Nader to run for ...............zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

By Edward Copeland

Yes, Tim Russert gave the famous consumer advocate and Harold Stassen wannabe time today on Meet the Press to announce (surprise) that he is planning to seek the presidency as a third-party candidate once again in 2008. After running as the Green Party candidate in 1996 and 2000 and then as an independent in 2004, Nader plans to try again as he approaches his 74th birthday meaning that, unbelievably, John McCain may end up being the second-youngest contender for the presidency this year.

"If the Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form," Nader said. "You think the American people are going to vote for a pro-war John McCain who almost gives an indication he's the candidate for perpetual war?"

Now, while I feel Nader's pursuit is silly (as some asked today, "What constituency is beating the drums for him to run?"), I dread the inevitable rise of the he cost Al Gore the 2000 election, etc.

There is something inherently undemocratic in complaining about third-party candidates siphoning votes from their man or woman. Could Nader voters have swung several states to Gore's column in 2000? Sure, but you could also argue that Pat Buchanan's votes cost Dubya several states as well. It's annoying to hear people whine because they aren't limited to two choices. I must have missed the part of the Constitution that mentions political parties at all, let alone limiting them to two.

Still, Nader's 2008 exercise will be even more pointless than his 2004 run was. In 2000, he garnered several million votes, in 2004 he was down to less than 500,000. My guess is that in a McCain vs. Obama or Clinton race, he'll get even fewer, if he can even manage to get on that many state ballots.

Russert shouldn't have even given him the platform because by now his reputation is more that of a gadfly than a hero. Very little separates Ralph Nader from Lyndon Larouche at this point. Let it go, Ralph.

Dear Ralph -- your 15 minutes are up

By Libby Spencer

Nader apparently doesn't know when to quit. Allowing his ego to overcome common sense, he's once again flirting with a third party run that he knows he can't win, but he proffers all sorts of high-minded reasons he's considering throwing his hat into the ring for his fourth try at failure anyway.

If Nader runs, he would emphasize the "ever-increasing corporate power in our society" and "the expanding disconnect between the growth of the economy and the distribution to people who work hard but don't get the fruits of it."

Nader also believes the United States should withdraw from Iraq over a six-month period, have the United Nations sponsor new elections and leave no U.S. forces behind.

I believe John Edwards, at least, is on that already, so why isn't Ralph throwing his support to a declared candidate?

"What third parties can do is bring young people in, set standards on how to run a presidential election and keep the progressive agenda in front of the people," he said. "And maybe tweak a candidate here and there in the major parties."

Apparently Nader's never heard of the blogosphere? We're on it Ralph and frankly, we don't think you're going to be much help in that.

There was a time when Nader was an inspiring activist who changed the face of politics. Now he's just looking like an sad old man still singing the same old tune but who can't bear to step out of the limelight to make way for fresh talent. It's time for Ralph to retire while he's still able to preserve some dignity. A fourth run will only succeed in rendering him a permanent political joke.

(Cross-posted at The Impolitic.)

Who would Bloomberg hurt?

By Edward Copeland

Sounding more and more like a potential 2008 presidential candidate each time he denies it, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has taken a step that no reasonable person could divine as anything other than the fact he's serious weighing that option. Today, the Republican mayor, who was a Democrat before he ran for mayor, changed his political affiliation to unaffiliated, portending a potential independent run.

In his statement, he said he would only run after he sees who the two parties pick as nominees next year and if he's certain that spending half a billion dollars of his personal fortune would make him the winner. Bloomberg said:

Any successful elected executive knows that real results are more important than partisan battles and that good ideas should take precedence over rigid adherence to any particular political ideology. Working together, there's no limit to what we can do.

I've thought for a long time that 2008 seems to be a prime chance for a third party run with the front-loaded primary calendar which means that both parties probably will know their nominees by late February or early March, meaning that voters will be tired of hearing the same two people for nine months, no matter who the parties pick. Theoretically, we could have an unusual situation where if the Democrats do the stupid thing and nominated Hillary Nothing-But-Ambition Clinton and somehow Rudy Giuliani manages to land the GOP nomination and Bloomberg leaps in, it could be a three-way, all New York presidential race.

I have to admit: I've always enjoyed the idea that someday a third party candidate could actually win, just to scare the crap out of both parties. However, the decks are still so stacked against independent candidates, it would seem unlikely Bloomberg could pull it off. Who exactly would his appeal be to? It almost depends entirely on the nominees of the other parties. If Hillary is the nominees, people who can't bear to vote for a Republican after the 8 years of Dubyaland hell would have an option. If the Republicans pick a conservative, pro-Iraq war candidate, disaffected Republicans might cross over to vote for Bloomberg if they can't stomach voting for a Democrat. Only one thing is certain: Bloomberg won't be attracting disaffected religious right-wing voters, no matter who the GOP nominates.

From what I know about Bloomberg though, he is a practical man and he will only leap in if he truly believes he can win. Spoiler isn't a role he would pursue. We'll have to wait and see.