Good ole’ Ralph Nader; you’ve gotta love the guy, even if some of his ideas conjure the image of a Nanny State turned up to ten. He hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of winning the Presidency, but it’s great to know he’ll be providing us with some interesting soundbytes again, at least for the next year-plus most likely…
Today, The Politico is reporting Mr. Nader is blasting the front-runners, praising his fellow “No Chancers”, and expressing his HUGE disdain with our corrupted two-party system of Government again:
Nader ponders run, calls Clinton ‘coward’
By: Roger Simon
Ralph Nader says he is seriously considering running for president in 2008 because he foresees another Tweedledum-Tweedledee election that offers little real choice to voters.
“You know the two parties are still converging — they don’t even debate the military budget anymore,” Nader said in a 30-minute interview. “I really think there needs to be more competition from outside the two parties.”
Even the possible entry of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg into the race as an independent might not dissuade Nader.
“He is interesting (but) unpredictable,” Nader said of Bloomberg. “I really like the stand he took against smoking, but he goes along with corporate welfare in New York and tax-funded stadiums. So he is unfinished in that way.”
Nader would have little or no chance of winning the presidency should he run, but he doesn’t need to win to affect the outcome: Many Democrats still blame Nader for draining enough votes away from Al Gore in Florida in 2000 to elect George W. Bush. …”
(Snip!)
“… “Democrats have become, over the years, very good at electing very bad Republicans,” Nader said. “Democrats always know how to implode, how to be ambiguous, how to waver, how not to be authentic.”
While Nader praised two candidates who have almost no chance of winning their party’s nomination — Republican Ron Paul and Democrat Mike Gravel — he was severe in his criticism of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.
“She is a political coward,” Nader said. “She goes around pandering to powerful interest groups on the one hand and flattering general audiences on the other. She doesn’t even have the minimal political fortitude of her husband.” …”
What can I say? I LOVE this guy AND I am really, REALLY glad he isn’t, nor will he ever be, the President of the United States of America. That said, I largely agree with many of his comments in The Politco article. The two-party system IS getting a bit too “comfy” with itself and maybe the time has come for a REAL challenge to it from the outside; a concept that has more steam behind it than I’ve ever seen before…
As for Mr. Nader — in the meantime — puh-leez continue to keep those golden soundbytes a-comin’, Sir.
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1:36 pm on June 21st, 2007 1
When I lived in Lebanon, I dwelt in the home town of Ralph Nader’s parents. I have to respect him for being a true American success story. However, his nuttiness keeps me from supporting most of his positions, which are founded on received opinion and fixed ideas—and a breathless belief-system that is anti-capitalist at its core.
Nonetheless, he will be an interesting antidote to Clinton, Inc, although the MSM are in her pocket and his destruction as a serious candidate is probably being prepared as I write this. The hit squads are getting ready to either demolish him or kill him with complete neglect. If you have any doubts about this, read the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19113485 and discover why the GOP and Nader are in the same boat.
2:44 pm on June 21st, 2007 2
After the accusations that he is responsible for the 2000 vote results going to Bush (true or no) it will be interesting to see if the voters look at him nearly as kindly this time around, or if they see him as the narcissistic GOP tool he’s often accused of being.
He was the subject of jokes in the run up to the 2000 election; I’m sure he’ll get worse this time around.
4:22 pm on June 21st, 2007 3
Nader either wants in the spotlight, or some neocon money to mess things up again.
As pathetic as Hillary and her war loving agenda really are, the country knows Nader helped give us Bush, and he will have less support than ever.
7:41 pm on June 21st, 2007 4
Nader – the Harold Stassen (or Pat Paulson) of our times. About the only bigger fruit loop out there is M. Moore, who, thankfully isn’t running for anything. Yet.
7:43 pm on June 21st, 2007 5
Oh God, don’t scare me like that again!
11:25 pm on June 21st, 2007 6
He found himself on my S. list when he went on his unsafe at any speed campaign. I liked my corvair.
I don’t like his politics but what he says about the current state of affairs is dead bang on.