The only strategic vote until the Convention is a vote for Kucinich

[dpbrown]

Friends,

I'll be attending my caucus on March 2 to vote for Rep. Dennis Kucinich because a friend has convinced me that doing so is vital to the values that I hold dear. Likewise, because you and I are on the same side of many issues, I want to encourage you to do the same. You can find your caucus location at http://www.dfl.org. I'll tell you what you can expect at the caucus (there's not much to it), but first, let me tell you why I believe a victory for Dennis Kucinich in Minnesota is so important.

First, let me say that if you are a strong supporter of Kerry, or you if are a strong supporter of Edwards, then we can agree to disagree. But, if you are like me, you're probably having difficulty finding any substantive differences between these two men. Both put their political careers over our nation's security, the environment, and the lives of people when they gave George Bush and his war two thumbs up. Both voted for his USAPATRIOT Act. While giving up our aspirations to privatize and control the Iraqi oilfields is necessary in getting help from the world community and bringing our troops home, just like Bush neither Kerry nor Edwards will make a firm commitment to do so. Likewise, just like Bush neither plan to cut the bloated military budget in the face of a suffering domestic agenda and a national deficit of 374 billion dollars that has increased a whopping 1.58 billion dollars since yesterday and will again by this time tomorrow. Just like Bush, both men tell us that we are stuck with a for-profit system of health care and that universal health care is impossible because the lobbyists won't let us have it. And just like Bush, both support the death penalty. Nevertheless, most of us would be willing to "settle" for either Kerry or Edwards to get rid of Bush who turned out to be much worse than any of us could have imagined. No matter how bitter the medicine, we understand what needs to be done.

However, there is an up side to all of this. With the conservative candidates dropping out of the race (given what I just said about Kerry and Edwards, this has to make you smile), Minnesotans have an extraordinary opportunity to vote for anyone they choose without feeling like it might result in the nomination of someone like Gephardt or Lieberman. In Minnesota, there is no risk in making the March 2 caucuses about the issues and casting a vote for Kucinich who is the closest to you on the issues. In fact, voting for anyone other than Kucinich could have a negative impact on state politics. If we are not willing to boldly stand with Kucinich on the issues, especially when there is absolutely no risk in doing so, then why should anyone take us, the so called progressives, seriously? On the contrary, imagine what our death-penalty loving governor is to take from of a Kucinich win in Minnesota. What would our state representatives take from a Kucinich win in Minnesota? How about Sen. Coleman and Sen. Dayton? What are they to make of a Kucinich win in Minnesota? What real progressives in the Wellstone state might bubble to the surface and give us a voice because we, with our vote for Kucinich, gave them permission to do so? It is time to put these politicians on notice. A Kucinich win in Minnesota is an easy and effective way to do that. In the meantime, with your support we'll be able to get some delegates to the convention floor who will force the nominee, whoever that turns out to be, to champion the issues of progressives like us.

Here's the bottom line. If we want to be taken seriously, then we must be serious and we have got to be bold. In Minnesota, there is no reason to be anything else and anything less would render the progressive movement INCLUDING the anti-war movement in this state severely wounded. There isn't an excuse left to vote for anything but that thing in which you believe. While a "strategic" vote has usually implied voting against your conscience, this year in Minnesota, it's just the opposite. A strategic vote is clearly a vote for Kucinich.

Please join me in supporting Dennis Kucinich at the caucus on March 2. You can find your caucus location at http://www.dfl.org. Registration starts at 6:30 PM and voting takes place between 7:00 and 7:30 PM. You'll need to sign the back of your ballot in the event that election results are challenged which is very rare. After you have voted, people running as Kucinich delegates may want you to hang around to support them. In fact, you might even think about raising your hand and volunteering to be a delegate. Hey, why not? However, let me emphasize, none of this is a requirement. Taking a few minutes to vote for Dennis Kucinich at the caucus is the main thing I am encouraging my friends and neighbors to do.

So there you have it. March 2 it is! Let's put Kucinich first in Minnesota.

