What if Klaus didn't run?

Al Gore reinvented himself by tapping into fears about the destruction of the planet. He might still run again for president, but he'll more likely decide that his future as an all-around man of influence is more attractive. If Václav Klaus could step back a moment from the pettiness of Czech politics, he might see a similar future for himself in Europe. The Czech media are already presenting him as the antithesis to Gore on global warming, and he's long been a leading euroskeptic. On the domestic level, though, his potential in these respects is exhausted. The louder he speaks out, the lower his chances of getting reelected. In Europe, by contrast, the field is still wide open. If, like Gore, he were freed of the presidential burden, he'd be able to take full ownership of these hot issues and, with some proper handling, he could gain a huge following. His window of opportunity is narrow. [Czech Republic climate change environmentalism]