Fess up,,,,Did you vote for Ralph Nader in 2000? (edited)

[Perky]

I bet you some here did...but I am betting they will not admit to it now.

on Edit: Apologies for the late add of Inconsquential votes for Nader But it is important to make the disinction.

[Gman]

1. This thread could get real interesting

[NoPasaran]

2. I wasn't wild about Gore, but I voted for him

[Virginia Dare]

100. That's exactly how I felt, I would have walked bare foot on broken glass

to vote against Bush, and Nader was not a viable option as far as I was concerned.

[NoPasaran]

101. Yeah, I'm in Texas, so I already had a lot of practice voting against Bush

[begin_within]

3. I voted for Nader in 1996 and in 2000.

But I live in California where it didn't make a damn bit of difference. Clinton easily won CA in 1996 and Gore easily won in 2000. I would have gladly exchanged a vote with someone in Florida so they could vote for Gore while I voted for Nader in CA, but I had no idea the Florida fiasco was impending. I did vote for Kerry in 2004 to make a point in the overall popular totals.

[Perky]

7. I did add a category for folks like you

but after I posted the poll. Sorry for the slight.

[bicentennial_baby]

61. Same here, in MA

[jgraz]

75. heh -- great minds and all that

See post 74. ;)

[Buzz Clik]

4. No, but I LOUDLY defend those who did.

[Perky]

8. Including those in Florida and NH?

[Buzz Clik]

20. Absolutely.

Nader didn't run a brilliant campaign. He merely appealed to those who felt NOTHING from the Dem and GOP candidates (or the other minor parties).

Nader didn't win; Gore lost. There is no guarantee that those who voted for Nader would have voted for Gore in Nader's absence because every one of them was well aware that Bush was an unqualified ass bent on instituting a corporate-dominated government.

I find it absolutely amazing that despite Gore's totally inept 2000 campaign, we have a ton of Gore worshippers here at DU and even more Nader haters.

[Perky]

30. I tend to agree with you

althjough Nader voters in Florida probably would have voted for Gore if the option was not presented.,,, the real cuplrit is Theresa LaPore and theat damn butterfly ballot in Palm Beach county. Where people voted mistakenly for Buchanan or spolied the ballot by voting for Gore and Buchanan.

[hfojvt]

112. that you would mention the 'ineptness' of Gore's campaign

is amazing. Ineptness?

As for Nader's appeal, I think that's wrong. People were not born feeling nothing about the Dem candidate. They learned about Gore, false information from the M$M, and the RWNM, and hyperbolic attacks from Nader. Nader ran against Gore, because he knew he would not appeal to Bush voters, and also because he's fucking evil and he wanted Bush to win. He said so himself before the election, basically 'I do not care if Bush wins because of me.' Just like Rove, he's still not apologizing.

[last_texas_dem]

121. I believe you give Nader 2000 supporters far too much credit

>>because every one of them was well aware that Bush was an unqualified ass bent on instituting a corporate-dominated government.>>

If every one of them was well aware of this fact, then why in the hell would they vote for someone who did nothing but enable this corporate-dominated-government-supporting ass to win the Presidency? If they did indeed all understand this fact then it suggests that they either have no understanding of how American elections work (voting for someone who has no chance of winning instead of voting for the "lesser of two evils" helps the more evil of two evils to prevail) or simply selfishly didn't give a shit what effect their support (by default) of a Republican Presidential campaign would have on millions of other Americans.

[NaturalHigh]

89. Same here.

[endarkenment]

5. You forgot to equate Sheehan with Nader. nt.

[Perky]

9. sometime subtlety makes the best sledgehammers

[mike_c]

6. I'm proud to have voted for Al Gore in 2000-- much prouder now...

...than I was then, in fact, because Gore has reclaimed himself since then. But I will always defend Ralph Nader's right to run for president and the right of ANYONE to vote for him if his message represented their political interests better than the democratic candidate's message. That is democracy. It's what I believe in.

Ralph Nader did the right thing in 2000-- he brought issues to the political dialog that were clearly compelling to a number of voters, and those issues needed to be heard. They still need to be heard, even more now than then, IMO. If Nader's campaign undermined the democratic party in 2000 it is only because the dems failed to make as compelling an argument to those voters. Political campaigns are about persuasion, not blind loyalty.

[Sparkly]

12. Democracy

Nobody's suggesting Nader didn't have a right to run, or that people didn't have a right to vote for him.

Yup, that's democracy.

Would you also agree with someone who said what you did, with another candidate's name replacing Nader's? Just curious.

"But I will always defend George W. Bush's right to run for president and the right of ANYONE to vote for him if his message represented their political interests better than the democratic candidate's message. That is democracy. It's what I believe in.