Sincerely,


Lucie Paynick
_______________________________________________________________________

I couldn't have said it better myself.

Fear Ends
Hope Begins
Kucinich 2004

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[no name no slogan]

1. I like this letter!

This thing should go on the MN4DK website, IMHO. Maybe make a PDF for downloads/printing, too....

:D

[dpbrown]

5. I think that's an excellent idea

And I think I know just who might be able to facilitate that happening!

;-)

DPB

[MaggieSwanson]

2. Be bold, Minnesota! Vote for Dennis! n/t

[jpgray]

3. This Minnesotan is right there with you. (nt)

[Jim Sagle]

4. Or Dean.

[dpbrown]

8. While I admire the desire of Dean supporters to continue their support...

I think that Dean supporters should themselves choose to vote for a candidate still in the active race.

This is why: Dr. Dean has made it clear that although he has ceased active pursuit of the Presidency, he'd like his supporters to continue to vote for him, ostensibly so that he can wield a voting bloc. But Dr. Dean can choose to release those delegates at any time, and throw his support to one or another of the remaining candidates, and completely bow out, if he sees that it's in his best interest to do so.

But a progressive, anti-war candidate is still in the running, and that candidate is Dennis Kucinich.

I just think it makes more sense to cast a vote for someone who's pledged to stay in this race all the way to the Convention, than it does to cast a vote for someone who's only trying to get delegates but doesn't want to win.

Maybe that doesn't make any sense to Dean supporters, and I apologize if it doesn't, but it doesn't make any sense to me why Dean supporters don't switch to an active candidate, especially if there's one they can find that's close to their positions.

Anyway, welcome aboard to any switchers! We're glad to have you working together under our progressive banner!

Fear Ends
Hope Begins
Kucinich 2004

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[Jim Sagle]

10. Dean wants as many delegates as he can get.

It's about influencing the party, not about being a kingmaker.

[dpbrown]

11. Voting for Dean kills discussion of progressive issues until Convention

Dean's not running. He can no longer keep the issues he was championing at the forefront of debate from now until the Convention, and even then may not wield as much influence as he and his supporters hope. Voting for someone other than the progressive remaining in the race smothers the chance that progressive issues will be talked about from now until the Convention. A "statement vote" for Dean doesn't mean as much as a vote for a candidate who is still in the race.

The best that can be hoped for from continued support of Dean is that the Convention will be forced to build a coalition with his delegates in order to get a majority - same as with Dennis, but Dennis is still in the race. The difference is that by choosing Dean in the primary, you're now choosing no one to represent your views from now until the Convention.

I don't think really committed Dean supporters may switch, but in my opinion, switching to a candidate that is still in the race will have more of an effect on the Party through:

1. Enhanced media coverage of the progressive that's actually still running for the nomination,

and

2. Forcing the progressive issues that are still important to be discussed at debates.

By dropping out, Dean took himself off the table of being able to push forward his agenda. Kucinich is still pushing forward a progressive agenda. No progressive who began with Dean, and who is satisfied to have his or her voice silenced until the Convention, ought to remain steadfast and cast his or her primary vote for Dean.

Only Kucinich remains to keep progressive issues on the front burner throughout the rest of the nomination season.

Only Kucinich can give voice to the concerns of former Dean supporters worried about the direction the Party is taking.

Only Kucinich is still in the race.

In my opinion, Dean supporters ought to, while gritting their teeth if they have to, vote for Kucinich in order to keep both a) the fight for the soul of the Party, and b) the anti-war message on the FRONT burner from now until the Convention.

To continue to support Dean, even though he's not running, is to choose to silence the voice of the remaining progressive in the race.

Obviously I don't know what's going on in the heads of all Dean supporters, but I wouldn't want to sit on my hands and watch my issues wither from now until the Convention on the hope that by NOT running, Dean will wield enough clout at the Convention to once again bring those issues to life, and I wouldn't want to cast a Democratic protest vote in the primary, knowing that my candidate wasn't even trying to win anymore and that the platform was going to be written by the winning candidate regardless.

