TIMOTHY NOAH OCTOBER 13, 2011
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Did you know that Ralph Nader is trying to draft Bill McKibben to run for president as a third-party candidate? Me neither, until I watched this Politico video. I subsequently learned (by reading Eleanor Clift in the Daily Beast) that Nader's been pushing the idea since August. There's even a sad little Draft-McKibben Facebook page (only four "likes" at this writing).
Nader is also trying to draft various other people into running, including Mike Bloomberg, which as the former occupant of this space points out doesn't make a whole lot of ideological sense. Apparently Nader is tired of running himself.
My own position on a McKibben run: Nice guy. But I don't want him to be president. Nor Bloomberg, nor any other third-party candidate. I'm sticking with the incumbent. But if the Tea Partiers want to split from the GOP and run a third-party candidate of their own, I'm not going to tell them not to. Herman Cain, I'm pretty sure, will be available.
Update: Bill McKibben writes in: "I've got no desire to be president, but I do want to influence the one we've got. That's why we're planning to encircle the White House with people on Nov. 6, to remind the president that he alone can block the Tar Sands Pipeline."
8 comments
Bill, if you are thinking of running for president, please don't. Stick to your 350 organization. You are doing great work there. I guess Ralph has finally realized what a discredited retread he is and is trying to get someone else to front for his hackneyed politics.
- liberalref
October 13, 2011 at 1:24pm
hey, LR--looks like there's nothing to worry about, from that comment of McKibben's. I don't think there's a danger of a 3rd party challenge from the left, this time around.
- Curran1
October 13, 2011 at 9:16pm
Let me get this straight, McKibben wants President Obama to block the Keyston XL project? Yeah, Right. President Obama is going to block an Oil Pipeline that drops half a million barrels of oil in southern Illinois? These environmental wackos really are disconnected from reality.
- CRS9TNR
October 14, 2011 at 11:28am
To be frank, as far as I am concerned, Ralph Nader can go f**k himself.
- miceelf
October 14, 2011 at 1:33pm
Who?
- wildboy
October 14, 2011 at 1:41pm
is McKibben still into 'deep ecology', wherein half the world's population needs to disappear for true sustainability? I have been trying to volunteer because I think that is a good place to start. which is why I actually wish there were death panels. came to mind when I got my bi-annual bill for longterm care insurance, which I have had since 1990 - but LTC is the first big idea to get deleted from ACA. so I guess I am indirectly subsidizing what %? i hope that Mayans are correct because 2012 is when
- K2K
October 15, 2011 at 6:24pm
Tim, another gentle remonstration ... last post on Thursday at noonish. Step it up, brother.
- NR409654
October 17, 2011 at 1:34am
"NR409654," Leon, is that you? --Marty
- sharib
October 17, 2011 at 12:51pm