So you say Ralphy boy is no spoiler. Think again.
In the first major national poll to come out (see below) since JFK locked down the nomination, it finds that Bush and Kerry are in a dead heat. However, Darth Nader is scoring a neat 6%. That's in the spoiler zone, folks.
Here's what I think. This could just be a knee jerk reaction based on the excitement of Nader getting into the race and anger in general on the part of disaffected ABK Democrats. Nader's success as a spoiler will be based on how many states he can get on the ballot. If he only gets on in places like New York, Texas, and California, no big deal. He becomes dangerous to Kerry in Iowa, New Hampshire, and, yes, even Florida. Naturally, as election day dawns ever closer I think a lot of the disaffected will walk away from Ralph.
Let me say this right now. I've been a strong supporter of the Green's for some time. I think they have an agenda that is more in line with what is really good for America. Fire away if, you will. However, I think both they and Nader having been barking up the same tree for a long time. As a person that takes Ralph Nader seriously I can tell you his run is not about ego. He really thinks that running for President gets his ideas on the stage and serves to open up the debate regarding the lock the two parties have on American politics. I really believe that had Howard Dean pulled the nomination, there would be no Ralph Nader in this race. So at the end of the day, the Democratic Party, in taking the safe road, may have signed its own death warrant.
As a real life honest to gawd librul I'm trying to figure out how I feel about a successful Nader run. On the one hand I have an ABB streak. I want that guy gone. On the other hand, I feel the call of the Dark Side. Deep down I know the Democratic Party...from Terry Mac down to the average voter...still haven't "learned their lesson." Deep down I've got that V.I. Lenin streak that keeps whispering "the worse the better," the more damage Bush does the more likely it is that a truly progressive alternative will emerge within the Democratic Party. As Michael Moore has said, "they only understand corporal punishment."
I think this is the core of Nader's support...young progressives with a little streak of red who say, "aw 'F' the Democratic Party, I'm sending them a message." Sure, that's almost as bad as throwing down for Roy Moore, but that's the choice some folks are gonna have to make.
Here's the story on the poll:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4437478/