The Three Bs...and Dennis Kucinich

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

Dennis Kucinich....

He has the Beliefs. Belief in America. Belief in Humanity. Belief that we can make a better world. He had the belief in himself. The man grew up in poverty and made something of himself. He gets what this country should be about.

He has the Brains. He had more enough sense to know that Iraq was a bad idea and not only did he believe it He spoke it and acted on it.

He has the Balls. The fat cats held the gun to his head when he was Mayor of Cleveland. "Sell out or else..." He put his butt on the line, paid the price...but he was proven right. Ask yourself...If Hillary Clinton had that same choose, would she stand firm or roll over? How about Obama? or Joe Biden? or John Edwards.
He had the balls to vote against this war...Not just speak out, but his vote behind it. He has the balls to openly say to the Fat Cats, You'll get skinnier when I'm President.

Dennis Kucinich is the type of man who just won't talk about it, he'll be about it.

If you feel you don't have a stake in the game, you need to be voting for Dennis.
If you don't have health care, you need to be voting for Dennis.
If you want your loved one home from Iraq, you need to be voting for Dennis.
If you want a President who respect working people, you need to be voting for Dennis.
If you an America that gives a damn about poor, you need to be voting for Dennis.

But that also why I'm cynical about his prospects. But lets be real, if you want to do something for people...people don't vote for you. I don't get it. Maybe I'm just dumb...but I thought I ran this country??? I thought it was We The People.

Yeah, I'm ranting this morning. What the hell is going on America? One minute I hear, "We want health care reform..." and then I see candidates at some damn K Street wine and cheese getting warm fuzzies from GlaxoSmithKline. Man can't serve two masters.

How can you tell me, "We need welfare reform.." When the biggest welfare program in the nation is the War On Terror. You want cut some welfare...CUT SOME THAT ROCKWELL-FARE! You want to take my auntie's food stamps, but United Defense gets their gubmint cheese????

"We need peace in Iraq...so we can SIOP Iran?" Barack Obama talking about bombing Pakistan. Hillary Clinton wants to get her war on. WAR! WAR! WAR! I already know the Republicans jerk themselves off with the lastest Lockheed Martin Catalogue, but damn DEMOCRATS DOING IT TOO??? Oh by the way....WHY ARE THERE TAX CUTS FOR THE WEALTHY, DURING A TIME OF WAR?????

It's funny...Dennis Kucinich is called a "kook"...Because he wants a Department of Peace??? WHEN THE HELL DID PEACE BECOME KOOKY?? Can somebody answer that for me! WHEN THE HELL DID VIOLENCE BECOME SANE!

Dennis Kucinich's Department of Peace vs. the Project for a New American Century
Ask yourself...Who's the kook?

Single Payer Healthcare for All vs. GlaxoCignaIfYouCanAffordItCare.
Ask yourself...What's kooky?

Standing up for our Constitutional Rights vs. The Patriot Act
Ask yourself...What's kooky?

Think about it.

[Red Zelda]

1. and he has as much of a chance as a Bedbug.

[DURHAM D]

2. Is this a sideways attempt to justify his SCHIP vote? n/t

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

9. I agree with his vote and why he did it.

I have a vested interest in it...My fiance and her daughter are LEGAL immigrants to the United States...I don't think I'd want the child to be denied care if she gets sick.

Why was the language taken out of the first version. What horse-trading was it the victim of?

[Jim__]

3. But is he bractical enough?

Kucinich voted against the SCHIP bill because it wasn't perfect. He lost my vote when he did that.

[superkia]

32. Because it wasnt perfect! Are you kidding me!

What if they left out a fucking whole race, would you be for that bill too? This is why our country is going downhill, too many Americans have that, its good for me attitude. What if it were your race, your family and your child was dying because they couldn't get health care because NO ONE stood up for them ever? More politicians need to stand up and represent the people of America like Kucinich did, its their job. Its not their job to help certain ones and say fuck you to the others, thats ridiculous.

We need a leader like Dennis Kucinich because he DOES care about the people. All people!

