The Nation editors call for Nader to not run

[zulchzulu]

Like many, I feel that Nader should pass this year on the notion of running for President. The Nation does a good job of massaging Ralph's ego while still tactfully asking him not to run in 2004.

http://www.thenation.com/docprint.mhtml?i=20040216&s=editors2

An Open Letter to Ralph Nader


Dear Ralph,

According to the latest news reports, you've pushed up your self-imposed deadline for announcing your decision about an independent 2004 presidential campaign from the end of January to mid-February. )(snip)
If you run, your efforts to raise neglected issues will hit a deafening headwind. The media will frame you as The Spoiler. It's also safe to predict that you will get far fewer votes than the 2.8 million you garnered in 2000, and not only because your rejection of the Green Party raises expensive new hurdles to getting your name on state ballots. A recent online survey by the progressive news site AlterNet.org found that only one in nine respondents said they'd vote for you if you run this year, a 60 percent drop-off from the number who said they voted for you in 2000. If you run and get a million votes or fewer, the media will say it means your issues were not important. This can only hurt those causes, not to mention the tangible costs another run may impose on the many public-interest groups tied to you.
(snip)
Ralph, please think of the long term. Don't run.

Sincerely,

The Editors

[Terwilliger]

1. I still want to know

what happens if Ralph doesn't run and the Pukes win anyway?

Will they tell him not to run in 08 as well?

[cprise]

3. Dems will find someone else to blame

...like progressives, environmentalists and others who stayed home on election day.

Or they'll blame Howard Dean; He didn't support the nominee with enough energy; He didn't make his supporters do the right thing; Blah blah blah...

[David Dunham]

2. Ralph Is Pretty Old Now and May Not be Around in '08