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Ralph Nader

The Nader Question
27-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Mike Hersh: "In this critical 2004 Presidential Election, there are several names on the ballot, but only two men can win: George W. Bush or John F. Kerry. Progressives and liberals cannot control what other people do, but we can control what we do - and that brings us to the Nader Question. It's important to respect Ralph Nader, and recognize his right to run for office any way he likes. He has that right and people have the right to vote for Nader if they want. But is it the right thing to do? All Americans of good will must do all they can to cast Bush and his cabal of power-mad, reactionary neo-cons and theo-cons out of power. Once Kerry is in office, we can and will hold his feet to the fire and demand he serve the public - not the corporate - interest. But first we must unite in revulsion against the Bush Occupation, consigning it to the trash heap of history, before it's too late. We may not get another chance."

Democracy Now! Nader's Candidacy is 'All about the Battleground States'
26-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Democracy Now! "[T]he race for the White House appears to be heading into a dead heat [b]ut as Bush and Kerry crisscross the swing states ... they are not alone. [C]andidate Ralph Nader is heading into the final stretch of his campaign. And like the two major party candidates, his calendar is all about the battleground states.... Many of his most prominent supporters from his previous campaigns have jumped ship this year. People like Michael Moore, Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky, Phil Donohue, Tim Robbins and Cornell West to name a few ... have signed onto a letter urging people to vote for John Kerry in all swing states, saying 'For people seeking progressive social change in the United States, removing George W. Bush from office should be the top priority in the 2004 presidential election. Progressive votes for John Kerry in swing states may prove decisive in attaining this vital goal.'"

Urge Swing-State Nader Supporters to Visit VotePair.org
25-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Jamin Raskin writes, "the Nader-leaners offer a sizable and movable counterculture bloc, which is why influential folk-rockers Patty Larkin and Dar Williams are urging their swing-state fans who may still be pondering a Nader vote to check out the VotePair option. VotePair's final pitch to Nader sympathizers in swing states is to stress the terrible human costs abroad and at home of the Bush residency and to oppose efforts to demonize Nader... The strategy is starting to pay off, not just with Nader's sympathizers-but with Nader himself. On Oct. 9, he appeared on C-Span and listened to a question from a caller who told him that she loved him but worried that voting for him 'could allow George Bush to get into office.' At that point, Nader directed progressives worried about a Bush victory to go to VotePair.Org... If Nader keeps sending swing-state followers to VotePair, we may all have to thank him for helping John Kerry end this dark period in our history. "

New Survey Shows that a Whopping ONE-Quarter of Nader Voters are Bush Supporters
24-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

This story was obviously intended to be a reassurance to Kerry: Nader voters favor him over Bush as their second choice by a 3-1 margin. But let's apply simple logic here! If 1 in 3 Nader voters have BUSH as their second choice, then they could not, idealogically, also be Nader supporters. What this figure proves is that a whopping ONE-THIRD of Nader's support is coming from Bush operatives, committed to plugging Nader as a way to siphon votes from Kerry. And just what were Nader's "noble" qualities?....we are finding it harder to remember them with each passing week....

Nader Effort to Help Bush Rebuffed in Ohio
23-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Washington Post: "Ohio's Supreme Court rejected Ralph Nader's effort to get his name on the state ballot yesterday, in a blow to the independent presidential candidate but a possible boon to the hopes of Democrat John F. Kerry.... The ruling was the second setback in five days for Nader in the critical swing state. On Monday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit turned down Nader's request to delay a federal judge's decision that removed him from the Ohio ballot ... the court said Nader's campaign waited too long before raising that claim, and that granting Nader's request now 'would endanger Ohio's election preparations.' ... Nader has been drawing support between 1 percent and 2 percent of voters in Ohio polls. While Nader voters are unpredictable, Doug Schoen, a Democratic strategist unaffiliated with Kerry's campaign, said the Democrat should be the beneficiary. 'Given how close the race in Ohio is, this could potentially make all the difference in the world,' he said."

Howard Dean: 'A Vote for Ralph Nader is, Plain and Simple, a Vote to Re-elect George W. Bush'
23-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Howard Dean: "[W]e must defeat George W. Bush in November, whatever it takes.... If George W. Bush is re-elected [sic], the health, safety, consumer, environmental, and open government provisions Ralph Nader has fought for will be undermined. George Bush's right-wing appointees will still be serving as judges fifty years from now, and our Constitution will be shredded. It will be government by, of, and for, the corporations - exactly what Ralph Nader has struggled against. Those who truly want America's leaders to stand up to the corporate special interests and build a better country for working people should recognize that, in 2004, a vote for Ralph Nader is, plain and simple, a vote to re-elect [sic] George W. Bush."

Even Diminished Support for Nader Could Give Bush Another 4 Years
23-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Wash Post: "Ralph Nader was typically unstinting in his criticisms of President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry on Thursday, referring to the choice facing voters as one between 'heart disease and cancer.' It was the final swing through Florida before the Nov. 2 presidential election for the independent candidate [b]ut even in this bedrock of his small political following, Nader's prospects are bleak. 'This year's tough for him,' said Mark Kamleiter, a St. Petersburg lawyer and longtime supporter.... Groups seeking to minimize Nader's impact are focusing on at least seven states - Iowa, Florida, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Minnesota, Maine and New Hampshire - where Bush and Kerry are in a virtual dead heat. In all of those but Minnesota, according to aggregates of nine recent polls ... Nader's share of the vote exceeds the thin margin separating Bush and Kerry." Nader could give Bush another 4 years. Stop Nader from helping Bush. Info here: www.naderwatch.blogspot.com

Ralph Nader Descends into Self-Absorbed Paranoia, Obsessed by his Ever-Growing List of 'Enemies'
19-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

The Star: "Ralph Nader moved solemnly to the podium and began a well-honed polysyllabic assault on his myriad enemies. For the better part of 20 minutes, the 70-year-old Nader went after the "Democratic prevaricators," who "kneel to their corporate paymasters," Republicans who have "slithered into Congress," the two-party prison in which Americans are trapped, even Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Then he opened the floor to questions and there it was, the question the independent presidential candidate has heard from the day he announced his candidacy last February. "Why won't you withdraw?" In a supreme irony, the once noble Nader has become frighteningly like Dick Cheney - a tired, distorted old man full of spite and paranoia, clinging to power at all costs to humanity and the environment.

Ralph Nader: Good for Consumers and Environment, Bad for Voters
15-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

Naderwatch blog: "Ralph Nader has done a lot for consumers, the environment and more. But by running for President in 2004 he's only helping Bush. Everyone has the right to run for public office, but that doesn't make it right to run for office. There are other ways to express ideas and demand change. There are better ways to 'send a message' than casting a vote that empowers the extreme right wing. Nader has the right to run for office, but that doesn't mean it's right for him to help the right wing - or right for anyone to help him help Bush. Nader made his point in the 2000 Election. Why make the same point again when the 2004 Election is too important to lose. Unless you want four more years of Bush/Cheney - neo-cons and theo-cons running amok - please don't support Ralph Nader. Tell would-be Nader voters to send a message with an email, fax, phone, or stamp. A vote is a terrible thing to waste."

Nader Intentionally Helping Bush and Could Make the Difference in Nine Key Swing States
15-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

NY Times: "With less than three weeks before the election, Ralph Nader is emerging as just the threat that Democrats feared, with a potential to tip the balance in up to nine states where President Bush and Senator John Kerry are running neck and neck. Despite a concerted effort by Democrats to derail his independent candidacy, as well as his being struck off the Pennsylvania ballot on Wednesday, Mr. Nader will be on the ballots in more than 30 states. Polls show that he could influence the outcomes in nine by drawing support from Mr. Kerry. They are Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin. Moreover, six - Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin - were among the top 20 where Mr. Nader drew his strongest support in 2000. If the vote for Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry is as evenly divided as the polls suggest, the electoral votes in any one of those states could determine who becomes president...."

Nader Breaking His Word by Undermining Kerry in Swing States
13-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

TomPaine.com: "Ralph Nader has done so much good for the United States, but his latest stubborn run for president will secure him a place as either a spoiler or an almost-spoiler.... David Corn - who broke into independent journalism 24 years ago working for Nader - is in the unenviable position of trying to reconcile his respect [with] disappointment at Ralph's utterly futile bid for the presidency.... It has saddened me to watch him destroy his legacy ... by mounting a fool's errand of a campaign. [Ralph] argues his campaign does not pose more of a threat to Kerry than to Bush [but] his GOP partners ... believe the Nader campaign is mainly a problem for Kerry.... Ralph has not played it straight.... [H]e maintained that his presence could help Kerry. Yet he now actively seeks to undermine Kerry [while] campaigning in swing states.... Telling someone not to run for office because his or her candidacy might be tactically unwise is not denying that person his or her political rights."

