My third party dream

Bubba and I have many friendly disagreements, but one that is long-standing is my "vote wasting behavior". I have been registered Green for ages and I really respect Ralph Nader for his contributions to our country as a whole and the Green Party in particular. I am a firm believer that increasing the number and diversity of voices in our government is a good idea. And Nader's campaign in 2000 was a model for outsider politicians.

Nader got a quick dig in at Hillary Clinton over the weekend.

Nader's Money quote: "I don't think she has the fortitude. Actually she's really a panderer and a flatterer. As she goes around the country, you'll see more of that."

Not Nader's most insightful observation perhaps.

In other news:
The Breck Girl put in a good show yesterday on Tim Russert - Bubba was watching it and I was listening while blogging. His presentation was clean (is that word safe yet?), tidy and uncomplicated. He has presented, in a broad way, some policies that he feels Amreica should implement to effect change both domestically and internationally. Nothing earth-shaking - just a very common-sense approach. Cleverly, John never said anything negative about any of his fellow 2008 candidates. Exremely good form.

The furore over Joe Biden's Obama comments have died completely - didn't seem to be such a good calculation. Watch for Joe to decline advancing his presidential ambitions by Spring. His free press for Obama didn't get anywhere - it was far too calculated.

Bubba's sources are saying that with Donald Rumsfeld gone (he just vanished - it was really strange how he moved out of his Kalorama palace in the middle of the night and is just gone), that Condi will become the new lightening rod for the press. It would be interesting to hear the press ask her a tough question - like, why aren't you, Secretary of State coordinating an international coalition to help with the Iraqi mess? What exactly is the State Dept doing under your leadership that is facilitating a collective response to the mess that we made? And so on. Might be interesting to see the school marm actually have to do some work.

I wouldn't hold my breath on this, but, it is clear that Cheney will need to have a medical emergency soon, vacate the VP slot and move somebody in there to position them for the 2008 race. This could ease some of the problems that "liberal" Guiliani has with the base. I cannot see the base going for Newt. McCain will be destroyed by the Republican Party in 2007 the way he was destroyed in 2000. Anyone remember "the decider" launching vicious attacks on McCain in 1999 & 2000 questioning McCain's mental state prior to the primaries

Al Gore will pull a John Kerry as the darkhorse for 2008. Bubba and I were discussing how well Gore has kept his name in the press. It will be interesting to see what happens when the Junior Senator from New York is called upon to comment on Al.