George W. Bush did the right thing in 2000-- he brought issues to the political dialog that were clearly compelling to a number of voters, and those issues needed to be heard. They still need to be heard, even more now than then, IMO. If George W. Bush's campaign undermined the democratic party in 2000 it is only because the dems failed to make as compelling an argument to those voters. Political campaigns are about persuasion, not blind loyalty."

[mike_c]

19. absolutely....

Yes, without question. That's why you and I got the opportunity to vote AGAINST George Bush, Ralph Nader, and etc.

[eridani]

122. Every time I hear Gore speak these days--

--I feel like saying "Who are you and what did you do with that guy who ran for President in 2000?"

[devilgrrl]

10. Gore in California

I made the right choice too.

[Crunchy Frog]

11. I did, but I can't say that I fall neatly into either of the poll choices offered.

I can't say that I'm proud to have voted Nader, but I also can't say that I didn't have reasons that I regarded, and still do regard, as valid. I guess I see a degree of ambiguity to the issue.

I would not hesitate to support and vote for Gore were he to run in the next election.

[Hosnon]

13. I did.

It was my first election and the concept of strategic voting was, at best, nascent. I did, and still do, like Nader on many issues. My vote didn't matter because I lived in Georgia but I would have voted for Nader even if I had lived in Florida.

Today, my understanding of election politics is broader and I have balanced idealism with pragmatism.

[mikelgb]

14. my first vote ever

it was for Al Gore and regrettably Joe Lieberman

[Initech]

15. Nope, I voted for Gore.

But actually, no one got to vote in the 2000 election. It was decided by a 5 - 4 Supreme Court decision. The popular vote and the electoral votes all got thrown out.

[racaulk]

16. Gore in North Carolina, not that my vote mattered.

Fucking electoral college. :mad:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

17. Wow. It Takes A Special Kind Of Ignorant Jackass To Still Be Proud Of That Vote. I Mean, Wow.

It's amazing that even 6 years later some people could be so blatantly dumb.

[Buzz Clik]

22. It's even more amazing that a Draft Gore campaign exists.

Think about it -- we ALL knew that Bush was an incompetent boob propped up by his daddy's political and corporate machine. But he lost anyway.

And there are still ignorant jackasses out there who blame Nader.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

28. Nader Deserves The Blame He Receives.

There are several causes to be blamed and he's a huge one. HUGE.

That doesn't mean nothing else was to blame. Just means he was to blame as well. Bigtime. Fuck Nader.

[Buzz Clik]

39. Blaming Nader is good therapy.

Leaving Gore -- the actual problem -- out of the equation is a symptom of massive denial.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

45. Not For Me It Ain't.

Blaming him is just quite simply accurate. He deserves it.

For that matter, so does Gore. Gore, even though he 'technically' won, could've done many things better. I'm still in awe as to how much he's grown since then. But at least he's grown. Nader's still an egotistical ignorant deceitful narcissistic narrow minded all talk no action piece of utter filth jackass.

[G_j]

78. dream on

Nader held a gun to the head of everyone who voted for him, then forced over 50% of folks to stay home and not vote at all, AND THEN convinced the Supreme Court to hand Bush the election.
Remarkable, amazing Godlike powers!!!! :eyes:

WOW!

[Quantess]

134. Nader deserves a lot of blame.

Ralph Nader is an egotistical squawking bird who thinks he can just flap his wings whenever it's convenient.

[Hissyspit]

123. Gore won the popular vote and should have been given the FL electoral votes. Why do you say he lost?

Calling people ignorant jackasses when you don't have your facts straight doesn't do much for a convincing argument.

Also, Al Gore has clearly grown since the 2000 bid, in many ways. Why would it then be amazing that a Draft Gore campaign exists?

[Perky]

25. the first six votes may have been in a state that was not in play.

I added that possiblility as a late option...Still proud votes for Nader in swing sates is pretty scary.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Perky]

36. I do not thnk youcan have two screen names

I think it the servers capture your IP addresses.

[ClassWarfare2008]

40. Well, that's an easy one, isn't it?

One IP at home and one at work. Or use a proxy server. Or log on at the library. Or any number of ways around that.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

43. Sounds Like You Have Some Experience On The Matter.

Hey, Mr. Silly Willy, mind telling me what your old screenname had been prior to your being TS'd? I'm curious to see if you were as silly then as you are now. :rofl:

[ClassWarfare2008]

57. My only previous screenname on this board was short lived

I appeared here as the Lord "Jesus Christ" himself. Like the real JC, I violated no rules, but somebody was offended by my presence, so I was "crucified" by the admins within a few days. Apart from that, I've strictly been lurking. But it's obvious that you and the other NaderFucker are one and the same. Just as it's obvious that he and Benchwarmer were one and the same. Did Benchwarmer get "stoned"?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

59. So You Were Previously Banned Then. What A Shocker!

[Perky]

52. myabe...but you could not be logged on to both on the same computer

You would have to have exond IP address...also they could rig it so you could only have one set of cookies. So mayybe two computers side by side with different IP addresses might give yout possibility.