Report Proves Nader Actively Colluding with GOP in Effort to Hand Bush the Election
09-Oct-04
Ralph Nader

"TheNaderFactor.com released a comprehensive, documented report detailing one of the strangest alliances in American political history - Ralph Nader & George W. Bush. This report [documents] the extensive political support given to Ralph Nader by [Bush supporters]. A 4-month review reveals a disturbing pattern of Bush supporters providing organized assistance to Nader, almost entirely in key 'battleground' states, including AZ, CO, FL, IA, NV, NH, NM, MI, OH, OR, VA, WV, and WI. The report also detailed instances, in FLA and AZ, where Nader has actually hired Bush supporters to lead his efforts. 'Ralph Nader has betrayed his supporters and sacrificed principle for his own personal political gain,' said David Jones, President of TheNaderFactor.com. 'Nader is allowing himself to be used as a tool by surrogates of Bush to divide the opposition to the president's reelection.' "

Judge Rules that Nader is Off the FLA Ballot
16-Sep-04
Ralph Nader

MSNBC: "Circuit Judge P. Kevin Davey on Wednesday ordered that Nader's name be removed from the November ballot, finding that the Reform Party -- which nominated Nader -- isn't a legitimate party under state law. Davey also ordered that four counties that have already mailed absentee ballots listing Nader send out amended ballots without his name. Davey had issued a temporary order last week keeping the consumer advocate off the ballot, but his ruling was suspended on Monday after Florida Secretary of State Glenda Hood [a Bush Republican] filed an appeal. Davey's ruling on Wednesday reinstates his original decision. The state Supreme Court has scheduled a Friday hearing on the appeal." As always, Bush and his supporters believe the courts exist as their personal political tools.

Greens: No Doubt that Nader Has Set a Course to Help Bush
11-Sep-04
Ralph Nader

Greens for Impact: "[We are] dismayed to see that Ralph Nader's campaign schedule for September consists almost completely of battleground states, where his presence could aid in re-electing George W. Bush. From September 11th through September 18th, Nader will be stumping in the swing states of PA, OH, MI, WI, MN, IA, and CO. This route cannot be coincidental and it in fact belies claims he made when first announcing his presidential candidacy: 'This is a campaign that strives to displace the present corporate regime of the Bush administration.' On September 3, 2004, Ralph Nader's campaign issued a press release entitled 'Bush Rhetoric and Reality Are Two Different Things.' Following this model, Greens for Impact seeks to figure out what could possibly motivate Nader to visit every swing state. Our analysis indicates: 'Nader Rhetoric and Reality Are Two Different Things.' "

Nader Descends to Israel Bashing in Increasingly Desperate Bid to Win Support
25-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

First allying himself with Bush, then with Pat Buchanan, next exploiting homeless people to obtain fudged petition names, now he's trying to lure support through Israel-bashing statements. What's wrong, Ralphie? Bush wasn't rightwing enough for ya? So now you're going for the NeoNazi crowd? The Jewish Press reports: "Driven into a corner by both his lousy political gamesmanship and the tectonic redefinition by 9/11 of the ideological playing field, Nader has begun to flirt with something that has been embraced by so many on the Left: anti-Semitism. On June 22, the Jerusalem Post reported that Nader had given an interview to the United Arab Emirates' Al-Khaleej newspaper, during which Nader attacked Israel's policies. One week later, Nader appeared at a conference called "The Muslim Vote in Election 2004." Organized by the Council for the National Interest, a staunchly anti-Israel think tank..."

Nader Proves he is Driven by Delusions of Grandeur, not a Desire to Effect Real Change
23-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

Independent: "Ralph Nader [says] there are no circumstances in which he will drop out of the contest [and that] to do so now would be an insult to his supporters and make people even more cynical about politics. Mr Nader also said that in the unlikely circumstances that John Kerry offered him a position in a future government he would not accept it." This proves: 1. Nader is so wrapped up in himself and hs followers' misplaced hero worship that he will not drop out, even if it hands Bush the election. 2. He is astoundingly grandiose: Can he really imagine that America's attitude toward politics hinges on HIM and him alone? 3. Nader's professed desired to influence government direction is a lie or he would gladly accept a position in a new gov. Bottom line, anyone willing to risk a Bush win doesn't give a rat's a*s about the American people or the environment, no matter what song and dance they give their syncophants.

Nader Barred from Missouri Ballot after 1 in 4 Signatures Fail to Pass the Smell Test
19-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

Political State Report: "The Missouri Secretary of State announced yesterday that Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader did not get enough signatures verified to get on the Missouri ballot. Nader supporters turned in 12,893 signatures, but only 9,006 could be verified. That left the Nader campaign 994 signatures short. The campaign has vowed to go to court, as it has in state after state, to appeal the decision." Once when Nader was committed to making a positive difference, he would have spent those millions of dollars on honorable efforts, like environmental protection, instead of a corporate-style army of lawyers. THAT change of values, in a nutshell, Mr. Nader, is why no one but a small band of syncophants backs you.

Nader Campaign Refuses to Reject 'Dirty Signatures' Obtained with Bush Campaign Money
12-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

NH Democratic Party Chairwoman Kathy Sullivan called on Nader to reject signatures from supporters of President [sic] Bush. In 2000, Nader received more than 22,000 votes in NH: Bush won the state by a margin of just 7,211 votes. In short, Nader, handed Bush the state of NH and Bush is trying to use Nader to make sure that happens again in 2004. An undetermined number of names on Nader's petition were collected by corporate consulting form Norway Hill. Most petition workers were recruited at a Bush campaign event. "What does it say about the Republican Party's faith in their incumbent president that they have to invest resources and time and energy into getting a third-party candidate on the ballot?" said Sullivan. While Nader has made a big show of saying he wouldn't accept GOP help, he so far refuses to reject these "dirty signatures." "We have no way of knowing what to do," whined Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese. Try doing the RIGHT THING. But we guess Nader has forgotten how.

Nader's PA Petition Drive One of the Worst Cases of Campaign Fraud and Abuse in Recent History
10-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

Delaware Daily Times: "[Nader's] operators hired petition circulators to get the necessary names...promising them $1 or 75 cents per signature....many of those circulators [who came] came from homeless shelters...were seen exchanging petitions with each other to sign and blatantly lying about the purpose of the petitions to those they solicited for signatures. [A pending suit claims that] Nader petitions contained more than 30,000 signatures that were invalid because they were forgeries, duplicates or illegible, or were obtained by deception. A class-action lawsuit against the campaign [claims] it stiffed dozens of circulators. In fact, Nader's PA campaign office was closed last week after a group of homeless people rioted when they learned they would not be paid for their work." Btw - this entire modus operandi (using, then stiffing homeless people for petition collection) was used by Bush pal Bob Ehrlich next door in Maryland in 2002.

NH GOP Urges Republicans to Sign Nader Petitions
09-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

"Visitors walking to President Bush's campaign picnic Friday were asked to help his re-election chances by signing nomination forms to place Ralph Nader on the ballot in New Hampshire as a presidential candidate. A spokeswoman for the Bush campaign said later on Friday it had no knowledge of the signature drive. [LIARS!] Democratic Party spokeswoman Kathleen Strand said news of the activity was very disappointing... Maria Comella, New Hampshire communications director for Bush/Cheney '04, said, 'We had nothing to do with it.' ... The Democrats' spokeswoman, Strand, said a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush, and that she is outraged by the signature gathering. 'We're obviously going to have to monitor these activities closely,' Strand said."

Workers: 'A lot of us were scammed' by Nader - Petition circulators not paid for signatures collected.
02-Aug-04
Ralph Nader

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports: "Ralph Nader's presidential campaign this week abruptly abandoned the Center City office that housed its efforts to get on the Pennsylvania ballot, leaving behind a mess of accusations and a damaged building. The office ... was emptied Thursday after a raucous scene the night before. Police were called as dozens of homeless people lined up to collect money they said they were owed for circulating petitions on the candidate's behalf. Many of the circulators were never paid, according to outreach workers and interviews with several men who had collected signatures. 'A lot of us were scammed,' said Ed Seip, 52, who said he collected more than 200 signatures for Nader. Nader has until Monday to collect the 25,697 petition signatures required to be on the presidential election ballot."

Nader Mercenaries Caught Using Trickery to Obtain Petition Names
30-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Philadelphia Daily News: "In Philadelphia, Nader has hired a contractor [don't they call fringe contractors doing battle for others 'mercenaries'??] to pay people to circulate his petitions" - and they are apparently using fraud to obtain names. Two attorneys for a nonprofit legal service say those workers were misleading people into signing the petitions last Friday. Nadia Hewka said she had been walking to her office when a woman at 15th and Chestnut streets asked if she was registered to vote. When Hewka said she was, the woman asked her to sign a petition, confirming her registration. But when Hewka unfolded the top of the petition, she saw it was really to put Nader on the ballot. The woman then claimed she did not realize that was the case. To check, Hewka had another attorney walk by the corner 10 minutes later. The woman used the same approach again and, along with another worker, became angry when questioned."

