Ohio Rep. Kucinich to run for president

[johnnie]

"CLEVELAND - Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for president in 2004, said Monday he is planning to run again because his party isn't pushing hard enough to end the war in
Iraq.



In a statement, Kucinich said he plans to formally announce his candidacy for 2008 on Tuesday at City Hall, where he served as mayor of his hometown in the 1970s."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061211/ap_on_el_pr/kucinich2008_3

[wildbilln864]

1. Kucinich/Obama...

I'd love to see that ticket!

[goclark]

2. He is a Truth Sayer!

[Greeby]

3. Woot

:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Junkdrawer]

4. Link to this mornings press conference w/ Juan Cole and Dennis...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2897358

[johnnie]

Oh, sorry

I thought that was about something else. I didn't know he was announcing it there.

[Junkdrawer]

14. He didn't announce at that link, but I think it shows what Dennis stands for...n/t

[Botany]

5. Dennis No!

Please don't ..... you are a good man ... a very good man
but you will never be President and the media will make you
out as a nut case.

Cleveland, OH needs you (and America too) to keep speaking
the truth on the House floor.

[wildbilln864]

6. We need ....

some truth spoken in the White House for a change IMHO!

[Junkdrawer]

8. I think he does a good job in the debates getting the positions I care about...

into the public square.

[johnnie]

12. I love him as my rep

But I would give him up to be president. I think the media will try to destroy any Dem who runs.

[LTR]

34. I don't think he's necessarily running to win

I think the first priority for him is to get progressive issues such as an end to the Iraq War, the environment and health care to the forefront, and to keep the more safe, centrist candidates on their toes. That's why he stayed in the race for so long in '04, even after everyone else cleared the way for Kerry.

And quite frankly, I'm glad he's in the race. I really like the guy.

[eridani]

49. Why do we keep letting the MSM control the discussion?

Isn't it about time to fight back?

[helderheid]

72. He may not get elected, but this time around his ideas will get elected n/t

[Annces]

7. Kucinich is wonderful

[Kellyiswise]

42. The country doesn't deserve to have this man as President. But I hope he wins.

[bobbie]

74. In a sane legit country he would have been our prez for years

He's a great great person.

[QuestionAll...]

9. yes, this one is worthy.

for the people citisens.
we'll have to see what the corporate citisens, and those paid by them, think of him and 'allow' him to run in an honest fashion.

lol. did I just say that... 'honest fashion'...
how quaint.

[KingFlorez]

10. Oh, how ominous

He'll be a real formidable challenger.

[DaveinMD]

11. yawn

he's an irrelevancy.

[jpgray]

13. People will laugh, but I always appreciate hearing what he has to say

I caucused for the sumbitch! But I donated to other candidates as well.

[QuestionAll...]

17. people will laugh?

....
?

you do mean the dumb sumbitches, rite?

[jpgray]

19. For some reason some DUers like ridiculing Kucinich

I'll never understand what he's done to deserve that treatment, exactly. But then again I'm sure he wouldn't mind--he's truly unique.

[QuestionAll...]

23. it's what he hasn't done, perhaps?

buckle the fuckle under like so many others.

[QuestionAll...]

15. I wonder what Will Pitt's comments to this will be...

I thought I read he was Kucinich's press secretary at one time, or was it Kerry's. I forget.

[VelmaD]

27. I remember...

it was Kucinich.

[WilliamPitt]

41. A great big fat hairy

no comment.

[DemBones DemBones]

43. Why am I not surprised?

[QuestionAll...]

46. what a strange response...

if you did work for Kucinich in some regard, (was it press, I don't even know) why would you say something like that?



wow.

[dweller]

52. ...

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/4/3375

How much change are you ready for?

everything changes.
dp

[cyclezealot]

55. Pitt was Kucinich's press secretary.

& that says very good things about Dennis. I have no patience for centrist back peddlers , who covort with the powers that be; that work against the peoples best interests. You can count on Dennis to do what's best for the American people.
Hillary. I thought all I'd have to do is vote and catch up on reading . A real sleeper race there. Now I gotta work for Dennis and contribute until it hurts. Our bank account just took a nose dive with DK's announcement. DK will now have more time to plan unlike his last run. Cleveland be proud what you have given to America.

[rknryd]

16. ***YAY***

:woohoo:

[newyawker99]

31. Hi rknryd!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rknryd]

33. Greetings and Many Thanks Newyawker99

A warm DU welcome :hi:

[MaggieSwanson]

45. My thoughts exactly.

I can't wait!

(and a very warm welcome to the Underground,rknryd!)

