So hey…did you guys know that there’s no difference between Al Gore and George Bush?

Ah, remember back then? Remember when Ralph Nader was going to lead the Greens to 5% and create a viable 3rd party? Back when Al Gore was gutted by the press…

For instance, remember the oft-repeated “Al Gore says he invented the Internet.” Follow that with lots of derisive laughter.

Thing is: he never said that he invented the Internet. Thing is: Al Gore was instrumental in developing the Internet as we know it. From Snopes:

[H]e sponsored the 1988 National High-Performance Computer Act (which established a national computing plan and helped link universities and libraries via a shared network) and cosponsored the Information Infrastructure and Technology Act of 1992 (which opened the Internet to commercial traffic)he sponsored the 1988 National High-Performance Computer Act (which established a national computing plan and helped link universities and libraries via a shared network) and cosponsored the Information Infrastructure and Technology Act of 1992 (which opened the Internet to commercial traffic)

In a time before people had any idea what the Internet would become, he was a driving force. Take that.

Back to Nader, however.

Angie and I have joked that Ron Paul could “Naderize” the Republicans this year. (Her term).

Naderize, v., “To sway an election by adding a spoiler candidate.”

Anyway, the formerly useful consumer advocate who has been overtaken with self-importance over the last ten years announced today that he is going to run for president this year.

He said, this morning, that

I’d go after Bush even more vigorously as we are in the next few months in ways that the Democrats can’t possibly do because they’re too cautious and too unimaginative, but they can pick up the vulnerabilities and the failures of the Bush administration that we point out.

This worked much better the first time around, Ralph. Why go after Bush? He’s out. That whole “two terms” deal. This time, we should be more sensible–you are a megalomaniac. A narcissistic, egotistic asshole. This isn’t about choice or expanding the conversation, this is about you. Fuck you.