Al Gore. According to James Traub, Gore has achieved something beyond rock-star status:
A woman in a blazing orange shirt emerged from her flight, did a double take and cried, “Isn’t that AL GORE?!” There was no ignoring this fan. As she came over to thank Gore for trying to save the planet, I saw that my bags were in the way. “I’ll move them,” I said; and Gore, before he could think, said, “No, don’t.”
Six years after the Supreme Court declared him the loser of a presidential race that seemed his for the taking, Al Gore has attained what you can only call prophetic status; and he has done so by acting as he could not, or would not, as a candidate — saying precisely what he believes, and saying it with clarity, passion, intellectual mastery and even, sometimes, wit. Everywhere he goes, people urge him, almost beg him, to run for the presidency.
If you read the entire column, you will appreciate that Traub seems to be much of a true believer, too - both in MM global warming and Al Gore's mythic abilities to lead the world away from disaster. Catch lines like this one:
The very fact that Gore feels that this requires an explanation shows what a high-minded rationalist he is.
Ah, yes. Gore has the intellect and mind above most others. Those of us who don't agree with his explanations are thick-headed or slow-witted.
The New York Times is still considered by many to be the finest daily paper in the nation. (My personal favorite remains the Washington Post.) Irrespective, however, of your opinions on this matter, I find both the language and the so-called facts used to describe Gore and MM global warming truly to teeter on that of the faithfully religious. Man-made global warming is The Way It Is. Those who profess skepticism, or who think that "the cure" may be worse than the disease are dismissed with rolling of eyes and a snort.
Al Gore may play well among the True Believers. Whether he would ever play in Peoria - or elsewhere outside the liberal coasts - is the question.
My guess is that many Republicans would love to find out.
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