Nader's Serious Campaign (polling 4% nationally and 5% in Cali)
Abookamongstthemany
Posts: 8,209
Oops, this doesn't quite mesh with the things I've been hearing around here from some.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/323037
Ralph Nader is making every effort to be the most serious candidate for president this year, and he is succeeding despite the dismissals of the political class and the media that sustains it.
Watch Nader today, as he lays down his marker on behalf of presidential accountability and you will see why.
The notion that Nader is serious runs against the narrative that has developed in regard to the pioneering consumer activist who in recent years has turned his attention toward presidential politics. Nader has not run enough time for president to be treated with the respect that was accorded Norman Thomas, the Socialist Party stalwart who after six runs for the nation's top job was ultimately accorded a the respectful "elder-statesman" status that the political class bestows upon candidates who are seen as thoughtful but harmless.
Nader is thoughtful. But he does not choose to be harmless. And that leads to dismissals of his candidacy by journalists and political commentators who can't stand the notion that America politics is something other than a narrow two-party duopoly.
The independent candidate scares tacticians in both parties -- not merely because he has upset their calculations in the past but because he continues to campaign with a boldness that draws attention and opens fundamental debates about the direction of the campaign and the country that insiders work very hard to avoid.
Nader will do so again today, with a press conference outside the White House at which the candidate -- who has been using Washington as a backdrop for a series of challenges to official secrecy and wrongdoing -- will call on President Bush and Vice President Cheney to resign.
The candidate will cite the long list of failures, neglected duties, corruptions, high crimes and misdemeanors that have attached to the lame-duck administrators of a nation that is stuck in a Middle East quagmire, descending into recession and seemingly incapable of addressing even the most pressing human needs -- a nation now so badly off course that three-quarters of its citizens tell pollsters "America is headed in the wrong direction." And, of course, Nader will suggest that if a Republican president and vice president choose not to resign, then a Democratic House and Senate should impeach and try them -- moves that substantial pluralities, and in some cases majorities, of Americans tell pollsters are now appropriate.
For his trouble, Nader will be portrayed as unduly radical or, worse yet, out of touch with the political zeitgeist of a moment in which we are supposed to be talking about candidates and their pastors.
But Nader will still be heard by enough Americans -- thanks to his current campaign's dramatically more media-savvy approach than those of his 1996, 2000 and 2004 efforts as a Green and independent presidential contender.
A good many voters will find themselves to be more in tune with Nader's Constitutional urgency than with the more cautious constructions of Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton or Republican John McCain. And, despite the dismissals of his candidacy by most of the media, a decent number of those voters appear to be considering casting a ballot for the independent candidate.
The latest Zogby poll has the consumer advocate at four percent nationally (in a contest where Obama beats McCain 47-37) and a recent California survey has Nader at five percent in the vote-rich Golden State (again in a race where Obama dominates).
Nader may not be seriously in the running for the presidency.
But he is running seriously, and his challenges to Bush and Cheney, to a sputtering two-party system, and to the media that maintains failed presidents and failed politics are not nearly so radical -- or so off-putting -- as his dismissers would have Americans believe.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/campaignmatters/323037
Ralph Nader is making every effort to be the most serious candidate for president this year, and he is succeeding despite the dismissals of the political class and the media that sustains it.
Watch Nader today, as he lays down his marker on behalf of presidential accountability and you will see why.
The notion that Nader is serious runs against the narrative that has developed in regard to the pioneering consumer activist who in recent years has turned his attention toward presidential politics. Nader has not run enough time for president to be treated with the respect that was accorded Norman Thomas, the Socialist Party stalwart who after six runs for the nation's top job was ultimately accorded a the respectful "elder-statesman" status that the political class bestows upon candidates who are seen as thoughtful but harmless.
Nader is thoughtful. But he does not choose to be harmless. And that leads to dismissals of his candidacy by journalists and political commentators who can't stand the notion that America politics is something other than a narrow two-party duopoly.
The independent candidate scares tacticians in both parties -- not merely because he has upset their calculations in the past but because he continues to campaign with a boldness that draws attention and opens fundamental debates about the direction of the campaign and the country that insiders work very hard to avoid.
Nader will do so again today, with a press conference outside the White House at which the candidate -- who has been using Washington as a backdrop for a series of challenges to official secrecy and wrongdoing -- will call on President Bush and Vice President Cheney to resign.
The candidate will cite the long list of failures, neglected duties, corruptions, high crimes and misdemeanors that have attached to the lame-duck administrators of a nation that is stuck in a Middle East quagmire, descending into recession and seemingly incapable of addressing even the most pressing human needs -- a nation now so badly off course that three-quarters of its citizens tell pollsters "America is headed in the wrong direction." And, of course, Nader will suggest that if a Republican president and vice president choose not to resign, then a Democratic House and Senate should impeach and try them -- moves that substantial pluralities, and in some cases majorities, of Americans tell pollsters are now appropriate.
