Al Gore’s son was arrested for possession of pot and prescription drugs in California this morning. Either it’s incredibly bad timing, or the young Gore just delivered the biggest, public “Fuck You” possible to his dad. As this happened just about 100 hours before Al Gore’s international Live Earth event to raise global warming awareness is scheduled to start, you can bet that it’ll divert a significant amount of attention from the cause. Worse still, it could cause Gore to postpone, or even cancel, any announcement that he might have had planned concerning his run for the presidency… Of course, Bush had issues with his daughters, their drinking, and rumors of pot use, and it didn’t keep him from running and winning, but I still can’t help but see this as a big negative working against Gore. Of course, the younger Gore did get caught going 100 miles per hour in a Toyota Prius. I suppose that might win his dad some points in certain circles.
Above, when I said that this was either incredibly bad luck, or one of the biggest “Fuck You, Dad” messages ever delivered in the history of U.S. politics, I left out one other possibility. I did so because I didn’t want to sound paranoid. Of course it is possible that this was all a setup… I’m not suggesting that the prescription drugs were planted on Gore’s son, just that a decision might have been made somewhere to pick him up in order to scuttle his dad’s presidential aspirations. Either the Clinton people, or the Republicans, nervous about the possibility of a Gore run, could have put the word out to pick up his son in hopes of getting hitting the jackpot. If recent events have taught us anything, it’s that anything is possible.
12 Comments
“Of course it is possible that this was all a setup. . .”
It’s interesting that this is often my first thought when I see such stories about politicians I dislike. But when Paris Hilton said they were after her, I didn’t believe her at all (I have no idea who would be conspiring against her, anyway). I feel biased.
How much did Bush’s daughters’ troubles affect him politically? I’m quick to say Gore’s son’s actions should not reflect on Gore, but I have a foggy recollection of thinking badly of Bush for his daughters’ problems. I’m a freaking hypocrite here. I’ve got to stop seeing with partisan goggles.
Another possibility is that this is a “fuck you” from Gore to the people constantly harping on him to get in the race, and his son was kind enough to take the bullet for him. “Aw, shucks, looks like I’ll never be ‘electable’ now. So can we focus on this climate change stuff and stop asking me about the presidency?”
I think this setup is as likely as the setup in the other direction…
I always assume with the kids of the rich and powerful, there’s a lot more charges quietly brushed under the rug than there are charges we know about.
Let the chips fall where they may … Al’s going to the White House!
I think this was a subtle marketing attempt for the Prius. I cannot recall anything Mark wrote about his to make it appeal to readers as much as if he had packed it full of drugs and led the police on a chase. Now everyone knows Priuses (please don’t tell me the plural is Prii) can go 100mph.
I remember saying to many folks, when Kerry was running against Bush in ’04, that it was completely reasonable to judge the two men by the children that they had raised. Kerry’s daughters were articulate and accomplished. Bush’s were, by most accounts, skank of the Girls Gone Wild variety. Given this recent news about Al Gore III, however, I no longer think it’s a fair measure.
And that’s an interesting theory, Murph. I don’t buy it, but it’s worth consideration… My guess, and I realize I could be way off, is that Hillary, knowing that the young Gore had problems with drugs, somehow orchestrated the arrest, in order to keep his father out of the race. It was timed perfectly… This is hardball.
You can only do so much as a parent.(Although, it is pretty obvious from the record that the Bush’s didn’t do much, if anything, except stake their girls to a free Mrs. degree at a university.)
You conspiracy nuts need to read more of Mel Ayton’s books. Things just happen.
I feel so bad about hassling Mel, I think it’s only fair that I help him move some merchandise.
Get your ass over to the right thread, Rob. Mel’s waiting!
Sadly, young Al has a history of speeding and drug possession:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/littlegore1.html
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/gorebust1.html
I can understand if his folks were not in a hurry to bail him out this time.
I didn’t know you could go 100 mph in a prius! That’s a lotta juice!