ST. PAUL -- Ralph Nader would like it to be noted that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, the presumptive Republican nominee for vice president, is not merely less qualified than Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden, who has served 35 years in the Senate and currently chairs the chamber's foreign relations committee.

"Matt Gonzalez has more experience than Sarah Palin," Nader, who is running this year for the presidency as an independent, says of his running-mate, former San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Matt Gonzalez. "San Francisco is a lot bigger than Wasilla."

The veteran consumer activist, who will counter the last night of the Republican National Convention with a "Open the Debates" super-rally in the Twin Cities, is on to something.

Let's use the 2000 Census figures as our baseline.

The population of Wasilla, the city where Palin served as a member of the local council and then as mayor, has a population of 5,469.

The population of San Francisco, the city where Gonzalez served as a a supervisor and then as president of the board, has a population of 776,733.

But, the counter-argument will go, Palin went on to serve as governor of Alaska.

Unfortunately for Palin's defenders, Alaska's population is 626,932.

That's 150,000 fewer people than San Francisco.

So the independent candidate for vice president has credible experience helping to run a unit of government that is significantly larger than anyplace Palin has run.

Wasilla has 49 employees -- and, of course, a Washington lobbyist hustling for earmarks.

San Francisco has around 30,000 employees.

Wasilla has a municipal budget of around $30 million.

San Francisco's municipal budget is around $5 billion.

Nader is not picking on Palin.

The independent presidential candidate is simply suggesting that, if Palin and the Republicans want to suggest that the former mayor's municipal service is part of what gives her stature, Gonzalez might merit some attention -- including a place at the table in the vice-presidential debate.

"If you wanted to see an exciting debate, something that got beyond personalities to real issues, then they should include Matt Gonzalez," says Nader. "I guarantee you that he would bring more to the discussion than Sarah Palin, and he would keep Joe Biden on his toes."

Nader's right: If part of the price of admission is municipal experience, then Matt Gonzalez has a claim to a place in the vice presidential debate that is certainly competitive with -- if not superior to -- that of Sarah Palin.

Comments (21)

1. Well, there's a surprise...

   Ralph actually attacking the Republicans for a change!

   But as MAASCH would say...

   Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 08:39am

2. three person debates would be a welcome change from nazi party vs socialist party....even though I support Obama, media bias in this country is sickening.......in every respect, journalistic integrity is in the toilet.....and most americans don't have time to do their own research depending solely on MSM such as commie news network (CNN)......and their ilk......

   Posted by jrs112 at 09/04/2008 @ 09:28am

3. Sorry, but Palin is coming off and sounds too much like Stifler's mom in American Pie, the actress Jennifer Coolidge.

   A character actor.

   She'll say whatever you stick in front of her.

   A lie, sure, and look good saying it.

   Just no substantial honesty.

   The question is-- does the American public see through it, or even want to?

   Posted by hsuBfools at 09/04/2008 @ 09:29am

4. Who cares what Ralph has to say, he's nothing but an egotist.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 09/04/2008 @ 09:43am

5. Posted by hsuBfools at 09/04/2008 @ 09:29am | ignore this person | warn this person

   .

   You know, I think you have shuB.

   When I was watching her last night, all I could think of was Tina Fey pretending to be a news anchor on SNL...

   ...right down to the little half-smirk she puts on right after delivering a punch line!

   Posted by Lillian at 09/04/2008 @ 10:05am

6. A note about framing:

   Too many progressives have accepted the right-wing frame, and continue to fall into the trap of referring to the president as the "commander in chief".

   That's fine for right wing cowboys and camo'd wanna-be's, but if you're tired of our incessant militarism, and resent the fact that those who "represent" us would advocate endless war in the service of their agendas, then you would be well served to remember that we need to elect a PRESIDENT; a leader and diplomat who would have the vision and skill to restore our once-great nation without constantly threatening to blow shit up.

   Posted by drhammer at 09/04/2008 @ 10:08am

7. Posted by JOMAMMA at 09/04/2008 @ 10:19am

   Too many zzzs?

   heheh

   Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 10:31am

8. Someone actually thinks that any elected official in San Francisco is competent? Awesome...

   Posted by sntauri at 09/04/2008 @ 10:52am

9. "So the Green Party nominee has credible experience helping to run a unit of government that is significantly larger than anyplace Palin has run."

   Excuse me? Nader and Gonzalez are running as independents, unaffiliated with any party.

   The Green Party nominees are Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente.

   Posted by lintonv at 09/04/2008 @ 11:15am

10. Posted by lintonv at 09/04/2008 @ 11:15am

    Yesterday he said the Republican Convention in Denver... Today Ralph is the Green Party....

    Does anyone proof read this stuff.

    Posted by Extraneous at 09/04/2008 @ 11:35am

11. Nader blasts Palin?

    Well THAT gives a whole new meaning to the term "consider the source"

    Sort of like a critique of the New York Yankees by the Bad News Bears.

