I do not think that Nader will have a significant impact on the upcoming election. Many democrats are quick to poo poo Nader, claiming that he is responsible for Al Gore's loss in the previous election, and that the left-ist followers he has would be better served by voting for the democratic nominee who actually stands a chance against Bush. Though this is a concern, I think whatever voters gave their vote to Nader last time around (on the Green ticket), allowing Bush to slip ahead of Gore, will heed the lesson.
I think it is important that their be a viable 3rd party in this country. Hell, I would really like to see a 4th and a 5th, but I don't think this election is any kind of proving ground. There is an urgency on the left to ensure that Bush is removed from office, and their is separation that needs to be made between passion and practicality. It is practical for Nader to forego this election in the seemingly universal leftist interest of removing president Bush from office. Nader is not running to win, he can't win... no, don't even try to argue with me about it --- HE CAN'T. Nader's running is even more disturbing because he's running Independent. At least in the previous election he was running on the Green ticket, which ALMOST resulted in another "real" political party, which is something I think this country needs. His entry into THIS election does not serve this need. Independents represent no party. At least with the Greens where was hope of a small payoff.
If Nader plays to the left, won't this hurt democratic chances?
Citizens who gave their votes to Nader in the last election, did so for a variety of reasons that I just assume not discuss at length. I am fairly confident that regardless of the reasoning of individual voters, the majority of Nader votes were cast by informed persons from the left. It was impossible to foresee the disastrous effects of the Nader/Gore split. I am reasonably certain that the lesson was learned, and that Nader will received FAR FEWER votes than he did previously. Though I appreciate his dedication, I think Nader is making a bad choice for HIMSELF rather than the voting population. His decision to run will result in his name being drug through the mudd, especially if Bush goes on to another term. I think his days, as a civil servant will be numbered following this election, which is a shame because I consider him a semi-decent statesman.
On Election Day American's do 1 of 3 things - vote, don't vote, or vote stupidly. Citizens having voted for Nader in the previous election could not predict the outcome, but having seen what happened --- they will not make the same mistake again. Anyone who votes for Nader this election is voting stupidly, but I think the events of the last four years have made the left get smart awful quick. With any luck, the only stupid votes will be from "would-be" Republicans.
Surely, many of the people who voted for Nader wouldn't have voted otherwise. Plus, I think that blaming Nader is a bit cheap, considering there are other parties that got similar amounts of votes to Nader in Florida - socialist parties that sort of thing. Why didn't people who were going to vote for other third parties vote for Gore instead? Smeg knows. I'd love to see a Kerry victory this November, but I don't see how Nader running is going to prevent that. As long as people keep the heat up on criticising Bush and throw their support behind the Democratic cause...
Posted by: Tom Morris | Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at 08:51 AM