Ralph Nader an

[tom in kentucky]

steve matherly,sorry dude you drank the cool-aid. did your valted mr . nader tell you about how he "KILLED"the small auto in the "60's" ? you list many fine books thank you.you need to read mr.nader's book UNSAFE AT ANYSPEED.then post me back.

[Monica]

IIlegals Cause Massive
Cuts For US Seniors
12-4-7
I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URL's for verification of the following facts:
1.$11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year. http://tinyurl.com/zob77
2.$2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.h...
3.$2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.h...
4.$12 Billion dollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English! http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/0...
5.$17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/0...
6.$3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/0...
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/0...
8.$90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and Social Services by the American taxpayers. http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt...
9.$200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/0...
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two-and-a-half times that of white non-illegal aliens. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/1...
11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Homeland Security Report. http://tinyurl.com/t9sht
12. The National Policy Institute, "estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period." http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/de...
13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm
14. "The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States". http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml
Total cost is a whooping...$338.3 BILLION A YEAR!!!
If this doesn't bother you then just delete the message, but on the other hand, if it does raise the hair on the back of your neck, then forward it.
Snopes is provided for doubters:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/immigration/ba...

[Monica]

Social Security Change For 2008
The United States Senate voted to extend Social Security Benefits to Illegal Aliens beginning in 2008.
Now, the following are the senators who voted to give illegal aliens Social Security benefits. They are grouped by home state. If a state is not listed, there was no voting representative.
Alaska: Stevens (R)
Arizona : McCain (R)
Arkansas : Lincoln (D) Pryor (D)
California : Boxer (D) Feinstein (D)
Colorado : Salazar (D)
Connecticut : Dodd (D) Lieberman (D)
Delaware : Biden (D) Carper (D)
Florida : Martinez (R)
Hawaii : Akaka (D) Inouye (D)
Illinois : Durbin (D) Obama (D)
Indiana : Bayh (D) Lugar (R)
Iowa : Harkin (D)
Kansas : Brownback (R)
Louisiana : Landrieu (D)
Maryland : Mikulski (D) Sarbanes (D)
Massachusetts : Kennedy (D) Kerry (D)
Montana : Baucus (D)
Nebraska : Hagel (R)
Nevada : Reid (D)
New Jersey : Lautenberg (D) Menendez (D)
New Mexico : Bingaman (D)
New York : Clinton (D) Schumer (D)
North Dakota : Dorgan (D)
Ohio : DeWine (R) Voinovich(R)
Oregon : Wyden (D)
Pennsylvania : Specter (R)
Rhode Island : Chafee (R) Reed (D)
South Carolina : Graham (R)
South Dakota : Johnson (D)
Vermont : Jeffords (I) Leahy (D)
Washington : Cantwell (D) Murray (D)
West Virginia : Rockefeller (D), by Not Voting
Wisconsin : Feingold (D) Kohl (D)
SEND THIS TO ALL YOU KNOW. THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO KNOW THIS INFORMATION, UNLESS THEY DON'T MIND SHARING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY WITH FOREIGN WORKERS who didn't pay in a dime.
LET US SHOW OUR LEADERS IN WASHINGTON "PEOPLE POWER" AND THE POWER OF THE INTERNET. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT OR INDEPENDENT! KEEP IT GOING!!!!

(

[Monica]

SOCIAL SECURITY:
(This is worth reading. It is short and to the point.)
Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions during election years. Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.
In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan.
For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die.
Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments.. For example, Senator Byrd and Congressman White and their wives may expect to draw $7,800,000.00 (that's Seven Million, Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars), with their wives drawing $275,000.00 during the last years of their lives.
This is calculated on an average life span for each of those two Dignitaries.
Younger Dignitaries who retire at an early age, will receive much more during the rest of their lives.
Their cost for this excellent plan is $0.00. NADA... ZILCH... ZERO!!!

This little perk they voted for themselves is free to them. You and I pick up the tab for this plan. The funds for this fine retirement plan come directly from the General Funds; "OUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK "!
From our own Social Security Plan, which you and I pay (or have paid) into, every payday until we retire (which amount is matched by our employer). We can expect to get an average of $1,000 per month after retirement. Or, in other words, we would have to collect our average of $1,000 monthly benefits for 68 years and one (1) month to equal Senator Bill Bradley's benefits!
Social Security could be very good if only one small change were made.
That change would be to: Jerk the Golden Fleece Retirement Plan from under the Senators and Congressmen. Put them into the Social Security plan with the rest of us Then sit back... And see how fast they would fix it.
If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and maybe good changes will evolve.
How many people CAN you send this to?

