Kucinich is endorsing Kerry today. How are you feeling about that?

[WilliamPitt]

[aquart]

1. I would be seriously annoyed if he didn't.

[calico1]

5. I think its great

A show of Party unity is important. I am also glad that all of his rivals (Joh Kerry) are getting to speak at the Convention. That is also a good thing.

[seabeyond]

13. i like that, lol n/t

[WI_DEM]

2. well he said he would support him in the general election

so it isn't a surprise.

[Melodybe]

3. I feel great about it!

Cheers to the Kooch!

:toast:

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Sad, but it was necessary. (Not that he is endorsing Kerry, but that

he didn't have the clout to go all the way.)

[MuseRider]

6. What else would he do?

It was expected and kudos to the class he has shown throughout the race. He is just getting warmed up and he has a powerful backing now. I seriously trust his judgment even if I do not totally agree with everything he does.

[leftofthedial]

7. I wish it was the other way around

is how I feel about that.

But it's the right and good thing to do.

[Parche]

8. Kucinich

Yeah, The Keebler Elf is endorsing Kerry!!!!

[TeeYiYi]

18. Do you feel better now? ...n/t

TYY

[Parche]

68. Feel better ?

Feel better after what?

[info being]

29. You're using corporate brand names to describe DK?

That explains everything about you're attitude. BTW, he's of Eastern European decent and that's how a lot of people look there. Maybe you should just call all Yugoslavians "Elves". You actually sound quite ignorant.

[redqueen]

32. Wow good catch!

The one candidate who was serious and straightforward about the need to undo the corporate stranglehold on this country, and he's mocked using ... corporate branding.

*sigh*

[shadu]

37. Unbelievable

Why the hell are you even here?

[Parche]

69. question

I am here because I want John Kerry to beat GW Bush

[Hippo_Tron]

92. And Kucinich is HELPING Kerry beat Bush

Kucinich is trying to get third party supporters to come back into the party and support John Kerry. He's basically the only person in the democratic party doing something productive to counter the Nader effect.

[Swamp Rat]

95. I'm a Kucinich supporter from the very beginning and

I thought the "Keebler Elf" joke was funny. Actually he lookes more gnomish to me, but what do I know. I'm just a swamp rat.

[LTR]

9. He said he'd do it, and he did

He's taking the route of trying to steal Nader's and steering them toward Kerry.

Kucinich is a smart man, and I know he realized he didn't have a chance of winning the White House this year. Maybe he's ahead of his time? It took him almost two decades to be vindicated over what happened as mayor of Cleveland.

I hope Kucinich stays in the spotlight. I like him a lot.

[Warren DeMontague]

10. We're all in it together. Eyes on the prize.

And much thanks to DK (who I voted for in CA's primary) for bringing a much needed perspective to the process.

[Selwynn]

11. It's consistent with what Kucinich stands for .....

Dennis is a progressive, and a man of ideals and convictions. I love him for that. But Dennis is also a Democrat, who believes that change comes from within, who believes in changing the direcation of the party, not destroying it. I love him for that as well.

[Tosca]

12. Good.

Solidarity. Solidarity. Solidarity.

[Fovea]

I make of necessity, a virtue.

I believe that he will get the best he can for us out of it. I also believe that Dennis is the first rising of a far bigger wave of progress for America becoming a civilized nation again.

He did what America needs him to do. I said this before, however, and I will say it again. We will do our best to give him a Dem congress, but Kerry better not shut us out. Otherwise the party will come apart at the seams.

We do not need another pro-business administration, we need a stern parent who will finally make the corporate world act like a responsible citizen, instead of a bunch of drunk teenagers.

So I say, Dennis has many of the answers. He must be given the proper sized megaphone. I know we will hear a lot more from Mr. Kucinich going onward from here. This is no way over.

