No, that’s not my home-remedy headline for you late-night blogging insomniacs. But, admittedly, even the mainstream media only reported this news within the context of the Green Party’s rejection of Nader.
Greens reject Nader endorsement, back Cobb
Unlike 99.9% of Americans, I’ve not only heard of David Cobb, I’ve met him and stood two feet away from him while he gave a short campaign speech. I wish I could report that I had been impressed. I like the idea of viable third or fourth party candidates, and I really like what the idea of what the Green Party can stand for (at least in its European versions).
As for Cobb, his speaking style was too larger-than-life for the smallness of the venue, and he “turned it on” so awkwardly, I felt a little creeped out. He had followed two local Green Party candidates (one hopelessly inexperienced; the other slightly more polished, even inspiring), and it felt as if Cobb had made a mental note just before he started: “Now, let’s show these folks what a Presidential Candidate sounds like.” I cringed as both his voice and enthusiasm reverberated off the ceiling and had to work hard to control my urge to slip away and laugh.
It reminded me of a time when I worked on a short film and the two lead actors were a man—whose experience was in theater—and a woman—whose experience was in theater and television. During filming, we in the crew were convinced that the woman was phoning it in and that the man was correct in feeling that he had to turn up his performance’s volume in order to compensate for her underacting. When we saw the film however, her performance looked perfectly nuanced and his way over-the-top. Clearly she understood that the camera will zoom in on her face and that large gestures that read well on stage look amateurish on film.
With regards to Cobb’s candidacy, my point is that so much of what we associate with being “presidential” is clearly acting. Reagan, and now Schwarzenegger, prove the transition from the silver screen to the executive office is less absurd than one would imagine, and had Cobb been a bit more polished, I might have focused more on what he was saying rather than how he said it. Of course, as he campaigns, I imagine he’ll develop those skills…not that many of you will ever hear him though.
I haven’t heard or read any Cobb speeches, but I think he’s doing the best for his party and for the USA.
He says he will not campaign in the swing states, because he says the highest priority has to be defeating Bush.
His party is going to continue trying to build a base (they are growing fast) and capture local seats in government as part of this strategy. That makes sense to me – take a longer view.
Getting in bed with Nader (with a Nader requested endorsement, but not a nomination, since Nader refused to join the party) would have destroyed the Greens, particularly if Bush won a narrow victory based on their vote.
The Greens acted like adults, and will live to see another day.
Thank the gods that Nader doesn’t have their 22 state place on the ballot.
At this moment, Nader has zero state ballot positions. He may get on the OR ballot if the 1200+ people (many Republicans asked by the GOP to turn out) actually amount to the 1000 valid registered voters needed.
The OR ballot position won’t help out, since the Greens and independents have turned against Nader in OR. He might get 1-2%, but Kerry will lead by more than that over Bush when the votes are counted.