Confession Time: I supported Nader in 2000.

[NightTrain]

At the time, it seemed like the right thing for a progressive to do. After all, I lived in a solid blue state (Connecticut). Plus, Al Gore was the V.P. of a popular incumbent who had presided over eight years of relative peace and prosperity. And to top it off, his opponent was inexperienced, inarticulate, and wholly incompetent. I figured, how could Gore possibly lose the election, whether or not I voted for him? So I cast my ballot for the presidential candidate whose values most closely reflected my own.

Not surprisingly, Gore won Connecticut, as I'm sure John Kerry will next Tuesday. However, I'm *not* voting for Nader again this time. We need to get Bush out of our White House, and we need to show the rest of the world that the American people as a whole reject the Bush Doctrine. As such, I will cast my vote for Senator Kerry in the hope that he not only wins the election but does so in a landslide!

OK, you have the flamebait. If you want to browbeat me for something I did four years ago, here's your opportunity!

[dave502d]

1. Gore

[JohnnyCougar]

2. I did too!

I was unimpressed with Gore. And I was not turned on to politics at the time. And I voted in a swing state!

[Kanary]

3. Lamb to the slaughter?

There are things on this forum that just aren't spoken about, unless one wants all hell to break loose.

:hi:

Kanary, who keeps a lot of secrets..... :)

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Pro-Nader voter in 2000. Anti-Bu$h voter this time around. Would be

voting for Nader or a Green, though, if circumstances were different this time.

[amazona]

5. let bygones by bygones

A very good friend of mine did the same thing. There is no point in browbeating anyone. Time has told the tale. The fact that progressives can actually learn from their mistakes is the best thing about them. Wingnuts just dig in and either lie or insist that the thing they did was the thing to do. This is why they all seem frozen in 1957.

[trotsky]

6. Same here.

Minnesota was very safe for Gore, so I figured, plus a few things about Gore pissed me off (Occidental stock, etc.) so I voted Nader.

Never again.

[havocmom]

7. We still love ya

It did seem unlikely Gore would lose. And he didn't!

edit: typo

[Dez]

8. Nader in 2000

Yea, I voted for Nader in 2000 also. I felt really good about voting for him, because it's the only time I voted for someone in which I totally agreed with on the issues. I knew he wouldn't win, but it felt good anyways.

I was living in Wa. State then, now am back in Az, and I am voting for Kerry this time. Kerry needs my vote here in Az, and I am backing him all the way. Sorry Ralph, we can't stand to have Shrub in office for 4 more years, this country can't handle that!

Dez

[Burma Jones]

9. Hey, you voted Nader in a smart way back in 2000

no flaming here, NOW if you were a Floridian..................

[Hello_Kitty]

10. Nader votes didn't matter in most states

Since most states were pretty solidly one way or the other. Those in the state that did matter....sadly......mattered a lot.

[proud patriot]

11. I voted for him in 96

but in 2000 I voted for Gore

[chimpy the poopthrower]

12. Well, there are DUers who voted for Bush in 2000.

Can't change the past, only the future. You don't see as many Nader thread on here these days. I think most of us don't see him as a serious factor in this election. Most people on DU know better than to repeat past mistakes.

[getoffmytrain]

13. didn't vote..

:-(

[AlCzervik]

14. I wrote in McCain in 2000

:puke:

[Bonobo]

15. I voted Nader in 2000, but I have the luxury of living in Mass...

[idiosyncratic]

16. I did too, but wouldn't have if I had been in a "close race state."

Being in California, I thought it was okay to vote for Nader. Besides, I've always voted for non-major-party candidates before.

However, I've lost all respect for Ralph and he will never again get my vote.

[gennifer6]

17. We browbeat ourselves

I work two jobs and now also volunteer every day at the Kerry campaign office in my neighbourhood...I also voted Nader in the last election and feel I've got blood on my hands and need to redeem myself, so I've resigned myself to do WHATEVER IT TAKES, like lose sleep time and sanity ....Had I known what would have happened with Bush in office I would have just saved the revolution for a better time....

[funkhowser]

18. for all you Nader voters, non-voters ...

... virtual beat-down! ... ;)

We're counting on you on 11/2!

[LeftyMom]

19. I did too

Thankfully, I am in California, which was a strong blue state.

While I still respect some of the work Nader did in the past I can't see myself voting for him again.

[AlFrankenFan]

20. Me too...but first I supported John McCain

So shoot me.

[NightTrain]

22. Bang! Bang!

:evilgrin:

[sangh0]

24. Someone's always gotta take it a step too far!!

just kiddin'

[LeftCoast]

21. I didn't vote for Nader last time, but I was tempted...

...for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. I was also disillusioned with the Democratic party (still am, really). I'm enthusiastically suporting Kerry this time around though. Glad you are too!

:hi:

[Technowitch]

23. Thanks NightTrain

No flames back at ya. The important thing is you're with us this time.

Welcome back.