I Say Support Dennis Kucinich!

[rjones2818]

This was posted as a comment to this diary at DailyKos: www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/18/205429/061

He's been right on the war from the beginning. He hasn't voted for any of the supplementals. He has a 12 point plan, HR 1234 , to get us out of Iraq and to stableize the region. He's also been telling the .Truth About Oil and Iraq. What's more, he doesn't have to apologize and he wasn't fooled by W.


He's the only candidate supporting Universal Single Payer Not for Profit Health Care for all Americans with HR 676, the Conyers/Kucinich Health Care bill. You're covered if this bill passes. All Americans are covered if this bill passes. None of the other candidates can say that, as far as I can tell. You won't be forced to carry insurance if you can't afford it, you'll be covered. Here are the positions of the other candidates on health care.

Dennis supports quality education for all from kindergarten through college. This plan will provide for free education for all. Each American deserves to have a quality education.

Dennis Kucinich has unquestioned green bona fides. He intends to institute a Works Green Administration to help American gain it's energy independence and to create millions of jobs in the green economy. Here's Dennis on his plans:


As you can guess, there's much more to Dennis' plans for when he's president, and you can read them here on his issues page.

Oh, BTW, did you know he's the leader on impeaching Dick and W? HR 333 is the impeachment bill for Dick Cheney, and then we'll go after W. The whole fetid mess of the Bush administration will be laid out for the American people to see and decide about.


If you like the positions that Dennis takes, isn't it time to take a look at Dennis as a true progressive candidate for president? If you want to take a look at Dennis, either for the first or second time, take a look at his campign page.

Go Dennis!
Kucinich 2008

End Comment.

This comment has also been posted at my blog. It has links and videos in it: http://rjones2818.blogspot.com/2007/06/i-say-support-dennis-kucinich.html

[BlackHawk706867]

1. I agree with this, but unfortunately don't think he can win.... sad movies...

but reality is what it is... He has my vote for sure....

ww

[eridani]

33. The point here is pushing the Kucinich agenda--

--which is pretty much what the generic progressive agenda is. This is independent of the issue of him winning or losing.

[rucognizant]

112. How to make a change..............

:think: :nopity: What very popular book is making the rounds? The Secret! It promotes the Law of Attraction. What you put out you attract back to you!
( Yes I know the neocons tried to create their own reality. It didn't work because THEIR MOTIVES WEREN'T PURE! ) If you have a good intention it DOES work....I've done it on an extended basis.
If we all go around saying " Dennis Kuchinich has all the right policies, and would be the best President BUT! He's too short too evolved, too out of the box." He WON'T WIN!
GET BEHIND HIM! Picture him delivering the inaugural address, picture the feelings of relief, we all experience!
Have we got anything to lose at this point?

[Dhalgren]

2. I am definitely supporting Kucinich, all the way!

:applause:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

3. He has my 100 percent support... and I am tired of being

told by the media and its talking heads that it is a waste of time.

[rjones2818]

4. I think we'll know by September/October if there's any traction.

The impeachment thing will be on the table by then, or it'll go by the wayside. And they'll be preparing to pass the next supplemental (and I can't imagine that it won't get passed). If people are really fed up with what's going on, I think Dennis is the clear progressive alternative for the Dems.

I really think he should push the no strings attached meme also.

[NV Whino]

5. I'm for Dennis

just as I was last time.

[cullen2382]

6. I love kucinich

Like I told my mom, I may feel like I'm tossing my primary vote away because I know he isn't going to win but I'm going to show my support for him at the ballot box anyway.

[BlooInBloo]

7. He's extremely nice & compassionate. And batshit crazy.

[Caution]

8. Agreed. Love many of his policies. Don't like his woo-woo tendencies.

[Forkboy]

9. After 8 years of "kill the world" tendencies some woo-woo ones don't sound so bad.

:)

[BlooInBloo]

10. If those were the only two possible choices, I might agree. But they're not. So I don't.

[redqueen]

70. There's corporatist and corporatist-lite.

Why wouldn't you want to sound off for true progressive while you have a chance, during the primary?

