Nader supports Bush

[Luke T.]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Nader supports Bush

Well, you can repeat it if you like, but the fact is, he's not a Green Party member. Never has been.

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/nation/7515449.htm

http://csf.colorado.edu/forums/consbio/2001/msg00195.html

Actually, you could just save yourself some time and Google "ralph nader" "not a green party member".

If Nader has been the Green Party candidate, and yet they say he is not a Green Party member, then that makes Nader and the Greens idiots. What, he didn't pay the six buck to join?

He has been their candidate. That makes him a Green Party member in my book. I didn't hear him protesting that he didn't want to be their candidate.

Is he not a member so he can disassociate himself from them? Be serious.

edited to add: I don't know how much it really costs to "join" the Green Party. It doesn't matter. Nader is their man.

 

[Cleon]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Nader supports Bush

If Nader has been the Green Party candidate, and yet they say he is not a Green Party member, then that makes Nader and the Greens idiots. What, he didn't pay the six buck to join?

He has been their candidate. That makes him a Green Party member in my book. I didn't hear him protesting that he didn't want to be their candidate.

Is he not a member so he can disassociate himself from them? Be serious.

edited to add: I don't know how much it really costs to "join" the Green Party. It doesn't matter. Nader is their man.

No, Nader's not a GP member. Say whatever you like. He's not on the membership roles, has no vote in the Party. That's reality. Deal with it however you wish. Or continue to make your Grand Pronouncements That Are True Because Luke Says So.

Nader's kept his independence for any number of reasons, the main one (I think) being that he's not answerable to the Party.

Frankly, this will be a good thing for the Greens--Nader's never been a particularly good candidate. I'd much rather they run someone with some charisma, like Camejo.

[It depends on the state. In Georgia, it costs $25.]

 

[Luke T.]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Nader supports Bush

No, Nader's not a GP member. Say whatever you like. He's not on the membership roles, has no vote in the Party. That's reality. Deal with it however you wish. Or continue to make your Grand Pronouncements That Are True Because Luke Says So.

I did say "in my book." It's okay if your book says different.

I sure hope George Bush has paid his Republican Party dues...

Come to think of it, I've never paid any dues to any party, but I am a registered voter as a Republican. For over twenty-two years now. I hope they don't come after me for back-dues.

 

[Cleon]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Nader supports Bush

Come to think of it, I've never paid any dues to any party, but I am a registered voter as a Republican. For over twenty-two years now. I hope they don't come after me for back-dues.

Well, it's interesting you bring that up, and it's one reason why I won't vote Democrat or Republican. (My ballot usually has a curious mixture of "Libertarian" and "Green" slots filled in.)

The two major parties have integrated themselves with the election system. If you register as a Democrat or Republican, you are for all intents and purposes a member of that Party. You even vote in the primary elections, where the federal election system kindly helps these two parties figure out who they're going to run.

Third parties--such as Greens, Libertarians, Socialists, Constitutionalists, etc.--aren't connected with the elections board. (In fact, Nader's 2000 run was an attempt to get 5% of the vote, and the recognition of the FEC.) You don't "register" as one of these organizations to join them, you join them via their internal processes like you'd join, say, the NRA or EFF. Most of the time this involves some kind of dues (though the Greens aren't real anal about making sure you pay). Often it involves signing an application saying you agree with the party's principles.

This really belongs as a separate thread--I'd love to see a discussion on third parties and the election system. I'd really be interested to see shanek's comments on the subject.