[senseandsensibility]

14. I'm feeling

grateful. Dennis is putting his country ahead of his own ego, and acting like a grown-up. I've always loved Dennis. I'm sure he's not completely happy about it, but he is able to see the big picture. With our party this united, it's looking pretty damned good!:party:

[ElsewheresDaughter]

15. PRETTY DAMN GOOD!

[meegbear]

16. How are YOU feeling about it?

n/t

[ClassWarrior]

17. UNITED.

n/t

[Zorra]

70. I'm with you.

[LittleApple81]

19. ABB to the end. I would have loved for somebody like Kucinich

to win the nomination and be able to win the presidency in a RATIONAL country. But reality is that he isn't the candidate. I will be glad if he backs Kerry.

[Yogi]

20. I love Kucinich.....

but I'm glad he's endorsing Kerry.

[redqueen]

21. Unsurprised - hopeful

He's a man of integrity. He said he'd do it, he said why.

Sad that even now a thread about Kucinich attracts divisive insults.

Schism is what these people are inviting. Hope they're ready to reap the harvest if Kerry fails to deliver.

[TNOE]

25. Where's that picture from Redqueen?

Yep, I changed my Avatar today..... Best wishes Dennis and a big thank you for your efforts!

[redqueen]

30. I'll never lose the "I stand with Dennis' graphic. :-)

You can find lots of great images at the official site...

Click here for great pics of the Dynamic Duo!

[G_j]

27. Thank you Dennis

for all you have done and will do in the future! :toast:

[iconoclastic cat]

22. It's...nice. I always liked Dennis. I still do.

But I haven't really been following him lately.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

23. He's doing what he said he would do

and his campaign has awakened a lot of people to the possibilities of progressive activism. The Minnesota Kucitizens are busily insinuating themselves into the party and are supporting progressive local candidates.

If this country still exists and is worth preserving in 12 years or so, we may finally elect an economic populist and catch up to the rest of the Western world in health, education, environmental initiatives, and equality of opportunity.

[Paragon]

24. Kucinich bump?

Nader voters finally coming to their senses?

[wellstone_democrat]

28. "Class" will always show itself

And Kucinich is definitely a "class act" Always has been and I suspect always will be. I was a Clark supporter in the primaries but Kucinich has always had my deep respect. And, my admiration in this as in every public thing he's ever done.

[BobF]

26. Time to check the egos at the door.

Kerry is our candidate. He is now our only hope.

Dennis said what needed to be said, and now, by endorsing Kerry, he is doing what he should be doing. Someday his Vision will be vindicated, but we have to put out the fire called the Bush Administration before we can build a new and better house like the one Dennis sees in his mind.

We need Fireman Kerry today. Once the fire is out and the ashes have cooled, THEN we can think about calling in Architect Kucinich.

[redqueen]

31. He's a true visionary, but also pragmatic

He has no illusions about what is at stake, or how the game is played.

I admire this man of integrity and will always stand in awe of his amazing display of class and character in this most vulgar of sports.

[MuseRider]

33. Nicely said

as always.

[redqueen]

Thank you - I consider that high praise coming from you

We'll always be Kucitizens of the USA, until the rest of the country catches up with Dennis.

:hi:

[blm]

34. That Kucinich boiled it down to THE most important matter before us.

John Kerry can be trusted with power.

[RichM]

35. It's the first position Kucinich has taken that deeply disappoints me.

In his statement, he said, more or less, "If there's room for someone like me in the Democratic Party, there's certainly also room for Nader supporters...." etc.

I don't think there's really room for someone like Kucinich in the Democratic Party. They are trying to use him to entice Nader-ish & other anti-war voters back into the fold. He, on the other hand, tried to use them by running under the acceptability of the "Democrat" label, when actually there's only a 4% level of support for his ideas, in the Democratic Party.

The Kucinich platform & the Kerry platform are not remotely the same type of thing. It is a joke to pretend otherwise. One was visionary, brave, & based on telling the truth; the other is business as usual, and based on lying to the public.

[redqueen]

44. And one has a chance of unseating the Bu$hgang, while the other doesn't

He sees strategy pragmatically... why do you refuse to? There is one path to progress at the moment. Kerry is it.

[RichM]

47. When the 2-party system yields a "choice" between 2 pro-war tickets,

it's time to reject the 2-party system -- not time to quibble about which war-monger seems more attractive. I oppose all pro-war tickets, regardless of party label.

[redqueen]

48. Oppose all you like

be sure to wave as the world passes you by.