[flvegan]

4. Sometimes, I think people don't really want things to change

People blather on and on about this topic and that. The war, health care, military spending, taxes, jobs/economy, govt accountability, the environment, etc. Outrage left and right. Along comes a candidate that really just nails almost everything. "Well, I like him and all, but I back candidate X because he/she has a better chance of winning." Well, if DK had more backing from folks like this, maybe he would be doing better.

But then, without a big corporate sponsored war chest to spend on your campaign, fat chance. IOW, we're letting Big Corporation buy our candidate for us. So glad I can find my leader at fucking WalMart.

[peace13]

5. The media washes DK form the picture.

It is odd that here people say he is unelectable but will settle for a candidate that has no interest in them. Kucinich could happen if people were willing to work for change. I for one will work for Kucinich as long as he is in the game. People need to their homework and get to know the man. Then decide for yourself. Peace, Kim

[sellitman]

13. Bingo!

I still don't know why people say he is unelectable. He may be the only one I'd gladly pull the lever on. I still will vote Democratic if he isn't our choice but until that point I am 100% behind him.

[MGKrebs]

31. I can explain why I think he is unelectable.

It's because he can't run a campaign, he can't raise any money, and he can't convince enough people he is right.

He ran for president last time and actually got some delegates. He's been a mayor and he is currently a Congressman. There is no reason he shouldn't be able to parlay that resume into significant support, but he can't. Before anyone blames it on the DLC or the media (again), let me just say that if a candidate is going to run as an outsider, then they need to do outsider kinds of things to raise money and gain support. (Dean was somewhat successful at this.) It is ridiculous to run an outsider campaign while constantly complaining about being shunned by the insiders and not doing anything "insurgent" other than "talk the talk". How can anyone take that seriously?
DK has a base- his district in Ohio and his donor list from last time- and if he can't leverage that into a little bit more support on Iowa and NH, then either he's not really serious about winning or he is incapable of the task he has chosen for himself. It's like a baseball player complaining that there are only three strikes. Any one player is unlikely to get the rules changed during a game. If DK wants to focus on media reform or election reform, then fine, but he doesn't need to be a Presidential candidate to do that.

Yes DK has some disadvantages; he's a middle-class, short, white guy from the mid-west with a not-too-distinguished resume. There will ALWAYS be another candidate with a more compelling story than him. We purposely seek them out BECAUSE they have compelling stories. John Kerry, Max Cleland, and a thousand others across the country. If DK can't recognize this and develop a way to compete against it, he will continue to be a symbolic, but losing, candidate.

[pberq]

15. Well said, Kim. Kucinich is the best!

[Armstead]

6. Literally.....

In Hilary's case you could find her on the Wal Mart Board

[HughBeaumont]

8. And with the candidate they're picking, things sure ain't a gonna change.

Which is why corporations ARE pushing Hillary down our throats. Business as usual.

A progressive like Kucinich will end their blood-soaked and armored tank-stocked gravy train and they know it.

And the people only want to believe what they're told.

[RiverStone]

7. it matters not what anybody says about winning

Too bad the MSM has so much say in choosing the frontrunners; on principles alone - Dennis has best articulated the passion, rage (against the war), and message which exemplifies the Democratic party.

Realistically and for reasons totally unrelated to his positions, because Dennis does NOT crawl in bed with corporations - I doubt he will earn too many victories.

Though I think even against the odds, we should Impeach Shrub and Shooter - or at least attempt to do so - on moral grounds alone. Win or not, Dennis will get my support and I will advocate his positions all the way through the primaries!

What the MSM says about winning is nothing compared to taking a stand on positions that are right.

[Desertrose]

10. I agree...I'm tired of the MSM picking my candidate

Telling me I have to vote for _________ ( fill in the. blank with any corporate candidate).

Ya gotta respect Dennis and if enough people hear his message, he will be their choice.

DR

[Steve_in_California]

11. The guy is a liar.

He tells people he can win. He knows that isn't true.

[cascadiance]

20. Hmm... So you are acknowledging the system is RIGGED?

You are basically saying that he's lying because he's saying he "can" win. The only way that is a LIE is if it can be shown that the system is rigged so it is IMPOSSIBLE for him to win. In other words you are saying we no longer have a Democracy any more.

