Sorry to ask, but WHY is Nader running?

[Deja Q]

Which candidate does he dislike most and believes will get the nomination?

[morgan2]

1. because his main issue is corporate power in america

and none of the candidates are going to do anything to challenge that.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

12. so he goes on NBC, owned by GE, who stifled media and is a War Profiteer?

Nader announces his anti-fascist candidacy on NBC, owned by GE, a defense contractor benefiting from war.

GE, one of the handful of companies that snapped up our once-semi-fair media and turned it into a propaganda machine for the right-wing.

He had any number of avenues to announce his candidacy, and he chose a network that is part of the fascist problem in the United States.

Who and what is Nader? Why does he get a free pass to snake his way into elections every four years, without being called on the carpet for his blatant hypocrisy and lies?

[Monty__]

13. So that's why he gets donations from Repubicans

like there is no tomorrow? Makes sense,

[patrice]

2. I think it's more about Issues than it is Candidates.

Yes, he would abhor McCain, but he, on balance, considers Obama and Hillary to be the same thing, so he sees a need to be more aggressive on the national "stage" to push certain issues. I'm hoping to hear him say much much more about Election/Voting, Campaign Finance, and Lobbying Reform.

[Barack_America]

3. Because he's Nader and pointless presidential runs is what he does. n/t

[stellanoir]

4. He dislikes the system.

He garnered 0.38% of the vote in '04.

He officially lost his status as a spoiler then.

I don't think he is an even remote threat to the outcome whatsoever.

But really I do think he is interjecting himself into the race ostensibly to see if he can introduce issues that are normally not discussed into the dialogue as he said on MTP and as he also said in '04. I think that at least aspect of his candidacy is sincere.

If memory serves, in '04 he had a snit about not being allowed to participate in the debates after the conventions. I think he was denied entrance to where they were being held. We might see a replay of that scenario.

[housewolf]

5. Because the issues he thinks are important for America aren't being addressed

by the Dem & Republican candidates.

Universal health care
Corporate greed
Corporate criminals
Corporate control
Corporate welfare
Polluters
the over-influece of corporate lobbyists
military-industrial complex
social justice
rights of workers
economic injustice
and so on

It's pretty simple, really.

[aasleka]

7. I think every one of those topics were included in

speeches this week.

How is that not being addressed?

[BobRossi]

6. McCan't can't do it alone.

Simple.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

8. They ask same thing over at Crooks and Liars "Who is this run really for?"

Nicole Belle over at Crooks and Liars raises the issue that Nader's "run" could hurt third parties. She asks: "How is showing up more than a year into presidential politicking with just a few months left helpful to the validity of third parties?"

MTP: Nader Throws His Hat In The Ring
By: Nicole Belle
It's official:

RUSSERT: Will you run for president as an Independent in 2008?

NADER: Let me put it in context, to make it a little more palatable to people who have closed minds. 24% of the American people are satisfied with the state of the country, according to Gallup. .....

It was a simple yes or no question, Ralph. His "context for closed minds" frankly offends me. I don't disagree with anything that he said (other than citing Frank Luntz. I mean, come on!), and I am a big believer in having viable third, fourth and even fifth parties to help break the gridlock in Washington DC, I'm even a registered third party voter. That said, I have to ask: Where have you been, Ralph? What have you done in the last eight years (and I'm willing to hold the Democrats responsible for some–but not all–of the ongoing mess, but let's lay the onus for how messed up everything is squarely on the shoulders of the Bush administration) to help make third parties more viable and allow them a voice on the national stage? How is showing up more than a year into presidential politicking with just a few months left helpful to the validity of third parties?

Making independents more meaningful isn't an eleventh hour appearance on a talking head show. It takes years of sustained effort and commitment, something I haven't seen Nader do. So the question must be asked: who is this run really for?

see the video and more at ...

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/24/mtp-nader-throws-his-hat-in-the-ring/

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

9. Because he gets sadistic pleasure from watching this? See below

[canis_lupus]

10. Nader probably sees 2008 as his best shot

With McCain as the presumed GOP nominee, you have the moderate and social conservative Republicans at each others' throats (unless they all decide to rally around McCain because that mean ol' li-bur-al NY Times is pickin' on him).

Judging from some of the strident threads on DU lately from Clinton and Obama supporters, there also appears to be a potential split in the Democratic party unless we can unite after the convention.

Face it, with potential schisms in both parties, this is Nader's ideal scenario for stepping in and ciphening off disenchanted voters.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

11. Because Every So Often, Even Hemorrhoids You Thought Were Gone, Might Flare Up.

[Fox Mulder]

14. Or herpes.

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Here is a short form of his reasons. Extreme lack of attention to them has caused him to run.

http://www.votenader.org/issues/

[stillrockin]

16. He has to have his moment in the sun every four years.

B-)

[PurityOfEssence]

17. He wants to do to LaZoccolo what Slim Whitman did to the aliens

Haven't heard anything; maybe it worked...

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. OOCE

Out of control ego.

[MidwestTransplant]

19. Narcissism

[powergirl]

20. It's all about him - not America

He wants the attention. He sees an engaged electorate and he wants a share of the limelight. If he was genuine in his pursuit of his issues, (which I would admire), he would have gotten involved a lot sooner. He didn't have a lot of sway in the 2004 election and I anticipate even less today. He would rather jack with the country and risk another term of Bush crap to make his "point."

[AlCzervik]

21. because he wasn't Mom's favorite.

[Neshanic]

22. He finds it drive the chicks crazy. "Hi, I'm insane and running for Prez..."

[AndyTiedye]

23. Because The Repigs Paid Him the $10 Million He Was Asking

Cheap at twice the price for the Repigs. The more names on the ballot, the eaiser it is for them to steal another election.