About this blog In her signature plainspoken style, Michigan native Shanna Flowers peels away the layers and gets to the heart of the issues. No pretense. Just straightforward perspective. Shanna writes about local people whose circumstances reflect decisions made as near as City Hall or as far away as the halls of Congress. Other times, she weighs in on a topic because it is incredibly ridiculous. Or heartening. Or fascinating. Read Shanna's column three days a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, at roanoke.com
.....Advertisement.....
|
...Advertisement...
...Advertisement...
Comments
[February 25, 2008 10:40 AM]
GoldenwillowNader is just a mosquito bite in the midst of a tiger attack. Don't let his little buzz bug you.
[February 25, 2008 10:46 AM]
Ed S.Is this like Jeopardy? Is the answer:
Chevrolet Corvair?
Maybe he could write a book on this year's election: "Unsatisfied with Any Vote".
[February 25, 2008 11:16 AM]
BacklashThis could be a problem whether you think so or not.
Some voters like their candidate of choice, and he could pull some needed delegates votes causing a shift in votes needed for a win.
Sure he cold be the annoying pimple on the backside of some America voters. Yet he can mess up a potential winner with just a few votes.
[February 25, 2008 12:44 PM]
Ed S.Backlash-
"Problem" is in the eye of the beholder. In this case, the eye of whoever believes Nader would siphon votes from.
The "party system", despite all the flaws that some people try to expose, does perform some valuable "services". One is narrowing a potentially large list of candidates down to some manageable ones. But that's less of the point here.
The point is: do you want the freedom of choice (much like the Devo song)? Nader may give a platform that some people are more aligned with. The problem becomes, do you vote on principle, mostly on principle, or against the other guy?
Voters "on principle" may vote Nader. They align more with him, and are sending that message "Hey, this guy does what I want." Over time, if the similar party is weak, they'll soon realize why they're losing part of what was once their base, and may change. Reference fundraising and the ubiquitous "Ron Paul Revolution"...
"Mostly principle" voters would vote for the candidate near Nader (Democrat). They feel that Nader is unelectable, and would rather have most of their views (even if not the top few) represented than none at all. Reference Second Amendment activists that voted for Jerry Kilgore in the last gubernatorial election.
The final ones realize Nader is unelectable, and vote their "party" just to keep the other guy out. Very similar to the last, but they fear more of what will occur from the "other guy" than not getting all they want from "their guy". Reference "Why Ed S. will likely vote John McCain".
So when you say "problem", do you mean the potential backlash from disenfranchised Democrat voters? (semi-pun intended)
You do bring up an interesting topic. For some time now, the only chance being theorized of McCain getting elected is if Clinton wins the (Democrat) nomination. If Obama is nominated, and Nader puts forth a serious effort, do you think Nader would provide enough dilution to give McCain the win?
The pundits say he did it in 2000, stealing votes from Gore and helping Bush's effort.---s
[February 25, 2008 6:48 PM]
Bobby Buck : →http://wareandhill.comGeopolitics...let's cut to the chase. The globe is no longer the world that the US used to exert its influence economically, militarily, and/or diplomatically. Our nation is totally interdependent on the rest of the world for its survival, and if it shifts to that of a protectionist/nationalist pariah, whatever bridges there might be left will be burned. Again, I don't believe any leader, Ralph Nader notwithstanding, other than Barack Obama can re-establish a sense of "empathetic trust". Long story short, the "old white guard"... male or female will not be able to do it. Although, this should not be a matter of race, the signal America sends to the rest of the world in the upcoming election will speak loudly as to whether this country judges men/women and the new independent nations based on character and a willingness to work together...or, the outmoded "imperialistic paradigm" from the past. It's time for a new breath of life...and Barack Obama is the only candidate capable of carrying this standard into the future while building new bridges. I also feel he not only has the "intuitive intelligence" to discern threats to our survival but the "intestinal fortitude" to respond forcefully when and if necessary,unlike the gamut of emotions exhibited by his Democratic opponent.
[February 25, 2008 11:22 PM]
BacklashEd S.
Yes on all points. Each night as I return home from work I will find an AM radio talk show to listen too and nearly each night someone is saying they wish Nader would run for President or if he don't they would write him in as a candidate of choice.
Nader has heard those pleas and now he is becoming a visible boil. My candidate of choice will be McCain as well.
Bobby Buck
You speak of trust, race, and friends. I will leave this saying with you that save my life when I was in the military....
In times of war, as in life it's hard to tell your friends from your enemies. Sometimes they are one and the same.
