Rating: 
Summary: A great response to the "spoiler" critics
Review: In this thoughful, entertaining and highly readable book, Ralph Nader discusses his Green Party bid for the Presidency. The author very effectively answers the many critics who accused him of playing a "spoiler" role in the 2000 election. With over 100 million non-voters in the U.S., Nader believes that there is ample opportunity for a third party to take root and grow. By aligning with the Green Party, Nader's vision is to nurture a movement that has not "surrendered" its values to corporate interests. Nader is a grown-up who writes with insight and intelligence. He understands that some of his liberal friends were ultimately unwilling to support his campaign because of longstanding ties with the Democratic Party (and the attendant fear of tilting the election to George W. Bush). But Nader's counter argument sticks: a healthy democracy demands a citizenry that is willing to vote its conscience. He drives the point home by highlighting the fact that the Democrats have become increasingly pro-business and almost indistinguishable from the Republicans in recent years (Nader also included a section in the appendix on this subject), meaning that many progressive ideas have been stuck on the shelves for far too long. Nader compelling argues that the American people deserve better. On the other hand, the personal pain is writ fairly large when Nader recalls how certain so-called friends -- many of whom collaborated with Nader on projects in the past -- actually went so far as to misrepresent his ideas in order to harm his campaign and get Al Gore elected. One would think that such behavior is uncalled for under any circumstances, but to knowingly slander a man who has arguably done more for the American people over the past 40 years than any other single person, and for whom principles mean a great deal, is disgraceful. I applaud Nader for using this book to set the record straight. Yet despite what was obviously a very physically, financially and emotionally draining experience (Nader's futile attempts to get on the Presidential debates must have been very challenging), Nader emerges as a class act. He is proud of what the campaign was able to achieve, and he encourages others to participate in the democractic process too. "Crashing the Party" is recommended reading for anyone with a keen interest in Ralph Nader, the Green Party or the 2000 election.
Rating: 
Summary: A Healthy Dose of Reality
Review: It can be convincingly argued that the world community today is not too much different from that which has been described in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" or George Orwell's "1984". Ralph Nader makes this convincing argument in his latest book "Crashing the Party". Whether it be the corporate influence of public policy, Republicans, Democrats, the overwhelming corruption of democracy, or woefully neglected social institutions and programs such as universal healthcare, Ralph Nader does not hesitate to detail the ways in which people are being royally 'done' over. This is an important, must-read book that people should utilize for the sake of understanding how things really work and what we can do to make things better in light of such rampant corruption. Unfortunately, Mr. Nader's inclination to present things in a overwhelmingly negative way and (no doubt) his bitterness and anger towards those that have been blowing him off, shutting him out and downright insulting him for the past thirty-odd years have influenced his prose. Because of this, one can't help to believe that the only thing left to do is to find the closest beam from which to hang themselves from. As a result, Mr. Nader somewhat defeats his own purpose of trying to mobilize and arouse the general public which has settled for so much less than they deserve. Regardless of its depressing content, I highly recommend this book to all.
Rating:
Summary: Crashing the Party: How to Tell the Truth and Still Run for
Review: Yo pienso que este libro es sensasionalmente fenomenal. Simplemente porque expone lo que no es expuesto publicamente por otros en ningun lugar o ningun paÃs. Aparte, este libro ha sido escrito por algien que sà realmente sabe del tema polÃtico. Es bueno que esta clase de personas den o compartan información que no es expuesta al publico muy seguido
Rating:
Summary: Not for $ale!
Review: Not for Sale! Not for Sale! proclaims Professor Cornel West on the jacket of Ralph Nader's 2000 Presidential Candidate journal. Perhaps it is Professor West who has summed up this man's work that has fought for the common citizen. This septaugenerian has never wavered from his vision on universal health care, real living wages for working people, community based ideas and projects, true campaign finance reform, his trademark auto safety measures and so much more. In short, "Crashing the Party" is vintage Ralph: Telling it like was and is. Nader takes a crow bar to the two-party system and uncovers a machine run by multi-national corporations hell-bent on designing the national electorate's lifestyle for the "bottom line". Nader's latest expose is inspirational to those who refuse to lay down and be counted as a number in this mad machine we call corporate-controlled life in the United States. While many in the mainstream felt that Ralph stole the progressive votes from the Gore camp in 2000, Nader begs to differ. He reminds readers to not get cold feet in the voting both and go with their conscience. Vote the issues, Nader says and do not buy into the corporate culture. At times "Crashing the Party" is a bit dry and long-winded, but one must remember that its author is a deep intellectual who is passionate about the sustainability of our planet. This book proves once and for all that Nader ran a campaign that rivaled the Bush/Gore race in substance and thought. "
Rating:
Summary: America's lost chance
Review: Nader tells in this personal and insightful book how he was shut out of the last Presidential campaign. The American political system is locked by two interchangeable parties,both supported by the corporate elite. They are basically identical with just a few more right wing zealots in the Republican party. The two parties pay lip service to the issues of education, health, poverty and the environment, all the while greasing the wheel for their big business benefactors. What an intelligent, refreshing and stimulating campaign it might have been if Nader had been allowed to participate. A man who believes in, and has done much for the public good. A man called a "spoiler" because it wanted to open up the democratic process, and run as a candidate not already bought and paid for. This is a scathing indictment of the U.S. politcial process, a press operated by a few multinationals that decide the issues and personalities, and campaigns espousing the corporate agenda. It is not wonder he appeals to youth and other marginalized groups. If youth really are the hope for tomorrow, maybe they can look beyond the cynicism and save the country from this sinkhole of mediocrity and corruption.
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Summary: Libertarian with a lot of respect for Nader now!
