Nader Near A Decision As Some Beg Him Not To Run

[Freddie Stubbs]

February 19, 2004
By JANICE D'ARCY, Courant Staff Writer

WASHINGTON -- The young man answering the phone at the Nader 2004 Presidential Exploratory Committee headquarters was polite and apologetic. No, he could not reveal the location of the committee's headquarters.

"It's for security reasons," he said. "We have too many adversaries."

And that's before the might-be candidate has even made up his mind.

Early and intense adversaries are reality for Ralph Nader, whose public and viciously controversial hem-and-haw over whether to run for president as an independent is thought to be almost over. Just as the lifelong consumer advocate who, as the Green Party candidate, won 3 percent of the popular vote in 2000 hints that he will make a decision any minute now, the full force of a newly energized opposition is upon him.

more: http://www.ctnow.com/news/local/hc-nader0219.artfeb19,1,7203262.story?coll=hc-headlines-local

Towards the end of the article some of the Democratic candidates are mentioned, so I have posted it here rather than in GD.

[BeyondGeography]

1. "No difference between Bush and Gore."

We can do without you this time, Ralph. Glad you're feeling the heat.

[liberalmike27]

16. Well

While I can understand the republican controlled media, and the Dean back-stabbing DLC not wanting Nader to run, some apparent conclusions from what I've seen come to mind. The democratic party, but particularly Democratic centrist voters, didn't learn a thing in 2000. While I understand the "possible" damage (based on presumption Kerry would be 'substantially' different)to our country, I waffle on the issue of whether Nader should run or not.

Nader pointed out a socialist candidate, I forget his name, who ran from the early twenties all the way through the early 40's, who advocated Social Security. It was dismissed by democrats, and old people often suffered horrible strife, starvation, and various problems associated with aging in poverty. Eventually, FDR passed the legislation that this man had been advocating. It's a movement, and either you understand it or you don't.

We had a choice in Dean, who'd actually enacted some positive agenda items most Americans want, but what did the party establishment do? It ran commercials against this popular governor for Vermont, who'd balanced his budgets and enacted a degree of health care, and promoted the small-business jobs in America that are most important, who'd added a minimum wage of $7 an hour. He's done all these things, he didn't just talk about them. Other Democrats have nearly taken everything he's said in his campaign, and they are now in the stump-speech. Trouble is, with Kerry anyway, his voting record indicates he's not too sympathetic with the purposes, so he could just be talking.

Perhaps another couple of tablespoons of Ralph is needed to wake the Democratic electorate that about 40 million living in poverty in this country matters. It's clear these people haven't mattered to the Republicrats. You should read Crashing the Party to educate yourself on the issues ignored by both parties, and the ideas surrounding the Green Party. One of the best Green ideas--Instant Runoff Voting in the presidential election--would solve the main threat, and allow people to vote their minds. The fact that we don't have a runoff in the most important election, which allows the maintenance of a small-political-spectrum of views staying in power isn't just coincidence. It is purposed to keep the disenfranchised where they are, on the fringes, with no power other than the kind Dean had, the kind media can destroy.

[Gman]

2. That self-absorbed SOB is the enemy as is anyone that votes for him

in November 04.

[Snivi Yllom]

11. I will remember that when I write the Green party my next check

:)

[YNGW]

3. Nader Bonding

>Early and intense adversaries are reality for Ralph Nader.....the full force of a newly energized opposition is upon him.

And it's exactly that type of responce that will draw those who feel like neither party represents them or that the Democratic candidate is Bush-lite into the Nader camp. When people feel threatened, they'll bond together more strongly, and you see evidence of that in our party now when it comes to Bush. By accusing Nader supporters as part of the reason for the 2000 election results, they'll only fight and work that much harder.

I say he'll run. There's a lot of people out there who aren't happy about the Democratic party primary results. Look around.

[Loonman]

4. Go away, Ralph. You had your chance, but you decided to lie

Ran in swing states, anyway, after saying he would not.

[still_one]

5. The repugs threw money into his campaign the last time

He is irrelevent

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Do you have a link for that?

This is the first that I have heard of this.

[Colin Ex]

21. That's because it's probably not true.

I've seen that posted here a slew of times before, and I think I've seen it debunked a few times before.

You could tell most people here that Ralph Nader drinks newborn puppy blood and they'd repeat it for years.

