He won’t admit it, but Ron Paul is practically running on my third-party ticket. And while I don’t agree with him on every point. I was impressed that he raised four million dollars in one day. Unless my campaign starts showing some signs of life, I might just vote for him next November.
Sure, I don’t particularly agree with his immigration policy of state-run militia’s running around on the southern border, shooting at anything that speaks Spanish. Nor do I sleep well at night thinking about his proposed dissolution of my precious EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission. However, I think we can all agree that Washington is like the inflamed colon after 20 years without even a flake of Raisin Bran. What it needs is a Ron Paul enema — let’s let it run through the system, clean everything out — You wouldn’t get an enema every day — but we need one right now.
SubVet:
Ron Paul advocates enforcing the EXISTING immigration laws and would work to eliminate "cross the border to have a baby" citizenship. As far as the majority of "federal agencies" goes, these would revert to state matters and that is likely better in the long run as it puts the issues closer to home for discovery and resolution. There are so many bureaucratic organizations that do NOTHING to help and only add layers of obfuscation into our system today. I prefer the St. John's Water Management district (here in Florida) to the EPA. They do a better job and do it more cost-efficiently than any three or four letter agency in DC. Amazingly enough, I think the CPSC role could easily be privatized and perform better and more cost effectively than a government entity. I trust a UL label much more than an endorsement from the CPSC.
11/13/2007 8:14 PMSteve:
Loved every word, except these:
"Sure, I don’t particularly agree with his immigration policy of state-run militia’s running around on the southern border, shooting at anything that speaks Spanish."
That is certainly a gross exaggeration of his position. He is not even a huge supporter of a fence. He thinks we should disincentivize them by removing government subsidies to illegal immigrants.
11/13/2007 8:02 PMRuthless Dictator:
My OTHER hope is that Americans will rise up and run for Congress, state assemblies, etc. who emulate Dr. Paul and will campaign for the Constitution, freedom, liberty, smaller government, lower taxes, protecting our borders, sound monetary policy, controlling spending etc.
11/14/2007 12:57 AMRon & Ralph:
Are you prepared to consume a fake "Debate" once again?
(paid for by your "Friends" on Wall Street)
*Not Nader & Paul Main Street
9/22/2008 8:58 PMTreg:
Ralph, I love your passion, your feeling for justice. However two things, and I wish or hope you could come around on these two points.
#1 is that Private Property is an human individual right. It was only the formalizing of property law, a basic human right, that we all felt the civilizing force of society. Private property is not force, its a right to acquire and hold and dispose of, peacefully, that is the cornerstone of peace. Your father enjoyed this most precious right, mixing his labor in with everyone around him, including you. It is only by respecting Private Property of everyone, that we find the positive externality of Privacy.
#2 -- Is what Milton Friedman tried to teach you and all of us in the progessive movement, that is namely that self interest will trump our general interests, each and every time, over time. Take your "precious EPA and Consumer Product Safety Commission". While no doubt they have done some good, the bottomline at the end of the day is that without progressive EXHAUSTIVE vigilence on the part of the general good, the self interests of those regulated by these two groups will in the end, win the day. Milton pointed this phenomenon out with the railroad regulators and trucking regulators. Its a broad principle that applies over and over again.
So libertarians are much like Progressives in that they are passionate about justice and freedom and so, see that enabling a power structure to "do good", in the end just enables the self interest of those power elites to take control and run it for their very own benefit. The argument between Progressives and Libertarians is one of Means... and enpowering government to do good just empowers it to do harm in the long run. Where is there safety? Its in the anominity of the Marketplace, and the freer the better. When I see my fellow progressives happy and at peace, its in a farmers market, its in a flea market, its in a free market place of goods and ideas with lots of diversity.
In Peace & Liberty,
Treg
PS.... One day I hope all Progressive intellectuals and Libertarian intellectuals can all get together for one big Convention.... "Idea Fest 2009". Writers and scholars from all over can come. We could discuss where we agree, where we disagree, and find common cause on issues we both care so passionately about.
9/22/2008 10:30 PMDave:
Ralph, your stock just went up...WAY up. Ralph Nader for Vice President on the Republican ticket with Ron Paul. How's that for a prescription to treat what ails America?
11/13/2007 4:58 PMI agree with Dave, let's get the message out to Ralph Nader and Ron Paul to become running mates. Then, they mighy actually win the election. I've been telling people this for months - those 2 should join forces/pool their resources.......:
EXCELLENT IDEA!: Ralph Nader for Prez, with Ron Paul as his running mate, or, vice versa
6/6/2008 10:21 PMJeff:
You are so right Ralph Nader, but I think the federal government should be smaller, and I think the seat of power should be closer to the people, and so should the transactions.
