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President Bush, right, poses for a photo with former Vice President Al Gore, and other 2007 Nobel Prize recipients, not shown, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, in the Oval Office of the White House. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Posted on 11/26/2007 3:31:41 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Talk about an inconvenient truth. l Gore finally won his place in the Oval Office on Monday — right next to George W. Bush. Forever linked by the closest and craziest presidential race in history, the two men were reunited by, of all things, White House tradition.
Gore was among the 2007 Nobel Prize winners who were invited in for a photo and some chatter with the president; Gore got the recognition for his work on global warming.
The two men stood next to other, sharing uncomfortable grins for photographers and reporters, who were quickly ushered in and out.
"Familiar faces," the former vice president said of the media. Bush, still smiling, added nothing.
The two also had a 40-minute meeting in the Oval Office, part of Bush's effort to show some outreach to his longtime rival.
Bush aides said it was private and would not comment on it.
Gore, trailed by the press as he left the White House very publicly on foot, allowed that he and Bush spent the whole time talking about global warming.
"He was very gracious in setting up the meeting and it was a very good and substantive conversation," Gore said. "And that's all I want to say about it."
Gore's presence added unlikely buzz to a photo op that normally would have been buried by Bush's Mideast peace forays. It is not like these two cross paths much. They have not met privately since then-President-elect Bush paid a visit — short, and not that sweet — to Gore's residence in December 2000.
That was back when the acrimony was fresh, in a country still in disbelief over an election that seemed never-ending. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court certified Bush's 537-vote victory margin over Gore in Florida to settle the outcome.
Since then, Gore has not shied away from criticizing Bush; his latest book, "The Assault on Reason," is a relentless attack against the administration. And the White House's response when Gore won the Nobel Prize was less than giddy.
Never mind all that.
"I know that this president does not harbor any resentments," White House press secretary Dana Perino said. "Never has."
Indeed, the White House tried to make clear that Bush was hosting Gore not out of obligation, but genuine interest.
Bush personally invited Gore. The White House changed its original date to accommodate Gore. And then there was the private Bush-Gore meeting, too.
When it was over, the scene took a bit of turn for the weird.
Gore said he didn't want to comment. But with the media waiting for him, Gore and his wife, Tipper, walked out along Pennsylvania Avenue and up 17th Street, toward his nearby office — even though the White House is adept at helping people slip away unnoticed if they want.
The media horde followed the Gores for several minutes. When a veteran reporter asked Gore if he missed all the attention, he adeptly turned the question around. "When you leave this beat," he said, "I'm gonna ask you."
.President Bush, right, poses for a photo with former Vice President Al Gore, and other 2007 Nobel Prize recipients, not shown, Monday, Nov. 26, 2007, in the Oval Office of the White House. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
“Bush personally invited Gore. The White House changed its original date to accommodate Gore. And then there was the private Bush-Gore meeting, too”
Need upchuck cup........
GMAFB....Sometimes Dubya has me shaking my head. Much more often than I expected.
U.S. President George W. Bush (C) hosts a meeting with 2007 Nobel Award winners in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, November 26, 2007. The winners are (L-R) Harlan Watson, Oliver Smithies, Mario Capecchi, Peace Prize winner and former U.S. vice president Al Gore, Bush, Eric Maskin, Susan Solomon, Roger Myerson and Sharon Hays. REUTERS/Larry Downing (UNITED STATES)
What? Gore has called the President a war criminal, liar, and murderer, then why would he agree to a meet and greet such a man?
LOL, the liberal idiot base must be VERY confused!
Darell Hammond as Al Gore and Will Ferrell
as George W. Bush on NBC's Saturday Night Live
Photo: Mary Ellen Matthews
You must be insane to think that the President of the United States of America would diss a former Vice President of the United States. You would not do it either and don’t f’ing lie to me saying you would because you would not!!! It would be disrespectful and as the most powerful man in the World you would not do it.
It’s OK, it’s more of a formal thing, every year, regardless who the recipients are, they get a WH thingy.. this year , the irony is a little deeper than usual is all. ;-)
Makes zero sense to me . I swear they are ALL in bed together . I can count on one hand who I trust in government anymore. After what Gore called Bush I think Bush is an idiot for inviting him to the White House. Being a gracious gentleman has morphed into being a fool in this case.
Na, it proves Gore has been lying to the world for the past 7 years.
I would have told Algore to go pound sand.
I'm sorry, but Bush invited the Nobel prize winners to the WH. It would have been very rude to specifically not invite Gore. Bush is a big softie when it comes to trying to be buddies with people that want to destroy him, but this isn't a good example of that.
Couldn't have said it more eloquent "naps". All the Nobel Prize laureates are always invited. Twas not meant to be all about Gore and Bush. The media makes it so.
Bush invited Carter to the White House to mark his Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
A true lesson in diplomacy.
LOL
It just had to come right after the Bush family saying nice things about Hillary........
Why? We the people have not elected a President in over 40 years. More likely this is a meeting for Gore and Bush to discuss the tranistion of power over to Gore after the Fifth collum annoints him as POTUS in 2008.
The elitest know the Beast is despised by the majority of Americans and unelectible in a national elelction. They will ensure that she does not get the Dem nomination. Already they are starting to torpedo her campaign. Her being outed as a lesbo will be the last straw.
We no longer have a two party system, but a one party system with two factions. It is now the Dems turn at POTUS and Gore is the best they got.
Not to worry though; he will take up the one world order banner where Bush left off.
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