Comments on: Nader’s running mate?

by: Phil Sawyer

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:44:14 +0000

Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez really need to begin a brand new political party – if they are not going after the nominations of any existing party. The base of support in this country for them to run as independents is simply not sufficient to make it happen.

by: David Gaines

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:37:20 +0000

BillTx: I’m sure Mr. Nader misses your vote terribly. I’m equally sure that Cynthia McKinney, who certainly displays no egotistical tendencies whatsoever, welcomes your thoughtful participation in her campaign. I’m not sure that someone who alleges that Shakespeare is “boring,” and needs to drop F-bombs in a blog accessible to children in order to do so, is of the proper mindset to provide much of a contribution.

NewFederalist: I felt the way you do (minus the ego stuff, which I’ve always thought is just plain silly & knee-jerk) prior to last night, but it looks like Nader is, in fact, going to start a new party. This announcement at his campaign kickoff last night is part of what got me rethinking the whole 2008 thing from scratch, as I’ve posted in other blog entries elsewhere on this site.

by: BillTx

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:12:15 +0000

Then he can take his ego and shove it up his ass. He won’t get this leftie’s vote.

by: timothy west

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 23:20:08 +0000

there is not a politician alive who does not have a huge ego. Comes with the territory.

by: NewFederalist

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:44:55 +0000

If Ralph Nader was serious about building an alternative political party he would just start one. His ego is sooooo huge he would have to start his own rather than relinquish any control to a Green Party national committee or however the Greens are organized. He should just start up another version of the Progressive Party or the People’s (Populist) Party so at least he would leave something in his wake. As an independent candidate he accomplishes nothing other than fracturing the liberal-progressive vote. While I am not left leaning on economic issues, I see this as a real shame and an opportunity lost.

by: Matt, NJ Green

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:18:52 +0000

Yes, very sad for the Green party. I fear another 2004 split of the party. The AP story says he’s not “seeking” the GP nom. Does that also mean he won’t accept the nomination if it’s offered to him at the convention? Along with the 20+ state ballot lines? How does he expect to get on the ballot?

It would have been more honest of him to say all this before the CA primary was held. He won the primary there and CA has by far the biggest delegation.

I wish he were the GP candidate. But if he doesn’t want it… McKinney will be a good candidate. The pro-Nader Greens will probably claim the party is rigged against him (how, exactly??), but an indy campaign will not help build an alternative movement/party against the 2 old parties.

by: johncjackson

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:46:14 +0000

Yeah, I was interpreting the early VP choice meant he was going completely independent. Not being familiar with the GP process, I was wondering if I was right to assume that.

by: Green in Brooklyn

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:21:33 +0000

Laine,

Thanks for the link. Wow – that’s really sad news. Once again the Greens in California choose Nader over party building, and very sad to see us lose Matt Gonzales as well.

Looks like 2004 all over again, with Green Nader supporters being siphoned off the try to get him on the ballot, splitting not only the vote but the resources to get Greens on the ballot. If he’s not running for the nomination he can’t get it under party rules – the best he could do would be a vote to not nominate anyone, and then vote to ENDORSE, as he tried in 2004. No WAY Nader will get the endorsement at the convention, tho. If he couldn’t against Cobb in 2004, he certainly won’t against a much stronger candidate in McKinney in July (no offense, David).

The good news in all of this, if there is any, is that McKinney has now all but wrapped up the Green party nomination.

by: Laine

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:11:25 +0000

I don’t think this decision will sway anyone in the remaining conventions it seems like the progressive vote will yet again be split this election. Do you really believe Nader will get the Green endorsement over McKinney? I voted for Nader in 04 over Cobb but I am not sure who to support now.

by: David Gaines

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:08:46 +0000

Laine: Thanks for providing that link. I can’t say this news is a surprise. However, he doesn’t say whether or not he would accept a draft at the GP convention in July. I’m sure the movement supporting that will soldier on.

by: Laine

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:54:43 +0000

Here is the article I mentioned.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRe7-1GipomU41w-Gp2uGsR3P__AD8V3G1U03

by: David

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:46:07 +0000

Ralph Nader and Matt Gonzalez what a team, now this is something all progressives can support and work for.

by: Laine

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:44:28 +0000

According to this Associated Press article Nader stated today he will NOT run as a Green Party Candidate. I am really saddened by this turn of events as I hoped to support Nader on a Green ticket. I am certaintly split now over who I will support. I believe in building a Green Party however I know that McKinney will not be able to draw in enough voters on her own.

by: David Gaines

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 19:02:41 +0000

jcj: It is still up in the air as to whether or not Ralph will be the GP candidate. He has sent out mixed signals in various speeches & interviews. Hopefully this will be clarified tonight at his joint appearance with Matt Gonzalez.

The presidential and vice presidential candidates are not nominated as a ticket; the VP candidate is nominated in a manner similar to all other parties. Therefore, his choice of a running mate this early would seem to indicate that he is at least planning to strike out on his own.

I will not support a Nader campaign if it goes head to head against a Green Party (and thus presumably Cynthia McKinney) campaign. And nobody I know wants to see a repeat of Nader vs. Cobb, especially when the Democrats will be even more united than during the Anybody But Bush era.

by: johncjackson

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:41:14 +0000

OK. I read all this speculation about a “Green Party race” but the only news I see about Nader is an Independent run. Is there something that indicates he is a Green Party candidate?

Is that how Green Party nominations work- the Pres and VP candidates are nominated as a ticket? ( I know in the LP, for example that the VP candidates run separately).

Sorry if I missed this.