Ralph Nader Announces Run for Presidency (Dems must be fuming!!!)

Yahoo! News ^ | February 22, 2004 | SAM HANANEL

[El Conservador]

WASHINGTON - Consumer advocate Ralph Nader (news - web sites) announced Sunday he will run again for the presidency, declaring that Washington has become "corporate occupied territory" and arguing there is too little difference between the Democratic and Republican parties.

"This country has more problems and injustices than it deserves," Nader said, bemoaning a "democracy gap." Nader, who turns 70 this week, said he wants to "challenge this two-party duopoly."

"There's too much power and wealth in too few hands," he said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"Washington is now corporate occupied territory," Nader said. "There is now a for-sale sign on most agencies and departments. ... Basically, it's question of both parties flunking."

He decided against running under the banner of the Green Party. Nader's candidacy four years ago has been blamed by many Democrats for costing Al Gore (news - web sites) the election against Bush.

Democratic National Committee (news - web sites) chairman Terry McAuliffe, who has personally urged Nader not to run, said Nader would not have the same impact this time.

"I can tell you Green Party members are all coming into the (Democratic) party saying they want to help us because they know the stakes are so big this time," he said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"It will be much more difficult for him," McAuliffe said.

Republicans largely have declined to comment on any benefits a Nader candidacy would have for Bush.

"If Ralph Nader runs, President Bush (news - web sites) is going to be re-elected and if Ralph Nader doesn't run, President Bush is going to be re-elected," Republican National Committee (news - web sites) chairman Ed Gillespie said on CBS"s "Face the Nation."

At a Sunday gathering of governors in Washington, former RNC chairman Haley Barbour, now governor of Mississippi said: "It will make less difference than the Democrats fear, but I know they're very nervous about it."

Asked if he was getting into the race to be a spoiler, Nader replied: "A spoiler is a contemptuous term, as if anybody who dares to challenge the two party system .. is a spoiler, and we've got to fight that.."

"Let me say, this is going to be difficult," said Nader, who planned a round of interviews after his announcement. But he also said, "This is not a democracy that can be controlled by two parties in the grip of corporate interests."

Third party candidacies have been a greater part of presidential politics in recent years; businessman Ross Perot (news - web sites) twice ran for president, winning 19 percent of the vote in 1992.

"It's his personal vanity because he has no movement. Nobody's backing him," New Mexico Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson said.

As the Green Party's nominee in 2000, Nader appeared on the ballot in 43 states and Washington, D.C., garnering only 2.7 percent of the vote. But in Florida and New Hampshire, Bush won such narrow victories that had Gore received the bulk of Nader's votes in those states, he would have won the general election.

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Associated Press writer Robert Tanner contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Nader 2004 Presidential Exploratory Committee: http://www.naderexplore04.org

[El Conservador]

Yay!!!

The more, the merrier!!!

[Paul Atreides]

Wasn't it Michael Moore who had a whale over Nader, in 2000?

[Killborn]

Three cheers for every Freeper who freeped Ralphie, urging him to run!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

[Killborn]

Now all we need is Hillarious to run.

[america-rules]

Nadar was blasting congress as corporate whores today and most of his remarks seemed to be against Kerry !

[Paul Atreides]

The best that she can do is to waddle.

[Paul Atreides]

Mad-Eye Nader strikes again!

[Killborn]

LOL, good one! :)

[COEXERJ145]

Oh Yeah! GO RALPH GO!

I wonder how DU is taking the news? LOL!

[mabelkitty]

"It's his personal vanity because he has no movement. Nobody's backing him," New Mexico Democratic Gov. Horatio Sanz whined, realizing his dream of being asked to the prom just died.

[Killborn]

LOL, good one! :)

[Killborn]

"Republicans largely have declined to comment on any benefits a Nader candidacy would have for Bush."

They were too busy laughing.

[Armedanddangerous]

This is the question I have. IF.. as the demos say, ralphie has no support, why are they mad about him running? If there is negative support, it shouldn't matter, should it??

[tet68]

You sure that isn't Sid Caesar?

