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October 31, 2007

Nader '08?

Ralph Nader has filed a lawsuit against the DNC alleging that they conspired to keep him from taking votes from John Kerry by trying to bankrupt his campaign by suing to keep him off the ballot in 18 states - forcing him to spend scarce money defending against them.

Nader's suit also alleges that the Dems deliberately intereferred with his petition drive in Portland. He failed to get enough signitures to make the ballot in Oregon.

All of which sounds reminiscent of Bill Sizemore's past alleged attempts to minimize the Oregon Teacher Union's capacity to influence Oregon politics by forcing them to spend money fighting multiple ballot measures

But what this Nader suit makes me think of the most is the 2005 Oregon legislature's reaction to Nader. Democrats and Republicans (who remembered Ross Perot's huge draw in earlier elections) got together to all but enshrine the TWO PARTY system here in Oregon by passing House Bill 2614, which makes it nearly impossible for any independent candidate to make it onto a ballot in Oregon. Which of course directly gave rise to the Independent Party of Oregon.

Personally I wish both the IPO and Nader good luck. HB 2614 proved to my satisfaction that the Democratic Party is willing to use brute force to limit democracy.

Posted by Kevin at October 31, 2007 12:22 PM