Why does everyone fear Ralphie?

[aldian159]

Without the machinery of the Greens, he'll get maybe 5,000 votes nationwide, if he's lucky enough to get on the ballot due to lack of signatures. He'll be nothing but an old has-been who wants to run for President. Leave him be and stop worrying about him.

[jonnyblitz]

1. i can't believe people are freaking out like they are

here at DU over a possible Nader run. It would be funny if it werent so sad.

[aldian159]

4. My point excatly

[NV1962]

2. That old handbag doesn't inspire fear - just cold contempt

That's all.

[krkaufman]

19. Contempt, of an undetermined temperature, here

I expect to hear more of the same old "no difference between Bush and <candidate>" spiel. Frickin' ego-maniac.

[drthais]

3. It's not that we fear him

..Nader is a great guy - a genius even
but he has no place in this election
it's Beat Bush At Any Cost this time around, I'm afraid

[newyawker99]

21. Hi drthais!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[poskonig]

5. Everyone fears eight years of Bushit.

We *don't* need to be attacked by Republicans and by ourselves simultaneously.

[ulysses]

6. that's only the half of it.

See, Ralph Nader is a true shape-shifter - he can be both a pathetic has-been and most serious threat known to mankind inside of an hour, to the same poster.

[aldian159]

8. haha

thanks for the chuckle

[Maddy McCall]

7. I agree...

Reasonable people learned from the last Nader candidacy and won't support him again. At best, he will get a few votes from people who think that their votes are making a moralistic statement...

He isn't a threat. I don't think it's fear, just anger that he is so egomaniacal that he would attempt to assert himself again when it is obvious he isn't wanted.

[SHRED]

9. Not everyone

Nader will not garner nearly the same amount of votes or attention this time.

I do agree with him 97% of the time though yet I won't vote for him for pragmatic reasons.

[PurityOfEssence]

10. Instinctive self-preservation

Anyone who thinks he/she can predict what twists and turns can happen in the next 8 1/2 months should be ignored outright. By simple arithmetic, he's a potential spoiler for votes, media attention and money. It may be a close race.

I fear him, and I roll my eyes with disgust and clenched frustration. Many decent people may be swept up in a movement, and that will NOT help the Democratic Party.

It may also shock many of you that I like holding the idea of a viable third party open, and if he mounts a marginal disaster, it may just serve to reinforce the two-party paradigm in people's minds.

No good can come of this. None.

[MurikanDemocrat]

11. Because it's liberal mutiny, especially THIS election

[Jersey Devil]

12. It's not fear but contempt

He does arouse passion but not fear. I have nothing but contempt for him. Fuck Nader. :nuke:

[David Dunham]

13. Any Votes Nader Gets Hurt Dems and Help Bush. Scr-w Nader.

[bigwillq]

14. Don't fear him

and not getting worked over about it. nader won't make a difference this year. It's Shrub vs. DEM Nominee for a battle of the ages in a steel cage matchup.

[drthais]

15. that's it exactly

Bush vs. DEM
it matters not who
but it's a two-party contest this time
and we have to ALL be on the same page

[David Dunham]

16. Maybe the anti-Nader sentiment will help unite DUers again.

[Stuckinthebush]

17. It's not fear as much as disgust

Work with us Ralph, not against us.

[krkaufman]

18. Do the signatures have to be from Independents?

If not, I'm sure he'll get enough signatures to get his name on ballots across the nation; they'll just be Republican and pro-Bush signatures.

[jpgray]

20. People one way or another are pretty passionate about the election

So try to have a forgiving outlook on the posts, is my philosophy. We all make stupid mistakes, and so we all post some silly emotional things sometimes. After a major news story where Nader is 'coming close to deciding', there is usually a flurry of posts like those you mention.