[TahitiNut]

30. Like Reagan, Bush 41, and Bush 43 were SANE?!???

:eyes: I'll take Kucinich-crazy any day of the week.

[BlooInBloo]

34. If that were the choice, so would I.

[Wwagsthedog]

11. DK is the only man!

Personally, I'm tired of all the tripe I hear from other candidates. They're only in it for personal recognition, not for the USA and its citizens. DK will get my vote no matter who else is on the ballot.

[cgrindley]

12. But he has absolutely no chance of winning

supporting him would be foolish. This is what I don't get. Why would anyone waste resources or time on supporting a candidate who simply cannot win, place or show? It's not even like he could get enough support to influence the race by opening up new avenues of debate or sending the more mainstream candidates on a guilt trip, nor could he be spoiler. It's just a waste. So why?

[Ron Green]

15. Because sometimes you just gotta do the right thing.

[MuseRider]

Great answer.

I don't get the win at all costs. Well, things will still suck but by golly we will win. Stand the fuck up for what is right for once, just once do the right thing.

[bettyellen]

50. you know if our reps understood that, the electorate wouldn;t be turning on them as they are now...

so sometimes doing the right thing has side benefits, like popularity with the voters.

[Vidar]

60. Amen to that.

[Webster Green]

24. That's absurd!

I'll vote for him again in the primary to show that he speaks for me and I support his ideas.

Why is that foolish? If he doesn't get the nomination......oh, well....but why would it be foolish to support him in the primary?

[sueh]

26. Because an *un-electable* candidate might actually

get *elected* if people would go ahead and vote for the candidate of their choice in the primary instead of for whom they are told will *win*.

In the primary, I want people to vote for who they really want to. In the 2004 primary, I voted for Wesley Clark even though Kerry had it *sewn up* by the time my state, Illinois, held it's primary. I never felt like I threw my vote away because of it.

[cgrindley]

123. So Kucinich is a protest vote?

I'm okay with that, just don't give him any money.

Look, people, we have evil to fight. We're not going to be fighting evil by wasting our time by funding distractions. We've got to fund serious candidates and get them to duke it out quickly and come up with a clear winner. The other side will kick our asses again if we let them as the American voting public will forgive the Republicans for 8 years of Bush if they merely forward a candidate who isn't obviously the anti-christ.

Sure I support Hilary and Obama, but I'm cool with other electable options too. Especially since i can't actually vote, being a resident alien and all. But, people, really. This time it's serious. The repukes have to lose. Surely we can agree with that.

[Warren DeMontague]

37. Right. Better vote for "the Winner". You know, so the "Winner" can be sure to "Win".

Let me guess, you already know who the "Winner" is, so we all have to be sure and obediently vote for "The Winner"- because, you know, the "Winner" is for sure gonna win, no matter what... so you gotta vote for "The Winner."

Since the Winner is going to win no matter what, you must be sure and vote for "The Winner". After all, the Winner needs you to vote for her, er, sorry, "The Winner"... because it's a foregone conclusion that "The Winner" will WIN. So be sure to vote for THE WINNER and ensure that what is automatically predestined to happen happens precisely as it will no matter what.

:crazy:

[asthmaticeog]

46. Worked GREAT last time!

[dogday]

41. There are many people who like Kucinich

not just his stance on the war, but his universal health care plan is great.... Talking to Brother-In-Law and they love him in Cleveland....

[cgrindley]

122. How are you defining the word "many"?

cause it really isn't any standard way.

[dogday]

125. Great in number; numerous (many people)

I would say you are not helping the situation by trying to convince me that Dennis is not the candidate for me or anyone else.... Sounds like there is a personal motive to your postings....

DK is on time with his stance on the war and healthcare.... Ask people who live in Cleveland what they think of Dennis... They love him... He does right by the people....

[cgrindley]

126. Well, that's not DK's support base, now, is it? He only has 1%

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1295.xml?ReleaseID=1075

1% support. That would be close to no support. If every single democratic candidate got kidnapped by space aliens, he still wouldn't win because the Repukes would destroy him. The race is too close to allow non-entities to screw it up.

