Once More for Gore?

Gore will run for president as independent, sources tell Grist

Posted at 12:25 AM on 01 Apr 2008

[UPDATE: This news item is a joke. Happy April Fools' Day!]

You might want to sit down for this: Al Gore will announce his candidacy for president this week, knowledgeable sources tell Grist. There's an inconvenient truth for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Gore believes the two Democrats and Republican John McCain aren't giving climate change the urgent attention it deserves, so he's decided to go for the job himself, say Gore advisors who requested anonymity as they aren't authorized to speak to the press. A lifelong Democrat, Gore will run as an independent this time around, aiming to show the American people that climate change is not a partisan issue. He is expected to tap New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also an independent, as his running mate. On Monday of this week, Gore's nonpartisan Alliance for Climate Protection launched a new public education campaign aimed at convincing Americans that climate change is both urgent and solvable. We're guessing that will be the thrust of Gore's presidential campaign as well.

Grist exclusive: The scoop on Gore's presidential run

ADVERTISING POLICY

Comments: (34 comments)

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.

Ha ha!, you sure got me for a bit.

Now I know what they mean, when they say: "Live is not the timed sum of your heartbeats; it is the record of when your heart was made to stand still."

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 1:40 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Gore 4 Prez

This was not funny, I called a friend at 6:30 am to share this exciting news before verifying. This damages Grist credibility in my eyes as a reliable source of information

by amitrisin at 4:29 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Whew!

Good one, guys. Just when I thought this race could not get any messier!

by jmoore39 at 5:14 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Gore 4 prez

Got me. I was screaming to my husband that it is definitely time to move to Canada, as the republicans will soon have control for another long stretch of time, and I just can't take it anymore. Yikes.

Paula J, Bath Maine

by Paula J at 5:27 AM on 01 Apr 2008

got me too

thanks, I had hope there for a minute!!! then I saw the date the article was published...

by bikingsasquatch at 6:17 AM on 01 Apr 2008

i snorted my morning tea

ouch. thanks a lot!

by Fawn Pattison at 6:27 AM on 01 Apr 2008

I cheered and I cried

For the quick second you had me I was sad and glad at the same time! April fools!! After some thought I think Gore is far more influential in the role he is in now and has the power to do far more good from his current seat. Of course if Hilary got the nomination I'd be all for a Gore/Obama ticket!!

by karma at 6:35 AM on 01 Apr 2008

too funny

Wow, that was a pretty good April Fools. My breathing totally stopped for a about a minute. Nicely done. People who don't agree should grow a sense of humor. I highly recommend Humanure compost for accelerating humor growth.

by thunksalot at 7:03 AM on 01 Apr 2008

It took two seconds

It took two seconds before my heart started beating again and I said "April Fools!"

Good one guys.

by Ann Burruss at 7:40 AM on 01 Apr 2008

April Fools!

April Fools!

Tragic roller coaster for the brain, though.

by christophersj at 7:59 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Not Funny

I do not consider this story and its date humorous. I am very disappointed in Grist for its ridiculous printing and disseminating of such a serious story couched in a popular holiday. I will be pulling my Grist subscription. I did not need the headaches which the content of this story engendered. I am very disappointed. Your publication had such high integrity. I am sorry to be pulling my subscription.
-Sarah Lertzman

by SarahLertz at 10:19 AM on 01 Apr 2008

great, really

immersed in technicl probs with my internet connection, just got to my email

this story bout al, with the followup on mccain and renewable nuclear energy, had me thinking bout hitting the scotch before lunch

also in my thoughts were that somebody would take al out, oh dear

good job gristies, i usually am the first to prank somebody on April fools, but you guys got me, if only for a minute or two

by valerie at 10:25 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Funny?

I can have a sense of humor as one poster advised,but I did not think this article was the least bit funny.
All that I could think of was that al gore was dooming the democratic party and allowing the republicans the opportunity to screw americans again.Not that the democrats won't screw us anyhow,but you know what I mean.
If al gore would run for president as an independent he would have no support or power in the house or the senate and even less would get done then is now being done.
Nope,not funny at all!!!

Why not ask why!?

by usandthem at 11:05 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Al & Mike or not Al & Mike which is joke?

Bloomberg wouldn't take VP unless he could be an active, hands on, managing mover and shaker.

After 7 years of Alfred E. Newman as President anyone knows we would be far better off now with Al Gore.

Before discovering it was a joke, it was kinda like those few moments you allow yourself to dream what it would be like to win the lottery.

by madislandman at 11:06 AM on 01 Apr 2008

HEADLINE: Grist readers are way too serious!

LIGHTEN UP PEOPLE! As soon as my coworker exclaimed "Al Gore is running for President" -- I laughed and had to remind him (even after forwarding him two Google april fools' pranks) that today was april fools day.

Excellent - keep it up. Get rid of all the boring, stuffed-shirt folks who take themselves way too seriously. My goodness, people!

by jennconspiracy at 11:10 AM on 01 Apr 2008

What's missing, would make this punchier

...would be a quote from A.G. along the lines of "Ralph Nader had the right idea"...

by Anna Haynes at 11:11 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Jerks

It is really funny how I can sit all morning reading about April Fools jokes, but the second I opened my Grist e-mail my heart absolutely stopped. I sank in my chair and almost stopped breathing until a coworker heart me gasping in the other room and said "it's April fools dummy." Fool me once Grist...

