Nader's Advice To Kerry

[pberq]

Some positive suggestions for Kerry:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13265-2004May9.html/?nav=msn-1

• Support a living wage
• Go after corporate crime
• Repeal the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy
• Protect the poor

As for the war in Iraq: Kerry needs to set a date for withdrawal of American troops and companies.

"If Kerry takes these positions," Nader concludes, "the only thing he'll have to worry about is how big will be his landslide."

[mike_c]

1. word

It's true.

[CharlesGroce]

2. amen!

He's right.

[iamjoy]

3. That's What He's Doing!

that's what Kerry is doing - hello!

[JanMichael]

5. He has a "Living Wage" proposal?

I didn't realize that.

[mzmolly]

30. Yep.

http://www.ufcw.org/worker_political_agenda/where_we_stand/index.cfm

"The UFCW’s endorsement is based on Senator Kerry’s "Real Deal" commitment which places health care reform, job creation, living wages, retirement security and dignity for workers as top legislative priorities. Kerry has long been a fighter for working men and women while serving in the Senate, and will continue to battle special interests to guarantee health care as a right, and not a privilege. Protecting health benefits is a top priority for UFCW members across the country and deciding factor for workers when they go to the polls."

Not sure he calls it a "living wage" proposal, but he is supportive of a "living wage."

[hang a left]

6. Uh.....

I don't think he is leaving Iraq either.

[Tinoire]

13. He is? Total news to me. n/t

[Nlighten1]

19. Link?

I must have missed these things.

[CharlesGroce]

4. So

why doesn't he?

[democracyindanger]

7. My advice to Nader

Kiss my ass. And lick your lips before you do.

[Bread and Circus]

8. Good, and if he does that...then I hope Nader endorses him and..

does his best to help his campaign.

I think Kerry can easily do those things.

[goclark]

9. ADD: And I'll Step Aside

I keep thinking that Nader will wake up about Sept.10th and decide to support Kerry. As far as I know, Kerry is supporting all or most of the items Nader is suggesting.

[meti57b]

14. if nader hasnt woken up after 2000, I dont think there's much hope he will

[kiahzero]

10. Hmmm...

Take evidence from someone who wants to see your party destroyed?

Not that I don't think that they're all good ideas ... with reservations about the pullout from Iraq. But even the Democratic party activists weren't big on the candidate proposing those policies... what makes Nader think that adopting them will help Kerry?

Oh, right... that 50% of the population that doesn't vote, and therefore must clearly be huge lefties. :eyes:

[happynewyear]

11. Good advice from Ralph Nader

If Kerry can find a way to support and also bring great attention to all of these issues to run by, I too believe he can and will win the election (if it isn't fixed that is).

We seriously need to get OUT OF IRAQ. I don't think we should tow the line on a losing idealogy and actions that have obviously failed and must be abolished ASAP.

U.S. OUT OF IRAQ NOW!

[Sparkly]

12. How very thoughtful of Saint Ralph!

What a guy. When I consider all the elections he's won, all the legislative accomplishments he's had, and all the support he's given to defeating Republicans, I know *exactly* how much weight to give his advice.

[RoyGBiv]

15. Setting a date is political suicide

I agree with the sentiment in theory, and I do wish Kerry would abandon this stuff that makes it seem as though he supports the war, just not Bush's implementation of it. Kerry's rhetoric at least doesn't make clear that Bush's implementation is intentional and should not be supported under any circumstances.

But setting a specific date leaves no wiggle room unless he's willing to perpetuate a lie like the June 30 date Bush has set for transfer of "sovereignty." He's had to spin a lot to maintain that, and everyone with a brain knows it's a farce. Should Kerry set such a date, he's set to it without question, or he places the focus of criticism from both the left and the right squarely on his shoulders. IOW, setting a date at this point, i.e. before he's elected and before he has any real access to the information that would allow him to set such a date intelligently, makes the war his. In effect, it takes pressure off Bush.

[Gman]

16. Protecting the poor and a living wage

have long been core Democratic Party issues. Nader does not "own" these issues and why would he think the Democratic Party candidate would not support these?

Nader is an ass. He doesn't own these issues.

[Oddman]

17. Nader is a fringe candidate

and should be ignored . . .

As President Bush put it, they are an exceptional "few bad apples" whose actions "do not reflect the nature of our country."

[Terry_M]

21. Correct.

Well, at least if you don't need his supporters to vote Kerry...

[John_H]

18. What a hypocrite. Kerry's been doing those things for years while

Ralphie's been busting unionizing attempts at his own organizations, providing capital to Wal-mart, Merk, and Viacom, and lying about the difference between Dems and Rethugs.

America should give Ralph some advice: "Ralph, Americans hate hypocrites." And we should give him that advice by not voting for him.

[Nlighten1]

20. This post will bring out the Nader haters.

[Skip Intro]

22. Is Nader's real goal to force Kerry "left," then drop out?

:shrug:

I am NOT a Nader fan, and I think he's at the very least risking the welfare of this nation and indeed humanity. BUT -

If it is the way it seems to me, Nader seems to be saying - "here's my price for dropping out of the race." That might be a bad way to phrase it, but I'm not sure its not a bad thing to have happen.

edited for truth maintenence

[Sparkly]

24. It's called blackmail

and Ralph Nader doesn't know how to win elections.

