Nader registers in Michigan

Would it be possible for us to see some reporting about Ralph Nader that does not bury his principled stand against corporate power and the hollow political cowards of the two corporate owned party in some garbage about spoiling. You can't spoil a spoiled system.

Why does this article start off by saying Nader is "bragging about being a possible spoiler?" That is absolutely inaccurate. Nader's purpose is not to be a spoiler, his purpose is to awaken our comatose democracy and make this country as glorious as it could be through civic engagement and the participation of people. The corporate news wants us to be spectators, but we are standing up and demanding our right to participate in the decision making process of this country.

I do not know Ralph Nader's "purpose." I do know the effect of his candidacy. It's simple math: if the conservatives offer one candidate, and there are two progressive candidates, then the conservative has a better chance of winning.

Make no mistake, there are huge differences between the Republican and Democratic parties. The United States would be a vastly different place today had the moderate policies of Clinton-Gore, which, for eight years, kept the U.S. on track, had continued under a Gore presidency. In 2000 we elected a man who, with his Republican allies in Congress, embarked upon a series of disasterous programs, the most visible being the pointless invasion and occupation of Iraq. Today we see the presumptive Republican nominee, John McCain, offering little variance from the Bush agenda.

It is perhaps Nader's greatest folly that he believes that Republicans and Democrats are identical. It is also folly for him to believe that as president, he would have any success working with Congress to pass the legislative agenda he imagines will cure America's ills.

Democrats are doing a pretty damned good job of destroying themselves. Ralph Nader should take a vacation from trying to get McCain elected.

I'm not sure what alternative universe Thomas A. Hauck lives in but calling Obama or Clinton "progressive" is a laugh. Both support increasing the size of the military. Obama voted for the Patriot Act renewal. Both refuse to back Impeachment or any other meaningful measures towards even minimal accountability of the criminal Bush administration. Both support nuclear power and neither support single payer health care. I'll be voting for the one Progressive in the race, Ralph Nader.

I'm very glad to see people tuning in to Nader's campaign. He is polling higher now than at any point during any of his previous runs.

Everyone who has previously posted is a liberal moron. You guys make me fucking sick. Conspiracy theorists and communists. Seriously, go to Canada. We dont want you.

I'm tired of seeing so many comments that Nader ruined Gore's Presidential run. Why not blame the 200,000+ registered democrats in Florida that either voted republican or didn't come out at all. All Gore needed was 538 more votes, yet it was the act of one man that ruined it? Why couldn't the Democrats have a more electable candidate...after all it was Gore's own party that told him not to speak so much on the environment (which gave him some popularity).

Dems do have their differences from Republicans, but lets see what good has come from ademocratically controlled senate. No child left behind, don't ask don't tell, patriot act..etc. Where were the democrats in these flawed policies?

We have been close to impeaching a president for a burglary (Watergate) and lying about sex. Why hasn't any democrats pushed for an impeachment for someone who has committed war crimes. Bush is the most impeachable president we have ever had, yet no one is doing anything about it...not even a hearing.

Nader is fighting for the common man yet everyone chooses to spit on him. He has done so much for us and deserves our respect, gratitude and our VOTE.

Don't vote for the lesser evil, vote for what you believe in.

Nader is way ahead of the Washington Three in brains, clarity and a program.

McCain will destroy America, and ClintonObama will beg Wall Street not to let it happen.

It's a two way race - Nader versus Washington, America versus corporate power. votenader.org

The bias in the media makes me sick. How can you argue that someone is "bragging about being a spoiler" when 1) he said no such thing and 2) he's trying to win/get votes like any of the other candidates. Maybe if the media didn't cry out "spoiler" every time his name was mentioned, he might have a chance to actually win. I think voters are beginning to get sick of the media framing Nader as a spoiler and this Michigan poll is showing that frustration. People voted their consciences in 2000, got buried for it and voted for pro-war Kerry in 2004 against their consciences and lost anyway.

This spoiler discussion would be moot if we had Instant Runoff Voting. Please see this speech from Nader's running mate Matt Gonzalez:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sE8Qwqio6H4

Obama sponsored a bill that would have enacted IRV in Illinois and McCain supported the IRV initiative in Alaska that Matt mentions in the video.

I don't think Nader is bragging about being a "spoiler", a term he finds to be politically bigoted. He's serious that he is doing very well, especially under the circumstances he faces. By the way to the person who said "Conspiracy theorists and communists. Seriously, go to Canada. We dont want you." First, Nader is not a communist. Nader, though, is an anti-fascist. And corporate fascism (corporate control over our government) is a conspiracy fact, not theory. Look at corporate subsidies, bailout, corporate welfare, corporate boondoggles. If you hate communism, you should also hate corporate fascism, which endangers everything that our country, our constitution stands for.

N

Nader is saying what our fourth estate should be, but isn't.

I wonder how so-called journalists in this nation can ignore Nader, yet lavish praise on Obama. Obama is a member of the US Senate. Why does he not tap into some of that "hope" he peddles and introduce legistaion into the Senate to fix some of the many problems this nation faces? He has power now, and does nothing. The media, like school girls screaming dreamy-eyed at a boy band, gives him a free pass.

We live in a nation with 500 TV channels, yet the elite claim we need only two parties controlled by the same corporate interests. Nice try.

If Nader is a "spoiler", I'd rather "waste" my vote on someone I can believe in--like Mr. Nader--rather than blow it on the "least of the worst."

