So is there ANY chance whatsoever that Nader is pulling a fast

[fishface]

one on the Republicans and he'll throw all of his supporters to Kerry at the last moment,just to crush Bush like the bug he is?
I have to think that either he's gone off his nut and is going to allow Bush to further destroy his life's work and it's just a demented ego that's keeping him going or....

he's playing the Republicans like a violin and is secretly grinning like a Cheshire Cat knowing what he's going to do.

[JSJ]

1. Kerry really outa promise to give him Commerce...

...like Nader wants and deserves.

And, while we're at it, Feingold for Homeland.

[fishface]

3. Nader deserves nothing if he continues this insane quest of his.

If he is pulling a fast one of Bush then I'd agree.

[Fleshdancer]

2. I keep hoping this is the case

I'm not going to hold my breath any time soon though.

[fishface]

5. I'm not sure what more can be done to convince him that

he's become his own worst enemy.Bush is systematicly destroying most everything Nader has ever fought for.This is so bizzare you have to wonder if he's under some illusion he could make a difference and get elected..

[DieboldMustDie]

4. Even without endorsing Kerry...

he could spend whatever campaign funds he has running strongly anti-Bush ads. I can't say I'm counting on it though. :shrug:

[fishface]

6. That's the problem though..he has no funds to speak of.

His web site was running a month long campaign to raise a million bucks by July 4th. On July 1st he only had less than $250k. He has absolutely no monetary backing at this late date.

[KharmaTrain]

7. The Nader 2005 - How I Toyed With The Elections Tour

Ralph's made his fortune not fighting "corruption", but talking about it. As an "outsider" (and how one can live inside the beltway for 40 years and not be an insider is beyond me) he made his name as the pot calling the kettle black, then getting paid to speak or write about it. Name a problem Nader directly fixed? He's called media attention (part of the talking part) and that used to work...but it's not as lucrative as doing "circuit".

After the election, Nader can now command bigger bucks to speak at colleges, foundations, chambers of commerce or Steak 'n Shakes about his "electoral experiences", just like he has about the 2000 one for the past three years.

This is all about the money...and the need to shovel in more and more as some sign of "prestige" in the beltway. Ralph's just singing for his supper as his real chances in an election are slim due to his lack of an organization and being on most ballots. This ain't 2000 where Nader actually had a real organization in place, this time it's all smoke & mirrors.

[fishface]

8. The problem is his smoke and mirrors are going to get

the village idiot reinstalled.

[KharmaTrain]

9. I Still Don't See It...

Please elaborate how Nader will draw away Kerry votes? He won't. He WILL draw away voters from Bunnypants who don't want to vote for Bunnypants and still can't for Kerry. Personally, I'd love for these folks to go home, but there's gonna be a lot of GOOPies at the polls this November who are there to vote for the other races (Congress, Senate, Dog Catcher) and will swallow for Bunnypants...whereas a Nader option takes them off the board.

I like the "Nader Fear" that runs around here...that he's got the same pull/effect he did in 2000. He doesn't. But if this is what keeps some energized here. Cheers!

[fishface]

10. I can only repeat what I've been hearing.

While I don't think he has the pull this time either,as evidenced by his failure to secure his own supposed party's nomination, it's still hard to claim he'd pull more from Bush than Kerry in my opinion.Nader has the antiwar anti "dems are just like repubs" voters.When the country is as divided as it seems to be, he could pull just enough to swing the electoral votes in some states. That may be enough this time...again.

[KharmaTrain]

11. Careful With Them Polls...

I always pay little attention now to "likely voters" or elligible voters...as opposed to polls based on "committed voters"...like a Zogby.

I think that Dems & Repugnicans stuff isn't flying this time...especially among the independents I think you're concerned about. If anything, they are the more informed voters who see the stakes involved here...people like Bill Mahrer and Michael Moore...and have told Ralph not to run and have openly endorsed Kerry.

I'm watching the polling in Wisconsin...a state where Nader could make a factor...but I see his numbers below the undecideds...still the larger number to watch as those, and Nader's will shrink as we get closer to election day. Or just my guess.

[doctorbombeigh]

12. Wasn't the latest rumor that Nader wasn't going to campaign in ...

the swing states? He's got too much ego to bow out now, after all he's said over the past few months. Still, he likes Edwards and he's not stupid. Nader can see that he won't have the money or the muscle this time around. He knows what Bush&Co. are, that's for sure. I think he'll stay out of the swing states and save face by running in Cali & NY. (I don't even know if he's on those ballots, but any solidly "blue" states will do.) Anyway, that's the last rumor I heard on the subject and it sounds about right.

I love Ralph, I respect him and I feel bad for him, but as has been said a skillion times - we just can't afford him this year.

And to that poster who thinks Nader's never actually done anything - shame on you!!

I direct his/her attention to modern automobile safety standards, clean air, water and food standards, worker safety regulations (OSHA), along with many, many other real and tangible benefits the American people currently* enjoy, courtesy of Ralph Nader. These battles were fought and won by Mr. Nader and his Nader's Raiders, who may have been before your time but I remember them well. He cannot (and should not) be dismissed as an empty windbag, no matter how irritating his personality may be - it's just not right.

*Well - Reagan gutted them as much as possible, Clinton didn't do enough and Bush&Co. have been dismantling them for three years, so "currently" is questionable.

[fishface]

13. I hadn't heard any talk of him staying out of the swing states.

No matter what he does at this point, he's becoming a distraction and he's causing the Dems to use energy/money they should be focusing strictly on the village idiot.

[SheBop]

14. No. (eom)