Kucinich- Maybe someday?

[diamondsoul]

This statement always gets me- "Maybe someday American people will wake up enough and be ready for a President Kucinich..."- always with that wistful quality, wistful and WISHful.

So that made me think about wishes, and what most people do with them if they're really important. Really important wishes don't sit languishing for "someday". The people doing the wishing carry them around in their hearts and thoughts every minute of every day. They act to move toward that wish, to hopefully make it reality. They think about how to achieve that wish, and then they carry out whatever idea might get them there. It takes work to make a wish reality. Lots and lots of hard work, sometimes even difficult leaps of faith.

I've been reading here a lot today while fighting with Earthlink over whether I could actually get into my e-mail and get some work done. Much of what I've read made me weep openly. People seem to think the evil of the current administration requires some sort of Behemoth power to eradicate it. That we need another "Slick Willie" to get rid of Prince George. Do we really want another sleazy centrist making compromises with what this administration has done to us? (Not a reference to any of the current candidates, just a reference to Clinton, whom I despise, Democrat or not.) Because it seems as if that's what most of us are trying to do. Elect the middle of the road guy who won't take a stand and just tell it like it is.

The ones who try to do that the hardest are painted with a sweeping black stroke- "Unelectable!", and the rest play to win as one poster said recently. It's not a game anymore, and I'm no longer "playing" with anyones lives or future. We deserve better than "playing" at taking this country back, "playing" at making real changes, "playing" at diplomacy and declarations of peace while we create havoc with our war complex.

What amazes me is how the word "idealist" is used to denigrate people all over the place. It's as if some of us think it isn't possible to be an intelligent, rational idealist, that the very definition is insanity and extremism. A lot of rot. The root word of Progressive is Progress, people, and I don't see any now, nor do I see any coming in the future unless we force it.

So how do you force Progress? In a country this big, with this many people, you rise up and take over. You reclaim the elections process by working together, going after those who would hand it over to the Thugs trying to destroy it, by being vigilant over what's happening with these changes they keep trying to make and fighting them, in numbers. Strength, might, victory comes from working together to make this country move forward, to drag it out of the sinking spiral it's in today.

You fight in large enough numbers that they can't possibly stop you all to make sure your vote is counted and counted accurately. After that you cast that vote. First in the Primaries. Those elections exist so we the people can tell our respective parties WHICH candidate we WANT in the White House next. It isn't about who can defeat Bush right now, it's about what YOU want. So what do you want? I've asked that question of people before and nobody seems to want to answer it. Are we all so riddled with fear and self-doubt we can't bring ourselves to speak of what we want anymore, or do we just not know?

I have to ask, if you all want change so badly, real definite changes, a move to making the United States what we want it to be-
Who will step forward and fight for that?(Dennis Kucinich)
When will you fight for it?(right now, and every day for decades) Maybe someday?(today, tomorow, and yes, even someday)

My friends, "someday" never, ever arrives. Someday is always someday, no matter how many days go by, and it never ever comes. People say maybe in 2008 or 2012. What if he's dead. What if there isn't another Dennis Kucinich for 30 more years? What if Bush carries on as he has been, even if someone else is elected, raping, pillaging and destroying human life until there's nothing left of this country?

What if being "realistic" or "pragmatic" or "compromising" allows that filth to walk free and continue the destruction of our country from within? What if our world has come to an end in 2012? What will you say about someday then?

Nothing, that's what. And the saddest thing is we'll never know what it would have been like to elect Dennis Kucinich and watch him change the world because we were too scared, or too "pragmatic", to try.

I'm tired of waiting for "someday", and I want something MORE than just getting Bush out for my children, and for all of you. I want progress, and change, and decent lives. I want President Kucinich, not someday but NOW.

[friendofbenn]

1. i'm starting a campaign group

democrats for things getting "less worse".

[fabius]

2. GO KUCINICH!

I'll vote for him, if his campaign makes it as far as Oregon. I'll give him more money too.

[Nottingham]

3. I'm so Proud of Him! Go Kucinich!

:bounce:

[DuctapeFatwa]

4. The truth is, the voting classes don't really want change

The ones who consider themselves "Democrats" want a "Democrat" in the White House, but they don't really want a change in policies, they are not insisting on an immediate halt to the various depopulations and slaughters and atrocities that the US does and/or pays for around the world.

