Liberal pariah Ralph Nader flirts with new White House run

Yahoooooo | 6/19/03

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON (AFP) - One election campaign transformed Ralph Nader (news - web sites) from the perennial champion of liberal causes to a hated figure for the American left, but Nader is not finished yet.

The man many Democrats blame for Al Gore (news - web sites)'s achingly narrow defeat by George W. Bush in the 2000 presidential vote, could be a candidate when the next election is held in 2004, he will be 70.

Some progressives still consider the Harvard-educated attorney a hero for his consumer advocacy work of the 1960s and his more recent role in the anti-globalization movement, among other causes.

But he has not been spared the wrath of liberals after Nader stood in the 2000 election as the Green Party presidential candidate. Nader siphoned off critical votes from Gore, and the Republican Bush won the key to the White House.

"He is despised by some parts of the Democratic party," said liberal pundit Robert Borosage. "The party bitterness toward him is pretty deep."

In 2000, Nader convinced many Democratic voters that there was little difference between Bush and Gore, who was vice president under Bill Clinton (news - web sites), and that they would be better off supporting the Green party.

Many on the left had counted on a narrow Gore victory in the election, with the Greens clearing the necessary five percent of the vote threshold to receive federal campaign funds, thus boosting their bid to become a viable third party alternative to the Democrats and Republicans.

But the Greens failed to win five percent of the vote. Many of the votes the party did garner came from disaffected Democrats, whose defection likely gave Bush victory.

Democrats have been unforgiving ever since. Nader complains that he no longer gets invited to progressive strategy sessions and is omitted from witness lists drawn up by Democratic lawmakers seeking experts to testify in Congress.

"Even ... when they have gatherings on specific issues that I have worked on, they don't invite me," he complained in an interview.

"It is true that he pays a price for the folly of his (election) strategy," said Borosage, co-director of Campaign for America's Future, a Washington-based progressive non-profit group.

"He is being scapegoated for a defeat that shouldn't have taken place, but he also contributed to it."

Despite the rift, Nader and liberal Democrats agree at least one point: that the Bush presidency has been "beyond terrible," in Nader's words, for issues such as the environment and civil rights.

The president, he said, "is wrecking our economy, surrendering our government to corporate power more than ever, and alienating many of our former friends around the world by militarizing foreign policy."

But Nader is just as scathing toward the opposition Democrats, whom he accuses of capitulating to the conservative president.

"They could have stopped both of his tax cuts, his unconstitutional war ... the notorious massive assault on our civil liberties ... but they don't do any of this," he complained.

Nader said he still stands by his 2000 campaign statement that the two parties are virtually the same. "The Democrats are D-plus, the Republicans are D-minus," he said. "On foreign and military policy it's hard to find any difference."

[dead]

"He is being scapegoated for a defeat that shouldn't have taken place, but he also contributed to it."

He's being scapegoated for something he did?

Liberals are idiots.

[Howlin]

All right! Run Ralph Run!

[Welsh Rabbit]

I knew a couple of Dims who voted for him. Funny thing was, they knew they were throwing there vote away, and they didn't particularly like Nader, they did it as a protest vote against Al Bore.

[randog]

Nader complains that he no longer gets invited to progressive strategy sessions and is omitted from witness lists drawn up by Democratic lawmakers seeking experts to testify in Congress.

So, he's running for prez because he needs a job? May as well--neither the Dems or the Watermelons are going to win anyway.

[connectthedots]

Where can we send him a note of encouragement?

[Constitution Day]

Sharpton/Nader 2004!

[Howlin]

I know you're an Al Bot for 2004!

[Constitution Day]

GO AL GO!!

[McGruff]

Good, the more votes he takes away the better!

[Consort]

If it's a Gore-Clinton or Clinton-Anybody ticket in '04, Nader will suffer an unfortunate accident between now and then.

[Ann Archy]

Amen....Memo to Ralphie: Don't go NEAR Ft. Marcy Park.

Besides, Ralph is an Arab.

[areafiftyone]

Yea but he might run as a Republican to syphon votes from Bush!

[schaketo]

=== Cut === Paste === Email to Friends and Family ===

In the upcoming democratic primary (2004) ...

BIG AL NEEDS OUR HELP! - Register as a democrat and vote for Crazy Al!

Rev. Al Sharpton is officially running for president in 2004.

During the May 3, 2003 demoncrap debate in Columbia, S.C., our man Al stated “The way to move a donkey is to slap the donkey,” and “I’m going to slap the donkey until the donkey kicks”.

Let’s help Crazy Al slap the donkey until it kicks.

Assume GW has the Republican nomination sewn up. Its time for all good republicans, libertarians, and independents to stand up and be counted. Lets take a page from Sen. McCain’s play book. Prior to the 2004 democratic presidential primary in your state, re-register as a democrat and vote for Al Sharpton!

Wouldn’t it be great if Crazy Al won! At the very least, lets ensure he gets prime time speaking rights at the 2004 nationally televised democratic convention. You gotta love it. Line up, sign up, and send this to all your like-minded friends.

