Ralph Nader is running

If he holds up a swirling hypnodisc, Erik, do NOT look at it!

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I wish he'd go back to auto safety. He's done so much for auto safety.

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I NOMINATE RICHARD GOLDSTEIN

Who seconds?

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YES. Exactly!

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Updated On: 2/22/04 at 03:39 PM

So I guess we could have a Richard Goldstein for President and his running mate could be Richard Goldstein. And, natch, his Secretary of State would be none other than Richard Goldstein.

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You're a genius, Richard.

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Vote for Goldstein/Goldstein : One Namo/ One Voice

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Updated On: 2/22/04 at 04:01 PM

That brought a tear to my eye!

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Have an eggroll, Mr. Goldstein...

And back to the topic: Does anyone think Ralph will make it on the ballot this time? I think the ever expanding A.B.B. sentiment will create an instant, sustainable backlash. (Did anyone read the Times piece today, about the Republicans in Ohio who've had it with Bush? It's anacdoctal evidence only, but I was quite intrigued to read that there's a growing movement of "closet" Bush denouncers). We're coming off a tough couple of years, Nader's advocacy -- even though sensible, as Erik opined -- rings out as self-serving, because there's no reality check. If people determined Dean to un-electable against Bush, how could they decided otherwise about the very sour unpersonabe, Nader? He's so beyond outside the beltway, he could never connnect with the political process.

Anyway, Ralph has raised, gasp, 150,000 so far. Not enough for a TV commercial in East Bumf--k, Nebraska. His arrogant supposition that the web will do for him what it did for Dean is wishful thinking. I honestly think he is assuming the Dean-or-nobody folk will come running. I'm holding my breath, hoping Howard -- who can now play Democratic bad cop if it so moves him -- tells his followers to stick with the Kerry/Edwards Trojan Horse. I loved the Gov. of NM who called Nader's act one of total ego.

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Updated On: 2/22/04 at 05:41 PM

i may have to give ol' ralphie boy a bit sloppy wet kiss on the lips. not that he's going to draw anywhere near what he did in 2000. he was only on i think in 46 states that time anyway, but he'll be lucky to get that this time. however, john anderson started as late as april in 1980 and managed to get on the ballot in all 50 states, plus d.c. although he did have the power of the independant party behind him. i myself will be contacting as many billionaires for bush as i can and finding one to bankroll ralphie and make sure that his voice is heard loudly enough to siphen off as many of the more rabid of the left siders as is possible.

all that said, this is totally ego and is the failed result of ralph trying to blackmail the parties. he took a list of demands to both parties and was willing to forego a candidacy if either party was willing to take up his issues. the g.o.p. i believe told him that they were willing to take them up if he would promise them that he'd both run and allow karl rove to manage his campaign from afar.

if you folks don't get edwards on the ballot, ralph will look good to a lot of the loonier folk in your fold. electability be damned, they'll vote their consciences and more power to them, especially since their votes will help keep my boy gw in power.

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Oh, Papaloves and Iflit, I am the biggest fan of both of you, for decidedly different reasons ... but I don't believe Edwards is the dude to dethrone Bush the Second. No. I spent the weekend int he company of an odd cross section of complicated Republicans, and they all, to a man/woman, think Edwards will be perceived as far too lightweight to be a serious, viable alternative. (They also believe Cheney will step down, and, as I have posted here, therein lies one of the surprises Karl has in store for us.) Even as Nader was announcing, however, they also voiced a reality check: this ain't 2000, and Nader's voice will have more of a rarified Sharpton timber than an Andersonian or even Perot-like sound. He's the wrong breath of not-so-fresh air in this election, no matter how sound the ideas. His demeanor which used to represent the too-oft-concerns of the common man, now seems arrogant, mean-spirited, and self-righteous.

I repeat: If Dean couldn't past those labels, how can this gawky beenpole who doesn't even speak politics? The rogue shark Bill Nye The Science Guy package never worked for him in a season more amenable to his eccentricities; how can he even have a profile in this of all years?

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Updated On: 2/22/04 at 10:35 PM

first let me say that i love you guys, man. *sniff, sniff*

ok that being said, how many emails did you folks get this morning warning about the nader candidacy? if anybody needs secret service protection it's ralphie boy.

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