[dogday]

128. Have you ever heard of an Individual's right

to back the candidate of his choice? I am so tired of people trying to tell me who I will vote for... I will back DK or Edwards or Gore or any other person I want until the final vote...

Your words indicate that you dislike DK and are trying everything you can to discourage people from supporting him..... Shame you feel that way, he has the guts to get things done... But that doesn't matter to you now, does it?

[NeedleCast]

42. This is exactly the attitude

that has saddle us with a two party system and forces most of us to vote for the least worst candidate.

[Beelzebud]

44. Your lame attitude is exactly why "conventional wisdom" says he's unelectable...

John Kerry was the "electable" candidate in 2004. How is that working out for you?

[rinsd]

71. Its the conventional wisdom because he is unelectable.

I'll offer 3 main reasons why; dealing with the practical, the political and the unfortunate reality of running for office in this country.

1) He has very few friends in the party structure making it that much harder to raise money and get one's message out to say nothing of GOTV efforts. His base while passionate doesn't even seem to be particularly loyal as he has fallen short of what his campaign has sought to fundraise. Indeed some of his support seems to be derived from people who want him to leave the Democratic party.

2) His political views are quite a bit to the left of the vast majority of Americans. Someone of his political persuasion hasn't be elected to executive office in quite some time.

3) He is a non telegenic twice divorced man who just married a woman less than half of his age. I don't make the rules but these are disqualifiers in terms of one;s chances at election.

[rucognizant]

113. So you'lllll.......

Vote for Rudi instead?

[asthmaticeog]

45. *yawn*

Spew your media points elsewhere. Chance of winning is not at issue. I want someone in every debate using the words "Single" and "Payer" in that order. I want someone in every debate pointing out that he alone among congresspeople running for the presidential nomination voted against Bush's war. He CAN get support if fucking Eeyores like you and the mediocracy shut your fool mouths for one minute and listen to what he has to say, and compare it with what a great many Americans actually believe and want.

[redqueen]

100. Have I told you lately, that I love you?

:loveya:

[blayne]

107. I seriously thought about contributing to his campaign so that

more people could hear his message. No, I don't think he can win, but I think the Democratic and overall political dialogue would benefit from hearing his message. I will support whoever wins the primary, but Hillary and Obama don't need my support right now. Everybody will get to hear their message, but I want some fresh air in the meantime.

[cgrindley]

127. That's the first sensible pro-K message I've read

I can totally support your stance.

[EFerrari]

13. I will always support Dennis no matter what. Did last time

and will this time.

We should be so lucky as to get a real progressive elected.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. Is he able to get the job done?

Has he been able to convince a significant number of his colleagues to cosponsor HR 1234? Or did he just introduce the bill to get some press and the let it languish in some committee?

[some guy]

20. Here's a question

Have you been pushing your representative to become a cosponsor for HR1234?

[Freddie Stubbs]

43. If Kucinich can't convince Democratic members of Congress to support this,

there isn't much likelihood of me convincing my Republican member of Congress.

[some guy]

62. Okay, that's true. n/t

[redqueen]

72. Then that means we're electing the wrong "type" of Dems! n/t

[Imperialism Inc.]

57. Is Hillary able to "get the job done"?

Oh that's right, she doesn't want to get the job done. She is ideologically opposed to getting the job done.

[spanone]

16. getting closer everyday.....unbiased truth is hard for America to swallow

[JVS]

17. ok

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

21. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BlooInBloo]

23. Yah... that sounds *exactly* like what a true Kucinich supporter would say. LOL!

[BlooInBloo]

36. Holy crap! 1st time EVER *everyone ELSE'S* post got deleted while mine stayed! LOLOLOL!!!

neener-neener-NEEEENER!

:rofl:

EDIT: It's like being in bizzaro-world or something. Kinda creepy.

