More Nader news

This is from a much longer article. Unfortunately it came to my email inbox, so I have no link to post to the rest of it, so I'll give the highlights:

On Nader's exploratory committee meeting with folks in D.C. to get further input on whether or not he should run.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"During the discussion period that followed, most
in the audience urged Nader to run, to run a
robust campaign and to run for the Green Party
nomination. A couple of people said they were
afraid a campaign by Nader and the Green Party
would decrease votes for the Democratic Party
nominee, giving re-election to Bush. Nader
explained his view that without a strong
candidate in the race able to advance a
progressive critique of the Bush Administration,
it was far more likely that the Democratic
candidate would "run to the right" making it less
likely that Bush could be defeated."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Others detailed their opinion that the Green
Party and Nader should concentrate on campaigning
in working class and poor communities, turning
away from a strategy emphasizing campaigns in the
communities of upper-middle-income, well educated
liberals and progressives. Nader responded
positively to the idea, highlighting the fact
that an enormous body of potential voters stand
outside the small community of liberal Democrats.
"It's a big country out there," Nader said."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Nader expressed the worry that the Green Party's
nominating convention slated for June 2004 in
Milwaukee, was too late for the party to craft an
effective presidential campaign strategy,
although he did not offer any solution to the
problem. Nader will make his decision about
running for or sitting out the 2004 presidential
election in early January."

As much as I wish it wasn't true, DK can't win nationally. Nader sure as hell can't.

and will not run if Dennis runs...This means 100% of the green vote for our candidate...and probably 90% of the socialist/communist vote that would have voted for their US parties in protest over a moderate DLC type dem. We could get at least 5% from these disenchanted lefties in my opinion...more than enough to b oost us over the edge, especially if Kucinich gets a little more money to get out his message. The people who hear him sspeak absolutely love what he has to say...a true populist, who cares more about the lower and middle class than any other candidate in my view. Give him funding...nominate him, and the democratic party will unite behind him. Along with the help of the greens, and the conservative defectors on the right, Bush is toast!

problem is, people don't know who he is...they don't hear him because he lacks the major apparatus that Dean has...Everyone who hears is speeches (including my conservative dad) loves what he has to say about nearly everything..(healthcare, cancelling NAFTA, keeping good jobs in America, fighting for peace, etc etc)

we just need to get the message out, and it's going to take $$ to do it.

would only be a problem if there was any point to running a Green candidate OR if anyone imagined a scenario in which a Nader candidacy would serve any purpose but to ensure Bush's victory in November.

I imagine there might be some who subscribe to the "lets help make things so bad that people will rally to our cause and thereby do good for the environment in the long run" philosophy. Thus, enabling Bush and the GOP to stay in office would, in the long run, be beneficial to the environment because they would be so bad the American public would rise up and fight for the Green's cause.

The fact that this is bullshit from the word go cannot be allowed to interrupt this brainburp with facts.

If Bush returns to office the effects on the environment will be utterly disastrous. Running Nader or any Green candidate for office is essentially a sign of despair, of the beleif that there is no hope and that futile, romantic gestures of defiance are all that remain to the well intentioned among us.

Yadda, yadda, yadda...

Nader should not run, the Greens should not endorse him, and the main thrust of all our actions should be ABB in November 2004.


<<edited for spelling errors that I caught>>