As I watched Ralph Nader announce his candidacy for the 2004 election yesterday morning on NBC's "Meet the Press", I wondered to myself if this man actually wanted Bush to win. From what he said about the issues that concern him, it seems very clear that Nader is not a fan of the policies of George W. Bush. And yet, he has entered a presidential race as an independent, and in so doing, has just raised Bush's chances of winning.
Clearly, Nader is a strong voice for progressive change in this country. In his interview with Tim Russert, Nader talked about the destructive influence of corporate power, he talked about universal healthcare, a higher minimum wage, and a string of progressive reforms to strengthen the social contract that binds this country together. It was a wish list of policies that no candidate could ever win on, and no President could ever deliver. Ralph Nader is intelligent enough to know that. And yet he runs.
More...