<p>How would America have reacted to Sept. 11 had Al Gore been president?</p>
<p>Or, more to the point, how would Al Gore have reacted to Sept. 11?</p>
<p>Judging by his speech the other day to the Commonwealth Club of California, the answer is: Weakly.</p>
<p>Tentatively.</p>
<p>Maybe not at all.</p>