[February 26, 2008 4:41 AM]
Bobby Buck : →http://wareandhill.comBacklash,
That's why the "intuitive intelligence" of Barack Obama is vitally needed at this pivot point in our nation's future survival.
[February 26, 2008 8:41 AM]
Ed S."Nader has heard those pleas and now he is becoming a visible boil."
I love your candid response, Backlash. hehe Hey, Perot decided to call it quits pretty quick. Either he found better things to do (like make money), or just realized that it wasn't worth his time as it'd take many cycles for him to gain the support needed. I wonder if Nader is just looking for some face time.
[February 26, 2008 11:53 AM]
BacklashBobby Buck
Intuitive intelligence was the road toward peace taken by Britain and France in 1939 and our history and our grandparents will tell you where that took us.
Saying that not everyone truly wants to be our friends The Leader of Hezbollah said on the cable show Current we will make peace now and strike in the night as slitting the throats our enemies as they sleep.
What happen to making friends? Not everyone wants to be our friend and we shouldn't keep putting the welcome mat out for those that would harm us at home or abroad.
Source: Ce Soir, July 23, 1939;
French Communist Party 1939
Long Live Peace
A new fact: Berlin announces that the governments of the Reich and the USSR, after having concluded a trade treaty, will soon sign a non-aggression pact.
M. von Ribbentrop is leaving for Moscow. On a continue mission of peace and prosperity.
Yeaaah riiight. And we know how that ended.
[February 26, 2008 12:53 PM]
Bobby Buck : →http://wareandhill.comBacklash,
You obviously missed the point of my follow-up in my emphasizing that Barack Obama has not only the "intuitive intelligence" to be sensitive to our survival in the global society but the "intestinal fortitude" supported by a "moral authority" that the other candidates will not be able to muster...to outright destroy any form of encroaching terrorism. If you can't understand that, your scope is obviously limited when it comes to assessing character, military or not.
[February 26, 2008 1:52 PM]
Robert CAs of now, we have three people (Obama, Hillary, McCain), all representing big government and open borders. I think that having Nader in the race is a good thing. He represents the average Democrat voter who is constantly looking for a free lunch. Now we need to find a conservative to represent everyone who is paying the tab.
[February 26, 2008 8:34 PM]
Ed S.Robert C. -
Your post reminds me of...me. haha
There's a potential candidate that you mention rumored: Michael Bloomberg.
(Is he conservative? He is from NY, after all... I wouldn't vote for him, either)
[February 27, 2008 10:56 AM]
BacklashBobby Buck
You can feel and vote for whom ever you will, yet you last words of the military is little more than I care for. I have seen good people give their last breath for those basic ideals and rights so many take for granted and not for once giving our men and women in uniform a simple thank you.
Have you ever told a military person or police officer have a good day or be safe out there today. The answer is probably not. The U.S. Constitution First Amendment gives you the right to say what you will, but common sense and sound judgment will get you through life.
To my point I don't follow charlatan snake oil salesmen or women, when you are positive with out a flaw then you are playing God.
When you seek and lack the will to do what is right idle chatter will not do, if he becomes President or Hillary they will do no more than Bill Clinton rebuild sanctioned living areas and tax the working class.
[February 28, 2008 8:02 AM]
ByronI am so glad I have always been a registered independent!
It spares me from being a Democrat who blames Nader for Gore choking in the 2000 election when Gore couldn't even carry his home state.
It also spares me from being a Republican at a time when the current administration has prosecuted the war in Iraq ineptly and the Afghan government we put into power doesn't even control a majority of country. I won't even get into the massive budget deficits created by the alleged conservatives in the White House and Congress.
I know I guy who is in the Marine Corps reserves. He has, up until this point in time, done two tours in Iraq. Fun places like Anbar and Fallujah, back before the insurgents fell back to Mosul. He isn't a REMF.
I send him emails each time he is in country to remind him that there are people back home who care about him. Yes, I do tell him to be careful and come back safe, but he is a Marine, so I don't belabor the point too much.
I know that the current administration will keep sending my Marine reservist friend back to Iraq until he either gets killed or he is wounded and unable to continue doing combat tours. I expect more of the same from Senator McCain.
Backlash, I have an aversion to those who peddle snake oil as well, but anyone who voted for Bush in 2000 and 2004 and is willing to vote for McCain has already bought enough snake oil to last several generations.
Goldenwillow is right on the mark.
Given the serious problems our country is facing, Ralph Nader is the LEAST of our problems!
[February 29, 2008 9:48 AM]
Ed S.Where do you reside, Byron? Virginia voters do not register by party affiliation.