I was alerted to the resurrection from the political tomb of Ralph Nader by an e-mail that came to me from a political progressive list serve. It is hard for me to believe that Nader -- who I would have thought would be spending his days in hair shirts and a ritual of daily scourgings to atone for his complicity in the election of the current president -- could possibly think that he still has anything to say to the American public that is worth anyone listening to. But I wanted to reproduce for the Kos community's edification the message recruiting me to support Nader (I delete links that could help him and identifying information of course.)
Y'know -- I've been getting pretty upset by my concern that the Clintons could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory by defeating Obama and then losing to McCain. Ralph reminds me that there is someone far, far worse than Clinton and McCain that must be opposed.
> Friends:
> Ralph Nader has put up a presidential exploratory committee website. I understand Nader will decide whether to run Green, in part, depending on how the California Green primary turns out on Super Tuesday.
> The official announcement is below.
>
> Friends,
>
> Here’s a safe bet: the two major political parties will nominate Presidential candidates from the corporate wings of their parties.
>
> What will that leave us in this election year?
>
> Corporate control as usual.
>
> If this happens, we have two choices – throw in the towel.
>
> Or fight back.
>
> If we choose to fight back, here’s a good option:
>
> Join with a person whose life is one of dedicated service to the public interest.
>
> To help him organize a political campaign in every state against corporate control over our lives.
>
> Luckily, that person – Ralph Nader – is considering such a campaign.
>
> But he will need active and informed citizens in every Congressional district in the country.
>
> He will need volunteers.
>
> He will need funds.
>
> He will need dedication.
>
> That’s why we’ve signed on at Nader’s exploratory web site: http://www.naderexplore08.org <http://www.naderexplore08.org>
>
> Check it out.
>
> And spread the word.
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> In 2008, it’s either sit back and watch the drift.
>
> Or get off the couch and fight back.
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> Hope you will join us.
>
> Thank you.
>
> The Nader Team
>
(name deleted) --
Ralph is an egomaniac who has done nothing of interest since the 1970's. I've spoken to him on a number of occasions and he simply struck me as an ideologue whose ideas are hopelessly out of touch with what he could ever hope to accomplish, and he consistently shoots himself in the foot by alienating people -- like me -- who would support the policies he advocates but cannot support him. Quite simply, he knows nothing about the political process and supporting him is not only a waste of time and resources, but actually counterproductive since he draws resources away from more promising paths to achieve social and political change.
The only notable accomplishment he's had since his days crusading for auto safety is that he was able to convince a small but unfortunately pivotal group of voters that there was no significant difference between George W. Bush and Al Gore. As it turns out, Gore is actually a far more visionary and accomplished advocate for "greenness" than Nader ever will be. Anyone who says that the Global-warming-denying, war-waging, right-wing George Bush is functionally equivalent to the Nobel Peace Prize winning Al Gore is delusional. I will do everything in my power to discredit this pathetic old loser.
Thanks.