In a democracy, anyone running theoretically "can" win. Whether they are likely to win is a different question. How again, is he lying and we still have a democratic system he's running for office in?

[LWolf]

12. He stands alone, light years ahead of the rest.

On every damned issue on the table or shoved under the table.

He stands alone as someone willing to lead an opposition to the destructive regime in power in the U.S..

He is a true champion of the Constitution, of democratic principles, of social and economic justice, and a champion of the have-nots, and of all people.

[antigop]

14. Marketing 101: "we often know brands simply because advertisers want us to."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3552757&mesg_id=3553502

[BigDDem]

16. Ill give it to the DK folks, you're consistent....

if you support a candidate who is stuck at 2% and going nowhere fast,
always blame the "MSM"

I'm sure you guys have lots of examples of where the "MSM"
"told" you who to vote for...right?

[hayu_lol]

17. Yeah, Kucinich does indeed stand alone...

surrounded by a nasty bunch of brownshirts who are attempting to ram him down everyone else's throats.

Dennis cannot now organize and run his own organization...what sort of fairy tale is it to suppose he could not only run...but fix...this broken and divided country.

He is ignored you say? He whines and cries and says so himself attempting to get some attention.

He introduced HR 333, then apparently walks away--onward and upward to more ideas, leaving it to others to make a convincing argument for 333. It has been some months now...he has only gotten 20 of his fellows in the House to go along with it. If he can't convince the other House members...as a member himself, how in the world can he get the House to go along with all his grandiose ideas.

If you back Dennis in the primary, thats fine. If you continue on into the nationals, then you are nothing but a loose collection of Naders and Keyes and Pauls spoilers.

Dennis is still below 3% nationally.

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

21. I don't blame the MSM

I blame the people who complain about what they don't have, but won't support somebody who's dedicated to getting them what they need.

Health care is the perfect example...We know we need to look at universal health-care, but you aren't going to get it by compromising with the Fat Cats. Its time for the Fat Cats to get put on a diet.

Like I said before, man cannot serve two masters. You can't reform health care with the insurance companies and the drug companies holding the writing pen. You give them a place at the table..and you'll find yourself left with the scraps.

Only Dennis Kucinich wants to put them on that diet.
That's why I'm for a Dennis, but a lot of people aren't.

How do you spell Dennis Kucinich? F-U-N-D-A-M-E-N-T-A-L C-H-A-N-G-E

And that is something a lot of American unfortunately just don't want. In many cases because if we actually change America and take a good hard look how we're going wrong and maybe look at how the rest of the world getting it right..that it makes America "weak".

We've all fallen into the John Wayne-Ronald Reagan lie that American knows best and the rest of the world knows squat. That's why a person like Dennis who is saying that America can be stronger for learning something from the rest of the world and reengaging in Planet Earth scares the piss out of us. Because us "Merkans" think we have the field covered.

Perhaps the United States isn't ready to be a part of the 21st Century. Too bad, It's here, whether we are ready or not.

How many candidates are seriously looking at what this country will be in 2015, 2020, 2030, 2040...The only person in my opinion who is asking that question is Dennis Kucinich.

My grandfather always told me: If you don't fight what you really want, YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GET.

[Desertrose]

28. "If you don't fight what you really want, YOU DESERVE WHAT YOU GET."

Your Grandfather was very wise.

[Desertrose]

26. Better than going with a lesser choice because they have the "numbers"

And yeah, are you not paying attention at ALL?


Of course the MSM is telling us who we should vote for. What world are you living in, or is their *subtlety* fooling you?

[Norrin Radd]

18. k+r

[OneBlueSky]

19. and of these three "B's," the most important of all is "balls" . . .

particularly because they such rare commodities among today's politicians . . .

schooled to "tell 'em what they want to hear" and "never take a position if you can avoid it," the vast majority of both Democrats and Republicans today have the intestinal fortitude of wet sock . . . the notion of political courage seems to be something they've never learned, or learned and intentionally forgotten . . . the namby-pamby meanderings of members of Congress and presidential candidates alike in the face of critical problems of historic importance is enough to induce projectile vomiting of a sustained nature amongst those of us who care passionately about what these people are allowing to happen to our nation and the planet . . .

what this country needs is more Dennis Kuciniches, more Al Gores, more Bobby Kennedys, more Keith Olbermanns, more leaders who actually understand the concept of leadership and are willing to put their asses on the line for what is right . . . what we do NOT need is more corporate whores who will say anything and do anything to keep those campaign contributions coming in, regardless of the negative impact of their actions . . . it's gotten so bad that many -- myself included -- have reached the point of just throwing up our hands and saying "fuck 'em all" (and the corporate whorses they rode in on) . . .

