Spoiler Alert!

He’s back. Ralph Nader is not only running for President, but he’s directed his attacks at none other than Barack Obama. Now you’d think that the candidate who publicly opposes NAFTA, supports massive funding initiatives for alternative energy sources, increased nationalization of health care, withdrawl of troops from Iraq, an increase in the upper-brackets of the tax code, has been funded by over one million individual donors, and not only refused money from lobbyists and PACs but encouraged his party’s national committee to do the same might actually be okay in the mind of Ralph Nader.

At the very least you’d think he spend his time attacking Obama’s opponent, who supports free trade agreements, permanent military bases in Iraq, extending Bush’s tax cuts, and has been funded mainly by lobbyists and large-donor based fundraisers.

However, Nader continues to demand that the Democratic Party move farther to the left, accusing Barack Obama, not of being an agent of corporate America, but of existing “in their environment.” Basically, in Nader’s view, anyone who tries to change or improve the system from within is automatically too tainted to do anything positive.

So again, Nader will try to punish the Democratic Party by costing them the election. He currently claims 6% national support. I find this impossible to believe and can’t see him realistically doing any better than his 0.3% showing in 2004. However, assuming he were to somehow get 6%, that would almost certainly be the difference between an Obama Presidency and a McCain Presidency. Does Ralph Nader really want to extend his legacy from 8 years of Republican leadership to 12?

Of course Nader and many of his supporters don’t view it that way. They come up with elaborate and intelligent sounding arguments about how Bush’s victory in 2000 was not Nader’s fault. But the best argument is usually the simplest: Nader runs in 2000, Bush wins. Nader doesn’t run in 2000, Gore wins. If you can dispute those facts, go ahead.

Attorney Firings Coverup: Justice Department Thugs Caught in the Act

John McKay is one of the eight U.S. attorneys whose firings are being subjected to intense Congressional scrutiny. According to a written account that McKay provided to the House Judiciary Committee ahead of his testimony today, he received a phone call from a senior official by the name of Michael Elston:

From the Seattle PI:

According to McKay, Elston, who was chief of staff to the deputy attorney general, advised him in a “sinister” voice to simply repeat public statements from Attorney General Alberto Gonzales when asked about his firing or face serious consequences.

The evidence in this case points to an alarmingly thuggish Justice Department attempting to cover up an embarrassing series of politically motivated human resources decisions. I don’t understand how Alberto Gonzales is still Attorney General. It’s almost as ludicrous as when President Bush declined Don Rumsfeld’s resignation over and over again.

This administration’s cronyism, sense of entitlement and disrespect for the law and the Constitution has fostered a truly thuggish culture in Washington, and it scares me deeply. I think Tori Amos said it best in her letter to George W. Bush “Yo George” (iTunes):

Where have we gone wrong America?
Mr. Lincoln we can’t seem
To find you anywhere out of the millions

What’s the freakiest thing someone has ever asked you to do in bed?

(My latest topic from Consumating.)

What is the worst mistake you ever made?

Kicking my poor little brother in the balls for no reason. That was mean.

(From Consumating)

You vs Your Evil Twin: Who Wins?

My evil twin is an eight year old boy who can’t sit still in class. If I really wanted to defeat him, I’d do it with Ritalin. But he’s so cute when he bounces off the walls that I can’t bring myself to do it.

(From Consumating)

What’s the surest and fastest way to alienate your future in-laws? What about the surest and fastest way to ingratiate yourself to them?

(My latest topic from Consumating.)

Other than the souls of small children, what do you collect?

Base

(From Consumating)

What do you think of Christina Aguilera’s most recent reincarnation as a jazz diva? Did you download her record when it leaked last night? Do you like it?

(My latest topic from Consumating.)

What do you want to see in your fortune cookie?

Tomorrow you will get a raise, a massage, a beautiful bottle of wine, a mind-blowing orgasm, and the news that they’re making a Sex and the City movie. In that order.

(From Consumating)

What awaits you and your crew in outer space? Adventures? Mishaps? Zero-g booty calls?

Crime.

(From Consumating)

How will you make a living in the post-apocalyptic economy?

I’d like to say “hauling things up mountains,” but in all likelihood - I’d probably make my living as a prostitute.

(From Consumating)

It’s not me, it’s you! How do you break up with someone?

Squash all hope and don’t let them think for a second that the relationship has a chance.

(From Consumating)

What is the craziest thing you’ve done at the office?

Worn a tee-shirt that said “Baby Got Blog.”

(From Consumating)

If you could be best buddies with any famous person, so that you could call them at any time to chill, who would it be? And why?

I would be friends with Christina Aguilera because I’ve worshipped the ground she walks on ever since I heard “Genie in a Bottle” and knew that she was so much more than just some teenie bopper pop tart.

(From Consumating)

What Jeopardy category would you dominate?

Greek mythology…and Star Trek.

(From Consumating)

What would your personal philanthropic organization hope to achieve?

* Shelters for runaway teenagers, especially gay teenagers.
* Microfinance loans to help third world entrepreneurs.
* Sexuality & AIDS prevention education worldwide.
* Free condoms for everyone, forever!
* Special grants for the country’s best teachers to subsidize a higher standard of living.
* Fighting the roots of terrorism through Jewish American & Israeli community outreach to impoverished predominantly Muslim areas of the world.

(From Consumating)