In all my years of Today-watching, I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite like the display Matt Lauer put on this morning. In beseeching Al Gore to run for president, Lauer literally portrayed him as the planet's potential savior.
"If you were to run for president, you could take this issue to the next level, even if just during a campaign. And if you were fortunate enough to win the presidency, you would sit in the most powerful office in the free world with a real chance to make . . . " Matt stopped himself at the immensity of the prospect before exclaiming "you could be in a position to save the planet!"
Video available: Real (762 KB), Windows Media (858 KB), and MP3 audio (125 KB).
So stunning was Lauer's sycophancy that it induced an embarrassed chuckle from Gore himself. Al collected himself, letting Matt know that he "appreciate[d] the impulse behind the question" but adding that he is not planning to run. Matt wouldn't take no for an answer: "but as someone who feels as passionately about the subject as you do, and your documentary is evidence of that, why pass up the opportunity to have that world stage again? Because although you're a former vice-president being a sitting president would give you a much higher and more powerful platform."
Al again thanked Matt for his endorsement: "I appreciate that very much."
Matt gave it one last try at interview's end: "What are the chances that someone reaches out to you, makes a phone call, and gets you to upend this race?"
Matt Lauer, folks - keeping hope alive.
Finkelstein, who recently returned from Iraq, lives in Ithaca, NY where he hosts the award-winning 'Right Angle TV'. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net
Update 15:25 by Matthew Sheffield. Lauer's remarks are reminiscent of comic book morality. Only Super Gore can save the earth!
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Now we all know how Eric Cart
December 6, 2006 - 09:39 ET by PeskyDaneNow we all know how Eric Cartman felt when he nearly had a seizure trying not to rip on Kyle's cousin in class. If memory serves, he didn't make it, did he?
Lauer: Puhleeeeeeeze, your
December 6, 2006 - 09:48 ET by fosstenLauer: Puhleeeeeeeze, your Eminence, your Highness, won't you run for President again? Pretty Puh-leeeeeze? I think I'm gonna cry!
Gore: Uh, that's a little too much sucking up even for me.
I watched it this morning and
December 6, 2006 - 10:11 ET by EvilRoyI watched it this morning and noted that the way Matty had his legs crossed so as not to show the chubby he was sprouting. I read that there was a national reporter on Air Force One who said she would give Mr. Bill a spit shine on his hang down if it would keep abortion legal. Well, I lthink Matty would give Algore one, just cause. ;)
I was reading a post on Dru
December 6, 2006 - 13:44 ET by The FugitiveI was reading a post on Drudge today that Al Bore says the Iraq war is the worst mistake ever made by America. I actually can think of quite a few more, the most obvious would be that mamma Gore either
A. Should have kept her legs closed
B. Should have learned to swallow
Either way would have meant that we wouldn't have to be dealing, much less listening to this MORON!!!
Why is it that EVERYTIME a liberal opens their mouth, I feel a sudden urge to hand them a roll of toilet paper?
Definatly not a Gore Fan
December 6, 2006 - 14:15 ET by Carl KolchakI get tired of hearing Gore always on tv talking about how great he thinks he is and having the left wing MSM tell him how great he is, but the comments about his mom are a little overboard. Being a mother is the toughest job in the world, and his mother really doesn't have anything to do with his large ego or the fact the left wing MSM worships him.
Now as far as biggest mistakes, I can't think of any positive news coming out of Kosovo lately either. I also can't think of anything positive for the United States after their invovlement in WW1. Countless Americans died in horrific warfare, and the United States was not receiving compensation from the Treaty of Versailles. Twenty plus years later there was a far worse war than WW2, and most of the players in WW2 in Europe were the same players in WW1, so nothing really seemed to be corrected after WW1.
"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane" Waylon Jennings
Wesley Clark on Gore
December 6, 2006 - 14:19 ET by Carl KolchakAlso if you're interested checkout www.google.com and type in "Gore Kosovo Wesley Clark" and go to the 4th link "Clark Papers talks Politics and War" from the Washington Post. For some reason I can't link it, but Wesley Clark says that he was pressured to speed up the Kosovo campagin since Gore had a campaign to run. I still don't hear any good news coming out of Kosovo.
"I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane" Waylon Jennings
Kosovo Updates
December 6, 2006 - 15:36 ET by Carl KolchakHere is a link to a very pro UN website, that also critcizes the situation in Iraq, so in my opinion it is definatly non biased.
Here are some quotes from 2006 in the below link.
