Let's get Ralph Nader as Souter's replacement

[midnight armadillo]

Why not? Harvard Law degree, extensive record of standing up to entrenched institutional power for Americans, uncorruptible, and scary enough to the Washington establishment that half of them would spontaneously combust at the mere suggestion.

(note - take the 2000 florida comments elsewhere)

[damonm]

1. Nope - Bill Clinton.

Just for the sound of freeper heads exploding all over the country.

[midnight armadillo]

3. that would also be great

LOL, the freepers would shit actual bricks.

[NYC_SKP]

32. Yea, either Clinton would blow their minds, but...

Bill? In a robe? Never!

[wyldwolf]

9. Obama: "I nominate... Bill Clinton......naw, just kidding! Did y'all see Joe Scarborough? .. lol!"

[Honeycombe8]

36. If you stop and think about what a Justice does, you'd understand why neither Clinton

could, or would, ever be one.

They are nerdy prior judges who sit in rooms, alone or with staffers, and think about serious cases, and then write their opinions on them. They are not politicians. They do not give press conferences. They are rarely seen by, or photographed by, the public or press.

Being a Supreme Court Justice is not for the person who enjoys the limelight or is a politician.

That means that the Clintons, Nader, and all the other politicians are out of the running. As they wish to be. They need the limelight, the fame.

[damonm]

68. Well aware, thanks.

Just would love the exploding-head effect on freepers.

[NorthCarolina]

82. No thanks, too conservative n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Well, at least he has an ego to match Fat Tony Scalia's.

Otherwise, I'd say..... no.

[oviedodem]

4. After calling Obama an "Uncle Tom" on election night and saying

that Obama talks "white"


Nader CAN KISS MY A***!!

[ProSense]

8. Seriously,

Nader is a tool.

[Cha]

10. nader's real good at name calling..

but that's all.

[Better Believe It]

21. Ya ..... no one ever picks on Nader and calls him names!

[BlooInBloo]

56. Worst. Comeback. Ever.

[Cha]

60. Gee

Thanks!

[Aragorn]

61. Yoda's press release re: Nader for SCOTUS

He is too old. Too old to begin the training.

[Flying Dream Blues]

28. He called Obama an Uncle Tom? How did I miss that? Not that I didn't

already hate him for playing spoiler in 2000.

[CTLawGuy]

46. shameful and disgusting behavior

by Nadir (misspelling intentional).

[superduperfarleft]

47. He never called Obama an "uncle tom"

And he never said Obama "talks white."

If you're going to be an irrational Nader Hater, at least hate him for things he actually did.

[Occam Bandage]

55. Yes, he did. You are wrong. You are very wrong.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibsP6XN2dIo
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/06/nader-obama-try.html

[superduperfarleft]

83. You are being dishonest. Very dishonest..

Do you think that I never saw those before responding? Of course I know about them.

And of course it was a nasty, inappropriate comment on Nader's part, but he never called Obama an uncle tom. Ever.

[Alexander]

5. About as dumb as putting Kucinich on the court.

Can't you recommend someone with, you know, a distinguished legal background?

Is that really too much to ask?

[digidigido]

6. Nader is dead to me

[Muttocracy]

7. among other things, too old. nt

[Aragorn]

62. Yoda agrees

He is too old. Souter is about the same age. But people with Nader's drive don't usually retire.

How about the old jokes? As in "Old quarterbacks don't die. They just fade, and then pass away."

[zulchzulu]

11. Nader has marginalized himself so much that he is forever "unmarketable" politically

Getting the Democrats to fight for Nader to be a SCOTUS member would be completely impossible. Nader is political poison for the mainstream and even for the Left.

[SeattleGirl]

12. Um, let's not.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[omega minimo]

22. If you were a plant, what kind of plant would you be?

[pnwmom]

14. Forget all his baggage. Nader wouldn't make a good Supreme Court Justice because

he doesn't play well with others.

What we need is a judge who is not only smart and progressive-minded, but has the people skills to persuade others to his or her point of view. Nader is sadly lacking in this. He's be off on his own, filing dissenting opinions with every case.

[MrModerate]

15. I just did a triple spit-take . . .

ARE YOU FUCKIN' CRAZY?

Nader is a crank, highly erratic, competent in only very narrow ways, full of hate (self and otherwise), egotistical, a lousy administrator, and could never be confirmed.

Except for that, he's a better choice than oh, say, Rush Limbaugh.

[ProSense]

18. .

:rofl:

[jonestonesusa]

90. Do policy stances make any difference in who one picks?

Apparently not to some of us here. Ralph Nader actually supports progressive ideals such as labor and consumer protection, environmental law, and anti-trust law. Some of those ideals are part of the Democratic platform, and one would think that DUers would share at least some of these sentiments.

But we're all entitled to our opinions.

