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Incoherent letters to the editor are expressing outrage over the rumors about Al Gore’s nomination. Damian Thompson brought up the tired old argument that Al Gore produces greenhouse gases by existing (which are preferable to the plague of mind-numbing stupidity Thompson’s columns invoke in his readers). Faux News commentators were practically falling over one another to portray the possibility as a vast liberal conspiracy (also see here and here (And remember, They report, you decide!).
But the fact that the very same people whose ideology has made the United States less-safe and increased animosity toward Americans all over the world are outraged that the former Vice President is a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize is not enough to justify awarding it (Although, their fury does warm my heart!). It’s also important that all this lobbying for Al Gore to take it could backfire, and prompt the Nobel committee to chose someone else. MSNBC notes that most Nobel Peace Prize winners are awarded after they’ve hit their peak.
At this point, Al Gore’s list of accomplishments is so great the Nobel Peace Prize would be superfluous. The man was the most influential politician in the development of the Internet (and never said he invented it as some urban legends claim), in 2005 Gore was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award “for three decades of contributions to the Internet” at The Webby Awards, and his recent book The Assault on Reason stresses the importance of the Internet in the cross-pollination of ideas and promoting democracy.
He’s got 24 accomplished years in politics. He served in Vietnam despite his opposition to the war and an opportunity to serve in the National Guard instead. Today he’s focused on educating the public and informing policy on Climate Change.
Al Gore doesn’t have to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The man totally #$&%ing rocks enough all ready without it.
Even if Gore does win the prize, it won’t prompt him to run for President. To do so would actually detract from his cause and vindicate all those rabid wingnuts who think his environmental concerns are just a ploy to win public office. Just like his humorous attempt to declare his intention to run for President at the Academy Awards was part of his nefarious plot to win in 2008 (Satire Alert!).
Gore has much more power and freedom presently than he would as an elected official, and he will accomplish even more serving in our next president’s cabinet. Al Gore is America’s unofficial ambassador to the world, and he’s loving it. #&%$ poly-tics.
As for the liberal conspiracy network (the ominous fourth part of the insidious Axis of Evil), the Herald Tribune dispels some of the myths Faux News is propagating about the Nobel Peace Prize being so easily influenced.
Besides. Al Gore winning the prize would be vastly more defendable than Rush Limbaugh (not satire alert!).