I was just thinking about that very thing last night as I was shaking my head over the apparent amnesia of lefty freeperville.
I personally believe Gore really doesn't want to run again, but the man is not without ego, and he must on one level at least be amused by the level of adulation he couldn't
buy six years ago.
It amazes me how much of politics is based on kneejerk, gut level, primitive reactions rather than rational thought. But that being the case, it's obvious that once the voting public came face to face with Al Gore, candidate, the things that bothered people about him last time would reassert themselves - maybe not for the newly converted, but for the average voter. The media, without a doubt, did a huge number on Gore - trashed him, slimed him, and generally beat up on him just because they could. But he ain't perfect. NO. ONE. IS. How hard is that to understand?????
I blogged
yesterday about this piece by Jamison Foser at
Media Matters. I don't agree with all of it, but this part really rang true to me:
Why do we insist on revisiting ancient history? Because the same garbage keeps happening over and over again. Because too many people -- journalists, activists, progressive leaders -- downplay the media's failings. Sure, they went overboard with Clinton, they say, but sex sells. But it wasn't just sex, and it wasn't just Clinton. Sure, they were a bit unfair to Al Gore, someone might concede, but he had it coming -- he was stiff and insincere. But it isn't just Al Gore. Sure, too many reporters may have been complicit in the so-called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth's smears of John Kerry, but he invited it by speaking openly and honestly about his service. Sure, Howard Dean's "scream" was overplayed, but he had it coming -- it was crazy! Sure, media elites fawn all over Bush, but he's just so likable! And John McCain, too. And Rudy Giuliani. They're all just so real and authentic.
At this point, you'd have to be blind to miss the pattern. Every prominent progressive leader who comes along is openly derided in the media as fake, dishonest, conniving, out-of-the-mainstream, and weak. We simply can't continue to chalk this up to shortcomings on the part of Democratic candidates or their staff and consultants. It's all too clear that this will happen regardless of who the candidate or leader is; regardless of who works for him or her.
Ahem.