:hi:

[TheCowsCameHome]

18. Swell. What time do the polls open tuesday?

Take a break. This is getting tiresome.

[mondo obscurius]

20. Dennis is a great human being

I'm so grateful he has the courage to speak the truth and hold out his vision of Peace as part of a viable American future. I'm with Dennis all the way.

Mondo

[Annces]

22. Welcome to DU Mondo

[mondo obscurius]

26. Thank you

for the kind welcome.
:pals:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. At last! An anti-war Democrat has announced.

So far, all we've seen is a bunch of warmed over, pro-war, DLC'rs, like Biden and Bayh.

[QuestionAll...]

24. now if it were actually up to the people and not the established pecking order

of favours and egos and mess media, he'd win.

but Dennis will have more enemies now that that ugly Bush, I'm afraid to say.

[jumpoffdaplanet]

25. WEll, my family voted for him last time

And as far as I know we'll all vote for him as long as he's on a ballot.

[Infinite Hope]

28. Discussion thread also here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3011294

[Infinite Hope]

29. Kick n/t

[FtWayneBlue]

30. Help get US out of Iraq, Dennis.

Then establish the Department of Peace to help ensure that wars will become illegal and obsolete.

[WI_DEM]

32. Kos said last week he was wondering who would represent the "angry left" and

he got his answer.

[eridani]

50. Right. The "left" has nothing whatsoever to be angry about

All leftie issues like universal health care, fair trade, and giving up the imperial bullshit of conquering a diminishing energy source instead of inventing the necessary new ones--all stuff that no normal American gives a rat's ass about.

[Raksha]

86. What does Kos have against the "angry left"?

If it wasn't for the "angry left," nothing would ever change and America would have died a long time ago of terminal stagnation and corruption.

[nam78_two]

35. A very good man DK.K&R.nt

[cooolandrew]

36. Kucinich has a vision and that is what people follow

I was reading one of those self help books and the strongest thing to have is a vision for the future. Kucinich has been laying out his ideals for the future for a while. He walks the walk talks the talk and has a bill for paper ballot, the fact the Kucinich is the least wealthy guy in congress shows his intentions are honourable. Kucinich '08.

[MadHound]

37. Thank God, I'll at least have somebody to vote FOR in the primaries,

As opposed to the usual choice between the lesser of X evils.

[Kevin Spidel]

38. PDA looking for feedback...

as you know, PDA came from the Kucinich campaign:
http://blog.pdamerica.org

[Earth_First]

39. Anyone have information on what time the announcement will take place?

I'm ready and willing to drive to Cleveland tonight to be there.

Thanks for the information!

[johnnie]

40. At noon n/t

[WiseButAngrySara]

44. Gore/Kucinich! ....n/t

[InvisibleTouch]

63. Exactly that was my immediate thought.

Unlikely to happen, of course, but it's a great image. That would be a powerhouse team to save the planet!

[Dinger]

47. I Like Him A Lot. People Would Be Wise Not To Underestimate Him

I sure as hell don't.

[goodhue]

48. cool

[dweller]

51. tis true

:kick:


dp

[magellan]

53. Hurray!

Kucinich is the kind of person we need as President, all the rest who've voiced intention to run so far be damned.

[The Witch]

54. "Kucinich is a hobbit!!!" (...tee hee)

And we always cheer for the hobbits...

Sorry, that's all I can think of now... "Smeagol likes Dean! NO! NO! Smeagol likes Kucinich!"

Seriously -- go Dennis, go Dennis, it's yer birthday...

[EducatedDerelict]

75. He also reminds me...

...of the Second Regeneration of the Doctor - the Patrick Troughton one. Maybe that's why he makes me feel warm inside...

[Raksha]

87. "Smeagol likes Dean"????

C'mon...Gollum is a REPUKE!!! I thought everybody knew that.

[The Witch]

89. Go listen to this:

http://www.mikemalloy.com/audio/smeagle.mp3

:D

[RedstDem]

56. He's Got My Vote

I Love That Guy.........

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

57. Finally - someone I can believe in!

I have so much respect for him, staying in the races until the very end, as opposed to Kerry who threw in the towel too soon (IMHO).
Go Dennis, and count on strong support in Indiana (we're not getting behind Bayh)!
We're not just a fly-over state anymore!

[nuxvomica]

58. I declare that this time around Dennis Kucinich is eminently...

ELECTABLE!

[stevietheman]

59. I strangely find myself more receptive to Kucinich this time

If Gore or Clark doesn't run, he will get my serious consideration.

The conventional (read: corporate news media) wisdom for 2008 is we're looking for somebody who can make everyone happy no matter the lack of substance (ex. Obama), but I think the American people will really be looking for someone who speaks truth about important subjects (ex. Kucinich).

