“Former vice-president Al Gore will be the next president of the United States,” the Toronto Star‘s “Oscarology” blogger Peter Howell has declared. “Why? Because on Feb. 25 he’s going to win the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for An Inconvenient Truth, his expose about global warming that is having a big impact on the global village consciousness.

“Gore is on the side of the angels and of history with this issue, and he’s been leading the charge. Wiser political minds than mine insist that Hillary Clinton, Obama Barack or John Edwards will be the next president. I say the three are just worthy contenders for the crown, which will ultimately be placed on the head of Gore.

“Global warming has become the issue of current times, replacing global terrorism as the nightmare scenario. Gore offers hope and action. Just ask the people who hand out the Nobel Prizes, whom this week nominated Gore for a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to save the planet.

“The guy could have both an Oscar and a Nobel this year. A perfect way to launch a campaign for a presidential race you know he’s going to enter, despite all the non-denial denials. He’s being smart and letting Clinton, Barack and Edwards tear themselves apart before committing. But he will. And he will win.”