Rolling Stone, Nov. 9

The Al Gore cover interview shows the candidate as pedagogue. Gore carefully explains his China and Africa policies, obsessions with global warming and the high-tech industry, and his complex relationship with Bill Clinton. He also rants weirdly about putting a satellite between the Earth and the sun and says two of his favorite recent movies are The Matrix and Gladiator, violence notwithstanding. There are no really tough questions. ... A piece about O.J. Simpson and his agent reports how the Juice now makes his living autographing memorabilia. He must spend every cent he earns as soon as he gets it or Ron Goldman's father collects it as part of the $30 million verdict against him, but the market for O.J. memorabilia is drying up anyway.

New Republic, Oct. 30

Shocker of the year: The New Republic endorses Al Gore for president! Fooled by George W. Bush's pleasant demeanor, the press has ignored his intentions to privatize the last remnants of the New Deal, his isolationism, and his shaky grasp of the issues. If Bush wins, the editors write, "[i]t will be a sign that we are not living in a serious age." … A piece compares the strategies of the third-party candidates. Pat Buchanan is running hard in Democratic states like Massachusetts and Rhode Island, persuading conservatives to give him their vote so the Reform Party gets the 5 percent required for matching funding in 2004. Ralph Nader, on the other hand, has concentrated on the Pacific Northwest and Wisconsin, battleground states where his message resonates and where he could easily tilt the election to Bush. … An article blasts the Clinton policy on Iraq. Because he stumbled the first few times he tangled with Saddam Hussein, Clinton enforces sanctions laxly and has stopped aiding the Iraqi opposition. Both Bush and Gore support a tougher policy.

Reason, November 2000

The cover story argues that presidential candidates now strive to be ordinary men. Candidates used to tout only the personal characteristics—bravery and honor, for example—that elevated above the fray. Now, after the Cold War and with the advent of 24/seven media, candidates present their whole lives, warts and all, in an attempt to persuade voters to identify with them. Gore surged after his convention because of his infamous Tipper kiss and speeches by his daughter and best college buddy. The article suggests that Gore exaggerates his personal history because he is constantly tailoring it to what he thinks the public wants.

New York Times Magazine, Oct. 22

The cover story chronicles the most expensive congressional race ever, the suburban Los Angeles contest between impeachment prosecutor Rep. James Rogan and Adam Schiff, a Democratic state senator. The candidates raised almost $10 million with no trouble at all but have had a hard time spending it. Both campaigns concede that their TV ads have not moved the electorate, but keep airing them because they are not sure what else to do. … A piece previews Bush and Gore Supreme Courts with profiles of two leading contenders for the next judicial nomination. Many voters worry about the future of Roe v. Wade, but the real (if boring) issue is federalism—how much the courts will rein in federal power in local affairs. Possible Bush nominee J. Michael Luttig would reduce federal regulatory authority by narrowly interpreting the interstate commerce clause. Gore possibility David Tatel would rarely limit Congress. … A profile traces the decline of ex-heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. Once viewed as the next Muhammad Ali, Bowe stopped training, lost the title, kidnapped his wife, and was diagnosed with brain damage.

Time and Newsweek, Oct. 23

Middle East covers. Time's cover is two already famous pictures—the bombed U.S.S. Cole and the Palestinian showing his bloody hands to the mob. Newsweek's cover shows an American soldier in a hospital bed in Yemen. … Both Yemen-bombing stories (click here for Time's and here for Newsweek's) focus on how difficult it is to control terrorism. America has no idea what groups were involved in the attack, though Osama Bin Laden is again a suspect. … Pieces analyze Yasser Arafat's approach to the crisis. He has come under fire at home for conceding too much, but the world criticizes him for not conceding enough. His grip on power is loosening as rank-and-file Palestinians shun his peace efforts and military leaders build their own political organizations. …Newsweek runs interviews with Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak, neither of whom express much optimism about peace. … A Newsweek piece says it is too early to tell how the crisis will affect the presidential race. Gore has the advantage of incumbency, but he could be blamed for the failure of American efforts to broker peace. Bush still has a reputation for foreign-policy weakness, but his debate performance helped him. Bush would delegate authority to his advisers, while Gore, like Clinton, would take a leadership role in diplomacy.