Let Nader Go to the Convention - Maybe He'll Learn Something about Democratic Ideals!
26-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Howard Gay: "Democrats on Sunday rolled back the welcome mat for longtime party activist Ralph Nader, saying he is not welcome at the Democratic convention because his independent presidential bid threatens to siphon votes away from John Kerry. Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe told reporters he is dening Nader's request for credentials to attend the convention. He also said he is upset that Republicans are helping Nader's effort to get on the ballot as a Reform Party presidential nominee." Hey Terry - don't give Nader more "fuel." Let him come - at his own risk, of course. Maybe he will learn something about true Democratic ideals - not least of which is unification against despotism!

Nader Wants the Constitution Changed to Accommodate Him in Texas
23-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan both made the Texas ballot as independent presidential candidates in Texas. They did their homework, filed the necessary petitions on time, and were found to have enough certifiable names. Now Nader, who missed the deadline and has failed to obtain enough certifiable names, wants the Constitution changed to compensate for his failure. One of Nader's growing army of lawyers asked a federal judge to rule that Texas' ballot-access rules are unconstitutional because they "limited free speech" and discriminated against Greens and smaller parties and went easier on Independents. But Nader is not a Green this time, and even running as an Independent, STILL missed the deadline. As TX Deputy Atty. Gen. Ed Burbach told U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel We submit that this candidate was not reasonably diligent in the state of Texas."

Nader Fails to Make Oregon Ballot Again - Whines That It's All the Dems Fault
23-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Oregonian: "With a bitter blast at the Democratic Party, Ralph Nader's organizers in Oregon acknowledged Thursday that their recent convention failed to attract enough supporters to put their candidate on the state presidential ballot." Now, acting more like a Repug than anyone dreamed possible, Nader has hired a lawyers and a small army of paid canvassers to try to harass and muscle his way onto Oregon's ballot. Nader has about a month to collect 15,306 signatures from registered voters. We're sure he'll find a few thousand Repugs to back him. Nader accused the Dems of sabotaging his efforts. But state Democratic Chairman Jim Edmunson pointed out the obvious: Nader's real problem was a lack of support. 'The bulk of voters realize this election is too important to waste a vote on Ralph Nader,' Edmunson said."

Nader Made Up Story to Smear Black Caucus - Has Ralphie Gone Racist as Well as Anti-Environmental?
20-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

We are starting to believe the rumors that Nader, like Bush, is exhibiting disturbing signs of mental illness or, at the very least, personality deterioration. After meeting with the Black Caucus a few weeks back, Nader spread the Repug-style story that he had been "cursed" - a story designed, of course, to be trumpeted to the media. But BC member Melvin Watt says: "I emphatically deny that I used the 'F' word or any curse word or other 'obscene epithet' in the meeting the Congressional Black Caucus held with Mr. Nader. Further, I have confirmed with other CBC members and staff who attended the meeting that Mr. Nader's version of what transpired is untrue in a number of respects (including his charge that I cursed him)." So just what sort of confused folk are still supporting the Green-turned-anti-environmentalist, liberal-turned-bigot Nader, anyway? (scroll to second story)

Republicans Helping Nader To Help Themselves
19-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

From The Washington Post: "The Michigan Republican Party submitted more than 40,000 signatures last week in a bid to get independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader on the state's November ballot. Of course, this is not really about helping Nader. It is all about helping President Bush and hurting Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry's campaign in a closely contested state. The Michigan GOP denies that, of course. Matt Davis, a spokesman for the group, said it was merely concerned about third-party candidates being left off the ballot. He could not name, however, another third-party or independent candidate his party has helped.... Nader's campaign, assuming that he would run with the Reform Party there, stopped collecting signatures more than a month ago -- and turned in fewer than 6,000 of them by Thursday's deadline.... Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese said [Nader] may have to use the Republican-sponsored signatures: 'We have to get on the ballot....'" To help Bush.

Nader's Running Mate Claims He Doesn't Want GOP Money, But So Far They Haven't Returned It
16-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

NBC4: "Staunch Republicans want to see Ralph Nader do as much damage as he can to the Kerry campaign. Ralph Nader on the ballot doesn't take away from George Bush, but he takes away from John Kerry," says Bill Whalen with the Hoover Institution. One of the Republicans giving to Nader is former Nixon speech writer and game show host Ben Stein. Political Analyst Sherry Bebitch-Jeffe says, "It would appear to me that he's bright enough to figure out his money might be worth something to help Ralph Nader do something to mess around with John Kerry." In fact, one in 10 of Nader's major contributors have given to the Bush-Cheney campaign. Nader's running mate Peter Camejo tells NBC4, "Some people may donate...with mal intent. If somebody sends us money with that mistake in view, the truth is I don't want their money. They should keep their money." So far, though the Nader campaign has made no move to return those one in 10 contributions.

Nader Calls Salon - What a Conversation!
14-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Last Friday, Ralph Nader's campaign spokesman Kevin Zeese e-mailed Salon, saying that Nader wanted to speak with Salon editor David Talbot "about recent articles that have appeared in Salon concerning him and his candidacy." The following is a transcript of the ensuing three-way phone conversation among Nader, Zeese and Talbot. It ranged over Rupert Murdoch (whose company published Nader's new book), Democratic "dirty tricks" against the independent candidate's presidential bid, and Nader's acceptance of conservative money and support. What a Conversation!

Nader Still Determined to Work the Bush Campaign, Despite Dean's Best Efforts
09-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

AP: "Howard Dean argued, flattered, cajoled - all to no avail. In a lively radio debate Friday, the former Democratic presidential candidate tried to get Ralph Nader to abandon his long-shot White House bid." But Nader, looking more and more the bitter aging prima donna, sullenly refused. Dean pointed out that "Forty-six percent of all your signatures to get you on the Arizona ballot turned out to be Republican supporters. You accepted the support of a right-wing fanatic Republican group that's anti-gay in order to help you get on the ballot in Oregon. This is not going to help the progressive cause in America," said Dean." Those close to Nader say changes in his personality in recent months have alarmed them.

Nader's Crusade: From Tragedy to Pathetic Farce
07-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Working for Change: "The first to abandon [Nader's] cause were celebrities like Michael Moore." When Nader wasn't invited to the D.C. premiere of Fahrenheit 9/11, "His response was an embittered open letter to his "old friend" that made sport of the filmmaker's waist size." Little wonder that the Green Party, and even the Natural Law Party rejected Nader. " These developments are worse than embarrassing... Yet Nader's would-be rescuers are already revealing themselves. The new Naderites include the strange Manhattan therapy cult that now dominates the Reform Party...He can also count on at least one group of activists who are absolutely determined to see him succeed: right-wing Republicans. In Arizona, a former Christian Coalition staffer circulated the Nader petitions along with an anti-immigration initiative. (The resulting petitions were so riddled with error and alleged fraud that they were thrown out by the state authorities.) "

Republicans Assert Nader's 'Right' To Break Election Laws In Florida - Just Like They Do
02-Jul-04
Ralph Nader

Naples (FL) News reports, "Ralph Nader could make the difference in Florida again this year, IF Nader gets on the ballot.... Now, Republicans are launching political attacks on Democrats [because] Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox said he would be watching carefully Nader's efforts to get on the ballot and mount a challenge, if Nader doesn't precisely follow Florida law." FL Republican Party Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan "issued a press release titled 'Let Ralph Run!' [claiming] 'Democrats want to limit the choices of Florida voters....'" Stating the obvious, "Florida Democrat Chairman Scott Maddox fired back, saying Republicans only defend election laws when it benefits them. 'We should not be surprised that once again the Republican Party is advocating not adhering to our election laws,' Maddox said. 'As long as (Nader) follows the law, then we won't quarrel with his right to be on the ballot.... I don't think that's unreasonable.'"

Half of Names on Nader AZ Petition are Republicans; Among Biggest Donors is a Bush Ranger
29-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Two Democrats challenging the validity of Nader's AZ ballot petition say that only 10,161 signatures are valid and that half of those are registered Republicans! Worse three dozen key donors to Nader are Bush campaigners, including Richard J. Egan. of Hopkinton, Mass., who donated $2,000. (MSNBC): "Could this be the same Richard J. Egan who was chairman of EMC Corp.? Who has raised at least $200,000 for Bush? No, Egan's assistant says, that's 'a different Dick Egan.' What a coincidence, since state and Federal Election Commission records show Dick Egan the Naderite living at the same address as Dick Egan the Bush Ranger. The Ranger's son, John R. Egan, a $10,000 donor to the Republican National Committee, also has ponied up $2,000 for Nader. Collectively, Bush donors account for about $41,000 of the $1 million Nader has raised. Nader says he sees no evidence that Republicans are conspiring to hurt Kerry by helping him." What a joke!

