No! Nader Is Back!
Slate is reporting that Ralph Nader has formed an exploratory committee. This is what Nader's website says:
"This is what we are contemplating.
Something new.
Something big.
Something bold.
Something that works.
Something that will prod young and old alike.
To join in a mass push back against the corporate powers that are dictating our future."
If you donate $300 to his campaign, you will get some Michael Moore DVDs and some other shit. It's like a PBS pledge drive. Only instead of quality programing, your money funds his ego. And we get to see his tired ass trolling college campuses talking about the time he invented seatbelts. Please explain why Nader won't stop running for president.
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10:46 am
He's not even a member of the Green Party...
11:21 am
Nader won't stop running for president because the two parties don't stop selling out to corporate interests, unless they're losing votes to third party candidates.
You can put an "it's ego" spin on just about any action take by anyone at anytime. I personally don't see fighting for seatbelts, safety, environmental protection, consumer rights, voter rights, etc. and speaking at campuses to inspire young people to make a difference in this world for themselves as egotistical, but oh of course he did it all to make himself feel superior to rest of us, right? Oooo what a horrible horrible human being. A little weird though that instead of protecting his allegedly precious ego that he keeps fighting for what he believes in, opening himself up time and time again to condemnation from former allies, blame him for the Iraq War and other Bush crimes (or even the Virginia Tech massacre, as one Huffington Post blogger did -- oh please!), and in short berate him more harshly for things Bush has done than they do Bush himself!
Run Ralph run!
12:12 pm
Jason:
At least Nader saved lives with his seatbelts. How many lives have you saved? Squat. You're supporting the corporate status quo. You and the Democrats will continue to stay quiet as Gazans dies at the hands of our "friends" the Israelis. You and the Democrats will continue to fight single payer. You and the Democrats will continue to support nuclear power. You and the Democrats will continue to support the corporate criminals who fund the Democrats.
In short, you are the problem, not Ralph. Get active, or get out of the way. Check it out -- naderexplore08.org.
12:36 pm
When Ralph Nader disclosed his personal finances in 2000 in order to run for president, his net worth was nearly $4 million dollars, including $1 million invested in Cisco Systems. I guess it's OK to profit from large corporate interests while accusing others of selling out to them.
12:54 pm
Jamie:
So the man makes investments. And he gives away most of his money to public interest causes. Where would you have him put it, in his mattress? Jamie, safe assumption that too support the corrupt Democratic Party and you too are part of the problem. In short, get active or get out of the way. Check it out at naderexplore08.org.
12:59 pm
with supporters like Niagara, Nader has a great shot, wouldn't you say? Because, you know, there's nothing like accusations and witty statements like "get active or get out of the way".
1:05 pm
Sara.h:
Okay Sara.h. Which corrupt Democrat do you support?
1:26 pm
The fact is, we have a 2-party system, like it or not, and the Democrats more closer align with the ideals of most Nader supporters than the Republicans. Just look at Bush's Supreme Court picks, or compare the Bush war in Iraq vs. Gore's statement that he wouldn't have invaded.
Given that Nader has zero chance of winning any election, it's simple arithmetic to conclude that Nader's running will only help the Republican candidate.
1:31 pm
https://rnexplore08.updatelog.com is Nader's website
Nader's campaign filmmaker, Jurgen Vsych, has just released her new book about the 2004 campaign, "What Was Ralph Nader Thinking?" http://thewomandirector.com
1:41 pm
This is great. Ralph Nader makes all the wrong sort of people angry. Of course, my money's still on The Kid from Springfield, Ralph Wiggum.
1:50 pm
How is Obama corrupt? Do you really think Nader will bring about universal healthcare?
1:52 pm
Note to DNC Officials: for a modest fee I can introduce you to an array of exorcists from many traditions.
2:15 pm
2000 election
Bush: 50,460,110
Gore: 51,003,926
Nader is for abolishing the electoral college.
Re: Jason Cherkis... Check the $'s on who the pharmaceutical and medical lobbyists support.
The Democratic party will fight to keep candidates especially Ralph off of the ballot. This is corruption, and is why Nader must run. We need fair access, not some money game that battles it out in courts.
4:04 pm
Jason:
How is Obama corrupt?
Check out Obama's contributions from nuclear power group Exelon. Then check out his position on nuclear power.
Obama said at one time he was for single payer, now he's opposed. He flipped because of the power the health insurance and pharma lobbies.
Nader, if he becomes a candidate, will be the only one on the stage for single payer. Will he bring us single payer? Only if people who believe in single payer stand up to the Obamas and Clintons of this world.
7:59 pm
Niagara-
wasn't Dennis Kucinich for single-payer?
I think he was, and was on the stage for a long time.
how does it benefit anyone if the result of having a third-party candidate is that we wind up with someone who refers to universal healthcare as "socialized medicine?" in the White House?
8:26 pm
Ralph Nader’s legacy encompasses the spectrum of his life long work, especially his presidential candidacies. He has started a presidential exploratory committee http://www.naderexplore08.com
My political and civic identity was born through exposure to the candidate for whom I caucused for in Nevada, Congressman Dennis Kucinich.
