Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader has once again declared his candidacy for the presidency. This is unfortunate on several fronts. Many believe -- rightly so -- that Nader's candidacy insured a Bush victory over Al Gore back in the 2000 race. The questions this time around is whether or not his run will have the same consequences for the eventual Democratic nominee.

There are reasons not to think that this will be the case this time around. First and foremost is that both Democrats and independents know the tragedy that can happen if a Bush-like Republican holds the White House. After eight years of Bush, very few on the left are going to be feeling reckless. For these same reasons, Nader's supposed message will ring much more hollow in the face of reality. This is not to say that even without any real public support that Nader's campaign won't get press coverage. Fox will, of course, cover it for all that it is worth. However, the popular press will do so as well -- in spite of little coverage of other third-party candidates currently or of mainstream party candidates will little following earlier in the race -- in the hope of creating divisiveness in the Democratic campaigns. It is divisiveness that drives ratings and sells newspapers after all.

Ralph Nader has had some accomplishments in his life for which Americans should rightly thank him. Sadly, whatever good that he once did has been overwhelmed by the horrible nature of his actions since as a chief enabler of evil.

Whatever Nader may be, he is not stupid. He is a keen student of politics. He knew what he was doing back in 2000. He knew that he had no shot at the presidency and that his candidacy could doom Gore. I believe, in fact, that he wanted a Bush victory, just as he wants a McCain victory today. You see, Nader's only hope lies in revolution and only through the absolute destruction of America as we know it can that revolution ever hope to come about. He sees -- at least in part correctly -- the evil of the Right as the downfall of America. That being said, his methodology for change is indeed like the proverbial tossing of the baby out with the bath water.

Ultimately, Nader has been reduced to having but a single trait: megalomania. For this sin, he is responsible for so much more. The death of every soldier in Iraq thus far, every wounded soldier who fought in Iraq, and every family member or friend who mourns a soldier who was in Iraq is the responsibility of Nader every bit as much as it is of Bush. The destruction of our Constitution can be laid squarely at his feet. And should McCain be elected to office, these sins will continue to adhere to him.

In saying all of this, I do not claim in even small measure that having a Democrat -- any Democrat -- elected president will bring about enough change to our nation to save it. It may or may not set us on a better path. However, I do know that it will bring hope where there otherwise would only be darkness. Nader is darkness and for that, I hope that the man is swallowed up and punished in the bowels of history.

25 February 2008