Is Gore the New Nixon?

November 25, 2002 7:38 AM

Is Gore the New Nixon? The disembodied heads of Al Gore and Tricky Dick shared the screen in Futurama's season premiere. But the kinship between the two men goes deeper. Nixon won the White House twice, in spite of his critics and his own lack of charisma. Gore's done it once -- why not a second time? The Situation Room's analysis (which was inspired by Frank Rich's piece on Gore in Saturday's NY Times) offers food for thought, as the first outlines of the 2004 campaigns begin to take shape.
posted by Artifice_Eternity (43 comments total)

And both got kicked out of the presidency!
posted by KnitWit at 7:41 AM on November 25, 2002

Gore's done it once -- why not a second time?

Really? When was he our President?
posted by Plunge at 7:45 AM on November 25, 2002

Both are liars, too.

(Hey, A_E started the trolling!)
posted by dagny at 7:49 AM on November 25, 2002

I would just like to comment on how bitter I am that football keeps going over into Futurama and I don't see it because I am on the east coast.
posted by benjh at 7:52 AM on November 25, 2002

dagny is another foot soldier in an army that cares nothing about him. Another example of the cruel viciousness that the right wing can produce.
posted by four panels at 8:04 AM on November 25, 2002

Hey, did you hear that Nixon had a secretary named Gore, and Gore had a secretary named Nixon?
posted by Stan Chin at 8:06 AM on November 25, 2002

Another example of the cruel viciousness that the right wing can produce.

Ah yes, I loved Daschle's attempt to say talk radio leads to the end of civilization as we know it. Particularly this:

"When I was accused of being an obstructionist, there was a corresponding, a very significant increase in the number of issues that my family and I had to deal with."

Now the funny thing about this news conference (which unfortunately cannot be seen in this CNN article/photo) is that while Daschle was talking, there was a large presentation board behind him, with the title "Repulbican Obstructionism", and a dozen or so talking points Dem's were supposed to use.

While I realize four panels is simply a "foot soldier" in the army that mouths whatever talking points the dems wish to distribute - Daschle is just playing pure politics. If you can't answer someone's charges, try instead to marginalize them. The Dems have not yet figured out how to deal with talk radio.

Curiously, if one steps back from alledged "threats", and looks at the actual civil violence that has occured over the last few years ... it has come from two sources: Arab terrorists, and far left anti-globalization protesters.

Might suggest lefties get their own fringe under control before trying to talk about right wing "visciousness".
posted by MidasMulligan at 8:24 AM on November 25, 2002

Oh, sure, right-wingers never bombed abortion clinics or a federal building in Oklahoma City.
posted by raysmj at 8:27 AM on November 25, 2002

Might suggest lefties get their own fringe under control before trying to talk about right wing "visciousness".

What raysmj said, plus 'oh, fuck you, you lying fuck' for good measure.

(It's 'viciousness', by the way. Astal Shurgged, anyone?)

Daschle is just playing pure politics.

Yeah, right: and so many bastions of conservatism and capitalism got anthrax in the post, didn't they?
posted by riviera at 8:39 AM on November 25, 2002

I do hope, by the way, that Gore runs in 2004. And that the Clintons get out there very publicly. And that Nancy Pelosi crafts the Democratic message.
posted by MidasMulligan at 8:40 AM on November 25, 2002

What raysmj said, plus 'oh, fuck you, you lying fuck' for good measure.

Thanks, by the way, for further evidence of warm, liberal compassion. Yep, those Republicans really need to get a handle on their vicious rhetoric.
posted by MidasMulligan at 8:43 AM on November 25, 2002

I still dislike Gore from the whole PMRC bullshit, not because he plays for or against "my side".
posted by stifford at 8:44 AM on November 25, 2002

Al Gore will be hosting Saturday Night Live on December 14. Should be fun.
posted by Silune at 8:58 AM on November 25, 2002

Curiously, if one steps back from alledged "threats", and looks at the actual civil violence that has occured over the last few years ... it has come from two sources: Arab terrorists, and far left anti-globalization protesters.

Three words. Murrah Federal Building. Need I say more?
posted by octobersurprise at 9:08 AM on November 25, 2002

At least y'all got to see Futurama last night. It was preempted by the NFL in Nashville. I mean, sure we all love football, but this is Futurama we're talking about. FUTURAMA!

Oh, and any comparison between Gore and Nixon is specious at best. Fox "News" did a piece on the fact that Gore's book wasn't selling as well as Bob Woodward's about Bush, all smirks and winks. Why can't people just leave him alone?
posted by mikrophon at 9:11 AM on November 25, 2002

Boy this sure got ugly real fast...
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 9:11 AM on November 25, 2002

Al Gore will be hosting Saturday Night Live on December 14

. . . with Phish? Gah!
posted by mikrophon at 9:14 AM on November 25, 2002

Why can't people just leave him alone?

I don't see anyone putting a gun to his head, forcing him in to the media spotlight. He has made himself available for criticism by running again for President.
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 9:25 AM on November 25, 2002

This thread is doomed. But it's not to late to save by pointing out that neither man has (had) anything approaching a sense of humor! (Though I find humor about Nixon funnier, perhaps because he had more of a personality. Dan Hedaya mumbling about his ability to "talk to the youth" in Dick cracks me up.)
posted by tingley at 9:39 AM on November 25, 2002

I'd like Gore more if he had a good nickname like Tricky Dick. Gore the bore, while accurate, just doesn't have the same flair.
posted by chris24 at 9:47 AM on November 25, 2002

I'd like Gore more if he had a good nickname like Tricky Dick.