Well played.

SustainLane - A place to learn about and review socially responsible and environmentally sustainable products and businesses.

by adub1010 at 11:12 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Apologies

My apologies to Alfred E. Newman - he's actually smarter and more competent than the current President.

by madislandman at 11:28 AM on 01 Apr 2008

"Gloom and doom with a sense of humor"

That is Grist's motto. It says it right there at the bottom. Grist readers are assumed to have a sense of humor. I don't understand how ANYONE could be upset by this April Fools joke.

by Mfox at 11:56 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Tan, Rested, Ready

This was very well done, and I'm sure you Pranksters are Merry.

Side note (no joke): Al seems to have slimmed down.

According to the Gore Girth Theory, this indicates a possible slight cooling trend in global temperature.

He also has "gotton the grey out"...not sure what climatic variables on dependent on his hair color.

Texeme.Construct(Participant)

by jabailo at 12:26 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Lol

Got me too.

Was considering how damaging this would be, because it would make the primaries run even longer than they already are, giving McCain a huge advantage.

by GreyFlcn at 12:52 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Lighten up

If you believed this for even a second, you haven't been listening to anything Gore has said in months.

by WKB at 12:53 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Gore / President

Not funny - Some of our softer headed Americans shall now be

confused enough to have our current criminal, or/via his

accomplice, in office ...... ......

AGAIN ! Yes AGAIN !

by bensobin at 2:44 PM on 01 Apr 2008

That was fucking ignorant

This is not something to joke about when we have murderers occupying our White House for the past 7 yrs. Not cool, Grist!!!

by kliffee at 3:38 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Hilarious!

This was a good one. As a Canadian, I think that would be an awesome ticket - Gore & Bloomberg. It was just too good to be true!

by joeymac1000 at 5:28 PM on 01 Apr 2008

The Gore for Prez story

It's not nice to fool Mother Nature, Grist. I want to unsubscribe to this e-magazine. I'll consider you thoughtless people again--possibly. Now go and get that man to run for President, for real.

by Renaissancewoman at 5:50 PM on 01 Apr 2008

You Almost Got This Obama Supporter

My heart started racing thinking "could this really be true?" I would have to vote for Gore instead of Barack Obama. But, alas, I forgot it was April 1--April Fools Day. And You almost (90%) got me.

Thankfully, I can still vote for Obama. Phew!!

by RuthB at 6:09 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Tightly Wound

This is hilarious! I can't believe people are actually offended by this, but I guess every holiday needs a grinch. Anyway, kudos on the clever ruse.

by klopek at 7:01 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Al Gore for President

I truly hope that someday this announcement of Gore's candidacy becomes true, if not this year, then during a future Presidential race. I voted for Gore in 2000, and I would be happy to be able to vote for him again.

by Catwoman at 10:07 PM on 01 Apr 2008

It could happen

No joke. I just read a piece in a major news magazine about how that could happen, given a split convention, and Hillary and Obama basically killing each other off. It would be an act of desperation, though.

by asterisque at 7:34 AM on 02 Apr 2008

I wish

How sad, I had hope for a second and then saw the date.

by karski92 at 9:54 AM on 02 Apr 2008

Once More for Gore?

This strikes me as very irresponsible and immature, if you expect to be a serious voice for the environment, which I thought you WERE. You can't possibly expect the public to show you much credibility after that. Some things you can joke about, SOME THINGS YOU CANNOT! You crossed the line and you lost my respect. Minerva Stephenson, South Carolina

by minervasteph at 11:34 AM on 02 Apr 2008

Gore running for President

I emailed your Gore news to everyone, I was downright giddy all day! Then, I looked for the news on CNN. I watched the 6pm news. By 9pm I realized I had been had. April 1st, how could I have not realized my leg was being pulled. (I loaned the other one to the ex-Mrs. Paul McCartney, she wants $250 million to give it back.)

I have a sense of humor, somewhere or other; it has been buried under 7 years of Bush/Cheney abuse. When I find it, I will beat you senseless with it. While laughing hysterically, of course.

by Hippie Woman at 2:56 PM on 02 Apr 2008

Bloomberg makes way for Schwarzenegger

Gore and Schwarzenegger Launch Bipartisan Bid for the US Presidency
http://www.ecoresearch.net/election2008/april-01

Youtube Video Broadcast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFmjWEKPf1Q

While this 1 April 2008 announcement hasn't been entirely accurate (Happy April Fools Day!), please note that the presented attention and sentiment data is real and that the US Election 2008 Web Monitor will continue to track news media articles referencing Al Gore and Arnold Schwarzenegger at least until the end of 2008. Their names will not be included in the main navigation,* but their profiles remain accessible either directly or via the April-01 Page.

* Detailed media statistics of the real candidates (current and previous) are available on the official site, including a link to their Grist profile where available.

by ecoresearch at 6:24 AM on 07 Apr 2008

The comments of Grist users reflect the opinions of those individuals only, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Grist, its staff, its board members, their psychotherapists, or their aestheticians. Got it?