this is not my america.
This story from the AP typifies the sad, sad state of politics; particularly the Republican party:
McCain Urges Court to Put Nader on Ballot
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., urged the Florida Supreme Court to allow Ralph Nader on the state ballot after it hears an appeal Friday by the independent presidential candidate.
A state judge rejected Nader's efforts to be on the ballot as the candidate of the Reform Party, which the judge said is no longer a legitimate national party under state law. The state supreme court said it will issue a ruling shortly after hearing the appeal.
"I believe it would be a mistake to let a set of inequitable ballot rules keep a legitimate presidential candidate off the ballot," McCain said in a statement released Thursday night by The Reform Institute, a political and educational organization he chairs.
"These obstacles discourage public participation in elections by denying voters the right to vote for their preferred candidate. Keeping Nader off the ballot in the hope that his voters will be forced to support another candidate is patently unfair to those Floridians who, for whatever reason, have decided he's their man," McCain said.
Democrats have challenged efforts by Nader to be listed on the ballots in more than a dozen states. Many blame Nader for Democrat Al Gore's loss to Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 election, especially in Florida, where Bush won by just 537 votes. Nader drew more than 97,000 votes in the state.
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The GOP has stooped to all new lows in this election year. First, they tacitly approved the smear and lies of the Swift Boat assholes. And now they are actively pushing to get Nader on ballots. Why? Because they know it helps their cause. The dirty pool is getting dirtier.
What's worse is John McCain is now Karl Rove's favorite lapdog. How sad. Here is a man who once challenged President Halliburton -- so much so that his service during Vietnam was denegrated -- and now he is forced to playing carnival barker to him.
This administration and this Republican party operates more and more like a band of thuggish bandits every day.
What's worse is people are buying it. Every last spoonful of it. I am forever amazed at how easy it is to snow the Republican faithfuls into the myths of "liberal Hollywod" (while simultaneously tonguing The Governator as one of your own), anti-military Democrats (John Kerry served in the war while Dubya ran all over Alabama and was absent for duty), and calling the Dems fiscally irresponsible (while Dubya issues tax cuts that help the rich and runs up spending and deficits).
It boils down to this: the Republican party was hijacked by a neoconservative movement and the majority don't mind, so long as the person in office has an "R" next to his or her name. They have sacrificed any level of dignity and duty in the name of victory.
Congratulations, Karl Rove. Your vision of America is coming true. THe nation is weaker, more hated, and in greater peril than it was in the last 20 years.
Congratulations, Republicans. You have won. You succeeded at dragging America into the toilet with your brand of selective freedoms and selective warfare.
This is not my America.
McCain Urges Court to Put Nader on Ballot
WASHINGTON (AP) - Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., urged the Florida Supreme Court to allow Ralph Nader on the state ballot after it hears an appeal Friday by the independent presidential candidate.
A state judge rejected Nader's efforts to be on the ballot as the candidate of the Reform Party, which the judge said is no longer a legitimate national party under state law. The state supreme court said it will issue a ruling shortly after hearing the appeal.
"I believe it would be a mistake to let a set of inequitable ballot rules keep a legitimate presidential candidate off the ballot," McCain said in a statement released Thursday night by The Reform Institute, a political and educational organization he chairs.
"These obstacles discourage public participation in elections by denying voters the right to vote for their preferred candidate. Keeping Nader off the ballot in the hope that his voters will be forced to support another candidate is patently unfair to those Floridians who, for whatever reason, have decided he's their man," McCain said.
Democrats have challenged efforts by Nader to be listed on the ballots in more than a dozen states. Many blame Nader for Democrat Al Gore's loss to Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 election, especially in Florida, where Bush won by just 537 votes. Nader drew more than 97,000 votes in the state.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The GOP has stooped to all new lows in this election year. First, they tacitly approved the smear and lies of the Swift Boat assholes. And now they are actively pushing to get Nader on ballots. Why? Because they know it helps their cause. The dirty pool is getting dirtier.
What's worse is John McCain is now Karl Rove's favorite lapdog. How sad. Here is a man who once challenged President Halliburton -- so much so that his service during Vietnam was denegrated -- and now he is forced to playing carnival barker to him.
This administration and this Republican party operates more and more like a band of thuggish bandits every day.
What's worse is people are buying it. Every last spoonful of it. I am forever amazed at how easy it is to snow the Republican faithfuls into the myths of "liberal Hollywod" (while simultaneously tonguing The Governator as one of your own), anti-military Democrats (John Kerry served in the war while Dubya ran all over Alabama and was absent for duty), and calling the Dems fiscally irresponsible (while Dubya issues tax cuts that help the rich and runs up spending and deficits).
It boils down to this: the Republican party was hijacked by a neoconservative movement and the majority don't mind, so long as the person in office has an "R" next to his or her name. They have sacrificed any level of dignity and duty in the name of victory.
Congratulations, Karl Rove. Your vision of America is coming true. THe nation is weaker, more hated, and in greater peril than it was in the last 20 years.
Congratulations, Republicans. You have won. You succeeded at dragging America into the toilet with your brand of selective freedoms and selective warfare.
This is not my America.
