This anecdote from the Washington Post is a perfect metaphor for Ralph Nader’s candidacy :

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is taking his election run very seriously, perhaps too seriously. On Thursday, Nader was on a jammed shuttle bus at Dulles, heading out to the midfield terminal to catch a US Airways flight to Louisville.

He sat straddling two seats on the bus as it filled up. He kept his head down, perhaps focusing on the speech he was to give at the University of Kentucky that day. Or perhaps he was totally engrossed in studying for his debate prep for next week should he get an invite? Taking one of his power naps?

Two women well on the far side of 60 couldn’t find seats and were standing. Ditto an elderly gentleman. Another passenger standing next to Nader says he nudged him and asked: “Do you think it’s necessary to take up two seats?” No response from Nader.

Nader is so convinced that he’s doing the people’s work, he hasn’t even bothered to look up and see that the people are pleading with him to stop. Hell, Ralph’s two most prominent supporters from 2000 begged him to quit, and it didn’t even register with him. It’s hard to be considered a man of principle when you’re engaged in a devil’s bargain with your ideological enemies.