If Kucinich 'can't win' and isn't a threat to you, why do you care?

[New Earth]

I am trying to understand why some people care so much about Kucinich if they don't support him.
If you think he isn't going to win, and he is not a threat to your candidate with only 1%, then why do you care?
If the media already portrays him as a 'joke', nothing he does can make it any worse. So why do you care?
If you think he is wasting his time running for President, it's his time he's wasting, not yours. So why do you care?
Other than to express distate for a candidate, I don't understand why there is so much trashing of him lately.


Inquiring minds want to know.

[havocmom]

1. Some advocates of other candidates seem to dislike him asking embarrassing questions

and speaking of issues their own candidates would just as soon ignore.

Though smaller in physical stature than many, Kucinich does seem adept at representing the 800 pound gorilla in the room ;)

[lynnertic]

19. yeah like ending wars and corporate exploitation of people

[LWolf]

24. You nailed that one! n/t

[rjones2818]

2. If Dennis is out of sight out of mind,

the other candidates can claim to be true progressives without having a true progressive around to prove them wrong.

[PATRICK]

3. What is the relevance of attacks?

Issues or votes? Issues is the only logical reason but the emotional ones, if any are pretty mean. It seems to me that the gratuitous attacks on the equally meaningless Paul campaign, even though that is the GOP's concern, are even stranger.

So odd that one wonders if it is some sort of bully syndrome looking for some "offbeat"candidacy one can knock down with the least consequences. the DK supporters don't derserve this kind of dumb, arrogant treatment.

[robbedvoter]

18. Bingo! Same with Gravel. They are the reality check.

[AndyA]

4. It's the priniciple of the thing.

He is still in the race. He still has something to say.

I'm tired of our media and monied interests electing Presidents, aren't you? This is censorship, plain and simple.

The plan is in place, and the powers that be want an Obama or Clinton Presidency. That scares me. And it should scare you as well, especially after the last 7 years.

Follow the money and check the facts.

[peacetalksforall]

5. DU has been infiltrated. There is no other way of assessing it. All these

years many of us have considered him a hero - getting up and saying exactly what is being said and expressed on DU. And now all these people are coming out of (where?) and trashing him.

The infiltrators are trying to create splits among DUers to parallel the splits in the Republican political scene? They may resent their own Ron Paul and are attempting to create a parallel to him in the Dem Party? They fear the per cents he may take from the choice of many Republicans - Clinton - they want to attack her so badly that they must show support for her now.

It is very obviously a coordinated attack - imo. Yes, infiltrators. If they were typical DUers they would have been saying what is being said now - a long time ago. Instead, DUers always praised Kucinich, the way I remember it.

[fenriswolf]

9. repub infliltrators sowing general dissent

campaign infiltrators splitting up us dems into different sides

new political initiates just being pests and stirring up the pot.

I believe you I've seen more >1000 posters now then in the past year (or however long ive been here) really hard to have any meaningfull discussion anymore everyone is so trigger happy to pounce on anyone for presenting a solid stance on anything.

[peacetalksforall]

14. I've contributed to nasty, sarcastic, ugly posts - about Republicans.

When I don't agree with a Dem - I give my reasons. I try to make it factual or provide my gut feelings with as many reasons to support the gut feeling. I don't attack any Dems the way some on DU are attacking. I attack the DLC with vengeance - after watching and observing carefully for 15 years, devoting a lot of attention to the way we are represented on war corporation networks and who represents us and more - especially positions and justifications. I am devastatingly disappointed. I feel justified in my attacks.

I resent many more things among certain Dem so-called leaders that I don't write down - ever. We have placed ourselves in this takeover by barons, etc. partly through our own fault - not paying attention. I vote for constructinve takeback, not destructive takedown - of our own.

In addition to infiltrators, there may be a number of youth with some traits of Rovians - playing games - trying to be smart and cute.

[fenriswolf]

16. plenty of young "roves" hanging around

some actually get a chuckle from me, other are usually a blitzkreg of right wing propaganda before they get "das boot" from the mods.

[KoKo]

21. .....not all are new, though

some are folks who've been here a long time ....but,who seem to appear and post around elections and then disappear. Maybe they aren't interested enough if other issues to post in the 'tween times.

[Tektonik]

6. The people who bash DK are not progressives

and are afraid when he tells the truth about the other candidates positions.

[IndianaGreen]

7. It isn't Dennis that is a threat, it is the ideas the Dennis expresses that threaten the elites

The Bushes and the Clintons are two ruling families vying for power, but they both represent the interests of the same ruling class. The last thing they need is for the American working class to wake up and realize how they have been manipulated, fragmented, and kept in a state of confusion by the powerful interests that control this country.

Dennis Kucinich may not be a threat to them, electorally speaking, but his ideas and his voice are a threat. This is why General Electric, through its subsidiary NBC, decided to keep Dennis off the upcoming Presidential debate.

[riqster]

12. DINGDINGDING! We have a WINNNNAHHH!!!!

:yourock:

[lynnertic]

22. That, and he does crazy things like call for recounts

that could expose shenaniganz

[New Earth]

8. Interesting that none of the attackers have an answer

:shrug:

[TwilightZone]

20. Don't hold your breath.

No one who opposes any of our candidates on DU ever seems to consider anything they say as an "attack", so they certainly aren't going to admit to it here.

It's just "constructive cricitism" or "discussing the issues".

