The Real Prize

First, let’s make this absolutely clear. There is no plan by the Supreme Court to steal Al Gore’s Nobel Prize and give it to George W. Bush. That is soooo 2000.

Congratulations to the former vice president. In the same year he’s received not only the Nobel Prize, but that real biggie, the Academy Award. All that’s left for the hat trick of three awards would be a victory on “American Idol.”

Of course there is a bit of irony here. On the same day that Gore wins the Nobel, a British High Court judge rules his movie “An Inconvenient Truth” contains nine factual errors — “In the context of alarmism and exaggeration.” As the Church Lady might say, “How inconveeeeenient!!”

But let’s not be guilty of exaggeration ourselves. Nine crummy mistakes in the movie is certainly no big deal when you consider how Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani misrepresented facts as they tried to flog each other with distortions during this week’s Republican debate. It even amused Fred Thompson, who probably had no earthly idea what they were talking about.

And speaking of Thompson, and speaking of Gore and speaking of presidential politics (was that a hell of a segue or what?), we have made much of the possibility that there would be a “Subway Series” general election race between Rudy and Hillary. Both are New Yorkers … well, one sort of is, but I’m veering off the point.

What if Al Gore actually decides to get in, and what if he wins the nomination? Never mind the denials and tantalizing semi-denials. Right now their primary situation is in such an uproar that anything is possible with the Democrats.

And what if Fred Thompson becomes the Republican nominee, and agrees to work at it if necessary?

What would we call a race where both major-party candidates were from Tennessee? A Waltz? A Smoky Mountain Smokescreen?

Am I getting too far out front here? I don’t think so. It is true, there are some petty details to deal with, not the least of which is that Al Gore is not a declared candidate. But that’s easy. All he has to do is stop pretending that he and his people are not really running the “Draft Gore” movement and — true to his Tennessee heritage — “volunteer” to officially join in.

Yes, getting in at the last minute puts the candidate way behind when it comes to fundraising and organization, stuff like that. But hey, Thompson entered late and is catching up without breaking a sweat.

So a Gore presidential run is not an impossible dream. I mean, who in his or her wildest fantasies would have pictured him as a leading man?

In fact, not only could both nominees be from Tennessee, but both could be coming from careers in movies. That’s it! We could call the race the Hollywood Bowl. Only in America.