This World Politics Watch article argues that action or inaction on Kosovo's status risks “sparking outbreaks of potentially violent nationalism
Some observers warn that the uncertain status of the disputed province heads to possible renewed violence between Serbs and Albanians Kosovars. (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network)
The UN-administered province has again become a battleground for renewed ethnic violence between Albanians and Serbians. (New York Times)
Yet, as Serbs have been the target of violent attacks, their overall return process has slowed down. (UN News)
Now surely the nonbiased left wing media should be concerned about all of this, because this sounds like these people are ready to go back to killing each other, which is exactly what they have been doing to each other for countless years. Why isn't the left wing MSM concerned about a possible civil war breaking out again? In fact during WW2, the Albanians had sided with the Germans and had some SS divisions and committed atrocities against the Serbs. This region has a long history of violence towards one another. Gore I guess thinks he is the greatest person ever, and probably wants them to build a statue for him in Kosovo.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/ksvindx.htm
"There's blood in the streets, it's up to my ankles" 'Peace Frog'
I have got to say if Matt had
December 6, 2006 - 11:47 ET by Airforce_5_OI have got to say if Matt had crawled any further up Gores a$$, Gore would have to get a window installed in his belly so Matt could see where they are going
The new world order is in power. God help us all. Airforce_5_O, 2330, November 7, 2006
I don't think even Al appreci
December 6, 2006 - 10:07 ET by Ruths husband BenI don't think even Al appreciated a tongue bath like that. Someone hand that man a towel!
If, as Matt Liar seems to be
December 6, 2006 - 10:07 ET by Dave RIf, as Matt Liar seems to be suggesting, Al Bore is this planet's only hope, then we are 10 feet beyond screwed.
I hope Al does run against St. Hillary. It will be so fun to watch her shred him into abject oblivion, as I believe her to be more of a man than he is.
Dave R.."Hillary...more
December 6, 2006 - 12:32 ET by ww thumperDave R.."Hillary...more of a man than..AlBore!! THATS funny! I dont mean "funny he he he " I mean "Phunnie" !! :^} (bratt smile) .....Political correctness when dealing with Islam will kill america....ww .....
"You could be in a posit
December 6, 2006 - 10:12 ET by Chris Norman"You could be in a position to save the planet!"
After that, Lauer and Gore shared a cigarette while resting...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Are you suggesting that Al ro
December 6, 2006 - 11:33 ET by Dave RAre you suggesting that Al rocked his world?
Touth To Tell Who Leads
December 6, 2006 - 12:44 ET by PSPCplIt would be tough to tell who would lead, but my bet would be Al too. Matt tips the balance on the girlie man scale his way.
Dave,It sounded like intervie
December 6, 2006 - 14:00 ET by Chris NormanDave,
It sounded like interview sex to me. Matt built to a climax...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
I guess handing the "Wor
December 6, 2006 - 20:15 ET by thefirststrikeI guess handing the "World's Sexiest Man" banner to George Clooney must have been like Matt's version of foreplay, followed by the lovefest of having AlGore on the show.
I hope for his sake Matt didn't go commando because the wet spot on the front of his trousers was probably a little too obvious. But then again, being Clinton's former VP, AlGore probably knows all about that kind of stuff.
Dave R.
Gore
December 6, 2006 - 10:18 ET by chuckshickI think NYC has acted too late on the trans fat ban to help Gore. He's ready to burst.
Chuck,Obviously, Global Warmi
December 6, 2006 - 10:36 ET by Chris NormanChuck,
Obviously, Global Warming is causing his body gasses to swell...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
al please run
December 6, 2006 - 10:34 ET by foolnomoreyes we need you al! , one more up front no pantie's sell out, to make sport at ,please bring matti'e along, so we'll get some unlaundered new's brief's, you can call it the "nap & nerd" news-net'werke's.
Of course. Matt wouldn't ask
December 6, 2006 - 10:35 ET by danboOf course. Matt wouldn't ask questions abiout Al's attempts at silencing Dr Fred Singer and Al's mentor Roger Revelle (after his mentors death)
The whole story.
Al Gore the other oil man. Occidental and Elk Hill.
"Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods." Albert Einstein
Al Glore in the morning...?
December 6, 2006 - 10:49 ET by Eric ArrAl Glore in the morning...?
Zzzzz zzzzz.
Does that picture make him look like he's wearing boots to anyone else?
Is Gore wearing boots? You
December 6, 2006 - 11:03 ET by Mark FinkelsteinIs Gore wearing boots? You be the judge.