Not only was I going on a limb, scrambling to educate myself on his record, bio, the issues, his campaign style not to mention volunteering for a political campaign, calling radio shows, canvassing, going to a town conference, and attending a free speech rally where I was interviewed for a published newspaper article.
Wooo!
A lot to absorb and digest to say the least.
Part of this process was owning my power as a citizen.
I, after 31 years, affirm:
* Politicians are public servants. They are elected to serve the public. We are the public. We are their Boss.
* When does a Boss grovel at the feet of their employee?
* A vote cast is duty. The highest level of civic participation in this democratic republic. The highest level of critical thinking is a mandatory prerequisite.
* The media’s power lies within the scope of communicative channels of distribution. The more channels accessed produces the variety of information and opinion necessary to serve as background information. Independent research is equally necessary.
Our future, the future of my three boys, everyone, everywhere is deeply affected by civic, social administration and control; in simpler terms, politics and government.
If we are to honor our existence and our time on Earth than we must participate.
Fight off all urges or coercion to be satisfied with the role of spectator.
A long comment, I know.
I strongly support Ralph Nader as an activist, and as a President candidate.
The Democratic Party uses the Nader Myth to cover up the fact that Al Gore abandoned his supporters and all voters in Florida.
Diebold delivered on it's promise.
10:00 pm
You know, there's a time when practicality trumps idealism. It's one thing to throw away a vote when you're in college, and the election isn't a very important one. Go ahead, vote Green, or Socialist Workers, or for Nader. But ever since the 2000 election, that's all in the past. Every vote counts, and sometimes you have to suck it up and vote for the (much) lesser of two evils.
And wouldn't it be exciting to see the first woman or African-American President inaugurated, even if they aren't perfect by Nader-esque standards?
11:49 pm
Sara.h:
Kucinich was for single payer. Now he's gone.
If Nader doesn't run, no one will be for single payer.
Hillarycare and Obamacare are the same -- they keep the insurance companies in the game. The insurance companies can't be in the game, because they are the problem.
We need single payer because it's the only way to cut the fat out the system. See Michael Moore's movie Sicko.
Voting for the least worst makes things worse.
Do I think Hillary would be better than Romney or McCain? No. On health care, the same. On militarism, she might prove worse, because she has to prove she has a masculine side.
They all are corporate militarists. Obama too. He wants to increase the size of the military.
So, time to start anew. 1,000 activists in every Congressional district is what Nader is proposing. See naderexplore08.org.
Keep an open mind.
Niagara
8:36 am
"So the man makes investments. And he gives away most of his money to public interest causes. Where would you have him put it, in his mattress?"
So, the I voted democrat. And I believe in a better system, and work towards that goal. What would you have me do instead, vote for a candidate I know can't win?
Corporate America is here and now. It exists. Of course it would be stupid for Nader to keep his money in a mattress rather than investing it. That would be throwing money away. Kind of like throwing a vote away, isn't it? Sorry Niagara. It's hypocrisy.
10:07 am
Niagara:
I've seen Sicko. Immediately after seeing it (on opening night), I came home to find a bill in my mailbox from a lab that had run tests and, without notice to me, was no longer an approved provider under my health insurance. I was infuriated, and read all of the candidates plans for health care.
As a person with a chronic medical condition, I think single-payer is the ultimate goal. But I also believe that you have to work within the system to make changes toward that ultimate goal. It is, as Mr. T suggests, being practical instead of being idealistic. I don't consider myself a "sellout" or a "hypocrite" for supporting a candidate or a party that seeks to bring us closer to the goal. To the contrary, I think that my support gets us closer than yours.
10:24 am
At least Nader gives the most delusional someone to obsess on, so the rest of us don't have to waste our time on them.
So, yeah, let him run for whatever the heck he wants. After all, the 2000 election was a fluke, right?
11:10 am
Yeah, Obama and Hillary have health care plans that prove that they are capable of compromising with people who don't want government run health care. Their plans prove that they are capable of taking intermediate steps towards a goal rather than just vilifying those who aren't on board with an all-or-nothing radical change approach. These characteristics are exactly what qualifies them both to be the leader of a democratic country and the lack of these characteristics is what makes Ralph Nader a joke. I don't blame him for running in 2000. It was the best chance he had to getting a 3rd party above the popular vote threshold to start qualifying for matching funds. But he missed. Since then, his presidential candidacy has been all about an old man's vain quest to remain relevant. I pity the sick old bastard, but I wouldn't vote for him if you put a gun to my head.
11:12 am
I fully support single payer health insurance. But the way for Congress to pass it is NOT to split the Democrats again. As you did in the distant past, Mr. Nader....and the way Obama is doing it now...is to use your power to build up the pressure from the base (i.e. the voters) to put pressure on Congress and the new President to promote it. If elected, Obama is likely to respond favorably. No President, neither you nor Clinton nor Obama can make major changes on major issues without upward pressure on Congress from the people.