Domestically, they are not demanding a Living Wage, a Right to Housing, even Universal Health Care, unless its one of those things that people would have to pay the same thing they are paying for Blue Cross.

They don't want the Patriot Act repealed, they are not putting their foot down to stop torture and detentions, they don't really have a problem with anything that is in the PNAC documents, unless it is to reword some of it to make it sound better, the change they want is to put a Democrat face on the PNAC strategy.

[friendofbenn]

6. i fear you may be right

:(

[diamondsoul]

10. I don't think that's accurate myself.

I understand it, but I don't think it's what has happened to people. I think most of us just gave up. Look how many people just quit caring about voting because it doesn't seem to matter.

We all just got so sick of being ignored and pushed aside that we said "To hell with you then, take the country apart, but I ain't helping!". Funny thing is, though, there are millions of us. All we have to do is find each other and share Kucinich's platforms.

[DemBones DemBones]

25. ". . .the change they want is to put a Democrat face on the PNAC

strategy" is, I'm afraid, true for too many cases, including some DUers. After having been at DU since soon after it began (though only as a lurker for a year or more), I'd have thought DUers would be jumping for joy at the chance to vote for Dennis Kucinich. Everyone loved "A Prayer for America" but when Dennis announced his candidacy, we began to hear: he's unelectable, he's funny-looking, he used to be pro-life, he's too far left. I've seen all those arguments raised here today. Maybe this country doesn't deserve to be brought back from ruin.

[tinanator]

29. are you SURE?

http://tinyurl.com/n3xm

kinda looks shiny to me. Then there's this latino poll from Univision

http://tinyurl.com/n3xs

I dont think Im familiar with your "they". Near as I can tell, I want what everybody wants. I want an honest caring person in the White House.
So do they.

[friendofbenn]

5. i wonder how many dean supporters

would have given their money to kucinich if they had followed their ideals? dennis would probably be leading right now. he'd probably get the nomination and he definitely would go on and beat bush

[maxomai_vs_rove]

21. Not me

My support for Howard Dean is based first and foremost on his support for abortion rights and gay marriage. Dennis Kucinich is the polar opposite of Dean on these issues: his voting record is one of the most anti-choice, anti-gay records in Congress. I am not asuaged by his recent, if not somewhat convenient, change of heart on these matters. Howard Dean's record on these matters is the best of all the candidates (five years on the board of Planned Parenthood; signed the first civil unions law), which is why he gets my money and my support.

And frankly, I think the Department of Peace would just become another instrument with which the corporations can bully the rest of the world.

On the other hand, I think Dennis would make a good Secretary of Commerce. He clearly understands trade issues and what is needed to create real free and fair trade better than any of the other candidates.

Barring that, Ohio could really, really use him in the Senate, where he can do the most to influence what treaties we sign in the future. I *would* give money to *that* campaign.

[DemBones DemBones]

23. Howard Dean signed the civil unions bill, but he didn't allow any

photographs of the signing ceremony. It's alleged that he went around Vermont telling people that the Vt. Supreme Court made him sign the bill. That may not be true, but I saw him on Larry King avoiding answering Larry's questions about whether or not he supported same-sex marriages. Dennis Kucinich has made a commitment to supporting same-sex marriages.

It's absolutely true that Dennis Kucinich used to vote pro-life on abortion bills as well as being opposed to capital punishment. While you may -- and do -- disagree with his stand, you must admit it takes courage to go against what's popular. You see his change of position as political but the evidence suggests it was more than that. He quit voting on abortion-related legislation and, after almost two years, finally announced that he had changed his position.

Dennis is now convinced that abortion must be legal to preserve women's rights to equality. But he still wants to do all that is possible to prevent abortions by helping women to avoid unplanned pregnancies and helping pregnant women to keep and raise their child if they wish to. I think that's good and wish more politicians were willing to provide help to women and children, because it's the right thing to do and because it can reduce the demand for abortions. Having a high abortion rate is hardly a desirable thing from any perspective. Dennis has said, by the way, that he had become disillusioned with many "pro-lifers" in Congress who were not sufficiently concerned about the women who get abortions. I believe his change of heart is sincere. He not only voted against the bill banning partial birth abortions but spoke against it on the House floor. And he has pledged that any nominee of his to SCOTUS must support Roe v. Wade.