That's bull, of course, but perspective really is everything.

[stimbox]

10. Thanks Faye for saying what so many of us feel.

:applause:

[hayu_lol]

11. It would seem that the TRUE progressive stands for:

Insisting on getting a free ride while the other candidates have to pay their own way.

Insisting on not having to pay any attention to any rules, requirements, deadlines, in order to do what they want.

Being apart from the Party in all things.

When not getting their way, they can have catfits, their supporters act like gangbusters, they sue and they file complaints, and show other temper tantrums like little children deprived of having their way despite the wishes of others.

Really strange people and not at all friendly.

Consistantly blame others for their own failures.


The above are why I am a Liberal and not a progressive.

[riqster]

13. A classic example of what the OP called out

Loaded terms, insults, tendentious twaddle. All calculated to enrage, rather than stimulate debate.

Thus, worthless. Thanks for proving Faye's point.

I'll be AFK working for change, but will be back later to see if you can grow up and make your points in an adult manner.

[denem]

15. You can like the message but not the messenger.

Kucinich is just going through the motions of running a campaign. His goal is publicity for his policies which is fine by me. But to insist that the powers that be are scared of him is stretching it.

[eridani]

31. It's the ideas that they are afraid of. n/t

[riqster]

33. Then explain why the networks change their rules so as to exclude him

Pretty blatant, especially NBC.

[riqster]

34. Listen to those crickets...... nt

[last_texas_dem]

17. Many posters on here just seem to get a kick out of

trashing any candidate that isn't their own.

Plus, in the case of Kucinich, I think there is a tendency to make fun of a candidate who is considered "weird" by the mainstream. Kind of a junior-high-bully type thing.

I have disagreed with some of the actions Kucinich has taken, but he gets it right far more than most Democrats in my view. I'm surprised at the nastiness displayed on here towards Kucinich by certain posters.

[robinlynne]

23. Especially since he has the highest percentage of support among the "left".

And I'm an Edwards supporter saying this. Without Kucinich, basically there is NO democratic debate at all.
he brings up all the real questions which need to be brought up. If you remove him, which the right so desperately wants to do, the entire debate shifts drastically to the right. Impeachment disappears as a question on the American radar. Ending the war changes to hoe many billions to spend on the war and which war strategies to use.

[Lerkfish]

25. he points to the elephant in the room. Some prefer that elephant to be ignored.

its perhaps as simple as that.

[bvar22]

26. If Dennis is on the stage, the Corporations and "their" candidates

can't FRAME the debate. Dennis keeps bringing up issues that embarrass Hillary and Obama.

It is soooo embarrassing for the "serious" candidates to have someone who is CLEAR & Consistent on the stage with them while they triangulate and weasel.

If DK is eliminated from the debates, who will 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



Who will tell the truth to America if DK is kicked off the Democratic stage? :shrug:
Dennis Kucinich's voice is one of the few reasons I am still in the Democratic Party.
Kicking DK off the stage IS kicking ME off the stage.

“Unlike other candidates, I am not funded by those corporate interests. I owe them no loyalty, and they have no influence over me or my policies.”---Dennis Kucinich


It is a near certainty that Corporate Money has successfully bought another election.
America is to be given a choice in 2008.

Corporate America, in collusion with the Democratic Party Powerbrokers(DLC) has decided that YOU may choose between:

*A ProWAR/AntiLABOR/Pro*For Profit*HealthCare Republican

OR

*A ProWAR/AntiLABOR/Pro*For Profit*HealthCare Democrat

:woohoo:

I have recently begun also supporting Edwards because he is AT LEAST saying the right things and has a better chance of getting out the message.

The MOST SERIOUS enemy threating America is Unrestrained Corporate Control of our government!

*Hillary is completely unashamed in her allegiance with Corporate Money and her willingness to do their bidding.

*Obama suffers from the delusion that if he is nice, the Corporations will feel guilty and
in return, give up their strangle hold on Americans who Work for a Living.
:rofl:

America doe NOT need another DLC Corporate shill President.


America does NOT need a Nice Guy President who will reach out, and work across the aisle.


America needs a Trust Busting FIGHTER!


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.

[hootinholler]

28. I wish I could rec that reply! n/t

[Occam Bandage]

27. I don't. And Kucinich has been trashed the least of any candidate still in the running.

[no name no slogan]

29. Bbbbbbut----

THANK YOU.

I've never quite understood how a longshot who hasn't broken double digits in any race so far is such a threat to so many people. Maybe it's a mass case of "liberal guilt", maybe it's just the fact that Dennis is right on the issues.

Either way, it cracks me up to watch some of the DK haters get their panties in a bundle about him.

[martymar64]

30. They don't want the issues he voices even heard or mentioned

He brings up a lot of inconvenient truths that the "moderates" would rather sweep under the rug. They want to silencehis voice and thus narrow the terms of discourse in this Kabuki Theater called an election. It fits in with Orwell's theory of eliminating words as a means to articulate ideas that the powers that be don't want people to be thinking. They want to make DK's ideas a thought crime.

[2rth2pwr]

32. We are terrified of him.

[tritsofme]

35. The only thing his campaign is doing at this point is wasting taxpayer dollars

and the dollars of his contributors.

The latter is your own fault, the former effects me as well.

[MonkeyFunk]

36. Why must someone be threatened by something

to have an opinion on it? It's a silly idea.