Breaking: Ralph Nader running for President

[southern_belle]

Source: MSNBC

coming out now.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/

[liberalnurse]

1. What Party this time?

[southern_belle]

2. not sure.

:(

[southern_belle]

4. will be on Meet the Press

[liberalnurse]

5. I just turned it on to" Meat" the Press.

I'm not yet hearing what Party he is picking yet.......This time....I don't even care.

I believe he is very insignificant....

Unless Ron Paul joins him...Then, that could be a cramp in the plans.

[AngryOldDem]

8. You almost need a decoder ring to understand what he's saying.

He is speaking in such vague, often cliched terms that he's looking like a joke. But then, that's a talent of Ralph's.

If he wants a "broader debate of the issues that face the American people," then why the hell didn't he enter the process about a year or so ago? His sneaking-in-through-the-backdoor MO is getting very old and tiresome.

[John Gauger]

50. That's over.

The important issues were already under discussion when Kucinich and Edwards were in the race. Now the important issues are dead. It's over, he can't bring them back. I think it's time he just gave up on this whole "saving America" thing. It's not going to happen.

[CanSocDem]

65. He entered the fight 40 years ago.....

...and, as he told Tweety, he's still 'on message'. He wants to improve YOUR lot in life. Why do you find that "tiresome"....????



.

[AndyTiedye]

94. Running a SPOILER Campaign to Throw the Race to the Repigs is Fighting?

For whom?

It what way has the country benefited from having 8 years of a Bush** pResidency compared to Gore?

I don't doubt that Ralphie has benefited personally, but the country, not so much.

[aquart]

97. Who is funding him?

[orleans]

104. then where the fuck is he in off years?

if he wants to improve my "lot in life" then why the hell is he risking my future to give mccain a real chance for the white house by splitting dem/liberal/indpendent votes?

[CBHagman]

107. Probably because 1-2 percent of the vote stands for zilch.

He entered the fight 40 years ago.....

Put the emphasis on the past tense there. If he really wanted to effect change in the United States, he wouldn't do this little dance every four years where he sanctimoniously tells us he represents change. Well, if you want change you need allies, consensus, political power, and heavy representation in at least one of the three branches of government. Congressional seats, let alone the presidency, are not awarded on 2 percent of the vote.

What he's doing is completely fake. I don't know whether he's vindictive, delusional, egotistical, or some appalling combination thereof, but the actions he's taking do not indicate concern for the American people. He's just putting on a pointless show.

[CanSocDem]

112. Eventually...

"What he's doing is completely fake. I don't know whether he's vindictive, delusional, egotistical, or some appalling combination thereof, but the actions he's taking do not indicate concern for the American people. He's just putting on a pointless show."

For starters, it has been proven time and again that his running last time did NOT give the election to Bush. If you have any concept of his message at all, you would know that he has no allegiance to the Republicans and the corporate right. He has always been about empowerment and education, or, empowerment THROUGH education. He clearly see's the promotional value of running for pres., NOT FOR HIMSELF (as is a popular meme around here), but for his ideas of empowering the American citizen.

How can that be bad....????

All I can say is, on the the extreme chance that he gets elected POTUS, rest assured that he will do more for you, MrHagman, than anybody the Dem's or Repgs could come up with. He would be like a really well organized Dennis Kucinich.

.

[Realityhack]

126. sorry but no

"For starters, it has been proven time and again that his running last time did NOT give the election to Bush."

Evidence has been presented both ways. It's far from being clear that he did no significant damage. There has certainly been no 'proof' of any kind.

What we can say is that aside from possibly aiding a Bush victory his running meant/did fuck all. Which means he should know better than to do the whole thing again.

The man is an egotistical cry baby who lost all his morals years ago.

