What Nader should have done.

[Stoic]

Let us imagine an alternate, better universe.

It's 1999.

Ralph Nader announces his candidacy for President of the United States and runs in the Democratic primary. Because of support from the fledgling Green Party he does surprisingly well. Enough so that he influences the debate and makes many of the other candidates answer to the issues that many "green" voters hold near and dear. He doesn't do well enough to win any of the primaries (or maybe he does win a few) but he goes into the Democratic convention with enough votes and support for the Dems to treat him as a major player. He says, look, all the things I've been running on are important enough that I'm considering running as a thrird party candidate. I won't if you promise me a cabinet-level position, the EPA or the Interior.

And that's what happens. Gore wins the election even though there's massive vote fraud in Florida (which BTW, he has the FBI and Justice investigate). Drilling in the ANWR is a pipe-dream. 9/11 may or may not happen (Gore was on the anti-terrorism committee that warned about these things, after all). Iraq war doesn't happen. Like Clinton, he's still not getting most of his judicial appointments through, but of those they aren't right-wing zealots. Nobody on the Supreme Court is about to resign. Etc.

And Ralph Nader is in a position to do real lasting good for the nation.

[On the Road]

1. Regardless of Nader,

It's what I'm hoping Kucinich does. I don't think he'll win, but I think he stay in the race beyond most other candidates and surprise a lot of people.

[chadm]

11. right.

He's going to "steal" primary votes from Dean, right?

[RandomKoolzip]

2. He'd be smeared as "too liberal" before the primaries by the DLC,

the pundits, and the conservative media. Just as these same people have been smearing Kucinich and Dean. Middle America'd be scared shitless - I doubt even cabinet positions would be opened for him.

After what I 've read about Nader on DU, I pray he won't run in 2004 (and I voted for him in 2000-duh!).

[KG]

3. let's go back a little further

1997 bill clinton decides that, with the whole world peeking into his life, it is best he resist the come-ons from a young intern.

the white water investigation withers on the vine as it is exposed as the paritsan witch hunt it is and ken starr gets bored and goes home in 1998.

in 2000, al gore wins in a walk-off on election day, the mushy middle deciding it likes peace and properity and, and ralph nader and the greens are an interesting sideshow.

[Terwilliger]

4. nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

gotta have somebody to blame, man! gotta have a reason to deflect the responsibility from Democrats! They're OBVIOUSLY not to blame for their lot in life :eyes:

[LiberalLibra]

5. If liberals ALL LIBERALS had defended Clinton when needed your scenerio...

....would be fact today. Oh, but Amurikums just had to have their heads up their asses and be obsessed with stained blue dresses, instead of being concerned about how much worse the rethugs might be if allowed to win the day. Here we are living that worst case scenerio too. You'd think people would learn a lesson after a while that BJ's pale in comparrison to what we might get.

[KG]

9. say what?

why should 'liberals' defend clintons affair, and his subsequent lies about it? why should 'liberals' defend that kind of behavior?

this liberal feels no obligation to do so. this liberal would defend clinton against the lies, but not excuse inappropraite behavior.

this liberal expects his leaders to behave themselves.

[mandyky]

6. Since Nader was shut out of the debates

I don't see Gore giving Nader a cabinet seat. Plus,,, the Dems goaded Nader way to much for him to be sociable with them. (Dem = leadership)

**Disclaimer** I voted Nader in 2000

[John_H]

7. Here's what Ralph was doing in '99

Busting unions, providing capital to corporate criminals, nying tax shelters, and as per usual, lying his ass off.

http://www.realchange.org/nader.htm

[Tinoire]

8. Actually, looks like you're the one lying your ass off

There's enough honest criticism to level at Nader without having to "lie your ass off".

Next time you buckle up- thank Nader.

If your airbag saves your life- thank Nader.

Consumer Product Safety Act- thank Nader

Freedom of Information Act- thank Nader.


"insurance companies, the Federal Trade Commission, AT&T, cereal companies, meat processing, nuclear power, you name it…Ralph Nader went after it." http://www.buyandhold.com/bh/en/education/history/2000/ralphnader.html
Sheesh. And then you wonder why the Greens won't "play ball". Lying doesn't help- it just makes things worse and people resent it- to include loyal Dems like me.

Educate yourself!

[chadm]

10. If you believe change can happen

by joing the institution that is the very cause of the problem...well, why don't you go ahead and do that. Nader isn't falling for it.

[Fixated]

12. ...

What Nader could have done can be summed up like this: Dropped out.

[jiacinto]

13. Nader wants to destroy the Democratic Party

His ego wouldn't have let him do that.

[Iverson]

14. interesting

Asking what would have happened can be thought-provoking, but so often the place you end depends upon where you began.

That portion of Greens, like myself, that had historically been Democrats had already been left behind in 1999. Also, by then there was a recent example of Jesse Jackson in 1988. He carried Michigan in the primaries, you know.

There are many things that could have been different, and I fear that this question will only bring out ugliness in people.