For his trouble, Nader will be portrayed as unduly radical or, worse yet, out of touch with the political zeitgeist of a moment in which we are supposed to be talking about candidates and their pastors.
But Nader will still be heard by enough Americans -- thanks to his current campaign's dramatically more media-savvy approach than those of his 1996, 2000 and 2004 efforts as a Green and independent presidential contender.
A good many voters will find themselves to be more in tune with Nader's Constitutional urgency than with the more cautious constructions of Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton or Republican John McCain. And, despite the dismissals of his candidacy by most of the media, a decent number of those voters appear to be considering casting a ballot for the independent candidate.
The latest Zogby poll has the consumer advocate at four percent nationally (in a contest where Obama beats McCain 47-37) and a recent California survey has Nader at five percent in the vote-rich Golden State (again in a race where Obama dominates).
Nader may not be seriously in the running for the presidency.
But he is running seriously, and his challenges to Bush and Cheney, to a sputtering two-party system, and to the media that maintains failed presidents and failed politics are not nearly so radical -- or so off-putting -- as his dismissers would have Americans believe.
If you want to tell people the truth, make them laugh, otherwise they'll kill you.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Post edited by Unknown User on
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Comments
i won't speak for others, b/c i cannot say what they are thinking nor motivations, but yes....THAT is exactly what i reference when i question his 'strong opposition.' nothing more, nothing less. i think i have numerous times made it clear i think he is an excellent activist and perhaps his rails against the current system WILL have positive affect towards change in future elections. all of that IS an accomplishment in and of itself and have always thought as much. however, even with 4% of the national vote - still NO threat for winning his run for presidency. that's all. so he may have some influence towards change, but he will not actually get to be in the position to truly CREATE the changes from the oval office.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ijClHoidEl8XEJMJoUooHU1R_nmgD914PTMGA
Ralph in AP Poll
Posted by The Nader Team on Monday, June 9, 2008 at 11:12:00 AM
Ralph in AP Poll .
An Associated Press poll released on Friday shows:
Barack Obama 47 percent
John McCain 43 percent
And Ralph Nader 6 percent.
And that's Nader at six percent with virtually no mainstream national press coverage.
Why is Nader's six percent important?
Because this might be the year when the Presidential debates are busted open.
Google has shown an interest in hosting debates.
And McCain has floated the idea of ten town hall debates.
To get into these debates, it's important that Ralph show a certain level of support.
He's got that, according to the most recent AP poll. And then it becomes important that he gets on as many state ballots as possible.
We're working our hearts out to get him there.
By the end of June, we should be on ten or so. And we're aiming to be on more than 40 by the end of the summer. To help fuel this summer ballot access drive, you can give up to the legal limit of $4,600 each.
But we'll take whatever you can afford.
Remember, getting Ralph on the debates changes everything.
Jesse Ventura, when he ran for Governor of Minnesota, was at ten percent.
He got on the statewide debates and moved to 20 percent.
And then people sensed a three way race.
And he won.
As we learned this weekend at the Belmont Stakes.
There are no foregone conclusions.
So, let's work together to get Nader/Gonzalez to the starting line.
Then line 'em up, ring the bell, and let 'em run.
Onward
The Nader Team
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Nader has stated he is very serious about his run and he runs his campaign accordingly. I'm glad there are people that have fought against the odds and fought losing battles through out the years even to inspire change. I'm also glad there are people who don't give up and keep fighting the good fight year after year....we desperately need those people.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
i ABSOLUTELY hope this happens as it well should!
and i absolutely agree here too:
i don't have to support nader specifically as a candidate to think it IS of paramount importance to have those fight the system. the system DOES need changing, and i do think nader is one amongst those who hopefully WILL start the change of the process. that is where i personally see his contributions to affect change, and it's good. i would love to have a 3rd party candidate that i believe in, and actually think i and all voters could actually get him/her elected due to changes made in the election process.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
Personally, I think anyone on over 50% of the states ballots needs to be included in all debates.
You have to start somewhere.
Also I just posted that the AP has him now at 6%. More progress
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
He would mop the floor with both of them and it would be a glorious sight to behold.
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Totally.
You know, it's one of my favorite points that Matt Gonzalez makes from when he was running for mayor of San Francisco. He was polling at (I think) 15% before the debates.
After the debates, he went on to win 47% of the vote. Getting seen and heard in the debates can be crucial.
http://www.votenader.org/about/matt-gonzalez/
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.
Exactly! I don't get how some here can make the argument that exposure isn't crucial. How else are people going to know about a candidate? ESP? A fortune cookie?
Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.
-Oscar Wilde
Hmmm, fortune cookie - I'm envisioning a business idea.
***********************
"We've laid the groundwork. It's like planting the seeds. And next year, it's spring." - Nader
***********************
Prepare for tending to your garden, America.