Nader says he may run in 2008, especially if Hillary gets the nomination

[Newsjock]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/15/BAGUCO5CPL10.DTL

SAN FRANCISCO -- Former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader said he is considering a presidential run in 2008 and strongly suggested today he would enter the race if Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton wins the Democratic Party nomination.

"She's just another bad version of (former President) Bill Clinton,'' Nader told KGO radio host Ronn Owens in San Francisco.

Asked to describe Clinton, a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination a year in advance of the primaries, Nader said: "Flatters, panders, coasting, front-runner, looking for a coronation, not taking on the huge waste in the military budget as a member of the Armed Services commission, never going after the corporate crimes against pensions, against workers. ... She has no political fortitude.''

Asked specifically if he would run in 2008, Nader said it is "too early to say. ... (I'm) considering it. We're going to see what the Democrats come up with.''

Nader made the statements in San Francisco while on a book tour to push his new memoir, "The Seventeen Traditions.'' Nader also spoke at the Commonwealth Club in California.

[hlthe2b]

1. Maybe we can bribe the Bushies*

to send him to Gitmo... :evilgrin:

...just kidding... (I think)

[CountAllVotes]

2. and I Ralph Nadar just might vote FOR YOU

if Hillary gets the nomination!

:kick:

[President Jesus]

9. right. because if the past 6 have have taught us one thing...

...it's that Gore and Bush are virtually the same creature, just as Nader and his supporters shouted from the mountain tops in 2000.

Wow. What geniuses.

ps: if you actually think Hillary Clinton would make worse decisions as president than any Republican, what are you even doing here?

[rocktivity]

56. dupe, sorry eom

.

[BigDDem]

21. Great!

There's not a "dimes worth of difference" between Bush and Gore, right?
None of the Ralph-lovers will ever answer that question, care to give
it a shot?

[CountAllVotes]

28. ok, I won't vote for Nadar

but then again, I won't be voting for Hillary either. Who knows, maybe she won't be nominee?

[jahyarain]

35. here, choke on this shot

we never said there wasn't any difference between Gore and Bush. we said there wasn't much of a difference between dems and pigs. and there isn't. of course President Gore would have done a better job these past six years if he were in his rightful place leading this country. blame yourself for not standing up and starting a Revolution instead of blaming open minded people who practiced DEMOCRACY. some of us are sick of the two party system that only cares for their rich corporate masters (and i KNOW you're not dumb enough to think most dems aren't repig whores with a different shade of lip gloss). dems have come a long way in those six years as well. there are now a few who may even deserve to be in my Congress, but i'll take what's best for this planet and my children over a silly little political party any day. and quite frankly there WON'T be much difference between Hillary and the bushes if Truth be told. and NEVER forget, the ONLY reason there is a democratic majority in the house and senate now, is because of us. Peace...

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

45. 2000 gore and bush had a lot in common

just look at that debate where al kept feeling the need to reply to bush with 'oh, i agree.'
michael moore counted him doing it 40+ times.

i stand by my work for nader 2000 as one of the things i'm most proud of. after 8 years of the supposedly liberal party ignoring the left on 'free' trade, welfare, civil rights and countless issues-it was nice to have someone address my concerns and actually court my vote

thankfully, al's gotten away from the handlers and found himself.
hell, even ralph would back a gore '08 run.

[PaDem]

49. are there significant differences between HRC and Rudy?

what does Bush and Gore have to do with it?

[oasis]

58. Why not join up with the Nader campaign now and avoid the rush?

:dem:

[tblue]

3. Every time he runs, he gets less and less popular. Why doesn't he run for mayor or Congress??????

[pnwmom]

6. Maybe because his org, Public Citizen, gets more donations with a

Republican dunce in the White House.

[JerseygirlCT]

40. Bingo. That and his need for constant ego-feeding nt

[Drum]

22. Because (I think) he has no interest in a race he might win...

Anymore, Nader seems exclusively interested in being a disruptor. If he ran for an office and won, he'd have to actually engage in politics and governance.
:eyes:

[Hekate]

4. Ralphie go home. Does that man have any credibility left at all?? nt

[pnwmom]

5. Remember, this is the guy who wanted us to believe

that there was NO difference between Al Gore and George Bush, and who insisted on campaigning hard in Florida even though many of his supporters pushed for the idea of a vote swap (allowing supporters in critical states like Florida to swap votes with Democrats in safe states).

