One day I would really like to offer up a detailed critique of the American political system, especially in regards to legitimate progressive alternatives in the face of the continually spineless, corrupt and shallow opposition party known as the Democrats..
But in the meantime I have to say that Eric Alterman's obsessive criticism with Nader voters and Nader himself in my mind is the epitome of sour grapes and misplaced blame. Yes it appears Nader long ago put himself above the cause, especially in 2004. But Alterman knows the reality of the media in the United States as well as anyone. Yet he appears to lay virtually all of the blame on the "fools and naifs" who supported Nader along with the candidate. Further, those 50 odd million who voted for Bush receive nowhere near the scorn that the million or so Nader voters do.
I'm sorry. While I never recognized how Bush II would become the crazy extremist he has, it took all of two seconds to see what a complete disaster the man-child would be as president. For me it's rather simple. I blame each and every one who voted for Bush as well as the reprehensible behavior of the MSM during the War on Gore. Naders voters are way way down the list of culpability - this is even more so the case when one considers if Bush had been like his father the rest of the world would have hardly noticed the difference between the economic policy of either candidate. The only caveat is that Gore, with his tremendous and well-deserved reputation as an environmentalist, would have made a very significant difference compared with some generic pre-Bush II Republican president in terms of development outside the American borders. That said, Gore's trade policy was probably just as destructive.
(Note: In the link to Altercation he actually refers to Nader supporters as the far left. I remember once reading Alterman - I think in What Liberal Media? - talking about how the "left" in America would be considered, in reality center, if not right-wing, in the rest of the world. Now all of the sudden those who don't support the center to center right Democratic Party are the "far left?" What the hell is Alterman doing adopting Bill O'Reilly talking points? Geez Louise)
Consider this analogy: A football team playing in the championship has a horrible game. On top of that the referees continually make calls against them in a game that appears fixed. Moreover, the coaches have an inadequate game plan. But somehow the team, due to its superior talent, hangs in the game and only trails by two points as time is running out. They line up for a field goal on the last play of the game. The center makes a bad snap but the holder manages to get the ball down and the kicker gets the kick off. Replay shows it barely squeaked through the uprights but the referee calls it wide left, and contrary to established rules, replay is not allowed. The other team is declared the victor, even though a replay emerges that clearly shows the ball inside the upright. Game and season over.
During the entire off-season Alterman bitches about how the center cost his team the championship. And then after the following season when his team completely tanks, he spends the subsequent off-season still complaining about that god-damn center.
Alterman is most definitely one of my favorite media and political analysts. However, regarding his compulsion with ridiculing those who desperately seek for some - any - kind of decent progressive alternative he has clearly lost his grip.
Update: I just wanted to clarify one thing. It's not that I would necessarily agree with someone who voted for a Nader-like candidate. That would depend on a wide range of factors. All I am saying is that the contempt towards those who voted that way is very misplaced. Further I would argue, it is very destructive toward the progressive movement in general.
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