[mudesi]

71. I doubt that....

Considering the number of people who visit this site, I think an IP address checker would probably require about 7 CRAYS....

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

42. Wait. Who Are You Mr.358? You Crack Me Up!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I would need two screen names why now? Got how silly. Are you always this hilarious and absurd in your declarations? What a hoot!

So silly willy. :crazy:

(and there's another fuck nader avatar? Which one's better? I haven't seen the second one. Can ya copy it in a reply to me so I can see it?)

[ourbluenation]

98. 10 frigging 4. I totally agree.

[muffin1]

18. 3%

FOR BUSH??????:dunce:

[SammyWinstonJack]

69. This smilie works better

:spank: Why would anyone admit they voted for bu$h? Mind boggling!

[Richard Steele]

21. You forgot Poland. nm

[genie_weenie]

23. Nader! But, it didn't matter

because I was in IL. 2004 I voted for Kerry but again it didn't matter because I was in Iraq.

If HRC is the Dem, I'll vote 3rd party. But, it won't matter again because IL will go for the Dem again.

[Virginia Dare]

99. Why didn't it matter because you were in Iraq?..

excuse my ignorance.

[genie_weenie]

103. My absentee ballot never made it stateside.

It was lost somewhere in transit.

[Toasterlad]

24. At the Time, I Was Caught Up in a Fever of Environmentalism

I didn't know much at all about Gore, and less about Nader, but I was consumed with helping the earth, so I voted for the Green party.

Ironic that now Gore is such a champion of the environment.

And yes, I DO regret that vote, although Pennsylvania went blue anyway, like always. I did NOT make the mistake again in 2004. I STILL can't believe Bush won re-election.

[Sparkly]

29. Gore was always a champion of that issue

I think "Earth in the Balance" came out in 1992.

[Toasterlad]

49. Like I Said, I Didn't Know Much About Him at the Time. n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

38. If it makes you feel any better

he didn't WIN re-election.

[ClassWarfare2008]

26. I voted for the President of the United States

And I hope to do so again.

[LWolf]

27. No.

I voted for Al Gore.

I stand by that vote.

If I HAD voted for Nader, I'd stand by that vote, too.

My vote is mine to determine, and I'll stand by my right to make that determination every damned time.

I'll also stand by the rights of others to do the same.

Somebody doesn't like that? Tough shit. Somebody wants to change voters' minds about voting for Nader or any 3rd party candidate this time around?

I know which tactics don't work: Derision, blame, bullying, or threatening.

Here's a tactic that just MIGHT work: nominate a candidate who can unify independents, 3rd party voters, and independent-minded Democrats. A non-dlc-corporate-controlled candidate.

[Perky]

34. by Independents you include moderate swing voters?

[LWolf]

56. Good point.

The reality is that the party can lose some moderate swing voters by appealing to the independent Dems, the independent left, and leftist 3rd party voters.

Or, the party can lose all of those other votes by appealing to swing voters in the middle.

I don't know if there is a way to get all of them, at least not on a regular basis. This time, Gore might do so if he were running. When the current administration is as corrupt, criminal, and outright humiliating as it is, many of those swing voters will move further my way than they would otherwise, just to distance themselves from the corruption for a cycle.

Given the reality above, I want the party to be transparent and honest about which votes she is willing to work for. If she values the moderate swing voters more, and is willing to make that choice to abandon her own left wing, as well as leave the left independents and 3rd parties out of the equation, then there should be no judging, no lecturing, no posturing.

[Perky]

58. what percent of the voting electorate do you think is Independent left

and what percent do you thing is moderate swing?

[LWolf]

67. I don't know.

I think the Independent left continues to grow, as the left-Democrats continue to hemorrage out of the Democratic Party. I know many 3rd party voters are willing to cross over and vote for a Democrat in the general, if it is the right Democrat. I worked with many of them during the '04 primaries. Most of them did not vote for Kerry.

I expect that, eventually, if the Democratic Party continues it's move to the center/right, enough of the left will leave the party to form a viable 3rd party voting block.

[Perky]

77. the liberal left has been saying that since 1932 when Debs ran the

Socialist party.

I suspect that swing moderates make up anout 25 to 35% of the electorate.... and that the nonDemocratic left make usp about 5%. the furtunate thing is that most are in non swing states.


Now a national politician mindful of electoral has a pretty easy choice to mke there IMHO

[LWolf]

79. If it were 1932,

I probably would have voted for Debs, lol.

