Dennis Kuciniich: The diminutive lion of the left

[babylonsister]

The diminutive lion of the left
Ohio congressman's sunny certitude wins admirers for uncompromising stances -- but few believe he can win

By Ofelia Casillas | Tribune staff reporter
October 2, 2007


On the eve of another grim anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, members of Congress voted on a symbolic resolution to establish an official remembrance, expression of sympathy and honoring of heroes.

It was the kind of measure on which, surely, everyone could agree.

Everyone, that is, except Rep. Dennis Kucinich, elected and sent to Capitol Hill in 1996 to represent a district that includes Cleveland, the city where he was dubbed the boy mayor at age 31.

In explaining why his was the lone dissenting vote, Kucinich said Congress needs to "wake up to the truth and exercise its obligation under the Constitution to save our nation from being destroyed from the lies that led us into Iraq, the lies that keep us there, the lies that are being used to set the stage for war against Iran and the lies that have undermined our basic civil liberties at home."

For Kucinich, self-doubt isn't a problem, and half-measures won't do. His position on the war? Complete withdrawal, now. Health insurance? Everybody should have it, now. International trade agreements? Abandon them, now.

Back for a second, quixotic attempt to win the Democratic nomination for president, Kucinich is in perfect form as the perfect foil to a slate of politically pragmatic candidates. His is a world of essential, immutable, not-up-for-compromise truths. Look no further than the slogan that marked his political comeback 13 years ago in a race for the Ohio legislature, following a disastrous term as the mayor of Cleveland: "Because he was right."

more...

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-071002kucinich-story,1,585603.story

[cyclezealot]

1. if forcing upon us proft based insurance and

Kyl Liebermann pro Iran war positions. give me that unpragmatic Dennic Kucinich. The Chicago Tribune is nothing more than another element of the Freeper press. They want to be able to select the Democratic party positions now. the way they have influenced Repuke politics. Keep your mind in the arrairs of the Republican party ,where you belong. Please log on the You Tube Kucinich takes on Blackwater video. he earned my contribution.

[BridgeTheGap]

2. Which is exactly why he gets so little attention from MSM

His ideas and goals are too much of a threat to the statuquo.

[Crazy Dave]

3. He's the only candidate who wants single payer health care

All that other "mandatory health insurance". Instead of making laws that will make the insurance companies change their ways the rest of the candidates want to make laws that will force us to take what they sell or face stiff penalties. Make it affordable? That's a bigger laugh in itself. Insurance companies are only in business to make profits for their shareholders period. They already have high dedusctables and cover less and less as the premiums go higher and higher. And then comes the argument that the more people paying in, the lower the premiums, how stupid can a person be to believe that?
When was the last time your "mandatory" home or auto insurance went down?

[DemBones DemBones]

4. Good points but is homeowners' insurance

mandatory anywhere?

Auto insurance is definitely required yet my husband and I have each had an uninsured driver run into us. You have to wonder how many other people are sliding by without insurance.

And, no, insurance premiums never go down.

Bills are much higher since we're in an HMO, too. It's more convenient for us because doctors have a slew of "girls" to file insurance. For years, we paid and then filed the claims ourselves. Bills were low enough that I'd wait until I had several claims to file for reimbursement.

I think Big Pharma has a lot to do with that. Back in the day, there were never drug dealers, er, pharmaceutical reps, hanging around doctors' offices, now it's not unusual to see as many as four in the lobby at once.

Naturally your doctor wants to put you on the latest drugs, he listens to the reps.

P.S. Great wave smilies!

[Crazy Dave]

6. If you have a mortgage it is

And there are probably more homeowners in America who still have a mortgage than those who own their homes completely. And like with health and auto, the premiums keep going higher along with the deductibles and the adjusters only want to pay about 10% of what your coverage was because it was a natural disaster that occurred during a leap year and was an odd weekday, so as stated on line item #1025 of your policy you are only entitled to 10%.

Look for a thousands of "get rich quick" and for profit only insurance companies to sprout if or when this happens. You'll get cheap policies with no coverage but designed to keep you from paying and to be cheaper than the fines or penalties that the politicians are wanting Americans to pay if they don't have health insurance. A policy with no coverage just like those credit cards offered to people with bad credit. They get a card with a $200 credit limit that comes with a $200 annual and up front fee.

