Although it's not official, consumer advocate Ralph Nader is set to make another run for the presidency of the United States. Something about this second running really just rubs me the wrong way. The main goal this year for us people left of center is to vote someone other than Bush into the office. Anything that detracts from removing Bush from office should be set aside. I voted for Nader in 2000 and stand behind all that was on his platform.

I wasn't a big fan of Al Gore at the time and believed that there was no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats. When Nader would say stuff like that, I'd know exactly what he was getting at. But if anything has been proven more concretely these past 3 years, it's that there is a HUGE difference between the Rep. and Dems. Sure sometimes, the Dems will get soft and vote for the same things that Reps. vote for. But I think that one only needs to look at the complete reversals that this country has made in everything from environmental issues to reproductive issues to tax laws.

And I can kid myself all that I want to and say that Nader didn't cost Gore the election. But he did. Nader pulled about 19,000 votes in Florida. It's safe to assume that at least 300 of those voters would have voted for Gore. Sure Gore didn't carry Tennessee, but come on, the truth of the matter is that if Nader had not been in the election, Al Gore would have a) received even more of the popular vote and b) won the election outright. Al Gore was not my favorite candidate of 2000 and I'm glad I voted my conscience, but I REALLY wish W. was not our president right now, even if that means that the person in the White House was not as progressive as I am.

just my two cents

matt out