I'd like to see a realistic estimate for all the groups we're discussing, including the non-voters who WOULD vote if the right candidate was offered.

[LordJFT]

41. Funny Obama and Edwards are just the candidates for that according to polls

yet your signature says you will not vote for either and Richardson the dlcer is not on your list of candidates you won't vote for, are following your own "tactic"?

[Perky]

48. I caught that too......

[LWolf]

63. Just the candidates for what?

For unifying the left end of the party, and the independent and 3rd party left?

I don't pay much attention to polls, it's true. I'm not driven by how other people answer poll questions. I'm one of those independents. I happen to be a Democrat, but I'm an independent-minded citizen first.

I spend more time talking to 3rd party members and independents, and, for that matter, republicans, about politics than I do other Democrats.

Here's what I've heard about Obama and Edwards from the left:

Neither are liked or trusted. Neither are a "unification" candidate. Edwards might be able to pull most of the left-Democrats, and some of the left independents. He isn't going to get the 3rd party voters. Obama can probably unify much of the black vote, but he's not going to pull the rest of the left.

I hear anger from the left about the "top tier," and I hear determination to refuse support.

My personal take? Edwards has a long-shot chance of earning my vote in the general election, but I don't trust him. He'd have to quit announcing how he's "first" and/or "only" when he shares positions on issues that he obviously absorbed from his opponent, Dennis Kucinich. It's smart of him, and adopting DKs stance on some issues could earn my vote in the general, if he's clean and upfront about it. If he does the "ignore and marginalize" thing, though, he's lost any chance. I have to be sure he really means what he says, since he's moved obviously to the left since 2004, and hasn't been legislating anything to back it up.

Obama? He gives me the creeps. Really. I don't trust "charisma" and passionate speeches. I want to see actual work to back it up. As a teacher, his statements about merit pay alone delete him from my list of possibilities.

My sig? Richardson had not declared when I wrote it. Neither had anyone else, for that matter. Richardson was not on my radar.

You are correct; he should be on the list. His dlc connection makes him persona non grata on my ballot. I haven't added anyone since I first put it up, but I did take some down that decided not to run. I'll go fix that right now.

[LordJFT]

86. Obama will draw in much more than just the black vote

He has more moderate and republican appeal than even the more moderate democratic candidates. He also has incredible support among younger voters, a population that has incredible power to swing the election and should not be underestimated. Considering the war is the #1 issue right now (his grass-roots support and refusal to accept money from lobbyists also help)he also has more credibility with the far left than any candidate besides DK and face it DK is not going to be anywhere near as strong with moderates or young voters. BO is much more of a unification candidate than DK. I'd also like to know what besides the merit pay issue do you like better about Dodd than BO? Charisma doesn't necessarily qualify someone to be a leader but it doesn't automatically disqualify someone either. And like it or not Dodd's lack of charisma does take away from his electability. The only other candidate is Gravel and if any of your dislike for the DLC stems from their centrist economic positions I don't know how you could justify supporting someone that supports the unFAIR tax. I hear what you're saying about Edwards but if you want a candidate that will unify he, along with Obama, is a good one for the job. It seems silly not to vote for him in the GE because of disagreements about who came up with certain ideas first. IMO policy should be the #1 concern.

[LWolf]

93. I agree with this one thing: policy should be the #1 concern.

With Edwards, it's not the "first" thing; it's the issue of transparency, honesty, and integrity. Claiming to be the "only" and the "first" when you are not lacks integrity. It's dishonest.

If Edwards wants to adopt DKs platform, and give credit where credit is due, I'll support that. I'd be looking for some evidence that his actions would back up his words.

I don't agree with the rest. I am part of the far left, and Obama has no credibility with me. In many cases, he represents the wrong policies. That is what determines my vote.

War IS the #1 issue, true. Dennis Kucinich has the strongest, best, most consistent position on that issue, and on the rest of the issues, as well. Obama voted consistently to fund the war. Opposing it when he wasn't in Congress to vote on the IWR doesn't carry weight with me when it isn't backed up by his record in the senate.

Charisma? Nothing wrong with it, but it's not an appropriate criteria for basing a vote on. IMO.

Dodd? Where did I say anything at all about Dodd? :shrug:

It's not that I like him; it's that I don't dislike him enough to draw a line in the sand.

I like Gravel, but not as a presidential candidate, and I do disagree with his tax scheme. If Gravel got the nomination, I would have to see how inflexible he might be on that.

I don't have to "like" other contenders better to cross Obama off my list of candidates that will get my support. I just have to determine that his platform or record doesn't earn my vote. You do understand that, right?