Better yet How many people WILL you send this to?

[tom in kentucky]

MONICA in the united states
nice post[s]however you should know that almost all of our elected goverment people are "LAWERS" ever see a poor one? best of luck on your mission to inform.

[Elmer Fudd]

tom in kentucky wrote:

MONICA in the united states
nice post[s]however you should know that almost all of our elected goverment people are "LAWERS" ever see a poor one? best of luck on your mission to inform.

Ralphie's illiterate minions actually think he can be elected. Fun to watch, but it would be a little pathetic if it weren't for their screaching surety.

[just little ole me]

Kats wrote:

Ralph Nader is a COMPLETE A**HOLE....

Let me guess. You're a Democrat who voted for Gore in 2000 and/or Kerry in 2004, and you haven't gotten over the results yet.

If enough Democrats didn't see enough in Gore and/or Kerry to vote for for either instead of Nader (or for nobody, or stayed home, or...)so that Gore/Kerry lost, then it just proved the Democratic presidential candidate just didn't have what it took to win. Why bash Nader for Nader for the Democrat Party's less than stellar candidates?

[Packeryman]

Nader is a wasted vote. He cannot get on a lot of ballots. His ideas are great but can't be accomplished in this political environment. A vote for Nader is a vote for the Republican party. If you people are sick of the last eight years, then your elevator doesn't run to the top if your vote is taken from the Dem's and given to Nader. This elects McCain. There is no other way to look at it. The day this fool said he was going to run again was a very happy day for the Republicans, were any of you listening to the right wing am radio shock jocks. It made their day.

[tom in kentucky]

Elmer Fudd wrote:

<quoted text>
Ralphie's illiterate minions actually think he can be elected. Fun to watch, but it would be a little pathetic if it weren't for their screaching surety.

"SURETY" i like that mr.fudd very good!

[Monica]

Packeryman wrote:

Nader is a wasted vote. He cannot get on a lot of ballots. His ideas are great but can't be accomplished in this political environment. A vote for Nader is a vote for the Republican party. If you people are sick of the last eight years, then your elevator doesn't run to the top if your vote is taken from the Dem's and given to Nader. This elects McCain. There is no other way to look at it. The day this fool said he was going to run again was a very happy day for the Republicans, were any of you listening to the right wing am radio shock jocks. It made their day.

Voting for Obama or McCain is a wasted vote. Look beyond their rhetoric, and study their voting records. They are both corporate candidates, and can't be trusted. Voting for Nader is not a wasted vote. The majority of Americans support the issues Nader & Gonzalez have on the table- which the corporate candidates do not. We need to turn this country around, and it is evident that Obama and McCain will maintain the status quo. As far as the ballot access laws, they are completely un-democratic, and set up to deny people genuine choices, and to cater to the two party duopoly. People need to speak out about these draconian ballot obstructions, and demand change, and genuine access for independent, third party candidates. For anyone interested, check out Nader's website to find out more about his Presidential platform, and how things are going in terms of getting on the ballot. Anyone who supports true democracy may want to lend a hand in helping Nader and Gonzalez get on the ballot by signing a petition in your home state. www.votenader.org

[Packeryman]

Monica wrote:

<quoted text>
Voting for Obama or McCain is a wasted vote. Look beyond their rhetoric, and study their voting records. They are both corporate candidates, and can't be trusted. Voting for Nader is not a wasted vote. The majority of Americans support the issues Nader & Gonzalez have on the table- which the corporate candidates do not. We need to turn this country around, and it is evident that Obama and McCain will maintain the status quo. As far as the ballot access laws, they are completely un-democratic, and set up to deny people genuine choices, and to cater to the two party duopoly. People need to speak out about these draconian ballot obstructions, and demand change, and genuine access for independent, third party candidates. For anyone interested, check out Nader's website to find out more about his Presidential platform, and how things are going in terms of getting on the ballot. Anyone who supports true democracy may want to lend a hand in helping Nader and Gonzalez get on the ballot by signing a petition in your home state. www.votenader.org

I am with you, I like Nader's policies and wish they all could be implemented. They are nill in the existing world, in the real world a vote for Nader is still a vote for Bush's failed policies. You are going to help put in a 72yr old man of the past(McCain)in by looking at the world as black and white with no shades of grey. I want all readers who have even an inkling of voting for Nader to think long and hard about it, Its a lost vote, unless the intention is to sabotage the Democrat candidate, and if that is the purpose ---go for it. To claim you are making some profound political statement is B.S. since there is no chance for a win, he is not on all ballots and this is not going to change that before election. I know you have a good cause but a lost one.