Now he's throwing his weight around again in an effort to sell his book.

Perhaps Nader's personal causes -- his book, and his public interest org -- benefit from having the bigger boogeyman in the White House. Maybe that's why he's always so willing to help toss elections to the Republicans.

Where would Nader be if he didn't have the evil Republicans to fight? If his opponent for the last 6 years had been President Al Gore? Makes me wonder.

[Liberty Belle]

7. Best reason yet not to vote for Hilary in the primary.

I wonder which candidate would most be apt to keep Ralph Nader out of this race? Who is the most pro-consumer...Edwards, the consumer lawyer, perhaps?

How does Barack stack up on consumer issues? Or, for that matter, Gore?

[CountAllVotes]

8. Gore/Richardson

to me this would be the perfect ticket.

If not Gore/Richardson, perhaps Gore/Kucinich?

I won't be voting for Hillary Clinton, that is for sure.

She knew.

If I knew and others knew that the "war" was a faux war made up to grab as much money as possible, and who are we but a bunch of "nobody's", I do not accept Hillary Clinton's "explanation" for why she supported going into Iraq.

YOU GO TO IRAQ, YOU GO WITHOUT GOD! -- Pope John Paul II

:dem:

[BigDDem]

23. What do you think the odds are

that the Dem nominee will pick Kucinich for VP?
Im curious, really.

[customerserviceguy]

27. Kucinich for VP

Ain't gonna happen. He'd totally alienate the mainstream, and besides, the mainstream media would focus their attentions on him, rathet than the person at the top of the ticket.

[CountAllVotes]

30. Probably very thin odds

considering the way political clout is stacked. Kucinich has a small chance but you never know.

I'd really like to see Gore/Richardson. If this ticket runs, we (the Democrats) will win and we'll have a great ticket!

:dem:

[primavera]

26. Amen to that!

I certainly don't want to see Democrats divided, but if we end up with some DLC/Bush Lite type like Hillary or Lieberpuke or Zell Miller as our nominee, such a candidate will not represent a majority of Democrats, regardless of what they happen to call themselves, and many Dems will face a crisis of conscience over whether they can in good conscience vote for someone who does not represent their values. Like it or not, many Democrats will not feel comfortable selling out their beliefs in order to put a DINO into office, the base will split, and the Repuke will win, or at least have a much greater chance of doing so. The moral of the story is: make damned sure Hillary is not our nominee.

[PATRICK]

33. Another groan from the past

that is strangling the future in a dedication one toasts as the ship they knocked the bottom out of goes down.

This shows piss poor understanding of politics and despairs of the efforts by the misinformed American public to get is right. The grim struggle of the electorate to communicate its will into real leadership does not need the crusading discipline of righteousness at this stage. They get it, got it, and are fed up already.

While this does accent why Hillary is a liability and a liability in the Dem voter's mind is anathema to choice, this particular expression is the meanest, most insulting and unnecessary kick of spiteful vengeance- which the world needs as little as cannibal capitalism in its most drunken suicidal stages.

Once a tool for GOP fascism always a tool. Some recognition of his own responsibility other than purity of intention would be the best start of a political conversation. What party wants him as their political spokesperson anyway?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

44. Nader's a big fan of Edwards

and he and Gore have long since buried the hatchet. Ralph attended one of Gore's I.T. screenings

[hezekkia]

53. '98-'04 Edwards, or '08 Edwards?

two VERY different (but equally slick!) politicians!

[MilesColtrane]

48. It doesn't matter to Nader. He'll try and run anyway.

He has believed that there is no difference between the parties for twenty years.

He thought that Carter's defeat by Reagan was a good thing, as it was going to bring the biggest backlash of citizen activism, and demand for reform that had been seen in years.

And we know how that worked out.

If he were truly interested in reform he'd be a Congressman or Senator by now, passing laws that make a difference.
Instead he believes that the entire house must be burned down before it can be rebuilt.

The only problem with that theory is that burning down the house is killing people and destroying the Constitution.

[Mark E. Smith]

10. Oh what incredible joy!

Ralph gets yet another opportunity to hand America over to the neo-fascist right!

