I think Kucinich may be making some gains

[cryofan]

First, there is the latest CNN poll:


In the latest poll shown on CNN, DK is up to 5% from 2%.

Since the Margin of Error (MOE) for this poll is 4.9%, DK is within
MOE of Kerry at 2nd place with 10%.

12/03 - 1/04 11/03
The first number after the name is the new number and the 2nd is the
previous polling number:

Howard Dean 22% 14
John Kerry 10% 9
Joseph Lieberman 9% 11
Wesley Clark 8% 12
Dick Gephardt 7% 6
Al Sharpton 6% 5
John Edwards 5% 5
Dennis Kucinich 5 % 2
Carol Moseley Braun 2% 4
Other 3% 9
Not sure 23%

CNN/Time Poll conducted by Harris Interactive. Dec. 30, 2003-Jan. 1,
2004. N=399 registered Democrats and independents who lean
Democratic nationwide. MoE = 4.9.
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh04dem.htm

And tonight was the Willie Nelson concert for him in Austin.

And now we have some decent news stories running, and some are in some larger newspapers:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From the Washington Post:

Left-Wing Flutters Give Low-Flying Kucinich Some Thrust

Sunday, January 4, 2004; Page A04


Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) hasn't attracted much major media attention for his presidential campaign. But he has been steadily and effectively working the left wing of the Democratic base with a message of total withdrawal from Iraq and a complete reordering of public spending priorities.

As a result, Kucinich's may last longer than some of the bigger campaigns. Thousands of people have given him money, most of it in contributions of $250 or less -- totally matchable by the federal campaign fund.

....

Last night in Austin, Bonnie Raitt, Michelle Shocked and other cool cats joined Willie Nelson for a Kucinich benefit concert. Nelson, creator of such jukebox classics as "Crazy" and "Night Life," unveiled his latest composition, written on Christmas Day:
....
"The rapidly expanding Kucinich campaign receives a higher percentage of its contributions in small donations than does any other campaign," his staff said in a statement last week, "and processing the many small contributions takes time." But the Ohio House member has already filed for $3.34 million in matching funds, and promises that he will be laying claim to more.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52815-2004Jan3.html

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Nelson song creates stir
Anti-war ballad will never be recorded

BILOXI - Willie Nelson, whose songs and lonesome voice tell the undisputed truth about love and heartache, won't become a major voice in the 2004 presidential race.

Today, he will sing his second-ever anti-war ballad for the first and only time at a rally for dark-horse Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich at Austin Music Hall in Austin, Texas.

....
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/local/7623661.htm

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Lisa0825]

1. Even my non-politically active but really-liberal-at-heart best friend...

who very RARELY ever watches the news, actually heard about Kucinich here in Houston, about Willie's playing for him, and about Willie's anti-war song. There is hope for Houston yet!!!!

This from a Deaniac with mucho respect for Kucinich...

GO DEMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ThirdWheelLegend]

2. Looking forward to the primaries...

Go Dennis!


Thanks Cryofan!


TWL

[dpbrown]

3. DK's doing better every week

The problem with these "polls" is the huuuuuuge margin of error, and DK's within the margin of error for second place right now.

The take-away from this, at a minimum, is that DK ought not to be lumped, as he usually is, in the "third tier" but should be (and would be if people considered issues) in the upper tiers where he belongs.

[redqueen]

10. MOE + % still undecided = useless polls

You'd probably do better trying to predict the weather. I wonder how much more accurate weather forecasts are than the polls. Especially those with such huge amounts of undecided voters, and ridiculously small numbers of people even polled.

Factor in that good ole MOE, and you've got a recipe for another instance where the hallowed Zogby will be off by as much as 14 points.

[Mairead]

4. What's the deal here, anyone know?

That SunHerald article sounds like Willie is backing away. He's not going to record the song, not going to sing it again, not going to be 'a major voice' in the campaign...what's going on? Did somebody threaten him?

[OhioStateProgressive]

5. my take

Willie never has been very big on "Politics", just issues of farming really

I think this is probably more than Willie ever did for a candidate before, and i honestly feel that this was all he was ever going to do, some benefit concerts

just my gut

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

8. probably

remember all of the IRS problems? They might have just threatened to bankrupt him again. The man has grandkids.

