Seriously, don't lump Nader in the same category as Ventura, and don't call what Nader does a "sideshow." Ralph's a dedicated public servant and advocate, not some freak distraction. Trivializing him and his work reflects poorly on you and this magazine.

Zack - in terms of THIS campaign (2008), Nader has already trivialized himself and is squarely in the "sideshow" category, regardless of his prior record. Context, my friend.

Context nothing. I suppose if you mean he's not running for either the Democratic or Republican nomination, fair enough--he ain't involved. But it's just tiring to see people who otherwise aspire to journalistic integrity feel that it's ok to make snide remarks about a guy who continues to (at age 74) work in the public interest.

I've got no problem with kicking somebody when what they say and stand for is bad for the public, but I've never understood the gleeful potshots that people take at Nader, not for anything the man says or tries to accomplish, but simply because it's apparently fun to dismiss the guy. As I said, it reflects poorly.

I'm with Zack, let's throw pot shots at some one who deserves it. Does anyone else think a Ron Paul / Mike Gravel '08 libertarian ticket would make hilarious material for the Daily Show? Those crazy old coots would be great together, filling convention halls with four people and ranting about how regressive sales taxes will fix everything (it could liven up the Obama / McCain debates to throw one of them in as a teaser).

I think John is playfully critical of how the MSM treats Nader - as a sideshow. There's nothing wrong with pointing that out.

Also, Ventura's only an actor - I'm not sure he can survive a fight past round 2. But Nader is inexhaustible, so I'll put my money on the old guy.

I would vote for Jesse in a heartbeat. It would have to decide Obama or Jesse. I saw the Larry King interview. He didn't say anything that wasn't true. He was one of the few that made sense, spoke his mind, and didn't play politics.

I admire Jesse Ventura. Yeah he's an actor, but so what...he got his training at the best damn Made in America actors studio the WWF. That is not an acroynom for the World Wildlife Foundation, that is the World Wrestling Foundation. Very fake, yet millions ofAmericans eat this stuff up.They are the Beeelievers.Jesse says we need a revolution.The system is broken and we need to take back our country.These are fightin' words. Only Jesse has had the big hardballs to actually say the word"REVOLT" and REVOLUTION on national T.V. with an international audience of godzillions. At least he's gotten a word in edgewise on a topic that has long been on the minds of all us pussyshipped Americans.

Count me in baby. I'll lead the parade.

I thought Ventura's mention of "chicken hawks" during his appearance on the Larry King Show rather inventive. If I understood correctly, a chicken hawk is a man who avoids going to war when he is young but supports sending other young men to war when he is older.
There was also a very telling moment when he asked one of three political pundits also invited on the show if she did not see some irony in the fact that an American president was impeached for having sexual relations and lying about it but that another president lied about weapons of mass destruction and did not get impeached. The young black female pundit blustered out that the two were not comparable and went on to another point.