>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 06/30/04 9:34 AM >>> American Prospect No Tie -- Cobb! The true story of how a man you've barely heard of beat Ralph Nader for the Green Party nomination. By Garance Franke-Ruta Web Exclusive: 06.28.04
Make no mistake: Had Nader chosen to fight for it over the past year, he could have easily walked away with the Green Party nomination on Saturday. Into the political vacuum left by Nader's arms-length campaigning jumped Cobb, running on a platform of support for state parties and local candidates. For a party that draws heavily from the ranks of the alienated and disaffected -- people who already feel ignored by politicians -- Nader's decisions to eschew Green membership, not participate in the presidential-primary process, and avoid the Milwaukee convention were decisive. Nader, perhaps thinking himself a sure thing, or so outsize a figure that a fair fight would require him to tie one hand behind his back, failed to mount a campaign sufficient to win. In short, though the Greens may be way outside the mainstream of American political opinion, in the end the same laws of politics that govern the two major parties held: In order to win, it helps to outfox the other guy -- and to fight hard. <<<<<>>>>> maybe there is place for poli sci people after all, many could have written above article beforehand... i posted comments yesterday about why electoral campaigns are not good vehicles for building mass movements, above article reflects those remarks... have never understood green party's desire for nader, he stiffed them in 96 by refusing to campaign, his 'party of person' campaign in 2000 failed to reach 5% minimum in votes to qualify greens for matching funds in 04... of course, he's a non (even anti) party guy and always has been, a 'common cause' type, he's never been a member of green party, his prez campaigns have not been about building a green party... i'm not big green party fan myself, prefer politics of class to that of inequality (latter gives no sense of belonging to group that can take collective action, individuals are 'unequal'), but rejection of nader is 'good thing' if party is to have legs as 'party of idea'... michael hoover
