nationwide. While the groups will continue to focus on their individual strategies, they will also be working together on important initiatives by sharing information, exchanging ideas, and mobilizing their members to help other groups within the coalition.
The America for Gore coalition is launching a new website—www.AmericaforGore.org—to establish a central location on the web for the coordination of this grassroots effort. America for Gore is not replacing existing websites, groups, and blogs. The individual websites of each organization will continue to exist as before, but the new coalition website will keep group members and the public informed and will act as a portal, directing Gore supporters to the member sites so the can become involved in the many different facets of the Draft Gore movement.
Members of the coalition cite Gore's unmatched political experience (eight years each in Congress, the Senate, and as Vice President), the fact that he won the popular vote in 2000, his early and outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq, and his commitment to solving the climate crisis as core strengths of a potential candidacy in 2008.
The formation of this coalition signals a significant increase in the sophistication of the Draft Gore movement as well as in the powers of coordination, recruitment, and influence of the movement.
By coordinating their activities, the groups hope to extend their reach, recruit more members, and increase their impact on the public's and the media's perception of Al Gore's strength as a candidate.
Comment by Draft Al Gore — September 28, 2007 @ 3:10 am
In the most simple of terms, this country is not prepared to elect Clinton or Obama for a multitude of tragic reasons. Hopefully Gore will win the Nobel and run for President–otherwise, we all had better take some Farsi lessons and prepare for an Iranian led WWIII.
Comment by Alan — October 7, 2007 @ 12:55 pm
America gave the world recorded sound, the telephone, the internet, powered flight, gave cures for tb and polio. rebuilt Europe after WWII and in a time when patriotism was at an all time high chose not to be conquerors and took no spoil.
The twentieth century for that reason was dubbed the American century. It was inovation and pioneering leadership that created it. America still has more to offer the world than guns and bombs.
This can not be a new American century if we allow conservative idealogues to prevail. There are new advances, ideas whose sheer force of genius will help define this century. If we pretend that climate change isn't a factor or that our role as the chief polluter in the world hasn't harmed our standing as conservatives do then we can not hope to have a new American century.
Gore winning an academic prize in a time when our schools are lagging behind other industrialized nations is a big symbolic achievement that has a serious affect on our standing in the global community`
Comment by gaby — October 8, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
oops, if we don't allow conservative idealogues to prevail. Sorry about the error
Comment by gaby — October 8, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Can we all act like grown-ups for a bit here.
I've lived through quite a bit of contemporary American history (I'm 54), and I think it's pretty silly to suggest that Al Gore winning a Nobel Prize will be an event of enormous transformation…please!!!
I know that right wingers would also stoop to such hyperbole if one of their own were to receive such notoriety; but, this is a bit much. If Gore gets the prize, he'll be rightfully lionized in the media; but, every day folks like myself (people who really have a life) won't be affected in the least.
Comment by Donn Wallace — October 10, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Al Gore is so wrong about human-caused global warming.
But I'm happy to see him join the ranks of Arafat, El Baradei, and Carter. He'll be right where he belongs.
Comment by oswald — October 11, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Why are neocons bashing Carters Nobel as well? Are they so elitist that they believe building homes for needy Americans and others is only something liberals should support? Or that mobilizing communities to help themselves isn't something evangelicals espouse anymore.
The thing that kills me in these upcoming elections is that NO republican nominee has a world profile and for all thier touting of leadership have nowhere near the amount of clout on foreign relations. The clintons even have a world summit! Hillary spent more time abroad than any first lady and gained tremendous adoration in the third world. Al is up for the Nobel, Richardson has been a nominee and served as ambassador to the U.N. He negotiated in North Korea Darfur and Iraq pluss he was energy secretary! Joe Biden is chairman of the senate foreign relations comitee. Jimmy Carter brokered at least a partial peace in the middle east and won global admiration for fighting poverty. Its not even worth comparing the two parties in these terms let alone thier current dismal candidates.