[JohnLocke]

81. Bullshit,

The Kerry ticket is not "pro-war." Trot out all the tired bullshit you want, but the Kerry ticket is not "pro-war."

[GreenArrow]

56. I'm disappointed too

but not surprised. What else was he going to do? One of his goals is to change the focus of the Democratic Party, to which he belongs and still believes in, perhaps naively, or perhaps with his thumb in the dike in the hope that there is still something worth salvaging there. Or perhaps he feels he can more effectively create change from within the party than from without.

The sentence you quoted jumped out at me as well; if there is room for Dennis, it is a very small room at the back of the house. Or maybe a coal bin. A quick look at the Democratic platform is evidence enough that the party places little or no value on the sorts of plans and ideals that Dennis was promoting. Maybe he thinks that under a Kerry administration, his issues will get more honest attention. I tend to think not; business as usual and lying to the public will continue, unabated.

[redqueen]

61. IMO he's already influenced the party

e.g. "Free Trade"

[MaggieSwanson]

71. What I learned about the Democrats this past year

Is that while the Democratic party will accept candidates like Dennis Kucinich, they will also mock him, dismiss him, and only let him speak when he follows their rules.

My vote for Kerry will not be my endorsement of him.

That said, I hope I feel better tomorrow. Maybe someone here can offer me a kind word?

[redqueen]

73. Hi maggiefaye!

:hi:

Just know that it's only *some* who will mock him... and many that dismissed him have learned a thing or two... or else they just haven't 'gotten it' yet.

I'm sure you'll feel better tomorrow... definitely by next week!

:hug:

[MaggieSwanson]

75. Thank you, Redqueen

:hug:

[bobthedrummer]

36. Dennis is a man of his word. I trust him. That's why I voted for him.

He truly "comes with no strings attached" and has helped expose many of the crimes of the administration of George W. Bush aka The War President.

I take note of the simple fact that even though DK was ignored during the primary campaigns he did a great job during the debates-and only a fool would ridicule the idea that he is "unelectable" based upon issues which DK kept bringing up.

The highpoint of the campaign was when he called Bush a "liar" in a debate. He has much to contribute in the future.

[kimchi]

77. Yup--a politician with honesty and integrity...who'da thunk it?

He also knows his stuff, and isn't afraid of anyone. He has been a huge asset to the party, and I'm as proud of him and his work as ever.

Dennis truly gives me hope for the future. I know he will continue to speak the truth.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

38. I never had any doubt he would.

Principled yet pragmatic, Kucinich lets his idealism inform his judgement, not cloud it. I hope this will signal an end to the more divisive rhetoric used by some of his followers.

[redqueen]

45. That's very telling, friend

Please take note of the divisive rhetoric on this board, and the origin of the same.

:hi:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

51. What the fuck ever

I praise Dennis and you use it as an opportunity to launch a veiled attack against me.

:puke:

[redqueen]

52. Excuse me?

Sorry, but your not-so-veiled slight about the 'rhetoric' coming from Kucinich supporters was in no way part of any praise for Dennis. If your reason to be on the thread was to praise Dennis, why slight his supporters? What's the purpose in that?

:shrug:

I also just have to add that I tried to keep this civil, yet you immediately resorted to ugliness... why?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

55. Like I said, what the fuck ever.

I respect Dennis. That doesn't mean I have to respect all of his followers. Some I respect and some I don't. Search my posts. You won't find any insults directed toward DK or his supporters, but you will find plenty of opposition to false and divisive rhetoric -- along with plenty of praise for DK and his integrity.

And I hope that his endorsement of Kerry will signal an end to the more divisive rhetoric used by some of his followers.



Edit: PS, ugliness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

[redqueen]

57. Yes, I think I agree

What the Cheney ever, indeed.

:eyes:

[Feanorcurufinwe]

66. I just wanted everyone to know

that we worked out our differences via PM and are ready to exchange hugs instead of snipes. :hug: :grouphug:

[redqueen]

72. Ayup!

Sorry for the misunderstanding... I really meant "FRIEND", friend!

Just let a bit of nastiness seep out unfairly against you in that subject line, because I was mad at that comment upthread. D'oh!

