damnportlanders: Ralph Nader on NPR's Talk of the Nation

Jed Roberts (

winnebagos) wrote in

damnportlanders,
@ 2008-02-25 13:34:00

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Ralph Nader on NPR's Talk of the Nation
I'm sure a few of you heard this today, and I know from previous posts here that there is considerable concern amongst Portlanders regarding Nader's presidential candidacy. After listening to his talk with Neal Conan -- who, for some reason, seemed particularly cold toward his guest this afternoon -- it appears clear to me that Nader could only be a "spoiler" if the Democratic nominees allow him to assume that role by maintaining their utter disregard for his potentially significant political capital. Nader made note of repeated requests to meet with Barack Obama with a view to work together and solidify a stance toward ousting corporate influence in Washington D.C. -- requests which have been so far ignored. For Obama in particular, why not make good on claims to de-corporatize the Capitol by publicly embracing the views of Nader? He has only the Raiders to gain.

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	praenomenal 2008-02-25 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	Or Nader could go away. Just a thought. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	winnebagos 2008-02-25 09:51 pm UTC (link)
	Hardly a thought. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	praenomenal 2008-02-25 10:02 pm UTC (link)
	::blink:: Maybe a hope would have been better. (Reply to this)(Parent)

my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this.

heddalee
2008-02-25 09:51 pm UTC (link)

Dear Mr Winnebago,

Obama ignores Nader for the same reason most of the country does: he has a reputation as a leftwing gadly & crankpot (which is how the Republicans see him). Obama is attempting to sell himself as a centrist who can create a new politics, rather than someone who takes orders from a vote-stealing egomaniacal lunatic (which is how Democrats see him).

Yours truly,
hedda

(Reply to this)(Thread)

	Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. winnebagos 2008-02-25 09:59 pm UTC (link)
	Thanks. I think you've summed up the misconceptions quite well. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. heddalee 2008-02-25 10:00 pm UTC (link)
	I voted for him in 1996 (I was living in Madison Wisconsin at the time, total Nader country). I've rued it ever since. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. madscience 2008-02-25 11:11 pm UTC (link)
	Unfortunately, politics is 90% perception. Obama would likely sabotage his own chances of doing good for the country by aligning himself with Nader. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. -

winnebagos, 2008-02-25 11:22 pm UTC

Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. -

madscience, 2008-02-25 11:49 pm UTC

Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. -

godanigo, 2008-02-26 04:18 pm UTC

Re: my opinion only. I have not talked to BHO about this. -

winnebagos, 2008-02-26 10:25 pm UTC

noss
2008-02-25 09:56 pm UTC (link)

While the Clinton campaign refused to comment, Obama made a point of acknowledging Nader's valuable work on behalf of consumer interests, but also didn't shy away from calling him what he is—a "stubborn egomaniac". Couldn't have said it better myself.

As far as I'm concerned, it's not a big deal. I'm all about Obama, but if he can't drum up enough support to beat McCain, so be it. I would love to see a real multi-party system and that means supporting the right of alternative candidates to campaign, no matter how unqualified I think they are.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

winnebagos
2008-02-25 10:06 pm UTC (link)

A stubborn egomaniac? I hear those terms used in reference to Nader, but really, don't they describe all politicians?

"I'm all about Obama, but if he can't drum up enough support to beat McCain, so be it. I would love to see a real multi-party system and that means supporting the right of alternative candidates to campaign, no matter how unqualified I think they are."

I'm right with you. It just seems to me that even if Nader does pose a threat, it could be easily dismantled with only a slight show of political deftness from Obama.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

	40_ounce_bounce 2008-02-25 09:56 pm UTC (link)
	I'd guess that Obama had the same reaction to Nader's candidacy as I did--I laughed. And I almost voted for him in 2000 (Reply to this)

	ilikepangolins 2008-02-25 09:58 pm UTC (link)
	I think Nader's spent most of his political capital. Very few people seem to take him seriously. (Reply to this)(Thread)

	winnebagos 2008-02-25 10:00 pm UTC (link)
	Well, in that case, the Democrats have nothing to worry about. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	praenomenal 2008-02-25 10:03 pm UTC (link)
	Except for the very fact that you are talking about him. I bought into him in 2000. I was amused in 2004, now I am just sick and tired. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ms_xeno 2008-02-25 10:06 pm UTC (link)
	You wouldn't know it from all the ritual Nader-bashing going on hereabouts. Democrats should throw a cheese party so all that whine doesn't have to feel so alone. If you lose, People, it's because your party doesn't care about winning. Why should they care ? You reward them for doing nothing, or less than nothing. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	shademalek 2008-02-25 09:59 pm UTC (link)
	yawn next? Getting really bored with Nader whoring himself out for publicity every election year. Being affiliated with Nader is political suicide. (Reply to this)

	praenomenal 2008-02-25 10:03 pm UTC (link)
	I would take Dems looting a tradition rather than the Repubs looting me.... (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ms_xeno 2008-02-25 10:08 pm UTC (link)
	What's the distinction, since both are engaged in the same practices ? Obama happily revived the myth of a bankrupted Social Security system after Democrats claimed to want nothing more than for that myth to stay buried. And to what end ? (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	heddalee 2008-02-25 10:04 pm UTC (link)
	Well-said! I'm interested to hear, though, what you believe is the Democratic Party tradition that has been left behind. (Totally unsnarky question!) (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	heddalee 2008-02-25 10:10 pm UTC (link)
	NPR is for liberals with money, who are interested in listening to comfortable radio programs in their comfortable Volvos. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	godanigo 2008-02-26 04:23 pm UTC (link)
	Volkswagens. And Prius'. Liberals don't drive Volvos silly, they are gas guzzlers. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	ms_xeno 2008-02-25 10:25 pm UTC (link)
	Show me the last time Democrats had the stones to DEMAND, much less ask for, more than they wanted. Our system thrives on adversarial relationships. If everyone "works quietly" and nobody pushes hard, we will have nothing to show for our efforts but a few pats on the head and a couple of stale cookies. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

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