[Vision2020] Romney drops out!?

[Scott Dredge]

It's a stretch to suggest that Nader sabotaged the 2000 election.  The reason Al Gore lost was because of Al Gore himself.  Under the categories of coulda, woulda, shoulda,  Gore coulda had Bill Clinton campaigning for him instead of distancing himself from Clinton.  And Bill Clinton knows how to run a successful campaign.

I'd like to see a Clinton/Obama ticket running against a McCain/anybody ticket.  Also, it doesn't particularly matter much to me which ticket wins, I'm just looking forward to the regime change even though George W. Bush is basically neutered at this stage.

-Scott

----- Original Message ----
From: Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com>
To: Garrett Clevenger <garrettmc at verizon.net>
Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2008 1:36:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Romney drops out!?


On 2/8/08, Garrett Clevenger <garrettmc at verizon.net> wrote:

 

Edwards would be good, as I like what he says, but my
preference would be Ralph Nader, who may very well

campaign for President.  Appealing to Progressives is
good with me, despite whatever baggage Nader may have
(and really, who doesn't have baggage?)

Nader has a record of working on changing America for

the better for 40 years.  He is well connected to the
activist community, and engaging activists is key to
changing our country from it's disastrous course.  An
Obama/Nader ticket sounds sweet to me.

gclev

 

Many progressives begged Nader to drop out of the 2000 presidential race, due to the potential of splitting the Democratic vote harming Gore's chances.  We all know the result.  Nader helped put Bush in the White House in 2000.  Nader's Florida votes alone gave Florida's electoral votes to Bush, as the vote count actually was counted, though we also know that absent illegal voter disenfranchisement, deliberately pushed by Florida's Secretary of State and Bush supporter Katherine Harris, Gore would have won Florida, even with Nader's participation.


 

Republican operatives were running ads supporting Nader's 2000 candidacy, knowing this would hurt Gore.  And Nader knew this.

 

Nader even argued that a Bush presidency might be good for the nation in the long run, given that Bush would create such a back lash against his policies that progressives in the long run would become more unified and motivated.  


 

But as far as I am concerned, given the damage of the Bush administration, Nader's 2000 presidential run was an irresponsible application of idealistic principles over sensible practical politics, resulting in wounds that may not heal for decades.  The pending US Supreme Court nominations in 2000 alone were enough of a reason for Nader to withdraw to allow Gore the best chance of a win.  Nader and everyone knew there was zero chance of Nader taking the White House.  His presidential run did not even result in a stronger party base supporting Nader or those who support his policies. His supporters are more off the radar now than in 2000.


 

I recall hearing from Nader supporters in 2000 how Gore and Bush both represented corporate big money, and entrenched elitist Washington power, and were not that different.  Well, we have seen that however much this was true, there were substantial differences between Gore and Bush that would have taken the USA in very different directions on critical issues, the invasion of Iraq and climate change, for example.  I do not believe Gore would have supported the invasion and occupation of Iraq, and he would have began to address climate change while the Bush administration was in denial, backing big oil and energy interests, who did not want to address climate change for obvious financial reasons.


 

Nader would be a terrible choice for a VP candidate under Obama.  I lost respect for him as a politician after his sabotage of the 2000 presidential election.  This showed he is not willing to compromise when the overall good of the nation is at stake.  


 

Ted Moffett



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