You can remember what I said and say to yourself, "Dave was right" :hi:

[DemBones DemBones]

12. I didn't know that but we own our home completely.

We had a 30 year mortgage, though. When I read your post, I asked Mr. Bones if the law required homeowners's insurance and he said it didn't, so I don't know if we were not required to have it in this state or because we bought from the previous owner, or if he's forgotten or never knew it was required, or if he was just not really thinking because he was getting ready to go out to the dentist and then to work this morning. Or all of the above!

We've always had homeowners' insurance because it would be foolish not to. It would be foolish not to have auto insurance, either, as well as illegal, and not having medical insurance means very limited medical care or huge debts and collection agencies calling constantly. I know someone that happened to and he had insurance. His surgery for a brain tumour was just super expensive and the insurance wouldn't pay for much of it because the surgeons used a laser and that was "experimental."

It's a sure bet that the insurance companies will screw us anyway they can. My HMO just refused to pay for one of two imaging procedures ordered by my doctor. If the first procedure shows something is wrong, or is inconclusive, then they would probably pay for the second one. So I may get to make two trips to the imaging center instead of one, yippee. The wonders of mangled care.

Has it saved us money? Of course not. It's convenient that we don't have to file our own insurance the way we used to but we're paying through the nose to have the doctors' offices file it. Doctors' bills are much higher, too, because I used to wait until I had several bills before I filed claims in the olden days. Today you'd have to file every claim immediately.

It will get worse before it gets better, I fear.

[Crazy Dave]

32. I agree

I own two homes completely and two of my three vehicles are completely paid for and all are insured.

My property taxes together with my two combined homeowner policies is about $300 a month. Six years ago it cost about a third of that.

Own? :shrug:

[riqster]

5. Damning him with faint praise

The MSM just CAN'T write a straightforward piece on a liberal, can they? Noooooo, snark comes first.

[hootinholler]

21. Not only that but the artcle isn't factual.

At least in that Dennis doesn't want insurance for everyone, he wants care for everyone.

-Hoot

[DemBones DemBones]

7. Using the word "diminutive" is intended to diminish

Dennis. It diminishes my respect for the person who wrote the headline (probably not the author of the article) and even more for the newspaper than ran it.

Yeah, he's short. Everybody can see that. Why the preoccupation with height?

Why not comment that Obama's ears stick out, that Hillary Clinton is getting a bit of a turkey neck, that Dodd's hair looks like it hasn't moved in years, that Biden's hair has been falling out for years, that Richardson is on the chubby side, that Edwards is getting a bit of a double chin?

That would be rude? Yes, it would and it's rude to always mention that Dennis is short. Who cares if politicians exhibit natural signs of aging? Do we want our political leaders to look like Joan Rivers? Who cares if they're short or tall? Height does not make a man a man. How big you are inside is most important, in politics as in life.

We're not electing freaking Class Favorites here.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Diminutive also can be used to describe his support, or his chances of being elected

[Totally Committed]

11. Well, that was a nasty and unnecessary post.

If his chances of winning and his support are so "diminutive", why even bother?

TC

[DemBones DemBones]

13. I second that emotion. I believe that if enough

people knew what Dennis stood for, he'd get a lot of votes. People want change and they say in polls that they support what Dennis stands for.

That's why the media has to diminish him. He's not DLC.

[Freddie Stubbs]

28. Maybe people do not believe that Kucinich is capable bringing about change

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. Kucinich provides an amusing diversion from the serious business of choosing the next President

[GreenArrow]

38. "business"

being the operative word.

[Kingofalldems]

17. Your lack of respect for Democrats is apalling

and telling.

[Freddie Stubbs]

18. Respect is earned, not just given to whomever shows up

Run a serious campaign, and you will be treated in a serious manner.

[John Q. Citizen]

19. That was a serious three page piece, in a serious newspaper. Did you read it?

It suffered from the odd and fairly recent news phenomena that in order to do a peice on someone you must also include gratuituos attacks from their detractors, but all in all it gave a pretty good look into the Kucinich and also included a number of very supportive remarks from both Cleveland politicians and from the "man" on the street.

I did think that the article would have been stronger had it stated that Kucinich had saved the City of Cleveland "hundreds of millions"of dollars instead of understating the "millions of dollars," through his successful efforts to save the Cleveland municiple utility.

But all in all, it was a pretty good, strong, and serious article about Kucinich. I liked the final quote:

Kucinich has been here before.

"This is what I know how to do," he said. "I know how to reach into a situation that everyone says is hopeless and change the outcome."

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Yes, I did read it

People were saying that his 2004 Presidential campaign was hopeless. How did he change the outcome of that?