Is Nader Now Working for the Bush Campaign for Real?
28-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Seattle Times: "Ralph Nader spoke to a crowd in Seattle last night, though he is increasingly alone, facing a rash of attacks from some of his oldest friends on the left, who fear the liberal icon's third consecutive run for the presidency could ensure Bush's re-election. Nader criticized Bush but saved much of his rhetorical ammunition for the Democratic Party. 'You're seeing the authoritarian tendencies of the Democratic Party and people who call themselves civil libertarians,' said Nader, referring to attempts to keep him off the ballot in key states." Witnesses say Nader welcomed Bush supporters to his Oregon rally over the weekend. This association was made more suspicious by Nader's slams of Dems as "authoritarian" or "dictator-like" during the same days that Bush was running a smear on his campaign site comparing Dems to Nazis. Is Ralph now working for the Bush campaign for real? What happened Ralph? Is it just thwarted ego or....are you losing it?

Faustus Nader Sells His Soul to the Devil to Get On the Arizona Ballot Too
27-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

"In its effort to get on the ballot in the key battleground state of Arizona, the Prospect has learned, the Nader campaign hired a petition company that is also gathering signatures for a draconian anti-immigrant initiative pushed by right-wing elements in the state. The initiative, called Protect Arizona Now (PAN), would restrict access to public services by undocumented immigrants. The Nader campaign was assisted in its petition drive by an unlikely figure: the ultra-conservative former executive director of the AZ Republican Party, Nathan Sproul. Sources say Sproul - who is also spearheading an initiative to block public funding from political campaigns in the state - made payments to the petition contractors working on his public-funding initiative to gather signatures for Nader as well. Moreover, according to several sources, the signature-gathering drive for PAN is mostly funded by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), a Washington-based anti-immigrant group."

Green Party Rejects Nader
27-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Bakersfieldchannel.com: "The Green Party nominated Texas attorney David Cobb as its candidate for president Saturday, rejecting Ralph Nader's efforts to secure the party's formal endorsement and likely access to the ballot in key states like Wisconsin and California. Nader, the party's candidate in 1996 and 2000, had told Green officials months ago he would not accept the party's nomination for president, preferring to build a coalition of third-party groups and independents rather than running under one banner. Still, he openly courted their formal endorsement as a means to get on the ballot in the 22 states and Washington, D.C., where the party has a ballot line. But 408 delegates voted for Cobb on the second ballot to give him the nomination."

Watchdog Group Files Federal Complaint against Nader for Election Fraud
27-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Local6.com: "A watchdog group has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Ralph Nader. It accuses Nader of violating federal campaign laws by accepting office space and telephone service from a public charity he created. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington alleges that Nader's presidential campaign is renting valuable space at below-market prices from Citizen Works, an activist group that supports progressive causes. The complaint also said Citizen Works and the Nader campaign share a common receptionist and several telephone lines. Questions about the rental arrangement were first raised in a March 15 story in the online magazine Salon. Nader spokesman called the lawsuit 'completely frivolous and without merit.' "

Faustus Nader Sells His Soul to the Devil to Get onto Oregon Ballot
25-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

"Two conservative [corporate front] groups have been phoning people around Oregon this week, urging them to attend Ralph Nader's convention Saturday in hopes of putting Nader's name on Oregon's presidential ballot. The groups make no bones about their goal - to draw votes away from Democrat John Kerry and help President Bush win this battleground state in November. 'We disagree with Ralph Nader's politics, but we'd love to see him make the ballot,' said Russ Walker of [Bushevik C. Boyden Gray's] Citizens for a Sound Economy, a group best known for its opposition to tax increases. The Oregon Family Council also has been working the phones to boost attendance at Nader's event - with the idea that it could help Bush this fall. 'We aren't bashful about doing it,' said Mike White, the group's director. 'We are a conservative, pro-family organization, and Bush is our guy on virtually every issue.' " If Nader accepts this kind of help, then he is a Judas to his own cause, indeed.

Nader More like a Bushie Every day - Uses His Charity as a Front for his Election Campaign, then Lies about It
24-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Washington Post: "Since October, Ralph Nader has run his campaign for president out of the same downtown DC offices that through April housed a public charity he created. Tax law explicitly forbids public charities from aiding political campaigns. In addition, campaign law requires candidates to account for all contributions -- including shared office space and resources, down to the use of copying machines, receptionists and telephones. Records show many links between Nader's campaign and the charity Citizen Works. For example, the charity's listed president, Theresa Amato, is also Nader's campaign manager. The campaign claimed Amato resigned from the charity in 2003. But in the charity's most recent corporate filing with the District, in January, Amato listed herself as the charity's president and registered agent." Don't worry, Ralphie, your pals in the Bush administration will make sure you aren't held accountable, just like Dick Cheney and Halliburton.

Nader Resorts to Fraud to Get on Ballot: Democrats File Suit to Expose Him
24-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Two Arizona voters on Wednesday filed the first Democratic challenge to independent Ralph Nader's bid to get on a state's November presidential ballot. The Democrats' lawsuit alleged that more than 70 percent of the 21,500 petition signatures recently filed for Nader are invalid. Nader, a Winsted, Conn., native, needs 14,694 valid signatures to get on Arizona's ballot. Democrats Dorothy Schultz and Betty Elizabeth Hughes also alleged in the complaint that some of those who circulated petitions for Nader didn't meet residency requirements and other qualifications. Three of the petition circulators are prohibited from gathering signatures because they are convicted felons, the lawsuit said. "If (Nader) is going to be on the ballot, it has to be in a legitimate way," said Arizona Democratic Chairman Jim Pederson."

Kerry Opens Lead in New Jersey - It Would Be Bigger if it Weren't for Ralph the Spoiler
24-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Quinnipiac U: "Kerry has a 46 -- 40 percent lead over George W. Bush among New Jersey voters, with 7 percent for independent candidate Ralph Nader, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. This compares to a 46 -- 43 percent Kerry lead, with 5 percent for Nader, in a May 20 poll by the independent Quinnipiac University. New Jersey voters give President Bush a negative 42 -- 54 percent approval rating, his lowest ever in the Garden State." But " 'Kerry is just holding his ground as Bush fades,' said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute." Why? Because of Nader the spoiler, whose colossal ego has blinded him to everything but self-interest.

Nader Whines to Oregonians for Another Chance, While Black Caucus Says 'Enough Already Ralph!'
21-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

If anyone had any doubts earlier as to Nader's motivations for trying to force his way into election 2004, they shouldn't anymore. This guy is determined to slurp up the limelight, even though the greater good is being jeopardized. State after state has sent him the message: WE DON'T WANT YOU! Pathetically, he is now going back to Oregon to try again, blaming his last failure there on a basketball game. Meanwhile, according to Roll Call on June 21, the Black Caucus plans to meet with Nader this week and tell him they've had it with him - that the only role he can possible play in election 2004 is as a spoiler.

Nader Refuses to Disclose Possibly Illegal Ties Between His Campaign and His Charity
14-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

"Since October, Ralph Nader has run his campaign for president out of the same downtown Washington offices that through April housed a public charity he created [Citizen Works] -- an overlap that campaign finance specialists said could run afoul of federal laws... [Experts] suggested the arrangement between the campaign and the charity crossed the line merely by providing office space that the Nader campaign could not have otherwise obtained... He refused to provide documents accounting for the campaign's use of office space and resources while it was co-located with Citizen Works. 'If that's released to you, I'll have to release them to everyone,' he said. 'All of this is a matter between the campaign and the FEC. I'm not going to start saying we'll give The Post this, and then we'll have to give the L.A. Times that.'" How can Nader campaign against corruption while engaging in a coverup?

32 of 37 Polls Show Nader Hurting Kerry, Not Bush
08-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

"Ralph Nader claims he will help defeat George Bush by pulling votes of Bush supporters and mobilizing Democrats. This study of every available poll shows that NaderĂ¢??s assertion is clearly untrue... We answered this question by completing a comprehensive study of every poll that measures Bush/Kerry head-to-head and Bush/Kerry/Nader in a three-way race. Through May 14, there have been 37 such polls taken since Nader declared his 2004 candidacy. Using the authoritative, non-partisan website www.PollingReport.com, plus all other polls found through a search at Google1 , the results are conclusive. Of the 37 polls reviewed, 32 show Nader hurting Kerry, 4 show no effect, and 1 shows Nader hurting Bush (and that by a scant 1%)."

Disgruntled Nader Takes Potshots at Kerry - Much to the Delight of the Corporate Media
04-Jun-04
Ralph Nader

Nader's latest sideswiping at Kerry played right into the corporate media's hands, as you will see from this article. At a recent talk before the National Press Club, Nader again proved that he is more interested in Nader than he is in the things he professes to care about - like energy conservation. Instead of supporting Kerry's pledge to push hard to achieve a true alternative energy-based society, Nader instead pointed to the last 10 years or so of NeoCon domination of Congress (which blocked every effort to go green) - as if that were Kerry's fault! Now, look at the headline on the corporate media version of the story: Instant Kerry slam. Keep it up, Ralphie, and you can GUARANTEE that the US will be locked into fossil fuel for decades to come.

