Meanwhile, on the topic of MidEast Peace, Kucinich visits Syria:

[LWolf]

With the current U.S. death toll at 3739 and counting, I thought it might be ok to leave secret bathroom code signals and inner-party warfare behind long enough to see who's still trying to end the war/occupation/invasion.

I'm pleased to see that Dennis Kucinich hasn't given up.


Kucinich Meets with Syrian President

Sunday, September 2, 2007 6:46 PM


<snip>

DAMASCUS, Syria -- U.S. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, a Democratic presidential candidate, met Sunday with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as part of a Middle East peace initiative and fact-finding tour to several countries over the next five days.

In the meeting with President Assad, Kucinich is expected to discuss approaches to dealing with the continued violence and instability in Iraq, as well as to discuss the Baker Hamilton report to the U.S. Congress which recommended direct engagement with Syria as part of a new Middle East foreign policy initiative.

Kucinich said, "President Assad will be pleased to know that there are many Americans who are committed to peaceful relations. I believe that Syria can play an important and constructive role in achieving peace in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. Syria has cooperated with the United States on security matters in the recent past. Only through direct engagement can we hope to achieve the level of trust and dialogue which is necessary to achieve peace." Kucinich has been campaigning across the United States and in Congress to end the war in Iraq and has drafted and introduced a comprehensive legislative plan to end the war in Iraq (House Resolution 1234.)

<snip>

The Kuciniches visited the site of the "Shouting Valley" where Syrians whose families were separated through the occupation of Majdal Chams, literally shout to each other across a distance of several hundred yards in order to maintain family contact.

"The Golan region is obviously one of the issues which will come up in the discussion with President al-Assad. I felt it was important to see for ourselves to better understand the contours of the issue. As a Congressman and as a Presidential candidate, I have an obligation to see for myself," Kucinich said.

More:

http://www.newsmax.com/international/kucinich_syria/2007/09/02/29345.html

[burrowowl]

1. K&R

[ihelpu2see]

2. I have to say I am very impressed with Mr. Kucinich and would hope all

take a close look at his health care plan. Medicare Part B could be implimented for all with little extra cost for administration and could provide 80% coverage of doctors visits right off the bat..

[LWolf]

3. He is certainly strongest on both

peace and health care!

[Totally Committed]

18. I agree. Too bad he's so damned "unelectable".............

:sarcasm:

This Party needs to GROW UP and start voting the issues instead of superficialities.

TC

[LWolf]

19. Of course, you know I agree with that.

I read something, somewhere here on DU (I think), that called issues voters "idealists."

I've been a proud, unapologetic idealist all of my life. I've just never seen the point of putting my time and effort into working for mediocrity. I want to work for the best; for the ideal.

What do I love about my country? The IDEALS our Constitution represents. Not our dysfunctional, incomplete enaction of those ideals, but the ideals themselves.

What's the point of politics? To continue moving forward, with those ideals firmly established as the destination.

When we set our sights on the highest ideals, we may not reach the pinnacle, but we'll sure as hell get further than if our goal is to reach the base of the mountain. The ground there, while closer to the peak, is no higher than out on the plains.

If voters aren't willing to set their sights on the highest good, if they are willing to vote for the base of the mountain, they damned well can't complain when they get what they voted for. At least, they can't complain without hypocrisy.

If elections are about striangulation, about personalities and stage performance rather than about issues, then elections are irrelevant.

To be relevant, or not to be relevant. That's the question, and the choice, of the day.

[Totally Committed]

20. We've lost our way. Ideals, values, issues -- that's what our votes should be about.

Instead, we allow the "media" to convince us that it should be about "appearance", "image", "charisma", "star quality", and "buzz".

The hell with how the candidate will vote... How much do their haircuts cost? How big is their house? Who are they married to? Do they eat sea bass? What movie star or celebrity has endorsed them? -- You know, stuff like that. That's all we're told we need to know. And, that's EXACTLY why we have had to suffer through 8 years with a President everyone wanted to have a beer with as we watched him destroy this country and our way of life.

There was a time when a candidate's ideas were the measure of who (s)he was. There was a time when candidates for office had to tell us what their vision for OUR lives and how they would make things better for US was what was needed to win a vote. Now they have stylists and handlers and advisors who run focus groups and "place" articles in the media and find ways to destroy the "viability" of other candidates. Our welfare is forgotten next to all the big corporate donors the fundraisers bring into the campaigns. It's all about whose "machine" is best now, not whose ideas are. It's about how "popular" a candidate is made to appear, rather than how honest or (s)he is. A vote for the little guy is seen as "courageous", even when it is the only right thing to do.