[Monica]

Packeryman wrote:

<quoted text>I am with you, I like Nader's policies and wish they all could be implemented. They are nill in the existing world, in the real world a vote for Nader is still a vote for Bush's failed policies. You are going to help put in a 72yr old man of the past(McCain)in by looking at the world as black and white with no shades of grey. I want all readers who have even an inkling of voting for Nader to think long and hard about it, Its a lost vote, unless the intention is to sabotage the Democrat candidate, and if that is the purpose ---go for it. To claim you are making some profound political statement is B.S. since there is no chance for a win, he is not on all ballots and this is not going to change that before election. I know you have a good cause but a lost one.

Packeryman, Are you in Texas? Maybe you could help the Nader campaign in your state? He is getting on the ballots, but it is a difficult process. No such hurdles for the two party corporate controlled duopoly.(Consider the fact that Obama is hobnobing around Europe and the Middle East, courtesy of taxpayer funds, and he hasn't even been formally nominated!) Nader ought to be able to get on most states, from everything I've read. That is unless the Democratic Party pulls the same tricks it did in previous elections. Which brings up another issue. Do you notice how the "alternative" media is silent about the ballot access obstructions for independent, third party candidates, and has not once addressed the current Bonusgate Scandals in PA (and undoubtedly elsewhere), and how the Democratic Party used taxpayer money to keep Nader & Romanelli off the ballot. Furthermore, there is evidence that the Nader petitions were the target of widespread and deliberate sabotage. Check out an article on Counterpunch today July 24, 2008 , DC Larson, Shutting Out Ralph Nader, which is about the impeachment hearings tomorrow Friday July 25. www.counterpunch.org Nader ought to be present at these hearings, as he has been at the forefront in pushing for impeachment.

[Molly]

Nader condemns House Dems for Bonusgate activities
by CHARLES THOMPSON, Of The Patriot-News
Thursday July 24, 2008, 3:29 PM
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader said today he will ask the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to vacate an $81,000 penalty assessed against him from court battles over his efforts to get on the 2004 ballot in Pennsylvania.

Nader said he was acting because of the charges filed earlier this month by Attorney General Tom Corbett against 12 persons affiliated with the House Democratic Caucus for allegedly directing the use of caucus staff and resources for political purposes.

One example that figured prominently in Corbett's case was the caucus' effort - involving as many a 50 staffers working on state time - to get Nader thrown off the general election ballot in 2004.

Democrats were working around the country to disarm Nader's candidacy that year, in hopes of boosting John Kerry's candidacy.

For more on this story, see Friday's editions of The Patriot-News.

[Shiu]

We need to take immediate and aggressive court action regarding the PA Bonusgate Scandal, and examine similar corruption in other states. How can voters be assured this criminal action won't happen during this/other Presidential elections? It is time to change the draconian ballot access laws that are biased and anti-democratic, and designed by Democrats and Republicans to jeopardize independent, third party candidates from being able to get on the ballots. There is also evidence of massive fraud by GOP operatives in the Ohio 2004 election, with possible Karl Rove involvement. All of these criminal acts need to be fully exposed, and justice sought. On July 25, there will be impeachment hearings, and Ralph Nader needs to be present to add his voice. Explain why Libertarian candidate Bob Barr has been invited, and not Ralph Nader? It is not acceptable. This is clearly a double standard that we will not abide. It appears that the Chairman is playing politics by disinviting Mr. Nader to these hearings, and not all that interested in probing for the truth. Mr. Nader must attend.

