Is Kucinich a serious candidate?

[penguin7]

I think he is. Also this election is much the better for him being in there. If he was not in it, I think I would lose all interest. He is the only one really raising important issues, in my mind anyway.

And from reading the posts here, I am heartened to see so many others are glad to see Kucinich challenging business as usual in politics.

[LoZoccolo]

1. No. n/t

[SaveElmer]

2. No...

And Kucinich is business as usual...carping from the sidelines rather than digging into to actually get something done...today's vote is another example...

[saltpoint]

3. A serious candidate, yes. The only one raising serious issues, no. n/t

[Common Sense Party]

4. Vanity candidate. He's our Tom Tancredo.

In our heart of hearts, we may agree with him 100% (or 95%), but we know he won't ever come close to winning.

[cyclezealot]

54. you are full of crap.

he runs on issues polls show a majority of Democrats favor. Gotta do something to make the sell outs accountable. Glad someone is out there who think issues matter and call upon party leaders to adhere to what Grassroots Democrats want, as shown by polls. Mabye you rule your political choices by who has a pretty face; but to many of us Issues matter.
Thank you Dennis for fighting the fight for us and not letting power brokers tell our candidates what issues the parties' money backers say is acceptable dialogue.

[Common Sense Party]

57. Just like Tancredo.

He runs on issues that polls show a majority of Repukes favor.

But he hasn't a chance in hell of winning the nomination.

Neither does Kucinich, and you KNOW it.

Just because you don't like the truth, doesn't mean it's not the truth.

[cyclezealot]

59. It means if the Democrats are not right on

trade, health care , or Iraq; my interest in helping out a bunch of mealy mouthed , finger to the wind politicials is drastically reduced. Kucinich might have less chance because the media dislikes him and gives him a cold shoulder as shown by Ted Koppel or MSNBC. Considering my dislike for our media and the fools who listen to their pablem, it only increases our resolve to work and donate all the more to Dennis Kucinich. Because, he is pretty much the only 'serious ' candidate. I really don't care if he wins or not, he is the one , I'd trust with my checking account.

[bvar22]

61. DK runs on issues the majority of American (Democrat AND Republican)

Here is what the MAJORITY of Americans (Democrats AND Republicans) want from OUR government!

In recent polls by the Pew Research Group, the Opinion Research Corporation, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News, the American majority has made clear how it feels. Look at how the majority feels about some of the issues that you'd think would be gospel to a real Democratic Party:

1. 65 percent (of ALL Americans, Democrats AND Republicans) say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."


http://alternet.org/wiretap/29788/

8. Over 63% oppose the War on the Iraqi People.

9. 92% of ALL Americans support TRANSPARENT, VERIFIABLE elections!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x446445

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[MonkeyFunk]

5. No

I don't think he has any expectation of winning - or even breaking 5%.

[IndianaGreen]

6. The DLC is trying to control the nomination process

just as they did in 2004.

[Totally Committed]

22. And, so far, they are succeeding, imo.

It's disgusting.

TC

[Zorra]

43. Yep. And they want to control what is expressed by candidates in

the debates by attempting to eliminate or marginalize candidates that are genuinely pro-democracy and not beholden to, and supportive of, the global corporate interests that the DLC represents.

Facts and opinions expressed by candidates in a high profile public forum that may in any way threaten corporate influence on our government need to be suppressed in order to insure the maintenance the status quo. Can't have the public being confused by hearing the truth.

DK is by far, in reality, the most serious candidate in the field in terms of proposing genuine solutions for the most critical problems faced by American citizens: primarily, healthcare, ending the occupation of Iraq, and the restoration of democracy.

[pberq]

48. Absolutely - Kucinich was the hands down winner in the last debate

Dennis is talking about what needs to be done to benefit the people of this country, instead of what will benefit the corporate elite.

[More Than A Feeling]

7. Nope

As I have said before, he would be serious if he had won statewide office first (no, he was not "politically destroyed" by his acts as Clevelands mayor, or he never would have gotten to be a representative.)

[saltpoint]

8. It is serious business to have the serious talent of inspiring someone to

pay attention to the process and participate in it.

Kucinich has inspired many people to do that. I applaud him for it.

Also he is a true and progressive voice in Ohio, with a long and dedicated history of representing the northeast part of that state.

His ideas are global, though, and his representation could include the whole planet were he to enjoy wider support, which he does not, and were he to find a mechanism to turn his deep passion into practical victories.

I respect Dennis Kucinich a lot and have hung out with a lot of his people over many years, especially in 2004. Some of the best conversations I had were with Kucinich voters in that election year.

Yes, he's definitely a serious candidate, but he faces long, long odds for the nomination.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

9. Yes, and also the best candidate in my opinion. nt.

[k8conant]

10. Yes YES YES YES

Unfortunately, he's short and having a tall wife hasn't gotten him noticed by the MSM. More than ever it's obvious that the MSM wants to run the show by talking about 1st, 2nd, and 3rd tier candidates. What a bunch of hooey!

[The Sushi Bandit]

11. Yes... very much so

he is my man

[goodgd_yall]

12. Yes

Though not cunning enough to win the support of the mainstream of the Democratic Party.

