AP: Kerry and Nader to Meet Wednesday

[Iceburg]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040519/ap_on_el_pr/kerry_nader
WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) will meet Wednesday with independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader (news - web sites), the longtime consumer advocate who is blamed by many Democrats for Al Gore (news - web sites)'s loss in the 2000 election.

Nader has been pushing for a meeting with the presumptive Democratic nominee since Kerry wrapped up the primary race about two months ago. Nader complained as recently as Sunday about the inability to reach key Kerry campaign staffers to arrange a meeting.

The two will meet Wednesday afternoon at Kerry's campaign headquarters, according to two senior Democratic officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. They said Kerry's aides were scrambling Tuesday night to determine what Nader hoped to get out of the meeting, but said there was no reason to believe he would get out of the race as many Democrats have hoped.

[belladonna]

1. Ralphie just wants to get some free publicity

That's what egomaniacs do, ya know

[osaMABUSh]

2. Cut a friggy deal with Nader

drop out and he gets some quasi-important position in the Kerry Admin.

[UnAmericanJoe]

3. Or

Actually listen to his ideas (many of which are exceedingly good) and try to integrate them into your campaign.

That way Kerry wins, Nader wins and we all win.

[patrice]

8. This is the reason I am working for Kerry.

Even though I am a Deanocrat, it takes more than Dean telling me to support Kerry. I have to have my own reason.

My reason is based upon what Republicans call "flip flopping", but what I know, from teaching experience, is the ability to genuinely process a variety of perspectives.

I would like to see some of Nader's ideas integrated into Kerry campaign for real. Yes, I would like that very much.

[PATRICK]

4. At last

However it works out this should have been done before with Gore rather than the aides running interference with the fearful cold shoulder. it doesn't hurt to talk with anyone and it doesn't have to look like Nader taking Kerry to the shed or vice versa.

I hope Kerry penetrates to the emotional core of the problem too. This is much better than that idiotic fearful statement from afar about Nader not getting into the race to which any American is entitled.

It may turn out badly, but it is the right thing to do. Kudos to Kerry for getting past the aides. Maybe we can at last settle some of the long term mile long thread debates on DU too- finally.

[Lou_C]

5. I hope he is not considering Nader as a running mate

:puke:

[belladonna]

6. Waiting for the Nader for VP polls to start now N/T

[Lou_C]

10. I hate Nader

:puke:

[struggle4progress]

17. He won't. But he's right to talk with Nader.

It's not clear what (if anything) can come from the discussion.

[lastknowngood]

7. Why is he kissing Nader's ass? He should be calling him out for

being a shrub enabler and traitor to everything he says he stands for. I don't like Kerry but meeting with Nader will drop him even more in my eyes. I'll vote for Kerry if that's my only choice but somebody needs to naturally kick Nader's ass. Nader stands for progressive issues like the shrub stands for Christian values, it's all about their egos

[qwertyMike]

9. Remember Bush LOST the 2000 Election

Despite Nader's presence.

Nader is taking as many votes from Bush supporters.

Nader is the sanest candidate. Perhaps Kerry will encompass some his platform

[alittlelark]

13. 'Nader is the sanest candidate'

really?? Do you really want to say/believe that? When it comes to international issues? When it comes to deciding rather to drop out (2000) or allow one of satan's minions to ascend the throne?

Have you really analyzed his statements of late? I have always had great respect for him.....but it is erroding day by day as I witness his ego undercutting reality.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. 'Nader is the sanest candidate'

not on this planet.

[dolstein]

18. Tell that to the guy in the White House

Sorry, but your statement is bullshit. Complete bullshit. Bush is in the White House. That's called victory. And Nader clearly did everything in his power to put Bush in the White House. He went around the country telling people there wasn't any difference between Gore and Bush. He told this lie repeatedly. And instead of focusing his efforts in states that Gore was not actively contesting -- states where Nader stood the best chance of attracting the votes needed to qualify the Green Party for federal funds -- he instead chose to campaign extensively in toss-up states.

[dad]

23. ,

The only lie I'm seeing repeatedly on DU is that Nader "went around the country telling people there wasn't any difference between Gore and Bush."
Nader went around the country telling people about the issues on which Gore and Bush were in agreement. And there were plenty.
What the Dems need is a candidate who is THE OPPOSITE OF BUSH. Why they couldn't nominate someone who was even anti-war is beyond me.