Once Again, Nader's Goal is to Punish the Democrats
31-May-04
Ralph Nader

Harry Levine writes, "What does Nader want to do in the 2004 election? Does he again want to defeat the Democratic candidate by taking swing-state votes? 'Absolutely,' says [former Nader friend] Gary Sellers. This time the Greens will likely run David Cobb, who is committed to a safe-state strategy. Nader is not. So voters in Florida and other battlegrounds where the differences will again be razor-thin can expect to see a lot of him. The stampede of his prominent 2000 supporters means many of them know what their former hero has in mind. But there are always new suckers to con. In 2004, as in 2000, Nader's real campaign slogan is: 'Vote for Ralph Nader. You too can punish, hurt, and wound the Democrats.'"

Ralph Nader As Mad Bomber
29-May-04
Ralph Nader

"In the year 2000, Ralph Nader strapped political dynamite onto himself and walked into one of the closest elections in American history hoping to blow it up. He wanted to punish the Clinton-Gore Democrats for having betrayed him and the causes he believes in. His primary campaign mission was defeating Al Gore, but Nader concealed this from his supporters, even as he went after votes in swing states like Florida. On the day after election day, when everyone else was grim, and many Democrats were furious at him, Ralph Nader was a happy man."

More Evidence that The RNC is Backing Nader - They're Also Trying to Mimic Democrats.com!
21-May-04
Ralph Nader

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so we're flattered...we guess (considering the source!) that the RNC is trying to ape Democrats.com. They have created a site called GOP.com (get it?) with a red-white&blue theme similar to Democrats.com, plus attempts at newsiness and humor (alas, most Repugs don't understand that artform and come across as thuggish). On the main page right now is a pro-Nader "opinion poll"; readers are presented with several statements with a heavy anti-Kerry, pro-Nader spin, then asked to decide "Who do you believe?" Oh, yeah, check out the National Enquirer-style photo of Nancy Pelosi at the top of the page! They must have spent hours pouring through thousands of negatives to find the worst shot!

StopNader Launches Campaign against Bush's 'Shadow Running Mate'
21-May-04
Ralph Nader

As long as Ralph Nader remains in the race, making no concrete attempt to limit his potential impact on the election, he is, in essence, Bush's "shadow running mate" and point man. That is what StopNade thinks - they are determined to expose the reality of his candidacy by airing a hard-hitting TV ad showing just what Nader helped Bush do to the US since 2000. The ad asks: "Ralph, what's more important? Your nation or your ego -- don't do this to us again." StopNader is also trying to block Nader's effort to overturn laws in TX to aid his campaign: ""There are valid and specific rules on ballot access that apply to all candidates in Texas. These rules are not new and they were not enacted just to deny Ralph Nader a place on the ballot. Ralph and his supporters simply could not meet these legal requirements and we believe they should not be allowed to circumvent them," says StopNader rep and former TX Supreme Court justice Bob Gammage.

Nader and Kerry Agree on Beating Bush and Eliminating Corporate Welfare
20-May-04
Ralph Nader

"Mr. Kerry did not ask him to abandon the race, and Mr. Nader showed no signs of bowing out. But Mr. Kerry's wooing did seem to be having the desired effect already. In an interview immediately after what participants called a very friendly one-hour meeting at Mr. Kerry's headquarters, Mr. Nader called Mr. Kerry 'very presidential,' fondly recalled his antiwar leadership in the 1970's, praised his skills as a politician and quite favorably compared Mr. Kerry to Vice President Al Gore... [Nader] let Mr. Kerry know in the meeting that he would be attacking Bush, primarily, rather than trying to hold Mr. Kerry's feet to the fire. 'He made more the point that he had the ability to go after Bush in ways that we could not,' said a Kerry aide... [They discussed] eliminating the kinds of tax breaks and legal protections that he calls 'corporate welfare,' strengthening union organizing rights and cracking down on corporate crime."

Kerry Shows Himself the Better Man in Meeting with Nader
19-May-04
Ralph Nader

While Nader has alternately attacked Kerry and tried to take credit for his proposals, Kerry has maintained a gentlemanly silence - and distance - from Nader. And, even after Nader bragged (groundlessly) on CNN that he was practically running the Kerry campaign through daily unsolicited emails, Kerry still agreed to meet with Nader. Not only that, but Kerry did not ask, plead or bargain with Nader to drop out of the race, thereby giving the ex-Green, ex-Independent, ex-environmentalist a respect many doubt he deserves. Nader, by contrast, offered nothing, not even a suggestion that he might work out a deal that would reduce the chances of his handing Bush yet another election. Is there any question who the better man is now..?!

Arrogant Nader Brags that He's 'Running Kerry Campaign'
17-May-04
Ralph Nader

Jeez, doesn't this guy know when to quit? Nader, unable to launch a credible presidential bid himself (having been rejected by the Greens and Independents and embraced only by the party of Jesse Ventura), is now trying to scoop up credit for the Kerry campaign. On CNN Nader said Kerry is ''getting free consulting from this campaign. We are putting on his desk twice a week issues that could win if the Democrats are smart enough to pick them up." Pul-leez!! Nader sprinkles his "pearls of wisdom" via e-mails. Meanwhile, Kerry aides handled the issue tactfully, saying they till hope to meet with Nader: ''With so much at stake and areas of mutual concern like the environment and health care, there are plenty of reasons to keep progressives focused on defeating George Bush."

Green Party Recruitment Hindered by Nader
15-May-04
Ralph Nader

Boston Globe: "In their cloth sandals, worn jeans, and "Support Fair Trade" sweatshirts, 15 members of the Dartmouth Greens gathered here Monday night for their weekly discussion of social justice and politics." The group also talked about how Nader';s determination to run for president in 2004 is hurting recruitment. " 'About 30 incoming freshmen came up to us at a campus fair recently and said, 'Are you part of the Green Party, because I don't want to support Nader after he ruined the last election,' said Natalie Allan, a Dartmouth sophomore studying history. 'We had to say we weren't with Nader. It's like we have to do a disclaimer now.' Most dedicated Greens say they will vote for Kerry, even if lukewarm about the senator. But, said one Green, 'I hear that he has a good record on the environment.' " Which puts him miles ahead of Bush already.

Progressive Leaders Minimize Nader's Impact
23-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

While Nader campaigns against Kerry, most progressive groups "think their members will support Kerry rather than make a statement on the war by voting for Nader. 'What we see in our membership is a unanimity behind Kerry,' said Eli Pariser of MoveOn, which vigorously opposed the invasion of Iraq. 'When we sent out a message to raise money for Kerry, we got more flak from a handful of people who are supporters of Kucinich. I haven't received a single piece of mail from a Nader supporter yet.' Ellen Malcolm said anti-Bush sentiment is so high among liberals that she thinks it will limit Nader's appeal to war opponents. 'There are some people who agree with the Nader approach,' said Malcolm, head of Emily's List, which champions Democratic female candidates, and America Coming Together, which is organizing voters in 17 battleground states. 'But most of the people I talk to are so upset with Bush on Iraq and other issues that they'll vote for Kerry.' "

Founder of the West VA Mountain Party Says: Don't Back Nader!
21-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

Denise Giardina knows the struggle of being a third-party candidate. But she also loves her West Virginia natural environment and honors the struggle of the region's impoverished people and embattled coal miners. So when Ralph Nader approached the Mountain Party for backing, she was aghast. "I am appalled at the attempt to add Ralph Nader as a presidential candidate on the Mountain Party ballot. The Bush administration is such a dangerous administration. We've got to get this guy out... Because of the shallowness of the media, especially television, there are a lot of uninformed people who are going to vote for Bush. If a small percentage of people are not practical and vote for Nader, it could be enough to throw the election."

Nader Begs Michael Moore for Support
21-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

Now this is just sad! Ralph Nader has written a letter to Michael Moore, pleading for his support in a weird (not to mention offensive) attempt at flippant humor, "OK Michael, you've had your realpolitik fling with ex-General Wesley Clark' Nader wrote. 'Your endorsed presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries has withdrawn. It is time for you to come home, to join your buddies and resume your only genuine role which is that of defiance and resistance." [We bet Michael was so grateful to have his "only genuine role" defined for him]. But Nader is desperate - the big-name celebs who endorsed him last time, like Susan Sarandon, have deserted him. Nader's campaign manager said the letter to Moore was Nader "just having a little fun" and should not be viewed as a sign the campaign is having trouble garnering support." Withdraw now Ralph, while you still have a shred of dignity left!

Is Nader Trying to Solicit GOP Help in His Illinois Stump?
09-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

Nader suffered a humiliating defeat in Oregon recently when he failed to make the ballot as the presidential candidate of his newly minted "Populist Party" (a party that might better be described as the "Ralph Nader mutual admiration society"). Oregon, where Greens are stronger than nearly any other region in the US, was not about to cast its vote for Bush via Nader. Now Nader is stumping in Illinois - home of Rumsfeld and stronghold of militant conservatives. Why? We suspect Nader knows he has a good chance of picking up the required 25,000 signatures there from poser rightwingers eager to undercut Kerry. So, while Nader continues to exhort his audience to "vote their conscience," he apparently isn't troubled by one himself.

