Would Al consider being Barack's VP?

I think Gore would be very happy having a special cabinet position made for him and being told by Obama: "We'll give you everything you need. Just fix the environment." I don't think he'd be VP, just because he's been there/done that and found out how confining it is. Note that Al's message in the last 6 months or so has changed from "It's up to each person to fix the climate crisis" to "We can't do it alone -- we need lawmakers to lead the way to fix global warming." His message has become more government-focused. His timing is never coincidence. He's too smart for that.

Hillary, on the other hand, I think, would be very happy with VP. She'd line up well in 8 years, she'd bring in all the populated states that Obama didn't "win" in the primaries, etc. They do actually agree on a lot of things, Obama and Clinton. And it'd make a great ticket -- just a super powerhouse of politicos. I think she'd be perfectly happy if Barack sat down with her, hashed out a common healthcare policy (middle ground? Hillary's?), and said to her: "We'll give you everything you need. Just fix healthcare." There would be two huge domestic problems virtually taken care of right there.

The problem in my scenario, of course, is that that would mean that Hill and Al would have to work closely together. And I don't think they get along. Not to mention where Bill would insert himself in the mix.

Dem primary is dragging on and on

An interesting opinion piece in the NYPost yesterday about how Gore could save the party. Yes, a slim shot, but with the "kitchen sink" and the venom-and-fang approach of Hillary and the I'm-above-all-that-silliness approach from Barack, does that leave us with a horribly divided Democratic party (if Clinton gets the nom) or an easy list of insults from which McCain to pick from (if Obama gets the nom)? What's option C?

I wish Clinton would cut it out, but my opinion of her has been well-documented on this blog. I can't say I'm all that surprised by her tactics these days.

Rumors still circulate

The Nashville City Paper's Steve Gill put pretty succinctly what a lot of Dems are now thinking... Hillary's popularity is widespread but shallow and not really a shoe-in to win the election if she's nominated -- a fact that itself is resting on delicate glass. Obama would be a wonderful VP or probably a great president in about 8 years, but he's just not ripe yet. Edwards, sad to say, probably doesn't have the following to get the nomination. That would leave the DNC practically begging Gore. Could it happen? I still think so. After all he's been through in respect to politics and all that the "race" these days encompasses, though, can you blame him for sticking to the sidelines now? I can't. But I still think his time will come to lead us.

The winning ticket

will be Gore and John Edwards, I think. That's my prediction. Or hope. Or whatever you want to call it.

Barack's too junior, but will come into some major spotlight over the next 8-12 years. He's a great guy, believes all the right things, I ADORE his wife, but I think he's not tested enough to win. Give him a few years and you won't be able to NOT vote for him. I'd love for Barack to be our first African-American president; I think he just has to ripen first.

Hillary's too, well, Hillary. I think a great many people won't vote for her (thereby making the race closer than it has to be; the Dems don't want a close race) because she's dramatic and class, but not in a way that make people love her. Or, to put it another way, she's one of those women you love or hate and I'm not sure that is enough to stand up to whomever the Pubs put up. That being said, I think it's about freaking time a woman got this far into the race. She knows the ropes of the White House, which is a clear asset. I think her role in this election isn't to win the nod, though; I think she's in this election to shake up the election-weary voters and people who don't usually vote.

Who else do we know who knows the White House from the inside...? Lemme think... ;-)

Speaking of pontificating on the future, Paul (my fiance) thinks Gore will be pulled by his ears up to the stage at the Democratic National Convention and voted onto the ticket there. He thinks Al needs to be drafted. That being said, Paul's not known for his accurate predictions...

Clinton foresees Gore in the race

Now even Bill Clinton thinks Gore will run. A Gore-Obama team sounds good, too.

Gore vs. Guiliani

Mock polls are unusual animals. This one pits Gore against Guiliani, with Gore winning 45% against the former NYC mayor's 42%. Here's a tidbit:

In a mock head-to-head, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton got 45 percent to Giuliani's 44 percent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama tied Giuliani with 42 percent and former Vice President Al Gore, who also is not in the race, got 45 percent to Giuliani's 43 percent.