The man who gave us George W. Bush is once again selflessly offering to do it all
over again.

I guess his paymasters in the GOP are once again feeling threatened and feel the
need to trot out their most reliable Quisling.

[HarveyBrooks]

15. "Ralph gets yet another opportunity to hand America over to the neo-fascist right!"

And it seems some of our DU friends are more than willing to help him.

[struggle4progress]

46. Uh, did you misunderstand how the December 2000 coup really happened?

There was a pithy summary circulating back then:

The son of a former ruler (and former head of America's secret police) became ruler himself after judges appointed by his father stopped an investigation into voting irregularities in a province governed by his brother.

[NYC]

62. That's a compact summary.

I like it. Thanks.

[wakeme2008]

11. IMHO Nadar lies about Hillary...

No matter who the Dems put up, Nadar will find an excuse to run against them. :shrug:

[ozone_man]

43. On what basis

do you make that claim? I know he ran against Gore in 2000, and Gore is probably about the least offensive Democrat candidate (for a Green) that can be run in 2008. Gore has changed though since 2000. Things have changed with the country. He seems pretty darn good at this point. Also, I think Nader spoke kindly of Dean in 2004. But I will not vote for Clinton, Edwards, or Obama, so someone else will have to be there to get my vote. If Nader is the only one, then he gets it. If Gore runs, I vote for Gore. NBG (Nobody but Gore). ;) Well, maybe Feingold or Boxer, but the odds are low that they will run. Dean can't, so Gore is the only one.

[acmavm]

12. What is it with some of these old, over-the-hill, arrogant, attention

deprived bastards? I mean like Miller, Liebermann, and this asswipe. They need to fade away, go crawl back under their rocks.

[AtomicKitten]

13. I heard him on AA today.

Just hearing his voice made me uncomfortable. It is really troubling to generally agree with someone who irritates the crap out of me. He's going after Hillary like he did Gore and that raises a red flag for me. I think Ralph should stick to what he is really good at, consumer affairs.

[Doondoo]

14. If Hillary got the nomination, I would vote for Nader

[maddiejoan]

16. Ih Hillary got the noimination, I would vote for Hillary.

[Bridget Burke]

20. Most of us here at DU are Democrats.

Hillary is not my favorite, but I'll definitely vote for her if she's nominated.

Let me guess--in 2000, you voted for Nader. Or was it Bush?

[ShortnFiery]

39. If HRC gets the nomination, I'd politely refrain from posting on DU because

I would SUPPORT and vote for whomever is nominated as the Green Candidate. :-) :hi:

[William769]

17. Ralph Nader is a shit head that still haunts us to this day.

[onehandle]

18. Everyone smile and nod at Ralph.

Eventually he'll walk away and mutter to himself in the corner.

[zalinda]

19. If Lieberman got the nomination

(okay, it would be a cold day in hell)but, I'd vote for Lieberman. ANY dem is better than ANY repub as president. A vote for Nader would be a vote for a repub.

zalinda

[demnan]

24. It might be time for me to jump on the Hillary bandwagon

If Ralph hates her, she can't be all bad.

[Frances]

25. Thanks for the chuckle

Hillary is my least favorite Dem (Lieberman doesn't count because he's an Independent), but if Nader is against her, I guess I'll have to think of her more favorably.

[catgirl]

31. Nader is against any dem

He'll run no matter who gets the nomination. He
likes the drama. Perhaps someone should run against
him. I know many in the Green Party are pretty disgusted
with him.

[w4rma]

29. A Nader candidacy is easy to avoid: Don't vote for Hillary in the primary. (nt)

[Mend]

32. Does Nader have a sex life? Any relief for all that hemorroidal

suffering on his face? Is the a Mrs. or Mr. Nader somewhere bringing comfort and joy to him?

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

34. I'm with you Ralph-No Hillary '08

No progressive in their right mond would allow that Bush-enabler to get nomination without a fight

[MasonJar]

36. I am sick of Ralph Nader and his enabling the Pugs. i will never

forgive him for taking votes from Al Gore; he is part of the problem. Why would anyone considering voting for Nader be on DU, which stands for Democratic Underground? If Hillary is chosen by the majority of dems, then she should be supported by all of us enthusiastically.