[DLnyc]

140. Some problems with your statements.

"it has been proven time and again that his running last time did NOT give the election to Bush"
It has? Can you provide some link or evidence? Ralph pulled 90,000 votes in Florida in 2000. Since Nader voters tend to be more left than right, it is reasonable to assume that without Nader, Gore would have had at least 10,000 votes more that Bush in Flofida in 2000, which presumably would have made it a hell of a lot harder for the Repubs to steal Florida. So in that sense, Nader clearly helped Bush steal the presidency in 2000.

"NOT FOR HIMSELF (as is a popular meme around here)" Your saying it doesn't make it so. Since his actions (running spoiler presidential campaigns) harm the very people he says he wants to help (by making it easier for Repubs to get in), the reasonable conclusion is that he is doing it for himself, since he is running in spite of, not at the request of, millions of people like me.

"on the the extreme chance that he gets elected POTUS" Yes, very extreme. Like zero chance. Modern presidential elections have been very close and the media have eliminated radical candidates from serious consideration almost without effort. So Ralph will only be allowed to run a spoiler role, not a winning one.


If Ralph wanted to spend his time organizing a grassroots movement in areas where he could actually win, I would have some respect for him. Using the presidential election as his personal soapbox to deliver a message that has no clear constituency, while at the same time making it easier for a more rightwing candidate to get in, is selfish. Calling that a "meme" doesn't change the reality.

[CBHagman]

151. Sasha Abramsky explains it all.

While looking for another news story, I stumbled on this blog in the Guardian website. It boils down the Nader problems quite neatly.

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/sasha_abramsky/2008/02/spoiler_not_saviour.html

Here's a man widely seen as performing a sabotage role in the 2000 presidential election that helped propel George Bush to power; in 2004, he attempted a redux, and his vote sank from 2.7% to a dismal 0.3%. Now, in 2008, Nader is arguing that the most energizing primary season in modern American history, one that has brought tens of millions of voters out across the country - especially the young voters whom Nader has always most appealed to - is all about "the few." Meanwhile, he, Nader, who hasn't criss-crossed the country for months addressing crowds, debating policy choices or bringing out voters, is somehow about "the many."

As they say in New York: "Who ya kidding?"

Nader's argument is that the two parties are two sides of the same corrupt coin, and that their policies somehow represent a conspiracy of consensus designed to exclude the multitudes from political participation. I'm sorry, but anyone who thinks there's no difference between Obama or Clinton and Bush or McCain has more than a couple of screws loose.

And if you think the Norma Desmond comparison was brutal (though it certainly wasn't undeserved), Abramsky isn't done yet.

Once upon a time the name Ralph Nader was synonymous with the best reform impulses in American politics. These days, he's just another Lyndon LaRouche, the perennial ego maniac with fascist tendencies, who, since the 1960s, has built up a small cult of followers on campuses around the country.

[DLnyc]

113. Regardless of what he WANTS to improve, what he HAS improved, over

and over, is Republicans' chances of getting elected. Also, he has improved his own image of himself and his bank account. As far as improving my life, not so much, at least not in the last twenty years or so.

Ralph is a grandstanding, self-agrandizing egotistical jerk, IMHO, who causes lots of damage while he says (and perhaps thinks) he's trying to help.

[LaStrega]

149. Surely he improved your life ...

By proving to you that a Corvair is "unsafe at any speed."

:sarcasm:

For the record, I agree with you. :hi:

[Realityhack]

124. Either that is a lie or he is an idiot

Entering this election has absolutely no chance of making anything better. OTOH it does run a significant risk of making things worse. Those would be 'better' and 'worse' according to Mr. Naddar's espoused views.

So either he is lying about entering to make things better.

Or he is a complete idiot who is incapable of understanding what he is doing.