Glad we got that sorted!

:hug:

*MWAH!*

[Crunchy Frog]

39. Very happy,

and proud to have voted for him in our Caucus, and as a delegate at the different levels of Conventions in our state.

I hope that he will continue to draw true progressives into the Democratic party, and into the political process, and help the party to stand for something again.

[LWolf]

40. The same way I've always felt.

I expected no less. One of the many things I appreciate about Dennis Kucinich is his consistency. When he says he stands for something, he does. Whether it's popular or convenient or not. When he said he was in the race all the way to the convention, he stayed. He did exactly what he promised. And endorsing the nominee at the convention has been part of that.

I am proud of the work he has done for us in the house, and on the campaign trail. I'll be tuning in to hear what he has to say on Wednesday night; or afternoon, here on the west coast. (Is it live?)

And, as I've repeated more times than I care to remember here at DU, I will join him in supporting Kerry/Edwards.

Edited to add: Please tell us how you feel about it, Will.

[swag]

41. I am delighted - and I think Kerry will enjoy a gradual upswing

as more voters responding to pollsters' question, "If the election were held today, who would you vote for?" move from Kucinich to Kerry, thus moving from the "other" column to the "Kerry" column.

I don't think this will be insignificant, as I know at least three persons who have recently responded to surveys as Kucinich voters. Now they will probably become slightly more inclined toward the Kerry column.

[DaveSZ]

43. You'll probably laugh at me, but

He reminds me of my hero Martin Luther King Jr.

He has the same fire, the same passion, and the same pure conscience as King.

[redqueen]

46. I don't find that laughable at all. n/t

[MuseRider]

50. Laugh? NO!

Agree, yes. He reminds me of a combination of many of the people I admire, MLK being one of them.

[RetroLounge]

42. Feeling Okee Dokee just Fine and Dandy

thanks for asking...

RL

[malatesta1137]

49. I have just one question:

what took him so long?

[MuseRider]

53. He was busy

doing what he said he would do with the promise that when the time came that he had done all that he could he would get behind the nominee. He was fulfilling his promises and furthering his platform.

[redqueen]

54. He said he was in it to the convention.

I suppose he could have waited until the convention, when Kerry formally accepts, but I'm not sure there's much ground for that nitpick.

Perhaps he figured doing the formal endorsement thing before the convention would help get some positive news about Kerry & Dems out there, the GOP is certainly blast-faxing negative nonsense in every which way.

[Zinfandel]

58. I have always supported Dennis Kucinich, he is and always will be a true

FDR progressive liberal democrat, his ideology is sound and can't be swayed by corporate interest.

Cheers and love to DK!

[suegeo]

59. Feels good to me

Will/did "the media" even mention the fact that Dennis now supports Kerry? Doubt it.

[rbnyc]

60. It's the right time.

I'm very proud of DK and the way he's run his campaign. I'm proud I voted to send his delegates to the convention. I'm proud to have sent him my money. I'm proud that he is a Democrat.

Kerry wasn't my 1st, 2nd, or even 3rd choice. But it's time to get behind Kerry/Edwards with everything we've got. Dennis is a good leader.

[VOX]

62. Kucinich is a class act all the way. One of the Democratic Party's best.

I share many of his positions on the issues. Every time I heard Kucinich speak during the primaries, my head was always nodding in agreement.

I hope that he sticks around -- he adds so much to the Party.

[SOteric]

65. I agree, rez

I hope that he stays prominent in the Party and can act as an influence for Democrats in power. He has much to contribute.

[proud patriot]

63. I donated to Kerry for the first time today

:D

[redqueen]

64. Me too!

Cool. :)

I think Kerry will get a bit of a bump from this announcement.

[eridani]

80. I did last week

I've given the full limit to Kucinich already, the first time I've done such a thing for any candidate for office, so may as well make the switch now.

