Archive for Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Clinton campaign sizes up Gore
February 27, 2007
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Washington — Al Gore doesn’t seem to be watching his weight these days, but Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s people certainly are.
Some members of Clinton’s team, concerned that the global warming warrior might jump into the 2008 race despite his denials, have been monitoring the former vice president’s girth. A svelte Gore is a presidential Gore, they reason.
But they might not have much to worry about, judging from the stressed seams on Gore’s Ralph Lauren tuxedo Oscar night.
“If he’s running, he’ll start losing weight fast,” said a Clinton insider, who didn’t want to be identified. “Judging from where he is now, I’d say he’s not running. … But that could change fast.”
That opinion was confirmed by one of the former vice president’s closest friends, who also requested anonymity.
“When Al Gore decides to do something, he gets into physical shape,” the person said. “When he was campaigning in 2000, he would have a treadmill in his room. … Gore is a former athlete, he’s a very competitive man, just ask anybody who’s ever played a game of pick-up basketball with him.”
But one Gore insider cautioned against waistline-gazing, saying Gore was watching Clinton as closely as she is watching him.
“I don’t think if you asked him today if he were running for president, he’d know one way or another,” the person said, not wanting to be identified. “But if she stumbles, I guess he’ll have to lose weight on the campaign trail.”
Clinton’s supporters are hoping that never happens. Clinton scheduled three environmental announcements in upstate New York on Monday, hours after Gore spoke at the Academy Awards.
She told reporters that she watched Gore’s speech and was inspired by his plea to “exercise the will to begin to change.”
The former first lady announced that she was introducing legislation to increase incentives for clean coal production and a bill that would create a strategic energy fund financed by a tax on oil company profits.
Gore allowed his weight to yo-yo during his eight years as vice president, toting along exercise gear on Air Force Two when he needed to slim down. In 1997, he ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington with a respectable time of 4:58:25, three years after tearing an Achilles tendon playing hoops.
In January, Donna Brazile, Gore’s campaign manager in 2000, told students at Moravian College in Pennsylvania that Gore stood a good chance of running if he “has slimmed down 25 or 30 pounds” by Oscar night.
She hedged a bit after seeing him collect the best documentary award for “An Inconvenient Truth” on Sunday.
“He looked great in that Ralph Lauren tuxedo, didn’t he?” she said with a laugh. “He looked presidential.”
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27 February 2007 at 9:16 a.m.
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lounger (Anonymous) says…
I dont care if he is 300 pounds!! He is a modern hero who single handedly brought global worming to the fore to a society in denial.
27 February 2007 at 9:56 a.m.
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davisnin (Anonymous) says…
It would have been a better movie if it had actually been about global warming instead of a movie about how great he was for getting paid to lecture and how he was screwed in the election. I heard on the radio yesterday that his mansion uses as much energy in a month as the average home uses in a year. Then there is his private jet.
The EV1 died on his watch.
27 February 2007 at 10:06 a.m.
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jonas (Anonymous) says…
I agree, flounder. There were not enough people talking about global worming. I mean, think of the earth as a giant apple. Now, put a worm in the apple! You see the problem?! you see the problem?!
27 February 2007 at 11:51 a.m.
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BigDog (Anonymous) says…
Gore isn't going anywhere soon, his main support now is college age adults and most of them either don't vote or are more excited about Obama. Gore's appeal is really limited when you compare him to the other Democratic candidates.
27 February 2007 at 12:06 p.m.
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couranna1 (Anonymous) says…
Congrats to Al Gore on winning the Oscar. Those who do not believe global warming an issue are simply stupid.
Better to have won an Oscar than be a war mongering criminal like bushie although bushie was exposed in film Farenheit 9/11
27 February 2007 at 12:42 p.m.
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davisnin (Anonymous) says…
…believe global warming [is] an issue…simply stupid.
Like that Oscar was based on the movie being the best documentary. You don't have to disbelieve in global warming to believe that movie was a self-aggrandizing Gore love fest.
27 February 2007 at 12:52 p.m.
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Rationalanimal (Anonymous) says…
“who single handedly brought global worming to the fore to a society in denial”
“global worming”
You got that right. Gore is the best worming expert this country's seen in a long time.
27 February 2007 at 1:27 p.m.
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lounger (Anonymous) says…
rationalanimal…i didnt know we were being graded today..global warming. feel better now? just the fact that he brought it to our attention with a film is more than 99.9 percent of the population has done. not a perfect film but it stared more discussions and that is what we need, unless of couse you just want to check spelling all day.
27 February 2007 at 1:55 p.m.
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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
“…but it stared more discussions and that is what we need, unless of couse you just want to check spelling all day.”
Did you mean “…it started more discussions…”
27 February 2007 at 2:29 p.m.
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lounger (Anonymous) says…
wow no wonder we have global warming. people are hung up on some really important things..like spelling. remember when its 110 outside this summer and not letting up for weeks to check for spelling in you AC cooled SUV.
27 February 2007 at 2:34 p.m.
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merrill (Anonymous) says…
Gore may be in a far better position than most think. Just because he has yet to declare and he is not runnung around the country campaigning as such does not put him out of the race. Name recognition is not a problem and he could well take Hollywood away from Hillary whom is becoming a disappointment. Clinton's seem to think they own the party and too many seem to worship the Clintons which I believe is not healthy for democracy.
Why americans have not become enraged over perpetual campaigning I have yet to understand. Candidates spend too many hours a day on the campaign trail which for elected officials is irresponsible for we did not elect them to spend so much time seeking special interest money. They fly all over the country seeking money.
27 February 2007 at 2:49 p.m.
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lounger (Anonymous) says…
obamillary.. it works both ways (hot and cool). in the film gore talks about it.
27 February 2007 at 2:57 p.m.
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davisnin (Anonymous) says…
Lounger,
That movie is what brought global warming to your attention? Not the 15 or more years of discussions that proceeded it?
Any-who, I know for a fact that my 'carbon footprint' is less than 1/50th of Gores or any other activist celebrity for that matter. 350 sq ft apt, all CFLs, 8 miles a day in a compact used car.
Gore: 10,000(at least) sq ft mansion plus 2 others, private Gulf-stream III, limousines.
27 February 2007 at 3:09 p.m.
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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…
Interesting article I read today…
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?sectio…
27 February 2007 at 3:15 p.m.
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snap_pop_no_crackle (Anonymous) says…
That does it! I'll never buy a Gore-Tex coat again! I won't support such a wasteful lifestyle as Al Gore is leading.
27 February 2007 at 3:16 p.m.
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lounger (Anonymous) says…
this has to be my last comment to you davisnin because you assume. you are not alone with your small carbon footprint. us poor folk dont have a big footprint and thats a good thing. it is also very silly of you to assume that the gore film is how anybody found out about global warming. its been alot longer than 15 years and i drive a compact used care as well. 4 miles with a LEV honda. i guess this is the problem with the peeps on the positive side—we cant get along. i wish you well and keep the footprint small.
27 February 2007 at 4:02 p.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
Hillary is sizing up Gore? She doesn't know by know how big he is after all those nights in the White House?
27 February 2007 at 7:49 p.m.
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hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…
20 degree bend would that be like the Kaw just west of where “hawkperchedatriverfront” is?
27 February 2007 at 10:40 p.m.
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Marion Lynn (Marion Lynn) says…
AlGore is a hypocrite in the Rosie O'Donnell mould!
Thanks.
Marion.