[Tesha]

134. He hasn't decided yet (per our 6:00 local news) (NT)

[ohio2007]

3. the same color party as last time I would guess

I'll bet he will also run in '12,....'16,.....'20

[calimary]

15. Then he'll be a latter-day Harold Stasssen, I suppose.

That guy ran in umpteen presidential elections - every last one in vain:

Harold Stassen was probably the best-known perennial candidate, at least in the United States. The one-time Governor of Minnesota ran for the Republican nomination for President on nine occasions between 1948 and 1992. While Stassen was considered a serious candidate in 1948 and 1952, his attempts were increasingly met with derision and then amusement as the decades progressed.

in Perennial Candidate in wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perennial_candidate

ralph nader's name used to mean something. Something positive. USED to.

ralph - just do us all a favor (and yourself also). GO AWAY.

[John Kerry VonErich]

82. Or Lyndon LaRouche

nt

[John Q. Citizen]

23. He didn't run on the Green party ticket in 04. He ran as an independent

[aquart]

98. You sure they want him?

[Unvanguard]

103. That being "none"?

The Greens nominated David Cobb in 2004. Nader ran as an independent, but I believe he also received Reform Party support.

[rpannier]

22. The Connecticut for LIEberman Party

[saigon68]

84. LOL He's like the Ground Hog

The twerp is out of the ground and didn't see his shadow again

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

141. actually, Ralph spoke out more against lieberman than he did Gore

while the Dem establishment wasin full-blown delusional Liebermania in 2000

[dchill]

44. The "Jimmy Crack Corn Party."

:)
And I don't care.

[Drum]

48. nice

:D

[durutti]

64. Probably none.

Like last time. McKinney's leading in the GP primary.

[Joe Bacon]

72. Ralph is running on the Birthday Party ticket...

Don't worry, in 2012 he'll show his true colors and run on the April Fool's Day Party ticket :evilgrin:

[tblue37]

89. Maybe he can join the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, since vanity is what it's about. n/t

[Joe Bacon]

130. Isn't he from Connecticut?

Sounds like it's tailor made for him.

[bronxiteforever]

6. He is running for the Narcissistic Personality Disorder Party (NPDP)

N/T

[liberalnurse]

11. Now that is perfect!

Factual assessment!

:rofl:

[1monster]

35. That one deserves a thread of its own so we can vote it to the Greatest Page!

:spray: :rofl: :rofl: :spray:

Good thing I always swallow my coffee before reading the next post!!!

[ChazII]

45. Agreed. n/t

[zanne]

7. Well whoop de freakin' doo. nt

[Kolesar]

9. How does that asshole get on Meet the Press when important people with important issues don't get on

You know, global warming, health coverage, air pollution, managing the collapse of empire...

[bemildred]

10. An excellent question, that.

Maybe it's because he is so clearly irrelevant to anything important.

[dchill]

71. Assholes get bumped...

to the front of the line. Surely you knew that, and just forgot for a moment. ;)

[dchill]

73. Sorry...

reply was meant for TheBorealAvenger. :)

[DuaneBidoux]

49. He is important - He's one of the highest of high Republican operatives.

[Black Adder]

125. Correct. The only way he could possibly have an effect on

the election is to rob enough votes from the Democrats to see McCain get in (if it another close POTUS election).
He owns the war in Iraq and all the dead & wounded there (and the near bankruptcy of the U.S.) as Al Gore would never have gotten y'alls into that dumbassed misadventure..

[bulloney]

58. Because it gives Melon Head Russert an excuse to ignore more relevant issues of the world.

[Lasher]

61. Not only does he get on Press the Meat...

but Russet is letting him go on and on and on, turning the segment into a free Nader campaign infomercial. And of course he's not sharing the stage with any other guest.

[The Croquist]

12. This is bad.

We don't need to lose ANY potential votes.

[humbled_opinion]

91. Votes for who?

Potential votes for Hillary... LOL if she steals this Primary from Obama she will never get my vote... Unless she prys it from my cold dead fingers.

[Robb]

13. Running mate: LaRouche!

Well, I can dream, can't I? :D

[MindMatter]

39. I was just getting ready to type that same thing.

I believe his running was justifiable the last time. There can be an argument whether it was harmful or helpful to gore, or had no impact at all. But the outcome of the Gore election (i.e. moneyed interests conspiring to steal the election) proved the central thesis of his candidacy.

