I can't say that I fully understand the fervor over a possible Ralph Nader bid. The Nationhad an open letter to Nader (subscription only, so no link):

You have said your candidacy could actually help Democrats by raising issues against Bush that a Democratic candidate would avoid and by boosting turnout for good candidates for the House and Senate, where the slender bulwarks against Bushism must be reinforced. But these arguments do not compel a candidacy by you. As a public citizen fighting for open debates and rallying voters to support progressive Democrats for Congress, or good independents or Greens for that matter, you can have a far more productive impact than as a candidate dealing with recriminations about being a spoiler or, worse, an egotist. And the very progressives distressed by the prospect of your candidacy would contribute eagerly to have that voice amplified.

There's this Flash animation arguing that if the people who voted for Nader had voted for Gore, Gore would have won. And I myself have said that I'll smack any stupid ass that votes for Nader.

My panties, however, are not in a bunch over the Nader issue.

He'd most likely be running as an independent, which would rattle some Greens. Die hard Green Party members are idealists who believe in what's right. And right now, what's right is electing someone other than George Bush.

Also, the folks who voted Nader in 2000, especially those that thought the "Green" in Green Party meant marijuana, I dare say never would have turned off their Playstation long enough to vote in the first place. Yes, that's just a hunch, and a hunch that I hope mischaracterizes the multitudes who voted for Nader in 2000 (it certainly does characterize many of those that I know), but the truth is Nader brought in a lot of new people. I hope those people new to the political process in 2000 know that had they voted Gore, our civil liberties wouldn't have so many bootprints in them now. Perhaps they'll vote this time around.

Plus, if Nader runs, he'll look like an ass. How dare he do such a thing this time in our history? A Nader candidacy now would make him look not like an advocate or a populist but like a self-serving, egotistical opportunist. Kind of hard to be a progressive when you're obviously so selfish.

No, Nader shouldn't run. But even if he does, no one will want to vote for him anyway. I'm not worried.