-C

[liberalnurse]

12. Sounds like since it worked before....

try it again.....thats rove speaking from his playbook.

[Freddie Stubbs]

24. I don't think that it actaully happened before

I have yet to see any evidence of Republicans giving financial support to Nader in 2000.

[BruinAlum]

6. He's not going to get much support if he does run

[Odallas]

8. DEM = GOP?

Nader says the only difference between the two is how quickly we will be taken to hell; GOP: fast trip to Hell; DEMS: not as fast trip to Hell. Don't give me that Clinton SHIT, either. Clinton campaigned as anti- NAFTA, then jumped on it like it was a fresh intern after he was elected. Also, Clinton didn't blow the stock market bubble that fueled our economy of the mid to late ninties. I voted for Nader in 2000 so I suppose I am the enemy of the Democrats. I didn't decide to become your enemy, but you moved away from my position and now label me the enemy to disguise yourself. I'm not sure if I will vote third party, but, long ago, I tired of holding my nose while voting.

[Ficus]

9. Clinton is not the Democratic Party

we're pretty diverse...

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Odallas]

14. Far from it Loonman

I will vote for Kucinich in my primary if he is still in.

[booksenkatz]

13. Let him run

All the folks who think that both parties' platforms are exactly the same, that the Supreme Court justices (possibly as many as 4) which would be chosen by Bush would be exactly the same ones that a Dem would select, that another 4 years of Bush would help the poor, the jobless, the elderly, the homeless, the hungry, the children that are hurting right this minute in February 2004... these folks need an alternative to vote for, right? Let them have Nader. I can't care about it anymore, can't spend my time banging my head against a wall. Waste of time. Too much work to do elsewhere, my friends. I'll take half a loaf when I can get it, because I'm bloody well starving to death RIGHT NOW.

[bushisanidiot]

15. I hope the idiot runs only because the repukes will be donating to him

instead of to their boy king, pres. dumbass.

let the repukes empty their bank accounts to support nader. the repukes won't vote for him and neither will most greens and very few dems. we will NOT lose to president coke-head again!! no way in HELL!

[Blue_Roses]

17. Ralph Nader is an opportunistic

putz who is only in this for himself. If he really cared about the American people he would shut the hell up about the "Democrats being the same as Republicans," and get busy speaking out on issues that are prevalent in our news, like oh, um, JOBS--and lack of them; outsourcing; the Iraq war and the bogus reason for going to war; and the list goes on.

He is worthless now as a candidate as he was in 2000. I wish he would either work with the people or just go lay out on a beach somewhere and rest that twitching eye of his. :mad:

[John_H]

18. Folks we WANT Ralph to run!

He's going to be a non factor and transform himself into a national joke at the same time. How good does it get?

[IconoclastIlene]

19. Last time was enough Ralph...

Bush has lots of other goodies up his sleeve; for God's sake Ralph, please don't, just as we are on the precipice of perhaps removing the shrubbery.

[StopTheMorans]

20. looks like ol' Mr. Ego himself is back up to the same old

tired tricks. This should be the Nader mantra:

"Ask not what Ralph can do for your country, ask what your country can do for Ralph's ego". Go away Nader, hop on American Idol or something.

[Colin Ex]

22. Let alienation-fest 2004 begin. nt

[StopTheMorans]

23. you can't alienate what you never had

n/t

[Colin Ex]

25. The green panthier flies at midnight.

(That's my nice way of saying that I have no idea what you were getting at. :-) )

-C

[dad]

26. Ralph Nader is like a saint coming down to earth and live amongst us

The Dems have just nominated another numb-nuts candidate who wasn't able to figure out the Iraq war was baseless, and civil rights are good when it really mattered. Oh yes, and Kerry also doesn't realize that we are not any safer now that Saddam was captured.
Ralph, we need you more than ever. Please get yourself on the NC ballot this time.

[Blue_Roses]

27. first of all

the nomination process isn't over and second, Ralph Nader a "saint" :puke: He's an opportunistic putz who's over stayed his time.

If he really believes he has a chance of winning--which would be when big fat pink pigs fly--then he needs to start talking about a postive change, rather than run that tired old whiney "I'm gonna run to show them," and "Democrats are the same as Republicans," line. His ego is far too inflated. Ralph Nader is a "has been" or better yet a "never been."