'The Life and Times of a Good Loser ~ Kucinich Goes Down'

[Breeze54]

February 25, 2008

The Life and Times of a Good Loser

Kucinich Goes Down

http://www.counterpunch.org/halle02252008.html

By JOHN HALLE

Dennis Kucinich has long been known as the conscience of the U.S. Congress and is a hero for many on the left.

Vehemently opposed to the Iraq invasion, continually pressing for protection of labor rights and for serious action on climate change, against corporate trade agreements, staunchly supporting single payer health care, Dennis has championed the entire progressive agenda as it has, again and again, piece by piece, gone down to defeat.

There is a name, for someone who fights good fights, is always on the right side of a losing issue, is always ready hold the little guy's hand when he gets garrotted by multinational conglomerates.

The word for such a excellent fellow is "loser."

Dennis, like us, is a loser.

But unlike some of us, Dennis is also a good loser.

Even when he is beaten with a stacked deck, when he is forced from the ring by a well placed sucker punch, Dennis can be counted on to decorously withdraw leaving no question that we in the loyal opposition "believe deeply in this noble experiment which we call American Democracy" and in "our vigorous two party system of representative government."

This is why, as we should remember from 2004, not a word of protest was heard from Dennis when he was prevented by party insiders from addressing the Democratic convention despite his being entitled, due to his strong showing in several primaries, to do just that. Nor was there a peep from Dennis when anti-war signs were pried from the hands of Kucinich delegates by party hacks or when those protesting the pro-war nominee were confined to free speech zones on the periphery of the convention site, in blatant violation of the first amendment.

Nor was Dennis anywhere to be found in the months prior to the 2004 election as the body count mounted in Iraq. What was, in the year before, an active and aggressive peace movement was kept under lockdown least its visibility endanger the Democrat ticket. It has never recovered and remains comatose.

In 2008, the tragedy was replayed as farce, with Dennis barely breaking into the low single digits. Rather than make trouble by endorsing the long shot candidacy of Edwards, Dennis threw his support behind a candidate endorsing pre-emptive strikes on Pakistan, who is calling for 92,000 new troops, explicitly rejects single payer health care, and is a prime mover behind environmentally suicidal subsidies for biofuel and clean coal.

And http://www.pdamerica.org/articles/campaigns/2008-02-17-21-36-23-campaigns.php">now we have the spectacle of Dennis pleading for our support against a primary challenge sponsored by the party leadership.

It appears that he can be cut loose since his services will not be needed due to the powerful sedative the Obama campaign and presidency is likely to administer to the left for the forseeable future.

In any case, let's hope this serves as a wake up call to Dennis and his supporters where his friends really are.

More....

Please Donate and help Dennis get re-elected! http://www.kucinich.us/

[Eric J in MN]

1. Kucinich did speak at the 2004 Democratic Convention. NT

NT

[Breeze54]

2. I believe he's

talking about him not being the keynote speaker, even though he had earned it but I could be wrong.

I was outside chanting.... ;)

-----------

Defining moments of the 2004 Democratic National Convention included
the featured keynote speech of Barack Obama...

Barack Obama's Keynote Address http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Democratic_National_Convention

Other speakers

Main article: Speakers of 2004 Democratic National Convention

In addition to the Obama, Edwards, and Kerry addresses, there were also speeches from former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, former Vice-President and 2000 Presidential nominee Al Gore, New York Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy.

Demonstrations and protests

That evening a group of peace activists held a peaceful rally a few hundred feet from the FleetCenter. Local Boston politicians were joined by presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich and long-time activist and California state senator Tom Hayden in a call to end the occupation of and to remove U.S. troops from Iraq and to bring in an international peacekeeping force.

more....

[Eric J in MN]

3. I support Kucinich, but why would anyone expect him to be the keynote speaker in 2004? NT

NT

[Breeze54]

4. Maybe not keynote... but he earned a right to speak.

I did say above that I could be wrong about that.

snip-->

This is why, as we should remember from 2004, not a word of protest was heard from Dennis
when he was prevented by party insiders from addressing the Democratic convention despite
his being entitled, due to his strong showing in several primaries, to do just that.

But why all the questions? Did you enjoy the article? Do you support DK?

Can you spare a few bucks to help him retain his seat in the senate?

[Eric J in MN]

5. I've donated to Kucinich's Congressional campaign. NT

NT

[Breeze54]

7. I'm sure he's grateful.

Thanks.

[jimshoes]

6. I got my DENNIS yard sign today

w00t:bounce:

[Breeze54]

8. Cool!

I'd get one but no one would know what the hell I was talking about! :P

:hi:

Go Dennis!!

[Breeze54]

9. Kicking for Dennis!

:hi: