Much of the liberal pile-on targeting Raplh Nader in the last few days has struck me as both unnecessary and self-indulgent. One recurring (and irritating) meme of anti-Nader polemics involves slamming Nader as an egotist, a narcissist, a monomaniac, etc. I say irritating because to call a presidential candidate egotistical verges on tautology. Don't doubt it takes tremendous ego for Clinton, McCain, and Obama to go out there and sell themselves day after day.

But Nader's announcement moved me to go back and read a James Wolcott post from a few days ago:

Not having my copy of Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals near at hand (hard to believe, isn't it?), I have to rely on my memory of what he stipulated as the elements for a successful activist campaign, which included: that an action be specific and directed in purpose, not a grab-bag of causes; that it be brief in duration rather than open-ended (so that volunteers don't get bored and discouraged); and that the tactic be fun --something that promotes infectious enthusiasm and attracts even more recruits.

By my count, Nader gets a 0 out of 3 on the Alinsky scale.