Diffusing the Nader Bomb in 2003

Taking a long hard look at Ralph Nader's decision to run for president in '04
February 24, 2004
whistleass.com editorial
by Endrizzi

I voted for Nader in 2000 and 1996 (without regret)...

In the run-up to the 2000 Vote, I crowed plenty to my Democrat-voting peers that I would vote for Gore if he would simply do what he could to ensure Nader's appearance in a single Presidential Debate. Remember that scandal?
Some excuses at the time of the 2000 debates was "Nader doesn't belong in the debate because he's not popular enough, important enough, or doesn't have a large enough constituency, let Bush and Gore duke it out, etc.,." Obviously these excuses were wrong and this fact is supported by the seemingly millions of voters who now, since the election, blame Nader for Gores defeat. I guess you can say that Nader really was THAT important and he
should have been allowed in the debate. In principal, Pat Buchanan(Reform Party), Harry Browne(Libertarian), John Hagelin(Natural Law), and Howard Phillips(Constitution) should have been invited to debate, too.

I have loved that this year's Democratic Debates and it should now be obvious to many that allowing more that just the FRONT RUNNERS on the stage to debate threatens absolutely nobody and actually can have a positive and energizing effect in an outcome that encourages productive thinking amongst the whole group of debaters. Howard Dean, Al Sharpton, and Dennis Kucinich will not win the nomination, but they sure bring some great ideas/issues/truths to the table without really threatening or drowning out front runners, Kerry and Edwards. Also, kudos to General Wesley Clark; if he hadn't run, would Michael Moore ever have had the stage or media coverage to put George Bush the Deserter into the minds of the voting public? Does this prove how even a media-branded “wacko-liberal” can contribute, too?

During the 2000 campaign I also recall saying to my Democratic-voting peers that I would vote for Gore and encourage others to do the same if the Gore/Lieberman camp would simply, prior to election-day, offer Nader an appointed position in their Administration or Cabinet if the Democrats won; Nader would be a great resource with the Dept. of Energy, Secretary of the Interior, White House Janitorial staff, whatever... It would have been an enormous symbolic gesture and doing so would have brought many many votes to Gore. (Whether Nader would’ve accepted it or declined is not the issue).

Simply put, I have a WHATEVER IT TAKES TO BEAT BUSH attitude in '04, and I support the Democratic Party as they are best set to accomplish this feat and end this miserable failure of an administration.

However, as a suggestion TO THOSE WHO WOULD RATHER BASH NADER’s Constitutional Right to run for the Presidency(he's at least 35 and born in the US and that's about all that matters, folks), WHY NOT instead encourage the Democratic Nominee/Committee to OFFER NADER A POSITION IN THE DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION in the event the Dems take back the White House?

I haven’t heard this mentioned yet, AND it really seems like a realistic and reasonable request and solution that would diffuse the NADER-bomb and ensure a Democratic Party Victory and the ousting of George Bush in November.

I don’t think this is as radical, liberal or (add your expletive here) as it may first appear to many: Think about it...inviting Nader, a VERY REAL potential spoiler (who has really never threatened anybody other than Corporate interests) to sit at the “democratic” table with the democrats(who say they hate Bush’s Corporate favoritism) and in doing so, bringing Nader’s voters and their votes to the table as well. This would NO DOUBT seal a victory and send Bush and his Neocon-minority packing and none to soon.

United we stand, divided we fall.

At minimum, we should encourage the Democratic Party to INVITE Nader to appear in a Presidential Debate at least as a symbolic gesture, AND show Ralph Nader and his supporters some deserved respect. Not to mention this invitation would say a lot to those disenchanted voters who want to believe that the 2-party system isn't just an exclusive "Skull & CrossBones"-esque "Good Old Boys club" but who can find no proof to show otherwise.

...And if neither of the 2 Goliath Democratic or Republican Parties in the US have it in them to appease Ralph Nader, this media-branded "egomaniac" 70 year old man who, you have to admit, has done quite a bit of selfless activism in his lifetime and really could have sold out a long time ago, you gotta wonder, "What are the 2 Major Parties REALLY UP TO, or better put, what or who are they really afraid of?”

Comments

[Gwen]

Join me in a nationwide campaign to open the upcoming presidential debates to include independent candidate Ralph Nader. A new organization is being launched -- LetNaderDebate.Org -- whose mission is to bring thousands of fellow Americans into an effort to demand that Nader's voice be included in the televised debates, the first of which is scheduled for September. We have begun by circulating our OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH, calling on him to open the debates and demand Nader's inclusion. In order for the debates to be an appropriately engaged forum, Nader's voice must be included. He offers a significantly different perspective on the pressing issues of the day -- including the war in Iraq -- and his participation will surely invigorate the dialogue. Four things to do: 1) First, go to the new website at www.LetNaderDebate.org and send the open letter to President George Bush calling on him to bring Ralph into the debates. 2) Second, make a contribution on line if you can or mail it in. 3) Third, send an e-mail letter with the www.LetNaderDebate.org link to all of your friends, family members and colleagues asking them to join this campaign. You don't have to be a Nader voter to support an open and democratic debate! It is very important to follow up the e-mail message with a personal conversation. 4) Fourth, become an ongoing leader in this campaign. Keep reaching out to new people to support this campaign online, in person and through the media. Develop new ways of building this campaign and share this on line with other activists. So let's go and get Nader into the debates. Let me know how it goes. Best, Gwen Mandell gwenmand@aol.com http://www.letnaderdebate.org/

[eskayp]

Corporate America can do simple arithmetic. They know that Nader + Bush = 4 more years. As for Nader being offered a position in the Administration, the compassionate conservative Dubyah should definitely take poor, old, threadbare Ralph under his wing. After all, he owes it all to Nader, and so do we. Thanks a bunch Ralph -- we won't forget.

[spk]

at least then whistlelass wouldn't have had to get his godfather james baker to run down to florida to mess with the vote count, get a lipstick smeared floozy to stop the recount and then get family pal scalia to appoint him to the presidency - the only one to not win the popular vote. thanks ralph. course gore running away from his own record didn't help.

[spk]

as much as i'd like to see a president nader - she should have withdrawn his candidacy in 2000 and thrown his support to bush prior to general election... in my humble opinion. :)