[some guy]

19. Supporting him again. n/t

[lonestarnot]

22. I say that too!

:toast:

[Individualist]

25. He'll get my vote in '08!

[elocs]

27. I must say that for somebody with few posts you have learned very fast.

Start a thread about how great and right Kucinich is and they will fall all over themselves to recommend your thread. Congratulations. But although I am undecided this time, I will not vote for Kucinich in Wisconsin's primary. I only hope my vote will count for something by then.

[redqueen]

73. What? You're undecided, but you refuse to vote for the one person

whose ideals are the most obviously progressive?

Why?

[elocs]

84. I believe you could think of a reason why. To me, it's a very, very important reason.

It doesn't matter how progressive a candidate may be, if they cannot get elected they will accomplish nothing. Kucinich may have good ideas, but he has not been able to even sell them to his own party and be a leader there. I don't see him having any chance of working with Democrats and Republicans and having the support and confidence of most Americans. But this is all academic anyways since he will not even get the Democratic nomination and I am in no way obligated to support him just because others look upon him as God. Remember, you asked why?, and I have given you my answer whether you like it or not (I assume you don't).

[redqueen]

87. Doesn't matter if I like it...

what matters is if it makes sense.

IMO that does not... cause I think we all know the powers that be would never allow him to have the nomination no matter how many primaries he won.

The fact is that showing strong support for his policy ideas is what a vote for Kucinich in the primary means. If you don't want to show support for those ideas, fine. But no one can ignore that the time to voice your support for TRULY progressive policies is during the primary, and there is only ONE choice, if that is what you want to do.

[elocs]

92. I greatly admire my own Senator Feingold, but I would not support him if he was a candidate

and I did not believe he could win. My reasons for supporting a candidate are my reasons and are important to me and I don't feel the need to justify them to anybody.
The supporters of the other candidates would also claim that there is only ONE choice and I don't buy it. The point of running in the general election is to WIN and not simply represent progressive policies (which Kucinich cannot even advance in his own party). My first presidential vote went for George McGovern and look who we got. How many of George McGovern's policies were advanced by Richard Nixon? Nope, I will not vote for Kucinich and I do not believe that he has the corner on every good idea ever thought of.

[redqueen]

94. I didn't say presidential vote...

I was referring to the primary.

And I wouldn't expect the opposition's party to pick up on any policy positions from any of the opposing candidates. That would be something that the same party would do. (i.e. a dem would end up adopting some of those policies... not a repub)

[tavalon]

28. Unless Gore gets in! n/t

[Bryn]

29. I support Dennis!

:kick:

[slay]

31. I love Dennis, as many do here

The big problem Dennis has is that the "media" don't like him so he'll have no chance of winning. Just look at the media assassination they did to Howard Dean with the "Dean scream" back in 2004. :( But don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to see Dennis as president. He would rule! But I'll settle for Al Gore. ;)

[Mark_Pogue]

32. On impeachment he has my

support!!

[Le Taz Hot]

35. The only progressive

running and yes, he has my vote.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. I think the folks who aren't taking him seriously are going to be in for a surprise.

Right now, barring Gore getting in, I'm voting for Kooch. I don't give a shit if it's "practical" or not. I'm tired of waiting for the "practical" candidates to find their balls.

[sellitman]

39. Kucinich has my support until Gore runs.

Dennis will support a Gore run too from what I have heard.

[Stevepol]

53. Amen! DK all the way.

[Discord]

40. I'm tired of hearing "DK can't win"....

The ONLY reason he couldn't win, is because people believe it. * got "elected" TWICE... That proves anything is possible.

[redqueen]

74. Excellent point. Also... hello! PRIMARY! n/t

[redqueen]

47. There is NO REASON not to support him in the primaries!

Tired of the war machine and the corporatocracy?

Well then, there's only one choice.

[Cleita]

48. I agree, but we are going to have to start digging into our

pockets to support him. With all the PAC money that the others are receiving and that Dennis isn't, he needs all of us. He's asking for $50 from a million supporters. I have signed up to give him $10 a month for 5 months before the primary. It's all I can afford. If he can get that million donations in his war chest, then he will have the funds needed to combat the corporate greed machine.

