As Dixville Notch Goes . . .

Per Yahoo News:

Democrat Obama defeated Republican John McCain by a count of 15 to 6 in Dixville Notch, where a loud whoop accompanied the announcement in Tuesday's first minutes. The town of Hart's Location reported 17 votes for Obama, 10 for McCain and two for write-in Ron Paul. Independent Ralph Nader was on both towns' ballots but got no votes.

ADDITION:

Per CNN—It was the first time since 1968 that the village leaned Democratic in an election.

Fourth Times a Charm

What in the bloody hell does Ralph Nader think he is up to? I know he told Tim Russert yesterday on "Meet the Press" that "we have to take this opportunity to have a much broader debate on the issues that relate to the American people."

Do we Ralph? And do you honestly think that you are the man to do that? Listen, whether you believe that Nader tipped the 2000 election to Bush or not, causing Gore to lose (on top of the disastrous Supreme Court decision—in case you forgot, I am a flaming liberal), this man doesn't need to be coming anywhere near a ballet this time around. Honestly, what does he offer?

Oh yeah—Ralph, thank you for making our cars and roads safer (although it didn't save me from being driven around in the back seat of a Ford Pinto for most of elementary school). Keep up the good work. Maybe this time you could make our food safer or do something to clean up the environment. But you can't do anything to fix Washington. It is time for you to take your shabby suit and go home.

In the grand scheme, I don't think Nader's entrance into the race will have anywhere near the same effect that it did almost eight years ago. People see what damage came from having Bush "elected." I highly doubt that most people are willing to risk that again. My opinion? If Nader hurts anyone, it will be the GOP this time. Those conservatives or whomever on the right who don't like McCain might be crazy and angry enough to throw one Ralphie's way as a means of protest. But no sane Democrat, Independent, Liberal, Lefty or whatever the hell name Fox News is calling us this week is going to go down that path again. We have been burned once already by Nader.

Maybe Nader is right, maybe we need someone to mix it up and try to break the two-party system we have had since the dawn of time. Frankly, however, I don't think now is the time. Our country has been going downhill for seven years now. We are in pain—emotionally, economically, physically and mentally. We need someone that can repair the damage Dubya has inflicted. We need someone who can repair our reputation around the world. Someone who can heal our economy. Someone who can restore our spirit after the Iraq war.

Nader could never do that.