[brentblack]

60. Bayh\Obama 08

This is an electable ticket. There is a moderate Democrat with Governor experience and a term in a national office plus Mr Obama who carries a lot of weight.


Mark my words...this is the best shot at the WH in 08


'Course...I am just a geek......

[nealmhughes]

61. Discounting Dennis out of hand is like discounting a Bernie Sanders.

How in the hell could a Brooklyn-born and raised Jewish Socialist professor win a mayoral race in Burlington, VT! Ridiculous!

Ha Ha Ha, Bernie is taking his oath as Senator next month...

[fhqwhgads]

62. bernie sanders isn't running for president...

...so you really can't compare dk's chances of winning the democratic nomination with sanders' ability to win a senate seat.

if kucinich were in a nomination fight with clinton, bayh, and biden, then yes, i'd vote for him. but i don't agree with him on everything (flag burning, abortion, and the wto for example), and i'd vote for gore, clark, or obama before i'd vote for kucinich in a primary.

but it doesn't matter, because dk can't raise enough money to be a serious candidate. we're not going to get massive campaign finance reform between now and 2008, much as we need it.

[stevenleser]

64. It isn't even 'just' the money this time...

... there are three candidates for the nomination that each have fearsome things going for them that anyone else wanting to run is going to have to figure out how to overcome:

1. Hillary, of course, has her husbands existing organization and staffers from whom to pick, the legacy of that highly successful administration, etc. She may not need to do a whole lot else to win this thing by default.

2. Obama has a huge amount of energy and excitement behind him. If you don't like Hillary, the energy Obama brings may provide the only viable possibility to defeat her.

3. Gore has a lot of credibility and energy among the environmental progressives and as a result of 8 yrs as Clinton's VP, and the fact that most of us believe he won in 2000.

Anyone else thinking of running is going to have to decide how to contend with the above.

Kucinich's problem is that most people cannot get past his quirky appearance. I wish crap like that did not matter, but it does. Anything even a little odd in the appearance or mannerisms department will absolutely destroy you in a run for the Presidency. In 2004, reams of articles were written on poor Bob Graham's note taking. In 2000, Al Gore's off the cuff statements were judged as exaggerations or lies when they weren't. There was a lot also made of "who is the real Al Gore." All crap of course, but people buy into that stuff. You can't even be overly exuberant or appear to be so. Howard Dean's scream or outburst was blown completely out of proportion to what it was. I knew that would happen when I saw it occur live, but it still was amazing to see. And in 2004 with Kerry, we all saw how he was swiftboated. It was such ugly crap that the term itself has become a part of the political lexicon.

So, no, it isn't 'just' the money, it is the organization, energy and the whole appearance/mannerisms thing.

[fhqwhgads]

67. agreed completely...

...i just didn't mention those things because i didn't want to get jumped on for talking about personal appearance and such, despite the fact that those things do matter to the average person (however one may feel about that).

[stevenleser]

69. Thanks. Thinking about it some more...

... to give Kucinich a chance, he has to hire some folks who turn it around and somehow make that whole appearance/mannerisms thing into something funny. Funny enough to make it a plus or at least neutralize the issue, but not so funny that it dominates his campaign and makes him seem not serious. It's not an easy play by any stretch of the imagination. Then again, no one said politics was for amateurs or the faint of heart.

[fhqwhgads]

71. yeah, but...

...the strategists that the party keeps hiring to run national campaigns uniformly SUCK.

hope we can find people who are better.

[Mrspeeker]

92. Being President is all about the money

Well in fact it is, The BUSH in Co. is one of the richest family's in the world, Nothing has changed through out the years royalty is still well RICH!!!!!We don't even elect our presidents and he has already been chosen (McCain)!
But you know what!
fuck them!
GO GO GO Kucinich at least my progressive voice gets heard even if its a whisper.
because truthfully no other democrat even comes close to Kucinich.

[InvisibleTouch]

65. I met him in '04.

One of the things he said was, and I paraphrase from memory, "It's been questioned, Am I electable? The answer is, I am if you vote for me." :)

We shall see how it goes. I was a Deaniac in early '04, to be honest, but I always liked Kucinich too.

[Bushknew]

93. That’s my new signature.

Kucinich "Am I electable? The answer is, I am if you vote for me."

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

66. Awesome.

I am so excited about this! Go DK!

[shadowknows69]

68. We need to cut the "He can't win" rhetoric off at the pass

This man would be one of the best Presidents this country has ever seen. An unprecedented pillar of truth in the White House instead of the house of lies. We need to throw out the old rules of campaigns. Hilary has the most money but we have the internet. Use it to get a man like Kucinich heard.

