Ralph Nader is running for President again. This time as an independent rather than a Green Party candidate. I thought about voting for Nader in 2000, but, in the end, I realized it was going to be a close race. New Mexico was the closest state race other than Florida. I voted for Gore, who barely won here.

I equate Nader to the asshole who cuts me off on the highway. There are lots of these assholes, but to me, they're all the same people.

Inexplicably--and right in front of me--a large semi moves from the center lane to the fast lane where I am about to cruise by him. In the center lane, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, who has been riding the ass of the semi (not sure what is on his mind), is now blocking me from going anywhere. The semi is barely going 65, and the Jeep is going 66. So the center lane is going slightly faster than the fast lane. I cannot move. I am stuck where I am because all the people who were following me in the fast lane are now going around me because they have room to move, and I don't. I finally get out of the trap and take the next exit off the highway (it's not working for me today).

I turn onto Wyoming from the off ramp and have a green light in front of me. A huge semi takes a right turn on red (he's coming from the off-ramp in the other direction) right in front of me, crosses all three lanes of traffic and gets into the left hand lane to get back on the highway he just exited from. I have to stop and let the slowly lumbering truck, who is basically running a read light, do what he wants.

I imagine there is a great big truck conspiracy going on, with the CBs repeating the phrase, "Don't let that white Stratus go anywhere today!"

It's not like this everyday. I can go through a whole day where the traffic is working with me. Slow people in the fast lane move out of the way. The lights stay green long enough for me to get through. I cut off the asshole instead of the other way around.

Nader is only one of these cars or trucks getting in my way. It's kind of funny how the politicians who run on the far left are the biggest bitches. No matter how much I agree with what Nader says, I can't vote for him. I can't because I don't really like him at all. Kucinich is the same way--but even worse. I agree with him less about issues, and he comes off like the smart ass in the back of class complaining loudly about how stupid everyone else is.

Do you want to vote for someone who doesn't respect your opinion--or your right NOT to vote for him? Because, you see, both of these guys say anyone who doesn't vote for them are tools of corporate politics.

I don't live in the fantasy land of conspiracy. I don't think there is an organized anything out there trying to stop me from doing what I want to do. Even the cops don't care what I do most of the time.

I live in the reality world where I know one thing about politics: when 100 million plus voters are involved, there are really only two choices. The last third party candidate to get significant votes was Perot. It was an interesting time in 1992, but, in the end, it was really Bush vs. Clinton. Perot had no chance at winning--at getting the most votes of the three major candidates--mostly because he was a freak who ran, quit, changed his mind and got back into the race. Somehow, a lot of people didn't take him so seriously after that.

Now, do I think running a campaign to further issues--not really designed as a campaign to win the presidency--is a good idea? Sure. And Nader has decided to do that. But don't yell at all of us when you don't get many votes, Ralph. We have lives to lead, and we don't have time to listen to your bitching this time around. I've paid attention to what's happened to this country over the last three plus years, and I know who I blame for it. I don't need any help from you to point out what's happening.

And would you look at this? The damn old lady in the black Caddie is going 35 in a 50 right in front of me--again.

Matt Worley is prone to bouts of road--and election--rage.