CNN: Nader to meet with Kerry.

[MoonRiver]

Allegedly to discuss their common goal of defeating bush*. ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Who here would support giving Nader a position in an environmental

capacity at the federal level? Head of E.P.A.?

I'm all for it.

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I'd like him as Sec'y of Commerce just as well, if not more

[Piperay]

14. After helping to put the chimp in

I don't see as how he deserves anything, the country has been put through hell for almost 4 years now and giving him a position would be like rewarding him. Even if he helps Kerry beat chimp, that's the least he can do to repair the damage of the 2000 election.

[meti57b]

2. that's a good one, ... considering nader is running against Kerry.

[MoonRiver]

3. Well, hopefully he's coming to his senses and will drop out,

and endorse Kerry. I'm not counting on it, but a girl can dream.

[onehandle]

4. Kerry's people have Not responded to this request. (Link)

Nader may just be looking for more publicity. Kerry isn't going to show up just to be slapped around by Nader.

"He did not elaborate on the meeting he plans with the Massachusetts senator and there was no immediate response from the Kerry campaign."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040329/ap_on_el_pr/nader_2

[JI7]

5. kerry knows nader

they have known each other for years and kerry met with him during the primary. i think the "no immediate response from kerry campaign" refers to questions about the meeting itself, not about whether or not he will meet with nader.

[WitchWay]

10. If Kerry is Wise

He will met with Nader, so that they can discuss how best to defeat Bush. Otherwise, Kerry risks alienating potential voters who might go back to Kerry from Nader.

[AmericanErrorist]

6. Veery Interesting....

Let's see what develops here. could this dissolve into an arguing session, or will Ralph back Kerry?

[JI7]

7. he doesn't really have to back Kerry

as long as he campaigns and mostly just attacks bush that would be good also. he can even discuss the issues he disagrees with democratic party or candidates on. but i just don't want him to go around saying the 2 parties are the same or it wont make any difference who gets into office. i'm sure he got a lot of complaints recently over saying gore would have gone into iraq.

[vi5]

8. I wish people would look at this as a good thing....

As much as I loathe Nader and what he did in 2000, I think it's the same way as it was with the press. Do I hate what they did to Gore? Yes. The problem is that in both instance Gore handled it in a piss poor manner. Rather than working with Ralph he ran from Ralph just the way he ran from Clinton into the arms of people like Leiberman. And he payed for it dearly.

I'm not saying Kerry should pander to Nader, nor am I expecting that Nader will ask that. I just think that if the two of them adopt a civil tone based on a mutual goal, that at some point Ralph will drop out and/or endorse Kerry and it will be good for all of us.

I think Kerry is making a really good choice by doing this.

[JI7]

12. yes, even Clinton dealt with Nader

nader ran in 1996 but he didn't really attack clinton the way he did gore. it's because clinton did not ignore him and had others in his administration represent him and meet with nader. clinton reached out to liberals in some ways. he asked cornell west to speak at some events even though west supported nader and was angry with clinton for not being liberal enough. and with john kerry, ralph nader has worked with him and known him for years and says he likes him. so kerry would probably have met with him even without the whole issue of what happened in 2000 and how splitting the vote could hurt kerry.

[elperromagico]

11. Well, you certainly can't ignore him.

He may only win 2% of the vote in November, but that 2% may well be the difference between Kerry taking the oath on 20 January, or Bush serving another four years (ick).

[JI7]

13. and more important is state by state poll numbers

while nationally nader only has a small amount of support. he might have a larger percentage in certain states such as new hampshire, florida, minnesota and other swing states which if they vote for kerry instead of nader could be what helps kerry beat bush in those states.

[lostnfound]

15. Maybe Nader can talk kerry out of running.

:shrug:

I'm so disgusted with politics this week.