Review: Let me start off by saying I am a Libertarian and disagree with the vast majority of what Nader believes in. I was persuaded to read this book from a friend who does not see eye to eye with me politically. Before I never really like Nader, I thought he was a self-promoter and very pompous. After reading this book, I have a better understanding of him and have started to really respect Nader. I am not one of those divisive activists tearing this country apart. I believe politically that this nation has always been one of consideration and compromise. Only recently has a small group of activist created this rift that seems to be everywhere. I once thought of Nader as one of those polarizing activists, but this book dispelled those myths. Nader, nor any of the other "third parties", cost Gore the election in 2000. What Nader did was speak for a small minority not included in the Democratic Party that may have very well been needed to have been heard. Not that IF Gore would have won, he would have done any better than Bush. This book outlines detailed criticisms of the Clinton-Gore presidency and offers his solutions to counter them. After the election in 2000, Nader has spent a great deal of time starting organizations to support what he believes in. He is always on the move and always looking for an ear to hear him out. Even when faced with minor defeats, it appears that Nader looks back at them, learns some lessons, and moves forward. After reading this book, I have learned that Nader is not a self-promoter who only wants to be President, but an activist fighting for what he believes in, yet learns and grows, over time. I do not believe in an activist government with a protective compact with citizens. I do not believe in the government instituting "progressive" jobs with justice in the workplace. I do not believe in a cradle to grave social net. However I do believe that this nation can discuss these issues intelligently, and that Nader not only deserves our respect, but admiration as well.
Rating:
Summary: Crashing the Party: How to Tell the Truth and Still Run for
Review: Yo pienso que este libro es sensasionalmente fenomenal. Simplemente porque expone lo que no es expuesto publicamente por otros en ningun lugar o ningun país. Aparte, este libro ha sido escrito por algien que sí realmente sabe del tema político. Es bueno que esta clase de personas den o compartan información que no es expuesta al publico muy seguido
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed means to a desirable goal
Review: In this book, Nader lays out a closely reasoned explanation for his 2004 presidential campaign. Drawing on themes that have driven his previous bids for the presidency, the similarity of the two parties and their unwillingness to oppose the power of corporations, Nader argues that he is the only viable option for voters concerned with improving economic and environmental conditions in the United States. As always, Nader shows clearly how the candidates from both parties would not do enough to remedy these conditions. On this point, I agree entirely. If Kerry is elected, pollution laws, criminal sentencing, and public transportation are unlikely to undergo major changes, and our country will be worse off for it. However, if Bush is reelected, our country will be worse off still. National parks in the country will be subjected to further disruption and criminal sentencing will become even more retributive. Yet perhaps the domain in which our country could be most irretrievably damaged if Nader once again succeeds in installing Bush as president is that of foreign policy. Regardless of whether one supports the use of force in Afghanistan (most of us did) and Iraq (which was much more divisive), it is clear that Bush has alienated much of the world's population, turning them into moral opponents of the United States. Even in countries whose governments wish to remain our allies, Bush's hostile and unilateral politics (evident in his Iraq policy: "We can go it alone if we have to") have turned the majority of the population against the U.S. In Britain, for example, it is possible that Prime Minister Tony Blair will be forced from office because of his support for the United States. This is the world that Bush has created. Support for the U.S. has become potentially suicidal for any world leader. What will be the state of international politics in 2008 if Nader once again allows Bush to take office? I must admit that I voted for Nader in 2000 because of my criticisms of Al Gore. These still stand, and I expect I will have many serious criticisms to level against Kerry if he is elected. But I would much rather be a critic of President Kerry than of President Bush. Nader would have you believe that there is nothing at stake between these two. Indeed, his entire campaign must be premised on this. But nothing could be further from the truth. Everything is at stake.
Rating:
Summary: A once great man is now fading away
Review: Ralph Nader was the muckraker that every era needs. He took on the major corporations and powers that be and won. He is a great man. This book helps to define him and his beliefs which is why it should be read. However, in 2004 we see slowly emerging a not so brilliant man. But one who knows at some level that he is being maginalized by trends and times that are passing him by. Slowly but surely he is fading away. Simply put, in an era of instant communication and endless news broadcasts, Ralph Nader is being eclipsed by other forms of investigation and muckraking. Some of it is for the worse like Matt Drudge but others are more substantive like some of the good work done by "Mother Jones" magazine and numerous progressive publications. As a result of times passing Ralph by and his obvious need to be in the public eye, he has taken to involve and embarrass himself in a presidential run that is very sad. The 2004 campaign is such a sorrowful effort that it does not reflect on his work well. Rather it is a vanity stunt aimed at basking in the attention of his admirers at the expense of the values he onced shared. Instead of working to defeat George Bush, Ralph is on an ego trip as he runs for President in 2004. So, read this book to understand the principles of Ralph Nader but try to forget his very pathetic presidential effort of his in 2004.
Rating:
Summary: Read this before you vote for him!
Review: This rating is based on the book itself, not politics. Before the 2000 presidential election, I knew little about Nader other than the consumer advocate-related press he has gotten over the years, and I wonder how many folks who voted for him knew much about him, either. As Nader explains, he began his consumer advocate crusade after being bumped from an airline flight at the last minute many years ago. His frustration at having no recourse led him on his journey, and I have tremendous respect for the many things he has accomplished on behalf of "the little guy" in his lifetime. In my estimation, he cares about the little guy a lot more than any political candidate I've ever seen at almost any level. But as to running this country, Nader is a clear socialist. Read his tirades about the political parties and our capitalist system and judge for yourself whether or not he's someone you would want facing down terrorist nations, or if he's the kind of leader who would truly believe in the capitalist system and free society our founding fathers believed in so strongly. I have tremendous respect for his belief system, but his views are far from mainstream. They're captured in this book very effectively, and whether you strongly agree with him or disagree, it's fascinating reading.
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