Posted 21:08 by Grote 0 comments

Ralph Nader (IMNSHO*)

Is it that time of the year already? Where lil Ralphie comes out of his hole, sees his shadow and runs for President? I don't think it'll have the effect that it did in the last election. In fact since he's not running under the Green Party Banner, I doubt he'll make much noise at all. I think the reason he did so well last year was because Bush and Gore were so undifferent from each other. They agreed during their joint press conferences (I refuse to call Presidential Debates debates) on just about everything and so when it came time to vote most people went to Nader who was the only viable third party canidate.

That being said, I think Nader is way out of perspective here. Even if he was running as the Green Party Candidate, which he's not, and IF he got elected, which he won't, he'd still have to deal with two very pissed off parties in Congress. You want to see Congressional Gridlock, elect a third party candidate as President with zero allies in Congress. To be a viable third party you need to start out small. Start locally take a seat or three in each of the state legislatures. Move for a bigger minority. Only then, should you shoot for Congress and only AFTER THAT, when you've got at least a 1/4 of the seats in Congress you could probably make a significant run at the White House. Working from the top down will never work and should you win through some quirk of fate the Democrats and Republicans will lock up every piece of Legislation you try to pass and then work on a common front to throw you out of the White House at the next Presidential Election and you and your third party will probably become a footnote in history.

So, Mr. Nader, please get down off the stage your fifteen minutes of fame are up. That and if you want to throw Bush out of the White House you'll stop your campaign sooner rather than later.
*IMNSHO= In My Not So Humble Opinion