{"article":{"id":102385,"heading":"Ralph's End Run","author":"Oak","created":"2004-02-06 00:20:21","modified":"2004-03-25 19:15:01","last_modified":"Fri, 26 Mar 2004 02:15:01","article":"

I'm wondering what my fellow activists are thinking about Ralph Nader's performance on NPR's \"All Things Considered\" this afternoon. The guy really got his back up about folks he termed \"liberals\" asking him not to run this time around. Fact of the matter is, a whole lot of folks far more radical than your basic liberal are asking him not to throw his hat in the ring, even his former campaign manager, but apparently Ralph doesn't view such pleading as coming from friends and supporters. He just went off about his fucking right to run, calling such genuine concern \"censorship\". Wake up, Ralph. We're talking about neo-fascists in the Whitehouse, the biosphere and the Constitution going down the tubes, and you're worried about your bruised ego?

I worked with a street theater group during the 2000 presidential campaign. We had a piece in Massachusetts called \"The Marriage of Gush & Bore\". Of course, it was a duopoly-bashing bit of theatrics and we were, for the most part, supporting Ralph. One of the thoughts i entertained during that period was that even if Bush did win (which he didn't),the neo-con onslaught would finally galvanize the people and reset the clock at something resembling sanity. That's happening now. We had a million people in the streets on the Eastside last year at this time. You know something's happening, but it seems Ralph does not.

In any case, Nader said during the NPR interview that he'd make up his mind in the next few weeks as to whether he'd run or not. I know the duopoly sucks and the wheels have fallen off the electoral system, but i'd rather be struggling with some poser Dem in 2005 than sitting with all of you in some ratty-ass internment camp, or worse.

Do us all a favor, ok? Send ralph a note here: <info@naderexplore04.org<\/a>> and ask him to get off his high horse and join us in the streets where he belongs.