Besides the merit pay issue and the votes to fund the war, there are other factors, some of which are discussed in diverse places:

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/obamas-top-lawyer-advocates-pardon-for-libby-2007-06-13.html

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5442.cfm

http://www.antiwar.com/justin/?articleid=10181

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20060130/ai_n16031876

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/printedition/chi-0409250111sep25,1,4555304.story?ctrack=1&cset=true

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/04/09/399/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/28/AR2006062800281.html

http://www.counterpunch.org/cockburn04072006.html

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/news/article/32738/obama-forced-opponents-from-race-in-first-campaign

[NaturalHigh]

91. I wish I could nominate your reply.

:toast:

[windbreeze]

106. Thank you...that makes the most sense I've read so far....n/t

[Blue_In_AK]

117. Thank you, L. Wolf

[557188]

31. I'd never vote for a Lieberman ticket

Gore lost my vote the day Lieberman was the VP candidate.

[terrya]

33. I did

The worst...the absolute worst...vote I've ever cast. I'll always feel guilty about voting for Nader in 2000.

[RandomKoolzip]

50. Aw shit, terry...

see below.

:hug:, man. Me too.

[terrya]

92. Thanks, RKZ.

I decided that I would vote for "principle", RKZ. You know...I was so stupid. So ignorant. I actually thought that there wasn't that much difference between Gore and Bush. I was majorly pissed at Gore because of NAFTA. And so...I listened to Nader. And...I went into the voting booth that November day...and made an incredibly stupid mistake that I will regret for the rest of my life.

:hug:, RKZ. Thanks.

[nonconformist]

35. Voted for Gore.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

37. Almost, but I voted for Gore.

It was much more touch and go in 2004. But, that ended because it was a matter of Bush being really much worse of a lesser of two evils.

[rox63]

44. I only voted for Nader because I did a vote trade with someone in FL, who agreed to vote for Gore

I knew my state (MA) would go strongly for Gore, and that's who I really wanted to win. But I felt that if I could turn a FL vote over to Gore, it was worthwhile.

[garybeck]

46. I did in 96 and I'm proud of that vote.

That was the only time I voted for Nader and at that time I think it was a good move. Clinton had it wrapped up. I wasn't particularly happy with Clinton and I didn't want to look back and say I voted for him those last 4 years. Now, looking back, even tho I completely acknowledge Lewinskygate was a political slimeball move, I think he did not handle it properly and I'm glad I didn't vote for him that time. Maybe he should have claimed "executive privilege."

anyway I never would have voted for Nader in any election where it mattered.

[RandomKoolzip]

47. Yes...and I'm terribly sorry for doing it.

It was a shitty, short-sighted decision based in frustration. I've been doing my level best to reverse the damage i did ever since then, though.

[Anwen]

51. I proudly voted for Al Gore.

It was the first election I was able to participate in, and what a nightmare it turned out to be.

[nolabels]

53. I confess on sending him twenty bucks

Next time i will find a panhandler, it could possibly go to better use :shrug:

[guitar man]

54. Hell no

I voted for Al Gore, and I'll vote for him again, just as soon as he gets his butt in the race!! :D


edit typo

[negativenihil]

55. Yes, i did.

It was my first presidential election, and honestly at first i regretted the choice.
however, i do not regret it any longer due to the inaction of our elected dem officials.

flame away.

[nolabels]

68. I may or may not of known better, but it seems it was more of an impulse

to vote for Al. After all those years of Raygun and Poppy any chance of more of that would have seemed masochist. I don't see your point in blaming anybody when they are all pretty much deadlocked. Better to growl at the hand that might feed you then to bite it. The people around the beltway all know something better change coming this fall or it will be a lot more than just a few.

[nini]

60. fuck no... my sense of reality and common sense always wins out

I don't need to make some kind of pompous 'statement' when the future of my country is at stake in a close race.

[Hamlette]

62. bravo nini! I'm with you

(but I think you are inappropriately named if it's nini as in ninny.)

[nini]

80. bravo to you Hamlette!

It's pronounce knee-knee.... a nickname from my childhood. :hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

64. Voted for Gore, not that it mattered, since I was/am in Texas.

Wanted to vote for Gore in '04, was disappointed he didn't run. :-( Well, there's always '08, I hope!

[unpossibles]

65. I did and don't feel sorry for it in the least bit

first of all, Gore did win without my vote.

Second of all, although I liked Gore, I did not like Lieberman, and although I voted for him, Clinton had pissed me off more than once too.

Thirdly, the last time I checked, this is a democratic republic, and we're allowed to not only vote for whomever we chose, but also to change our minds. In other words, I strongly supported Nader, but will not vote for him anymore.

Lastly, I felt that Gore was a landslide shoe-in against Bush. Bush I, who was a slightly less incompetent criminal fuckup than his sons are, was slaughtered by Clinton, and Gore seemed to have the same kind of backing.