If it is a Hillary vs. McCain race, then a Nader run will make the same sense, because that would be an all-establishment election as usual, run for the benefit of the powerful moneyed interests whose only purposes for involving themselves in our government is because that is the easiest way for them to get money out of our pockets and into theirs.

I don't know if Obama will be any different in practice, but his rhetoric is very different. There is no room for Nader running in an Obama-McCain race. Nader's voice will be redundant and irrelevant.

(If the race comes down to Clinton-McCain, I'd appreciate having the Nader option because the ballot won't include a line that reads "Neither Clinton nor McCain, thank you".)

[SpiralHawk]

14. "z-z-z-z-z-z-z." - America

You will not screw things up this time, Ralphie Boy.

We got your number.

[9119495]

16. Great...here come the "If the nominee is ______, I'm voting for Nader"

posts

[rpannier]

24. I'm first

If the nominee is Ronald Reagan, Zell Miller, Ed Koch or George DUH-bya Bush... I'm voting for Nader

[ohio2007]

25. Actually, he will siphon votes from both party's but will it really make a difference?

Some said he was removed from ballots of many states in '04 for not following "the rules".

[John Gauger]

54. He will have a very difficult time getting on ballots.

He always does. I really don't think he will get very many votes.

[peace frog]

128. Flori-DUH will put him on the ballot

Repugs running this sorry state will make damn sure of it. Nothing is too difficult to accomplish if it results in handing the state to McVain.

[Lasher]

63. Hell yes it will make a difference.

Nader voters would go about 2 to 1 for the Democratic nominee if Knucklehead were not on the ballot. We were just reminded on Press the Meat that Al Gore would have won in 2K if Nader had not been running.

Just think about what a difference that would have made over the past 7 years.

[orleans]

108. you know, when i *really* think about what it could have been like

in the past 7 years, i could cry or throw up.

[Lasher]

153. The saddest words of song or pen

are those that say what might have been.

[orleans]

154. exactly. (and nice phrase btw) n/t

[Occulus]

43. If the nominee is Rim Jobinson... n/t

[FarCenter]

17. Is he getting close to Harold Stassen's 9 runs for the Presidency?

Attempting to set a new record for irrelevant campaigns?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Stassen

"Though he maintained a successful law practice in Philadelphia and was a major figure of the World War II and immediate post-war eras, he nonetheless became the subject of jokes, even wearing a toupee in an apparent effort to look younger and hence presumably more electable. The humor was collective, with the 'Stop Stassen' movement often attracting more attention than Stassen's bid for the nomination."

[Doctor_J]

18. Excuse me while I roll over and go back to sleep

Does Ralph realize what a fool he's making of himself? DOesn't he have a close confidant who will say to him, "Have you lost your mind?"

[zalinda]

19. Sorry, but he warned you guys

If Edwards was out, he was in.

zalinda

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ohio2007]

27. but if Hillary is the choice in '08...will you change your mind and vote for her ?

just wondering how many hillary minions will jump ship

[TommyO]

53. Nader shill, this "DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND"

not "SPOILER UNDERGROUND", go post on somebody else's board if you can't follow the rules here.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

57. Nothing More Filthy And Braindead Than A Nader Lover.

[Zorra]

150. Except for any republican. n/t

[DinahMoeHum]

21. GREEN Party = Getting Republicans Elected Every November

:evilfrown:

[Phred42]

31. Good one!

[Endangered Specie]

146. wow, im gonna have to use that!

:applause::applause::rofl:rofl:

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ohio2007]

28. SO you are against the idea that "Anyone in america can grow up to be president"?

He should run if you believe in a level playing field.

[tinrobot]

92. But the playing field is not level.

It's heavily stacked in favor of a two party system. With the two-party, winner takes all voting system, a third party candidate just becomes a spoiler.

