The Next Vice President is the Former Vice President?

Right now, I'm watching Al Gore endorse Barack Obama for president. First impression: seems like Gore has lost some weight. Maybe 10 pounds, up to 20 pounds? He's still heavier than when he ran for president in 2000, but he appears a lot lighter than four years ago, when speculation was high that he would, once again, take the plunge. Second impression: this isn't the Al Gore version 2000. Hell, it's not Gore v. 2004. This is the Al Gore who looks as though he's running for Vice President again. Final impression: this Al Gore is ready to get back into the White House.

Obama has already leaked that throughout the primary campaign he spoke with Gore at least during a weekly basis. Although, Gore isn't exactly a profile in courage, having withheld his endorsement until well after the primary has concluded, when it will have negligible effect and probably sway only a handful of voters. Nevertheless, I highly doubt that Obama ever expected Gore to endorse him while Senator Clinton was still a viable candidate. And Gore's support of Obama will not likely cause a major bump in the polls, either.

Yet, with all of these caveats, Gore has just delivered a pitch-perfect, nearly flawless Vice Presidential-like introductory address. He hit all of the right notes: attacking Bush and McCain, defending Obama, and exhorting Americans to choose change. He was statesman-like and profound. If Obama is serious about selecting a Vice President who has the experience and the wherewithal to be President, where else could he go but to guy who once held the job and who now openly and rightfully calls himself "the former next President of the United States."

I highly doubt that Gore stands a better chance of being VP, as opposed to the likes of Webb, Biden, Clark, or Nunn. All of these men have tremendous years of experience in foreign policy and/or the military and all could possibly be assets to an Obama administration. However, none of them know from personal experience the consequences of losing the presidency and then witnessing the devastating effects from that election. With more than three quarters of the American people now believing that the country is headed in the wrong direction, the selection of Gore as VP would underscore that eight years ago there as a choice and things as they are today could have been different. Gore's record over the past eight years has been stellar: he opposed the war, blasted Bush on wiretaps and foreign surveillance, endorsed single-payer health care, and championed climate change, and the result of the latter was the Nobel Peace Prize. In many respects, Gore has accomplished more as an ex-Vice President than as Vice President.

Which then leads to this question: why would Gore entertain the Vice Presidency once more? If he is comfortable with his current lifestyle--and he is--and if he is having a greater effect on people's lives--and he is--than agreeing to be the second in command would be a step down, no? Except, this time around, he would not be Vice President under a maniacal, ego-centric, selfish, sexual deviant, but a man who is comfortable enough with his insecurities and his limits. Obama and Gore compliment each other nearly perfectly. Obama-Gore: I like how that sounds.