Ralph Nader runs for president

[nist7]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7261670.stm

Democrats are gonna be very mad right now...

Ralph Nader has announced plans to run again for the US presidency.

The anti-establishment consumer advocate made the announcement in a televised interview on Sunday.

Mr Nader was accused by many Democrats of handing the presidency to George W Bush in the November 2000 elections. He ran again unsuccessfully in 2004.

Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are vying for the Democratic ticket. Senator John McCain is almost certain to run for the Republicans.

Nearly three million Americans - more than 2% of the vote - backed Mr Nader when he stood as the Green Party candidate in the 2000 presidential election.

That election was so close that a small proportion of those votes - particularly in the key state of Florida - would have put Al Gore in the White House.

Disenchanted

"I'm running for president," Mr Nader said as he announced the move on NBC's Meet the Press.

He said most Americans were disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties - who were not discussing the urgent issues facing American voters

People, he said, felt "locked out, shut out, marginalised and disrespected".


He called Washington DC "corporate-occupied territory" that turns the government against the interest of its own people.

Mr Nader denied he was seeking to be a spoiler candidate - and accused the main parties of "political bigotry".

Referring to the three main contenders in the race so far, he questioned: "Do they have the moral courage, do they have the fortitude to stand up to corporate powers and get things done for the American people?"

"We have to shift the power from the few to the many."

Consumer agenda

Mr Nader, 73, was born in Connecticut in 1934 and was educated at Princeton and Harvard universities.

He has spent most of his life fighting for consumers and workers against corporations.

In the 1960s his work on car safety led directly to seat belts and shatter-resistant glass being fitted in every American car.

From the 1970s he built a reputation for dealing with issues including workers' rights, public safety, the environment and the influence of corporations.

He founded a number of groups including Public Citizen, which in recent years has been active in organising protests against the World Trade Organization and World Bank/IMF.

[argatoga]

Ugh, his politics are unsafe at any time. The day I support the party of Ralph Nader and Jello Biafra is the day I commit myself to a mental institute.

[Ottobon]

Originally Posted by argatoga

Ugh, his politics are unsafe at any time. The day I support the party of Ralph Nader and Jello Biafra is the day I commit myself to a mental institute.

I am obliged to agree.


I really don't understand how he can call himself a "consumer advocate" when half of his policies seem to be aimed at how "consumers", or more then less anybody, are allowed to use their own products.

For me the best description of his personality came when it was mentioned how he would never go over anybodies house if they owned any pets because it was "dirty."


At the same rate, although i don't agree with some of Barack Obama's politics (2nd Amendment crap, supporting environmentalism, coming from a state which has more toll-roads then i can bare) i would actually like to see him as president. I suppose Nadar secretly hates black people.

[argatoga]

Originally Posted by Ottobon

I suppose Nadar secretly hates all people.

Fixed.

[jetsetter]

I can't forgive him for the Corvair.

[avanti]

What I don't understand is why a guy like this, who must know he has not a snowballs chance in hell of winning, would run for president?!?

It seems to me that someone who is anti establishment, and an environmentalist would lean more towards the democrat side than the republican side, if that is the case he is basically shooting himself in the leg by aiding the opposition...?

[argatoga]

Well he is either a nut and/or likes the PR. I am sure he will get to pocket a bit of dough from this as well.

[avanti]

How will he be able to make money from this? As far as I know he is not a rich man, and running for president seems to be as good an investment as buying a football (european) team...

[No Boss]

Oh, ok Ralph... let us know how that turns out

[Viper007Bond]

God damnit.

[argatoga]

Originally Posted by avanti

How will he be able to make money from this? As far as I know he is not a rich man, and running for president seems to be as good an investment as buying a football (european) team...

He will get plenty of donations, nowhere near the amount of the top two, but enough.

[avanti]

Yeah, but if he is running he will surly have to spend all of it and then some...?

[Firecat]

I supported him in 2000 & 2004. I'm inclined to continue supporting him and it's not so much because I agree with him on all the issue (because I don't), but I do agree with the idea of wrestling away at least some of the power from this republican/democratic duopoly.

[argatoga]

Originally Posted by avanti

Yeah, but if he is running he will surly have to spend all of it and then some...?

He knows he won't win. He will get some press (he is a PR whore) and along the way he will probably pocket some cash for himself.

[Firecat]

And the other candidates are different, how?

But here's a crazy idea, maybe he actually cares about these issues? Or are we that pessimistic of a nation that anybody running for public office just wants money, attention, and power?

[BlaRo]

Originally Posted by Firecat

And the other candidates are different, how?

But here's a crazy idea, maybe he actually cares about these issues? Or are we that pessimistic of a nation that anybody running for public office just wants money, attention, and power?

Unfortunately, I'm inclined to see that. This future sucks.

Does anybody else think that he's going to make a far bigger impact this time than his other 28 billion times he's ran? Now that the environmentalist orgy has become a furor of self-congratulatory bullshit, if he's still going to run from the Green Party then there might be a hell of a lot more people than the previous 3 mil that voted for him last time.

Either that, or Obama's charming dreaminess will still hold steady because he doesn't seem as evil as Bush did.

[wlmmn]

Wow, is he going to keep running every 4 years until he dies?

[argatoga]

Originally Posted by Firecat

And the other candidates are different, how?

But here's a crazy idea, maybe he actually cares about these issues? Or are we that pessimistic of a nation that anybody running for public office just wants money, attention, and power?

Maybe I'm a bit too cynical. But I don't trust the guy, he has in the past used extreme hyperbole to make a point.

[tigger]

Originally Posted by jetsetter

I can't forgive him for the Corvair.

Ditto. The bastard killed one of the neatest little cars GM ever built ...

In the 1960s his work on car safety led directly to the absolutely absurd regulations we have today. What an asshole.

Originally Posted by Firecat

I supported him in 2000 & 2004. I'm inclined to continue supporting him and it's not so much because I agree with him on all the issue (because I don't), but I do agree with the idea of wrestling away at least some of the power from this republican/democratic duopoly.

I can see that, but man, if I voted for him and he won, I'd have to go jump off a bridge. Plus every vote for him undoubtedly fuels his and other eco-nuts egos, and we don't need that . Like BlaRo mentioned, I do think that he could potentially get more than a few percent this year; in our ever more eco-conscious society.

[thedguy]

Originally Posted by tigger

Ditto. The bastard killed one of the neatest little cars GM ever built ...
I can see that, but man, if I voted for him and he won, I'd have to go jump off a bridge. Plus every vote for him undoubtedly fuels his and other eco-nuts egos, and we don't need that . Like BlaRo mentioned, I do think that he could potentially get more than a few percent this year; in our ever more eco-conscious society.

He's not the best eco-nut though. He is against CAFE regs on account of safety. I don't mind that he wanted safety regulations put in place, I do mind that he took away my freedom of choice by placing a practical ban on personally imported vehicles.

I know there was a few other gripes I had with him, fortunately he has done a decent amount to help the country and I can't look past it (I just can't recall what they are ATM). I still won't vote for him.