Bush did not win fairly at all, between the butterfly ballots, voter purges, smear tactics by RW radio, and other problems, so I don't feel the least bit responsible for allowing the coke-head to be sworn in. They were taking the White House one way or another, and frankly I would say most of our votes didn't count.

I'm kind of sick of all the Nader bashing done by people who don't seem to be able to wrap their brains around the good things he has accomplished in his life.

[walldude]

66. Wow 2 ludicrous flame worthy polls in the first 10 threads

Glad I showed up today, I haven't been abused enough this week.
Fess up? What are you kidding me? Gore (and the man admits this) ran a pathetically inept campaign and chose the worst Democrat in the party as his running mate. He lost for that reason and that reason only. Just because many DU'ers seem to think that voting for the candidate you think is the best or in most cases the lesser of evils is tantamount to treason, doesn't make it so. All Du is managing to do with it's freeper like stance of marching in lock step with the party is siphon off votes from the candidates they claim to support. Keep telling me how stupid I am for voting for Nader, thats a sure way to get me to vote the same way as you :eyes:

[SammyWinstonJack]

76. *pathetically inept campaign* and still he won. I followed both campaigns

Gore and bu$h. I didn't see where bu$h ran a successful campaign. All he had going on, was the corporate media pimping for him.

[walldude]

82. Is he president? Then he didn't win, it was so close

that they managed to steal it from him. He ran against Ralph Nader and George Bush and did it after a successful 8 year run as V.P., leaving office with a huge budget surplus and couldn't manage more than a narrow victory. Yeah I'd call that pathetic.

[SammyWinstonJack]

90. Geez, I hate that *argument*. We all know why Gore was allowed to take the office that he WON!

The *election* was decided by the SCOTUS! And I would call that pathetic!

[Radical Activist]

70. Voted Nader in a heavily Dem state.

It allowed me to send a message about the Democratic Party moving right and the shitty campaign Gore ran without risking throwing the election to Bush. As a progressive, voting for Gore would have been a wasted vote in my state.

I also remember that Gore did nothing about global warming for the eight years of the Clinton/Gore administration and rarely mentioned the environment during the campaign.

[orleans]

107. same here. (illinois too)

but if he runs again i'd vote for him in a fucking heartbeat.

"we can change the world
rearrange the world
it's dying..." (csny)

i want him to run so bad!

[Perky]

72. so basically 1/3rd of DU voted for some one othwr than Al Gore

Yikes

[cureautismnow]

73. I proudly voted for Gore in Florida.

OTOH, whether or not it was COUNTED as a vote for Gore (or Nader or Junior or ...), I can't very well say.

[jgraz]

74. Proudly voted for Nader, but only because CA was a lock

Voted for Kerry in 2004, just because I wanted * to lose by as much as possible.

[Lilith Velkor]

81. With no apologies whatsoever to anyone who can't be bothered to take a civics class

..., and a raised middle finger to those attempting to rewrite history in order to pretend the judicial coup d'etat in 2K never happened,

Yes. Yes, I did.

[Forkboy]

124. LOL

:)

[Strawman]

83. No

I live in Michigan which was expected to be close. Had I lived in a more solidly blue state, it might have been different.

I liked Al Gore well enough and I was scared shitless of Bush. I was sympathetic to Nader's message, but at the end of the day I didn't buy the "not a dime's worth of difference" argument Nader made with respect to Bush and Gore and I think history has demonstrated the wisdom of that judgement.

Every person who voted for Nader did so for their own reasons, some I respected, and others were just transparent poseurs. I'd be lying if I said those poseur-types didn't kinda piss me off. So, I won't defend anyone's vote for Nader unconditionally and I won't categorically criticize it either.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

84. Nope.

I held my nose and voted for Gore.

[EFerrari]

85. I voted for Al. And switched my registration in protest

when the Senate left him hanging. :(

[seasat]

87. Interesting story about Gore and Florida

I was working with a Nader supporter at the time. I found out that her mother, a Green Party member, learned that Nader wasn't officially on the ballot in Florida since some paper work wasn't filed for him. A week before the deadline, her mother contacted the Green party and helped walk through the paper work to get him on the ballot. I'm a Democrat and voted for Gore but it did point out to me the power a single individual can have on the system. BTW, after Bush won, she was extremely subdued about her support for Ralph.

[NaturalHigh]

88. No, nor would I ever...

but I won't criticize anyone who did. Every person should be able to vote his or her conscience, period. The whole "If you don't vote for (D) you're a traitor" meme is bullshit.

[BlooInBloo]

94. What person who cares more about America than their own self-centered holier-than-thou....

... whining would do such a thing?

[Forkboy]

95. Someday the Democrats will grow up.

Of course by then it'll be too late...

But hey,we can always claim when the world goes down the toilet,"Hey,at least I didn't vote for Nader!"

