Al Gore: The Incredible Shrinking Man

The Washington Post reports that Al Gore has accused President Bush of deceit in leading the nation into war against Iraq — as if that’s newsworthy. The only thing Gore could say worthy of our attention would be that President Bush is not, after all, the worst human being ever to be born. But the laughable whopper in the story is Gore’s claim that:

he had previously resisted saying Bush intentionally deceived the public in the run-up to the invasion but that the evidence now shows “that in virtually every case the president chose to ignore — and indeed often to suppress — studies, reports, information, facts, that were directly contrary to the false impressions he was in the process of giving to the American people.

Excuse me? How about in February when Gore screamed at the top of his lungs to Tennessee Democrats, “”He betrayed this country!” “He played on our fears. He took America on an ill-conceived foreign adventure dangerous to our troops, an adventure preordained and planned before 9/11 ever took place.”

Gore has diminished himself by incessant hyperbole spoken at excessive pitch with forced anger. He’s cried wolf more than anyone out there with the possible exception of John Kerry. He started his four-year-long descent when he reneged on his concession of the election to President Bush and has steadily degenerated.

I just wonder who is listening to this unbalanced man anymore. Why are his comments considered relevant? For whom does he speak? What is his constituency? And for what purpose, other than raw vengeance, does he continue this embarrassing tirade? Even if he abruptly ceases and desists his regrettable behavior it will be a long time before anyone can take this man seriously again. But wouldn’t it be remarkable if the ubiquitous bellyachers would wake up to what they almost wrought in electing this unstable individual? How can Democrats feel robbed that the country was spared of this man’s leadership? How a man behaves when the chips are down — when he faces adversity or suffers defeat — tells us a great deal about his character. And with Algore, it’s not a flattering picture.

As people often wondered during the Clinton years, when are adults in the Democratic Party going to police their own? When are they going to restore some class and credibility to their party? Is it too late?