I think Dean supporters do the best thing they can do for both progressive values and for keeping alive the hope of retaking our Party from "insiders" by switching to Kucinich now.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[jansu]

15. Power is in the delegates which you take to the convention.

By trying to get Dean supporters to come over to your side, you are asking us to give up our belief in our positions. We want our message and beliefs to go forward. A brokered convention, which is where the power of the people comes in, is something to look forward to. The more different voices heard, the better for this party! I have never asked any of the supporters if the candidates, who have been in the last two or three places to "get out and come over to our side"! I have always asked for everyone to vote their choice,not the polls!

After the convention, we will all support the Nominee! I would think that you would want the passion of the Dean supporters and our fundraising ablilty then! Maybe that is why everyone is trying to get us now...Dean has asked us to vote for him, and I will.

[hippywife]

16. Would you mind defining this a little further?

By trying to get Dean supporters to come over to your side, you are asking us to give up our belief in our positions.

What are the beliefs and positions you espouse?

[scarletwoman]

37. I'd like to know that too.

What I'm really curious about is what "positions" Dean supporters would be giving up if they voted for DK in the primaries.

Wasn't Dean supposed to be the anti-Dem-establishment guy? Wasn't he being touted as a "progressive" and a "populist"? Wasn't his big draw that he was bringing up issues that the mainstream wouldn't touch?

ALL of these things are present in the Kucinich campaign, so I don't understand what Dean supporters feel they would be giving up. I'd honestly to like hear about it.

sw

[dpbrown]

40. The only thing Dean people ever told me was "electability"

Dean was supposed to be everything Dennis was, but he was "electable."

Of course, now Dean is not "electable."

Why would anyone switch to Kerry or Edwards from Dean if they took to heart anything Dean said he was supposed to be about?

Oh, that right. Electable.

So what that means is that a bunch of people who jumped on the Dean bandwagon didn't think about anything other than backing a "winner" and when Dean wasn't a winner anymore they jumped to whoever looked like one.

That's okay, though. There are plenty of people who supported Dean based on the principles that Dean said he stood for, including "taking back the Party" and "anti-war in Iraq" and stuff like that. Even though Dean's stance on gay marriage (it's up to the states) isn't as good as Dennis', folks still stayed with Dean on that issue.

Now Dennis has the best stands on gay rights, and the illegal invasion of Iraq, universal single-payer health care, and an end to the death penalty.

If people think that no one will care about these issues in November, then go ahead and vote for some other candidate in the primary.

If you think that some people will stay home, or go over to Nader, or do anything else other than support the putative frontrunner based on stands on those issues, then you have to vote for Dennis in the primary.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[scarletwoman]

42. Kinda ironic, ennit?

So, all the talk about being outside the establishment only counted when Dean looked "electable"? Now that he's out, it appears that many are running over to the "establishment" candidates -- purportedly something like 1/3 to Kerry and 1/3 to Edwards.

Oh well. I've long ago ceased to be bemused by stuff like this...

sw

[dpbrown]

43. Makes Dennis more real - "DK was progressive before it was 'electable'"

The persons of principle that were attracted to Dean's campaign will have made the principled decision to switch to Dennis.

The others weren't with Dean for the right reasons - either it was because Dean was "angry" like they thought we needed to be, or because he was the "frontrunner."

Dennis still has the best positions on the issues.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[scarletwoman]

44. I don't want to offend any Dean people.

I do wonder if the fact that he inspired alot of political neophytes to get active means that there's a certain lack of familiarity with the true state of the Democratic party, the history of its corporate-cozy, rightward turn. As well as how the political scene in this country has been playing out in general, over the last few decades.

Those of us who have been paying attention for along time are bound to have a different perspective than those who just got interested in the last 6 months, don't you think? Not to mention, those of us who came through the Vietnam era too. I know alot Dean's supporters were fairly young.

Oh well... Carrying on regardless!

Go Dennis!

sw

[dpbrown]

18. Power is in keeping progressive issues on the front burner

By not supporting a candidate who is actually running for President, you're deciding that the entire thing is just a horse race, and that Dean can play kingmaker at a brokered convention.