[last_texas_dem]

13. Yes

I believe Dennis Kucinich is serious about what he believes in and what he wants to do to make things better for America and the world. I have more respect for Dennis Kucinich than I do for any of the other Democrats running for President.

Do I think Kucinich has a serious chance at winning the Democratic nomination for the Presidency? No. But I don't consider that judgment a fair way to determine whether or not a person's candidacy is serious.

[calteacherguy]

14. Depends what your definition of "serious" is. nt

[DangerDave921]

20. Perfect

That is the exact response I was about to write!

If by "serious" you mean he has a real chance to be the nominee, NO. He does not have the money or the machine behind him. He has about the same chance as Al Sharpton.

If you mean does he raise serious issues? YES.

If you mean does he have any influence on the political debate? Yes, but very little. I just don't think he gets enough press to be a factor in shaping the issues being discussed. Sorry, just my personal analysis of the lay of the land.

[LWolf]

15. Yes.

If you are serious about moving progressive issues forward; if you are serious about "being" the change you wish to see; if you are serious about courage, and about walking your talk; if you are serious about ending the cycle of corporate corruption we see dominating every facet of the nation...

Kucinich is a serious candidate.

[Totally Committed]

16. Yes.

His "message" is one that should be heard in this debate, if any of us anti-corporatist/peaceniks are to be represented in the primaries at all.

TC

[wyldwolf]

17. he's serious in what he believes, but he's not a serious candidate... he's a vanity candidate

If he were serious, he'd have a first rate campaign operation and be raising serious money.

[SaveElmer]

21. I'm not convinced he is serious in trying to do something about what he says are problems...

If he did, he would do more than bitch from the sidelines...he would get in there, get his hands dirty, and expend some of his political capital to make progress...he seems unwilling to offend any of his supporters however...

Yesterday's Iraq vote in the House is a perfect example...

[Jersey Devil]

18. The point is he should have realized his vote would not be understood

Knowing how steadfast he has been to end the war in Iraq I am certain that he intended his vote as a protest because the resolution did not also end funding for the war.

That said, someone running for President should have known that his vote would be used against him and distorted into something it was not - a vote to continue the war.

So, to answer the question asked in the original post: Is he a "serious candidate", I would have to say no, he is in the race only as a protest as well.

[Douglas Carpenter]

19. only if one believes that discussing REAL issues is an important part of democracy

If democracy is only about fluff and PR and playing on emotions..then I suppose he is only a vanity candidate.

[Freddie Stubbs]

23. Only is his own mind. Not in the real world

He hasn't convinced enough people to contirbute enough money to get his message out, and he is polling within the margin of error of zero.

[rinsd]

24. Serious about wanting to capture the nomination? No. Serious about issues? Yes. (nt)

[SaveElmer]

25. I don't think he is particularly serious on the issues either...

If he was he would do more than bitch from the sidelines...he would get in there and do the dirty work of getting things passed to make progress...

He doesn't...too afraid to tick off his supporters I guess...

Yesterday's Iraq vote is a perfect example

[rinsd]

26. I think he is.

He just seems to feel that giving voice to issues is more important than making incremental steps towards making those issues a reality.

Strange I know but it is what it is.

:hi:

[SaveElmer]

27. People don't take gadflys seriously...

In order for his strategy to work, there has to be some evidence that the he has an ability to wield influence on these issues...to actually get something done, or to bring so much pressure to bear he forces others to take the necessary steps...

It is obvious that Kucinich is a light weight, with virtually no legislative accomplishment...so his calls for this or that change fall on deaf ears...he cannot martial a significant following to pressure decision makers, he has no ability legislatively to get anything done, and he isn't a particularly effective communicator...

Martin Luther King was powerful because of the pressure he could bear on decision makers...

Robert Kennedy was powerful because he was skilled manipulating levers of power...same with Hubert Humphrey....

In our own time, folks like Bernie Sanders and the late great Paul Wellstone are taken seriously because they displayed an ability to move others in and out of Government toward the goal they were seeking...

Kucinich displays none of this ability...


:hi:

[Hippo_Tron]

32. He's speaking about issues that don't have a prayer of getting passed...

But somebody needs to talk about them...

Things like ending the war on drugs, drastically cutting the bloated Pentagon budget. There's little that he could do to get legislation to do those things passed because the country simply isn't ready for it yet. There's no reason that he shouldn't be trying to change minds one at a time, though.

[Prophet 451]

28. Abso-fracking-lutely

In my view, from this side of the Atlantic, he's the only genuine liberal running (so far).

[Colobo]

29. He is not gonna win and he knows it.

[Phoonzang]

30. Unfortunately, No. n/t

[MrCoffee]

31. Serious - Yes. Credible - No.

[Vidar]

33. Yes.

[bigwillq]

34. Yes

He has some very good ideas and his message deserves to be heard. It's an uphill climb but anything can happen.

[goodhue]

35. Very serious, IMHO

So serious that media must belittle him to keep him down

[onenote]

36. if by "serious" you mean he has a chance of winning --- No.