[no dems]

NOT LIKELY. BUT, HOW ABOUT LET'S URGE DR. HOWIE TO FORM HIS OWN 3RD PARTY AND RUN. IF NOT, LET'S START A CAMPAIGN TO GET THE DEANIACS TO BACK RALPHIE WITH THEIR MONEY AND VOTES.
WHAT SAY YE?

[Killborn]

Excellent. Split the vote anyway we can. I'LL DO IT! :)

[Monty22]

DU's going insane, expect mass suicides over there soon.

[Rocko]

Michael Moore IS a whale; but you are correct.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

Since he's running as an independent, he may gain more of that vote. FREEPERS who live in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Ohio, Tennessee, Arkansas, and West Virginia must get him on the ballot.

[Monty22]

Yep, we need him to be the Ross Perot of this election, this time to help Bush in the swing states.

[Lancey Howard]

The question is: How much?
How much money will the rats have to fork over to Nader in order to get him to pull out? A couple of weeks ago, on another thread, I guessed it would take $100,000 for Nader not to enter, but I guess he and the Dems failed to negotiate. I bet the figure is higher now that he is actually declared. Nader is REALLY calling the Democrats' bluff now. A half mil?

[Cyclops08]

Just came back from DU. I know the rules on posting quotes from there...But they are FURIOUS!

A few are actually blaming Nader for the 2000 loss, instead of the evil USSC!

[Monty22]

Well, frankly the left deserves this for the whole Perot thing anyway. They can cry all they want, but too bad.

[VRWC_minion]

I always liked Nader.

[reagan_fanatic]

"A Patient On Every Couch"


- NADER '04

[Dark Glasses and Corncob Pipe]

"I always liked Nader."

Republicans ought to institute a "RALPH NADER APPRECIATION DAY"...May 1 would do nicely.

[Gone_Postal]

The question is: How much?
How much money will the rats have to fork over to Nader in order to get him to pull out? A couple of weeks ago, on another thread, I guessed it would take $100,000 for Nader not to enter, but I guess he and the Dem's failed to negotiate. I bet the figure is higher now that he is actually declared. Nader is REALLY calling the Democrats' bluff now. A half mil?

I think ol' Ralphy got a call from (OH NO Mr. Bill)either saying Ralphy we need you to run to siphon votes, to insure a defeat for the Dem's in 04 so the beast has a clear shot in 08

Or Run Ralph Run.... I have an offer you can't refuse.....again siphon votes leaving the Dem's undecided till the convention and the beast will step in save the day and Ralphy at that time you drop out all-together.....you know what I mean

[Killborn]

How about Apr 1?

[chickenlips]

Nah, let's starting acting like we're terrified of Ralph and then he'll look more "electable"! Be sure to wring your hands in the presence of any Dim when his name is mentioned.

[mabelkitty]

They are mad because the rank and fild were sold a bill of goods.

Kerry is no more electable than Wes Clark was, and they know it. If he was, they wouldn't be freaking out.

[longtermmemmory]

Kerry will use nader so kerry looks less to the left. Kerry will pick some obscure commie point nader has and disagree with it. This will put him "towards" the center.

Somehow Nader is clintonian triangulation opportunity for Kerry.

Either way, Nader is a electral mosquito on the windsheild of the election.

[optimistically_conservative]

Can Nadar appeal to the Deaniacs that were more interested in the liberal ideology than electability?

Kerry's kinks (armor or sexual) will begin to be exposed as the love affair with the front-runner turns into a feeding frenzy. Edwards the underdog and the desire for a prolonged two-horse race will feed the frenzy.

Nadar will look more appealing and only the ABB Bush-haters will infuriated.

I guess I'll have to split my political contributions between Nadar and Bush.

[MattAMiller]

I don't really see this having much of an impact. Third party candidates usually fade away after their first run (I realize 2000 was Nader's second but he really didn't try in 1996). And he's not going to have the Green party behind him.

[StopThePress]

Nader/Dean would be nice seeing that the DNC screwed up again by not offering the Deankey a spot somewhere on the ticket or a "new administration.

[Atchafalaya]

Sid is spinning in his grave from that insult!