[Greyhound]

127. Well, we're going on 216 years and still no signs... n/t

[NC_Nurse]

96. I don't remember for sure...

I was going to vote for him, but he didn't make the ballot. I thought about writing him in, but I think I ended up voting for Gore.
It didn't matter, NC wasn't even close.

[JTG of the PRB]

97. I was 4 months too young to vote...

...but I was pulling hard for Al Gore because I thought Bush was just some dumb cowboy who didn't look like he actually wanted to be President.

And we all know how THAT turned out.

[ulysses]

102. sure.

In Georgia, but yes. Why wouldn't I admit to it?

[Warren DeMontague]

104. Not just no, but FUCK No.

About half my friends did, though, and the shit-flinging fights that ensued were almost the end of several of those friendships.

[windbreeze]

105. Yes, I did...and I WILL admit it...

Al Gore did NOT show me anything, I thought he was the most boring presidential candidate I had seen in years, if not ever...he also made me feel as though he really didn't care to be president....so that's that...whether I reget it, carries NO water...because it can't be done over...so there you go...would I vote third party again...remains to be seen..I can't guarantee much of anything at this point...am I enthralled with the candidates we have so far...NO!!but I won't again vote for someone just because it's an anybody but situation...and I am getting tired of voting for the least of the two evils...whatever happened to having a "best man/woman for the office" run...I am totally disenchanted with this bullshit about it being all about who can raise the most money...or who can buy their way into the WH...and who kisses the most corporate or lobbyist ass...I am standing back this time around...we will see if anyone deserves my vote...since once it's cast...I have to live with it..my vote is the only voice I have...and I have to use it, as I see fit...if no one else agrees with me...oh well...everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and votes...
windbreeze

[Party Line]

108. The people who are proud of voting for...

...Nader and the war they facilitated over in Iraq should head on over to freeperville where they belong.

[Skittles]

109. no, I am not a f***ing idiot

no INDEED

[shadowknows69]

110. To be completely friggin honest I don't know

I was actually on a Nader kick for a while and admittedly I wasn't as into politics as I am now. I was directly after the election because I knew something was very wrong in Denmark. I'm fairly certain I went with Gore in the end because I knew Nader was doomed and I couldn't believe this moran the republicans had chosen. I almost would have voted for McCain *shudder*. I plead, better times financially and chemically for keeping me blind in 2000. When we didn't have a president after election night is when I started to become very concerned for our country.

[philosophie_en_rose]

111. Oh hell no.

I voted for Gore.

[Imagevision]

113. More important, who will be voting Nader in 2008?? don't be shame, speak up..!

[shadowknows69]

114. Um, no

not even accidentily.

[Cobalt-60]

115. I wanted to vote for Nader

I liked his message.
But I couldn't do it.
Gore had torqued me with the PMRC stuff in the '80s.
But Bush was a reptile, one of the despised Republicons.
I've always regretted voting for the Libertarian in '80.
I was haunted for 8 years by the idea that if I had voted for Carter,
Reagan would not have been elected.
I couldn't bear the thought of a similar emotion attached to Junior.

[Blue_In_AK]

116. I want to change my vote

I didn't see your last choice. I voted for Nader, but I live in Alaska where I knew the Republican would win. I wish Al Gore had been then like he is now, I would have voted for him happily. For some reason, he just didn't connect with me that year. What he has done since "losing" the election has completely changed my opinion of him.

[Roxy66]

118. Is there a "Hell No!" option?

[Raine]

119. Voted Gore

and proud of it! :-)

[last_texas_dem]

120. I wasn't old enough at the time

However, I wouldn't have cast a vote for Nader anyway, despite the fact that I could have gotten away with it here in Bush country. Anyone who looked into *'s record as TX Governor instead of buying into his stupid, but frighteningly successful, attempts to project himself as a moderate knew that Nader's claim that there would be no substantial difference between Gore and * administrations was bullshit. Far too many Dems bought into the media narrative about a "wooden" Gore and a George "Well, he won't be all that bad; look at how he brought both sides together in his home state (!)" W. Bush.

[slj0101]

125. Regrettably, I didn't vote that year.

I had just moved, and didn't know my way around the absentee ballot. I was also somewhat apolitical (yet left-leaning) at the time. I had planned on voting for Gore anyway.

[Greyhound]

126. Yes, I lived in Los Angeles.

Bill Clinton disgusted me with his false liberalism and corporate toadying, and Al was just as fervent in his position of supporting our servitude.

[napi21]

128. I didn't, but a friend of mine did, and his wife & I haven't let him off

the hook yet! He said he was sorry, but he voted his heart, and never thought things would get THIS BAD!