[cyclezealot]

23. not by his campaign statement.

Each month they have been going up. And Kucinich accepts no special interest money. Makes money raising far more difficult. Think I read Kucinich raised one million in the last quarter. Edwards three. Not bad. By my definition his support is Not diminutive.

[Freddie Stubbs]

25. Edwards raised $7 million

http://www.newstimeslive.com/news/updates.php?id=1186572140&source=news_updates

[MadHound]

29. Yes he did, and how many corporations did ol' John sell his soul to in order to get that money?

And gee, if he gets into office, whose interests will he put first, those of the people or those who bought his sorry ass? Dennis is the only candidate out there who isn't whoring himself out to corporate America, who is putting the wishes and the needs of the people before those of corporate America, and that my friend, makes him the best candidate out there.

[Freddie Stubbs]

30. Corporations are prohibited by law from contributing to federal campaigns

[MadHound]

31. Oh, yes they are, wink, wink, nudge, nudge

But gee, with bundling and gifts to parties and in kinds and what have you, those pesky little restrictions are easily circumvented all the damn time, and you know that as well as I do, because I've seen you bitching about how Bush did this during his election runs. What, you think that Dems and your boy Edwards are so pure that this doesn't happen:eyes: Stop being so damned naive.

[Freddie Stubbs]

33. So, any candidate who is successful in raising money must have recieved bundled donations?

:shrug:

[MadHound]

34. Bundled donations, in kinds, any number of means that corporations get cash to their candidate

Sorry, but you don't raise that kind of cash going door to door or doing individual donations. Sooner or later it will come out in the wash which corporations and special interest groups are backing Edwards, don't worry. My bet is that there's some ABA and ATLA money in there, among others.

[cyclezealot]

36. the fed tracking website tracks down how much came from whom.

Just link on any of the campaign money watch websites. They calculate what came from whom. MOst corporations have unofficial PAC's , sponsored by annointed staff. The CEO just shakes the money tree and all the coins fall right into line. They even calculated Dennis Kucinich some how got $7000 from medical interests and Big Pharma. And I don't particularily like that fact, even if it is only $7 K.

[cyclezealot]

35. Got some email from the edwards campaign

Some how they got my email address./ Their bulletin said something about 1 million. must have been for the month.

[kwolf68]

37. Nice post

Now run along back to the establishment and root root for the home team of flacid, sterile, politicians.

[LWolf]

8. What's physical height,

when you stand head and shoulders above the rest on principles, and on issues?

[Desertrose]

22. Our society values "big", therefore it's vital to make DK

seem small, since his ideas are the thing people really can support him on.

Our obsession with "looks" is really getting on my last nerve.

Thank god he's not "fat" or he never would have made it THIS far!


:hi: LWolf

[LWolf]

39. When that's the best they can do

to attack him, you know he's on the right track. :D

:hi:

[Desertrose]

40. Good point, LWolf.

Seems like they have to work harder to try to turn people against Dennis. We have the usual and predictable ones here. Certain posters you can count on...with their same old stuff.

:hi:
DR

[Totally Committed]

10. The word "diminutive" is minimizing (no pun intended...)

Dennis has a big heart and that's really all that should matter!

TC

[Freddie Stubbs]

27. The mentally retarded guy who bags my groceries may have a big heart too, but

that doesn't mean he has any chance of becoming President.

[jmp]

14. Come Jan 29th, I'll be casting my diminutive vote ...

For Dennis. :)

[DemBones DemBones]

15. I'm going to see if I can e-mail the Tribune and

complain about the prejudicial headline.

First I'll read the article, though. I'm betting it will mention that he's a vegan, too. Why is the media so obsessed about his veganism?

[Vidar]

16. Among many others, Alexander the Great, Napoleon & Fiorello

La Guardia were all quite short, but awfully long on accomplishments & leadership. Give 'em Hell, Dennis!

[MH1]

24. So, will he vote for or against SCHIP? Last time he voted against.

Being against "half-measures" is not very welcome to the kids who need health care that Dennis voted against.

[RushIsRot]

41. I learned that 5000 signatures were needed in Arkansas to get

Dennis on the ballot at all. I wrote to his campaign headquarters asking where I needed to go to sign one of those petitions. My queries got passed along to lackeys and have still gone unanswered for two days! It must not be all that important to Kucinich or his staff if he appears on the ballot in Arkansas. I did try. The ball is in their court at the moment.