[JackDragna]

14. What, like the pro-war, pro-Patriot act..

..make-a-big-deal-out-of-his-Catholicism John Kerry is a big-time liberal? Give me a break. Kerry is plain vanilla and excoriating Nader doesn't improve Mr. Kerry at all.

[AndyTiedye]

24. Plain Vanilla Seems Better than Crunchy Frog

(couldn't resist, that other thread got me going on the Monty Python stuf)

[Invalence1]

28. Hmmmm. You mean like Bush did in2K?

Got him close enough ta steal it "with a little help from his friends." Who cares what he says during the campaign (look at Bush) once he's in the WH he'll do what he thinks is right (look at his record). What Repugs call "flip flop" is what any intelligent person does. Revise their position based on newly presented facts/information. to do otherwise is to be an idealogue. Isn't that what we accuse and revile the other side for doing? Character is the baseline. Our guy's got it. 't'uther guy?

[Invalence1]

27. It's about "pickin' yur fights.

Ya cain't fight everybody at once. So fight the ones that're important. Put the other stuff off till later (if ever).

[creeksneakers2]

11. Corporate welfare would be a good start.

Kerry has already proposed a commission chaired by John McCain that would explore ways to cut corporate welfare. Corporate welfare is a passion of Ralph's. If Kerry throws Ralph a bone on this it wouldn't look like caving in, since Kerry already supported doing something about corporate welfare. Kerry could offer Nader a role in the commission.

Cutting corporate welfare would also help Kerry balance his spending and tax proposals.

The Nader people keep saying that they would consider Kerry if he'd come to them on some issues. This would make a good test.

[AlCzervik]

12. i had alot of respect for Nader

until he accepted the Reform parties endorsement.

[dArKeR]

15. Kerry should offer Nader the EPA as I told Gore to do but he didn't listen

to me and we can see the outcome. My rationael was making a 'Coalition Government' just like you see done in 95% of the countries in the world. Get everyone involved and you will unite the country. I also feel Kerry should announce that every Dem. Candidate will be appointed a Cabinet or other high position.

Kerry, Nader to meet Wednesday
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5008072/

[BiggJawn]

16. Marquis of Queensbury Rules?

At least Kerry has Home Turf advantage.

[John_H]

19. I wonder what the carrots and sticks are....

Nader's like a third world pseudo-Marxist generalissimo--dressing up ambition and greed in populist sloganeering. The problem is that the GOP is giving him just enough money and the right wing whores just enough credence that ignoring him won't make him go away. It's even remotely possible, if Kerry makes a couple of serious mistakes, that enough 20 watt bulbs will vote Nader to tip a razor close race to the Chimp.

Kerry should offer him some minor czarship--consumer protection or something--or a say in a few mid level political appointments in exchange for the unveiling of a "Unity Campaign" or some other schtick that lets Ralph save face while getting the fuck out of the way.

Hopefully Kerry will also give Fidelity Ralph a sneak preview of a DVD-full of ads exposing Ralph's union busting, drug company profiteering, megalomania, 2000 campaign lies, financial secrecy, shady real estate deals, etc.

Given the depth of Nader's egomania along with the stupidity and self-absorption of the people who'll vote for him no matter what, I don't hold out much hope of Ralph doing anything but threatening to continue his bizzarro war on the Democratic party unless Kerry meets some God-only-knows-what unreasonable demand.

At least Kerry will have given Nader more than his due.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

20. Will Mortitia and Pugsley be there too?

[CHIMO]

21. Maybe

He would be able to erase the label of being "Bush Lite"

[Beetwasher]

22. Please please please please please please please

Please please PLEASE work something out like gentlemen.

If Kerry can work a deal w/ Nader, it could be over.

[Egalitarian]

25. Ahh, democracy, compromise in action

It's really a potentially good sign, eh?

[DaveSZ]

26. Kerry-Nader Meeting Unlikely to Alter Race

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4107376,00.html


Kerry-Nader Meeting Unlikely to Alter Race

Wednesday May 19, 2004 10:01 AM


By MIKE GLOVER

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry is sitting down for a much-anticipated meeting with independent Ralph Nader, but there's little sign they'll alter this year's political dynamic when they get together.

Nader is making it clear he won't leave the race, and Kerry isn't likely to overtly ask him to do so.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Nader said he looked forward to discussing ``certain common policies.''

``I think that's for the good of our country and for the benefit of the American people that are being ignored or repudiated by the Bush regime,'' Nader told the AP.

-more

[robbedvoter]

30. FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" -whew! I am relieved