Gore, Current Silent as Cleric Affirms Death Penalty for Leaving Islam on Al-Jazeera
THE DAILY CALLER: Aides to former Democratic Vice President Al Gore have failed to respond to a recent Al-Jazeera TV broadcast, in which a top imam affirmed the Death Penalty [sic] for anyone who quits Islam.

Gore sold his Current TV Network to Al-Jazeera, which now plans to extend its broadcast into the United States this summer, according to Ashok Sinha, vice president of corporate communications at Current TV/Al-Jazeera America.

Gore reportedly sold Current TV for $500 million and endorsed Al-Jazeera’s news programs.

Western critics of Islam highlighted a recent broadcast of the network’s regular “Shariah and Life” show, which has an estimated audience of 60 million viewers worldwide.

The show’s host is Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a prominent Sunni Islamic cleric.

He declared that Islam’s mandated death-penalty for apostasy has kept Islam alive since the 1400s. “If they had gotten rid of the apostasy punishment Islam wouldn’t exist today,” Qaradawi said on the show.

Qaradawi cited specific verses and narrations by Islam’s prophet, Muhammad, and the recorded testimony of his companions, that mandate the death penalty for anyone who tries to leave Islam. » | Nicole Lafond | Tuesday, February 12, 2013

SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: After the Arab Spring: Al-Jazeera Losing Battle for Independence – For over a decade, the Arab television broadcaster Al-Jazeera was widely respected for providing an independent voice from the Middle East. Recently, however, several top journalists have left, saying the station has developed a clear political agenda. » | Alexander Kühn, Christoph Reuter and Gregor Peter Schmitz | Friday, February 15, 2013

Al Gore Will Not Be Prosecuted Over Masseuse Allegations
THE TELEGRAPH: Al Gore, the former Vice President, will not be prosecuted over allegations by a masseuse that he groped and assaulted her in his Oregon hotel room in 2006, the county prosecutor has confirmed.

District Attorney Michael Schrunk said the case has numerous problems and is not appropriate for a criminal prosecution.

Mr Gore, who served as US Vice President under Bill Clinton, denied the charges, including under questioning July 22 by local detectives. His aides welcomed the news.

"Mr Gore unequivocally and emphatically denied this accusation when he first learned of its existence three years ago," spokesman Kalee Kreider said in a statement. "He respects and appreciates the thorough and professional work of the Portland authorities and is pleased that this matter has now been resolved." >>> | Saturday, July 31, 2010

Police Reopen Gore Sex Assault Investigation
Al Gore. Photo: Fox News
FOX NEWS: PORTLAND, Oregon -- Police said Wednesday they are reopening an investigation into an Oregon massage therapist's allegations that former Vice President Al Gore groped her at an upscale hotel in 2006.

In a brief statement, the Portland Police Bureau did not say why it was reopening the investigation. Police earlier said they considered the case closed because there was no evidence.

Kalee Kreider, a spokeswoman for Gore, said the former vice president "unequivocally and emphatically" denied making unwanted sexual advances toward the woman and that he welcomed the investigation.

"Further investigation into this matter will only benefit Mr. Gore," Kreider said. >>> Associated Press | Thursday, July 01, 2010

Related article here

Al Gore Accused of 'Sexually Harassing' Massage Therapist
THE TELEGRAPH: Al Gore, the former Vice President, has been accused of "unwanted sexual contact" by a Portland massage therapist.

Al Gore kisses wife Tipper at the Democratic Convention in August 2000. Photo: The Telegraph
The woman claims that the advances happened at a hotel during an October 2006 visit, but no charges were filed due to lack of evidence, law officials have said.

An attorney representing the woman contacted police in late 2006, said Michael Schrunk, Multnomah County District Attorney. Mr Schrunk said the woman – who has not been identified – refused to be interviewed by detectives and did not want the investigation to proceed.

The woman, however, contacted police in January 2009 and gave a statement, saying Mr Gore tried to have sex with her during an appointment at the upscale downtown Hotel Lucia, where Mr Gore was reportedly registered as "Mr. Stone."

The National Enquirer first reported the allegations on Wednesday, identifying the accuser as a 54-year-old woman. >>> | Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Flipside of Green?
THE TELEGRAPH: The son of Al Gore, the former vice president and prominent environmental campaigner, was yesterday arrested for possession of drugs after being pulled over by police for speeding.

Al Gore III, 24, was stopped as he was driving a blue Toyota Prius, a hybrid car, along a freeway near San Diego, southern California, about 100 mile per hour.

Sheriff's deputies who stopped him said they smelled marijuana in the car and recovered less than an ounce of the drug. The officers also found the prescription drugs Xanax, Valium, both tranquillisers, the pain killer Vicodin and Adderall, a drug for attention deficit disorder. Al Gore’s son arrested for drugs (more) By Catherine Elsworth

Mark Alexander

Al Gore has fallen out of love with politics; but the greens haven’t fallen out of love with him

Photo of Al Gore courtesy of Google Images

TIME: Let's say you were dreaming up the perfect stealth candidate for 2008, a Democrat who could step into the presidential race when the party confronts its inevitable doubts about the front-runners. You would want a candidate with the grassroots appeal of Barack Obama—someone with a message that transcends politics, someone who spoke out loud and clear and early against the war in Iraq. But you would also want a candidate with the operational toughness of Hillary Clinton—someone with experience and credibility on the world stage. The Last Temptation of Al Gore (more)

Mark Alexander

Is Al Gore to Run for President?

Photo of Al Gore courtesy of Google Images

BBC: So is Al Gore running? The answer was not just a resounding yes. It was delivered breathlessly, impatiently, punctuated by huffs and puffs. There were neatly formed beads of sweat running down his cheeks.

Al was definitely running. No doubt about it! Proof positive. He was running on the running machine at a hotel in Los Angeles where I also happened to be staying.

While I was ploughing gently and unambitiously through the waters of the nearby pool I spotted him in the gym. He was reading the local paper while working the Stairmaster/running machine for at least an hour. I could practically see the pounds flying off him.

The punditocracy has already decreed that one sure sign of Al Gore entering the 2008 presidential race is any evidence that he's serious about shedding post-Florida recount pounds. There you have it. A scoop!

Who knows what's really going through his mind?

But I have no doubt that if he did decide to enter in October this year he would have no shortage of funds, would need less cash than his opponents because of his name recognition and would hugely benefit from the signature issue of global warming for which he has become America's principal spokesman. Washington Diary: Al Gore running (Read on) by Matt Frei

Mark Alexander