Kerry Is Expected to Meet With Nader (Today, per NYTimes)

[chimpymustgo]

Kerry Is Expected to Meet With Nader
BY JODI WILGOREN

Published: May 19, 2004

ASHINGTON, May 18 - Senator John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, plans to meet Wednesday afternoon with Ralph Nader, whose independent bid for the White House has many Democrats worried about losing votes on their party's left flank.

The meeting comes amid rising concern in and around the Kerry camp that Mr. Nader's strong opposition to the war in Iraq could gain traction as approval for President Bush's handling of the war plummets. Mr. Nader has ratcheted up his rhetoric on Iraq in recent days.

Stephanie Cutter, Mr. Kerry's communications director, said there was no set agenda for the meeting, but predicted they would "discuss the obvious," an apparent reference to many Democrats' urging Mr. Nader to drop out or risk securing President Bush's re-election. Many in the party blame Mr. Nader, who won more votes than the Republicans' margin of victory in key states like Florida and New Hampshire, for Mr. Bush's ascension to the White House.
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Mr. Nader could not be reached for comment late Tuesday night but told The Associated Press that leaving the race was not an option. He said he planned to discuss "certain common policies" with Mr. Kerry, adding, "I think that's for the good of our country and for the benefit of the American people that are being ignored or repudiated by the Bush regime."

-snip-

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/19/politics/campaign/19nader.html

[rfranklin]

1. Senator Kerry, make Ralph an offer...

Appoint him King of Mississippi or something like that.

[Mountainman]

3. How about a cabinet position, Secretary of the Left wing of the Democratic

Party.

[meow2u3]

8. I say Kerry ought to offer Nader this cabinet position:

EPA Administrator!! That's where Nader would be at his best....either that, or the Secretary of Commerce

[wheresthemind]

4. We should just give Ralph Texas....

He can have his way with it... Appoint him King!

[Mississippi Liberal]

11. Please, yes!

I'd take Ralph as my absolute ruler in a heartbeat over Gov. Haley "Boss Hogg" Barbour.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Ralph has stated he's in the race

even if it means Bush gets another 4 years. That, in my mind, sealed his fate. Anyone opposed to the war, like I am, won't vote for him, because they will realize that a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush.

What Kerry needs to do is widely publicize his plans for internationalizing the force in Iraq, stressing the role he hopes the UN will play in getting the country back to a semblance of peace. He should have a definate exit plan for the US as well.

[robbedvoter]

5. Excellent comment - and Kery will

ralphie is looking for the good of American people:
"
In an interview with The Associated Press, Nader said he looked forward to discussing ``certain common policies.''

``I think that's for the good of our country and for the benefit of the American people that are being ignored or repudiated by the Bush regime,'' Nader told the AP."

[struggle4progress]

12. I hear Kerry plans to stay in the race too ...

even if it keeps Ralph from winning.

[dusty64]

6. More.

Kerry-Nader Meeting Unlikely to Alter Race



May 19, 7:45 AM (ET)

By MIKE GLOVER

(AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) - Presumptive Democratic nominee John Kerry is sitting down for a much-anticipated meeting with independent Ralph Nader, but there's little sign they'll alter this year's political dynamic when they get together.

Nader is making it clear he won't leave the race, and Kerry isn't likely to overtly ask him to do so.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Nader said he looked forward to discussing "certain common policies."

"I think that's for the good of our country and for the benefit of the American people that are being ignored or repudiated by the Bush regime," Nader told the AP.


Nader was endorsed last week by the national Reform Party, a move that gives him access to the ballot in at least seven states, including the battlegrounds of Florida and Michigan.

Senior Kerry aides have concluded there's little chance of convincing Nader to leave the race. While senior campaign aides were still sifting through their strategy, aides said Kerry was likely to make the case that the two rivals share a goal of ousting Bush and a joint effort is the best way to go about that.
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20040519/D82LKHGG1.html

[benburch]

7. Nader the Traitor

Look up "Quisling" in the dictionary. That's Ralph.

[benburch]

9. "Punish the Democrats"

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0418/levine.php

[lancdem]

10. Here's some potential good news

The last three polls on http://www.pollingreport.com show Kerry's lead is the same with and without Nader.

I hope that's a trend!

[Tellurian]

13. So that means Nader is stealing votes from Bush...

heh!

[4_Legs_Good]

16. I have several Republican friends who don't like Bush much...

and even some who do, who have been seriously tempted by Nader.

I know NO Democrats and NO people (myself included) who voted for Nader in 2000 who plan to vote for anyone but Kerry this time around.

I'm 100% serious. Nader can syphon votes from Bush, don't rule that out.

david

[4_Legs_Good]

14. Kerry's stance should be "Ralph, how can we best beat Bush?"

So many Democrats haven't realized that when you ream Nader or tell him not to run, it just makes him more resolute.

If Kerry wants to win, he should say, "Now Ralph we agree on so many things, the top of the list being the Bush Corporation needs to go. What can we do TOGETHER to make sure that happens."

Give him some role. Make him feel important. Then together we can smash George Jr.

david

[JI7]

15. will he get a standing ovation ?

from the kerry people as howard dean, and al sharpton got ?