The alternative is to support a progressive who is still in the race, and who can keep the issues that matter in front of the voters, and cause the other candidates to continue to have to talk about them in debates.

You can choose to sit on your hands and stifle your voices until the Convention, but I think the more practical course is to support the candidate who is still in the race.

The benefit is that you can fight for a brokered convention, and still keep the issues worth fighting for in front of the people for whom those issues matter from now through the Convention.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[mrgorth]

24. This meme

is as tired as when the other candidates said ours were/are unelectable. Now it's "you have no choice but to vote for my guy". Hell, the Kerry people haven't told us not to vote for Dean. Give us a break.

[diamondsoul]

35. *sigh* Vote for Dean, with the blessings

of the Kucinich camp. That's not what's being said here.

The letter suggests that voting for Dean at this juncture won't have as much strategic impact on the outcome of this race as voting for Kucinich. That's all. It's a suggestion about a means to keep your issues on the table and your voice in the convention in what would seem to be a stronger statement. You're under NO obligation to defend yourself if you disagree with the author. Just remember that- you owe NO ONE a defense of your vote, it belongs solely to you.

Suggesting a better way for people to spend their one vote is part of campaigning, my friend. It's not being done to make you feel guilty or foolish or insult you in any way. It's just an effort to get more people who may be feeling a bit lost or confused about what to do to look at our candidate.

FTR, this particular Kucinich supporter also supporters everyone's right to vote as their conscience dictates to include voting for George W. Bush if that's what your conscience says to do.

[dpbrown]

36. Specifically, a vote for Dean won't get a brokered convention

Dean, who's not running for the nomination anymore, and who can't therefore debate any of the points he said he believed in running up to this point, is now in a position to be unable to deliver on his latest tactic, and that is obtaining a brokered convention allowing him to have some say in who to deliver his delegates to.

The right way to help to obtain a brokered convention is to vote for Kucinich.

We need to keep progressive issues on the front burner, and it takes a candidate to do that. Dean is not a candidate. Kucinich is.

I think it's great that the Dean folks want to stay as part of the process, and continue to work to take back the party and all that, but at this point, it's time to vote for a "candidate" in the runup to the nomination, and not for a "noncandidate" even one that's still on the ballot.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[Desertrose]

38. right now- a vote for Dean is taking your vote out of the game

I mean ....its like a "nonvote" really....it doesn't help anyone actively running and it doesn't change the game at all...

Its nice to want to support Dean...but Dean is out of the game ...maybe at convention time, but a lot can happen between now & July....

a brokered convention can make a lot more things possible.....

DK...hope begins

DR

[WiseMen]

6. Go Dennis. A Vote for Kucinich is a Vote for Good.

[goodhue]

7. very well put

Courage, Minnesota!

[Desertrose]

9. damn fine letter.....go Minnesota!!!!

thanks for posting it Dan
:hug:

Peace
DR

[goodhue]

12. kick

[Kanary]

13. Who else is voting for Dennis on March 2? (right after my B-Day!) ^_^

I'm eagerly anticipating Minnesota's vote, especially now that I know how well the turnout was for all of the DK events there.

Since I'm not able to speak up for Dennis until April, I'm interested in hearing how many will be turning out for Dennis in other states on the 2nd. I don't usually watch returns, but... I will probably be in front of the TV and DU that night!

Here's to all of you! :toast:

Thanks for the post, Dan.

Kanary

[DemBones DemBones]

14. I'm voting for Dennis on March 2,

or this week if it's true we can vote early in Georgia. I need to call about that tomorrow.

[LWolf]

17. I will be...here in CA.

[Kanary]

19. Georgia and California

Let us know how it goes, eh?

The flavor of the day.... Just hungry to hear some first-hand reports.

Hurrah for Kucitzens! :toast:

Kanary

[ThirdWheelLegend]

20. Me in Ohio!

Go me!

Oh and go Dennis!!! :P

TWL

[goodhue]

21. me in MN

[diamondsoul]

22. I'm hating this election cycle!

First Nader announces on my Birthday instead of fully endorsing Kucinich,

We're not picking up ground the way I want us to, blast it all!