[windbreeze]

129. I guess one would have to ask themselves.....

IF Nader really was responsible for the way things have turned out...I would be surprised IF that were truly the case...Gore won the popular vote, so IF anyone is to blame, perhaps the electoral college shares the blame...and I seem to recall the SC did make the call in 2000...So I wonder how many of us can ever remember a presidential election coming down to the state of Florida? I don't recall that ever happening..(I seem to recall that Jeb promised the state would go to jr.,in 2000...kinda like the Diebold guy did in Ohio, in 2004....wonder how they could have known the way it was going to go down, beforehand?)

Sorry, I believe too much responsibility for our current misfortune is pushed off onto Nader...is that because it's easier to blame him, rather than face what really happened? (stolen elections iow?)...perhaps there were forces at play...that had already determined it was going to be *, NO MATTER WHO WAS RUNNING...or IN SPITE OF THE NUMBERS OF VOTES HIS OPPONENT/S RECEIVED....(purged voter rolls, butterfly ballots, rigged machines is part of it, but I don't believe it's the whole truth)

I am waiting to see if the next election is Hillary vs Guiliani...because IF that's the way it turns out(and there are days it sure seems that's the way it's going to be)..it will make an article I read a couple weeks ago right on the money...and it most certainly would explain how and why * became prez twice...

I don't believe any of we "Nader" voters have answered this OP's query with the thought of bragging about our vote in 2000(has everyone forgotten, that there was another election in 2004...was Nader responsible for that disaster too?)...I will be damned if I will hang my head in shame...I voted my conscience in 2000, and voted for Kerry in 2004...Nader was making a lot more sense to me, than either of the others did at the time I voted for him, in fact, I recall he was the only one talking about things that were important to me..and he was the ONLY one doing so...it's that simple...

I am sorry, so sorry, that my party does NOT dictate to me, who to vote for...and for those on this thread, who seem to think we "Nader" voters should hurry on over to freeperville, cause that's where we belong...careful what you wish for...I don't believe either party can afford to chase votes off because of a vote cast for Nader 8 yrs ago...(no offence meant to anyone on this thread...I just think reality needs to play a part in the whole thing to do with Nader, and it doesn't seem to most of the time)
windbreeze

[Blue_In_AK]

131. Well said, Windbreeze

I don't apologize for my Nader vote either, especially since I was in a Republican state. My vote wasn't really going to count, in any event. So I voted my conscience, because, like you, I thought Nader made the most sense at the time. I won't advocate here at DU for an independent candidate - out of respect for the purpose of this forum - but I won't vote in lockstep to a party line.

[Breeze54]

130. I don't vote for idiots! Never have, never will!

:P

Nixon -- 49

America -- 1 (Massachusetts was the only dissenting state!) :thumbsup: :thumbsup:\

;)

[Quantess]

132. No. I didn't vote at all!

Shamefully.

In 2000 I was too busy with my carefree, fun, social life to care about politics. I lived in San Francisco at the time, and I was visiting NYC with some friends from SF. We were having too much fun at the time, and we all just assumed that Gore would win. In the taxi cab ride to the NYC airport, going back home to SF, we heard the news that Bush had been chosen President (what the F*&@)!?! There were comments 'ohmigod I should have voted' and hand-wringing.

I kept waiting for the wrongness to be reversed, and for the triumphance of Gore. You know what happens next...


But anyway...I was already too self-satisfied that California's electoral vote would be enough. So why should I bother to vote, really?

Would our three votes in San Francisco have mattered, anyway?

[Gravel2008]

133. I did so, and I did it proudly

And no "centrist" Dem is ever gonna make me apologize for it. Although my state wasn't in play. But even if it had been, I would not have regretted it. That Gore lost was Gore's fault alone (and, to be fair, that idiot Bob Shrum's), anything else is a bullshit argument. Nader should be commended for holding Democrats' feet to the fire and not letting them get away with being Republican Lite, corporatist, war-enabling hacks. Centrists and DLC:ers are killing the Democratic party, and if it takes some hard medicine for the party to wake up to that reality then so be it. I have a lot more hope for 2008 than I had for 2000, with both Gravel and Kucinich in the ring now. In 2004 I voted for David Cobb, but in 2008 I will vote for whomever the Democratic nominee is - except Hillary. If it's her I'll have no choice but to go Green again; I can NOT vote for her, and I'm not about to stay home and not exercise my right to vote. But I'm hoping it won't come to that. I can tolerate pretty much all the other candidates, but Gravel is my first choice and Kucinich my second.

[NaturalHigh]

135. I admire your candor.

While I would never vote for Nader, I would agree that your vote is your own and that you have the right to cast it for whomever you please. The people around here who rattle on about it being your duty to vote for the Democratic nominee (whomever it might be) and calling you a traitor if you don't have no idea what it means to be a Democrat (little D or big D).