[Cheswick2.0]

9. maybe he figured out that DK's only social liberal position is antiwar?

and that he is actually a social conservative and a fiscal liberal?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. Actually, socially conservative and fiscally liberal

may be more in line with mainstream America, especially working-class America, than the opposite.

[redqueen]

12. I'll second that

I know a lot of republicans in texas, and they agree with dem ideals fiscally speaking, but abhor the social issues (and in fact a lot vote repub solely based on those).

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

22. I'd take a working class, socially conservative, fiscal liberal

over YET ANOTHER wealthy, priviledge, Ayn-Rand loving "Fiscally Conservative, Socially Liberal" ANY DAY.

[Nadienne]

15. Do you consider medicare for all

a socially conservative and fiscally liberal position?

How 'bout an early kindergarten program?

Ending the war in Iraq is the most important of his positions (because the money spent there could be/would be/should be spent elsewhere), but it is not his only position.

What ideas of his are socially conservative?

[JohnKleeb]

20. those too

Shes infering to his once pro life view. He is far from being a social conservative, I admit, he may be a little more conservative but hes a liberal on social issues.

[JohnKleeb]

19. social conservative?

I know about him once being pro life but theres little else to me that indicates hes a social conservative.
Social liberals tend to get good grades from civil rights groups, he does.

[diamondsoul]

26. That's the trouble with labels like that one, John.

To a degree, Dennis could easily be classified as a "social conservative", mainly because of his beliefs about human life. He's far from a "social conservative". In point of fact he's a fiscal conservative, social liberal. He'd run the government the same way he runs this campaign. Do you know of any other candidate with ZERO debt? I don't, except maybe Bush.

[youngred]

34. to conserve or save or maintain the sanctity of human life

makes one a conservative, so in that I seek to stop the bloodshed in iraq, end the death penalty and lower the number of abortions (though maintain the absolutely important right to choose) that makes me in some sense a conservative...but not in the way that its most often meant

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

21. DK: Pro-choice, pro-Civil Unions

Yeah, he's practically a fundamentalist, huh? :eyes:

[diamondsoul]

27. Backwards and totally offbase. n/t

[ThirdWheelLegend]

28. That is a completely false label...

Glad you backed that one up. Oh wait, you didn't

Lets see..

Universal health care.(socialized medicine)
Federally recognized Gay marriage.
Decriminalization of marijuana.
Pro-choice, nominate only justices that agree to uphold RvW.
Against the death penalty.
Publicly financed education through college for all.
Anti-war.
Right to housing.

I could go on...

Thanks for your time.

TWL

[youngred]

33. or not

:eyes:

[diamondsoul]

13. I don't know, but try this-

I ran a quick search and found this page-

http://www.willienelson.com/headquarters/contact.htm

Willie's e-mail address. Here's the e-mail I'm about to send-

Dear Willie,

I'm a long-time fan of your work and more recently a Kucinich for President volunteer. Your soulful and heartfelt music has always meant something special to me, and this latest song was more special than I can express. You sang the truth that is in the hearts and minds of millions, my friend, and I happened across an article about it this afternoon which breaks my heart.

The article states "Today, he will sing his second-ever anti-war ballad for the first and only time at a rally for dark-horse Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich at Austin Music Hall in Austin, Texas." and "Contrary to earlier reports, the song will never be recorded, and Nelson won't include it is in his repertoire."

Willie, please reconsider! You said "I was angry that morning, and I said what I thought. I am concerned about peace on earth.", and Willie, I believe both of those statements. Are you not still angry and concerned? I know I am, and I know your lyrics were the echoing of my anger and concern. I also know I'm not alone in that. I'm writing to urge you to reconsider the decision not to record the song or sing it again because you have a chance to contribute to the unity of everyone who feels the way we do. There is something comforting in hearing an old, distant friend like Willie Nelson share our pain, sadness and worry for the future. It makes people aware that we aren't alone.

Please, my old friend, singer of my spirit's contents, please stick with us. Until I heard you sing this song on the webcast of the concert, "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" was my alltime favorite song. I still love that song, but mostly I love it sung with your amazing voice. Your voice specificaly resonates someplace within me that I can't explain. Because of that you are among a few people whom I've never met but find myself loving as profoundly as I love my own family. You, Dennis Kucinich, Robert Downey Jr. and Sean Connery hold those special positions for me as of today.

