NYT/Reuters: Gore Unsure Of Political Aptitude: Report

[speedoo]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/washington/politics-gore.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

(snip)

Former Vice President Al Gore isn't sure he has the 'aptitude for politics' it would take to be elected president, but he has not ruled out running in 2008, he told the Tennessean newspaper.

Gore, who has repeatedly said he has no plans to run for president, said on Friday at a signing event for his new book "The Assault on Reason," that he wasn't sure he has what it takes to be elected president in today's political climate.

"I don't expect to get into this race," he said in a story on the paper's Web site. "I have given the reasons why. I strongly prefer to serve in other ways.

"I haven't definitely ruled out a return to politics for the rest of my life, but I don't expect to re-enter politics because I don't think I'm very good at some of the things that the modern political system rewards and requires," he added, saying his "aptitude for politics" did not match what is required in the political system today.

(snip)

Okay, Mr. Gore, understood. But your country needs you as president. You can hire people "with the aptitude". Just not Donna Brazile, but there are lots of others who could take care of that side of the business.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I think he's saying he doesn't want to go through the pandering

for cash, the willingness to compromise and shift positions in accordance with the polls, the sticking to meaningless sound bytes, the whole disgusting game. I doubt that his intent is to praise those who do have "the aptitude for politics."

I can understand that. Too bad that all the qualities that detract from "the aptitude for politics" are exactly the ones required of a statesman.

While on that rap, I would throw in that we haven't had a statesman in the White House since Harry Truman except for brief flashes of statesmanship from Eisenhower & Carter.

[speedoo]

3. I would add JFK.

"While on that rap, I would throw in that we haven't had a statesman in the White House since Harry Truman except for brief flashes of statesmanship from Eisenhower & Carter."

Certainly a flawed man, but he was certainly a statesman at times. See Cuban Missile Crisis for starters.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. I guess I would disagree with you about the Missile Crisis

as an example, because I think the whole thing was one of those avoidable testosterone episodes. He was playing chicken with the Russians, and all of us were unwilling passengers in the back seat. The whole thing had started with our nuclear games in Turkey, and Khruschev was tatting our tit (to coin a phrase).

JFK was certainly more flawed than we knew at the time, but he certainly had some statesmanlike moments. I would cite his creation of the Peace Corps, his setting the vision for the moon landing, and some things like that.

[patricia92243]

4. Gore should run as a Statesman - not as a politician.

[CitizenLeft]

2. I hope he enters too...

...Gore/Obama is my dream ticket. But I think he means, he doesn't have the "knack" of selling himself like, say, Obama does naturally - the jibes at him being "stiff" and coming off as "elite" - I think that's what he means. But as I was reading that, and thinking that, it occurred to me... what better way to offset such criticisms than to admit to them? I'm not saying that's what he's doing, that admitting his weakness is a "strategy," though it would be very savvy - it would totally undercut those criticisms and make the average person nod and say, neither do I. What I'm saying is, to admit that you don't have the ability to bullshit and pose to sell yourself would actually come off as an asset, not a liability, in this political race. It separates him from other studied "politicians" without actually jibing at them. That may or may not be his intention. Time will tell.

That's my take on it, anyway.

[Jackpine Radical]

5. And maybe that's exactly what he's doing.

Maybe he's playing chess & all nattering and chattering classes will mistake if for checkers.