Politics have gotten filthy, and this atmosphere rarely breeds a real, honest-to-goodness populist candidate. Kucinich is one of them, and THAT's why they spend so much time telling us how "unelectable" he is.

TC

[LWolf]

23. I don't know how to impress that upon others.

That ideals, values, and issues matter more than the rest, and that we should base our votes, and our choices, on those things that matter.

I know that I will vote that way, and that I will try to keep my discussion focused on those things. I don't know what else to do.

[frogcycle]

4. Good for DK

Out of curiosity I tried searching for news on this. About all I could find were right-wing bloggers slamming it. Nothing from our MSM.

The silence is deafening.

[LWolf]

5. The silence is deafening.

It seems like this is a topic worthy of discussion, and an issue worthy of focus.

It doesn't matter what candidate you support, and it's bigger than the primary wars.

If the media is controlling the message by hammering some, and "disappearing" others, then our primaries are a symbolic token. We aren't really choosing the best from among the whole pack when not only the starting line, but the whole damn track is unequal.

We can do the usual, and write letters to our reps asking for some kind of reform. That's a slow process, at best. Frankly, I haven't found my reps very responsive to my letters.

We could refuse to vote for those candidates hand-picked by the media. That would work if voters did it as a block, but isn't very effective done as individuals, lol.

What else can we do?

I favor 100% public financing of campaigns with no outside funds allowed, and some sort of a "fairness doctrine" to guarantee equal air time and neutral treatment from the media for all candidates.

I'd also like to see polling go away completely. It's too easy to manipulate, and it sets people up to vote, not for who they think is the best choice, but for who "the polls" tells them is everyone else's choice. That's a manipulation of the vote. Give them all an equal playing field, and let people make up their own minds, and find out what others think by actually talking to people.

[frogcycle]

11. i agree with your goals

but struggle with any practical way to accomplish them

even if the media were not bought and paid for, even if they were responsible journalists serving as te Fourth Estate, the "people's watchdog:, forcing coverage of a candidate is a non-starter.

With full public funding, I guess a reporter and phoptographer could be assigned on the public payroll to journal the candidate's moves, provide video and print to the wire services. Then maybe a public-funded website could provide all that. And NPR or cspan or something could air it. The commercial media are still going to obsess on their favorites though.

[LWolf]

12. The only way I can see to accomplish any thing significant

is for voters to revolt, not as individuals, but as a block.

What if voters did not enable the media blitz? What if they turned it off, and informed sponsors that they were no longer getting news and info from tv or radio?

What if voters as a block refused to vote for the candidates hand-selected for them ahead of time? Not just a few of us disgruntled people, but masses of us?

What if voters, as a block, only voted for candidates who did not take corporate donations?

What if voters DID camp out in front of their reps' offices, in large groups, when reps didn't do their jobs? What if voters flooded newspapers with LTTEs demanding the resignation of reps of all parties who didn't work to enact the changes they campaigned on?

The entrenched powers are corrupt beyond redemption. The only chance to clean it up is for the citizens to enact a unified revolt. Through legal means, of course. ;)

What if we all quit being conspicuous consumers and quit supporting the worst of the corporate suspects?

It's our job to right the boat. If we can't get our act together, then our government never will.

[superkia]

6. Its pretty bad when the MSM controls DUers also!

Kucinich doesn't even get any respect around these parts except from a small percentage. Its kind of like the media saying he only gets 1-3% and when you look around here, he gets about the same. The same people that say they don't trust the media because they are agenda driven, seem to be supporting that same medias agenda? I really don't understand it. Do we all want change in our political system or just the same ole shit? From what I read around here lately, we want the same ole shit, its pathetic!

I hope everyone that supports Kucinichs ideas will continue to keep his name around and kicking!

[LWolf]

7. It's a symbiotic relationship.

Lots of people bitch about the media, but they still make it a focus, they still listen and allow it to affect their world view.

Read the front page in GD on most days; how many "___________ is on _________!!!" will you see? How many posts about media talking heads and what they said, as opposed to what the voting population has to say?

[penguin7]

8. You hit the nail right on the head.

Kucinich just used an expression about if you point fingers, three fingers point back.

