Obama Costs Nader the Election

Election results are in and they clearly indicate that Democrat Barack Obama has cost Peace and Freedom’s candidate, Ralph Nader, the presidency. Simple math proves that had Obama not run, and had all of his support gone to Nader, that Nader would have easily won the majority of Electoral College votes and, therefore, the presidency.

A similar electoral flaw occurred in the 2000 presidential election when Al Gore cost Ralph Nader the presidency.

- Bob Maschi

Ralph Nader wonders whether Obama will be an 'Uncle Tom'

As someone old enough to remember when Ralph Nader meant something in America, I found this sad to watch.
- Bruce Tomaso

Nader: Obama is a Coward

From the Detroit Free Press:

Obama ran “a brilliant tactical campaign,” Nader said, but showed cowardice by failing to take on entrenched corporate interests or the Israel lobby in the U.S. While Americans “can be proud that an African American has become president,” Obama has done it without challenging the status quo, he said. Nader cited Obama’s support for federal assistance to General Motors, his nemesis for the last half century, as an example of “a serious character deficiency.”

Voter Beware: Of Ralph Nader

While Nader has seemed to be under the national radar for some months, Carl Bernstein warns the Nader vote in a few states could turn the election if it is closer than the polls suggest.

Full piece here, but some key excerpts:

Perhaps, as conventional wisdom has it, Barack Obama will win comfortably; perhaps John McCain - in an increasingly longshot scenario - will claw his way to victory, and in such a way that Nader's candidacy will not figure.

But bring about a close election in a number of states - especially Ohio and Missouri, where polls show Nader winning about 2 and 4 per cent, respectively - and it is just possible to see how Nader, with his messianic vanity, and destructive urges that are best explained by God or psychiatry, can again determine the future of America.

It is even possible to foresee a way in which--if the national electoral result is unexpectedly tight on Tuesday-- the student population of Ohio State University (60,000) could, if Nader attracts enough support on campus and the final vote in Ohio is as close as Florida was in 2000, determine the outcome of the 2008 presidential election. (Memo to Ohio State students: share this message with your friends.)

In an Ohio News Organization poll in late September, among those making less than $20,000 a year, Nader was at 11 percent. Among independents, he was at 10%. And for those aged 18 to 29 in central Ohio, he was at 7 percent.

There are two other states, especially, where Nader could influence the election outcome if McCain were to surge towards the finish: Colorado and Missouri, more likely the latter. I was on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis ten days ago, and sentiment for Nader was hardly dormant. Nader sent out a mass mailing in the state last week, and according to the latest CNN/Time/Opinion Research Corp. poll, he is at 4 percent in Missouri, where McCain and Obama are seen to be running neck and neck: 48.3 to 47.7 per cent, in McCain's favor, according to the latest CNN average.

Like a Good Nader, Bob Barr is There

Barr Secures Libertarian Party Nod

It sure will be interesting to see what effect Bob Barr has on the election totals in November. I predict he'll get more attention and more votes than Nader. Is the conventional wisdom that Barr will draw away votes from McCain and Nader will take away from the Democrat correct? In a year when we're likely to have two major party candidates with cross-over appeal, it's impossible to predict. Fasten your seatbelts...it's gonna be a bumpy ride.

A Nader for Republicans?

Democrats may get their wish: A third-party candidate likely to steal more votes from McCain than Nader will steal from Obama.

His name is Bob Barr. You'll remember him as one of the rabid Elephants in the House of Reps pushing the Clinton impeachment. It appears he may be the Libertarian Party's nominee for President. We'll find out when they hold their convention in, yes, Denver, over Memorial Day weekend.

Barr has formed an exploratory committee. If he gets the nod, I may just help him out a little. Some payback for the Rush Hillary Limbaugh debacle.

Whine, whine whine

Peace activist fasts to protest Nader candidacy

"We need Ralph Nader's help. We don't need another divisive presidential campaign," says Jerry Peace Activist Rubin (yes that's his legal name).

Read about his fast here.

Patti & Ralph

Looks like Patti Smith has teamed up with Ralph Nader. I'm a fan of hers. And to be clear, I agree with many of Ralph's positions, with the exception of "I'm running for President."

Clean up on aisle 2008

Michael Heaton writes on Nader for the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

"He's like the restless retiree you wish would become a Wal-Mart greeter."