11/13/2007 5:34 PMHonest Abe:
Mike Gravel is saying the similar things on the dem side, both should join forces and run as independents..They are the only ones who would hold hearings into the truth about 911...Abolish the irs and fed as well... criminalize war profiterring
11/13/2007 11:39 PMkarti:
Time for spanish teachers in the north to organize a field trip to the border then!
11/13/2007 4:46 PMkarti:
Your sentiments are cherished by this Ron Paul supporter. You're right that policy is certainly an issue of concern for many people, but if we can get the decision making process back into the hands of the people, that it of itself would be very significant.
11/13/2007 4:39 PMDerek Underwood:
Thank you for your kind, pro-liberty words, Ralph. We need more esteemed voices like yours to come forward for Ron Paul, and the concepts of liberty.
11/13/2007 5:56 PMJames Madison:
When will Mr. Nader endorse Dr. Paul?
11/13/2007 7:11 PMGabe Harris:
One thing that fans of small government and fans of the anti-war left have in common is that we agree
corrupt system needs to be taken down a notch. If the left wing people then wish to build it back up we can make that decision in due time, but if we don't agree to fix the current problem then we can both agree that we are turning into a facist war machine state.
If you love redistributionist welfare projects that much jsut think how much more money you'd eventually get fro them if we can quit burdening our citizens with eternal war and trillions in military spending. While, us libertarian types are not optimistic about the ability of "wars on poverty" to cure poverty...we can agree that the current regime is happy to keep the poor uneducated and destitute. The "war on drugs also targets the poor at teh expense of well connected drug runners.
Libertarians just want hard working people to be able to keep more of the money they earn to spend on the things that are important to their families. This is an important aspect of individual freedom. If we don't unite to overcome the current regime of warmongering big brother loving tyrants then it is truly sad.
11/13/2007 9:24 PMronpauldonater:
I voted for Nader and I will vote for Paul in the primaries. 2 of the same is not a choice.
11/14/2007 7:12 AMJeff:
I think what people have to realize is that a vote for Ron Paul is not open-ended. Like Ralph, I don't agree
with everything Paul stands for, but there will be a very ticked off establishment sitting in Congress trying
to block Paul's every move. What he can control however will be a significant change in our foreign policy.
What he can do is use his position to raise awareness in the electorate. My analogy I've used when
talking up Paul has been 'drain the swamp' rather than prescribe an enema. Either way, a vote for Paul gets
us closer to pulling back from the imperialistic empire-building as well as fiscal sanity.
Those are his primary agendas and they're in complete alignment with mine.
There is no perfect candidate. But picking one who holds up the Constitution of these United States as
his or her guidepost is the right place to start.
Jeff
11/13/2007 5:36 PMCarolyn Connon:
RE: "..a very ticked off establishment sitting in Congress"
First part of the plan: Get Ron Paul elected president.
Second part of the plan: Remove any of the obstacles in Congress who block what the people want.
Washington will be seeing a lot of "the people" in the coming years.
This revolution is just starting.
They better shape up or we will ship them out.
The meetup groups in my state plan on staying together after 11-08.
We're already planning on replacing our "Bush lap dog" of a Rep. next year.
As I've been asking lately, "Who wants to run for Congress?"
11/13/2007 8:05 PMchrisy:
Um, this isn't real. That wasn't Nader. No one seems to be paying attention to what site they're on.
11/16/2007 10:37 AMNicole:
Has Ron Paul ever explained how he will be able to change the judiciary so that it's possible to get compensation for environmental and public health harm via the courts? Just look at the folks in Alaska, who haven't seen a dime of the $5 billion in damages they 'won' after the Exxon Valdez spill. It's eighteen years later, and the fight is still going on. Even if they do get Exxon to pay up, the dollar has fallen so much that Exxon would be quite a discount on what it should have paid.
While this situation is deplorable, I would also be wary of a solution where there's a lowered standard of proof required to get a settlement. I'm also unsure how Ron Paul would manage to change the way the courts work just because of the separation of powers. Is there more that we could be doing right now to get environmental justice through the courts, or would we have to elect someone like him first?
