Kerry vs Nader. The loyalty test.

[plazul]

No politician can match Ralpf Nader on truth telling. He really is, in my judgement, the conscience and moral compass of our country. They call him a spoiler but as Nader says, "How can you be a spoiler in a system that is spoiled to the core?"

As a Democrat, I'm extremely disappointed that John Kerry and the DNC are so timid about the liberal label. Their fear of offending middle of the road Americans by appearing too far to the left has led us into a national debate about John Kerry's highly touted war record leaving many voters unsure about what he would do as President. The conservatives have a point when they say that Kerry can't continue to be a war hero and and anti-war hero too. That might work from a "nuanced" perspective but it doesn't work in practical politics.

When John Kerry reported for duty at the national convention he had his swift boat comrades join him on stage. What he should have done was have Walmart workers, laid off and unemployed workers, and foreign sweat shop workers, join him in a declaration of war against economic violence and world wide labor oppression by the multi-national corporations that are profiting from human misery and deprivation and rigging our political system in favor of a cartel of tax evading criminal enterprises. He should have had representatives from the Civil Liberties Union join him in a declaration of war against a surveillance society and representatives from the peace movement to join him in a declaration of war against an out of control military industrial complex that is draining our nation's treasury, bringing us to the brink of all out war in the middle east, and radicalizing young Muslims around the world. He should have been joined by a legion of people who deserve a voice in the process but he chose to run on a personal glory platform and it is rapidly collapsing. I find myself torn by voting for somebody who may turn out to be just another disappointing establishment candidate or voting my conscience in the hope of reforming an increasingly conservative and cowardly party.

[Tombstone]

Originally Posted by plazul

No politician can match Ralpf Nader on truth telling. He really is, in my judgement, the conscience and moral compass of our country. They call him a spoiler but as Nader says, "How can you be a spoiler in a system that is spoiled to the core?"

Nader, however, is like a crazy drunk Uncle. Fast to speak his mind, short on holding his tongue, and quick to alienate old friends.

When John Kerry reported for duty at the national convention he had his swift boat comrades join him on stage. What he should have done was have Walmart workers, laid off and unemployed workers, and foreign sweat shop workers, join him in a declaration of war against economic violence and world wide labor oppression by the multi-national corporations that are profiting from human misery and deprivation and rigging our political system in favor of a cartel of tax evading criminal enterprises. He should have had representatives from the Civil Liberties Union join him in a declaration of war against a surveillance society and representatives from the peace movement to join him in a declaration of war against an out of control military industrial complex that is draining our nation's treasury, bringing us to the brink of all out war in the middle east, and radicalizing young Muslims around the world. He should have been joined by a legion of people who deserve a voice in the process but he chose to run on a personal glory platform and it is rapidly collapsing. I find myself torn by voting for somebody who may turn out to be just another disappointing establishment candidate or voting my conscience in the hope of reforming an increasingly conservative and cowardly party.

Very nice. You should be his campaign manager! I think you hit the nail on the head: "Personal Glory Platform."

I'm a big believer that "birds of a feather flock together" and Kerry and Heinz are too very similar birds: Self-absorbed and obsessed with status and power.

For Kerry, this campaign is about "him". Not this Country.

[plazul]

Nader isn't crazy but his detractors characterize him as being unstable to distract people from his message. He does speak his mind and his positions never waver and that's what I like about him. He stands on principle and doesn't worry about keeping up appearances or maintaining political alliances. Have you ever seen his critics in a debate with him? They rarely try because he's right on the issues and has a logical, rapid fire style that blows away his opponents.

He's always been a hero of mine though I stayed away from the Greens because of their refusal to allow any dissent in the Party on guns and a number of other issues I care about like forest management. I don't resent Nader's spoiler role in 2000 and I think it should have been a wake up call for the Democrats. It wasn't, unfortunately. Witness the pandering to war supporters.

Teresa Heinz was a Republican before she married Kerry and I question whether party affiliation makes much difference to her. The Kerry's brand of liberalism is somewhat condescending but I would rather have a Democrat patrician in the White House than a religious nutball extremist whose idea of compassion makes Scrooge look charitable.