Obama may be the new kid, but he hasn't been the underdog since voting started, so I find it odd when people attempt to put him in that light.

Little Hawk, to understand the level of contempt that some have for Nader in this forum doesn't even come close to comparing how it was in 3D life for those of us who supported Nader in 2000 and especially 2004. We were treated as political pariahs, and on more than one occasion, I had people who came knocking on MY door canvassing, screaming in my face when I told them politely 'no thank you, I'm voting for Nader'.

I've never seen anything like it in all my years. It was pretty damn shocking, and it made me realize how easy it was for the Nazis and fascists to take over Europe. Same sort of political and social intimidation.

I went through it to a lesser extent this year, especially at work when I told my work colleagues, who expect EVERYONE to be a Democrat (St Paul is a big Democrat town), that because I am a political independent, I don't caucus for either corporate party. Most told me I had to. Or that I should just do it so I could choose between Clinton and Obama.

It's pretty damn scary, how much like sheep the American electorate already is, and well brainwashed into believing that they must participate in the corporate duopoly's 'lesser of two evil' strategy that suppresses both voter turnout AND the power of independent candidates and third parties.

People can't even conceive of why someone would 'waste their vote' to participate in ANY political activies outside the duopoly system.

So, the answer as to why they behave the way they do is because that is how they have been programmed to think, including a few of the most vocal Nader haters here.