once more into the breach
I can scarcely believe it, but Ralph Nader is once again running for president. Given his declining vote percentages--from 2.74% in 2000 to 0.38% last time--I hardly think he's in the position of "spoiler" this time around, but I just don't get it. Does Nader have some craving for attention that cannot be satisfied by other means? Does he have candidacy-related OCD? Does he want to tarnish his reputation even more than he did (with the aid of the felonious five) in 2000?
Why is he running again?
update (5:51pm):
Nicole Belle nails it at Crooks and Liars:
I don't disagree with anything that he said (other than citing Frank Luntz. I mean, come on!), and I am a big believer in having viable third, fourth and even fifth parties to help break the gridlock in Washington DC, I'm even a registered third party voter. That said, I have to ask: Where have you been, Ralph? What have you done in the last eight years (and I'm willing to hold the Democrats responsible for some-but not all-of the ongoing mess, but let's lay the onus for how messed up everything is squarely on the shoulders of the Bush administration) to help make third parties more viable and allow them a voice on the national stage? How is showing up more than a year into presidential politicking with just a few months left helpful to the validity of third parties?Making independents more meaningful isn't an eleventh hour appearance on a talking head show. It takes years of sustained effort and commitment, something I haven't seen Nader do. So the question must be asked: who is this run really for?