When did you lose all respect for Nader?

[ButterflyBlood]

For me it was between the 2000 election and his announcement he was running again. I used to defend him, but after hearing him continue to say there was no difference between Bush and Gore, that he didn't care what happened I turned off to him. But I figured I would give him one last chance and possibly forgive him if he didn't run again. Well fuck off Ralph.

[Cha]

1. I sure as hell knew as a novice in politics in

2000 that Gore and bush were not the same.

[Kokonoe]

2. After Perot helped Clinton get elected

I believe Nader was hired to run by republicans, just another dirty trick. Nader doesn't care who wins, it's just money and air time for him.

[mn9driver]

3. I am holding out hope

that he will suck as many resources as possible from the GOP, as they donate and work for him, then about a month before the election, he will step up to the podium and say, "SUCKAAAAHS!!! Don't anybody DARE vote for me! Get rid of this nutbag before it's too late: VOTE KERRY! We'll work on true progressivism in a less perilous election."

[depakid]

4. I haven't lost all respect for him

although I've questioned his political judgment since late in the 2000 campaign. My thoughts are that he's developed a sort of myopia, like a lot of people who reach his age do- and that's certainly not a slap at people over 70, just an observation I've made over the years about some people.

Far be it for me to speculate about or to judge his actions- I'm not privy to what goes on in his inner circle. But I will say that all the talk about Nader being philosophically aligned with Republicans is misguided at best.

[beyurslf]

5. Maybe I am too young to know all the good things he did, but I never

respected him. I didn't have to see GW be President to know that Gore would be different.

[sandnsea]

6. Lars Larson

When he became willing to have the most disgusting loud-mouthed Republican shill for him in Oregon, well that's when I lost ALL respect. Before that I just thought he was misguided.

[slenderfungus]

7. Why not give it a rest with the Nader bashing already...

It seems realistic to me that the polls are being skewed to fuel dramatic effect and the numbers are not nearly as narrow as they present. Ralph pretty much lacks any of the organized support that he had in 2000. Bush has lost so much support within his own party and independents (as well as a fair share of conservative Democrats) which weren't even enough to win him the popular vote (or the electoral vote for that matter). All Democrats are far more inspired to vote for their candidate this time around and are admittedly willing to vote for anyone or anything that isn't named Bush. Most independents and even a shocking number of traditional Republicans are pledging their votes against Bush. And that's not even factoring in the undeniable impact that Fahrenheit 9/11 will play. Ultimately, if Kerry fails to win against Bush, it has more to do with the failure of the Democratic leadership to not run the strongest candidate against Bush rather than some shattering impact potentially brought on by the Don Quixote aspect which Ralph's campaign seemingly represents. Ultimately, just have some faith in your candidate and focus on discussing the positive and constructive vision and positions that Kerry is trying to present. Save the negativity and desperation for the Bush cronies and don't worry so much about Ralph. I'm convinced that Ralph is offering some really constructive perspectives in this process and it reflects poorly on Democrats to portray his positions as being either sinister or insipid as most of what he's suggesting represent traditional Democratic values. At this point, judging from the relentless hostile attitudes on this board towards Ralph's campaign, I'm probably coming off as an asshole. If that's the case, I apologize as that's not my intentions. Regardless of my defense of Ralph's campaign, I'll be celebrating big time when John Kerry wins this election.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi slenderfungus!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[mahina]

8. Funny, I asked myself that question on Saturday.

Nader was literally two blocks away from my home and I didn't bother to walk five minutes to hear the man speak. This from a political junkie.

[LandOLincoln]

9. How's about 1967 or '68, after hearing from a couple of former Raiders

just what that egomaniac and closet Pubbie was really like.

[mandyky]

10. Other - His debate with Howard Dean

I voted nader in 2000, and supported his right to run this cycle.
The debate nixed both for me.

[union_maid]

11. October of 2000

Up until then I never believed that he'd actively contribute to Bush's election. Around then I realized that not only would he do that, but he had no problem with Republicans using his candidacy directly in campaigning against Gore. That was it for Ralph for me. I said that I'd never forgive him if Bush was elected and his candidacy had anything to do with it. He was, it did and I won't. It's been worse than anyone could have imagined and he's running again and openly taking help from the GOP. He's as much an employee of this administration as FauxNews as far as I'm concerned.

[Zynx]

13. I've never liked him.

Maybe I'm too young to remember some of his better moments, but I've always thought he's a lying sack of shit, just as bad if not worse than the worst of our political opponents.