Pundits blast Nader's run
The reviews on Ralph Nader's decision to mount another run at the presidency are in -- and they aren't pretty.
Marc Cooper of The Huffington Post portrayed Nader as a paper candidate who can't even expect to influence the discourse of the race:
Nader is far too smart a man to know that he has any chance of winning anything. What he, and whatever few supporters who will join him, will argue is that by running he will somehow force Obama - or Hillary if she wins the nomination--to move to the left.
This is, of course, nonsense. All of the factors that contributed to Nader's dismal finish in 2004 are many times more potent this cycle. His candidacy will force nothing, except the voters to view Nader as some sort of bizarre spectacle. The competing candidates will see him as little more than a nuisance.
Matthew Yglesias over at The Atlantic sarcastically ridiculed Nader's characterization of the two-party race as dominated by the same corporate interests:
After all, there's not a dime's worth of a difference between a candidate promising tax cuts, pushing more health risk onto individuals, a re-invigoration of George Bush's campaign to dominate the world through military force, and an industry-friendly approach to environmental issues and his rival who's promising substantial socialization of medical risk, a 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions, and end to the war in Iraq (and to the mindset that led to war!), universal preschool, etc. Well, sure, there's judicial appointments -- abortion, gay rights, etc. -- and some small fry stuff about whether or not the NSA will have unrestrained surveillance powers. But basically it's just the same two corporate clones running on virtually identical platforms.
And again in The Atlantic, Nader friend James Fallows sounded a more somber note:
I will always like and respect Ralph Nader and will always admire the wonderful things he has done. But I wish to God that he had not made this decision, or will reverse it soon. (And, I am sorry that saying this will make me an enemy in his eyes.) He is a better man than his recent decisions indicate.
What do you think about Nader's decision to run again?
For me it's GREAT that Ralph is running! The problem with the Democrats,and I am one,is that they can't get together on anything. For example,on the vote to stop the Republicans from violating the Constitution and the FISA Law 19 Democratic Senators voted to give Bush and the Phone Companies immunity for something that should have been cause for impeachment and or imprisionment. If you look at the Republican vote they voted unanimously to support Bush's crime. Here's my prediction the Democrats think this election is a slam dunk,except they seem to forget this Country is still divided and they will lose because of arrogance and once again they will blame Ralph Nader for their inability to unite against forces against their own intrests. Thank God for a thorn in the side called Nader!!
I think it is a great move again by Mr. Nader. I live in Oklahoma and I continue to write Nader's name in even though this backward state will never allow him to be placed on the Oklahoma ballot.
The day will come that enough will finally be enough with Americans and many of them will open their eyes to the corporate corruption going on all around us. We are kept in debt for a reason.
Forget Pundits. Let the guy run, this is America for God's sake...I'm ashamed of all these whiny trash-talkers...
The bashing of the Ralph Nader campaign in the media is proof that this country needs another voice. If the duopoly party candidates AREN'T corporate clones then why is it common say that candidates like Ron Paul and Ralph Nader don't stand a chance. They both represent the core traditions and beliefs of their respective ideological platforms and are the only two candidates with the history and voting records to back up their word. Americans need to turn of their TVs, put down the NY times or their National Review or whatever and start doing their own research. If this was happening Ron Paul would be heading the Republican Party and Ralph Nader the other. What happened to politics being about principles.
Could these writers be any MORE biased and partisan ? I'm ecstatic he is running and will vote for him...AGAIN
Down with political bigotry. Up with Ralph Nader!
What is wrong with you people man?? This ideological nonsense is making me sick. Reality is this.... we have a two party system in this country. It is unfortunate but yet the truth. I voted for Nader in 2000 with my first oppurtunity to vote. Not a day goes by that i don't wish I voted for Gore now. We ended up with George Bush. I'm getting more and more suspicious of his coincidental appearance everytime there is a close presidential race. I'm sorry but i can't help but think he is the best thing that the REPUBLICAN party can ask for. We're in the most unpopular war of my generation, and mabe its a stretch, but I can't help but feel partially responsible for that. Now, in what will undoubtedly be a close race this coming an election, a man who has no realistic chance of becoming president is once again going to steal votes from the left. So that means just because we need more than a 2 party system,idealogically, it is worth possibly electing someone that wants to stay in a Iraq for a hundred years?? A vote for Nader is essentially a vote for McCain. The President's approval rating is in the gutter for numerous reasons.Let's not kid ourselves though, the handling of the war in Iraq is the clincher. And now because Nader stands for something that a lot of us think is a breath of fresh air, we should vote for him, which in turn would allow the Iraq war to continue beyond any of our lifetimes? If McCain says we have to stay there longer because we have to clean up this administration's mess, then he has a point. Similar to when we helped the Afghans against the Soviets, and then just left abruptly. See if that was spoken about more i'd be convinced. But Mccain was and is a strong advocate for staying the course in an extremely unpopular war. And yet here we are, speculating about the corporate control of candidates when it seems very obvious that Nader is in fact being supported by a large contingent of the Republican party because they no he has not a chance on Earth. Not to mention that means one less vote for the Democratic nominee. Nader is no fool folks. Do you not think he is aware of his presence being a benifit to the RIGHT? I'm not in to conspiracy theories, so don't get me wrong. But for an individual who bashed George Bush the way Nader did, he did a hell of a lot to get him elected and then re-elected.
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