Isn't this Nader thing simply a matter of numbers and priorities?

[vi5]

in 2000, Nader got what? 3 Million votes?

People who didn't vote last election numbered well over 100 million, right (and I'm being generous here)?

So I'm no math genius but wouldn't it make sense that we would be better off and have better odds focusing our energy on those people that didn't vote last time rather than the ones who voted Nader?

At least the non-voters stand the chance of having open minds, they just clearly haven't been given reasons yet and it's our job to give them those reasons.

[BruinAlum]

1. Exactly! Nader got about 3% last time, and will get far less this time

Not only is it better to focus on new voters, but there are always bigger numbers in the center. This election revolves around the swing vote - the 10% or so in the middle. Better to concentrate efforts there than on the left fringe. Far greater numbers and payoff.

[vi5]

4. Yeah, why worry about Nader voters any more than Larouche ones

We're the ones giving him and his minions legitimacy. Especialy now that he's not going to be running as a green the whole thing is blatantly exposed as ego stroking rather than third party building. So why waste our time and energy.

My Bush voting, but moderate and open minded father in law is going to be a much easier convert than my brother in law who is 23 still lives at home and feels like by voting for Nader he's making a staaaaaand man.

I'm not going to make that mistake twice.

[buckeye1]

2. Forget Nadar.

He will be lucky to get on the ballot anywhere. All this hysteria gives him importance he doesn't deserve.

[wyldwolf]

3. I think Nader will embarrass himself and the Green party if he runs...

...rendering them even more insignificant than they are now.

Once the media gets through hammering the credible theory if not all together factual process*** by which Nader siphoned votes from Gore and handed Bush the White House, Nader and the Greens will be as ostracized as the GOP is.

Couple this with the incredible energized democratic base, the growing disillusion of Bush the hard right is currently experiencing, and the overall high marks the democrats are now getting, and you have the recipe for a HUGE democratic victory this year.

Nader will lead the Greens to ridicule and irrelevancy.

***notice I said "credible theory."

[Iverson]

7. speaking of "credible"

It's been public knowledge for some time that Nader will not be running as a Green, and this may also have been pointed out to you specifically.

I realize that on special topics accuracy takes a back seat to denunciation, but you wouldn't want to make it a habit.

[wyldwolf]

9. actually, no, it hasn't been pointed out to me...

but thanks.

So, I'll rephrase: Nader, because he will still be associated with the Greens, will still further damage them. My opinion, of course.

[Guava Jelly]

5. We would have took New hampshire in 2000

If nader wasn't running.
Florida would have been so far in Gores corner the repukes couldn't have thieved it.
Gore wouldnt have invaded Iraq, dropped kyoto ibm treaty ,and called 3 nations evil.Not to mention destroyed our economy by giving himself a tax break that this year alone was more then my income.
No matter how big of special interest whores the two partys maybe Bush and Gore Aint the same.

"it is the doom of men that we forget"..Merlin from Excalibur

[MarianJack]

6. nader was all tooo happy to help the rethuglicans once!

He won't hesitate to try to do it again.

Call me paranoid (which I'm not!), but my personal opinion is that nader personally, not the Greens as a party, was working in collusion with the cheyney/bush campaign.

[snippy]

8. Nader will have very little, if any, impact on the election.

Nearly every election involving an incumbent is a referendum on the incumbent. This election will be no different. It definitely will be a referendum on Bush. The three main issues will be the economy, the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and Bush's incessant and compulsive lying. These issues will determine 10 to 15 million votes. Nader's vote totals will be much lower than in 2000 and insignificant.

Since 9/11 Bush has been in a steady down trend with the occasional bump. Bush's decline in the polls is nothing other than the American people looking at and listening to Bush and realizing that he is an incompetent liar. Day by day and voter by voter, Bush himself is convincing the American people that he should not be president. If the trend since 9/11 continues, Bush will lose badly. If the trend reverses soon enough, Bush will win easily. Nader will not be a factor in voters' perceptions of Bush.

Between now and November Bush will continue to lie at every opportunity about every subject on which he speaks. Between now and November, Bush will continue to demonstrate his incompetence. Between now and November Bush will continue to demonstrate his Fecal Midas Touch. Bush can benefit only from what happens to the economy and Iraq between now and November. Those issues, not Nader, may or may not change the trend for Bush.