Boring Gore?
posted by oissubke at 9:58 AM on November 25, 2002

Boring Gore?
That actually has a decent sound to it. The problem is it's a conversation killer -- if someone mentions Tricky Dick you can attribute lots of outlandish (and ficticious) exploits to him on account of his "trickiness". Once you've used "Boring Gore", there's no followup joke -- the line of conversation is doomed. But perhaps, if you were discussing Gore, it was anyways.
[This post would make more sense if I could provide various funny voices for effect.]
There is a short story floating about (in an anthology called "The Best of CRANK", I believe) called "Nixon in Space", concerning a series of attempts by Nixon to become an astronaut (culminating in an appearance on television in which he declares, "Screw you all, I'm going to the moooon!"). It is a fine bit of comedy. If only Gore's legacy were so fertile.
posted by tingley at 10:06 AM on November 25, 2002

Nixon, perhaps coincidentially, was on Laugh-In in 1968, a few weeks before he won the election.
posted by Silune at 10:11 AM on November 25, 2002

This thread is toast...with the amount of pure partisan bickering and insults being thrown around it's now wonder the vast majority of the country doesn't vote.

Seems like the only clear winner in the last election was none of the above.
posted by aaronscool at 10:16 AM on November 25, 2002

Seems like the only clear winner in the last election was none of the above.

That was such a great movie too!
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 10:26 AM on November 25, 2002

The Nixon Laugh-In appearance is mentioned in the Situation Room piece. The piece is a (mostly) neutral political assessment, so if you can put aside your own knee-jerk reactions to Gore, Nixon, etc., you might find it interesting.

Suggested Gore nickname: Android Al?

Some here are committing the fallacy which the article describes: underestimating Gore b/c he's easy to make fun of. Bush is, too, but he's done pretty well. Ditto with Nixon.

Just because Internet "wits" can make you the butt of jokes doesn't mean you can't succeed in politics.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 10:29 AM on November 25, 2002

Curiously, if one steps back from alledged "threats", and looks at the actual civil violence that has occured over the last few years ... it has come from two sources: Arab terrorists, and far left anti-globalization protesters.
Might suggest lefties get their own fringe under control before trying to talk about right wing "visciousness".

What reprehensible swill. Don't try to lump "Arab terrorists" and those who rightly protest against robbery into some broad nightmare fiction of your own fears.

From your comments above, sounds like you're just fine with any threats Daschle may have received. Where exactly does that leave you in the ethical landscape?
posted by fold_and_mutilate at 10:57 AM on November 25, 2002

Is this discussion still going on? I thought it would have peacefully resolved itself by now.
posted by Shane at 11:00 AM on November 25, 2002

Why can't people just leave him alone?

How can we miss him if he won't go away? I propose we call him Go Away Al. Or Gored Gore. Either one is fine by me. Carry on, MeFites.
posted by haqspan at 11:17 AM on November 25, 2002

"Screw you all, I'm going to the moooon!"

In Michael Bishop's The Secret Ascension, or Phillip K. Dick is Dead, Alas Nixon does go to the moon and once he's there, battles Phillip K. Dick over the fate of the world. Talk about a celebrity death match. Maybe someone should write a novel where, um, Ayn Rand fights Al Gore on Mars. Or maybe not.
posted by octobersurprise at 11:35 AM on November 25, 2002

Well, I like William Wallace vs. Groundskeeper Willie, myself
posted by y2karl at 11:42 AM on November 25, 2002

Gee, as cool as the Fighting Willies are, I must not tarry: I came for the naming. And here's my $0.02:
Tipper's Dipper. The Gore Whore. Callow Al. Mr Sunshinestein. Cafe RoyAL. I'm-Not-RappaGore.
posted by DenOfSizer at 11:55 AM on November 25, 2002

That's interesting -- I thought Futurama was taken off the air. If that's wrong, then woo hoo!
posted by jragon at 2:10 PM on November 25, 2002

New tape may mean Al Gore is alive.
posted by hama7 at 3:56 PM on November 25, 2002

Ah, another Special Humor Olympics moment.
posted by y2karl at 4:34 PM on November 25, 2002

Another example of the cruel viciousness that the left wing can produce: The (Possible) Assassination of Paul Wellstone, by Ted Rall

And so on.
posted by dhoyt at 7:19 PM on November 25, 2002

I like Gore-A-Tron myself.

At least Al ain't selling us out to the Saudis.
posted by owillis at 7:25 PM on November 25, 2002

Another example of the cruel viciousness that the left wing can produce

Not exactly germane, your bit of trollery, eh?

~wink~ ~wink~ ~wink~ ~wink~ ~wink~ ~wink~ ~ wink~ ~ wink~
posted by y2karl at 8:19 PM on November 25, 2002

I'm responding to four panels' almost identical comment, so how is that either trolling or off-topic?

Oh, right. Because I stepped out of line with the MeFi lockstep and called out an example of liberal viciousness. "Trolling" in that case. Of course.

Sweet of you to ignore comments such as "fuck you, you lying fuck", and instead call me out for my "bit of trollery".

Pathetic.
posted by dhoyt at 8:45 PM on November 25, 2002

And do you think even for a second that Riviera's, et al, comments will ever get a mention in MetaTalk? Will their accounts be banned? Will they get warnings from mathowie?

So much for independent thought.
posted by dhoyt at 8:51 PM on November 25, 2002

*rolls eyes*
posted by y2karl at 9:19 PM on November 25, 2002

Classic.
posted by dhoyt at 9:34 PM on November 25, 2002

Just be thankful y2karl didn't roll hs eyes in Swedish-Chef-ese.
posted by hama7 at 1:22 AM on November 26, 2002