[Shiu]

July 24, 2008
Nader: Dismissal From '04 Ballot Was "Fraudulent, Deceitful."
Independent Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader ...
... called Thursday for a federal probe of his removal from the 2004 Pennsylania ballot, arguing that state House Democrats swept up in the Bonusgate scandal aided in that effort.
At a Capitol news conference, the famed consumer advocate also said he’s asking the state Supreme Court to set aside an order requiring him to pay $81,102 in legal costs state Democrats rang up getting him removed from the presidential ballot.
“It’s one of the most fraudulent and deceitful exercises ever perpetrated on the Pennsylvania voters,” said Nader, who’s mounted an independent bid for the White House this year.“It shocks the conscience.”
In a 74-page grand jury presentment made public two weeks ago, state Attorney General Tom Corbett alleged that Democratic House employees in Harrisburg and western Pennsylvania, worked on the public’s dime to challenge the 51,273 signatures that Nader and running-mate Peter Camejo gathered to get onto the 2004 presidential ballot in the state.
A dozen former and current House Democrats now face theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest charges for their role in derailing Nader’s campaign, in addition to the awarding of nearly $2 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses for campaign work done on public time. Corbett has promised more arrests to come.
On Thursday, Nader’s attorney, Oliver Hall of the Washington D.C.-based Center for Competitive Democracy, took aim at House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese’s claims that he was unaware that the his staff and his second-in-command, former Democratic Whip Michael Veon, were engaged in the alleged illegal activity.
“Where was Bill DeWeese?” Hall asked.“He hasn’t been indicted but [former DeWeese chief-of-staff Michael] Manzo and [ex-Democratic Whip Mike] Veon have. Attorney General Corbett has made clear that his investigation is ongoing and we would urge him to focus on the role of Bill DeWeese. This needs to be clarified.”
A spokesman for DeWeese did not immediately return a call seeking comment.
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Current Comments
We need to take immediate and aggressive court action regarding the PA Bonusgate Scandal, and examine similar corruption in other states. How can voters be assured this criminal action won't happen during this/other Presidential elections? It is time to change the draconian ballot access laws that are biased and anti-democratic, and designed by Democrats and Republicans to jeopardize independent, third party candidates from being able to get on the ballots. There is also evidence of massive fraud by GOP operatives in the Ohio 2004 election, with possible Karl Rove involvement. All of these criminal acts need to be fully exposed, and justice sought. On July 25, there will be impeachment hearings, and Ralph Nader needs to be present to add his voice. Explain why Libertarian candidate Bob Barr has been invited, and not Ralph Nader? It is not acceptable. This is clearly a double standard that we will not abide. It appears that the Chairman is playing politics by disinviting Mr. Nader to these hearings, and not all that interested in probing for the truth. Mr. Nader must attend.

[Jake]

The Daily CougarSearch The Daily Cougar

Thursday, July 24, 2008 Jump to: News Opinion Sports Life & Arts Comics Campus Beat Login | Register Home > News
Nader, Gonzalez to hold rally at University Hilton
Independent candidates to answer questions, address Iraq war, energy
By Reyes Ramirez
Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: News
PrintEmail Article Tools Page 1 of 1 With Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain dominating the news, it may seem Democrats and Republicans are the only choices. However, Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader presents another option to the American voter.

Nader, along with vice presidential candidate Matthew Gonzalez, will hold a news conference at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and a campaign rally at 2 p.m. at the University Hilton.

Nader and Gonzalez will hold the rally to bring supporters together and recruit new, voters and will address national issues such as healthcare, energy dependence and the war in Iraq, contrasting them with Obama's and McCain's stances. After their statements, they will hold a question-and-answer forum with no prior screening.

"We encourage everyone to come," campaign advisor Chris Driscoll said. "People will be surprised by the depth of the discussion."

Nader, on his fifth campaign for president, is an attorney, author, lecturer and Princeton and Harvard University alumnus. Aside from being the first Arab-American presidential candidate in U.S. history, he has been named one of the "100 Most Influential Americans in the 20th Century," by Time Magazine and his organizations have helped establish the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. They have also helped enact the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Motor Vehicle Safety Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Nader has written, co-authored and edited many pieces of literature, including his book Unsafe at Any Speed, ranked 38th among the top 100 pieces of journalism of the 20th century.

Gonzalez, one of the first Green Party candidates elected to public office in the San Francisco Bay Area, is a native Texan born in McAllen, and Columbia and Stanford University alumnus. Elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 2000 representing San Francisco's fifth council district, Gonzalez also served as the San Francisco Board of Supervisors President from 2003 to 2005. Gonzalez is also the managing partner of Gonzalez & Leigh, a seven-attorney practice in San Francisco representing individuals and organizations in mediation, arbitration and administrative proceedings before state and federal regulatory bodies.