I see a lot of people in here and the other blogs pointing fingers at the political system. bitching and complaining and then sending money to the corporate lackeys.

I really don't understand it either.

[superkia]

9. I think they use the unelectable term so they dont feel guilty...

for voting for a candidate that supports the killing of innocent people for money or things like the patriot act that just help to destroy our constitution. There is no wasted vote, if we all vote for the best candidate for our country, we could not only stop the nonsense thats going on in our government but we would also elect a Democrat like we all want! It makes sense to me but many people just don't understand? We could have everything we want if we would just ignor the media and vote with our conscience!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. There's always some excuse, isn't there?

"OMG, no! I can't go against conventional wisdom or live differently from my neighbors! Besides, I have a reason for going about business as usual."

That seems to be the reaction that any suggestion for constructive change gets on DU these days.

[IndianaGreen]

16. and then people complain when the politicians they voted for end up caving in to Bush

We should vote for those politicians that best represent our values and hopes. That's what makes people electable, not what some Beltway pundit spouts.

[LWolf]

17. We're in agreement on that!

We should vote for those politicians that best represent our values and hopes. That's what makes people electable, not what some Beltway pundit spouts.

[druidity33]

13. i have been reading

A Payer For America by DK (started today, on pg46) and he is only making me more determined to try and help his campaign. There is a Kucinich group near me that has been distributing flyers around town about his candidacy... i think they're homemade... lotsa links and quotes on them. I'll see if i can score a digital copy and post it.

Here's a good quote from pg 8:

"Trifling with social issues evades our responsibility to face economic issues, diminishing the potential for economic issues to rally popular support. The basis of genuine reform is economic reform. We can solve economic problems if we refuse to be distracted. The failure is one of courage among reformers to attempt to mobilize popular support for basic economic issues, which challenge the economic interests of big business. The substitution of social issues in place of economic issues (far from offering an alternative route to progressive policies) trifles with people's problems, and offers false solutions such as integration of schools which are so bad that you wouldn't want your kids to go to the schools in any case."


(my emphasis added)
and it's just been getting better. Really it's a collection of his speeches through the years...


As for Syria and al-Assad, i think it's an incredible thing to do... and it falls right in line with the idea of a Dept of Peace (an idea long overdue). Did anyone else go with him? Was it a Congressional Delegation?

If he doesn't get the nod, he would be the best Sec of State ever! Or the first Head of the Dept of Peace?

:)

[LWolf]

14. Just he and his wife.

Good point about Secretary of State, at least if the admin he was working in favored diplomacy over military options.

[IndianaGreen]

15. Dennis is visiting "rogue" states. Syria today, Iran tomorrow. Florida and Michigan next.

It would be wise for Dennis to stop in Israel and meet with all the political factions in there, just as Joe Lieberman did back in 2002 (Hillary went on the same trip, but she refused to meet with Palestinians and Israeli peace activists).

[Totally Committed]

21. kick

:kick:

TC

[penguin7]

22. The latest on the trip

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-04-2007/0004656099&EDATE=

Kucinich Continues Middle East Peace Mission in Lebanon



BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Presidential
candidate and Congressman Dennis Kucinich met with Lebanese Prime Minister
Fouad Siniora here last night for a wide-ranging discussion that included
possible diplomatic initiatives in which Lebanon could participate in a
peace plan that could bring security to Israel. ... ...

[LWolf]

24. "Even-handed."

Balance and equal treatment of Israel and Palestine is a worthy goal, imo.

:thumbsup:

<snip>

The two spoke at length about the imperative of peacefully resolving
issues relating to the rights of Palestinians and the establishment of a
Palestinian homeland in order to bring about long term peace and security
for Israel.

"The Prime Minister and I agree that a fair, just and equitable
resolution of matters between the Israelis and Palestinians must be seen as
central to establishing peace not only in the region but throughout the
world," Kucinich said.

"America must lead the way in this regard, by taking an even-handed
approach in the Middle East which includes establishment of two states,
together with the protection of the social, economic and political rights
of Palestinians simultaneous with mandatory, firm long-term structural
security assurances for Israel," Kucinich said.

[eridani]

25. Who else is willing to say this?

I'll bet not any of the front running candidates.

[LWolf]

27. I haven't checked,

but I'd guess you've nailed that one.

[eridani]

26. Who else is willing to say this?

I'll bet not any of the front running candidates.