<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Wake up, Ralph. We're talking about neo-fascists in the Whitehouse, the biosphere and the Constitution going down the tubes","numcomment":16,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2004\/02\/102385.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":102389,"heading":"Work within the system. Keep hitting yourself.","article":"Ahhh Nader-bashing. The favorite pasttime of uninspired Democrats. Keep unlearning that lesson; keep hitting yourselves, and slither begrudgingly back to the Democrats for one more slap in the face. Brings to mind these sound words from Sam Smith.\r\n\r\nSO MUCH FOR WORKING WITHIN THE SYSTEM\r\n\r\nOne of the lessons that Greens, apathetics, disgruntled Democrats and others were supposed to be learning this season was the inherent value of working within the system. This virtue is so apparent, one was told, that it requires nothing more than logic. No benefits, no inducements, no reform, not even simple empathy was required on the part of those who now control the Democratic Party. It was enough to declare ex cathedra that if one disliked Bush, the only choice was whatever the Democratic Party wanted to offer.\r\n\r\nWell, now the results are in. Not Ralph Nader, not Greens, not Jesse Jackson, but a multi-term, capable, moderate Democratic governor decided to work within the system. And what happened? He was ridiculed, dissed, lied about, and subjected to malicious spin by party insiders, the Washington establishment, and the obese media until eventually the voters believed them and swung to the approved safe, lightweight underachiever, John Kerry.\r\n\r\nOf course, for inside the system reformers such as Kucinich or Sharpton it was even worse. The NY Times doesn't even think they should be allowed in debates and the rest of the media regularly insulted, excoriated, and scolded them.\r\n\r\nNo one can look honestly at the experience of those who tried to work within the system this season and argue that the Democratic Party can be reformed in this manner. Along with its fellow-traveling troglodytes of the media there is nothing the party leadership wants less, or is more revolted by, than even talk of reform.\r\n\r\nThis is not a matter of whether Dean won or lost, but rather the vicious, inhospitable, insulting manner in which one of the most honest, decent, and interesting political figures of recent years was treated because he dared to run without permission of the party's elite. Now, as Craig Crawford put it, "The House of Lords of the Democratic Party are getting what they want."\r\n\r\nThis is their decision. It is not Howard Dean's fault, it's not Ralph Nader's fault, it's not the fault of apathetic or angry voters. The party has chosen to go into this election with a weak candidate, no platform, no passion other than distaste for the incumbent, no grassroots party building, and no attempt to reach new constituencies.\r\n\r\nIt may just work because George Bush is so bad, or because his chickens come home to roost in some dismal fashion, but that's just dumb luck and not good politics. - SAM SMITH","author":"Green, Honest, and Proud","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-06 01:22:11","modified":"2004-02-06 01:22:11","fileurl":""},{"id":102391,"heading":"One of the world's 5 dumbest men","article":"As I've told you repeatedly, Ralph Nader is entrenched as one of the world's five dumbest men, and has been for some time now.\r\n\r\nHe is eclipsed only by Noam Chompsky (Chumpsy), Ramsey Clark (the crazy one), Gore Vidal (spaced out), and Michael Moore (who recently moved onto the list displacing Alan Dershowitz).\r\n\r\nThose five are slightly dumber than the seven dwarfs seeking the Democratic nomination.\r\n\r\nHow ridiculous of Ralph to look in the mirror and see someone of Presidential stature. \r\n\r\nThe guy hasn't ever had a real job in his entire life. I doubt that he could remain employed for more than a week without getting canned. He's managed to earn a living as a professional trouble maker\/complainer. He's a loser of the first order. I wouldn't follow him to the men's room. He couldn't lead a scout troop, much less a country.","author":"BushAdmirer14","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-06 03:27:01","modified":"2004-02-06 03:27:01","fileurl":""},{"id":102414,"heading":"BushAdmirer14","article":"You are definitely first on the list of the world's five dumbest hermaphrodites.","author":"Dan III","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-06 17:51:45","modified":"2004-02-06 17:51:45","fileurl":""},{"id":102426,"heading":"OneEyedMan","article":"It is really quite simple;\r\n\r\nIf the Democrats are worried about Ralph running, they should put together a more progressive platform. That's the way it works. Whinning about whether or not he should run is superfluous. \r\n\r\nIt isn't about what Ralph does or doesn't do...it's about what the Democrats do to appeal to the voters.\r\n\r\nSimple.","author":"KPC","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-06 20:39:46","modified":"2004-02-06 20:39:46","fileurl":""},{"id":102428,"heading":"He's managed to earn a living as a professional trouble maker\/complainer","article":"I can't think of any better qualifacations.\r\nGo Ralph.","author":"Sam's son","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-06 21:06:29","modified":"2004-02-06 21:06:29","fileurl":""},{"id":102434,"heading":"Amen Dan III","article":"BushAdmirer 14,\r\n\r\nRalph Nader graduated magna cum laude from Princeton and attended Harvard Law School. Why don't you post "your boy Bush's" college credits and let's see who makes your list. BTW, be sure and only post the credits he earned, not his "bought and paid for education". It is well documented that his GPA at Yale was far less than stellar and he scored the lowest possible grade on his Air National Guard exam to enter the program.\r\n\r\nI wish "your boy Bush" could string a series of words together that would equate to one intelligent sentence without someone writing it for him. Although, I must admit, his reading of cue cards and teleprompters is getting a little better. \r\n\r\nJust because you utter the words doesn't make it fact.\r\nIf it weren't for Nader hounding the auto industry in the late 50's and beyond, you or a loved one may find yourself 6 feet under after being killed in a car crash due to the industry's refusal to make cars safer. There are countless other safety campaigns to Nader's credit. Do some homework, educate yourself and then you can make your point.\r\n\r\nWould Nader make a good president? Who knows, including you. I do know one thing, he wouldn't be any worse than the one we have now. If Nader were elected, at least all the votes would be counted and he wouldn't have to be "appointed" by the Supreme Court.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","author":"Big Tex","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-06 22:29:42","modified":"2004-02-06 22:29:42","fileurl":""},{"id":102449,"heading":"Big Tex","article":"What you and Noam Chumpsky don't know is that college grades don't mean shit in the real world. What is important, however is having your head screwed on properly, like George W Bush and other achievers.","author":"Barney","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-07 02:32:19","modified":"2004-02-07 02:32:19","fileurl":""},{"id":102453,"heading":"Hey Big Tex","article":"GW Bush graduated from the Harvard Business School with an MBA. That's one of the toughest programs to get into and it's much tougher to stay in. You can't make it through the program without being very very bright and busting your ass.