[Ronn_Bman]

2004 will be my 6th presidential election. In two of those, I voted for a third party candidate. Many of us have voted for third party candidates, but I don't understand the people who say "the two party system sucks, but I can't throw my vote away." Will a third party candidate ever be more than a thrown away vote if a third party can't be taken seriously?

After seeing Bill Maher and Mike Moore get down on their knees and beg Nader not to run in November, I had to wonder, "will there ever be a right time for a third party candidate?" Not this year because of this, not in 2008 because of that, and well, in 2012 there is that other thing. A lot of us bitch and moan about the 2 party system, but what do we do about it?

Nader's reaction to their proposal, on bended knee, was certainly funny. He appeared very embarrassed and awkward, but is ridicule what he deserves?

Now, obviously, I don't like Michael Moore very much, but I've liked Bill Maher for a long time(even though I'm not sure I know how to spell his name), and this isn't a slam against either of them. In fact, I know what they were trying to do and can appreciate both the humor and the message, while finding the actual act tasteless. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

For clarity, I found it tasteless because they belittled the man's honest effort. He's a man of principle, and whether I agree with him politically or not, I find that kind of thing hard to swallow. Maybe it's an ego trip for Nader, and if that were the case, I'd feel differently, but even Bill Maher admitted tonight on Hardball with Chris Matthews that he believed Nader was running for the right reasons. You can find people who believe both ways about Nader, but most who say it's an ego trip are those who are afraid he'll cost the Democrats the election in November. Like so many ABB'ers, too many are so busy voting against Bush, that they aren't voting for anything.

Is the only reasonable time for a third party candidate, in a presidential election, when it is *safe* or when that candidate might help your candidate by hurting his real opponent?