U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Attempt To Overturn Nader Ballot

excerpt from PRNewswire

In a significant move for open-election laws, the U.S. Supreme Court today rejected an attempt to overturn a federal Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision that the state of Arizona could not require independent presidential candidates to register earlier than candidates affiliated with major political parties.Arizona’s petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court had been closely watched after 13 other states supported Arizona’s bid to have the High Court hear the case. The federal civil rights case, originally filed in Arizona federal district court, stems from Nader’s 2004 presidency bid.

Ralph Nader had challenged the deadline, contending it violated his First Amendment rights to free speech and political association. Lead Attorney Robert Barnes of the Bernhoft Law Firm represented Nader before the Ninth Circuit, which overturned the district court and unanimously declared the Arizona law unconstitutional. Nader’s Bernhoft Law legal team successfully argued that requiring independent candidates to register by June was unfair when the two major political parties did not hold their conventions until the fall.

read more | digg story

Thanks for your continued subscription. If you have an insight or piece of news that seems to fit our blog, please feel free to contact us.

Instant Runoff Decision Upheld in Minneapolis

The challenge to a 2006 citizen vote to institute Instant Runnoff Voting in Minneapolis has been overturned. Hennepin County District Judge McGunnigle wrote, “The City of Minneapolis has an important interest in respecting the democratic process, and the citizens of Minneapolis democratically voted for IRV by referendum” and concluded that the plaintiffs “have failed to demonstrate that IRV is either unconstitutional or contrary to public policy.”

FairVote Minnesota attorney James Dorsey said, “The plaintiffs argued everything from denial of equal protection and infringement of the right of association under both the federal and the state constitutions to claims of failure to comply with arcane requirements of the state’s municipal election laws.”

In use in more than a half dozen jurisdictions around the country, IRV is a tested system in which voters rank candidates in order of preference (1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, etc.), ensuring majority winners in single-winner races where there are more than two candidates on the ballot. IRV is seen as a major step to opening up the political dialogue to more diverse voices because voters feel greater permission to vote for an underdog candidate they prefer if they know their vote won’t play against their preferred major party candidate.

Ralph Nader’s 2008 Vice-Presidential running mate, Matt Gonzalez, made IRV a central part of their campaign platform this last year. Vermont Governor Howard Dean came out early in support of IRV, saying it solves a lot of problems, between the costs of a second election and the spoiler question.

Peter Camejo, Socialist Activist and Third Party Warrior Memorialized

Peter Camejo Memorial – Ralph Nader’s Speech from Polidoc on Vimeo.
Hundreds gathered in Berkeley to celebrate the life of political activist and unabashed Socialist Peter Camejo. Renown for his consistency of purpose in the battle to reform politics as usual, Camejo succumbed to a cancer, but not before he had finished his last book, an autobiography.

And while autobiographies have become a little more common place, Camejo was anything but common. He was a fiercely dedicated advocate for civil rights, a committed friend to many, and a relentlessly hopeful socialist. He fought tirelessly on behalf of third parties and made three gubernatorial runs in California. Ronald Reagan had called him the most dangerous man in politics. Laughable and true.

People attending the memorial where the event was held were alight with laughter as they listened to delightful stories of Camejo’s past and his vision for the future. He will be missed and condolences go to his family. Others speaking at the memorial included Camejo’s wife Morella, and brother Antonio Camejo; friend and former running mate, Ralph Nader; Cindy Sheehan; Matt Gonzalez; Gayle McLaughlin; Dr. Agha Saeed.

Ralph Nader Douses New American Hero with Verbal Vinegar

Ralph Nader loves to turn a phrase or evoke a parable, but there’s a lot of reaction to this latest word play. In this clip, he catches some heat from the Fox TV host when he describes the governing choices of the President-Elect Obama as either to be that of Uncle Sam or Uncle Tom. This kind of hyperbole lends Nader to criticism by many who do not follow his deliberate prose. The show’s host scolds him for not having some kind of reverence for this day. For Nader, it’s just another day of protest.

In general, the two Progressive Presidential candidates, Nader and McKinney, responded to Obama’s win with enthusiasm and recognition that this is a big day for people of color. Both crafted the motivating messages for their followers, that the job is not done and that they must apply continued pressure on politicians. However, where Nader applies vinegar, McKinney applies honey. Both are useful antiseptics with different purposes.

For some interesting reflections on the Nader comment, follow these threads:
Truthdig
The Daily Beast
SFGate

California Presidential Ballot Demonstrates Wide Field of Choices

Open the Debates: Clever Response from Nader Campaign on VP Debates

Here’s an achingly funny romp through the CPD‘s Vice-Presidential Debate juxstaposed to responses from Ralph Nader’s Independent running mate candidate, Matt Gonzalez.

Independent VP Candidate Gonzalez Responds to Dem-Rep Debate

Independent Vice Presidential Running Mate to Ralph Nader, Matt Gonzalez responds to Gov. Sarah Palin and Sen. Joe Biden’s debate. Gonzalez emphasizes that the two war vested candidates do not offer the American people a pro-peace choice and that both parties are complicit in the economic crisis due to their failure to properly regulate the systems with which they were entrusted.

Nader HIts Bailout Plan Hard in San Francisco

Earlier today, Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader spoke in front of the San Francsico Federal Reserve Building, protesting the bailout. Later, Nader spoke at the San Francisco Commonwealth Club in an interview with Tabitha Soren, Former Political Reporter, MTV and NBC.

Some Real Air Time with Ralph Nader

Independent Candidate for President Ralph Nader discusses his views on the current proposal to bail out Wall Street.

Third Parties Offer Unity Platform to Expand Political Discourse