Mark,If you stepped in as muc
December 6, 2006 - 11:28 ET by Dave RMark,
If you stepped in as much doo-doo as Al Gore, you'd wear boots, too.
mark
December 6, 2006 - 14:26 ET by foolnomorethey, do-do look like the boot's that the sheep herds-men wear,,
Spiked heels? Al caught weari
December 6, 2006 - 15:41 ET by Roger the ShrubberSpiked heels? Al caught wearing Tipper's clothes again?
I saw this interview this mor
December 6, 2006 - 10:54 ET by GalvanicI saw this interview this morning, and groaned when Lauer begged Gore to run for President and "save the planet." Lauer is just too ridiculous to be taken seriously.
This is just getting crazy.
December 6, 2006 - 11:02 ET by youngMCThis is just getting crazy. I mean this is so funny that you don't even have to make a joke. It is a joke in and of itself.
Matt WOWER as Wayne Garth
December 6, 2006 - 11:09 ET by PSPCplYou guys remember Wayne's World? I can see Matt getting down on his knees, arms outstretched, prostating himself up and down saying over and over again, "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy."
I wonder if Matt will ever be able to get that brown stain removed from his nose?
How about Princess Lauer on o
December 6, 2006 - 16:43 ET by Mean Gene Dr. LoveHow about Princess Lauer on one knee "fiddling" with R2-D2's uh, "stuff" repeating over and over, "Help us Al-Bore Kenobi...you're our only hope..."
'When you wade into political life you have every right to say what you want, but you cannot in turn argue that no one has the right to take you on'... --Rush Limbaugh
If Algore is going to save
December 6, 2006 - 11:12 ET by Uncle JohnIf Algore is going to save the world, he'll need to save the cheerleader first.
Can we just save the cheerlea
December 6, 2006 - 11:50 ET by DarkseanCan we just save the cheerleader and just have her kick his get-lost-on-my-own-property arse?
Ha!I think you're on to som
December 6, 2006 - 11:52 ET by balboaHa!
I think you're on to something: Sylar is causing global warming.
Of course--he's wearing boots
December 6, 2006 - 11:20 ET by misterbillOf course--he's wearing boots.
He has horses and a stable. He knows that one should wear boots when shoveling that much horse manure!
Dumb and dumber!
December 6, 2006 - 11:21 ET by jdhawkDumb and dumber!
If Ever There Was A Time For A Conservative: "Daily "Show"
December 6, 2006 - 11:56 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasIf ever there was a time for a non-lib styled "Daily Show" it is now. The stuff people like Matt Lauer, Katie Couric, O'D, and so on are providing is better material than SNL writers could come up with. Hurry up already!
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
NBC
December 6, 2006 - 15:51 ET by pocomocoIs NBC biased? Is President Alphabet of Iran Muslim?
We all know Al Gore. He is
December 6, 2006 - 17:22 ET by buddycWe all know Al Gore. He is a nice guy, without a great deal of intelligence. Soros/hollywood said we need to fund a spokesman to keep the issue of global warming out there to hammer the republicans. that is all fine with me. Gore. I would bet you money that there was a deal that Gore would get the money and glory and the job but in return he had to agree to defer to Hillary in 2008. That is fine.
What is not fine is Gore was VP for 8 years. He and Clinton did NOTHING for the the environment even during a period when he/they controlled the Presidency, the Supreme Court, the House, the bureaucracy and the Senate. I will say it again. GORE DID NOTHING!
If we are to survive as a Country and prevent these horrible liberal envriornmental mistakes we need an impratial press. Right now we don't have it. We have no nuke plants, no refineries, no exploration, hell china is exploring for oil off OUR coast becase we won't allow americans to do it.
It is getting to be crunch time on the energy problem. so far the democrats have controlled the debate and had nothing but WRONG answers.
All I would ask of Lauer is that he ask Gore why Gore and Clinton did NOTHING for the environment. Global warming is not a new issue. Is that too much to ask? Instead Laur acts like the wanabe woman he is and bascially offers to blow Gore on national tv.
Lauer
December 6, 2006 - 17:48 ET by pocomocoLauer has got to be the greatest display of excessive/compulsive sychophantism (?) ever seen.
There's something terribly
December 6, 2006 - 18:19 ET by marvlThere's something terribly unwholesome about this. I kept waiting for Matt Lauer to jump to his feet, click his heels together, raise his extended hand, and shout "Mein Savior!" Either that or give Big Al a long, slow, wet kiss on the lips.
The big question is, which on
December 6, 2006 - 20:18 ET by thefirststrikeThe big question is, which one of them would have enjoyed that more?
Dave R.