« DENNIS KUCINICH: INNER SPACE | Main | CLIMATE CHANGE WILL DESTROY US? »

NADER, THE DAMN IDEALIST

nn_dawson_nader_040222.vsmall.jpgI just finished watching Ralph Nader announce his bid for presidency on "Meet the Press". Damn you Nader! Not for running again, but running for the same good reasons and reminding me why I voted for him in 2000. Only this time I will resist his clarion call. Nearly every progressive-minded individual will resist him, if not outright condemn him. Yes, the two-party system sucks. Yes, Washington is full of corporate lapdogs. Yes, we need to change all that. But you know what? First we need to get this fucker out of the White House. Period.

A FEW MORE OBSERVATIONS:

  • The Truth Laid Bear has a good analysis. Nader is holding Democrats over an open flame. Dean already gave Dems a backbone, now Nader is in a position to give them some progressive muscle. I believe we need people like Nader and Kucinich to prevent Democrats from forgetting about poverty, the environment, civil liberties, health care, jobs - the concerns of everyday Americans.

  • Do you know what's missing from the progressive agenda? National security. You might think it doesn't need to be there, because the Republicans are already psychotic about national security. But it's a concern of every American, and we shouldn't allow it to be seen as a Republican issue. *Sane* national security, that doesn't sacrifice freedom and doesn't criminalize anyone wearing a turban, should be on the progressive agenda.

  • Why on earth is Nader "Blogless in Seattle"? Matt Stoller quotes Nader as saying he doesn't have time for the Web. Mathew Gross says Nader acts as though 2003 and the Dean campaign never happened. Populism and fundraising have been revolutionized; Nader didn't get the memo.

  • Citizen Smash is gathering more Nader commentary from around the blogosphere.

    • February 23, 2004 at 02:56 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink

    TrackBack

    TrackBack URL for this entry:
    http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341d0f1153ef00d83424a09d53ef

    Listed below are links to weblogs that reference NADER, THE DAMN IDEALIST:

    Comments

    Sleep Chuck, sleep!

    :)

    Posted by: Jordi Bunster at Feb 23, 2004 3:01:46 AM

    d'oh... busted!
    yesss, sleeeeepppp... Nader's sleepy face and droning voice.... mphlplhmmmph....

    Posted by: Chuck at Feb 23, 2004 3:17:37 AM

    Abso-frickin-lutely dead on right-o, Chuck.

    People on the left can talk all day about how they want this system to change, and that electing an outsider would bring us closer to making these changes happen. Practical experience simply doesn't show this to be realistic. As people around here should remember, we had four years of an independent governor. Both major parties stalled him at every turn, to the point where the government was barely functional.

    In a perfect world, I would love to think someone like Nader's hand could be at the wheel. But we don't live there. We live in a huge country with diverse opinions, entrenched interests, and a massive bureaucracy to fight over. I, for one, think that Nader's supporters would be better served by getting involved in the Democratic party at the grass roots level, and by taking a longer view of things. Opposition is strong, and changes are not going to happen overnight.

    For example, look at the amazing things the Christian right have done with the GOP. While you may not agree with any of what they've done, you would have to agree that they have been incredibly effective at moving their agenda forward within the confines of an established major party. It's a bigger vehicle for getting things accomplished.

    Posted by: Nu Finish at Feb 23, 2004 10:22:49 AM

    Ahh, but much to my surprise, the far right of the GOP is still not satisfied with how far Bush as taken their agenda:

    "I'm not blaming the president, but religious conservatives have been doing politics for 25 years and, on every front, are worse off on things they care about," said Gary Bauer, president of American Values. "The gay rights movement is more powerful, the culture is more decadent, the life of not one baby has been saved, porn is in the living room, and you can't watch the Super Bowl without your hand on the off switch."

    http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040219-115609-3712r.htm

    Posted by: Chuck T. at Feb 23, 2004 10:30:12 AM

    American Values...are these the guys that send me valuable coupons in my mailbox every week? I'm seriously thinking of filling out my Franklin Mint collection with these special offers.

    It's funny...I don't completely disagree with where Bauer is coming from. But I guess I object more to the tastelessness of it all rather than seeing it as some harbinger of the apocolypse. I'm every bit as offended that a lone soccer mom feels the need to drive a gargantuan SUV around town with a cell phone in her ear, sucking down gas and not paying attention to the road. The GOP will literally fight wars for her right to do this. Is this not an imposition of someone elses values on mine?

    Posted by: Nu Finish at Feb 23, 2004 1:50:25 PM

    Nader was on Hardball tonight, and I can't believe Chris Matthews was trying to make the case that Bush is a "more responsible adult" because Nader isn't married, lives in an apartment, and uses public transportation. It was...hmm, odd...

    Posted by: Stacy at Feb 24, 2004 12:54:16 AM

    Oh dear.
    I prefer the SNL version of Chris Matthews.

    Posted by: Chuck at Feb 24, 2004 1:57:29 AM

    I concur. I also do not believe Nader will be a factor this
    time. Instead of renouncing all parties, he shoulda worked
    with larger third parties and got a multiparty nomination.
    Maybe next time.

    Posted by: fcsuper at Feb 24, 2004 8:38:02 PM

    Many in the Green party actually want him to run as a Green candidate,
    think his decision to run as an independant is strategic, because he just
    wants to raise issues, not take votes away from the Dems. That's my take.

    Posted by: Lorika at Feb 25, 2004 5:22:31 PM