Ralph Nader "Warrior"

[Richard J. Hobin Jr.]

Every now and then I like to add a person to my blog that may not be getting Recognition they should. One of these people is a long time hero of mine, Ralph Nader. If ever a person was misunderstood by the mainstream in recent years it's this no-holds-barred warrior of the people. In recent history Ralph Nader's name has been linked with the reason George Bush beat Al Gore in the 2000 presidential race. He's also been accused of being ultra-left and a socialist. I'm still unclear what defines someone who is ultra-left and socialist but he was not the reason George Bush won the 2000 presidential election. The facts are compelling and undeniable that Ralph Nader is not the reason, and should not be blamed, for George Bush’s victory in the 2000 presidential election. -Irene Dieter, May 2003 When you look at the voting systems and procedures that failed, voter who were disenfranchised, the party line vote of the Supreme Court, and democrats that voted for Bush or not at all, it's clear that Mr. Nader was not responsible. Regardless of the facts, par-usual, people on the Left still think he kept Al Gore from becoming President. It's like the people on the Republican side who think that Saddam Hussein bombed Iraq. I would like to state bluntly, now that this media-mess has been dispelled in your minds, that Ralph Nader is a bad ass! I've heard of his exploits but on a documentary called an “An Unreasonable Man." I realized he was a true and tested warrior who never backs down with the truth. In this movie Nader never lets the truth down and never gives up the power the truth has once it is revealed. Warrior's use weapons to advance their agendas for good or ill. In the power for good nothing stabs deeper or slices faster than the truth. Nader uses this weapon as a master swordsman out dueling corporate reps and government laps dogs to reveal to us, the people, what the hell is really going on. One good example when Nader was on the TV news show NBC'S "Meet The Press" he lamblasted corporate prisons and mandatory minimum sentencing. The cyclical relationship that keeps prisons full of people who need drug treatment not more drug enforcement. It costs 80,000 dollars a year to keep someone in prison and subsequently corporate prisons are making billions off of states when the problem is a healthcare issue. Well, I didn't know that and when I did a background check on what he said, I was again shocked that I knew nothing about this. Thanks again for informing an ignorant member of American society Mr. Nader. His audacious belief that one man, one person, can change the world started when Barrack O'Bama was 4 years old. I would hope you'd watch the movie “An Unreasonable Man” because I could go on and on about this dude. I could go on and on about how all Americans have safer cars, cleaner air, cleaner water, consumer protection....etc...because of him and his tenacity. I'm happy that Barrack O'Bama is going to be our president. His talents are self-evident and he has the potential fortunately or unfortunately to become a great president. Fortunately because he's probably what we need right now for this country. And, Unfortunately, because he has to prove himself a man for his time because the times are just now starting to get hard for us American.

However, when the time came to choose someone I voted NADER. I'll tell you why? I live in Illinois and everyone knew O'Bama was going to carry Illinois and that did have a lot to do with it. But also I remembered when I saw his name on the ballot what he personally has done for the people in this country that do most of the living and dieing here. The people who drive our trucks, put out our groceries, and pick-up our garbage. Here's the list: Ralph Nader's Record of Accomplishments Instrumental in the passing of the following legislation: National Automobile and Highway Traffic Safety Act (1965) Clean Water Act (1968) Clean Air Act (1970) Co-Op Bank Bill (1978) Law establishing Environmental Protection Agency (1970) Consumer Product Safety Act Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Mine Health and Safety Act Whistleblower Protection Act Medical Devices safety Nuclear power safety Mobile home safety Consumer credit disclosure law Pension protection law Funeral home cost disclosure law Tire safety & grading disclosure law Wholesome Meat Act Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act Wholesome Poultry Product Act Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) 1970 Safe Water Drinking Act Freedom of Information Act National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act Founded or sponsored the following organizations: American Antitrust Institute Appleseed Foundation Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest Aviation Consumer Action Project Buyers Up Capitol Hill News Service Center for Concerned Engineering Center for Auto Safety Center for Insurance Research Center for Justice and Democracy Center for Science in the Public Interest Center for the study of Responsive Law - 1969 Center for Women Policy Studies Citizen Action Group Citizen Advocacy Center Citizen Utility Boards Citizen Works Clean Water Action Project Clearinghouse for Professional Responsibility Congress Project Congress Watch Congressional Accountability Project Connecticut Citizen Action Group Consumer Project on Technology Corporate Accountability Research Group Critical Mass Energy Project Democracy Rising Disability Rights Center Equal Justice Foundation Essential Information FANS (Fight to Advance the Nation's Sports) Fisherman's Clear Water Action Group Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights Freedom of Information Clearinghouse Global Trade Watch Government Purchasing Project Health Research Group Litigation Group Multinational Monitor National Citizen's Coalition for Nursing Home Reform National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest National Insurance Consumer Organization Ohio Public Interest Action Group Organization for Competitive Markets Professional Drivers (PROD) Professionals for Auto Safety Public Citizen Pension Rights Center Princeton Project 55 PROD - truck safety Public Citizen's Visitor's Center Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS) Resource Consumption Alliance (conserve trees) 1004 Retired Professionals Action Group Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest Tax Reform Research Group Telecommunications Research and Action Center Seriously, for President of the United States, a man to represent the people, who else could one have voted for? So why didn't we? (I include myself because I new he wasn't going to win)