Dennis has my vote -- unless Al Gore enters the race . . . either way, he has my respect and my admiration, something I can't offer to too many of our so-called "leaders" these days . . . for those who do things like vote for the Kyle bill on Iran I have nothing but contempt and scorn . . . fuck 'em all . . .

[againes654]

22. You know what really gets me about Dennis

is that he will speak the truth, stand up for the truth, and be the truth, even if it costs him the election. He will not SELL OUT to the insurance companies, lobbyists, or big business. He will stand his ground. All these effin people that say yeah, I like him, but he will never get elected are driving me effin insane. I don't understand.

Well, I say this today, if you support any of the "leading" candidates, I don't want to hear the bitching in 3 years when you still don't have health care, we are still at war with Iraq, and probably Iran at that point. I don't want to hear it when the economy is in the toilet and you say, well at least we have a Dem in the WH. What the fuck good is a Dem in the WH if they are going to sell out????

Is that what we really want. We need to stop and really take a look.

[antigop]

23. Great post! Thank you. n/t

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

24. That's why he's earned my vote

Because Dennis had his moment of Truth, and the third-string high school quarterback stood in the pocket, took the hit, but he delievered.

Again I ask....If the special interests say to any of the other candidates, "do it our way or else..." Which one of them would do what Dennis did?

[Desertrose]

25. Exactly!!

He will not sell out.

...and yeah, what the hell good is a "D" if they act like an "R"?

I want somebody who stands for and with the people- not corporations & big insurance .

DR

[redqueen]

27. Yup... surprised to people still acting as if his actions in Cleveland

were somehow bad... "the city of Cleveland went bankrupt..."

:eyes:

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

29. I'm not surprised by it

That in itself in inaccurate.. The city "Did not go bankrupt" The city went into default, because the Cleveland Trust refused to renew the city's credit, because Dennis Kucinich wouldn't sell Muny Light.

The problem is...the whole story take time to tell...and the news media doesn't want to tell the story because they believe the populist doesn't have the attention span to tell it.

Never mind that the story is actually pretty simple. The Fat Cats had their utility, and there was Muny Light, which was publicly owned. The big banks and industries figured if we forced a sale of Muny Light, we have the market cornered on power in this town and we'd make a lot of money because we can charge whatever we want.

In short its was an Enron Takeover of energy in Cleveland, Ohio.

Mayor Dennis Kucinich was told, "Hey kid, just sell Muny Light to us..and we'll extend a greater line of credit to you...If you don't sell we default on you and Cleveland goes down the tubes. We'll nuke this city if you don't play ball."

Kucinich stood up and said "NO".

So the banks financially nuked the city, but then they also heavily funded anybody who could get rid of Kucinich....By 1981, They had their man. George Voinovich. Kucinich was thrown out of office.

But the funny thing is....Muny Light survived....and ended up saving Clevelanders over 100 million dollars on their utility bills....hmmm

15 years later...The Cleveland's city council confirmed what a lot of Clevelanders were seeing in their bill every month. Dennis was right.

Hmm...Helluva story...and its all true.. But don't expect Tim Russert to tell it that way. Just like in the debate last night, Kucinich had to say, "That was their version...now he's the real story."

The real story rarely gets told if ever...and if it involves somebody standing up to the Fat Cats, its a story that won't get it day in the sun very often.

But that is another part why Dennis gobsmacks people. We look at him 5'6", elfin, vegan...and we perceive him not to have the steel in his backbone. But again, When he had his moment of truth, he didn't fold.

To do what he did and pay the price he paid...that takes balls. And not everybody has them, but you can't make change without them.

[redqueen]

30. It's been told for years now... the media whores (and kos) just don't care

to reveal their ignorance / complicity.