The voting system needs to change before it's level for third party candidates.'

[Phred42]

29. Here we go again..... I wonder how many will be fooled,

Here we go again..... I wonder how many will be fooled, and make excuses for voting for him THIS time?

Comment from Buzzflash:

Ralph Nader: If You Were Serious About Changing Politics in America, You Wouldn't Just Show Up Once Every Four Years to Make It Easier for a Republican to be Elected. Even the Green Party has Rejected You. They are Actually Electing People to Offices in Off-Years. Build Something. Don't Just Wreck Presidential Elections. 2/23

[tekisui]

30. I don't think he will be able to get on the balllots in every state.

He is going to be a state selective disruptor.

[ileus]

32. Finally a real choice....Nader / Edwards '08

[ohio2007]

34. Nader / Leiberman ? I don't see Edwards leaving the party

[Phred42]

81. Edwards isn't THAT desperate - or Stupid

[UTUSN]

33. Put THIS in context, NADIR: STFU!1 n/t

[still_one]

36. The tradgedy is that he will get much more coverage than John Edwards ever did

Nader, is an insignificant, irrelevent human being, we will not have an effect, though the media will push it as much as they can

[jordi_fanclub]

37. The Alzheimer's candidates...

At the end of 1st term (January 20, 2013)

76 yrs: John McCain (born August 29, 1936)
78 yrs: Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934)

[GOPNotForMe]

41. Both of them are gross for many reasons, but that reeks of ageism.

[jordi_fanclub]

60. It's not about discrimination, it's about competitiveness...

I know many old people that can drive at Nascar.
But I don't know anyone that can do it to win!

There are always a balance called reasonability.

[ohio2007]

62. Some people prefer dealing with a monopoly that tells you what you want

Not throwing in a few wildcards to force party planks to morph is a stagnant system of conformity.

Some are afraid of real change

/screed

[jordi_fanclub]

69. Agree, almost...

Because the wildcard comes always from the left.
Or, alternatively... the right is always stagnant.

Yeah... I understand your point. The right is stagnant!

[CanSocDem]

74. basic math...

76 yrs: John McCain (born August 29, 1936)
78?? yrs: Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934)


A sense of history along with basic math skills seem to be in short supply in the anti-Nader crowd. Who are these people....?????


Our base...??? Gee I hope not.



.

[jordi_fanclub]

87. Keyword is "short supply" indeed...

Have you read the phrase: "At the end of 1st term (January 20, 2013)"?

[aquart]

100. Ageism GOOD. Racism BAD.

[rosetta627]

38. The professional spoiler party

Which the US election system is designed to permit, and even encourage.

Is the GOP paying him?

[GOPNotForMe]

40. Ugh, he really loves the sound of his own voice.

[Stuckinthebush]

42. He really doesn't realize that he gave us Bush does he?

He probably still says to himself that Bush and Gore are the same type of person.

He's an arrogant shit.

[Liberal Veteran]

46. The Cicada Candidate; Crawls out of the dirt every 4 years to make a lot of noise.

Then disappears for 4 years doing absolutely nothing to act a voice for change.

He is an egotistical blowhard on the order of Rush Limbaugh.

[Drum]

47. What a fecking idiot. nt

[skepticscott]

51. We can only hope

that when he sticks his head above ground, Clinton and Obama and the rest of the Democrats will lop it off and leave him there bleeding. "So where have you been for the last 4 years, Ralph? Do you just pop up every election cycle to have your ego stroked and then disappear again? And do tell us how 8 years of Al Gore would have been just as bad as the 8 years of Bush you helped give us." The man deserves no respect, no deference and no consideration this time. Eviscerate him and render him irrelevant.

[DuaneBidoux]

52. Smart enough to uncover unsafe cars, too stupid to wonder why his donors are all republicans.

[mac56]

80. Perfect!

:rofl:

May I quote you?