Hey, some of your comments sound a little too bitter (even more so than the actual tone of this 'article'). You know, like those small town incest mutants that sexually relate to their hunting rifles, polyester Walmart flags and pederast televangelists that Obama talked about. My advice: Go suck a lollipop to get sweeter and then don't vote. You're welcome.

Im sick of these REPUBLICRATS taking one step forward and then doubling back. It is time for a three party system, and to kick out the corporate interests that are funding the leaders of our country.

For quick video clip about Nader go to http://www.thewomandirector.com/ and click on play. also for an interesting website that highlights many of Ralph's accomplishments and allows you to vote and to comment if you like
http://www.dianeszoo.com/ralphnader.htm
As for
Ralph, More power to your ideas. Keep working to end this insane war and bring our people home. You've been out there making speeches, doing interviews and writing articles and have written at least three books in the last 6 years. And you've been writing weekly commentary on the things that really matter, at http://www.nader.org .The question is where has the Press been on these important matters you discuss? where have the "Talking Heads" been on corporate crime and the profiteers of this war? The population is too busy being entertained and watching Sporting events to get involved, they take the easy route and don't bother to think, settling instead for snippets and quick slogans. Knowing what's going on in a Corporate controlled State takes WORK. Thank you Ralph, for all the good things you've done to protect the Ppeople of this Country. Amazing how quickly they forget, or perhaps they just don't know. Almost everyone's lives, or that of friends and relatives of theirs, have been improved and made safer because of you, Some wouldn't be alive today, if not for Ralph Nader! Their minds have been intentionally bombarded with with Corporate propaganda and the Democrat Party scapegoating machine. Obama and Clinton, and that phony Terry McAuliffe should be ashamed of their comments regarding you. They continue the DNC scapegoating myth. thank you for your great service to this Country. More power to your ideas. http://www.votenader.org....All the rest of you out there, buckle-up! ....

Take Nader's positions-take Nader's votes! Take positions Americans want translated into public policies which only Nader articulates and you get Nader voters. What could be easier for Obama to understand? You can only Spoil a game fixed to please the big moneyed interests. Go, Ralph, Go!

This piece starts with this way biased statement:

"It's way early, but Ralph Nader is already bragging about being a possible spoiler, at least in Michigan."

The article then goes on to quote Nader: "It has been our contention all along that the corrupt two-party system cannot stand. Perhaps we are now seeing the first cracks in the facade of the duopoly."

He says nothing about spoiling the Democrats chancing of winning.

Typical anti-Nader bias. It's everywhere in major chain news.

More reason to vote for him. Hopefully he goes way higher than 10%(although I know its still way early)

I think Ralph Nader is a the best man for the job as president!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thomas A. Hauck: The purpose of the run is to give voice to his issues. He would just be a man talking if no one agreed with him, but they do. Enough to see him on the ballots of most if not all states. What kind of a country are you looking to live in if this isn't possible? None of the candidates have demonstrated (not just talked about) their willingness to vote on issues bravely and face the rath of their parties or their corporate supporters.

BG: I may stop clicking your headlines

I'm a Canadian an have been following the American election and found out Ralph was once again running for President...
Its to bad the media wouldn't give hims some coverage...wheres CNN that just can't stop knocking Obama. they can find out something about Ralph so at least people will know Ralph is back...give them HELL Ralph.

Did he REALLY brag about being a spoiler, or is that misleading wording by the author? If he REALLY said something to that effect, they should have quoted him word for word.

My comments seem to have unleashed a torrent of very dramatic statements, most supporting the Nader candidacy. Of course, Ralph Nader has every right to run, as does anyone else, including Steve Forbes and Ross Perot. What I was pointing out was a simple political reality: Nader will not draw a single vote from McCain. He may attract votes from those who otherwise would not vote at all, but he will certainly draw votes away from the Democratic Party candidate. A Nader candidacy is a gift to John McCain.

Conversely, if a guy like George Wallace were running as an independent, he would draw votes away from McCain. It's simple math--the united party tends to win. The Republicans have been very good at remaining united during the past eght years. Hopefully, that will change this year.

To say that an Al Gore presidency would have been identical to the Bush presidency is sheer folly. The level of criminal stupidity in the Bush White House is the highest in American history, and it was all part of Karl Rove's goal of a permanent Republican majority and permanent Republican control of the Washington bureaucracy. No Democrats were allowed, because Democrats really are different.

Thomas,
Something tells me that in 4 years you'll be reflecting on how much better Obama would have been than president McCain. As someone who supports Nader and would vastly prefer him to any of the above, I honestly don't see much difference. McCain slipped up and mentioned a "100-year war." Obama, the "progressive," won't commit to ending the invasion of Iraq, has committed to increasing and modernizing the military budget (though throwing a few bones to the Left, like not weaponizing space), is already antagonizing Iran and Pakistan, and is ready to increase out-of-control deficit spending by 100 billion to finance ethanol, nuclear and "clean" coal.
It's time to stop talking about "left" and "right" or "conservative" and "progressive," and start talking about liberalism and statism (or etatism for the libertarian crowd). The reason the Republicans and Democrats are the same is that they're both comfortable with extracting our money and liberty to shape the world in what they deem an appropriate way. Nader (and Ron Paul, Mike Gravel, and others) are the only candidates fighting to restore our constitutional democracy. Why should I feel guilty about voting for the best candidate?