Edward Rothstein reports on a remarkable conference at the New School, called "Fear:Its Uses and Abuses." Gore delivered the keynote address and argued that it is the American government that is preoccupied with instilling fear (George Kateb, Eric Alterman, and other Left-wing worthies, expanded on the theme). This is similar, it was argued, to the irrational fear of Communism and the perversions of McCathyism, "It was described as part of a counter-constitutional coup by a radical right." The speakers wanted to inspire fear, Bush "is exploiting the fears of the American people," as Gore put it. Of course, no one seemed to fear terrorists. And Gore argued that terrorism is not a threat, so shouldn’t be feared. Jeff Jarvis reflects on all this (a few pages down under "Fear") and it is not to Gore’s advantage. Glenn Reynolds comes to the point: "I was once pretty high on Gore -- I worked in his 1988 campaign -- but he’s been a complete disappointment. And now he’s not just a guy who lost an election. He’s a become a loser, and that transformation has been entirely his own work.

And those of us who were relieved on September 11 that Al Gore wasn’t the President are reminded, yet again, just why we were relieved. He’s too small a man for a job that big." I don’t think any more has to be said on Al Gore.