[LWolf]

49. I support Dennis Kucinich.

I do not believe in feeding and spreading self-fulfilling prophecies of doom.

I believe he can win on his record and platform. I believe that if he were represented honestly, he would get support from a broad range of voters. I believe that if every Democrat who likes his platform best actually donated and voted for him, he'd win the nomination. I believe that he represents the masses so well that he could win the general election.

I believe that the Democratic Party will continue it's slide down to corporate mouthpiece until Democratic voters have the courage to do what they wish their reps in Congress would do: stand for Democratic principles, stand for social and economic justice, and stand against the status quo.

[getmeouttahere]

51. Very well said, LWolf....

and Dennis will have, and always has had, my support. This country needs nothing less than a FDR-style rescue - and Kucinich is the only one who has the will to deliver it!

[Rude Horner]

52. One month ago he was barely on my radar

Now, I'm learning more about him and he's up at the top of my list.

[rbnyc]

54. He's got my vote.

Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to be a campaign volunteer this time around. That was quite an experience last run. Everywhere I spoke everyone was so excited about his record, his stance, his ideas. They all liked him best--but they all put there support behind Kerry and said it was because Kerry was more likable. In a room of 100 members of a local Democratic club, 90% would favor Kucinich, but then support Kerry because they saw him as more popular. Well, who were these people who liked Kerry Better? Where were they? I never met more than a handful. Yet everyone deferred to them--this mythical, really truly imaginary mainstream that actually doesn't really exist, I'm increasingly convinced.

[progressoid]

55. Dennis Koshish. . . Kastin. . . Koospinich...

Being in Iowa, I get called fairly often about the candidates. Of the last three polls, one didn't even mention him (or Dodd, Gravel, etc). Neither of the other two pollsters could even pronounce his name.

He may have the right ideas but sadly, elections aren't just about the right ideas. Hopefully his ideas will get heard and make an impact, but he's gonna need a miracle to get to the White House.

[redqueen]

75. A great showing in a few primaries might help. n/t

[dogday]

129. I guess we need to vote for the Robot Clone who

has the most votes.. Who cares about our right to support the candidate of our choice.. Now it is support the clone with the most votes, even in the primary.... I have been doing it wrong I guess...

[samq79]

56. He's got great ideas, but...

Moderate Dems will never vote for him. He's not presidential enough. He is too small a man to be the face of this great country. His stalwart opposition to everything the Republicans have done, and his willingness to put himself out on even the most tenuous of limbs, such as calling for Cheney's impeachment, is admirable, but to anyone even close to moderate, he is like a bus that's on fire. They're not going to get on board.

[Ron Green]

59. These things you say - they operate exactly like Right-Wing talking points,

fueled and delivered by a corporate propaganda system.

Isn't it remarkable how that works? We don't even consider the best candidate, just because he's a pencil-neck, but continue to wallow in mediocrity as long as it's espoused by "leader-like" politicians.

[redqueen]

77. "Remarkable" is *so* not the word I'd use.

:)

[DKRC]

120. We've had a giggling psychopath as the face of this great country

and you have issues with Kucinich's height?

I want a President who can think his way out of the cesspit our country has been dragged into whether his brain is 4, 5, or 6 feet above the carpet in the Oval Office.

[InvisibleTouch]

58. The formula is simple:

He can win if we vote for him. :)

[Blue_Tires]

67. simply brilliant....well said n/t

[19jet54]

61. Bit of a crackpot!

... Dennis doesn't work & play well with others - Great congressman, but not Presidential material!

[LWolf]

63. I don't know where you get that.

He has done a fine job working & playing well with others.

With his fellow Congresspeople.

With John Kerry after the '04 convention.

Who, exactly, other than the GWB administration and its enablers, has he not worked well with? :wtf:

[19jet54]

64. Waste of time...

... talking about radicals on either side of the isle (my definition of a crackpot)

I prefer middle of the road, thank you - they work & play with everybody.

Example: Bush will not talk to Syria & Iran - Dennis is too rigid for my taste on the left.

