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Chris Hedges: ‘Lay Off Nader’Posted on Mar 10, 2008Truthdig columnist Chris Hedges argues in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Ralph Nader may not win, but “[h]e is the only candidate who has not lined his pockets with tens of millions of dollars of corporate campaign money, [not] talked out of both sides of his mouth about the war in Iraq, NAFTA and health care, and has dedicated his life to battling the corporations who make war on working men and women.”
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A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
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By Seanchai, March 12, 2008 at 5:15 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I used to be a Ralph-o-file, but look at his choice for a running mate - the lame-brained Matt Gonzales, who ran for Mayor of SF as a Green a few years ago and didn’t support the Green candidate for President.
“I’m for Dennis Kucinich,” he replied when asked. There’s nothing wrong with supporting Kucinich, but if you’re a Green, you should support the Green Party’s candidates, at least publicly.
Thankfully, Newsome won. Ralph should have done a better job picking a number two.
Report thisBy Outraged, March 12, 2008 at 12:50 am #
Absolutely. No one who cares has forgotten Dennis Kucinich and thankfully he won his seat in the house. It’s just that the story was about Nader so the comment was directed in that regard.
Kucinich was an excellent candidate. He was marginalized consistently throughout the debates and the campaign. In fact, since Kucinich left the race I personally have found it almost impossible to make a comment on an article regarding him…..as I find it so incredibly enraging and perversely wrong. Still….there are not words…
Report thisBy David, March 12, 2008 at 12:28 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Hi,
The democrats are not angels and they have done a lot of damage to the middle class but they do not have a desire to lead a messianic crusade of madness accross the world.
The democrats are corrupt and in many cases completely cynical in how they exploit the poor but Al Gore would not have taken this country into Iraq and would have done something about global warming as opposed to absolutely nothing from GW Bush.
When you guys are celebrating Nader’s run remember neither Clinton nor Obama have sung songs about bombing Iran.
I think the lesser of 2 evils is far better then a war mongering nut-case in the form of McCain.
I hope Nader see’s the wisdom here and ends his candidacy and the democrats are able to unite behind a candidate and soon or the Republicans will have the first mover advantage.
Thanks,
Report thisBy Jemma, March 11, 2008 at 8:42 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
WHAT LANGUAGE DO YOU SPEAK?? JIBBERISH DOESN´T EVEN DESCRIBE IT…..MAYBE YOU MAKE SOME VALID POINTS, IT IS HARD TO TELL.
Report thisBy MackTN, March 11, 2008 at 5:35 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Just look at the issues listed on Nader’s web site votenader.com. Which of our candidates is talking about any of them?
What happened to single payer health care?
Before Nader stepped in, he supported John Edwards’ candidacy. Why? John Edwards doesn’t equivocate. He recognized the danger of corporatism in this country and how Nafta, ATO fuels its rise and jeopardizes our democracy.
But people just won’t educate themselves. They won’t ask questions, won’t attend city government meetings because they enslave themselves to corporations and get sucked into debt.
Obama & Clinton throw out a few bones—universal health care, partial withdrawal from Iraq—to make you think they are practically revolutionary. And you believe them.
Report thisBy e-jones, March 11, 2008 at 5:31 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Clark’s a phony. Neither rational nor radical. A corporate republicrat apologist.
Report thisBy Bill Blackolive, March 11, 2008 at 1:07 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
Nader, Moorer, Goodman and sundry familiar names for US tv privately know there is the 9/11 coverup. Go to patriotsquestion9/11. Could we ever stop all this fool talk? Sure, Nader, Moorer, Goodman can be shot. The others of you have no excuse. Get ye to patriotsquestion9/ll and start a magazine or movie or newspaper or something besides disrespected street protests.
Report thisBy kevtao, March 11, 2008 at 11:53 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Mother Teresa spent a lifetime tirelessly and hopelessly pulling people off of the streets in Calcutta and around the world. Perhaps they died with some measure of compassion and dignity. She is on a fast track to sainthood.
Ralph Nader has spent a lifetime tirelessly and hopelessly fighting the corporate nazi machine that controls our government AND an ignorant U.S. populace who would benefit from his advocacy if they used a tablespoon of the gray matter in their heads.
What is he on a fast track to?
Egomaniac? Perhaps. If you read “The Seventeen Traditions” you might call it a stubbornness through his upbringing to do what’s right.
Report thisBy Expat, March 11, 2008 at 11:38 am #
^ we are so f%*#ing stupid it’s beyond belief.
Report thisBy DennisD, March 11, 2008 at 11:32 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Real “change” is brought about by “real” people like Nader not the Bill Mays’ of the political landscape selling you “change” for just $19.99.
The lobbyists and their corporate masters must laughing themselves silly watching this campaign. They already know the outcome. Same sh*t different wrapper. They’re just playing the diversity angle this time.
Wise up.
Report thisBy Outraged, March 11, 2008 at 11:28 am #
Article Quote: “We will, more and more, look like a third-world country,” Nader predicted, “full of disrepair from the streets to the bridges to the sewage systems. The nation will crumble. We will have lower wages, more division among people, especially against immigrants, as people fight for the scraps. There will no longer be an expectation that people can have a defined-benefit pension, that one breadwinner can produce a middle-class standard of living, and that people will have to take their chances with health care.”
Tell me where is Nader wrong? He’s right and it’s already happening. The stupidity of families with double wager earners who think they’re “beating the odds” since they’re still afloat is alarming. When it all comes crashing down where will they be, and what will happen twenty years from now? Where will we ALL be twenty years from now if something doesn’t give?