[Zambero]

55. In 2000 Nader screwed Al Gore (and the country) big time

And set the GOP up to steal the election. We could not have had the worst administration in U.S. without the help and intervention of Ralph Nader. He did his best to help Bush get re-elected in 2004, and now he wants to give up more of the same. What a clueless idiot.

[Akoto]

56. Thanks for screwing us, Ralph. At least you're consistent. n/t

[Fluffdaddy]

59. You been dead to me since 2000...............Ralph Nader

[iiibbb]

66. A vote for Nader is a vote for war.

NT

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

142. so who do you vote for if you want to vote for nader?

is this one of those confusing butterfly ballot deals?

[madrchsod]

67. breaking news...no one cares anymore ralph

[dkofos]

68. Good luck. Hope you win. You might even get my vote.

[Zynx]

70. ?????

[northshore]

75. Just for Ralph

http://www.236.com/blog/w/election08/message_to_ralph_nader_from_an_4373.php

[bitchkitty]

76. Ralph appears to be immune to embarrassment. n/t

[indypaul]

77. More truth than fiction

"Politicians are like cock roaches. It's not how
much they steal and carry off. It's what they fall
into and mess up." Nader, a true 'politician by
that definition.

[mac56]

78. If anyone had any lingering doubt whether Ralphie is a Rove operative

that doubt should be erased now.

[greengestalt]

79. Green Party? If so, consider versus Hillary

I'm for Obama. Hillary's an insider who'll protect Bush's elite from even facing pre-Bush tax cuts, much less any true calling to task for what they did to this country. One man's opinion, but IMHO the Republicans want to lose to Hillary so the Democratic party takes the blame for Bush's mess and waste and debt.

However, if Obama is not selected, despite what, 70-90% wins everywhere Hillary didn't have some 'campaign advisors' from (I've heard) Bush's team working overtime, and wins 54-43 in ones she did... Well I'm not voting Democrat.

Not that I enshrine Nader. However, I wish the political discussion would be what he brings up, like "Charter Revokal"...

Therefore, I'm for Nader if Obama is not chosen for this reason; If he is backed by the "Green Party" or some other progressive group, he'll use the wind that would have been Obama's to get enough votes to make a "Third Party", breaking the two-party system. If the Green party turns out super left, the Republicans will probably bleed voters to for some "Super right" party. If the party is centrist, it will likely take both from the Democratic and Republican party. We just might have a chance for a change then.

[LTR]

83. Nader isn't much of a threat

He got 0.38% of the overall vote in '04. He's older than McCain. He's a non-factor.

Now, if Mike Bloomberg ran, that would be something to worry about. Otherwise, I'd be more worked up about Lyndon LaRouche than Ralph Nader this time around. But with both parties poised to each put up some fairly respectable candidates (and I'll assume a moderate 'average Joe' viewpoint here and call McCain an attractive candidate for undecideds), I doubt we'll see any real activity on the third party front, aside from the usual obscure candidates.

I wonder if someone like Pat Buchanan or some other high-profile wingnut will run for the Constitution Party.

[eringer]

85. Ralph Nader Needs to Get a Life

His interference in the political process gave us Bushco.

[Dukkha]

86. pure self-indulgent egotism

Did he hold a press conference to announce his candidacy to his cats or in front of the bathroom mirror?

[Oreegone]

95. I know a lot of sharp people at his age

He isn't one of them. He has devolved into this mumbling, wandering sycophant. Should have spent a little more time watching what he ate so he didn't harden any essential arteries.:nopity: :nopity: :nopity:

[BadgerKid]

88. Did Nader see his shadow? n/t

[stimbox]

90. Dooga, dooga, dooga? n/t

[newburgh]

93. OMG!! A choice in a Democracy! A travesty! What' the USSR coming to...

oh, the US in 2008, never mind...

