Bush and the Repubs are totally desperate.

[kentuck]

Because they know their only hope of winning is to get a third party candidate that will pull votes from the Democrats. They think Nader is that guy and they will do everything in their power to promote him. However, they have miscalculated this time around. Why?

Because there are many Repubs that are not happy with the direction George W Bush has taken our country. But they cannot fathom voting for a Democrat. This gives them a reason to vote against Bush without voting for a Democrat. This is the danger to Bush and the Repubs. Ralph Nader is more of a threat to gather disenchanted Repub votes than he is to gather Democrat votes.

This will be the irony in the election of 2004. If matters continue to go as they are on the present course, George W Bush is going to get the shock of his life. If Rove pushes the third-Party candidate, it will be the largest miscalculation of his "brilliant" political life, also. Nader is no threat to the Democrats - only a barometer for the desperation of Bush and the Repubs.

[mstrsplinter326]

1. nader and the repubs don't conspire to eat your children

earlier post
that sort of campaign would be self defeating. if nader got over 5% he would get federal election money, that would make him much more visable next time around. They don't want that. In interior states getting nader on the ballot would not be beneficial, since it's already going to the repubs. They don't need to praise a voice that would destroy them in any debate. Much the same way you won't collect signatures for Pat Buc.

[displacedvermoter]

2. Apparently there are folks on DU who would at least sign a Pat petition

in the interests of democracy. Doesn't make sense to me, but...

[kentuck]

4. Nader will not get 5%...

At best, about 3%, and 2% of those will be disenchanted Repubs. But the Repubs "think" it is to their advantage. It isn't.

[mstrsplinter326]

7. they don't practice it

On the whole, would you, not other members you've seen post, would you get sigs for PB? It defies common sense. All I'm saying is there will not be a grassroots repub movement on any scale to get nader more votes.

[kentuck]

9. There doesn't have to be a grassroots movement...

It's already there. Many Repubs are not happy with Bush and will not vote for him.

[mstrsplinter326]

11. there's no nat'l forum

they won't turn out in droves to support someone who could hurt them. That's it. Not in the kind of numbers that would make a difference. I don't like Kerry/Edwards, but I won't vote for Pat B.

[rock]

3. Hey kentuck, you're stealing my idea!

I've already made several posts today to that effect. Nader is an alternative candidate. Alternative to what? The incumbent. So Repukes that wouldn't vote for a Dem under any circumstances have an obvious choice if they don't like bushsucks*.

[kentuck]

5. Sorry...

:) I just wanted emphasis on the subject matter and maybe it will die an early death. But, I agree with you 100%!

[Lis]

6. :(

I officially hate Nader.

[snippy]

8. I doubt that many potential republican or democratic voters will vote for

Nader. His voters will be people who otherwise would not vote. However, he might convince some independent voters of how incompetent and dishonest Bush is so he could have a positive impact after all.

[Frances]

10. This morning on TV I heard that Nader

says it is the liberal intelligentsa that doesn't want him to run.

Nader is being disingenous. The liberal intelligentsa was telling Nader that he would harm himself and his causes if he ran.

That is true. I stopped giving to one group he had been associated with as a protest after 2000. I read that another group he had founded saw their donations go down by a million dollars after 2000.

I think that Nader's ego is such that being in the limelight is more important than furthering the causes he espoused for years.

[mstrsplinter326]

12. ego?

I think it's his unwavering beliefs rather than his ego that matter to him. That's what keeps him going. The money issue is sad. Reasons like that are what keep corrupt parties' coffers full.