Master of the Universe

Being a Harvard alum, it seems I am on the mailing list of a magazine named "02138" that is produced to appeal to Harvard alums, I guess. (The number is the zip code for Harvard Sq.)

In this addition, they have an article entitled "Master of the Universe" in which they rank the 100 most influential Harvard alums, i.e., living alumni who are influencing the world right now. Bush ranks number 2. Others on the list include Anthony M. Kennedy (#3), Barak Obama (#4), Bill Gates (#5), Mitt Romney (#6), Michael Bloomberg (#7), John Roberts (#8), Ben Bernanke (#9), Lou Dobbs (#12), E-Bay CEO Meg Whitman (#16), Ruth Bader Ginsburg (#22), Bill O'Liely (#24), Chuck Schumer (#26), Ted Kennedy (who I thought was expelled for cheating, #28), Antonin Scalia (#30), Frank Rich (#42), Jeffrey Sachs (#44), David Souter (#49), Carl Levin (#51), Larry Summers (no longer president of Harvard, #54), Andrew Sullivan (the blogger, #57), Barney Frank (#62) and on and on. It's quite a list, including some of the more despicable people around.

Number one on the list? Al Gore, who, they say, once did stand up comedy while at Harvard. Really? Here are a few snippets from their interview.

Q. We're arguing that your are, at this moment, more influential than President Bush. Are we nuts?

Al Gore. Well, thank you for feeling that way, but yes.

Q. How influential do you think you've been since leaving the White House?

Al Gore. I've simply tried to have a positive impact. I actually feel that I have failed to reach my principal objective of moving the U.S. and the world past a tipping point on the climate crisis. It's important not to confuse progress with success.

Q. Are you having more fun these days?

Al Gore. (Laughs) It's a tricky question, because the issue that I'm mosts focused on isn't one associated with having fun. But there is joy in expending one's fullest efforts in a cause that feels worthy and feels like it's what you're supposed to be doing. So, in that sense, yes.

Q. You were often referred to as the most powerful Vice President.

Al Gore. That was before Dick Cheney.

As to the inevitable question of whether he plans to run for president:

... it doesn't feel like the right thing for me to be a candidate at this point.