NADER WANTS IN

We're familiar with all the objections to Ralph Nader's presidential candidacy. But we still believe he has every right to run. We also believe he's the most  passionate, intelligent, accomplished and honest of all the current candidates. If the American people want to elect the presumptive Democratic candidate John Kerry, they should vote for him --  as we will, despite our good opinion of Nader.

If the American people want to elect the nasty little shit now in the White House, they should remember they will be indicting themselves as co-conspirators in his administration's criminal misadventures. They will no longer have the excuse that he was an appointed president, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, and not an elected one.

So here's a message from the Nader folks: "Ralph Nader will speak before the National Press Club on "Breaking the two-party system." The speech, part of the Press Club's News Maker Series, will be covered by C-SPAN at 1 p.m. ET. C-SPAN plans to broadcast the speech live unless activity in the House and Senate prevents it. (If the network offers a Webcast, Straight Up will provide the link.)

The Press Club notes that Nader is expected to say "more voices and more choices are needed in the November election" and that his candidacy "is centered around a plan for responsible withdrawal from Iraq." It notes further:

On the domestic front Nader has described Washington, D.C. as "corporate-occupied territory" and is seeking to "break the hold corporate interests have over our government." Nader is putting cuts in the bloated and redundant military budget at the forefront of his candidacy. He urges putting "human needs first."

Human needs includes [sic] a single payer health care system, a living wage for all U.S. workers, a new energy paradigm that breaks the U.S. addiction to fossil and nuclear energy by developing sustainable, clean energy sources and repealing the notorious provisions of the Patriot Act.

"The political duopoly are proxies for corporate domination of our government and elections. They are opponents of legitimate electoral reform from ballot access to the presidential debates to the public financing of campaigns," Nader said.

"The prospect for the future is further decay, degeneration and decadence. The political duopoly is shortchanging the country and (is) unworthy of the American people and posterity. The public needs more voices and more choices in elections," said Ralph Nader.

Nader is currently focused on getting on the ballot. He submitted 80,044 signatures in Texas on May 24 (more than submitted in the 2000 campaign) and currently has petition drives going across the country. In 2000 Nader was on the ballot in 43 states and the District of Columbia, he expects to be on more ballots in 2004. Nader recently received the endorsement of the Reform Party.