Thursday, August 21, 2008
Obama-Hillary, Says Nader
Maimon Schwarzschild
Ralph Nader says that Obama will run with Hillary (“He just has to swallow hard and do what JFK did” in picking rival Lyndon Johnson in 1960) - and he explains why. Every word of Nader's here seems eminently sensible, and I do suspect his predictions are correct.
I can't help it. I like Ralph Nader. I agree with him about very little, but he is serious and he says what he thinks. He wants to talk about "the issues", not about Ralph Nader. (He always did. I remember, decades ago, he would be a guest on Johnny Carson or whatever and the host would ask about his sex life or whatever and Nader would smile patiently and say, "Well, nothing very interesting about that, but there ought to be a real scandal about unsafe production practices in the broom industry..." and he would be off. It was impressive and very endearing.)
Above all - as in his appraisal of Obama and Hillary - Nader doesn't talk like a spinmeister for his political team. With the post-2000 polarisation of the country and Bush Derangement Syndrome, more and more people - ordinary people, not paid campaign politicos - now conduct ordinary conversations about politics as though they were lawyers pushily trying to spin a jury for their political side. Unlike such lay people (especially Democrats, I think) who now seem to do this as a matter of course, Nader really is more or less a professional politician. But he talks like a human being, and seems to say what he really thinks. More power to him.
https://rightcoast.typepad.com/rightcoast/2008/08/obama-hillary-s.html
Comments
BuelahMan - Pretty sure Maimon's intent was to state that despite his idealogical or political differences with Nader, of which there are apparently many, he can't help but be appreciative of the man's directness and ability to focus on his message and goal.
Not quite the same, but in a similar vein as the ol' "I may disagree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."
And for the record, I know exactly what Schwarzschild means. If only the GOP had some leaders who were as direct and no B.S. as Nader, but without the leftist policies, the Dems would have a hard time getting away with a lot of what they presently do. I think the general public would be quite willing to get beyond the meaningless political blather that so often makes up campaigning and discourse today.
Particularly in the wake of Obama (but he's certainly not the only one to blame, on the left or the right), the American people are anxious for a politician who actually does what he says, a straight-talker who actually talks straight (yeah, McCain doesn't count) who is willing to call out his opponents, or his allies, for misleading, or outright lying, to the people.
So much of politics these days is spin, and is controlled by the media and the PR flacks, that there is no time for any actual policy or substance to get through. Too many of our leaders behave as if they are in politics for the money, or the respect, or the perks, instead of doing it because they believe in their ideals and want to make the country better. Whether or not you agree with Nader, at least he acts like he genuinely agrees with what he's saying. Our government could use more people like Nader.
Posted by: Nick | Aug 22, 2008 6:09:31 AM
I think Nader is usually wrong in his analysis.
He destroyed the Corvair because it was different to drive than big, front engine/rear drive US cars of the time. Basic physics dictated that result.
So with the first truely innovative small car killed, the US had no small car industry when gas prices went up and helped send all those jobs and dollars overseas.
Posted by: krome | Aug 22, 2008 6:58:14 AM
"I agree with him about very little"
So who do you agree with most?
I find commentary like this amazing. I don't agree with ralph, except in everything I write about here.
duh?
Posted by: BuelahMan | Aug 22, 2008 5:42:46 AM