Comments on: Marty Kaplan on the pros and cons of Ralph Nader’s candidacy http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/25/marty-kaplan-on-the-pros-and-cons-of-ralph-naders-candidacy/ Human Animals at the Crossroads of Culture, Science, Religion and Media Sat, 22 Nov 2008 07:19:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Erika Price http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/25/marty-kaplan-on-the-pros-and-cons-of-ralph-naders-candidacy/#comment-16411 Erika Price Wed, 27 Feb 2008 16:18:01 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/25/marty-kaplan-on-the-pros-and-cons-of-ralph-naders-candidacy/#comment-16411 I really disagree. Nader has fought for his myriad pet causes for decades, and I think he has really no other choice but to forge his independent and unpopular path because he has such devout beliefs against...well, almost everything typical of mainstream politics. As to the question of "what he does" other than run for President, well, that's not a bad question. As far as I can tell the last big thing he did was set up a couple of non profit organizations in 2001 and write book after book. Those activities count for something if you ask me. But the question is still reasonable- why doesn't he run for another office? My conclusion is less that he is an ego maniac, but that he runs as a way of sending a message, of making himself into a symbol. He represents the people who are very liberal but very jaded with the way the Democratic party plays the political game, glosses over things for public relations and satisfices, or chooses the path of least resistance. You have to moderate to succeed, after all. Ralph Nader represents, I think, those who don't want to have to moderate, who want to actually speak for their true positions rather than a position easier to market. I think people like that play a very necessary role- let him "siphon off" all the Democratic votes he can. The votes of all liberal people do not "belong" to the Democratic party, and the party ought to recognize that they should have to WORK for their votes, rather than expect them to trickle in from every liberal voter like some commodity "owed" to them. I really disagree. Nader has fought for his myriad pet causes for decades, and I think he has really no other choice but to forge his independent and unpopular path because he has such devout beliefs against…well, almost everything typical of mainstream politics. As to the question of “what he does” other than run for President, well, that’s not a bad question. As far as I can tell the last big thing he did was set up a couple of non profit organizations in 2001 and write book after book. Those activities count for something if you ask me. But the question is still reasonable- why doesn’t he run for another office?

My conclusion is less that he is an ego maniac, but that he runs as a way of sending a message, of making himself into a symbol. He represents the people who are very liberal but very jaded with the way the Democratic party plays the political game, glosses over things for public relations and satisfices, or chooses the path of least resistance. You have to moderate to succeed, after all.

Ralph Nader represents, I think, those who don’t want to have to moderate, who want to actually speak for their true positions rather than a position easier to market. I think people like that play a very necessary role- let him “siphon off” all the Democratic votes he can. The votes of all liberal people do not “belong” to the Democratic party, and the party ought to recognize that they should have to WORK for their votes, rather than expect them to trickle in from every liberal voter like some commodity “owed” to them.

]]> By: grumpypilgrim http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/25/marty-kaplan-on-the-pros-and-cons-of-ralph-naders-candidacy/#comment-16352 grumpypilgrim Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:15:13 +0000 http://dangerousintersection.org/2008/02/25/marty-kaplan-on-the-pros-and-cons-of-ralph-naders-candidacy/#comment-16352 Progressive radio today pointed out that if Nader genuinely cared about the issues he claims to care about, he'd do a whole lot more than declare himself a candidate for president every four years. Like run for Congress, for example. That's what separates him from the serious candidates: they do it because they actually want the job, Nader just does it for the ego trip. Progressive radio today pointed out that if Nader genuinely cared about the issues he claims to care about, he’d do a whole lot more than declare himself a candidate for president every four years. Like run for Congress, for example. That’s what separates him from the serious candidates: they do it because they actually want the job, Nader just does it for the ego trip.

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