Nader Scoffs at Liberal 'Whining' as Former Backers Dump Nader
07-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

Knight-Ridder quotes: "Oh, the whining," [Nader] declared, once his mirth turned to husky disdain. 'The endless whining. The liberals are always whining. You know, scapegoating me is a sign of a decadent party, a party that whines instead of going to work. And this liberal attitude of 'anybody but Bush,' that's like a virus. ... They say to me: 'Ralph, you've done great things, but don't run again. You're going to hurt your legacy if there's another four years of Bush' - the sheer hubris of that. They're telling me not to exercise my right of free speech.' The list of other notables who have dumped Nader reads like a who's who of liberal Hollywood. 'Phil Donahue, Susan Sarandon,' Nader grumbled - not to mention Danny Glover, Bonnie Raitt, Michael Moore, Willie Nelson - 'just look at the remarkable unanimity among people who should know better.' "

Nader Could Once Again Help Bush
07-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

Pollster John Zogby reports: "Massachusetts Senator John Kerry holds a slight lead (47%-45%) over President George W. Bush with 45% among likely voters, according to a new Zogby International poll. [But] When Independent candidate Ralph Nader is added, Kerry and Bush are statistically tied with 45.5% for Bush, 45.3% for Kerry, and Nader with 3%." This is not lost on right wing spin-site "Newsmax" which wrote on April 5, 2004: Zogby: Kerry Edges Bush, but Nader ... "The latest poll by Zogby International shows Sen. John Kerry favored by 47 percent of 'likely' voters and President Bush favored by 45 percent in a two-man race. With the addition of Ralph Nader, the spoiler of 2000, things get interesting: Bush 46, Kerry 45 and Nader 3. Both results are with the margin of error (plus or minus 3.1 percentage points) but show how Nader could once again help get Bush elected [sic]." See: http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/4/5/175352.shtml

Dean Tells Voters to Bypass Nader
06-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

On Monday, Howard Dean warned Oregonians that "a vote for Ralph Nader is the same as a vote for George Bush" as Nader sought to qualify for his first state ballot. Dean, speaking before Nader's appearance in Oregon. Nader proved that ego, not concern for America - or even the wishes of his own former supporters - is what drives him by vowing to KEEP trying to force his way onto the ballot! (www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/politics/8363525.htm)

Nader Fails to Qualify in Oregon - Blames NCAA Finals
06-Apr-04
Ralph Nader

"Political observers had expected Nader would easily draw enough supporters at a Monday petition-signing rally intended to make Oregon the first state to qualify Nader for the 2004 ballot. But only 741 people showed up - far short of the 1,000 required... Still, Nader said he would not abandon his quest to qualify for the Oregon ballot, but will try another option available under Oregon law - collecting 15,000 signatures over a three-month period, rather than 1,000 signatures at a single gathering. 'Don't worry, we'll be on the ballot in Oregon,' the [Bush-electer] declared. Nader has been able to draw large crowds in the past in Oregon. A year after the 2000 presidential race, for example, he attracted a paying audience of 7,000 at an event here. Nader said that having to compete with Monday night's NCAA basketball game likely contributed to the low turnout at his event. 'The ball game, it had to be the ball game,' Nader muttered as he climbed a stairway leading to the stage."

Nader to Meet with Kerry in Solidarity against Bush
28-Mar-04
Ralph Nader

MSNBC: "Ralph Nader said Sunday he will meet with John Kerry next month to discuss the effort to defeat Bush in the November election. While stressing that he is still a competitor in the race, the independent presidential hopeful said he views his candidacy as a 'second front against Bush, however small.' Following a speech on the environment at Georgia State University, Nader stepped up his attacks on Bush, describing the Republican incumbent as a giant corporation residing in the White House camouflaging as a human being.'" Rumor has it that Nader may propose a strategy in hotly contested states where the vote may be close to direct his supporters to vote for Kerry.

GOP Donors Funding Nader
28-Mar-04
Ralph Nader

Kos comments on a report from the Dallas Morning News: "We all knew this was happening... 'Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader is getting a little help from his friends - and from George W. Bush's friends. Nearly 10 percent of the Nader contributors who have given him at least $250 each have a history of supporting the Republican president, national GOP candidates or the party, according to computer-assisted review of financial records by The Dallas Morning News. Among the new crop of Nader donors: actor and former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein, Florida frozen-food magnate Jeno Paulucci and Pennsylvania oil company executive Terrence Jacobs. All have strong ties to the GOP.' Ten percent is actually not that high. Expect that number to rise in the coming months as Nader taps out his own network and the GOP fills the void."

Nader's Song and Dance (a Rerun at that!) Not Playing Well Among Black Voters
10-Mar-04
Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader swears his platform "resonates" with black voters, whom he assumes will rally round him. He couldn't be more wrong: "I don't think that what he's talking about right now will resonate with blacks or whites," said Ronald Walters, a black professor of political science at the University of Maryland in Black American Web.com. BAW says that while Nader claims to be "different" from Democrats, his platform, a rerun from 2000, "Reads like a laundry list of issues from the progressive left: tax reform, universal health care, a crackdown on corporate crime, strengthening of rights for American workers and an end to the war on drugs." Showing a Bush-like hypocrisy (Bush courts black voters, yet has yet to meet with major black leaders), Nader, when contacted by BAW hasn't even bothered to respond to their requests for an interview.

Nader and the Newmanite Cult
06-Mar-04
Ralph Nader

Doug Ireland writes: "What in the world is Ralph Nader doing in bed with the ultrasectarian cult-racket formerly known as the New Alliance Party? That's the question raised by Nader's January 11 appearance as the featured speaker at a conference in Bedford, New Hampshire, of so-called 'independents' that is nothing more than a front for the New Alliance crazies. The conference was arranged by something called the Choosing an Independent President 2004 Campaign ('ChIP'). ChIP's organizers--or 'convenors,' as they style themselves--are none other than Dr. Fred Newman, the cult's guru, a master manipulator and former associate of mad Lyndon LaRouche; and Dr. Lenora Fulani, the Afro-American former presidential candidate of the New Alliance Party, whom Newman describes as his 'greatest creation'... For Ralph to grace a Newman front group with his presence is the equivalent of cuddling up to Scientology, another cult-racket."

Nader Pitched Dean for Running Mate Slot
25-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

Posted by Kos: "I'm Mike Ford [...] For the last 6 months or so I was a senior advisor to Howard Dean. Bout three months ago Ralph Nader and his entourage walked into our Vermont headquarters off the street to 'dialogue'. He was quite impressive intellectually and the firmness of his vision was also impressive. At the time of the visit, Howard was still the front runner and the Nader entourage made a blatant pitch for a Nader Vice Presidential nomination. The point of all this is to say that the only thing that impressed me more than Nader's brain was his outsized ego. Got to say, that's what seems to be the driver here and it's more about his personal agenda and, I think, about that huge ego rather than beating Bush.' Mike Ford is Joe Trippi's best friend and comrade in arms. They have worked together on a slew of presidential campaigns in the past. So the source is solid. And his take on Nader is as well."

Ralph Nader: Old Boy 'Wonder' Desperate For Last Hurrah in the Spotlight
24-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

Richard S. Dunham astutely points out that Ralph Nader's overriding motivation for running is ego. It supercedes loyalty. For example, Nader denounced The Nation, a publication that gave him a regular forum for his issues, simply because it disagreed with his decision to run : "Nader says he needs to run to make sure the issues he champions are discussed in 2004. He must not be listening very hard: On domestic issues, Edwards and Kerry sound a whole lot like Nader. I have to wonder what planet Ralph is inhabiting these days. Nader has every right to run. But Nader ought to just own up to the reasons he's doing it: He craves the spotlight, and he would rather have George Bush serve 4 more years as President than live without the applause of a dwindling band of adoring college students and aging hippies. Makes you wonder about the old boy wonder."

Will Karl Rove Fund Ralph Nader? Follow the Money
24-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

Todd Gitlin writes, "Nader is running as an independent, not as a Green, not as the candidate of any party. He needs thousands of signatures to get on 50 state ballots. Petitioning is an expensive business. Nader has no organization. He's starting late. Who will pay? Who will pound the pavement and make calls for him? Who will sign his petitions? In 2000, there were Republicans who came to the aid of local Green candidacies. And this time? Will Karl Rove and his fundraising Rangers limit their splurge? Will they find a warm place in their hearts for Nader's effort to undermine yet another Democratic candidate? Reporters in search of springtime stories, start your investigations."

Nader's Candidacy Already Being Exploited By Media to Undercut Democratic Candidates
23-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

What an irony! The man who is supposed to be all about fighting corporate power has, overnight, become the darling and posterboy of the corporate powermongers. Within 24 hours of announcing his candidacy, Ralph Nader is already being used by the Pro-Bush media to undercut Democratic candidates. This report in CNN, which (per the headline) is supposed to be about John Edwards, squeezes a few bits about Edwards in between big fat paragraphs about Ralph. We say that Nader has gone from being Nader: the champion of the people, to Nader: "unsafe at any speed."