    Posted by CHIP THORNTON at 09/04/2008 @ 11:51am

12. BTW, how old will Ralph be in 2012...and 2016....and 2020?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 12:24pm

13. Dear Hater(s) of Nader---

    Estimate on Final #s for 2008:

    McCain 48 Obama 47 Nader 2 Barr 1 McKinney 1 Other/Not Counted 1 ---------------- 100-percent American

    Please checkout and support www.VOTENADER.ORG for more information on Matt Gonzalez (VP Candidate).

    Posted by losangelesfornader at 09/04/2008 @ 12:27pm

14. Posted by losangelesfornader at 09/04/2008 @ 12:27pm

    Wow....Ralph's polling 2%!?!?!?!?

    That's over triple his 2004 number! Guess he'll need to start measuring for drapes at 1600 Pennsylvania soon, huh?

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 12:33pm

15. nice piece! indeed, Matt Gonzalez isn't just more experienced, he's got a better record--getting San Francisco an increased minimum wage that adjusts with inflation, and instant run-off voting!

    Posted by betterthannader at 09/04/2008 @ 1:09pm

16. nice piece! indeed, Matt Gonzalez isn't just more experienced, he's got a better record--getting San Francisco an increased minimum wage that adjusts with inflation, and instant run-off voting!

    Posted by betterthannader at 09/04/2008 @ 1:09pm

17. After listening to the DNC Disney fantasy and the RNC Looney Tunes production, anything that Matt Gonzalez has to say is refreshing. Arguing about who's BS is better seems a waste of time to me. Doesn't reality and truth have any appeal anymore? Doesn't getting lied to piss you off? Doesn't killing people for business interests twinge your conscience just a little? Is it OK to be spending more on the military than the rest of the world combined? Perhaps not to the majority of the voters but I won't be part of it. Go Nader

    Posted by biobill at 09/04/2008 @ 1:48pm

18. Oh, yeah...forgot...

    now we're in for a spate of "pure progressives" and GOP posers pushing Nader.

    The Seppuku Candidate for Progressives...and the nation!

    Posted by Maskdelta at 09/04/2008 @ 2:11pm

19. "The Seppuko Candidate for Progressives" Thanks, I'm going to get some mileage out of that one though in a different context. And with the continued support of those who vote for the lesser of two evils, the parties can dispense with the pretense of uniqueness and save the taxpayers millions on conventions, elections and such. "Pure Progressives"? Is that like a realist? IMO the biggest problem we have in the USA is the corporate domination of the Federal Government which tends to send it in directions not in the citizens best interest, long or short term. Nader/Gonzalez focuses on that issue.

    Posted by biobill at 09/04/2008 @ 3:59pm

20. Matt Gonzalez is an incredibly intelligent and refreshing voice. Of course he should be heard in a televised debate with (at the very least) Biden, Palin, Root (Libertarian), Clemente (Green), and Castle (Constitution).

    Hatred of emerging parties and independents by their competitors in the dominant parties is going to be a hard tradition to break.

    Why does voting for someone have to be about being on the winning team? You're supposed to vote for the ideas you believe in. The left is in a huge prisoner's dilemma with regard to Nader. For a lot of people it's "he's better but it's so unlikely that he'll win". Pathetic.

    People are at historic lows in their opinion of the president and congress yet we keep voting for the parties that have ruled America for more than 150 years. Half the country doesn't bother to vote at all. We need more competition in our politics. Bring on the emerging parties and independents!

    Posted by dejaybe at 09/04/2008 @ 5:35pm

21. Thank you all you democrats for reminding me why I'm not one. I never thought I'd ever consider a Republican stance, but I've seen how hateful and low class Democrats are and will never go back, ever. If you really followed the polling Nader is indeed an influence, and a very unpredictable one. He's drawing both former Republicans and Democrats, depending on the state.

    The Republicans I've talked to are often very open to 3rd (4th, 5th, 6th) parties. Republicans aren't nearly as bitter about Perot's large % than Nader's 2-3%. What amazes me is you Democrats think you are OWED liberal votes. Well, enough conservatives and liberals have had enough of a corrupt 2 party system so 3rd parties are not going away any time soon.

    Did the Nation cover the Democrats corruption in keeping Nader off the ballot in Pennsylvania? How does that make Democrats the better party?

    Nader fights for citizens even while they spew hatred for him.

    I love Nader, he's one of my only heros. Fortunately, there are more independent thinkers on the horizon, and I will continue to seek out true progressives. It's more important in the long run to hold parties responsible for their bloated budgets.

    And as for Palin, I'm not into guns and religion and lack of contraception, but her husband is really hot.

    Posted by tshirttt at 09/04/2008 @ 10:46pm