August 4, 2001

7:37 AM

Has anyone noticed Al Gore's new look yet?
posted by brownpau (51 comments total)

(And if this is a double post, someone bonk me.)
posted by brownpau at 7:39 AM on August 4, 2001

What's with that filename? Is "mad" just short for Madrid, or...?
posted by dagny at 7:42 AM on August 4, 2001

It would be a double post, but Matt deleted the first one. So it's probably just a post living on borrowed time.
posted by Doug at 7:42 AM on August 4, 2001

Um, why'd Matt delete the first one?
Am I in big trouble now? :(
posted by brownpau at 7:46 AM on August 4, 2001

Al who?
posted by Postroad at 7:49 AM on August 4, 2001

Well, at least the beard makes him look less like a computer.
posted by ed at 8:00 AM on August 4, 2001

Mr. Frakes, is that you?
posted by Tacodog at 8:05 AM on August 4, 2001

Along with his weight gain, it makes me wonder if he'll put out a blues record and then be found dead in a Paris bathtub.
posted by jragon at 8:24 AM on August 4, 2001

Actually, it looks like he's pulling a Paul Wellstone.
posted by mrbula at 8:35 AM on August 4, 2001

going for that Nader vote next, he'll go grunge.
posted by brucec at 8:38 AM on August 4, 2001

How far technology has come...
posted by gleemax at 8:40 AM on August 4, 2001

The look does not flatter him.
posted by bunnyfire at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2001

that adds a whole new dimension to this onion story :)
posted by sawks at 9:41 AM on August 4, 2001

Do you think before long we'll see him here?
posted by speicus at 9:48 AM on August 4, 2001

He looks like a young uni-bomber, with his whole life in front of him.

it makes me wonder if he'll put out a blues record

No, you need a soul to play the 'blues'.
posted by justgary at 9:48 AM on August 4, 2001

Never trust a guy with a beard! That is why I adore George W. Bush...clean cut, cute, honest, straight-shooter, moral and clean (no user of illegal stuff).
posted by Postroad at 9:52 AM on August 4, 2001

Yes, Poastroad. That Abraham Lincoln guy was not to be trusted.
posted by brucec at 10:22 AM on August 4, 2001

yeah, but lincoln had that "schooner-captain" look.

if you can't trust a schooner captain, who can you trust? ;-)
posted by bwg at 10:39 AM on August 4, 2001

g
posted by hobbes at 10:47 AM on August 4, 2001

I'm just stunned at the inventiveness of his maker. Imagine how much effort it must have taken to create a synthetic being that can grow hair.

Now, people are going to think I'm picking on Al, but I honestly believe him to be a machine. I'm not kidding. He's most likely composed of billions of nanites mimicking human cell development. I'm not entirely sure who he's patterned after...I used to think Christopher Reeve, but whoever mentioned Frakes isn't far off, either.
posted by Ezrael at 11:10 AM on August 4, 2001

My first impression was... "Ted Kaczynski?"
posted by tomorama at 11:17 AM on August 4, 2001

I've always thought it was funny that his name is halfway to algorythm.
posted by jragon at 11:42 AM on August 4, 2001

Don't you people know anything? Obviously, this is the evil Al Gore from the Mirror Universe.
posted by webmutant at 11:46 AM on August 4, 2001

Call me crazy, but I think it is a somewhat flattering look.
posted by brittney at 11:50 AM on August 4, 2001

Oooh, I like it! Kind of a raffish, "professartorial" look.
Now if Tipper would just loosen up her look a bit.
posted by Lynsey at 11:57 AM on August 4, 2001

He just looks like a friendly college professor to me... I've got no problem with it. If he's becoming more human-like, I think that's a good thing. And if he's merely becoming more human-looking, well, its a start anyway.
posted by spilon at 11:59 AM on August 4, 2001

He looks much better like this. Infact, he looks a bit like Commander Riker, IMHO.
posted by wackybrit at 12:10 PM on August 4, 2001

It's Big Foot!!!
posted by Bag Man at 12:17 PM on August 4, 2001

(riker = frakes)
just being helpful
posted by jnthnjng at 12:22 PM on August 4, 2001

It's BIZARRO Gore
posted by fusinski at 12:39 PM on August 4, 2001

But where are his sunglasses?
posted by gyc at 1:16 PM on August 4, 2001

I find his politics reprehensible, but I think the new look is a big improvement. Of course, we haven't had a bearded president since 1893, so he'll probably shave it if he runs again.
posted by ljromanoff at 1:38 PM on August 4, 2001

I find his politics reprehensible

Oh my god. . .

but I think the new look is a big improvement

But I agree. Liking the look.
posted by crasspastor at 1:48 PM on August 4, 2001

I find his politics reprehensible
As do I.