Flashback: GOP Ads for Nader Nearly Cost Gore 3 Key States
23-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

AP 10/27/2000: "Hoping to boost Ralph Nader in states where he is threatening to hurt Al Gore, a Republican group is launching TV ads featuring Nader attacking the vice president. The ads by the Republican Leadership Council will begin airing Monday in Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington, all states that are part of Gore's base and where Nader is polling well. The group plans to spend more than $100,000 at first and hopes to raise more over the weekend. While the ads boost Nader, they are a clear attempt to help Bush." The result could have been decisive. In OR, where Nader got 77,186 votes (5%) Gore beat Bush by only 6,460 (.4%). In WI, where Nader got 93,553 (4%), Gore beat Bush by only 5,396 (.2%).

Ralph's Refusal to Listen to Friends, Advisors and the American Public Smacks Disturbingly of Bush
22-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader, now given to sweeping two-dimensional generalizations, is fond of pointing out how there's "not much difference" between Democrats and Republicans. But Ralph ought to take a good hard look in the mirror before he draws another comparison. One of the things most despicable about Bush is his total indifference to the wishes of the American public and to the best advice of his most competent advisors. He simply ignores them (or replaces them) and does what he wants anyway. Hmmm...Looking at your recent behavior, Ralphie, looks like there's "not much difference" between you and Bush!

Ralph Nader, Once a Hero, Turns Into His Own Parody
22-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

It is hard to see how Nader believes he is accomplishing anything other than supporting Bush. On Meet the Press, he stunned even those predisposed to give him the benefit of the doubt by alternately spouting Free Republic-style rightwing jargon (as when he described dedicated progressive activists as the "liberal intelligensia") and high-school hippie generalizations ("everyone" in Washington is a sellout, etc.). In a recent news clip, we thought we spotted what makes the 69-year-old Ralph run: he was followed by a cluster of doting female sycophants, all under 40. You are a sad, sorry shadow of the man you were, Ralph.

A Winning Democratic Strategy for Dealing with Ralph Nader
22-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

John Nichols writes, "Those who seek to beat Bush in 2004 ought to focus on some bottom-line fundamentals regarding Nader's latest candidacy: 1) It will be much harder to argue that there are no differences between the two parties this year:.. 2) The best way to marginalize Nader is still the same: steal his issues:.. Franklin Roosevelt and his supporters came to a similar conclusion with regards to Norman Thomas in 1932. So they treated him with respect, while grabbing the best elements of the Socialist platform away from Thomas. In the end, Roosevelt won, while Thomas could say he contributed significantly to the process. Nader, who has always held Thomas in high regard, should be hoping that history will repeat itself. The alternatives are far less appealing."

Nader Likely to Run
16-Feb-04
Ralph Nader

Seattle Times reports: "Former Green Party candidate Ralph Nader is poised to declare that he will seek the presidency again this year, this time as an independent and despite a vigorous effort by the left to dissuade him, according to friends and associates. 'I think there's very little doubt,' said Micah Sifry, author of a book on third-party politics and a longtime Nader watcher. 'I think he's going to run.' Nader, blamed for tilting the 2000 election to President Bush by siphoning off votes from Al Gore, twice has delayed saying whether he would be a candidate, but insiders expect the declaration next week. Sifry is part of the campaign to stop Nader from running, including an open letter to him last month in The Nation, a liberal magazine that has been associated with Nader for 30 years. Nader contributors from 2000, such as Ben Cohen, a co-founder of Ben & Jerry's ice cream, also are organizing 'No, Ralph, No' efforts."

Tell Nader: Don't Run!
27-Dec-03
Ralph Nader

The Nader 2004 Exploratory Committee has a survey asking visitors to vote as to whether Ralph should run for President. Tell Ralph -- Don't Do It!

Nader Rejects Green Party Backing, But May Still Run as Independent
23-Dec-03
Ralph Nader

"Ralph Nader, whose 2000 campaign many Democrats believe cost former vice president Al Gore the presidency, has decided not to run for president next year as the candidate of the Green Party but is still contemplating a presidential race as an independent, a Nader associate said yesterday. Ross Mirkarimi, who ran Nader's presidential campaign in California, said Nader recently called him to announce his intentions and is in the process of informing national Green Party officials that he will not be their standard-bearer in 2004."

Nader: Dean's Positions 'Sound Eerily Similar to What We've Been Saying'
19-Dec-03
Ralph Nader

Wall Street Journal: "Ralph Nader...seems unlikely to mount a run against the former Vermont governor. Mr. Nader says he will decide in the next few weeks whether to run. But in the meantime, his praise of Mr. Dean undercuts any rationale for another independent candidacy. 'Reading his position papers sounds eerily similar to what we've been saying,' the longtime consumer advocate notes in an interview... this week. 'He speaks clearly ... not in Senate-ese ... and projects vigor. We need a macho Democrat.' The front-running Democratic candidate, Mr. Nader says, has an impressive 'rope-a-dope ability.' There are caveats. 'Dean's record as governor is nothing to shout about,' Mr. Nader says, noting that his preference would be Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich... 'Unlike most of the other candidates,' Mr. Nader says, the Vermont governor 'is not compromised by votes for the Patriot Act or for the Iraqi war resolution.'"

RepentantNaderVoter.com: An Open Letter to Ralph
21-Aug-03
Ralph Nader

"Dear Ralph: When George W. Bush squeaked into Office, you were unrepentant about your decision to run for President in 2000. You have remained unrepentant ever since, and even today you are considering making another presidential bid next year... But as time has passed, it is clear to us--as people who voted for you--that your campaign was a mistake, and it's time for us to switch from being 'unrepentant' Nader voters to being 'repentant' ones. Why? Tweedle dee is still tweedle dee, but tweedle dum has turned into a global tyrant... His presidency has been so destructive that the premise of your campaign--that the two parties are controlled by the same special interests and are therefore identical--has been proven wrong. If Al Gore were our President, we can be sure that significant disasters would have been avoided, including the tax cuts for the rich, the near destruction of the United Nations, the Iraq War, and more."

Nader Considers Running as Green or Independent or Republican
19-Jun-03
Ralph Nader

AFP reports that Ralph Nader "is despised by some parts of the Democratic party," according to liberal pundit Robert Borosage. Why? Start here: "Nader said he still stands by his 2000 campaign statement that the two parties are virtually the same. 'The Democrats are D-plus, the Republicans are D-minus,' he said. 'On foreign and military policy it's hard to find any difference.' For 2004, a second Green Party presidential candidacy may be in the works. 'It's too early to say,' commented Nader. Green party official John Strawn confirmed that Nader is among several potential candidates for the next election. 'Many folks are actively promoting particular candidates, Ralph being one of them,' he said. Nader says that if the Greens reject him, he might choose to run as an independent, or possibly even as a Republican, which would pit him against George W. Bush in the primary. 'Wouldn't that be interesting? A Republican run?' he muses." Don't forget Repugs funded Nader ads last time.

Ronnie Dugger Says 'Ralph, Don't Run'
18-Nov-02
Ralph Nader

Ronnie Dugger introduced Ralph Nader to the Green Party conventions in 1996 and 2000. But now he writes, "The Bush disaster, compounded now by the meltdown of the Democratic Party on November 5, is an emergency. We cannot afford another division in our ranks that will bring about the election of George W. Bush in 2004. His selection as President by the Supreme Court in 2000 was a presidential and judicial coup... Now [Bush] is out of control and threatens American democracy and the peace of the world. At home, there is mounting evidence that we are living in a land ruled by a crypto-fascist government... If Bush and the Pentagon control the government through 2008 we will become a militarized nation bent on world domination, a third-millennium Rome. Intensified terrorist attacks on us and a series of widening wars can be expected."

Ralph Nader (sort of) Endorses Senator Wellstone
18-Aug-02
Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader said that the Green "candidate in Minnesota, is a newcomer who has little chance of winning: 'He'll be lucky to get a few thousand votes.' At the same time, Nader [offered to appear with] Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone, to promote corporate reforms. Assessing Wellstone's prospects...Nader said: 'I don't see how he's going to lose.' While Wellstone's campaign welcomed Nader's remarks, McGaa was puzzled by them. "It's bewildering to me...I will prove him extremely wrong," he said. [Cam Gordon of the Minnesota Greens, said] 'we are in a bit of a dilemma here'...Here's the dilemma: With McGaa drawing [3 percent of the vote, many] Green Party members say it could hurt Wellstone, who's virtually tied with Republican Norm Coleman. If Coleman wins and Republicans take control of the Senate, some Greens fear it could hurt their party. 'People are definitely expressing concerns about being the spoiler,' said Gordon, who's backing McGaa."