And now we can't find out who is on our ballot until March 3rd! FEH! I HATE politics!:P

[Lydia Leftcoast]

25. Me in Minnesota!

:-)

[dpbrown]

26. Me in Minnesota

And my wife as well.

DPB

[justinpower]

27. Voting for DK in Ohio

Theres a fair chunk of DK supporters here in the NW part of the state

[scarletwoman]

31. Me in Minnesota on March 2, along with pracitically all of Pine County!

We have a BIG Kucinich contingent in our party unit, I expect a strong showing!

sw

[dpbrown]

32. Let's deliver Minnesota for DK

Let's be the change we believe in!

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[scarletwoman]

33. You betcha!

:D

sw

[Mairead]

39. In Mass

[redqueen]

23. So well said

You're a treasure, Dan Brown.

:yourock:

[Walt Starr]

28. I had seriously considered Edwards as the anti-Kerry

but I just don't see Edwards getting a full head of steam and stopping Kerry, so come March 16, my vote goes to Dean as planned.

[dpbrown]

29. Kerry & Edwards estimate they got a third each of Dean's folks

So I think you're confusing the Dean-past with the Dean-present in determining how much force a vote for Dean will have in stopping the Kerry steamroller.

I think a vote for someone in the race is more likely to keep Kerry from running away with the nomination.

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[dpbrown]

30. The actual author of this letter is Rebekah Smith

I found that out yesterday. So I wanted to credit her for writing a great letter, one which Lucie, and now myself, have coopted to our own uses.

And one which I hope you'll kidnap for yourselves!

Thirty percent in Hawaii!

On to Minnesota!

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[dpbrown]

34. The right thing is to vote for DK in the primary, save the Johns...

If you have to, save the John-Johns for the General Election.

There is no risk in voting for Kucinich.

If he wins, the Democrats get a fire-breathing populist who will rally all Nader's former voters, energize the core, and boot Bush back to Crawford.

If he loses, well then we get to test all our theories about the "electability" of the Johns.

No risk, all gain.

Vote DK today!

Fear Ends
Hope Begins
Kucinich 2004

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[mdmc]

41. Al Sharpton

[Sugarbleus]

45. I like Al too but I'm going with DK on tuesday--Calif. here. woohoo eom

[scarletwoman]

46. Yay!

Always happy to hear from another Kucitizen! Welcome! :hi:

Voting DK on Tuesday in Minnesota!

Go Dennis!

sw

[redqueen]

52. Yay for you, Sugarbleus!

:yourock:


Thanks!

[G_j]

47. good going folks!

:yourock:

[ThirdWheelLegend]

48. Super Tuesday's getting near!

KICK! :)

[goodhue]

53. its here

kick

[Piperay]

49. I'm going with DK in CA Primary

I've been for Clark since he got in the race but he is out now and my heart tells me to go for Kucinich. I even convinced my brother to go DK, so that is two more votes for him! :-)

[ThirdWheelLegend]

50. Way to go Piperay!

:yourock:

:)

TWL

[dpbrown]

51. I'm very happy to support the candidate best on the issues

Kucinich speaks to issues no one wants to talk about, with a comprehensive vision for taking back the nation from the damage done by Reagan, Bush, and now Bush the Stunted.

For those reasons, I am happy to support Dennis Kucinich in any and all his aspirations.

The only way forward is to take over one of the major parties, and Dennis Kucinich is focused "like a laser beam" on making the Democratic Party a viable second party.

It seems that only he understands that you can't run candidates who agree with each other on the death penalty, and privatized health care, and the illegal invasion of Iraq, and jobs-draining NAFTA, and expect to sweep a new Congress into power.

Politics as usual will drive our nation further into despair.

Wake up, America!

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[genius]

54. Thank you Dan

Good post.

[dpbrown]

55. Thank Rebekah...I even got wrong who wrote the letter

She posted a copy of her letter that someone else had used. It is a great letter. Rebekah does excellent work.

DPB