Each of you made that list because you gave me some intangible and utterly priceless gifts just by doing what you do. With Robert Downey Jr. and Sean Connery it was characters that could make me feel for a short time that I was a part of the story being told. When I watch their movies, I literally feel myself slipping into the plot and coming to care about the people. With Dennis Kucinich and you, it was giving me a public voice, a voice for my heart and soul.

When Dennis speaks and when Willie sings, what comes out of you are the deepest most precious pieces of my human spirit. The ones that are shared only with those people close enough to me to be entrusted with those precious fragments of who I am. My husband, my children, one of my sisters and maybe two very special lifetime friends have that honor, and you and Dennis Kucinich. Sing our hearts for us Willie, just like you always have. Please, my old friend, if ever there was a time we needed you to be our hearts' voice, that time is now.

Sincerely and gratefully yours,
DL

[Nadienne]

14. You said it better than I ever could (n/t)

[diamondsoul]

25. Maybe, but probably not.

LOL I speak from the heart...funny, who does that sound like?

Anyway, the more people who tell Willie essentially what I said, that he is our public voice and we need him and count on him, the more likely he is to think twice. Toss your 2 cents in too!

[Mairead]

23. That's beautiful. Really beautiful, DS.

Send it! You speak for me, too. I dearly hope he reconsiders and records it for us and sings it again and again til the bastards who are killing people for money collapse under the weight of the truth in that song.

[diamondsoul]

24. I sent it.

I just hope I can touch him the way he's touched me and make a difference.

Thanks to you and to everyone who helps keep me motivated on this campaign. Some days I worry a lot and other days, the support overshadows any worry. Everyone who sincerely represents Dennis Kucinich right now has a huge hand in keeping me moving and I love you all dearly for it.

:toast: To Inauguration day 2005 :party:

Kucinich supporters-
:yourock: :grouphug:

[OhioStateProgressive]

6. agreed

and as voters become inevitably frustrated by the attacks from the "frontrunners" back and forth, Dennis will pick up alot of those votes of people leaving those campaigns

some people may not vote their hearts at first chance, but once they feel no alternative they finally relent

[JohnKleeb]

7. this is good

[GabysPoppy]

16. Between the Lieberman fans and the Kucinich fans

I don't know who can spin a poll or a story better.

Reverend Sharpton polls higher than Kucinich and anyone thinking he has a snowball's chance in hell, I will book the bet.

If I read this poll correctly the sampling was amongst 399 people. By going up 3% from the previous poll, Dennis picked up 12 voters.
How is this a major breakthrough? This poll doesn't even average 10 voters per state and we are to look at its significance.

What am I missing here folks?

[Desertrose]

17. you are missing a lot that is below and above the radar

Polls are so easliy manipulated that they are basically meaningless....
but the fact remains...many many of DK's supporters simply won't be known til the votes start coming in...

Peace
DR

[GabysPoppy]

18. I so much agree with you

Which is why I wondered why excitement was generated with this meaningless survey. I think a few primaries have to happen before anyone can gauge support for a candidate.

And I am not including Iowa which is not a primary. I've seen more votes cast for a homecoming queen than we will see there.

So until early or late Spring, I wouldn't trip and break an ankle over every meaningless poll that hits the airwaves. It's just filler garbage to fill the airwaves. Where is Scott Peterson when we need him?

Peace to you to.

[youngred]

35. what are you missing?

the best candidate in the field. The most honest, trustworthy, straight forward and the the candidate with the most well thought out positions out to help people and not his personal bottom line. He's polling the same level clinton did at this point of the race

and the foolishness of some people and the ignorance of the national media isn't going to stop him.

[diamondsoul]

29. Kicking for contrast n/t

[goodhue]

30. indeed n/t

[ThirdWheelLegend]

31. go dk!

TWL

[Clark4VotingRights]

32. I know a *lot* of people that support Kucinich (he's one of my top two)

He always has a big volunteer presence at progressive public events.
The media and polls want to dismiss him 'cause he can't be
corrupted or intimidated.

The support I see for DK is totally at odds with the media
and propaganda polls.