With a $10 general or $5 student contribution, supporters or voters who wish to learn about another candidate will have a chance to attend the rally.

"We found that the University of Houston is an easy location for our supporters to find and also that the University is a big one (in terms of population,)" Driscoll said. "The young voter is an important group for the Nader/Gonzalez census."

[Ursula]

Senator Chris Dodd
U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
448 Russell Building
Washington, DC 20510
Congressman Barney Frank
House Committee on Financial Services
2252 Rayburn H.O.B.
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senator Dodd and Congressman Frank:
I write today to suggest that you jointly hold hearings on the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's ability to deal with potential bank failures in the next several years.
In a March 10, 2008 memorandum on insurance assessment rates, Arthur J. Murton, Director of the Division of Insurance and Research for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) stated:
While 99 percent of insured institutions meet the "well capitalized" criteria, the possibility remains that the fund could suffer insurance losses that are significantly higher than anticipated. The U.S. economy and the banking sector currently face a significant amount of uncertainty from ongoing housing sector problems, financial market turbulence and potentially weak prospects for consumer spending. These problems could lead to significantly higher loan losses and weaker earnings for insured institutions.
Indeed, the recent failure of IndyMac highlights the need for tough Congressional oversight. Banking experts have indicated that the cost of the collapse of IndyMac alone will be between $4 billion and $8 billion. The FDIC has approximately $53 billion on hand to deal with bank failures. This amount may not be adequate given the cost of IndyMac and given the approximately $4 trillion in deposits the FDIC insures.
Several questions should be presented to FDIC officials such as:
1. Was IndyMac on the list of "Problem Institutions" before it failed?
2. Were the other banks that failed this year on the FDIC list of "Problem Institutions"?
3. What is the anticipated cost of dealing with the failures of the other four banks that failed this year?
4. As of March 31, 2008 the FDIC reported 90 "Problem Institutions" with assets of $26 billion. What is the current number of "Problem Institutions" and what are the assets of these "Problem Institutions"?
5. How many banks are likely to fail in 2008 and 2009 respectively?
6. What is the estimated range of costs of dealing with the projected failures?
7. What will the effect of higher losses than those projected be on the FDIC's estimate of the proper reserve ratio?
8. What are the FDIC's projections for reserves needed and potential bank failures beyond 2009?
9. Is the FDIC resisting raising the current rates of assessments on FDIC insured banks so that the cost of any significant bailouts will have to be shifted to the taxpayers?
10. Does the Government Accountability Office (GAO) believe that the existing rate schedule for the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF) is set at the proper level?
The Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005 requires the FDIC to set a Designated Reserve Ratio (DRR) for the Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF). This law also eliminated the fixed DRR of 1.25 percent of insured deposits and allows FDIC to set the DRR within a range between 1.15 percent and 1.50 percent. It is time to for Congress to revisit the FDIC's current approach to setting reserve ratios.
The FDIC is not likely to address its own inability to clearly assess the current risks posed to depositors and taxpayers by the high-rolling banking industry.
I hope you hold hearings sooner rather than later on this important matter. I have attached a column I wrote on March 2, 2002 titled: "FDIC Insurance Scam" for your review.
Sincerely,
Ralph Nader

[Ursula]

You might think that this would be something Danny Schechter would mention at his site but I would not hold my breath on that. He seems unaware -- from week to week -- how up to the neck in the housing scandal/crime that Team Obama was.

What is so amazing about the housing scandal is that Congress still refuses to do anything on it. There is talk of some rebate check -- as though that helps anyone. If you have already lost your home, it is not doing any good for you to get a rebate check. The scandal is quickly being covered up and the guilty are getting away.

Congress should have held high profile hearings on this months ago. But the money makers are not unknown to Congress. A number of them support Republicans regularly and a number of them gave a great deal of money to Barack Obama's campaign.

Then you have the people like Senator Dodd and Senator Kent Conrad who got breaks in rate from the very companies that ripped the people off. That is why the scandal has resulted in no serious probes and that is why we need someone not corrupted by the party machinery to be president. Ralph Nader is the choice for the people. www.votenader.org

[Elmer Fudd]

Sorry, fell asleep reading the cut and paste posts.

[Phoebe]

Contrast the abject cowardice displayed by Conyers with the arrogant boldness displayed by Rove, where he openly defied a Congressional subpoena, correctly confident that the Democrats will do nothing about it.