[depakid]

60. You've got it backwards

The reason Ralph started running back in 1996 is because Bill Clinton and the DLC were enabling the far right and legitimizing- and enacting their policies.

Time and again, the Democratic "leadership" -particularly in the Senate- let's its DINO's cross over and vote for (or fail to filibuster) corrupt or extremist nominees or egregious legislation, that's going to create a schism among progressives, who still believe in traditional Democratic values.

Political science 101. Those dissatisfied folks will either stay home- or find a third party that reflects their views.

[oasis]

37. Ralph Nader's a washed up nobody. Richardson, Biden or Clark have

real stories to tell and a decent chance to reach the White House. The corporate media refuses to give them a stage.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

38. Richardson-You mean Hannity's friend?

don't trust him.

and biden's a joke.

clark's all right, but nader's better

[ohio2007]

41. If he runs again,he better dot his "I's" and cross all his "T's" this time

he was thrown off many state ballots last time over proper registration procedures.

[SoCalDem]

42. Why even have campaigns & primaries. Let's just have Ralph choose the candidate

:eyes:

[Betty]

47. I wonder how much $$ the PNAC is paying him

to fuck up the 08 election. Maybe this is to pave the way for Jeb to get in the race.

[govegan]

50. If Hillary gets the nomination, I may run .......

but she won't, thank goodness.

I would no sooner vote for lemonade stand Ralph than I would for gin & tonic Clinton.

[gravity]

51. I'm not surprised

He cares more about his own ego than the state of the country

[IronScorpio5]

52. This guy is like a bad nightmare.

gee,can he be anymore self-sbsorbed that he already is ?

[Venus Dog]

54. The bushies must have some good photos of Ralphie

...he does their bidding so willingly.

[Superman Returns]

55. I said this in a lesser read thread about the Nader factor

I understand people are upset with Nader over 2000. I was too. No one can say that the world wouldn't be a different place today if Nader didn't run for President, giving Al Gore more than enough votes to beat back the fiasco in Florida.

But lets look past that for a minute. Why can't he run? Its his legal RIGHT if he chooses to. And if there are those that CHOOSE to vote for his candidacy and agenda, and cause the Dems to narrowly lose, its not Nader's fault. Its the fault of the Democratic candidate that didn't appeal to that particular person.

Hasn't Nader been largely right about the domination corporations have over our political system? Hasn't he been right regarding how money has corrupted our campaigns? From news reports I've read, 2008 will be the first billion dollar campaign. In my view, that is a problematic trend.

Now, I'm not advocating voting for Nader. Right now, I'm a firm supporter of Barack Obama. But keep in mind, people have a right to run and express their ideas. It is democracy at its finest. You can argue that Republicans have been caught funding and helping Green candidates. Thats fine. But if you are against the merit of Nader running simply because it would hurt Dems, then I diagree.

To some, Every election, is the "pivotal election." Every election is the election you can't "waste your vote" on. But there is going to be a time when we have to honestly address the growing corruptive nature of our two-party political system. If people always wait to the next election, it will eventually be too late. Poltics shouldn't be a football game, where two sides blindly cheer for victory, essentially for bragging rights and a win for the metaphoric scorecard. It should be about achieving consensus on policy through debate, through public discourse. Thats why I have no problem with Nader running and appreciate his possible candidacy.

[rocktivity]

57. I'm not familiar with all his political stances

but I'm delighted to see that he has finally solved his weight problem!



What, you said NADER? I thought you mant Jerrold NADLER! Never mind...

:blush:
rocknation

[Strathos]

59. What is wrong with that man?

Why doesn't he use the millions that he would use trying to get elected for some actual good?

I'm sorry to those of you that like him, and no matter how brilliant he is, we can not having him divide us again.

To me he's a pawn and usually put in place by someone like Bush. Do you know why?


Because people like that know that democrats and liberals will actually think about elections and weigh who is the best person for POTUS but republicans will never waver, they will always vote republican and that is how we will get beaten.

We need to be strong and we need to be as myopic as they are and the democrat that is nominated should get our votes.

[cut.your.crap]

61. Nader helped Bush in 2000

Siphoned off votes from Gore in a close race. Certainly this was a factor. F*ck Nader. I voted for him in 2000. I might as well have voted for W.

[olddad56]

63. Nader's day in the sun was over 35 years ago.