NYT - Nader Says a Run Would Benefit Democrats

[maddezmom]

Nader Says a Run Would Benefit Democrats
By MICHAEL JANOFSKY

ASHINGTON, Jan. 9 — He is sounding like a presidential candidate again, charging the Bush administration with "messianic militarism and subservient corporatism," and the Democrats with soft-pedaling liberal policies that were once mainstays of their party.

Three years after the election in which Democrats say he cost Al Gore the White House, Ralph Nader is considering another campaign, and says he will decide shortly.

At this point, Mr. Nader said in an interview this week, a run depends only on his ability to collect enough money and volunteers to mount a credible effort. Otherwise, he said, he has a zillion reasons to go ahead — including, he insists, that doing so would be good for the Democrats.

"But you've got to have money, and you've got to have volunteers," he said, though declining to specify the levels he would need of each. "The verdict is still out, but I'll decide by the end of the month."

Four years ago, he said he was running for president because he believed that the major-party nominees, Mr. Gore and George W. Bush, were virtually indistinguishable and that the parties were too cozy with corporate America. Now Mr. Nader, 69, says he has seen enough of Mr. Bush's administration to make defeating him and ending Republican control of Congress the chief goals. And those goals are more achievable, he says, if he joins the race.

~snip~

more: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/10/politics/campaigns/10NADE.html?pagewanted=print&position=

[SahaleArm]

1. He'll run - his ego is too big not to n/t

[Toronto Ron]

2. Horrible. Simply horrible.

What a delusional, self-absorbed asshole Nader is.

[tedoll78]

3. Come on!

And cancer is a great way to lose weight, right Ralph?

[FrenchieCat]

4. Whatever....

It's up to us...not to him. If he get votes, he gets votes...if people want to vote for him for the first time...or again....then will have to live with themselves...is all

[La_Serpiente]

7. I agree with this view

we're just going to have to face the reality that he is campaigning - that is, if he does run. And just like every other election, he is subject to the same rules as any other politician.

[meti57b]

5. Looks like nader wants another four years of bush in addition to wanting..

to give an advantage to whomever they replace cheney with, to position for running in 2008.

Hey ralph, what about considering what is good for our nation in addition to what is good for the world? Does that mean anything to you?

[displacedtexan]

6. Ralph is really stupid...

if he thinks Dems will treat him as kindly as Gore supporters did in 2000.

Just as airplane passengers will no longer sit passively if trouble erupts on board, Dems will no longer allow Ralph to ruin another election!

[deminflorida]

8. Good, let him get in....

some of the Dean supporters will run to him like flies on a shit-house. That's the only reason this thread is going to get any attention today.

[tinrobot]

9. Here's how to benefit Democrats...

Campaign for them...

If Nader can't figure this out, he's an idiot.

[patricia92243]

10. Republicans will see to it that he gets enough money and volunteers.

[dae]

11. Beat me to it.

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[Gman]

12. Messianic??

While Bush is very messianic, Nader is completely eaten up with his very own messianic complex. Get a clue Ralph. GTF outa here.

[kodi]

13. ralph hasn't missed a meal in these 3 years or gone broke

many of the rest of us have and its in large part due to having bush and not gore in the white house.

gore v. bush made a lot of difference to many of us, especially to 500 dead american soldiers and 10,000 wounded ones from iraq

i find the premise of nadirs' most curious. viz., "that by hammering away at populist themes like a higher minimum wage, union rights and occupational health regulations, all of which he says have been neglected, he would force the leading Democratic contenders to move left. That, he says, would expand the party's base, drawing out more liberal voters, some angry enough at him about 2000 that they would vote for the Democratic nominee instead, and many who would vote Democratic in close House and Senate races."

and in referencing "recent talks with Democratic leaders, including the party's national chairman, Terry McAuliffe; the Senate minority leader, Tom Daschle of South Dakota; and the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi of California," he said, they remained "seized by the inaccurate zero-sum mentality" of a presidential field of just two candidates. He called that a limiting dynamic that forced Democrats to hew to the center rather than "expand the electorate with electrifying issues."

i would like to see what data nadir is working from that leads him to proclaim, not just believe so mind you, proclaim as truth that his entry into the 2004 campaign will draw the democratic party to the left and, as in his own words "expand the electorate with electrifying issues."

if he can show me the numbers upon which he bases his proclamation, i will take him and his case more seriously.

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. Well, said.

I hope Ralph reads it.

[cryofan]

15. RUN, RALPH, RUN

How can anyone deny that the following is true:
"the Democrats with soft-pedaling liberal policies that were once mainstays of their party."

Anyone who speaks the truth on a such fundamental level, and a truth that the top-polling Democrats will not speak, should run for President.

[JVS]

16. kick