There is no way Al Gore is running for President. The Democratic Party will not allow it. Though Gore is more qualified to run than any of the Democratic Party contenders currently in the race, the Party elite have already settled on a candidate, and we all know who she is. Right now Hillary Clinton is on a glide path to the nomination, and there is no way she is stepping aside. The Party does not want the knock-down drag-out fight that a Gore-Clinton race would play out to be, and I am sure that behind the scenes they are telling Gore's people he dare not run, or suffer the consequences. Though Gore would be a better candidate in the long run, he will not risk it. Afterall, in his current situation he remains popular without ever having to deliver on anything. He can cotinue jetting around the world making a fortune off of global warming, without ever actually doing anything to reverse it. Al has gone Hollywood, so now he can "Raise Awareness" all the way to the bank.

Al should run. But he won't. Running would take real courage.

Instead, he will take the pious Jimmy Carter route, and wag his finger at everyone for the next twenty years. What a big help that will be.

Paranoid silliness. Clinton is way ahead because she earned it. Don't tell me that there weren't "elites" who did and still do feel nauseous at the thought of HRC as their nominee. Gore has had a very big hand in a major change in public opinion regarding climate change; a shift that may (still conditional) in some very big policy changes and possibly a better future for us. This is not "nothing." And he don't need the money and isn't that interested. He's not running because he doesn't want to; really doesn't; really, really doesn't. He's found his role, and lucky us. You should be so lucky.

Possible. But I'm not sure the dem leadership is 100% behind Hillary. I do think they don't want a huge huge fight that will leave them weak against the republicans.

I think Al wants the dems to win, and he wants to preserve gravitas. To do that, he must wait until a frontrunner emerges and endorse them wholeheartedly. If he backs someone now, it will be a disunifying move. And if he pick doesn't win the nomination, he will be less credible if he assisted the nominated dem.

Al Gore "Really, Really, Really, Really" wants to be President. He spent his whole adult life wanting it, and actually got the most votes (popular votes, I don't believe he got the most votes in Florida, but we can argue forever on that one) so you just know its killing him that he is the best person for the job, but he has to sit on the sidelines.

Al is basking in the limelight of celebrity now, but he knows deep down inside, this type of fame is fleeting. Unless he make it into the White House, he will only be a foot note in the history books. He has the best qualifications of all currently running, he just does not have the guts to run. Why would he want to spend the next year shleping around America, shaking hands with slobs like us, when he can hang out with the beautiful people of Hollywood. You know, people like Al, who may not themselves be an historical figure, but play one on TV.

Hitchens has it right. If Gore does not run it will prove that he is all talk and no walk. He may never admit to it, but if Al Gore sits this one out, he will spend the rest of his life living with regret.

Due respect, I think you misread Gore's history. He's also not that good at the political game. I think you've got a little class warfare/envy goin' on there.

Yep, idiotic. Why can't Gore have a midlife career change? He seems happier now. And being president of the USA would currently be a demotion. Nobel Prize winners can do better than sit in the office stained by Bill Clinton and GW Chey..er Bush.

See, this is exactly what I mean. Gore is really raking in the cash doing next to nothing, and you are all patting him on the back for it. If he really cared about America and the World, he would run for President, and make happen the things he claims need to happen. Unless he does not really believe in any of the things he says.

It would be an extremely difficult path to follow. I think Al is going to stay on easy street.

Oh yes, and is it not ironic that someone would be accused of class envy while speaking out about a Democrat. I guess working slobs like us need to just mind or place, keep our mouths shut, and stop being so uppity.

No, it is not ironic. Just non-categorical. You're talking about raking in cash, hobnobbing, etc, vrsus "working slobs." That's class you're talking about, Karl.