Ralph Nader is running again and it seems many of the Dems are nervous. They remember all too well the impact he had on the 2000 election. The press loves the story as well. Even conservatives embrace the idea of Nader torpedoing the liberals once again. But 2008 is much different than 2000 or even 2004 for that matter. The past two presidential elections had two weak candidates squaring off. Bush twice and Gore and Kerry subsequently did not arouse passion on either side. Be honest. Whomever you voted for you merely did so because in your mind your choice was better than the other side. You did so out of either party preference or ideology, but you did not vote for them out of passion. 2008 is different. One of my good friends told me recently he hoped Obama wins the Democratic nomination because for the first time in his voting life he would be voting out of desire and not just duty. Obama’s knowledge of history is keen. Read his latest book to comprehend the breadth of knowledge he possesses about the political history of this nation. When the topic of Ralph Nader’s entrance into the race arose, Obama was as savy and direct as an arrow. Nader contended in 2000 there was no difference between the Democratic and Republican parties. Obama said today, “He (Nader) thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush and, eight years later, I think people realize that Ralph did not know what he was talking about.” In previous elections Democrats treated Nader with kid gloves so as not to harm the liberal base. Obama, speaking from strength, is not playing that game. Nader, in my opinion, will not play even a small role in the 2008 election. Some have criticized Barack Obama for not ever running a competitive election against a Republican opponent but if today’s perfectly spoken comments about Nader are any indication, Obama is already speaking like a winner.