My take as to why Nader is IRRELEVANT...Relax, folks. [View All]

[DannyRed]

Nader is Irrelevant.

Most people who voted for Nader in 2000 would probably not have voted...

It is my opinion that Nader probably "captured" about half a percent of the Democratic vote overall in 2000.

It is my further opinion that Nader will capture even less of the disaffected Democrat vote this time around - he is not running as a Green, which means that he cannot even talk about "building the Green Party alternative" as a vote-getter for the progressives.

Even more, I think that 99.9% of disaffected Dems and Progressives are so angry and upset and scared about Bush and the GOP freaks that they will vote for the "lesser Evil" if only to give the country the time, space, and breathing room to get active to reform the Democratic party and/or build third party alternatives.

That said, I think that the freaked out hysterical screaming and yelling is destructive, alienating, and self-defeating.

Demonizing, threatening, guilt-tripping, sneering, crying, whining, yelling, and etc...will NOT bring the hard-core lef vote back into the Democratic fold - it was never there in the first place, and will not be there in the future.

Further, such behavior and activity will alienate those who waver on the crux of deciding to vote third party or vote Democratic...

Kerry voters need only think back to the days of November and December, when they were being abjured, yelled at, demonized, and etc...to vote for the "inevitable Dean"....

How did you feel?

Did such treatment make you more or less likely to switch to Dean, or did it make you more or less likely to vote for ABD out of spite and personal affront?

Ignore Nader.

respond to Nader and Nader voters with respect, with facts, and with implacable resolve - that Kerry or Edwards is infinitely better than Bush....

If inclined, you could even throw some Kudos to the progressives and the nader folks, and say "yes, there are problems and issues, and yes there are some things that nader says that are true and that need to be dealt with...BUT, we need a stable platform to deal with them, and a Bush presidency in 2004 is NOT the way to do that."

Be nice. Be respectful. Be calm.

As it is, there are many who seem desperate. Shrill. Panicky.

And that is not the way to convince the waverers.

The hard core is not available for convincing.

The waverers are, and by seeming freaked out, you simply push them away...

Be STRONG, not shrill.

Be CALM, not desperate.

Be SOLID, not vituperative, not insulting, not threatening.

learn a lesson from things like the 1999 seattle riots - those alienated a lot of people from causes that they would otherwise support and trumpet, because whacked out, crazy, angry, spittle-flecked, mouth-breathing, threatening shrieks of outrage are offensive, alienating, wierd, and upsetting...and not likely to do you any good.

Thus spoke a Socialist, Deaniac, Former Nader Voter who is now committed to a strategic vote for the eventual Democratic Nominee in hopes that a win by that nominee will make space and time to reform the Democratic Party or Build a viable third party.

Peace.


Edited for a catchier title...