MAYBE IT IS THE YEAR OF LESSER-EVILISM

I haven't seen a lot of enthusiasm for Kerry from even mainstream liberals. I take this as a reason to vote for Kerry. If almost everyone understands they are voting for the lesser evil, perhaps more people will be willing to vote for him one day and speak out against him the next. This would be the best of all possible worlds - a "liberal" in the white house harassed by complaints that he's too conservative, too much of a warmonger, and too supportive of Ariel Sharon. The goal for some might be to win back the white house, for me the goal would simply be to continue a global movement leftward and start a national movement leftward.

Bush will be worse, not by much, but small differences in rhetoric and philosophy can result in huge differences in practice. Kerry probably won't push privatization as much as Bush would and probably would feel more pressure to abide by international standards.

On the other hand, how can we be sure Kerry won't merely further pacify the left and set us up for something worse in 4 years? That is a challenge, but one I don't think the American left can get around by hoping Bush's extremism will continue to radicalize more and more people. The risks are great either way, but I've concluded they are less by going the Kerry route.

What about Nader? He's disappointed too many times. My support was his to lose. I was doing everything I could to find a way to like him, but it just isn't working this year.