It seems like there would have to be far more surveillance to tell if people were dumping something in one place that caused another person to get sick, and since that's unlikely, in the majority of cases, justice would never be served. Wouldn't it be better to stop pollution in the first place? What about the possibility of asking permission and agreeing on a price before pollutants are released, rather than not letting affected people having any say in the matter? You'd still need a EPA like agency to determine how much of a given chemical is safe to consume/inhale, and what an appropriate payment would be. If our legal system didn't change, the courts would be swamped with farmers trying to get money because car exhaust made their crops grow more poorly, parents of kids with ADHD suing coal-burning power plants, people suing their neighbors for smoking/barbecuing, Bangladeshis suing us for global warming. It would also be interesting to note who would not be getting sued, such as a primary employer in a small town. In situations like this, you need protection from an impartial outside entity like the EPA.
Finally, I don't think you can judge a government agency by its state at the moment. Bush has been hacking away at it for over six years now, and while it will take awhile to hire civil servants to replace those who were lost, restore the EPA's access to its libraries, and start enforcing the laws again, under any Democratic administration the EPA should be able to do a much better job.
11/14/2007 7:10 AMYail Bloor:
Its just this type of talk that threw me away from Nader in the last election. Who cares about real people as long as he can 'stick it to the man.' Of course it should come as no surprise given that the man ran on Pat Buchanan's ticket last election. Anyone remember where that money came from? While I agree with the idea of fighting corruption, what will be the result of nixing all social spending? Are you really prepared for that? Puts me in mind of Zola's Germinal. Sure the Bakunin character my be proved right by the end, but as a reader one just cannot succumb to the idea that everything must be destroyed to begin anew. Because we care about the characters too much.
11/14/2007 3:32 PMchrisy:
Or are you all part of it too? I'm confused.
11/16/2007 10:39 AMJames Reiher:
Regarding "shooting at anything that speaks Spanish", careful about the exaggerating! Paul may turn out popular with the Spanish crowds because he wants to end the war on drugs.
11/13/2007 4:41 PMBuddy:
Mr. Nader,
I used to share your worry about ending the EPA, but I have come to realize that the EPA (particularly under Bush) has become an institution charged with granting licenses to pollute to the agency's "pals" in various industries. Ron Paul strongly supports liberty and property rights, including your right and mine not to breathe or drink XYZ, Inc.'s filth or have the filth run across our land. He believes that the Courts should strictly enforce these rights. This is actually a much more environmentally friendly position than any other candidate.
Similarly, when sued by people who have been injured by a product, manufactures have been increasingly successful in claiming that they are immune from suit under the doctrine of federal preemption because the CPSC or some other friendly bureaucrat approved the product. Ron Paul would allow Courts to enforce an injured party's rights.
The more I study Dr. Paul's positions, the more I see to like. Welcome to the Revolution!
11/13/2007 8:16 PMGabe Harris:
Regarding the EPA; it is also important to keep the focus on the most dangerosu pollutants...mercury, Sulfur dioxide nitrus oxide etc....these are the pollutants that cause acid rain and many health problems. Diverting attention to Carbon Dioxide , which is plant food is not good for the environment. But it is part of the plan to make energy companies money. Read about how the environmental movement has been hi-jacked.
11/13/2007 9:28 PMbruce:
Ralph, I voted for you before, and it sucked that that Gore clown had to spoil it for you, because you would be good for this country. But thanks for writing something (fairly) positive about Dr. Paul, because, well...you're right, things would only get better for the most part.
I'd ask you to review Rep. Kucinich and write what you think of him here next, perhaps. Actually I was thinking you might make a good running mate for Dennis, and I think I read that you two are friends, right? Well he speaks well of you I know that.
Since it seems unlikely that Dick AND Bush AND Nancy are all gonna get impeached, man, am I counting the days until January 09, so please do what you can to make it (them) all go away....PLEASE!
bruce mcdonough
11/13/2007 10:42 PMJeff:
Different Jeff's on posts 1:34 and 1:36...funny timing!
11/13/2007 5:37 PMMigel:
Your "shooting at anything that speaks Spanish" remark was a smear and uncalled for! IT is a mis-statement aqnd you should clarify yourself. Much of the resentment towards Ron Paul is because people like you make comments like this, that are not true. A tighter border security does not mean he wants to shoot people at all. Shooting at people is one of the things Ron Paul stands for most. I have read articles where you were mis-stated and it pissed me off and I have stuck up for you. Wise up, would ya....
