I think it’s wonderful that we live in a country where two men can fight tooth and nail for something they both desperately want and still have respect for one another in the end.

It appears the visit to the White House by Al Gore to be honored as a Nobel Prize recipient went off without a hitch.

Al Gore slipped out the side door of the West Wing.

In his private Oval Office meeting with President Bush, the former vice president insisted that they had spoken about global warming “the whole time.” It wasn’t clear if the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, who shared the honor for his work on climtate change, was serious.

“Of course,” they had spoken about global warming, Gore said, strolling down a rain-slick Pennsylvania Avenue with wife Tipper Gore after a private session with the president. For Gore, who had gone into the White House for a reception for the American winners of the 2007 Nobel Prizes, this was his first return to the Oval Office since leaving office.

But Gore, calling the meeting with Bush “very cordial” and “substantive,” declined to elaborate on their meeting. “I’m not going to do an interview here,” Gore said in his walk down the streets outside the White House. “I don’t want to comment more.”

This was the first private meeting of Gore and Bush since the Tennessee Democrat won more of the popular vote than Bush in the presidential election of 2000 but lost in the Electoral College – following a 36-day court fight over Bush’s disputed 537-vote margin in Florida.

This may have been a cordial reunion of erstwhile adversaries from a contested election, but it was kept discreetly private, within the confines of the Oval Office – where photographers and pool reporters arrived near the end for “a photo-opportunity.’’ The two appeared relaxed, smiling and in good moods, the pool reported.

You don’t have to like Al Gore or his policies or his theories on Global Warming. You don’t have to believe he should have won an Oscar for his documentary. Regardless of those feelings, he was a sitting Vice President and he did receive those awards. What would have been said if the President ignored Mr. Gore and proceeded with this ceremony in his absence?

I for one am glad that the class of this President once again came to the forefront, (through his White House Press Secretary):

“The president didn’t make a calculated decision to invite Al Gore to the White House… He invited him because he’s one of the Nobel winners,’’ said Perino, pressed about the purpose of the additional private meeting. “I didn’t psychoanalyze the president to find out why… It was a presidential, gentlemanly thing to do.’’

Darn right. I am by no means a Al Gore fan but I do respect his former position and he had every right to be at this ceremony and enjoy his visit with the President.

HT:Drudge