Obama, corporate warmonger
Clinton, corporate warmonger
McCain, who cares

must be time to be kicked off democratic "underground" too

[orleans]

109. yes, and let me lift my skirt up over my head a little bit higher

so when nader peels off votes from dems/liberals/indies and fucks the country again i'll be prepared for it.

[peace frog]

129. Don't forget the lube

Astroglide is a good one. We're all gonna need it when Ralph sticks it to us again.

[orleans]

145. oh thanks. i'll make a note of that. n/t

[uppityperson]

96. bwahahahahahahahahahahaha

Oh ralph

[godfather08]

99. Why Nader Won't Matter This Time

Here's a good article on why Nader won't matter this time around.

http://polzoo.com/index.php?option=com_myblog&show=Why-Nader-wont-matter-this-time.html&Itemid=41

[flakban]

101. Important about Nader - PLEASE READ

Although I'm not at liberty to disclose them, reputable sources have asserted that Ralph Nader has been hired by a Republican strategy group for a fee of $1 million US to enter the presidential campaign as a 3rd party candidate for purposes of diverting votes from the Democratic candidate in the upcoming general election.

I must apologize for my lack of freedom to name these sources. However, please investigate this matter to confirm validity of this potentially significant claim. I'm convinced that you'll find it to be legitimate.

[orleans]

110. link? n/t

[djp2]

102. deep undercover repug

I bet he is a deep undercover repug operative. Always comes out of the shadows when things are tight for the repugs.

[scarface2004]

105. where s zippy the pinhead....

when you need him?!?!

[leftofcool]

106. I expected this...........

Say hello to President John McCain. And yes, Nadar's running will matter to the Dems

Left of Cool

[goodgd_yall]

111. I knew it

What a bugger.

[Raster]

114. Ralph Nader enters presidential race

Source: CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Ralph Nader is entering the presidential race as an independent, he announced Sunday, saying it is time for a "Jeffersonian revolution."

Ralph Nader is running for president as an independent.

"In the last few years, big money and the closing down of Washington against citizen groups prevent us from trying to improve our country. And I want everybody to have the right and opportunity to improve their country," he told reporters after an appearance announcing his candidacy on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Asked why he should be president, the longtime consumer advocate said, "Because I got things done." He cited a 40-year record, which he said includes saving "millions of lives," bringing about stricter protection for food and water and fighting corporate control over Washington.

Nader's decision, which did not come as a surprise to political watchers, marks his fourth straight White House bid -- fifth if his 1992 write-in campaign is included.

The two contenders for the Democratic nomination were quick to pounce.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/24/nader.politics/index.html

[lostnotforgotten]

115. He Doesn't Speak In Platitudes And Did Not Support The War

Sounds like a sound candidate to me!

[KingOfLostSouls]

116. The proper headline

"Ralph Nader Endorses A 3rd Term Of George W. Bush"

[Raster]

118. El Toro PooPoo!!! First, no matter how you shake it our bake it, Al Gore WON in 2000.

The independent news consortium found that if all the votes were properly counted, GORE WON. Second, that is precisely the reason a brutally partisan SCOTUS ordered the vote counting to cease--it proved Gee-dumbya DID NOT WIN. Third, when you figure in all the dirty fucking rethuglican electoral tricks served up by Florida Secretary of State Cruella de Harris and Florida Governor Jeb "lil' Bro" Bush*, it becomes very apparent that Gore won by even a larger majority than reported by the consortium. So no, Nader did not cause bush* to be seated at 1600. There were several factors, and Nader doesn't even make the top three. One thing that continually goes unmentioned is that the apathetic American electorate ALLOWED A COUP D' ETAT to subvert their will. Instead of standing for truth and justice, the American people turned back to what-the-fuck-ever asinine television program and decided to "not get involved in politics." And we know where that one got us, now don't we?

Wake up America!

[frog92969]

120. "several factors, and Nader doesn't even make the top three"

Thank You!

People love to blame Nader, but that's a voice we could use in DC.

