When the inevitable question came -- his intentions about 2008 -- he said politics "rewards a tolerance for artifice, repetition, triviality that I don't have in as great supply as I might have had when I was younger."That's been obvious in recent years -- and is also the source of Gore's tremendous appeal to the Democratic base these days. Harris adds:
Gore these days sounds more like a social commentator than a politician, and he says that is not an accident. From a liberal perspective, Gore has been prescient on large questions -- global warming, the role of technology, and the Iraq war -- but he said it does not necessarily follow from that that he should seek the presidency.That sounds more like another prescient analytic point than a hint that he might re-enter the fray."I think there are lot of things about politics as it has evolved that I'm not really that good at," he said. "Some people find out earlier in their lives, that they're not good at what they've chosen to do." He interjected a self-deprecating laugh. Then he turned serious again. "And I'm not being falsely humble. I think there are some things I do quite well ... There are a lot of things about the political system that I don't enjoy and I think those are mostly the same things that I don't think I'm necessarily good at."
That sounds plausible. For the first 25 years of his public career, Gore was a restless and unconventional mind disguised by one of the most painfully conventional public images in politics. It is too late in this election cycle -- and perhaps in any future one -- for Gore to run a conventional campaign. The media advisers and fundraisers and strategists have all moved on to others.
But Gore finished the conversation with the hint -- not stated, just implied -- that he still might be tempted by the prospect of an unconventional campaign, one that uses the Web and ideas to create a new political order.
"The solutions to what ails American democracy will take some time and will have to come from a broad engagement by people who do use the new opportunities and tools that are becoming available," he said.
"And I think that out of that evolutionary process there may emerge opportunities for new kinds of candidates in both parties."
--Garance Franke-Ruta