[JohnKleeb]

67. pleased

Not surprised either. I think Kerry could have him help Stephanie Tubbs-Jones in north east Ohio because Kerry seems to like her a lot, he appointed her to a DNC position, shes speaking at the convention, etc, I havent heard either man talk much about one another but Ive been told Kucinich likes and respects Mrs. Kerry a lot, and the two did cosponsor a bill together about gay rights, I forget what exactly.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

74. ABB....ABB....ABB....ABB.

[Solly Mack]

76. I never expected him to do otherwise

so knowing he would, I feel the same way I've always felt about it.... It was something I expected...no surprise. no shock. no anything really.

[ulysses]

78. not a great surprise.

:shrug:

[eridani]

79. I knew he would

I wish he had waited until the convention started, though.

It's kind of like being on a long parachute drop, and today I hit the ground. Which means getting up and going on to the next thing.

[hippywife]

82. Sad that it couldn't have been the other way around.

I love Dennis and everything he stands for. I admire his integrity and his committment to his promises.

I will continue to work for and support local progressive candidates until there is a change from business as usual in this country. Dennis is a true visionary and this why I feed he continued until the bitter end...to inject true progressivism back into the mix and excite people with the possibilities.

I will vote for Kerry because I have no choice.

I still stand with Dennis.

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

83. Im feeling good about that. Makes me think I was right to support K.

Hes not a sour grapesr, and not saying to go to Nader or the Greens...hes a party loyalist, and hes realistic.

[LiberalManiacfromOC]

84. yay!

n/t

[messiah]

85. A perfect example of how the party will not be changed from within.

[Kenneth ken]

86. content

We've known for a while that this was coming; DK stayed in the race through all the primaries, and that's really all anyone can ask of their chosen candidate.

The timing is probably good; a week before the convention, to ensure that there is no last-minute distraction from the convention itself.

spiffy new sig for me today, eh?

[DemBones DemBones]

87. I supported Dennis Kucinich before he got in the race

and have not lost any of my respect for him. I always knew he would endorse our nominee because he's a true Democrat who wants to strengthen the party and make it more progressive. I wish the country were more progressive and ready for a leader like Dennis Kucinich.

I will be voting for John Kerry because I think he's a good man even though he's become more cautious over the years and I fear he'll have difficulty getting us out of Iraq. It's our job to let him know what we want and encourage him to move left of the GOP. I'm encourage that he's been talking about "the two Americas" and universal health care.

Besides that, Anyone is Better than Bush*!

I have hope that Kerry will be a bit more than the lesser of two evils, though. I think he can be a good, even a great, president.

[Kanary]

88. I wish I had known him from waybackthen....... He's a once-in-a-generation

politician. I feel so fortunate to have been able to work on a campaign for a person of this stature. What more can one say? He has to much to offer, and the fact that he's willing to put up with politics kinda stuns me sometimes. :)

*Love* your Camero quote!! I used to have that on a poster..... If we could all live with that sentiment, what a world we would have!

Kanary

[DemBones DemBones]

100. I only learned about him when he made his

"A Prayer for America" speech and I checked him out. He has given me a lot of hope. I like to say Dennis and I went to school together -- in different states! By which I mean that we grew up in the same times and he has retained the patriotism, the belief in "truth, justice, and the American way" that kids were raised with back then. All that corny stuff that really is important. ;-)

I love the Camero quote, too, started using it when I decided it was time to stop using my Kucinich quotes and avatar and start thinking party unity more.

[stickdog]

89. Thank God he got everything he wanted into the Democratic platform!

[mvd]

90. Very happy

Since I'm a Kucinich supporter who is 100% behind Kerry.

[Swamp Rat]

96. me too

[Zen Democrat]

91. Can't wait to hear Dennis speak next Wednesday night.

He has so much energy and enthusiasm for the ideals of the Democratic Party. I think his speech will be one of the best received at the Convention.

[CaTeacher]

93. I feel a little sad. I wish

Kucinich was my president.

[redqueen]

101. He speaks Wed night?

Wow... cool. :)

[Hippo_Tron]

94. I'm very happy that he will get to speak at the convention

I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

[Swamp Rat]

97. Well, I have been a Kucinich supporter since the beginning and

I am very happy that he supports Kerry. How do you feel about it?

[leesa]

98. Of course he would.

[Zomby Woof]

99. makes me feel warm and glowing

In its warm glowing warming glow. :-)

[Spygame]

102. Sounds good