Unsafe at Any Speed

Ralph is running. And even after the past four years, he still maintains that there is no difference betweeen the two parties. What an egomaniac. I thought it was interesting that a day after Nader said that presidential historian Michael Beschloss was on Imus this morning saying that this election would provide some of the starkest choices between Republicans and Democrats on the issues in over 30 years.

So I made a couple of phone calls this morning to ensure that I was taken off the Public Citizen mailing list. (The woman there tried to argue with me that Nader had nothing to do with the organization, but conceded, upon questioning, that he had founded the organization.)

That being said, and the fact that I will never support any organization associated with Ralph Nader ever again, I don't think Ralph will do as well this time around. First, of all, and perhaps the most significant, is the fact that he won't have the Green party apparatus to get him on the ballot in 50 states. It is both expensive and time-consuming to get on the Presidential ballot and I wonder how many state ballots he will actually be on in November. A friend quite accurately pointed out to me this morning that Nader will probably be able to get REPUBLICAN signatures easily, but Democratic signatures will be hard to come by. Is that what Ralph wants his legacy to be?

Secondly, I think a lot of Nader voters have realized what an absolute disaster Bush has been and some even recognize their own culpability in that. That's why you don't see people like Michael Moore supporting Nader this time around. He will have a much harder time getting votes. The Democratic party is incredibly united with one goal: defeating Bush. A vote for Nader clearly goes against that.

Finally, Moore might still have an impact, and I'm not referring to Michael. Roy Moore, Mr. Ten Commandments, is apparently seriously considering running for president with the Constitution Party. I think this could have more impact than a Nader candidacy because the Constitution Party has the party apparatus to get on the ballot (and may already be on the ballot) in most states. Bush's recess appointment of Bill Pryor to the 11th Circuit, while red meat to his base, supposedly greatly angered Moore, because Pryor, as Attorney General of Alabama, refused to support Moore's crusade.


- posted by Joshua @ 10:34 AM