I must also point out that you seem to be concerned about trade issues and recognize that Dennis understands them well. Are you aware he would cancel U.S. participation in NAFTA and the WTO? Howard Dean thinks they can be fixed. . . I think globalization must be stopped ASAP. Corporations are not only giving American jobs to low-paid employees in other countries, they are privatizing water rights in many countries, making it impossible for the poor to afford water. We live in a time when some terrible people seem determined to take the world back to the Dark Ages, all for a bit more money, money they'll never live long enough to spend.

[JohnKleeb]

30. anti gay?

Youre somewhat right about being pro life.
http://www.vote-smart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=BC032003#Abortion
100's from the human rights campaign and his abortion record aint perfect but its not what you said.

[Egnever]

26. Not me

I am not all that peacefull. Denis's world would be nice but then so would ghandi's niether will be coming to a theater any time soon.

[TheYellowDog]

7. I would never vote for Kucinich

And, no, I wouldn't vote for Bush, either. If Kucinich was somehow nominated(or Sharpton), I would just stay home. I would vote for Edwards, Kerry, Dean, Lieberman, Graham or Gephardt for President, and I would vote for Moseley-Braun too, because she is a nice lady. But Sharpton or Kucinich, no way. Anybody that Ralph Nader likes(and he likes Kucinich), is not a good guy in my book.

[diamondsoul]

8. Guilt by association, brilliant strategy.

:eyes:

A lot of people "like" Dennis Kucinich, that doesn't make him bosom buddies with them. He's a likable man. Apparently you're too blinded by your hatred for Nader to bother even looking.

[Dover]

16. I can understand why a lot of Greens find Dennis appealing

Actually, I think he has a lot more to offer them than Nader because he is Greener than Nader and his spiritual inclinations (Catholicism mixed with New Age influences) as well as his warmth and relaxed one-on-one connection with people, his honesty and courage as well as that Naderesque willingness to confront corporations or anyone else who speaks with a forked tongue just seems to be a better fit for that group. He's just a more well rounded and accessible personality.

[TheYellowDog]

35. I don't mind Kucinich,

and Kucinich is a likeable guy, but I don't like Nader. It's not just that Nader likes Kucinich, but Kucinich likes Nader right back. They're "friends". That's why I won't vote for him. Luckily, I don't have to worry about not casting my vote for a Democrat in 04, because Kucinich has no chance.

[GreenArrow]

9. Yeah, that Ralph Nader,

he's evil personified. Everything he's done, just like Dennis Kucinich, has been to benefit the vested power interests in this country.

[diamondsoul]

12. I tell you, I've been trying to figure out since 2000

just WHAT is so horrible about Nader! Oh wait, I remember, "he helped Bush into the White House by running.".:eyes: :puke:

That balme it all on the thrid party guy DOES make me ill. Like it's Nader's fault Gore couldn't draw his voters away. I liked Gore but come off it, he was not particularly captivating or motivational.

[GreenArrow]

18. Yeah, the nerve of him, running and stealing Al Gore's votes

Honestly, I think Gore owes his popular vote victory to Nader voters who changed their vote at the last minute out of fear of Bush winning. I met another one today, and Bush won my state by 12 points. But he was afraid Bush would win and forgot about the electoral votes. I've met a LOT of people who did this.

Same thing is happening now with DK; people are afraid, they've been propagandized and traumatized and they want a "sure winner," so they'll vote for a lesser choice. As horrible as Bush is, DK offers the only real contrast, and the only real change in direction. He is, IMO, the only Democratic candidate offering any kind of alternative vision for this country, and I'd damn sure rather live in Dennis' America than the other choices we're being offered.

[friendofbenn]

11. lieberman

go ahead. throw your vote away

[diamondsoul]

13. ROTFLMAO

OMG, Lieberman is the Dem's Nader?