Here is a link to planned 2004 primary dates from the National Association of Secretaries of State:
http://www.nass.org/Issues/04primaries.html

Check here for the rules governing primary voting in your state:
http://www.fec.gov/votregis/primaryvoting.htm

In case you’d like to send Big Al a donation:
http://www.sharptonexplore2004.com/

Anyone need a bumper sticker or button?
http://democraticbuttons.freeservers.com/

How about an Al Sharpton yard sign?
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/victorystore00/pryasi.html

Want to keep up on the latest on Big Al’s progress? Go to the Republicans for Sharpton website at:
http://www.republicansforsharpton.com/

Oh yea, and don’t forget to call the local demoncrap party headquarters and ask them the following before the primary election:

1. Can I get a ride to the polls – help them spend their money during the primaries so they’ll have less during the national election. Have them take you the scenic route and stop off and do some shopping on the way home.
2. Are you giving anything away free for voting democrat? Cigarettes, box of cigars, box lunch, etc. Ask for two of each.
3. Send 25 cents in the mail to the DNC and watch how much they spend on mailing you to give to the party. Always send their solicitation back to them with all associated literature in the prepaid envelope included in the mailing. They have to pay that postage upon return. Great way to help them spend money and keep you up to date on their propaganda.

Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Main Phone Number: 202-863-8000

Can you think of any other questions we should ask them?

=== Cut === Paste === Email to Friends and Family ===

[hchutch]

The more Nader runs, the harder the Dems have to work to stop the bleeding, and we will make a lot of gains. I like the way it will look. :)

[ewing]

Rev. Al and Ralph Nader-the perfect ticket for 2004!

[TontoKowalski]

Three's another side to this argument...

I know that Nader will draw some voters from the Democratic candidate. But I also think third party candidates bring in new voters, too, that otherwise wouldn't have voted. Remember that Governor Ventura won his election because scores of new voters entered the mix.

I think the new voters Nader brought in are why we had such a bad time in the Congressional races, especially the Senate. New Nader voters went with the Dems in those races...as one would expect.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Nader is one of the most secretive and peculiar men in American politics today. His PERG groups gather millions in grant money, yet he allows no public accounting of any of his funds. He lives frugaly, distaining even deodorant until someone tells him "its time for a bath, Ralph."
I think we have Nader to thank (along with the NRA) for keeping Algore out of the White House.

[Grampa Dave]

Conservatives can only hope that Ralphie the Green Pansy Boy who is light in his loafers, links up with Big Al to run in 2004.

I have been running this tagline off and on for weeks.

Go Big Al and Ralphie, the Green Pansy.

[OldFriend]

If Nader receives an invitation to picnic in Ft. Marcy Park I suggest he send his regrets.

[Rebelbase]

The black and green ticket.

[nmh]

Hope he runs as another Demoncrat.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

In 2000, Nader convinced many Democratic voters that there was little difference between Bush and Gore, who was vice president under Bill Clinton (news - web sites), and that they would be better off supporting the Green party.

No, he convinced a tiny, tiny number of Democrats to vote for him. It only mattered because the race was so close.

[NautiNurse]

You beat me to it--Run Ralph, Run!!!

[Sunshine Sister]

Amazing insight. What are we going to call it? Arkancide doesn't sound right for this case.

[Consort]

What are we going to call it?

Soylent Green.

[Noumenon]

Go Ralphie! Make it hurt...

[Reagan Man]

go Ralphy go! =^)

[Eldorado431]

Well, Sharpton and Nader are the best two things ever happened to the GOP. Both have their own Agenda's Both will take Votes away from the Democrat Candidate. So uncounciously they are Friends of the GOP.

[montag813]

RUN, RALPH, RUN!!!!!

[areafiftyone]

I can't see Ralph running as a Republican because he hates everything they stand for so it will either be a Democreep or third party. That means more votes for Bush!!!

[Redcloak]

GO, RALPH, GO!

[lowbridge]

Run Ralph, Run!!!

Thats a good slogan for a bumper sticker.....to be placed on the front bumper of the car of every Al Gore voter

[Sunshine Sister]

Somehow that doesn't have the cachet that Arkancide does.

[tracer]

"Liberal pariah Ralph Nader flirts with new White House run"

Word has it that Buddy had torn it up so bad that GW had to have new sod put in.......

[Lunatic Fringe]

Run, Ralph, run!

[Dan from Michigan]

Go Ralph Go!

[Constitution Day]

Black and Red is more like it.

[Consort]

Silent Running?

[VRWC_minion]

THe party is deeply divided and its Nader's fault. Okie dokie, sounds like liberal logic.

[Sunshine Sister]

Good One!

[Robert_Paulson2]

Lord please... let it be so...
If we can get him and al sharpton both to run...

</ end of dream sequence >

[Robert_Paulson2]

If we could get some offbeat party to take up the cause of gays, and run a gay man as well... call it the UNCL party... for "unclosseted"... and call him the man from UNCLe...

Dress him in a pink shirt, bow tie, and give him a veep named will.. and we could sink another third of the raibow coalition... on a loser candidate.

[Radtechtravel]

Send them several washers taped inside their postage paid return envelopes and they have to pay additional postage charges.

But then they will take you off their mailing list. So you could do that the last time you want to receive mail from them.

[Kaslin]

I heard on FNC he is planning to run on the Republican ticked. Anyone heard it too? It was either on Brit hume's show or on he Big Story with John Gibson

[Howlin]

Looks like we're all in the same dream, doesn't it?

[jackbill]

On Fox News it was reported that the Greens want no part of Nader. So Nader says that he may run as a Republican, in the primaries against the President.

[jackbill]

See my #47

[weegee]

Think he might run in 2004 to motivate the left wing socialists to vote and then drop out as the election approaches, endorsing the Rat candidate?

He'd get his issues on the table (and let the Rats play "middle of the road"ers) and still be able to run at ousting President Bush. He'd run as "Green Party" (National Socialist Democrat) while the Rat candidate would run as Democrat-Lite. Rather than take actual votes from the Rat, he could drop out of the race prior to early voting.

Could the Greenie Weenies replace their candidate in time? Could Ralph Nader remove his name from the ballots? Could he concede his votes? Can the DNC afford enough lawyers to press these matters?