\r\n\r\nBarney is partly correct. Education doesn't mean diddly squat of you don't do anything with it. Bush did something with his intelligence and education. Ralph Nader did not (unless you count chronic whining and complaining).","author":"Bush Admirer99","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-07 02:52:38","modified":"2004-02-07 02:52:38","fileurl":""},{"id":102745,"heading":"Bush Admirer99","article":""That's one of the toughest programs to get into..."\r\n\r\nNot if your daddy is George Walker Bush.","author":"Ben Dover","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-11 15:41:32","modified":"2004-02-11 15:41:32","fileurl":""},{"id":103947,"heading":"Temptress Bush","article":"It takes character to stand up to entrenched interests as Nader has done many times in his career. Whatever Nader is, he is a self-made man, not afraid to stand on principle. While I don't respect his agenda, I do respect his character.\r\n\r\nBush got by on bail-out, after bail-out from his family and friends. He got out of a drug conviction using the same connections. He shamed the service he was in and avoided real service fighting in Vietnam, where he could have shown his true character, ability to lead and willingness to sacrifice for his nation. Where are George Bush's sacrifices?\r\n\r\nHe's shown a remarkable lack of discipline throughout his life and has flouted the law on numerous occassions. George Bush is a mockery of conservative ideals.\r\n\r\nWhile some conservatives believe that any measure is justified in fighting evil abroad and at home, if it comes at the expense of our deeply held beliefs, we have given in to temptation and lowered ourselves to the level of our adversaries. They will have bought us to our knees, no matter what the intentions, by causing us to break God's commandments: Not to lie. Not to steal. Not to covet. All of this and more this administration has done. \r\n\r\nConservatives of all stripes have begun to lust for power in the name of principle. Following this administration is an invitation to hell.\r\n\r\nThose who've posted pro-Bush stances are followers of the cult of power ... not conservatives with backbones, who think and act for themselves.","author":"Rev. Johnathan Able","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-02-28 05:37:06","modified":"2004-02-28 05:37:06","fileurl":""},{"id":105239,"heading":"Harvard MBA Program","article":"If you: don\u2019t bear the Bush\u2019s name as a last name, don\u2019t have a former, recent president as a daddy, don\u2019t have excessive networking potential and connections solely due to your daddy\u2019s standing and not of your own, then, yes, getting accepted for the Harvard MBA program will be tough. Fact is though, getting into Harvard for Bush was a walk in the park for Bush. I mean, Christ, the dork had a low C average all during his undergrad majoring. You can get into Harvard with a C AVERAGE?\r\n\r\nBush has gotten through life by the machinations and manipulations of his daddy, and his daddy\u2019s cronies. If you continue to support him, then you deserve to be left uneducated and brainwashed, as he is.\r\n","author":"Jstyal","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-18 14:18:25","modified":"2013-11-11 00:29:06","fileurl":""},{"id":105262,"heading":"Higher Education","article":"I went to Cal, one of the "public ivys" and even there, rich kids got big breaks. Statistically, in the late 80s, around 1\/4 of the incoming undergrad class was underqualified to get in, and NOT under affirmative action, EOP, disabled, or other needy categories. These were rich kids, children of politicians, big donors, athletes, and kids of professors. They get to live at this fancy dorm called Clark Kerr that's like a resort, where the special kids are kept away from the middle class kids in the high-rise dorms. (Many of the lower middle-class kids eventually get jobs move into the slums of Berkeley and Oakland to be able to afford school.)\r\n\r\nI never got the raw numbers about Haas or Boalt Hall, but, it sounded like there was a quota of rich kids there too. Basically, if you're rich, and want to get a nice degree for your kid, you donate a lot of money to the school, and they're let in and graduate.\r\n\r\nNote that this is at a PUBLIC university. Imagine what it's like at a private university. It's got to be worse, because there's no public accountability, and they are more dependent on their private endowments.\r\n\r\nBTW - these special case rich kids were not smart in the least. They were pretty ignorant, not only about "real life" but about stories in the mainstream media.","author":"GO BEARS","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-18 22:18:42","modified":"2004-03-18 22:18:42","fileurl":""},{"id":105278,"heading":"fresca","article":""these special case rich kids were not smart in the least. "\r\n\r\nThis last line sorta makes the author seem like a typical, sour grapes kinda asshole, don't you think?","author":"uh, yeah....","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-19 02:16:03","modified":"2004-03-19 02:16:03","fileurl":""},{"id":106128,"heading":"sour grapes?","article":"I got my grapes and they were fine. I earned them.\r\n\r\nMy post is just to lay out the facts: elite institutions cater to the wealthy; that's how they keep their endowments full, and their budgets large.\r\n\r\nIf someone has an impressive degree, you have to check what class they come from. If they're just "middle class" or poor, the degree really means something. If they're rich, it probably doesn't mean anything.","author":"GO BEARS","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-25 17:03:48","modified":"2004-03-25 17:03:48","fileurl":""},{"id":106130,"heading":"OneEyedMan","article":"don't mind the shitpile...you just insulted something very near and dear...stupid rich people...\r\n\r\n...the shitpile believes that not only should they get special treatment in schools and colleges...but they should get to be selected president, too....","author":"KPC","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-25 17:18:57","modified":"2004-03-25 17:18:57","fileurl":""},{"id":106136,"heading":"arguing with victicrats is like pissing up a rope","article":"When dealing with simpletons who think rich automatically = evil, the best tactic is to just enjoy the ride.\r\n\r\nIf a conservative's education is superior, the accusation is that the degree was bought or unearned or simply, "education doesn't matter." \r\n\r\nIf the conservative's education is inferior to the socialist's (a rarity) then s\/he's 'obviously' dumb. \r\n\r\nThe left-out equation is the rich socialist whose grades were bought. \r\n\r\nThe democraps should team up with the American Socialist Party. They're the same goddamn thing.","author":"Walker, Texas Ranger","parent_id":102385,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2004-03-25 19:15:41","modified":"2004-03-25 19:15:41","fileurl":""}]}