Kucinich supporter does about-face: Anti-war activist will run for his seat

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

Thursday, June 21, 2007
Mark NaymikPlain Dealer Politics Writer

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who is busy running for president largely on his anti-war stance, lost an ally Wednesday and gained an opponent.

Rosemary Palmer, an anti-war activist whose son died in the war in Iraq in 2005, announced her candidacy for Kucinich's 10th District seat. Because Palmer is a Democrat, she will face Kucinich in the May primary.

"We need a full-time congressman for this area whose interests lie in developing this district," Palmer said during a short news conference before addressing the war issue.

Palmer is opposed to the war in Iraq and wants the troops home. But she does not believe an immediate U.S. withdrawal is a realistic or productive goal. Kucinich has called for an unconditional withdrawal with an international peacekeeping presence.



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[bemildred]

1. A Life, Wasted

Let's Stop This War Before More Heroes Are Killed

Early on Aug. 3, 2005, we heard that 14 Marines had been killed in Haditha, Iraq. Our son, Lance Cpl. Edward "Augie" Schroeder II, was stationed there. At 10:45 a.m. two Marines showed up at our door. After collecting himself for what was clearly painful duty, the lieutenant colonel said, "Your son is a true American hero."

Since then, two reactions to Augie's death have compounded the sadness.

At times like this, people say, "He died a hero." I know this is meant with great sincerity. We appreciate the many condolences we have received and how helpful they have been. But when heard repeatedly, the phrases "he died a hero" or "he died a patriot" or "he died for his country" rub raw.

"People think that if they say that, somehow it makes it okay that he died," our daughter, Amanda, has said. "He was a hero before he died, not just because he went to Iraq. I was proud of him before, and being a patriot doesn't make his death okay. I'm glad he got so much respect at his funeral, but that didn't make it okay either."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/02/AR2006010200974.html

[ixion]

2. just speculating, but I would look for the DLC's fingerprints on this one

just a thought...I mean, since she's spouting their beaten-wife talking points, and all... :eyes:

[bemildred]

3. I figured Kuch must be annoying someone for them to put in a primary challenger.

Of course it is possible she is doing it on her own. And he did reverse his campaign position without the lapse of a decent interval. OTOH, he is not hardly the first to do that. We'll have to wait and see who supports her and how.

[rinsd]

5. Kucincih has had primary challengers before.

He didn't bother to show up at the debate last time.

I find it curious that people immediately assail this woman's motivations.

She lost her kid to the war. While that doesn't make her unassailable could you guys wait 5 second before you smear her with ridiculous speculation.

[bemildred]

11. I'm not assailing her motivations,

I'm wondering about the context. She is free to run if she likes, just like all of us, and I don't see any reason why she should not. That doesn't mean it's an ordinary thing that requires no deeper understanding. I'd like to know who is behind her, if anyone, and whether she has a chance to beat Kuch, which would be a big deal.

But go ahead, smear me with your ridiculous projections of your own grievances.

[rinsd]

12. It wasn't you so much as the poster you responded to.

Sorry you were the object of ire.

[bemildred]

13. OK, never mind. nt

[redqueen]

4. how is phasing in UN troops for security purposes not realistic or productive?

ugh...

[rinsd]

6. Do you see the UN eager to do that?

The UN pulled out last time when the violence became bad...remember.

The UN doesn't like going into hot zones.

[redqueen]

7. i'm not the oracle

how about we try? that too much to ask?

well hell... let's not ask each other... let's ask the troops stuck in the hell hole, how about that? maybe they shink we might want to give it a shot?

[rinsd]

8. Or we could just withdraw.

UN troops or no UN troops.

Pinning our hopes on the UN at this point in time is not wise.

[redqueen]

10. not about hopes, is it?

i think it's more about taking responsibility to help clean up the mess we made

[bobthedrummer]

9. Here is something to ponder-the new "war czar" designate is General Douglas Lute,

his wife, Jane Hull Lute, is UN Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations.

[Peace Patriot]

14. she does not believe immediate withdrawal "realistic" or "productive" not even

as a goal. That's what has me worried and suspicious.

Where have I heard this before?

LBJ? McNamara? Westmoreland? Humphrey? Nixon? Kissinger? Bush? Rumsfeld? Cheney? Rice? And any DLC Democrat you could name?

All of them. All of them say this after they GET US INTO an illegal, unjust, heinous war, that it is not a "productive" goal to get out of it. That it is not "realistic." Why is it not "realistic"? Because they have ensnared us in a quagmire, in the interest of war profiteers, and they have done everything they can to make damned sure that NOT making war, and NOT occupying a foreign country APPEAR TO BE "unrealistic." And "productive" I will just write off to a slip of the tongue. She can't mean that. A goal of NOT killing people, including our own soldiers, and NOT using them as cannon fodder for a planned civil war to divide the country into oil sheikdoms in hock to U.S. oil giants and the World Bank, is not a "productive" goal?

She's drunk some koolaid, I'm sorry to say. And, evidently, Kucinich's remarkable vision of a nation devoted to peace, is getting under the skins of the other candidates and the War/Corporate Democrats, and I think it's more than likely that they arranged for this Kucinich distraction. I heard his speech to the progressive forum the other day, and he puts them all to shame. His vision is my vision, and is the common vision held by the American people, of a country devoted to positive goals, and not to warmongering and saber-rattling and corporate predator profiteering, and a country that could easily do well by its people on peace and justice in every sphere, if its leaders were not hogtied to the "military-industrial complex."

He showed them all up, he really did--with their half-assed, double-talking proposals and answers. They're running for king. He's running for president. Big difference. And I think they'd just as soon not have to listen to an honest politician, a real representative of the people, and they would certainly like to reduce the number of hearers of this message: that peace is possible.