11/13/2007 8:01 PMTexas Little El:
This is a parody site, ignore the post
11/13/2007 7:08 PMAdrienne.Pass:
Thank you for speaking the truth, Mr. Nader! You may agree or disagree with Paul, but before we can fix this nation, we certainly need to take a step back and do some spring cleaning! Ron Paul will do just that! Let's get the corruption out of Washington!
Adrienne Pass
12/16/2007 4:45 PMNovi, MI
crazyjimbah:
nice chain, man? funny how cyber space works... if this is D-rock from Texas-- glad to see you like Ron Paul.
11/13/2007 7:08 PMTom Dennen:
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE WITH A PAPER BALLOT.
ASK FOR ONE.
IT'S ONE OF THE FEW RIGHTS YOU HAVE LEFT.
1/20/2008 8:24 PMAdrienne.Pass:
damn it. :( That's what I get for googling my news too often.
12/16/2007 4:46 PMJeanette Doney:
Right on Texas Little El: lThis can not be Ralph Nader who wrote this. While Nader did endorce Ron Paul and Kucinich for their pro peace/antiwar campaign platforms, and Ron Paul (and Pat Buchanon) supported Nader's right, as an Independent candidate, to be on the ballot. I can't imagine Nader being so ummm, cranky?, about Ron Paul's campaign because I know I'm not alone as one who would support BOTH Ron Paul and Nader, helping Nader get ballot access. But the little I know of Nader, his personality has a wit which is keen to truth seekers, and why truth seekers have long admired and appreciated him past his many accomplishments protecting consumer rights. I think Nader would prefer the EPA to be a free market profit/non-profit corporation where competition expands and improves the protection of the environment rather than tax payers buying tons of red tape so citizens have a certificate and license to work protecting the environment (all they really protect is the government). Nader wants the borders closed...so this site is BS.
12/16/2007 5:02 PMGeorge Tarrant:
"He won’t admit it, but Ron Paul is practically running on my third-party ticket. " eh hem.. actually if you check out the coverage of Dr. Paul's campaign in 1988 you will see that you kind of bit off of his platform, the same one that Dr. Paul has kept for 20 years now.
12/17/2007 10:48 PMt quigly:
RON PAUL for the long haul Moneybombs:
1/21 - Free At Last
4/17[?] Tax-Free (supporters will donate Duhhbya's propagandist, paultry[sic] $600 tax refund to the Ron Paul campaign !
Whether this site is a parody or not, the Ron Paul Presidency and campaign moneybombs are NOT !!
The times they are a changin'
1/20/2008 9:29 PMCol:
Mr. Nader. I voted for you three times. 96 00 and 04. I voted for you because I felt you could fix the system that existed in its present framework without too much overhauling. You spoke the truth about many things. I would even say I was one of your staunchest supporters, even if I grew up Republican and considered myself Libertarian. I have been following Dr. Paul for over ten years as well. I always knew what a good and decent man he was. I always knew that if he ran for President and people heard his message .. it would resonate... I agree with you that some thing I dislike with Dr. Paul.. but exactly what you said.. WE MUST CLEAN HOUSE.. and start from scratch. I do not even think he would be adverse to the EPA and CPSC... just maybe in a new form. We have run out of money... we have run out of time.. and now is the time for change.. this is the moment.. it is here and we Americans are taking it. I thank you very much for your support on Dr. Paul. I also want to thank you for working tirelessly for advocating for the people. I also would love to see you run in 08.. I think many democrats will vote for you. I think you your message is always needed in public discourse and that there is always a never ending supplies of volunteers who will jump on your campaign. DO IT!!! because Dr Paul will win the Republican nomination.. and Obama and Hillary is Status quo BS.. exciting times indeed
12/22/2007 6:15 PMgizd:
Mr. Nader, you got my write-in vote last time. This time it may as well be Ron Paul with Kucinich for balance. Not because of state-run militia’s running around or Consumer Product Safety Commission, but because this is our only chance for shaking the monkey off our backs.
1/21/2008 4:16 AMEric Ludy:
Considering this site is called "News Groper" and also considering that directly under the logo it says "these blogs are not real," I'm gonna have to say that Ralph Nader had nothing to do with this. I think the logic presented here is behind a lot of people's support for Paul, though. Nice piece of satire.
12/19/2007 6:27 PMCol:
I am dumb I need to read before I write, but still what I said stands...
HA
12/22/2007 6:19 PMnikki:
Thank you Mr. Nader. In order to continue shifting the power, we need your official endorsement at a press Conference for Ron Paul.
Paul/Nader 08!
12/26/2007 10:00 AM