But he's serious in the sense that his candidacy isn't frivolous like Harold Stassen in the 60s or Pat Paulsen in the 70s.

[TeamJordan23]

37. He is right about Healthcare. And was right about Iraq War. nt

[LittleClarkie]

38. In that he brings up good issues, yes. In that he has a chance to be nominated, no

He has a right to be there to further the debate. But will he become president when all is said and done, I doubt it.

[MrRobotsHolyOrders]

39. oh fer fucks sake

For all the bitching on the internet about the wide ranging 'media conspiracy', people sure seem to eat up some of the ugliest reporting frames.

Is Kucinich serious? Well, he's filed the papers. He's not telling 'knock knock' jokes. He's got just as much chance as being elected as Dodd, Biden, or Richardson (and just about most of the Republican field.) Ron Paul is trouncing McCain in the money game, is he a 'more serious' candidate?

Why is John Edwards a more 'serious' candidate than Dennis Kucinich? I get the implications with Hillary and Obama; they've got incredible amounts of money and essentially national campaigns already running. But when did Smiley McCarolina get deceived into thinking he's somehow playing in a different league?

[Beaverhausen]

40. No

sorry folks, I'd like to think he could get elected but the truth is he can't.

And I loved his "NO" vote yesterday on troop withdrawl. Way to help bring an end to the Iraq occupation...

[maximusveritas]

41. Yes

He doesn't have a serious chance of winning, but he's a serious candidate.

[hijinx87]

42. he is a VALUABLE candidate

because he drags the field of candidates to the left.

but I'm not sure he is a serious candidate, if that means
that he has a hope of actually winning the nomination.

[illinoisprogressive]

44. He was mayor at 31. In politics all his life. I think he is.

[illinoisprogressive]

45. even if knowing he is not gonna win he brings a valuable contribution

[Alexander]

46. Yes.

[burythehatchet]

47. I think the question is "are the people serious", sadly, no. n/t

[Fire Walk With Me]

49. He's the only one who is serious about doing what must be done, and doing it now.

[Soulshine]

50. Yes

Anyone who is out there everyday asking for your vote, and enduring the rigors of a campaign deserve alittle more respect than to have anyone idly go "Yeah....but they're not serious." The only reason he won't get elected or Obama won't get elected or Richardson or Hillary for that matter is because YOU GUYS won't vote for them.

Can't blame America for not voting for the guy/lady we won't nominate!

[bvar22]

51. Absolutely!

He is serious about changing the direction of the Democratic Party AWAY from Corporatism.
He is serious about helping those Americans who must work for a living.
And he is serious about using this opportunity to bring REAL ISSUES and REAL answers into the public awareness. Issues that would be IGNORED by the frontrunners.

If Dennis Kucinich was not serious, who would tell America that:

*Single Payer Universal HealthCare is not only possible, but cheaper.

*that "For Profit" HealthCare is obscene

*that Mandatory Health Insurance is NOT REALLY Universal HealthCare

*that the Democratic Party and American taxpayers should NOT be forced to subsidize some of the richest CEOs in history by subsidizing the HealthCare Insurance Corps and HMOs.

*that the USA SHOULD give the Imperial Palace (Green Zone) back to the Iraqis, close the permanent bases, expel all Corporate Consultants, withdraw ALL US Troops, and begin paying reparations NOW.

*that redeploying some troops at some future date is a PRO-WAR position.

*that the "Oil Law Benchmark" supported by the Democratic Party is a War Crime

*That we can have election accountability with "Paper Ballots publicly hand counted at the precinct".

*that we CAN cut $Billions$ from the Defense Budget

*that the RICHEST Corporations in history do NOT need $Billions$ in welfare subsidies

*that NAFTA (Free Trade) has not been a good thing for Americans who have to work for a living

I'm serious, and I seriously support Dennis Kucinich.
I don't believe that he will become the next president, but he is seriously bringing MY VOICE to the election.
Dennis Kucinich is one of the few and dwindling reasons I am still a Democrat.
Seriously!

IMO, the so called frontrunners are NOT serious about helping Middle Class Working Americans.

[polichick]

56. Great post!

These issues should matter big time, so the question is: What does being "serious" mean?

Is it the funding behind the candidates, the organizations and corporations they answer to?

Or is it their commitment to a government of the people, by the people and for the people?

[WhiteTara]

52. no - but he raises serious issues

But he does not have a prayer, IMHO only of course.

edited for typo

[OneBlueSky]

53. serious or not, right now he's the only announced candidate I could support . . . n/t

.

[cyclezealot]

55. by my definition of serious,

Kucinich is just about the only 'serious,' candidate.

[PresidentObama]

58. Nope. n/t

[Redneck Socialist]

60. He's serious, but stands no chance of winning the nom. n/t

[riona]

62. Yes, he is a serious candidate

In the primary, I will vote for the candidate whose views on the issues most match mine - Kucinich. I feel this is the time I can officially express to the powers that be what I expect of a Democratic leader. The votes could add up........

[BornagainDUer]

63. He's the only candidate who is serious IMO.

The rest, except maybe Gravel, are a self-seekers.