It appears that many younger people want a new progressive “hero”, which is fine…but where is your hero…? It certainly isn’t Obama or Clinton. Since they have both been “approved” by corporate interests. The simple fact that they are in the arena tells you this.
The blowhards who believe Nader shouldn’t this and shouldn’t that have apparently ALREADY bought in to the propaganda that living without democracy is workable for them. The interests that are undermining our democracy are corporate and Nader has fought this ilk all his life. Corporate intests control the lobbyists, the newspapers, the neocons, the food, the health-care, and much of our government. If stop-gap measures are not employed, and soon, it will be the beginning of the end of American democracy.
To diss Nader is idiocy. It exemplifies that all to common combination of ignorance and arrogance in the American masses. Corporations ARE NOT DEMOCRATIC enities, they ARE totalitarian, ruthless, and crooked. If they seize complete power of our government we will become a third world state and many will die, it’s their MO.
Report thisBy Expat, March 11, 2008 at 11:23 am #
^ want change. It’s the buzz, not reality. We want protection from womb to tomb. The problem with Ralph is; he will really change things. He will really make us uncomfortable and make us think and see things we aren’t used to seeing. He will make us ask too many uncomfortable questions; he will make us aware of too many realities for our conditioned minds to deal with. He might very well bring down the foundations of our very existence. My god, it will be the end of us! Surely we can’t have that! No; certainly we cant consider Ralph Nader ever again!
Report thisBy Ariela Lipton, March 11, 2008 at 11:13 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
Ralph Nader is the one person who we can all thank for having the worse seven years of presidency ever. Why should be give him any credit now that he has become a self-absorbed person and is running in order to be a spoiler again. In his hayday he served the people but it is hard to believe that he is that knight in shiny armor at this point in his life. Perhaps he has been out of the limelight for too long and that is his reason from running again. I don’t believe we can give him a pass based only of what was.
Report thisBy Bubba, March 11, 2008 at 9:38 am #
If you don’t know Jack Clark, you should. Here he is in his last podcast, #118, on Nader’s candidacy. Enjoy.
http://www.therationalradical.com/podcast.html
Report thisBy im4mary, March 11, 2008 at 8:53 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
I humbly beg to differ but Ralph is not the only candidate. If I recall, Dennis Kucinich also refused to be beholden to corporate pimps. He dropped out because he lacked funding and had to fight to keep his current position, which he still upholds. Just because Ralph jumped into the race at a later date does not make him the sole ‘virgin’. Had he decided to help Dennis, who has also been steadfast in his statements and actions, maybe Dennis might still be in the race (though highly doubtful).
This primary election has been nothing more than a perfect example of how our votes aren’t really counted. It’s about mass manipulation amongst a host of other ills this country faces.
Just sayin…
Report thisBy bozhidar bob balkas, March 11, 2008 at 8:29 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
isr holds w.o. trial or access to lawyers thousands of captives while calling them dysphemistically “prisoners”, “terrorists”. pals hold 1 soldier who has a lawyer. land theft, settling is vastly in isr’s favor. then there’s manhunt, demol’n of homes, villages, orchards. isr also builds walls. that’s unprecendented. isr also kills/maims more civs, including children, than pals do. isr uses cluster bombs. then theres’s a blockade. but most importantly, US/IOF aim, i deduce from facts just posited, to oust pals as soon as oil’s depleted to a degree and clean energy is available. US is afariad to give IOF the nod to procede at this time since EU and other oiless lands wouldn’t be amused. in any case, pals fate is sealed; it’s a done deal. and isr would still besmall, poor, w. indefensible borders. any other ex planation (s)? thank u.
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By leland nichols, March 11, 2008 at 6:06 am #
(Unregistered commenter)
This piece belongs on The Onion or Colbert Report. Nader is not fueled by money, that’s true, his only juice is his ego. He has not made a contribution to America since Unsafe at Any Speed. If proof were needed it was supplied by ElkoJohn quoting Fox News.
Report thisBy Saddler, March 11, 2008 at 3:25 am #
Unlike Nader, Gloria La Riva presents an alternative that is about more than herself. Scheer is right, Nader hasn’t done a thing for any of the third parties he leeches onto to get onto ballots. La Riva represents a whole movement that presents alternatives on a whole host of issues. Nader has no political legacy and he never will.
Report thisBy Thomas Billis, March 11, 2008 at 2:49 am #
Ralph Nader is the best person to be President of all the people.If the American middle class had the brains it was born with Ralph Nader is the person who should be leading in the polls.If this were really a change election no greater change for the benefit of all Americans would be aRalph Nader Presidency.Other candidates talk about integrity and honesty Ralph has lived those virtues his entire life.The same electorate that elected a chimpanzee President is not capable of electing a Ralph Nader President.
Report thisBy ElkoJohn, March 11, 2008 at 1:52 am #
As reported on FOX Business News—
9. Democracy failing: America now run by 35,000 lobbyists!
Forget government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” is now a small group of 35,000 highly paid, greedy lobbyists demanding handouts. They run America from the shadows, for those at the top of the economic food chain and vastly outnumber Washington’s 537 elected officials. Nationally there’s an estimated quarter million lobbyists, with hundreds of millions of dollars to buy favors in campaign contributions. Politicians talk “change,” but America’s lobbyists will still be working for their special interest clients in 2009. And they’ll fight all “changes.”
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/finance/article/bernankes-recession-11-reasons-till-2011_493852_9.html
Ralph Nader Addresses the Issue of Lobbyists Running American:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/25/nader/#cnnSTCVideo
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