I have NO intention of voting for Nader. I will NOT vote for Nader. I will vote for Kerry, Edwards, or any other Dem the party puts up as its guy. Period. End of discussion.
But I'm pissed off. Why? Because a lot of you are ignorant, uninformed, fear-mongering haters. I've spent a week researching a number of things as relates to Nader in 2000. Here are the FACTS.
Fact Number one:
Over three times as many registered Democrats voted for Bush as voters of all parties voted for Nader in Florida. John 'Yogic-flying' Haeglin got enough votes to swing the election to Gore. Where were the 'Damn you Haeglin!' protests in 2000 after the election?
The first people that deserve blame in Florida are the DEMS who voted for BUSH. Then the DEMS who approved the ballot they later bitched about. THEN we can talk about Nader - and Haeglin.
Can we stop blaming everyone but ourselves?
Fact Number Two:
More Republicans in New Hampshire voted for Nader than Democrats. Can we let go of the 'Nader cost us New Hampshire' bullshit? And, again, Haeglin also got enough votes to tip things for Nader, but he gets another pass.
Fact Number Three:
Only three candidates in the history of the U.S. have won the Presidency and lost their home state: Polk, Wilson and Nixon. Nader had NOTHING to do with Gore losing Tennessee.
Fact Number Four:
Buchanen 'cost' Bush several states, including New Mexico and Wisconsin. He got more votes than Gore's margin of victory over Bush. So did Browne. Did they 'save us' from Bush winning those states, or did Gore win them? We can't have it both ways.
The FACT is EVERY YEAR third party candidates run, and sometimes they get enough votes in some states to 'cost' someone a state. It's a democracy.
Don't like Nader? Fine. But can we STOP being as irrational and shrill as the GOP? It makes me ashamed to be a Democrat.
Seriously.
Don't want Nader voters to vote Nader? Here's a novel concept: REACH OUT! STOP screaming at them! Stop berating them! It won't win any converts and will only make it worse.