Posted by Buddyg on February 22, 2004 at 23:40:28:In Reply to: dumbass nader supporter's..... posted by tom beebe on February 22, 2004 at 17:43:20:
Ralph,
How can you do this? I suppose I am a member of the Nation-susbscribing "liberal intelligentsia" you excoriated on national television this morning, and your decision, while somewhat predictable, is disgraceful and destructive of this country. We should revel in the "springtime" of another four years of Bush in order for you to sprout seeds? What has happened to improve matters - - including the democratic process and corporate control over it — in the last four years during the miserable germinating period we suffered because of your last desperate run? It would only get worse if we are stuck with Bush again. Even you had to admit that Gore probably would not have invaded Iraq, ("not in the same way", you said, but you know better) and that alone should have given you pause about this horrendous decision. Bush's imperial designs, as well as corporations' ownership of his White House, are evident to all, and they are materially different than what we can expect from the Democrats. The same is true for the culture war that Bush seems intent on triggering. We are not happy with this system, but it seems you haven't noticed that we don't have a European constitution, where minority parties can control a portion of the legislature by accumulating a relatively small portion of votes.
Ultimately, the only way for you to succeed in this country, short of a constitutional change to a parliamentary democracy, is through an apocalypse; that is not an exaggeration. Something incredibly horrible (and probably systemic) must befall this country, and that event or condition must be blamed on at least one of the major parties (or the corporations that control them), in order for you to break through and get the attention that your issues and position deserve. So, are we willing to sacrifice this generation of people for the next? It sounds as if you are. Are you certain that such a disaster - - I'm talking about millions starving or a nuclear holocaust, not simply one shocking and devastating blow to American like 9/11 — even if blamed on Bush or a Democrat, would make your virtue evident, as opposed to the ravings of some wild-eyed extremist whose values and approach we abhor?
I assume you gave this decision careful consideration, and really looked at it again, given the last four years, and you're not reflexively tilting at windmills; you could, after all, turn out to be portrayed as one of those embarrassing "quadrennial" candidates that no one takes seriously. That would be a shame. But Mr. Nader, sometimes people have to recognize that their time has passed by, or maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I agree with your assessment of Bush, that he is more a corporate creature than a human being. But your candidacy makes it more likely we will have another four years of Bush, Inc. in the White House. That is the bottom line. You can make passionate pitches about democracy being about choices, and Americans shouldn't be denied, but politics is the art of the possible, and all choices have consequences, including yours. Yes, you will bring some people to the polls who would otherwise have stayed home. It is bizarre — and most frightening, perhaps delusional — nonsense, however, for you to claim that you might take votes away from Bush. The Republicans who are angry at Bush for profligate spending and not being transparent will stay home, or perhaps vote for Kerry. They're not coming out for you. And, deny it all you want, but you will certainly take some of the lefties and liberals who stand more ideologically with you than Kerry (or Edwards), who would otherwise vote for the Democrat out of fear and loathing of Bush. Why can't you admit that? That set of practical consequences was enough for Gore to be defeated, given the closeness of the contest.
Sure, in 2000, Jeb and his Secretary of State, and the Supreme Court, stole it from Gore, and Gore fumbled it, but we don't need any unnecessary obstacles this time; you are one of them now. We can expect dirty tricks and hardball from the Republicans, and mistakes and foolishness from the Democrats. But take the democratic idealistic blinders off, Mr. Nader. The hard reality is that your candidacy puts this country at risk for an ideal that someday might flourish, but in the next four years is in grave danger with the prospects of a Bush second term.
It is not too late, Mr. Nader. Withdraw now.