[Danascot]

117. I don't think he'll pull enough votes away from the Dem candidate

to make any difference, as he did in 2000 when arguably he drew enough votes away from Gore and opened the door to allow the Supremes to put the chimp in place. Certainly Nader has a lot to say that is worth hearing but so do a lot of other progressives (like Michael Moore to name one) who manage to get their message out without sucking votes from someone who at least isn't republican.

[TheCowsCameHome]

119. Revolting does come to mind

when I think of Nader.

[Name removed]

121. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Black Adder]

123. Nader has blood on his hands

Had he not run in 2000, there would have been no war in Iraq.
All the dead and wounded there are on his head.
I hope he sleeps well at night...

[Name removed]

127. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Black Adder]

137. No it's not

He's smart enough to understand the concept of unintended consequences.
He should have known that in a close election, his candidacy would result in the election of a Repug POTUS. And therefore whatever good or ill resulted from that Administration (war, $9 trillion debt, $4 gallon gas, etc) would be on his head.
And yes, Perot may have been responsible for the 1st Clinton Administration.
I think Perot has reason to be more at ease with his role in history than Nader who has innocent blood on his hands...

[Name removed]

143. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bronxiteforever]

147. The free republic is where you belong

[bronxiteforever]

148. Troll alert

[MikeSOM]

122. The Dems need to get Bloomberg to run.

The Dems need to get Bloomberg to run.

[madville]

132. Bloomberg is a Democrat

The Dems need to get Bloomberg to run.

Bloomberg was a Democrat for most of his life, someone please correct me if I am wrong. He ran in New York City as a Republican so he could skip the Democratic Primary there. He is an independent now. He would take votes from the Democrats more than the Republicans. He is more liberal than a decent portion of the Democrats in Washington.

[kirby]

131. It is his RIGHT.

Not sure why Nader gets singled out. In 2000 the election was decided in Florida by a margin of 534 votes I believe. There were somewhere around 6 or 7 OTHER people on the ballet. ALL of them got more than 534 votes. All of them could theoretically be considered 'spoilers', but why is Nadar single out?

Pat Buchanan got 449,225 votes
Harry Browne got 384,516
Howard Phillips got 98,022
Monica Moorehead of the "Workers World Party" got 1500 votes.

Even the different socialist parties had candidates that got more than the 534 vote difference.

The real people to blame here are the people who didn't vote for Gore and no one else.

[superconnected]

133. I wonder if green party fans are going to be this stupid again

and throw away their votes on this person who can't win while maintaining that it dosen't matter who wins of the real people that can.

Not being able to tell between gore and bush pretty much lost any support I used to have for that party.

[robcon]

135. Let him run - it's a free country.

Don't vote for him if you don't want to - I won't. But everyone can try to be president.

[olddad56]

136. I think he is running on the 'tired old cliche' ticket.

How many millions of voters under 30 are asking "Who is Ralph Nader? Is he a former actor ot athlete?"

[BreweryYardRat]

138. That little fuckball is a traitor to this country.

None of the other 3rd-party candidates in Florida 2000 had voters who would have backed Gore. Nader's candidacy attracted voters who would have otherwise gone for Gore, adding to the effects of the huge Repug corruption down there and allowing them to steal the state.

And now he's trying it AGAIN!

[Black Adder]

157. You said it more diplomatically than I would have.. ;)

[gatlingforme]

139. can someone just have nader thrown away and locked up for good

Nader is a effing loser and he should be locked up I HATE HIM

[RBInMaine]

144. This is "news"?

[MrsBrady]

152. la de freakin da n/t

go away Nader.

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

155. Screaming Lord Sutch

Of the Raving Loonie Party.

[Acadia Blue]

156. Nader is right about the corporatists...but he should try to change

the situation in a different manner. Form a middle class lobby group ( aarp type thing for the working and middle class).We don't have lobbyists like the pig corporations.

[Megahurtz]

158. Omg

I don't know if this should be much of a worry. Isn't everyone sick of him by now?