A Thought On Nader...

[Zhade]

In 2000, Gore won, but the USSC took his win away by letting Florida decide to stop the recount.

Many people blame Nader for, essentially, participating in American democracy. But the truth is, Nader just made it close enough to steal.

Or, maybe not.

Some electronic voting machines were used in 2000, too, and it would have been a simple matter to take from Gore by padding Nader's votes.

In fact, it might even be in large part due to Republican rigging in 2000 that Nader is now fighting against being discredited. A guy like Karl Rove could cook up a nice juicy bonus like that.

Now, I've been angry at Nader mostly over where he's been getting his funding. But the above thought - that Republicans rigged in favor of Nader to make him look like a spoiler - came to me, and I wondered what everyone thinks of the possibility.

[Nightjock]

1. Nader has gone from

a "Zero" to a "Hero" IMO....

[Zhade]

2. I do really like the fact that this can't benefit him.

Except, I guess, maybe $2000, if some DUers want to be really cynical. I usually am, but not on this.

[Doohickie]

10. I wouldn't say I like him or dislike him.

My impression is this: He is a bit of an egomaniac. On the other hand, I think he honestly thinks he is advancing the political discourse in America. He brings issues up and uses his status as a presidential candidate as a bully pulpit. He is not trying to win elections, he is trying to get his pet issues discussed. I think part of the reason Dems are as environmentally conscious as we are is because Nader makes the environment a high priority. I don't think his view of the world is balanced enough to be a leader, but he he is passionate about his causes.

[placton]

3. Ralph was right, you know?

I have lost most of my once huge respect for him. But he was right when he told us all "it has to get worse before it gets better."

[Eloriel]

4. Your theory has some plausibility

And I have another one. Think about this.

If the 2000 FL election had not been so very, very "close" (it wasn't and Gore definitely won, but at the time it appeared to be), WE WOULD NEVER HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THEIR SHENANIGANS IN FL. We wouldn't have done all the research when the BBV hit the scene, etc.

If we were going to lose (thanks to vote fraud and vote suppression in FL 2000 the likes of which the world has never before seen, IMO), I am SO glad we "lost" by such a small, thin margin so that we were energized and started looking at all the problems.

I've personally never blamed Nader for FL 2000, tho as I've said everytime his name comes up in the last few days, I've also never been a fan of Nader-as-politician. But I am SO grateful for him now. God bless this mighty crusader who is single-handedly (and now the Greens may take on Ohio) taking on the issue that our illustrious "leaders" should be standing up to.

KInda ironic that it might be Nader (and Cobb in Ohio) who saves democracy and with it the Democratic Party, huh?

[mzmolly]

5. IF Nader believed that about 2000, why run again?

I'm glad he's doing what he is, but frankly it's still an ego stroke for him. He's still in the lime light because of this.

(flame away)

[AP]

7. So he could be on the ballot and ask for recounts?

[mzmolly]

9. LOL. Guess I don't quite buy that knowing what I now know about the man.

;)

[demodonkey]

6. Get Nader onto an Issue, and...

He is like a pit bull going for the throat. At least that's what he once was.

God that man was one of my heros when I was a kid because of what he did for auto safety, etc...

Maybe he can redeem himself going after "vote safety". I hope so because these BBV machines are indeed "unsafe at any speed".

[tjwash]

8. At least Nader calls it like he sees it.

He was on Bill Maher's show, and called the Democratic and Republican conventions "unbridled narcissism" and I had to agree with him.