Nader out of Oregon's ballot

Oregon's Democrat secretary of state, Bill Bradbury, an unabashed supporter of John Kerry, has succeeded after all in his scheme to dump Ralph Nader from the swing state's presidential ballot.

Marion County Judge Paul Lipscomb had faulted Bradbury for using unwritten rules - i.e., doing whatever he felt like - to deem some petitions for the independent candidate unworthy.

But Oregon's Supreme Court, acting as partisan as Dan Rather and Mary Mapes combined, ruled Wednesday in favor of Bradbury and fellow Democrats.

Nader, like Bugs Bunny, says he'll fight all the way to the highest court in the land.

What does the self-styled consumer activist think of the Dems? "The Democratic Party, under the influence of its corporate supremacists, is a gutless, spineless, clueless and hapless party and needs to be challenged by liberal Democrats," Nader said Tuesday.

And what does he think of Kerry? "He's in control of the party now, so he's responsible."