Al on Remainder ( Bore's books aren't selling well )

theamericanprowler. ^ | Published 11/25/02 12:05:00 AM | The Prowler

[KQQL]

COUNTING EVERY READER

Al Gore is said by associates to be surprised that his newest books on family aren't selling well. The pair of books co-written with wife Tipper Gore (one of them is a coffee-table book intended to serve as companion to the "heavier" tome) are apparently headed toward the remainder bin as bookstores move more popular and potential Christmas gift fare into the line of sight of customers.

"We aren't selling any," says a sales associate for Borders Books in Bethesda, Maryland. "And we thought given that this is kind of a political book and that it's by Gore that it would sell in this area."

It hasn't worked out that way. The audiences at Gore's book signings have been skimpy, and worse, those that do come to hear him haven't been buying the books. In San Francisco, Gore's appearances were met by crowds of people apparently rounded up by his former Northern California presidential campaign staff. "We were invited to come and cheer him on," says a former volunteer. "We were chanting, 'Gore in 2004,' and he loved it. But I wasn't going to buy the book."

The Gore books haven't yet cracked the New York Times bestseller list after more than three weeks in stores, an indication that it won't make the list. "They tried getting them [The Sunday New York Times Book Review] to list it as a book in the 'Bear in Mind' section, so at least it would make the page where the bestseller list is placed, but we couldn't even get that," says a former Gore aide. "It's another indication the public isn't buying Gore as a serious candidate in 2004."

The Prowler won't go so far. We see it as an indication that the American public is still in recovery from Earth in the Balance.

[Let's Roll]

And what genius decided to release both books at once?

[RooRoobird14]

Just checked Amazon.com five minutes ago:

Al's book is now 2,404 on the Amazon.com "best seller list!!"

ROTFLOL--Even The Forehead's latest flop "It's Still the Economy, Stupid" (released 11/2002) is beating Al's book in sales, ranked at 2,378!!

LOL, I'm laughing so hard, I can't stand it!!!!

[Barset]

I recall that scene in the house tour, but remember Tipper standing nearby acting cutesy-kittenish (not a good look for anyone over five, and especially not for an overweight, middle-aged, self-confessed depressive.)

One incident at the Dem Convention, when Al Gore was nominated he looked surprised and then as thrilled as a prom queen. There was a flurry of quick hugs and handshakes; his son was standing behind him and to the side. When Al Gore turned to greet backers, the son, apparently thinking his father wanted to embrace him, moved towards him smiling, but Algore shoved him aside without looking at him, and the son, looking around, the smile still frozen on his stricken face, moved out of of the family circle.

The "kiss" got so much attention that the implied rejection of his son was not noted in any news reports. This segment was rerun recently and it seemed quite stark to me. The boy, slightly overweight, looking bright and expectant when his father turned around, and then awkward and embarrassed when he was brushed aside.

My husband thinks his children hung the moon and stars; his face lights up if he sees them even at a distance. On a crowded stage or anywhere else, he would see only them, embrace only them. I can't believe family guru Gore's brutish indifference to his son was not noticed by others.

[mountaineer]

Albert III is the invisible child, for sure. Gore got him into Harvard (one of those legacy things, apparently) and he disappeared from view, unlike his publicity-seeking sisters.

Here's some more on the Al/Tipper book, from the Washington Times:

"I hadn't intended to read that Gore book on families," David Frum writes at National Review Online (www.nationalreview.com). "I expected it to be a sugary celebration of home and hearth, a public-relations exercise aimed at convincing suburban moms and other swing voters that Gore was not in fact an android but a man with a heart as big as all of Tennessee. In other words: something yucky," Mr. Frum said. "Not so, according to Andrew Hacker, a very smart left-wing sociologist, in the current (Dec. 5) issue of the New York Review of Books. Hacker contends that 'Joined at the Heart' follows in the tradition of 'Earth in the Balance': another Gore production written in a voice of almost terrifying frankness. In 1992, Gore told us that if he ever became president, he would dismantle the American economy in the name of environmental regulation. Ten years later, he is ready to execute similar destruction on the American family. I think I am going to have to read the dratted thing after all." link

[Samwise]

At first I thought that was a description of one of the families profiled in Al's new book.

You mean they're not? :^)

I had to look up the word "trepanning" and ran across this typical liberal family. I think Al didn't include them because they are British. The Dems could certainly get more voters if National Healthcare guaranteed holes in everyone's head.

[Samwise]

You just had to remind me of the Alpha male Al, didn't you? Fortunately, Dubya effectively neutered that strutting Alpha male with one perfect look during the debates. I wish I could find the picture. It would be the perfect antidote.

[Samwise]

Lots of women went gaga for him......

Correction--lots of women went "Gag!"

[weegee]

In 1992, Gore told us that if he ever became president, he would dismantle the American economy in the name of environmental regulation. Ten years later, he is ready to execute similar destruction on the American family. I think I am going to have to read the dratted thing after all."

Perhaps he should have titled the book "Meine Familie"?

[Quilla]

Lookie what I found:

Tipper's self portrait. She's demented if you ask me.

[Miss Marple]

Har!

[gridlock]

What about Dingell/Norwood?

[Liz]

Nice take.

[weegee]

Tipper's self portrait.

Here's my reaction:

[weegee]

Maybe John Dingell will run for the presidency in 2004 and get former DC mayor Marion Barry as his running mate. It could be the Dingell/Berry ticket.

[Publius6961]

Expect little Tommy to introduce a bill obligating everybody who works for a living to buy a book under penalty of 20 years or $1 million fine.

Anyone who earns over $100k must buy 10, and anyone who earns over $400k must buy 1000.

There. Problem solved. It was so unfair!

[nina0113]

She's demented if you ask me

Also untalented.

[weegee]

When will the photo book be released as a book-on-tape??

[Freee-dame]

Compare Algore's invisible sales to the mega sales of Coulter, Goldberg and Hannity which had only negative reviews on network TV. It just shows how irrelelvent lamestream network televsion is becoming to politics compared to radio, the internet, and FOX.

There is hope.

[Travis McGee]

It's a new day for sure, but dangers still abound. I never count the 'rats down and out, they are like zombies or communists, they don't "stay dead".

[ApesForEvolution]

I wonder if algore will do the pc thing and start recycling them...