Ralph Nader on News Hour with Jim Lehrer

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I am a big fan of public broadcasting. Often the news that we can get from PBS ( often supplied by the BBC* ) shares many stores you just won't get from the mainstream media. Unfortunately NPR and PBS haven't covered the alternative candidates very much. Somewhat understandable, but unfortunate given what public broadcasting should be about. But the alternatives have been covered, including Ralph Nader. ...

Recently Ralph Nader was on News Hour with Jim Lehrer. The interview was extremely professional. Ralph Nader, instead of being told he can't win ( which is not true, he is a longshot ) was asked what he would do as president about the economy, Afghanistan and Iraq.

*Why does the BBC provide more news and less story than our mainstream media?

What's Your Breaking Point

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With election day just a week away I thought I would ask, "What's your breaking point?" Everywhere I look, even my beloved NPR, there are only two sides to this election. While listening to NPR yesterday they had 2 people who were pro Obama and two people who were pro McCain on. Its as if there isn't anyone else to vote for. ...

The truth is, there are other people to vote for. People, by nature, don't like to rock the boat (too much) and so voting outside of the 2 main stream candidates doesn't even occur to most people. While there are some good reasons to respect both Barack Obama and John McCain, I have a feeling many people are looking at their mainstream candidates through rose colored glasses.

The economy is big. What is your candidates stand? The Iraq war is big. What plans does your candidate have? Are they inline with your ideals? There are other big issues, health care, domestic spying, drilling for oil, nuclear power, privatization, gas prices and standing behind personal principles. You may be suprised by what you see from your candidate if you actually look.

With that in mind there is a website called What's Your Breaking Point that checks your candidate versus your uncompromisable values. Check it out and see if they match. Even if you have already voted, its fairly educational.

After you are done here are some other candidates to look at:
Cynthia McKinney - Green Party
Ralph Nader - Independent ( with some help )
Chuck Baldwin - Constitution Party
Bob Barr - Libertarian Party

You also might want to check out who you really match up with at glass booth.
The previous picture used from lifehacker without permission and does not represent my results.

The next debate

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While some people may be focusing on the major party debate tonight, I think I've had enough. I'll still watch tonights debate, at some point, but after the second presidential debate I have a feeling it will be more of the same. Pre-planned stump speeches that I have heard time and again.

Since I'm a fan of alternative parties, I am happy to say that there will be a debate this Sunday between 3 of the 4 candidates who also have their names on enough ballots to have a chance at the White House. Independent candidate Ralph Nader, Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney and the Constitution Party's Chuck Baldwin will all be on stage at Columbia University in New York. The Libertarian Party candidate, Bob Barr has a scheduling conflict but debate organizers said he only wants to debate Ralph Nader.

According to Third Party Ticket the debate will be broadcast online via Break The Matrix and possibly other internet venues Sunday, October 19th from 7PM to 9PM EST. The Miami Herald article I read said that the moderator will be Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now! and recent winner of the Right Livelihood Award, also known as the alternative Nobel.

I recommend everyone watch these debates, even if you are an Obama-Mama( Dad's too :) ) or a McCainanite. If you haven't heard these candidates talk you will hear fresh perspectives that may inspire you to action. Once we are aware of the alternative, we can all help the major candidates see them as well.

The Vice Presidential Debate

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Since last night was the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin, I thought I'd add one more vice presidential voice to your listening. Matt Gonzalez, Ralph Nader's vice presidential running mate. Have I mentioned that he's my favorite vice presidential candidate? ...

Both Rosa Clemente of the Green Party and Matt Gonzalez got a chance to speak about the debate on this morning's edition of Democracy Now!

If you missed the debate here it is compliments of hulu:

Nader Commercials

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One thing I have been quite impressed with from the Nader campaign is how organized they are for an independent run for office. The ability to get on the ballots and reach their fund raising goals is amazing. Unfortunately, I have not and probably won't see any commercials for Ralph Nader. Air time for these commercials and production costs are forcing the campaign to focus on new media - the internet. Well, since Ralph Nader's message is the same as it has been for a long time I thought commercials from his 2000 campaign would work. Just change the names and some of the stats and it's like it was made for today. ...

Please keep in mind that this election the web address is www.VoteNader.org

Some of these kids probably have grown up and can vote now. I hope they aren't apathetic.

It's good to watch Phil Donahue from 2000 as well. He is a respected tv personality who communicates the reasons Ralph Nader is running well.

Keep it up America

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It keeps seeming like the bailout bill is ready to be passed. People make compromises and it looks like we will move forward with a massive financial plan that has only been discussed for a week(or less). Thanks to the strongest declaration that America is run by the people that I have ever seen, and a few congress members who are against it on principle, the "final" bailout bill got rejected by the house. And stocks plummetted. Like many people, I am worried about the affects all this will have but I know that an optimal solution can be reached as long as we slow down. My family is starting to be affected by this crisis already as my wife works for Citigroup now( so it would seem ), but that only makes me want to make sure we take the time to work out a plan to keep this kind of mess from happening again. While this was created by a failure of the entire system, I still think we need to make sure that the most heinous corporate criminals pay for their crimes against society so that in the future people take a moment before letting their greed take over.

Who is and has been talking about this for years? Ralph Nader. Along with speaking out against corporate crime he has said again and again that citizens need to take back their country. The amount of letters, emails and phone calls that our members of congress are recieving is making them balk at passing this bill. Keep it up. I am proud to be an American today.

Nader Gonzalez 2008!