“You’re not Christ. You’re not Prince Hamlet.”
Veteran political activist and consumer champion Ralph Nader, blamed by the Democrats for costing them the tight 2000 elections…is mulling a 2008 bid for the White House.
He told AFP that he had launched a presidential exploratory committee “to test the waters to see if we can get enough contributions and resources, such as skilled staff” to run as an independent candidate.
Nader told AFP he wanted to fight “the injustices, deprivations and insolutions that the candidates are ignoring” such as failing to address the need for a living wage, health care for all and the “enormous, bloated, wasteful military budget…” and vehemently rejected the title of “spoiler.”
“It is a title that is never applied to a Democrat or a Republican. It is only applied to a third party candidate,” he said.
Which is a crock.
Independents are free to express themselves inside – and outside – the two establishment political parties. After eight years of Bush League rule, the last thing we need is another messiah.
Damn. Just when for the first time in …well, as long as I’ve been voting anyway…it looked like we could end up with two promising tickets representing different viewpoints but ethical leaders I could at least respect even in disagreement along comes another spoiler.
Where oh where is Ross Perot!
The Democrats worry because they keep throwing crappy candidates up there that some liberals like me cannot bring themselves to vote for. They need to start working for our votes instead of putting anyone up there and thinking they have a right to it.
What is wrong with you Americans? Is Democracy only valid with 2 almost identical parties? You have only one more party than Cuba. Maybe more candidates should come forward with the real problems facing the nation, then you may get more than 10% of the population out to vote. Nader didn’t lose the 2000 election, the low voter turn out is to blame. Maybe an actual social-democratic party would be a good thing in the USA. It has done wonders in Canada. The NDP may not get into power, but they help sway the vote in Parliament…
I hope he runs. If it comes down to Obama and McCain, or Billary and McCain–who would be able to tell the difference?
Nader will do what he can to at least get the issues on the table for discussion. I am tired of a choice between Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
As much as the psuedo-Left likes to vilify him, he IS a true American hero.
There is no difference between Democrats or Republicans. Both are puppets to corporatism. The only thing Ralf Nader will add, is giving the US an illusion of a working democracy.
#5, that’s a valid point but in hindsight, Bush and Gore were certainly not Tweedle Dum /Tweedle Dee, although that is how Nader tried to portray them at the time.
Is Democracy only valid with 2 almost identical parties?
According to Duverger’s law, single-member district plurality voting systems almost always result in two “broker” parties. Which is what we have.
#4: I’m with you! I find it incomprehensible that the vast differences in opinion and outlook for American voters have to be simplified, compromised, and distilled down to a choice between the Right and the Left. I lived in Canada, and I saw how both the Liberals and the Conservatives of the day (1980’s) both had to take the NDP into account many, many times.
Hell, Ralph Nader is the reason we got stuck with who we got in any election he got his name on the ballot. All he is is a spoiler, because his message and presence aren’t mainstream, but just large enough to cause trouble.
#2: I voted for Perot both times he ran. He was the only candidate at the time to plainly talk any sense about issues. He’s 77 now, still active, and still with a lot to say:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/94827
John, The next time you crash your car you should thank Ralph Nader for forcing the automakers to include seatbelts. In this fight against fascism we need MORE men like Nader.
Remember who is really at fault here folks, if Al Gore had done the right thing and dropped out, Ralph Nader would be President.
I voted for Nader in 2000 and I am proud I did. I still don’t know why people blame him for Gore’s defeat. The Supreme Court cost Gore the election, not Nader. Every single recount done since the court’s decision has shown that Gore won. Plus more registered Democrats in Florida voted for Bush than Nader. I get tired of people scapegoating Nader for Gore’s loss and implying people that voted for Nader somehow voted for Bush. Its just plain inaccurate.
I welcome Nadar, and Bloomberg to, and lets drag up Faubus. Two drastically different philosophies being expressed by the two parties and simpletons can’t see any difference. Hell lets just make everyone write someones name on the ballot, we don’t need a president, look what the last one our simple minded electorate chose because the talking heads on TV told them how to vote. Bah Humbug.
I get tired of people scapegoating Nader for Gore’s loss and implying people that voted for Nader somehow voted for Bush. Its just plain inaccurate.
There was a saying at one time that went like this:
Bull Moose plus an elephant equals a donkey.
Sorry, that was supposed to be:
An elephant divided by a bull moose equals a donkey.
1912 was a long time ago.
Nader got things done like seat belts – but that is far from being qualified to be President.
I can understand Nader coming out with the popular new twist of the Blue Meanies – the Green Meanies
The Green Meanies arrive in Pepperland and do everything they can to oppress the place – The world must be Green Max …regardless of logic. Like for example “Green” compact florescent lamps creating high tech waste with lead and mercury. What a goof!
Cheers
I didn’t vote for Nader in 2000. Now, I wish I had.
Yea, Nader. RUN RUN RUN.
The more the merrier. Every single human that’s ever lived would be better than Hillary.
Anyone else think that Nader is secretly funded by the RNC?
Calin, you really need to stop using conspiracy theories.
Why did I just hear Radiohead’s “Airbag” in my head? Maybe that could be his campaign song. “in an intastella burst, i am back to save the universe’..?
Nah, I think “Just” would work better. Talk about a glutton for punishment.
# 3 Aaron_W said, >> The Democrats worry because they keep throwing crappy candidates up there that some liberals like me cannot bring themselves to vote for.
If you think AL Gore was a crappy candidate, I wish you’d stop calling yourself an liberal.
I think Al Gore would have made a GREAT president — certainly a gazillion times better than Bush Jr.
For starters, I think he would have read the PDB warning that bin Laden was planning on hijacking jets in the USA.
America would be SO different today if Gore’s win in 2000 had not by thrown out by the conservative Supreme Court.
[Message deleted – Violation of Posting Guidelines. – ed.]
Nadir wants to strengthen the fedgov, as if it’s not too strong now.
How many have noticed the number of Democrats and liberals supporting McCain?
Is there a Republican or Conservative in the race?
When do these old guys loose their objective reasoning?
Anything is better than another land war in the middle east.
“John,( John who?? If you will read the line directly under the thread title, it will tell you who posted it.) the next time you crash your car you should thank Ralph Nader for forcing the automakers to include seatbelts. In this fight against fascism we need MORE men like Nader.”
Yes. Apparently your irony detector has shorted out.
So, in this fight against fascism, we need more government forcing things down the public’s throat “for their own good.” Ya. That’ll show those fascists. And while they’re at it, maybe they can make the trains run on time.
And incidentally, I have always believed – unlike Mr. Nadir and kindred spirits – that the secret to surviving car crashes is drive skillfully enough to not get in them in the first place – and insist that the government require the same of everyone, even if it does – and it will – cut into car sales, parts sales and insurance company profits.
I would have voted for McCain that year over Nader had he been on the ballot, and McCain over Gore too, but any sensible person could tell Bush was an idiot.
But McCain wasn’t in the race. The question is, if Nader wasn’t in the race, would you have voted for Bush, or Gore?
I don’t know. Is there a real financial conservative left in the Republican party?
Hell, I’ll take that a step further. Is there a real financial conservative left in the entire city of Washington??
Nader Myth 2000: 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.
Nader Myth 2004:Utilizing the Democrats’ stigma, Bush’s campaign makes support calls for Nader the spoiler. Once again Ralph is targeted for being Ralph, especially when educated Democrats hear the news.
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.