Earth to Ralph! Nader Says Bush is the Best Man to End Corporate Corruption - Call a Doctor!
09-Jul-02
Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader is in Cuba smoking something, and it ain't a cigar. Responding to Bush's Wall Street speech, Nader said: "Coming out of the corporate world, having done some of these things, having associated with people like Kenny Boy -- Ken Lay of Enron -- he is in the best position possible to enact very fundamental structural systemic corporate reform, and unleash major prosecution against these companies and their bosses through the Justice Department and the SEC." C'mon Ralph, that's like expecting Bob Guccione to end pornography. Bush is the most corrupt Resident in history - the only way to change the system is to impeach him!

Nader's Sorry Legacy - Ensuring Republicans Take Over the Senate
10-Jun-02
Ralph Nader

Joe Conason writes, "Ralph Nader can talk out of either side of his mouth about the consequences of his [spoiler strategies, depending on whether he is avoiding blame for Republican advances or promoting himself as the inexorable progressive vanguard]. Nader often threatens to deliver both houses of Congress to the Republicans unless the Democrats surrender to his ideology. But sometimes [he claims] that Green votes actually helped the Democrats gain control of the Senate... In other words, he wants to have it both ways. As the self-appointed scourge of the Democratic Party, he feels entitled to destroy it for its political sins, without assuming any responsibility for the ill consequences of his moralistic posturing... Whatever their utopian platforms may say about renewable energy, corporate responsibility, diversity rainbows or frogs in top hats, the ruin of the Democratic Party is their only feasible aim."

In an Utterly Cynical Ploy, Bush Pits Colorado against South Carolina over Plutonium
17-Apr-02
Ralph Nader

The NY Times reports, "A number of arms control advocates and Democratic politicians [in SC] say a principal purpose of the shipment is to enhance the re-election prospects of Senator Wayne Allard, a Republican from Colorado who is campaigning on his efforts to rid his state of plutonium... 'The administration has decided that it can dump radioactive junk into our backyard and we'll still vote for Bush," said [SC Democratic chair Richard] Harpootlian, referring to the state's modern history of voting for Republican presidential candidates. 'But Colorado is a much closer state, and they want to give the upper hand to Allard.'" This is ANOTHER cynical political move by Bush, just like the steel tariffs meant to buy votes for Republicans in PA, WV, and OH. Impeach Bush Now!

Nader's Traitors Ride Again
12-Aug-01
Ralph Nader

After taking 100,000 votes from Al Gore in Florida, Ralph Nader returned to Portland, Oregon to launch his latest sabotage mission. Now he plans to run 50 or more Green candidates in U.S. House races in 2002, to keep Tom DeLay and the Republican Revolutionaries in control of the House. In 2000, a Green candidate took 5,000 votes away from environmentalist Rush Holt, who won by a razor-thin margin of 750. In 1998, Green candidate Robert Anderson got 10% of the vote in New Mexico's 1st District, and took the election from Democrat Phil Maloof, who lost by only 6%. Message to Ralph: we're NOT going to let you steal the 2002 election!

Tree Thinning Scam by Norton a Prelude to Handing Out Logging Contracts
09-Aug-01
Ralph Nader

Gail Norton is ecstatic over the decision of U.S. Forest Service to "thin" forests and cull brush to "prevent forest fires." According to our resident expert, these two practices put together make no honest sense. In a forest left unthinned, a denser canopy forms, which retains moisture and shades out brush. This eliminates brush and discourages fires naturally. In a thinned forest, brush happily accumulates with the extra sunlight, while no moisture-retaining canopy forms. In addition, the wind that can penetrate through a thinned forest makes sure any fire is fanned. Thus, sound science itself pronounces Norton and co. Bosworth liars. The only reason they would initiate a "thinning program" is as a pretext to handing out logging permits.

Nader Is Beyond Delusional
26-Mar-01
Ralph Nader

"Rather than 'galvanizing' progressives, Nader's campaign has left them divided and dispirited, struggling to protect past gains now at risk. The Greens have shown that they can win just enough votes to tip a close race to their worst enemies, but not even a twentieth the number they need to win an election. Despite its fundamental incoherence, Nader and the Greens are sticking to their delusional plan. They say they'll run twice as many spoiler candidates in 2002, no doubt hoping to repeat their 'success' not only in electing Bush, but also in races like the one in Michigan, where 3,467 Green votes allowed Republican Mike Rogers to beat Democrat Dianne Byrum by a margin of 110." So writes Eric Alterman in The Nation.

Okay, So the Dems Are Shunning Nader
30-Jan-01
Ralph Nader

It's easy to blow Ralph off. It doesn't take much work. But right now, Bush is the issue at hand. Are the Democrats in Congress blowing Bush off? No, they appear to be running toward every photo-op they can get with Bush. Especially Tom Daschle. But Ralph Nader, he's easy to shun. After all, he has no power.

The Most Persuasive, Reasonable and Eloquent Plea to Ralph Nader that We Have Come Across, Submitted by a Reader
05-Nov-00
Ralph Nader

You can respect Ralph Nader's ideas, but find the guy a little self-righteous at this point -- to say the least. A reader sent us an eloquent and heartfelt plea for Ralph to move aside before the disaster of Bush's election becomes inevitable.

Tell Ralph Nader to Bow Out Now!
03-Nov-00
Ralph Nader

NewsforChange.com, an offshoot of Working Assets, has a site where you can either tell Nader, via e-mail, to stay in the race or get out. Please take a moment to click through this story and make your view known. Of course, we expect each and everyone of you to tell Ralph to stop grandstanding right now and let Gore win this thing. We'll be the first to kick butt when Gore strays from progressive issues, we promise.

Stop Flirting with Nader, Goodman Warns.
29-Oct-00
Ralph Nader

Ellen Goodman fesses up. She had a brief flirtation with Nader, but now she's sorry about the whole thing. "But what happens when you want so much to be right you end up helping the hard right?" She asks. Nader doesn't seem to give a whit.

Will Half of the Nader Supporters Bail Out on Election Day?
29-Oct-00
Ralph Nader

Well, we certainly hope so. Nader seems to be on a slash and burn riff right now, calling for a political Armageddon by facilitating Bush's election. Who said Ralph didn't have an outsize ego/savior problem? Maybe some of his supporters will decide that they don't want to be around to pick up the pieces after a Bush victory.

Sierra Club Scolds Nader: Calls Ralph's Strategy Ruinous
28-Oct-00
Ralph Nader

The Sierra Club is fed up with Ralph Nader's sanctimonius antics. In a lacerating letter from the head of the Sierra Club to Mr. Green Party, Nader is excoriated for his indifference to the destruction that a Bush administration will heap upon the environment. The Sierra Club calls Nader everything from an opportunist to a man who has betrayed his followers and ideals.

Sierra Club Scolds Nader: Calls Ralph's Strategy "Flawed, Dangerous and Reckless"
28-Oct-00
Ralph Nader

The Sierra Club is fed up with Ralph Nader's sanctimonius antics. In a lacerating letter from the head of the Sierra Club to Mr. Green Party, Nader is excoriated for his indifference to the destruction that a Bush administration will heap upon the environment. The Sierra Club calls Nader everything from an opportunist to a man who has betrayed his followers and ideals.

Is Ralph Nader Unsafe at Any Speed?
27-Oct-00
Ralph Nader

Nader, as we all know, is poised to play the spoiler, and he's gloating about it. At this late stage in his life, it seems Ralph, mr. non-personality, has suddenly discovered his ego. And it's making him unsafe at any speed according to the New York Times.

Progressive Leaders Stump for Gore
26-Oct-00
Ralph Nader

Progressive voters are getting an unusual amount of attention, as Ralph Nader could tip crucial states away from Al Gore to George W. Bush. Progressive leaders, including Jesse Jackson, Gloria Steinem, John Sweeney, Paul Wellstone, Robert Redford, and Melissa Etheridge are stumping in places like Eugene Oregon, Madison Wisconsin, and Seattle. Gloria Steinem has been reading her top 10 reasons for voting for Gore.

Does Nader Have a Racial Blindspot?
03-Sep-00
Ralph Nader

Of course, Ralph Nader is supportive of a multi-cultural society. But an article in ColorLines.com, an online magazine covering "race, culture and organizing," challenges Nader to incorporate race and racism as a key agenda item in his campaign. This makes for a huge gap in a progressive campaign, given America's longstanding problems with racial equality and economic justice. Ralph, are you listening?

Ralph Nader, let me help you quit the race
30-Aug-00
Ralph Nader

So get real and take it from me: if you hand this election to Bush, your name among progressives will forever be Ralph Mud. There's too much at stake in this tight election to waste effort on some misty-eyed, long-term tactic.

It's Getting a Little Rough out There for Nader.
17-Aug-00
Ralph Nader

It's crunch time as the Democrats gear up for the fall, and Ralph Nader poses a serious threat to the Gore-Lieberman ticket in several key states. Not that he'll win, but the worry is that the Green Party candidate will siphon off enough votes from the Dems to put Bush in the White House. So, it's not surprising that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who heads an environmental group, accused Nader of potentially betraying envioronmentalists by helping Bush to get elected. It's going to get rough out there.

 


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