Will Ralph Nader run in 2008? I don't think so, but what are your thoughts

I know that 2008 is a longer way from the present, but I like speculation nonetheless. It helps me pass the time until Bush is out of office. 2008 will not be like 2004, in that we will have an "Anybody But Bush" coalition to unite the party. If we nominate someone like Biden or Bayh, or even Hillary (although I do not believe that she will run) I think that Nader or someone like him will enter the race to drive a wedge in between some unhappy progressives and the rest of the party. However, Nader was ineffective at garnering any support in 2004 and does not seem to provoke the same level of discussion as he did four years ago. Also, he will be almost 80 the next time he runs. Will he still be in good health for it? I think that Nader has lost his luster and ability to effect elections, and I believe that the nominee will either be Clark, Warner, Kerry, or Edwards, all four of which will be hard to Nader to campaign against. Also, there is the factor of being out of power for eight years. In 2000 it was easy to rail against Clinton and Gore because they were the incumbents and we were complacent because we did not have a tyrannical Republican Administration since Bush Senior. Nader will not be able to sway the same voters.

and would speak volumes about the man's ego.

If he had supported Gore we would not have the mess we have now.



I am now officially stepping into flame underwear.

when in 2000 and 2004 many progressives were screaming in a Churchillian fashion, that voting for Ralph would mean that Bush will be able to appoint radical judges.

"Republicans would not want to go down in history as overturning it"

Maybe that is true, but considering how the Right acted in the case of Terri Schiavo (overstepping their bounds in the personal medical lives of people) I would not be suprised if they acted to destroy Roe.

who forgot it's a team sport? I don't recall hearing from him when various companies proclaimed they could fire employees for what they do/say on their own time. Just an observation.

No. He will not run when he would be 75 when taking office.

But then again, he knoww that he will never win and may run again.

I never did. If my party nominates someone I can't be comfortable with, it may lose my support. That's up to the Democratic Party as a whole. I assume that if the party doesn't want unhappy progressives along for the ride, they'll nominate someone likely to drive us out of our party.

In that case, I'll probably write in a progressive Democrat, or find a 3rd party candidate I could live with.

the party and make sure that the DLC does not control it and hurt it.

It appears he's done politically...even if he was actually right about 2 corporate partys.

there is no point to running.

I can't believe anyone thinks that voting for a third party will get the Dem party to be more progressive. Most Dems think Nader cost Gore the election in 2000, and it didn't make the party swing to the left at all.

Nader though is irrelevant. He doesn't draw any support anymore.

I don't really think Nader did, myself.
Kathleen Harris and Jebby were betrayers of democracy too!

He doesn't stand a chance either. I like him though, I just don't think that he is saleable to the entire country. He has great idea's, great policies, but the country is way behind when it comes to Nader. He is a genius.
I don't see Kerry or Edwards as either of the next nominees.
:shrug: