Greens Welcome Nader to Presidential Race, will nominate someone else

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Greens welcomed Ralph Nader's entry into the presidential race today as an independent, saying that Mr. Nader will take positions and raise issues of vital urgency in the 2004 race for the White House.

Greens noted that the Green Party of the United States and its 43 affiliate state parties are preparing to back a Green nominee, not an independent or another party's candidate.

"In running a presidential ticket this year, we're keeping our eyes on the prize. Our mid-term goal is the creation of a multi-party political system, and the participation of a strong Green Party in that system," said Ben Manski, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States. "To move closer to achieving our goal, we run and support Green candidates."

...Some Greens have launched a 'Redraft Nader' campaign to persuade Mr. Nader to to reverse his earlier decision to not seek the Green Party nomination and instead accept a nomination at the party's national convention in Milwaukee. There is also a campaign among some Green Party members to urge the party not to run a national candidate in 2004.

"We wish Ralph well and thank him for working with us and supporting us all these years," said Jo Chamberlain, also a co-chair of the national Green Party. "Our candidates -- and our eventual nominee -- are campaigning on a platform similar to his, so we don't consider ourselves in any kind of public competition with him."

http://www.gpus.org/press/pr_02_22_04.html

...don't blame me. It's pathetic that I have to to this.

but they have definately not earned my vote at a national level. I am still a Democrat.

They've dumped him.

Just think we could have been in the 4th year of Liebermann's 8 year pre presidency charm offensive on all of us then in 2009 the REAL fun can begin. I can almost see the alternate future here at DU and other progresive forums for the 2008 campaign. "Liebermann is 100% better than Chenny dont vote 3rd party , vote Democratic.. attack the Greens and other progressive 3rd party canidate.... a vote for 3rd party is a vote for Chenny...vote Liebermannn..hes the best we can realisticaly do".

AHEM........(clears throat).............. Nader has been a fast forward button on progress. Instead of 2009 being the start of a looooooong 8 year term of "getting the best we realisticaly can" with Liebermann we can now in 2004 safely say that Liebermann is yesterdays news and be happy that we have a canidate miles to the left (or miles less right more accuratly put)of liebermann in Kery plus be running even or ahead of the best the GOP has (and an incumbant Bush is the best they will have for a long time to come)to offer.

Id rather obey the speed limit and live than have moved 100 mph in a frantic drunking trip down a crowded street in 2000. We are much further along in 2004 thanks to Nader , he slowed us all down but we will make it to our destination in these lives (had the Gore/Liebermann ticket won in 2000 then we would all need to be reincarnated in a future life to see the real progress we all want). The GOP is in shambles and our only problem as Democrats is wondering what kind of progress is realistic in such and such amount of time. I tend to think Kerry beating bush in 2004 will ultimately lead to a good bit of progress sometime in the future (maybe not so much this decade) unlike the ground laying attempt by the 2000 ticket.

Regardless Nader feels the need to be present and Im glad he did as it was my view all along that we need him and need him badly for various reasons. (one good idea would be to read the transcript of his anwser to Russert about whether Kerry or Edwards care about the same issues he does, Nader said yes but feared their aqueousence to powerful forces and their inability to stay in touch and focoused)

Nader is an anchor . History will show that he only slows us down when we are head rushing in a dangerous direction. We should be as smart as he and realize that he knows when to turn the heat up and on whom. I think he didnt run as a Green because he doesnt think a strong Green party will be productive in years to come if he can continue to move the Democratic party in the right direction (the only thing Nader is splitting is the progressive 3rd partyswhich will gurantee they get under 5% and dont get matching funds ). Nader knows Bush is the one who needs to be attacked endlessly this time and Nader will do it like he always does, on an issue by issue basis. Nader will keep Kerry and/or Edwards from loosing sight and loosing touch.

Nader is the only level head around on our side in many cases.In stead of embracing him we have a bunch of aarogant pinheads on the left who despite their oversized brains and endless academic credientials are never the less so short sighted that they cant see further than 6 inches from their bifocals.

Will be interesting to see which ones put him on the ballot.

I know some folks here in Maine are trying to, though I am with Rep. Eder in that we need to back the Dem to get $hrub out.