[fhqwhgads]

70. any clevelanders who remember dk as mayor?

i'm not from cleveland, but i've read about problems rep. kucinich had as mayor of cleveland. did he really have problems, or were they overblown? can anyone educate me?

[PegDAC]

77. Cleveland nearly went bankrupt during his term.

But I'm not sure if that was lain entirely at his feet.

[bobbie]

73. Excellent! At worst, his presence increases the focus on real issues

He elevates the process.

That's the ticket: Gore/Clark/Kucinich...

Oh dear.

[savemefromdumbya]

76. Kucinich needs makeover

not to be rude but he needs to improve his media image (and hairstyle) and his name is a bit of a mouthful.

However, he is perhaps, apart from Gore, the best person we have. He is an intelligent, capable politician with a policy which is unusual. I wish that he could win in 08..........

[helderheid]

79. He almost got on "Queer Eye" last time he ran - would LOVE to see that happen!

[Prophet 451]

78. I'd vote for him

but let's be honest, he doesn't have a hope in hell of getting elected.

[Geek_Girl]

80. I'm happy he's running

I'm thinking about supporting him.

[nealmhughes]

81. OK, y'all, Dennis ain't pretty in a Republican beautiful hairspray 'do way.

Guess what, most of us aren't either.

Thanks for all the posters who have already shot his chances down. Money changes everything, eh?

A campaign is an odd thing: the people running and their supporters are the story. Get enough people in one place and it makes the local papers. Then the local TV stations. Then the wires and eventually the national print and air media.

A massive airwave blitz is a new phenomenon. Soundbites only appeal to those who are too fickle or obtuse to understand the issues and the past performance of an individual. Oh, we have to flood Market X! Why? Because Y is! Oh, of course, so we need to enrich the TV stations this early in the game...I see.

So some think that DK ain't pretty. Well, maybe we should consider how pretty the last President was..or his daddy..or Reagan. Boy looks got them far, now didn't it? A retired B grade actor who had pretty hair and experienced at scripts, a Nazi-enabler's one term Senator's son, and his son.

Does Dennis have a chance? How in the world could anyone do more than guess? Did Paul Wellstone and Bernie Sanders have a chance -- and yes, being a Senator is analogous to being President. Both offices have a large diverse population they need to address.

So DK runs and loses in every primary. Guess what: he makes every candidate in the primary -- and there are going to be a lot of fantastic ones besides DK in the races -- address his positions. They can't be brushed aside with "He looks like a Hobbit," or "Why do I deign to respond to the Vegan?".

Who knows, we may have a chance for a Wellstone and get a new Coleman...

[ulysses]

82. good.

The naysayers can suck an egg. This puts issues in the spotlight that wouldn't otherwise be there, and that's excellent.

Thank you, Dennis.

[Supply Side Jesus]

83. Voted for Kucinich in '04 at my state convention.

Would gladly do so again.

[The Sushi Bandit]

84. Dennis is the MAN!!!

Dennis and I during his last run in 2004

[vkobaya]

85. Sigh! Sob!

If Kucinich becomes a serious candidate with a chance of
winning the nomination, then I see a repeat of 1968 in kitchen
of Amabassador Hotel. There is not a chance in the world that
the Right will let him present a real alternative to the the
American People. By comparison, both Kennedys were far, far to
the right of Kucinich and yet the right feared them too much
to let either of them live. Nor could the allow Paul Wellstone
to live. If Kuninich mounts a successful challenge, then we
had better be seriously prepared: 1) Defend this man with our
lives, and 2) That we will almost certainly lose this
exceedingly good man despite our best efforts. And, while
trying to protect him, be more paranoid than George Bush is at
his insane, terrified, foul, evil, gun-toting worst, but I
can't see Kucinich being that frightened of the people, though
it probably would serve him well. Even if we elect him, he
won't live through his term even if the CIA has to plant a
nuclear bomb under the White House. Yet, he is the only
Democrat that I would vote for as I voted all Green last month
and had sworn never to vote Democratic again. But, I'd break
my oath for Kucinich which is why he has near zero chance of
living through the election and absolute zero chance of
serving even one full term. That is a very hard choice whether
I'd rather have him as live Congressman or a dead challenger
who had represented our ideals, utopian dreams, and the true
America, the Constitutional America. 

Yeah! Sigh! Sob!

[B Calm]

88. Kucinich will be a great president..

[LWolf]

90. The best move for the Democratic Party I've seen all year.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Mrspeeker]

91. YAY YAY YAY YAY.......

I LOVE KUCINICH!!!!!