[depakid]

16. If Clinton had put Nader (or someone like him) where they belonged- as head of the FTC

we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[Vidar]

70. Would have been a superb role for Nader.

[Thrill]

17. What about Michelle Obama?

[azmouse]

19. No thank you.

[AlphaCentauri]

20. Nader's vice candidate would be ideal

not only repukes would be having diarrhea but also some democrats

[depakid]

25. I thought you were talking about Winona LaDuke!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_LaDuke

[AlphaCentauri]

29. Any of them would make the perfect choice for a real progressive

in the supreme court enriching the debate with modern points of view.

[omega minimo]

23. "(note - take the 2000 florida comments elsewhere)" -- good luck with that!

:rofl: so far the haters seem docile but that may be because the Forum has been cleansed............................................ :spray:

[Tarheel_Dem]

24. Isn't Nader like a thousand years old? What would be the point? (nt)

[Brother Buzz]

27. He would be over a two thousand years old before he would ever be confirmed

[Tarheel_Dem]

30. I suspect you're right. (nt)

[TexasObserver]

38. Yes. See, Obama would get to appoint his replacement soon!

He'd be the first appointment in modern times OLDER than the retiree he replaced.

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. So true. But, on a serious note, I'm so hoping that the Prez will be able...

to replace one of the gang of 5, but they're all relatively young. :-(

[Two Americas]

26. never

I do not think we should name an aircraft carrier after Ralph Nader, no.

[firedupdem]

31. Never n/t

[lucretia54]

33. I don't care what anyone says, I LOVE Ralph! He's ...

done so much for this country he is a bonafide hero!
He has always battled for the rights and safety of everyday workers and people in need- He obviously isn't in it for the money-he really cares about the poor and those in need of justice. He's in his 70's, going strong, and he's a national treasure!

BTW-GORE LOST 2000 ALL BY HIMSELF- he didn't even win his own home state. It should have been a slam dunk!

[Honeycombe8]

35. Sorry, you're wrong. If Nader had not been in the race, Gore would've won,

and all those poor people you think Nader cared about, really WOULD have had a chance at having their lot made better. But because Nader stayed in the race, despite even his best friends and prior supporters begging him not to because of the closeness of the race and the sense of the dire consequences, it was clear that Nader cares most for.....Nader. His ego had, unfortunately, surpassed his principles.

[lucretia54]

39. If that's the way you feel, than you don't believe in our democracy.

If Ralph Nader had quit, then he would have been giving up on it.

Our constitution does not say that we are a two party system. Ralph Nader had plenty to offer to those who would listen. I believe that our country and our media is doing ourselves a disservice when we don't allow third and fourth party candidates to be a part of debates and other interview processes along the road to the White House. It's a damn shame.

[WinkyDink]

44. One can believe in our democracy without loving all the participants.

And I speak as someone who WORSHIPPED Ralph, shaking his hand once while calling him my hero.

But his equating Gore and Bush put the kibosh on that sentiment forever.

[AlphaCentauri]

53. remember who concede the election not going to the courts

[WinkyDink]

74. I remember the SCOTUS over-riding Florida's state rights.

[Honeycombe8]

66. That is what I believe, and I DO believe in democracy.

Is that your version of "'Murica....love 'er or leave 'er"?

[Aragorn]

63. ??

But Nader was right, IMO, that Gore was so close to gwb on corporate issues that things within our borders would be the same either way. And blaming RN for AG's failure to even win his home state points out the apparent obvious paradox.

That said, the election was fixed anyway.

[WinkyDink]

75. Do you seriously believe the years 2000-2008, with 9/11, Illegal Invasion, Katrina disgrace, and

economic travails, would have unfolded similarly under a Gore Administration?? You think Gore was similar to Bush re "corporate issues": Halliburton, Bechtel, GE, Gen. Dynamics, Blackwater, the Carlyle Group, et al.?

Do you seriously believe that a Pres. Gore would have been the same for our environment as Bush was?

In that case, do you think McCain/Palin would now be working to solve our problems and would be re-gaining our international good-will the SAME AS Presidenty Obama is?

[iamthebandfanman]

52. blah even ralph knows al lost because of election fraud

hes even said so pubicly.

dont come here with that crap.

[sabbat hunter]

81. he is also

patently not qualified to serve on the SCOTUS

[Zynx]

34. Two problems: One is that he's old. He won't be there long.

Second: He's a megalomaniac.

[havocmom]

50. Third: he would have trouble getting/keeping clerks

Ever read remarks about working conditions with him?

[TexasObserver]

37. No, let's stop pretending that Ralph Nader is more than a jackass with an ego.

He's a complete fraud.

40 years ago, different man, someone worthy of adoration. Now, he's just another useful idiot for the GOP.

[muryan]

41. Nadar seems a few screws short of a toolbox these days

[Hippo_Tron]

42. How about the fact that he's 75

[Liberal_in_LA]

43. hell no!

