> On Sep 18, 2004, at 10:35 AM, Joe Smith wrote:
>
> > The trouble is he doesn't get
> > press coverage on off-years so we don't hear about it.
>
> Yes, but on the on-years, what press coverage does he get? Not about
> the issues he's pushing.
>
> Fact is, he's just not a very effective progressive spokesperson. He
> has a cult following, but very little impact on the general public. We
> need to find people who *do* get press coverage. The days of lefties
> off in a corner talking to themselves should be long gone.
Nader has been getting surprisingly consistent press coverage, at least in the corporate media. True, it mostly swirls around the drive by DP-aligned 527s to block his ballot access rather than the issues his campaign raises. And true, the media has treated the issue with kid gloves. Although I have my doubts, I would like to believe that the Florida SC decision will serve as a wake up call to cut the DP less slack on this matter. Only time will tell.
It seems to me that a big problem is that the left media has largely dropped the ball this year. They should be concerned about ballot access issues. They should be helping to get the Nader-Camejo message out to the grassroots. Instead they are having to cheerlead for an increasingly lackluster and embarrassing Kerry campaign. In retrospect 2004 will serve as a reminder that there is a sizable chunk of the left that is most comfortable when lining up behind Democratic candidates who don't listen to them.
joe