*note for those who miss it, that's what people kept telling the Naderites in 2000

[dad]

14. Ralph Nader is like a saint coming down to earth and live amongst us

And Kucinich is in tight with Nader, so he is like an angel from above coming down to guide us.

[Terwilliger]

17. you don't like Kerry?

Feingold? Oh yeah, yella-dumb, Ralph like LOTS of folks

[charlie]

19. Gingrich recently made a nice plug for Lieberman

Better make plans to be anywhere but in a voting booth if Joe is the Dem candidate.

[DemBones DemBones]

24. Clearly, then, you're not a Yellow Dog Democrat.

[LWolf]

33. It's a good thing I don't subscribe to that strategy.

I wouldn't be able to vote for any of the 9 if I rejected them based on who likes them. I can find someone I don't like among any candidate's supporters.

Based on that, we could all stay home and sulk on election day, and give * a free ride for another 4 years.

[Desertrose]

15. why would anyone not want the change now??

so true diamondsoul...someday, like tomorrow, is....always in the future....

I don't understand...why would anyone want to wait when we can make it happen...make it real NOW?

Is there a better time ever, for anything you want , than NOW??

Why wait?? IS it a matter of not wanting to expend the energy to make it happen?? Well then, it never will happen....and since when has "idealist" become an undesirable trait in this world??

Dennis Kucinich is a bright light...a truthteller..an idealist -yes, but that is what we need...no more slick phony politicans of either party will get us out of the mess we are in. We need someone who is willing to lay it all on the line for the little guy...the individuals who make up America.

We cannot afford to allow CORPORATE AMERICA to continue to call the shots!

I'm with you diamond soul...I want us to have the best...to be the best...to take the high road instead of the money road. We can take care of each other...but we have to care about each other first...DK is a true role for being a man of high ideals....and I don't want to wait for that...and why should I??

Dennis NOW!!!!

Peace
DR

[roughsatori]

20. Worse: An acquaintance who is a Clark supporter said to me

"Don't waste your vote in the primary on Kucincih, he doesn't have a chance and it will be the fault of people like you who didn't vote for someone electable like Clark in the primary." I am serious, and I had to walk away out of anger.

Once a Buddhist Monk said to me: Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do when in a dialogue with an asshole is to walk away."

[diamondsoul]

22. Not me, I'd have said this-

"No it will be the fault of people like you who are too scared to vote with your heart and conscience in the primaries."

THEN I'd have walked away. But I like to have the last word when I know I'm right.:evilgrin: :toast:

[tinanator]

31. sometimes, for the sake of the country

you need to follow Olivia Newton John's advice and "get physical"
otherwise he might repeat that crap. Is your country's welfare and the world's safety worthy of no more than high minded demuring?

[diamondsoul]

27. Just a side-bar, and if it's a repeat I apologize-

I do love this article (except that it has a harsh little bit about Dr. Dean in it I sort of wish he'd left out)

http://www.swans.com/library/art9/mws047.html

"What will you do, Americans, will you elect Dennis Kucinich? Will you demand that his voice be heard, will you take your voices out into the streets and shout loud and clear, for all to hear, will you exercise your right of free speech? Now, America and Americans, will you put partisanship out of your minds and unite for the common good? Will you change the course of history?
<snip>
When you Americans finally take charge of your government, I imagine you'll have plans for Cheney and Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and the rest. Don't forget about Poppy Bush, though, send him to a prison farm that has chickens to keep, it will be good therapy, for all of us.

I wonder what you Americans will do, after you take your government back, with all those military troops you have scattered about the world and all those weapons you keep and supply. Will you save the world from the weapons you own? Will you stop selling and giving away 'instruments' designed to bring death? What about your nuclear weapons; will you free the world of all weapons of mass death and destruction; will you lead all humanity to complete and total disarmament?"

[Mairead]

28. BRAVA! BRAVA! That's beautiful, DS, thank you

[JohnKleeb]

32. Thank you diamond Ive been wanting to one of these

How long must we wait. I am sick of being told we should just back out and the like. I tell you we are in this for a reason. I dont wanna wait. I feel like a Brooklyn Dodgers fan in the 50's, wait till next year when people say that.

[bobthedrummer]

34. The US needs DK

yesterday.