[CTLawGuy]

45. I was going to dissent

but if it keeps him from ever running for president again, them I'm for it.

[PopSixSquish]

48. Not only No But Hell No!

[Danger Mouse]

49. Why not? Because he's unhinged.

[iamthebandfanman]

51. yikes, wouldnt that rock the boat... on both sides!

lol

hey, hes a liberal... and he does seem to understand law ;)

[Occam Bandage]

54. Ahahahaha. nt

[Unsane]

57. What's with all these ridiculous suggestions? Ralph Nader, Hillary Clinton, Judge Judy, Spitzer?

[fujiyama]

59. I don't even get it

I'm not sure if people are trying to be funny...or actually have the mental capacity of a pea...

[Uzybone]

58. too old, too egotisical, too stupid

we need someone in late 40's early 50's.

[Phx_Dem]

64. Uh, no.

:puke:

[Mopar151]

65. Wrong

on the issues that matter, ever since the Corvair.

[sabbat hunter]

67. exactly what

constitutional law experience does he have? When is the last time he was a practicing lawyer?

He is in no way a fit for the SCOTUS. He does not have the experience, background needed to be a SCOTUS Justice.

[Orsino]

69. "Florida 2000." n/t

[girl_interrupted]

71. You can kiss Roe v Wade goobye if it's Nader

One of the important topics during the 2000 election was which person elected would make the best picks for the Supreme Court. You knew Gore would support the standing of Roe V Wade, bush would not. And where did Nader stand?: "It wasnt that important, Roe V Wade if overturned would then be left to the states to decide." Thanks, a lot! Rove V Wade not withstanding look at Bush's appointments to the SC, enough to make you sick.

I have never understood what the big deal is about Nader & I still don't. He's not a judge, he's not a scholar, he's never been elected to any office, and the only legislation he ever wanted passed was when Democrats where in the majority of congress. Still he hates them..go figure.

He has taken money from republicans and anti-gay groups. I thought Nader was suppose to be an "activist". Yet after 9/11 when we had so many people ill from working in or around Ground Zero, he never once brought attention to this. Not a word. Instead he came to NY to complain about soda being sold in schools. Whatever.

He has a zero chance of being appointed to the SC and for that I am grateful.

[MadBadger]

72. No I think all the 2000 florida comments among other things are welcome in this thread.

[davidpdx]

73. How about FUCK NO!

He's an egotistical bastard.

[Bonobo]

76. Blah, blah, ego, blah, blah; Repeat. Blah, blah, ego, Gore, blah, blah. Rinse, repeat...

[JI7]

77. i don't trust him , i think he would vote to overturn Roe v Wade

[Mark E. Smith]

78. Let's not

[saltpoint]

79. Nader would be a very poor political choice for President Obama.

My concern with Ralph Nader is that he does not seem to be a very contented individual. He looks manifestly unhappy. He looks miserable, as if he is in constant physical pain of some sort.

I've rarely seen Ralph Nader smile.

I don't think anyone questions his smarts. He is Constitutionally qualified for the appointment. But he is otherwise completely wrong for it.

I'm not seeing the argument against a female appointment, given that there are so few now, and it makes sense to give Judge Sotomayor very serious consideration.

[opihimoimoi]

80. Nader should be on the FORGET LIST...he is a POS... a large 197 lb shit

"Uncle Tom" My ASS....WTF? is he in a Time Warp?

[Joanne98]

84. I think that's a great idea. He hates corporations and he's vicious and vengeful

He's perfect!

[LWolf]

85. Shit, I expect DU to spontaneously combust at the suggestion.

:rofl:

:popcorn:

I think it's a great idea, for a variety of reasons. Not the least is that it would shake up the Democratic propaganda machine.

After all, if it's the right thing to do to "reach out," why not reach out to the rest of the nation? Why reserve all your care and attention for republicans and the right wing?

[anonymous171]

86. That would be one way to get rid of him. He's too old.

Otherwise I would agree completely.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

87. And he's fucking batshit crazy....

What more could you want in a Supreme Court Justice?

[onenote]

88. Let's get real

Most of the population of the United States would have to contract swine flu before Obama was desperate enough to appoint a polarizing 75 year old with no judicial experience to the court.

[Peacetrain]

89. I tell you what.. let's not and say we did

[Thickasabrick]

91. He's not a woman - the next pick should be a woman. n/t

[Milspec]

92. Fuck no nf

[GreenPartyVoter]

93. If he wasn't so old, that would have some merit, esp when it comes to

issues like corporates personhood.

But we really need someone much, much younger. I would like to see another woman on the bench, myself.

[JerseygirlCT]

94. Seriously? Oh goodness, no!

Ralph is interested only in publicizing Ralph. He's an ego maniacal publicity hound who is just plain pissed off that he doesn't get any attention anymore.

I think the less we see or hear of Ralph in the future, the better.