Ralph Nader denounces major U.S. political parties

[Tab]

Independent candidate Ralph Nader, speaking over hecklers' voices, denounced the major political parties and assured a Monday crowd that a vote for him was not a wasted vote.

"The only vote you ever waste is a vote for someone you don't believe in," said Nader, who spoke a block from Wall Street, across from the New York Stock Exchange. The consumer advocate used the location to highlight what he called the excessive influence of corporations over both major political parties.

Nader is on the ballot in 34 states and the District of Columbia; he is a write-in candidate in Texas.

Nader had to speak over hecklers who shouted "Nader is a traitor" and other criticisms. One sign read, Vanity, Thy Name Is Nader.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2004/11/01/696428-ap.html


Up yours, Ralph

[NeoConsSuck]

1. Nader is not news. This belongs in the Lounge.

[Tab]

6. If it was anyone else...

I'd agree..

Unfortunately he does affect the vote, as opposed to, say, a Libertarian candidate or one of the other sub-percent ones.

[Robbie67]

12. Hmm...he's going to affect the vote but Libertarians aren't?

And, just exactly why is Nader so able to influence the vote again?

[lilsourgoose]

2. Following the rally, Nader was seen...

...making a bed out of scrap cardboard and crawling into a dumpster behind a local cafe.

[maddezmom]

3. Ralph, no one is listening

[KingChicken]

4. Stop bitching Ralph, join us this time to stop the maddness, and your ego!

[pinniped]

5. This asshole's got some nerve denouncing the piece of shit...

party which kept his sorry campaign afloat.

[Tab]

8. I disagree

I dislike what Ralph is doing here (in this election), but as I've posted before, I believe he has very strong convictions (misplaced this time) and as far as he's concerned, if the Republicans want to help him get his message out, all the better. Not that I agree, just that I think that's his take on it.

He has no respect for either party (perhaps deserved, perhaps not), and if one of them wants to throw their money at him, he has no objection.

But in the larger scheme of things, he's hurting America, and for that, I have a problem with it.

That said, Ralph would not be where he is if he listened to his detractors. America owes him a lot for what he did in the 60s/70s, which was very ballsy of him, but he's lost a lot of that for what he's doing in 2000+.

[robbedvoter]

9. Convictions paid for BFEE. Enough with this myth already

Anyone financed by the swift boatees has as many principles as a maggot.

[Robbie67]

13. How much money was thrown at Nader?

FEC filings say Republicans comprised around 10 percent of his non-corporate, non-PAC contributions.

[havocmom]

14. Nadar, failing to take votes from Kerry, was ordered by his GOP supporters

to at least talk a few people into staying home instead of voting.

Ralph, go play on the freeway, in a Corvair.

edit: typo

[RainDog]

7. I BELIEVE IN JOHN KERRY

And I don't believe in Ralph Nader after he took money from corporate Republicans....the antithesis of everything he's ever said he stood for.

He lost me this year. I've voted green locally in the past.

America cannot afford four more years of Bush. We must get rid of him. This is the most important issue for all progressive Americans at this time in history.

The left has to be able to unite in times of crisis.

[tuvor]

10. Right message, wrong election. n/t

[onehandle]

11. Fuck you, Ralph. nt

[Flammable Materials]

15. I'm ashamed to have voted for you, Ralph. (in 2000)

NOBODY was able to do that except you.

[Moloch]

16. THIS JUST IN: Damkira denounces Ralph Nader

n/t

[Rochambeau]

17. Ralph who? Oh yes, Ralph History. Fuck him. n/t

[realFedUp]

18. and this too shall pass.

Looking for a new beginning again
for this country and world.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

19. Hey Ralph go play in traffic

I think there's a Corvair or two you can stop

[goforit]

20. Goodnight Ralph!!

[Cheswick2.0]

21. you're kidding... really?

I am shocked.

[Dr Fate]

22. No one believes in YOU anymore, Ralph-that is your problem.

n/t

[Soup Bean]

23. Ralph is wrong this time.

I appreciate him for his ideas, but he dealt this country a body blow with his challenge to Gore in 2000. Look what happened to the world. I can't believe he would do this again. Make your point in 2008. Build the party from the ground up.

[crossroads]

24. US needs to *outsource* Nader!

What an ass hole!
:bounce:

[AlbertoMo83]

25. I agree with Nader on many things

But Nader is being a giant asshole, Ive lost so much respect for him. :cry: I wish he would have just droped out!!

[Almost_there]

26. Has Ralph Nader's message changed in the past decade?

I think we are all simply pissed at Ralph because of fate, serendipity, charma, or plain stupid luck. The man truly is progressive, he truly is someone that most of us on these boards should be looking up to, he has saved thousands if not tens of thousands of lives on his crusade, he has brought his ideals front and center, and he has NOT sold out.
I think that the anger on this thread and others just like it are not at Ralph per se, but, more at the fact of what happened in 2000 because Ralph happened to be there. I know I was thrilled when I saw what Mr. H. Ross Perot did in '92, let's be honest, if it weren't for him and his 19% of the vote, Clinton would not have been in office. Clinton won 43% of the popular vote that year, the Perot in that case did Bush in.

So, I'm not willing to harp on Ralph because of circumstance, and I still think that he should be allowed to run on all ballots. I'm sorry, but, I believe his message is a good one, and NO, I'm not voting for him, but, I will not ever stifle anyone's message, otherwise, I may as well head over to Freeperville and park my ass over there. I'm really dissapointed to see such vehement hatred towards someone who ran a good race in 2000, brought good ideas to the table, and has become totally marginalized because fate tossed a big pile of shit on all of us. Sad to see it.

~Almost

[gavodotcom]

27. BREAKING: America denounces Ralph Nader. Again.

[Born Free]

28. sad, he was once a great man, now appears more as an idiot

perhaps he is suffering from some type of disease that affects his thinking process

[baby_mouse]

29. Bear shits in woods. Leaf falls near cat.

[msanthrope]

30. Dear Ralphie---Go play with more action figures..n/t

[truthisfreedom]

31. in the inimitable words of nelson on the simpsons...

'HA-HA!'