Oh my god. . .
Not everyone thinks like you. Surprise!
posted by tomorama at 2:53 PM on August 4, 2001

Of course, we haven't had a bearded president since 1893

It kind's kind of creepy to know that someone can pull that little piece of trivia from his head like that.
posted by skallas at 3:36 PM on August 4, 2001

Last President with facial hair would be Taft with his moustache and then clean shaven Wilson would defeat both Taft's and Roosevelt's moustache in 1912, ending that era for good (until Gore's beard, the obvious symptom of his nanites growing at twice their normal rate, allows the charge of his positronic brain to triple and he sweeps into office in 2004 and will stay there until he is eight stories tall and the National Guard and 1st Armored Division are called in to enforce the results of the impeachment and resulting annihilation of Capitol Hill).
posted by pandaharma at 3:52 PM on August 4, 2001

Of course, we haven't had a bearded president since 1893

It kind's kind of creepy to know that someone can pull that little piece of trivia from his head like that.


Or, someone just saw the same "Inside Politics" I did...
posted by GriffX at 4:07 PM on August 4, 2001

It kind's kind of creepy to know that someone can pull that little piece of trivia from his head like that.

In 1987, Tiffany hit #1 on the charts with "I Think We're Alone Now." That same week, Billy Idol was #2 with "Mony Mony." The following week the songs reversed positions on the charts.

Trivia: Both songs were originally written & performed by Tommy James & The Shondells.

And re: Gore. You can dress him up, but you just can't take him anywhere.
posted by davidmsc at 4:11 PM on August 4, 2001

Last President with facial hair would be Taft with his moustache

True, but I was thinking of an actual beard.


It kind's kind of creepy to know that someone can pull that little piece of trivia from his head like that.

Or, someone just saw the same "Inside Politics" I did...

I never watch Inside Politics. As shocking as it seems, I actually knew that already.
posted by ljromanoff at 4:17 PM on August 4, 2001

Not everyone thinks like you. Surprise!

Oh my god. . .
posted by crasspastor at 6:19 PM on August 4, 2001

Tomorama... That's what I first thought, but couldn't find a pic of him. And what's stranger, is that it's not just Kaczynski... but there's a dash of Rushdie (warning, loud background track) thrown in there, as well. As Lynsey said: very professorial.
posted by silusGROK at 6:27 PM on August 4, 2001

I never watch Inside Politics. As shocking as it seems, I actually knew that already.

That seems rather shocking.
posted by Tin Man at 7:05 PM on August 4, 2001

Mad Scientist Note to Self: Gorebot Facial Growth Unit #11232-L is a success, assimilation into man's society continues at planned pace. "Election controversy" with BushBot Unit #WJR43 worked well, populace distracted from robot imperfections by "chads", will commence drilling for robot fuel. KatherineBot in for repairs, cause she wasn't fooling anyone. ClintonBot has had latest coating of teflon applied, still untouchable. Will attempt "murder" next, just to see... Predict 98% chance of success.

(bedtime, ain't it?)
posted by owillis at 2:38 AM on August 5, 2001

Beards and British politcs don't mix, either, as Frank Dobson found out. (Last bearded PM? Lord Salisbury, who left office in 1902.) Not as big a liability, though, as middle-aged baldness: would the US public elect another Truman or Eisenhower today?


As for Gore, I keep thinking "South American literary type". And heh, these four years in the wilderness are going to do more for his reputation than had he become President.
posted by holgate at 5:53 AM on August 5, 2001

The facial hair works for me, but then I've always thought Gore was cute. Dubya on the other hand...
posted by lia at 8:40 AM on August 5, 2001

It definitely works. His face is so chiseled. The beard softens it up a bit and gives him a little more character. It's good to see him trying something different.
posted by christophernaze at 9:43 AM on August 5, 2001

hes my adorable uncle al and i love him.
posted by c at 10:31 AM on August 5, 2001

i think the beard looks nice, it covers up his turkey neck.
posted by ggggarret at 2:55 PM on August 5, 2001

At least it puts the focus on his new growth of hair in the front, as opposed to the lack of hair on the back of his head.
posted by gyc at 4:25 PM on August 5, 2001