[J. Nakagawa]

Passing Obama's "Stimulus Package" in the Senate next week, Feb 2 - 6, 2009 in my opinion is very, very important. Delaying it from being passed will waste precious time to restart the world economy. In this rare instance, I will say "an ok plan today is better than a good plan in 6 weeks". Give Obama the tools to get something done! Write your Senator today!

[J. Nakagawa]

For what it's worth, I emailed this today:

To the Honorable Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/22/president.tension/index.html
"Pelosi's biggest problem with the president's agenda is the silence she's hearing when President Obama is is asked about former President Bush's tax cuts . . . Pelosi said she would not seek to block the president's proposed stimulus plan over its lack of tax hikes for the rich ($250,000+), but she urged Obama not to simply let the tax cuts expire in two years."

"The Obama team says that in the middle of a recession you don't, in effect, raise people's taxes."

To me the negative hit Obama would get by taking away 2 years of tax cuts (raising taxes) out weighs the good for now. Maybe in a few months!

I don't make $250,000+. We need a unified start.

Please allow the Obama team to change their minds if they have to. Idealistically you are right. Unfortunately practically, negative press like this slows the momentum for improvement. I'm hoping for tolerance and some cheering for the Obama team by others in government such as yourself. Not putting them on the defensive. Maybe CNN has overblown your statements. If so I apologise.

Thank you for your service
John Nakagawa, Democrat
GG, California 92845

P.S. I support your interest in investigating the Bush Administration only in ways which educate Americans as to how they got us in this mess. This will build tolerance and help the Obama team. High dollar, long "nit pick" court investigations may be distracting.

[Richard J. Hobin Jr.]

As we all are my friend. Thanks for the comment and the insight. Peace.

[J. Nakagawa]

I've been a long time fan of Nader's Raiders! For a person capable of a Princeton undergrad, then Harvard Law degree to go onto a life of activism is incredible. He was also a Professor of History & Government at the U of Hartford. A person armed with the tools of a lawyer and a teacher can accomplish much. He seems to pick his battles well and knew which battles he had a good chance of winning. I admire this. No Don Quixote here.

I find myself voting against someone as well as voting for someone. Thus this year I waited till 7:40pm California time to insure Obama won hands down before voting. My first goal was to strategically vote against McCain. I was the last person to vote in my precinct! I've always been a fan of a 3 or more party government (I like to party). I have found bringing up opinions from parties such as the Peace and Freedom, Green, Independent, Libertarian, etc. in a political discussion sometimes diffuses the "black or white", "Republican or Democrat" arguments. It seems that both Republicans and Democrats like this bi-polar 2 party setup. It's as if we've been setup to pick one of two sides and argue!

Obama also has a Harvard Law Degree (Magna Cum Laude) and was a Professor of Constitutional Law at the U of Chicago for 12 years. I'm hoping!