Poll for 2000 Nader voters only!

Nader voters from 2000: will you support Howard Dean if he is the Democratic nominee in 2004?

:kick:

I am a Dean supporter and he would get my most enthusiastic vote, but to be honest ANY Dem (yes, EVEN Holy Joe) would get my vote this year.

Backing him in the primaries, too.

I will probably vote the same way I did in 2000. When I got to the voting booth in the early evening, Al Gore was leading in Delaware by a strong margin, so I voted for Nader because I really thought that he was the best candidate. Had Bush been leading in Delaware, I would have voted for Gore.

This time around, I like Kerry and Kucinich. Realistically, I think Kerry still has a chance to be the nominee, but sadly it doesn't look like Kucinich does. I have no idea what the Greens will do, and I kind of hope that they run someone other than Nader. But I totally do want to see a third party viable at the national level one day in my lifetime (which doesn't give them decades to work on it). I really don't like Dean that much, and better than Bush is not such a high standard to try to reach. My dog Daisy is better than Bush!

So, IF the Greens have a candidate that I like and IF Dean is the Democratic candidate, and IF Delaware looks like the Democrats are leading by a strong majority, I will vote Green. IF the election is close in Delaware, I will vote for any Democrat.

Now, explain why Democrats have done nothing about the Electoral College in the past three plus years and why they have done nothing about fixing the messed up felon lists or looked at the allegations of road blocks in Democratic districts in Florida or questioned the voting machines that can be hacked into or done something to make me believe that whatever way I vote it will actually matter.

I would rather vote for Nader or whoever occupies his place than vote for any of the leading Democratic contenders. If given the choice, I'd prefer to vote against the Dems. They need their voice back. The voice of Roosevelt, the voice of Kennedy. The only thing that will make this happen is a series of horrible defeats in which they are forced to rethink everything from the ground up, and re-energize their base.

As it is now, we are basically governed by two parties representing the business interests. In almost any other country both of these parties would be considered Right wing.

The Democratic party has abandoned all the causes that are most important to me : end to death penalty, end to drug war, more police accountability, less military spending, end to Israeli apartheid, stricter regulation of industry, and an end to the "tough on crime" bullshit. We live in a techno-futuristic world and we still use a medieval form of crime control. Punishment has failed. Rehabilitation should be our new paradigm.

I can go on forever, but the point is that the Democratic party needs to switch course. Otherwise they will continue losing power as they continue moving toward the Right.

This being so, I would rather cause the Dems to lose horribly if given the opportunity. The damage that Bush will do in his next four years isn't as frightening to me as not having any political representation for the foreseeable future. The hope that Democrats will eventually move toward the Left and reclaim these lost causes is enough for me to vote against them. Call it a a protest vote. But don't ignore the fact that in a 50/50 nation my protest vote is just as powerful as your vote for either of the two major parties.

DU'ers need to understand that before calling Nader a traitor. I think Nader understands what I'm saying. I don't believe he is as reckless as he seems. I think he shares the same goals as me.

...though if there is no appealing third-party option I will grit my teeth and vote for Dean.

(I hope this answers your question. I'm sure this logic seems twisted. I don't have time to elaborate, my girlfriend is nagging me to get off from the machine :-)

When your trying to post at DU for the 8th time today and your gf just harrasses you about spending time with her! Doesn't she see were trying to take our country back!! Mine doesn't!! :)
Welcome to DU!

check out Kucinich; he is about as good as it gets. There are small differences in the rest of the dems and Bush. Bush bust medical marijaunia...supports the death penalty...more than any of the dems... Lets get 'em out and then turn left!

I will give the Dem nominee my vote this time and am registered to vote Kucinich in the primaries.

After this though, hell. I want a two party system (ie... right and left fully represented, not corporate carrot and stick) and I see more chance of that happening by going Green than by voting Democrat, as a singular.

Welcome to DU!

:hi: :hi: :hi:

:toast:

I hear what you're saying, and can't help but agree. It's soooo sad that it got to this point.

Kanary

Give money? No...

Work for his campaign? No.

Vote.... yeah... if I don't keep getting bashed by his supporters.

I see no hope that Dean would do *anything* for poor folx, and most likely he would institute more cuts. Whenever I voice those fears to his suporters, I get bashed, which tells me just how much concern there is in his campaign, and most probably his own level of concern.

Yes, I've had my fill of being tossed around by his campaign.

And I don't welcome more, so.... just hear what I say, and resist the urge to bash.

Kanary, who's had enough hurt, thankyouverymuc