Comment by Gabe — October 11, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
I hope this guy is right…
Peace Scholar Picks Thich Quang Do As 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
San Francisco, CA – October 11, 2007 — “If I had to pick who will win this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, I’d go with Vietnamese monk Thich Quang Do,” declares Scott A. Hunt, peace scholar and author of the award-winning book The Future of Peace: On the Front Lines with the World’s Great Peacemakers. “He’s the real deal — a courageous, steadfast, peacemaker who, against seemingly insurmountable odds, has spent decades advocating for peace, justice, and religious freedom. He’s been imprisoned, interrogated, threatened, denounced, banished, and placed under house arrest, and still he has continued his struggle. ”
Comment by Matt Dunn — October 12, 2007 @ 3:20 am
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?
Comment by Brian — October 12, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
It's sad that, with all the people who are actually doing a BIG effort to achieve peace in the world, the Noble Peace Prize should be awarded to Al Gore. I believe that his cause is a good one, yet I don't see how it is related to the cause of peace. I see it as an issue that has to do with politics. When the rest of the world is told that Mr. Gore is doing the best thing anyone can do for peace is a sad story.
Comment by William — October 12, 2007 @ 8:05 pm
Go Green or Go Home
Local, city, county, state and the federal governments should be first to "go green." Politicians should not be elected to public office unless they agree to convert every government building and vehicle to renewable energy. There are at least three reasons why this should be so.
When all levels of government are taken into account, they control 40% of the economy. With that kind of economic incentive anyone who wants to sell to the government will hasten to meet the demands of its largest single buyer. Government will no longer have to pass laws to enforce cafe standards for instance. Rather the Government will simply tell auto companies, we want to replace our fleet of vehicles but will not buy anything that does get at least 50 mpg if it is gasoline based, or it must be a hybrid, or it must be fueled with renewable fuels.
Another reason Government should go green first is national security. Part of every oil dollar paid for Middle Eastern oil goes directly into the pocket of terrorists. If we convert to renewable fuels that we control, we defund terrorism and protect ourselves simultaneously.
Yet another reason to heed Al Gore’s clarion call on global warming is economic security. OPEC can not ruin our economy if we convert to renewable fuels that we control.
And finally, suppose Gore is right? When anyone hypes anything as much as AL Gore hypes global warming, I have my doubts. But I can’t see what is harmed by going green so why not? The military is doing some research on alternative and renewable energy. Whoever is the next president of the United States should institute a “Go Green or Go Home” policy for the military. Those who come up with energy saving devices or methods as well as those who implement alternative or renewable fuels should rise quickly through the ranks. Those who don’t should be encouraged to seek employment elsewhere. As resourceful as marines are, for instance, I would bet they could make surprising advances in fueling everything from jeeps to an entire base through alternative means if left to their own devices. The military has through it’s contractors developed the most effective weapons in the world. If this same level of effort is turned toward greening the military we will be a safer, more secure, and more independent nation. We will create new jobs and industries and the air and water will get cleaner as a benefit.
Comment by Poetryman — October 13, 2007 @ 6:10 am
Just what event do you suppose would be so "transforming" other than the megalomaniacal Gore-leoni annoucing a bid - whick he won't but, if he did it would be a bust for Hillary and a boon for social conservatives as they get a better chance of leeser known but better qualified candidates a chance for the RNC bid… U have no clue what woul dposiible be so aupsicious about, maybe its them hemp flakes?
Comment by That Darn Republican — October 13, 2007 @ 2:08 pm
Nobel Peace Prize: NEW Global Warming Deodorant
AP – Al Gore has for a long time been full of hot air. He has a vivid imagination about the world around him. His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change. Al’s basic mistrust of the seasons may stem from an episode of the Twilight Zone, in which the Earth gets too close to the Sun. Summers are by nature hot & sticky, and Gore is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures needed to create a more effective global antiperspirant, thereby save the planet.
If former college roommate, Tommy Lee Jones, could save the City of Los Angeles from an errant volcano, and the world from a giant cockroach in Men In Black, then certainly big Al Gore deserves a prize for his Global Warming Deodorant Initiative to control perspiration, thus prevent the meltdown of Earth. Now, use the same effective ingredients and trusted formula that kept our leaders dry during the Cold War. As the planet heats up, you don’t have to! Clinton tested: guaranteed to leave no trace: http://theseedsof9-11.com
Comment by Peggy McGilligan — October 13, 2007 @ 10:36 pm