[Skip Intro]

25. Not quite - the "demands" - Kerry's already doing most of that

I'll admit I don't know Kerry's position on the minimum wage, but with Kennedy as a big backer, I'm optimistic.

On the other issues - Kerry's alreay there, isn't he?

Makes no sense to "blackmail" someone in to doing something he or she's already doing.

Like I said, I have a big problem with Nader - I blame him for the current regime coming to power. And I could not believe he was running AGAIN! Having said that, tho, this particular peice of news seems like a positive development to me.

At least, its an opportunity for dialog.

[Sparkly]

29. Then why doesn't Nader drop out?

Answer: because it's not about progress on these issues.

[Skip Intro]

31. Don't ask me - I wish he'd drop out tomorrow

Please, just go away Ralph. Please, you might have a place in an admistration one day, maybe in Kerry', beleive it or not, but you are not going to be president in 2005. The love for the fate of your country has been eclipsed by the love of yourself. You take risks with possibly terrible consequences.

You are not doing a service, you have placed yourself to be in the way.

So much is at risk.

Please be offering a polite and very doable way to make your departure from the 2004 Presidential Elections acceptable here. Its the right thing to do.

[onehandle]

23. Ralph has set these things back a decade or more. nt

[EndElectoral]

26. Kerry's got to attract moderates

Look, Kerry is already being painted as a liberal by the GOP and the media. Personally, I don't think he's a liberal. Now Kuccinich is a true liberal. But that's how far right this country has slanted...

Kerry doesn't want to be in Iraq, he wants a living wage for workers, and he wants a clean environment. Nader knows this.

The problem is Kerry is trying to balance holding the liberal left with attracting the McCain type Republicans. this has led to his flip flop label which I think is unfair when you read the history and times surrounding many of those votes.

Look, this is no time to quibble, we have a maniac running the country at present. Even if you disagree with Kerry on some issues, we have got to vote him in.

I like his style of trying to run a clean campaign. After the convention we'll look at the numbers and see where things are. Frankly so much is going to change between now and Novemeber I think its better to look like someone balanced of mind rather than shrub.

[Zero Gravitas]

27. Fuck Nader

I agree with every one of those points but I just don't understand why Nader is working so hard to "re-elect" Bush which will ensure that we move 180 degrees away from accomplishing those goals. Nader is smart enough to know that what he is doing can only help Bush, so either he is completely disingenuous about his supposed goals or he is a total fool.

[mzmolly]

28. Does Nader have any advice for Bush? I have some advice for him...

My advice to Mr. Nader, he should take 5 frikin minutes to peruse Kerry's website and actually get a frikin grip on Kerry's positions before doling out frikin advice.

Remarks of Senator John Kerry, Massachusetts State Convention
June 07, 2003

"A New Patriotism for America"

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/speeches/spc_2003_0607.html

The President talks about compassionate conservatism but where is the compassion in denying workers safety standards in the workplace; attacking the 40 hour work week and prevailing wage; where is the compassion in opposing a minimum wage increase let alone a living wage and remaining content to let people work for less than poverty levels in America?

http://www.johnkerry.com/communities/workers/worker_wrecord.html

Bush Administration: Consistently Bad For Organized Labor
Picking up where he left off in Texas, Bush made sure to include many anti-worker actions in his first-year agenda. Bush wasted no time in rolling back the progress made for America’s working men and women during the Clinton administration, making ergonomics repeal the first major bill he signed. Less than a month into his term, Bush signed four major anti-worker executive orders. Bush’s budgets have contained significant cuts to the Labor Department, including cuts for job training programs. However, Bush managed to find enough money in his budget to propose increased funds to investigate unions, but not to increase staff at the SEC to investigate corporate crimes.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0310.html

George Bush has provided major tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans and broken his promises to provide real relief to America’s middle class and working families. John Kerry will instead focus on helping middle class Americans who are paying more for health care, gas, and higher state and local taxes.

“I intend to return tax fairness to America,” said Kerry. “With George Bush’s tax cuts, the top one percent of taxpayers have received almost forty percent of the breaks. Meanwhile middle class working people have seen their share of the tax burden go up, not down.”

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/children/children_security.html

CHILDREN AND ECONOMIC SECURITY

John Kerry will get our economy back on track and ensure that low-income families are an integral part of our economic growth by creating good paying jobs with benefits and ensuring that people are properly trained and prepared to fill those jobs.

John Kerry will also make sure that when our families are working they are not living in poverty by:

* Ensuring that displaced workers are retrained.
* Raising the minimum wage and indexing it to inflation.
* Creating new, good paying jobs.

Also Ralph, never "a-s-s-u-m-e" because ... well suffice it to say, Mr. Nader you sir, are an "ass."

Consider also that JK has an actual chance to win the election, Nader does not. Because of this, Kerry will have to be more cautious than Nader in "promising the moon" to Americans, because he may actually be held accountable for what he says. Meanwhile in Mr. Naders neighborhood, he can gleefully pontificate whatever lofty bs plan he has, as he is never going to be in a position to have to implement any such plan ...

My apologies to Nader supporters in advance. I like most of YOU, I just dont care for the guy you support - likewise ey? ;)