[nxylas]

66. OK, you've given us an example of who Bush won't play with

Now try answering the question and doing the same for Kucinich.

[19jet54]

83. Patronizing debates...

... who among the democratic front runners would even address Mike's or Dennis' remarks in the presidential debates? Mostly they were just ignored, as they should have been - I would not say they don't matter, but they matter very little in comparison. I will be glad when the second string teams runs out of money so we can get back to a real election.

And no I am not getting into defamatory specifics about another Democrat, on a public forum - I was born, just not yesterday!

[redqueen]

78. Non radicals lean conservative.

That's now much the political landscape has shifted.

[19jet54]

85. Bold statement!

... but I disagree.

[redqueen]

88. Okay.

I think the flag burning brouhaha, the violent video game brouhaha, the trade agreement fiascoes, and many other issues back me up... but okay.

If you feel like sharing some reasoning as to why you think centrist candidates today are very far removed from conservative ideology, that would be interesting to read.

[19jet54]

90. You can never win...

... an argument as to the definition of a word - interpretations vary based on the bias of the reader? If the bias is different, then the meaning is also different of the same word.

Example: The youth always feel anything old is outdated, and new is better anyway - nature of competition.

I prefer a Social Liberal and a Fiscal Conservative any-day - so you are not wrong, just too broad a statement.

[redqueen]

91. True... re: definitions...

I was thinking more of policy positions, though.

[19jet54]

96. Oh?

I agree with Hillary's comment: "There is very little difference between 'US' Democrats. There are major differences between 'US' and the Bush Administration or the GOP"

Like I said before; I like Dennis, I just don't think he would make a good President - My Vote, My Opinion is all.

Regarding Policy - I think anyone who is "Un-Bush" is better at this point :)

[redqueen]

97. Completely agree re: un-bush

However it isn't exactly hard to distance yourself from criminally insane, treasonous warmongers... so that whole difference comment from Hillary doesn't do a lot for me. :)

[19jet54]

99. Oh Yea!

:rofl:

:yourock:

Regarding Hillary Comment: I am only trying to support "Democratic Unity" as to best guarantee a Democratic President in '08 - I have not decided as yet who gets my vote - Way too early!:grouphug:

[redqueen]

102. I hear ya

on that unity thing... :)

[LWolf]

106. The difference is that I don't see DK

as "radical." He's not as left, or liberal, or radical, as I am on many issues, and I am not as left or radical as many of the people whose conversation I appreciate and respect the most.

I don't think Orwellian relabeling of political positions have changed that reality. It's just changed the perceptions of the gullible and weak-minded. In my opinion.

[19jet54]

111. So name calling helps does it!

Ok, my shoulders are broad, can carry much weight and covered with the battle scars of many years - "gullible & weak-minded" are pretty strong words from a fellow Democrat! So tell me, just which "meaning" of the many below did I use (mind reader), or are you just putting words in my mouth to discredit my opinion and validate yours? Pretty cheap shot IMHO!!!!

rad·i·cal(rd-kl)
adj.
1. Arising from or going to a root or source; basic: proposed a radical solution to the problem.
2. Departing markedly from the usual or customary; extreme: radical opinions on education.
3. Favoring or effecting fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions: radical political views.
4. Linguistics Of or being a root: a radical form.
5. Botany Arising from the root or its crown: radical leaves.
6. Slang Excellent; wonderful.
n.
1. One who advocates fundamental or revolutionary changes in current practices, conditions, or institutions: radicals seeking to overthrow the social order.
2. Mathematics The root of a quantity as indicated by the radical sign.
3. Symbol R An atom or a group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron.
4. Linguistics See root1.

[LWolf]

114. You used none of them.

You defined "radicals" as "crackpots," to quote your post:

Waste of time...

... talking about radicals on either side of the isle (my definition of a crackpot)

Did calling the better candidate, based on platform and record, a "crackpot" help you in any way?

Or are you calling yourself gullible and weak-minded? Categorizing yourself into the group that would rather play it safe with candidates that excel at rhetoric rather than action?

Do you think your fellow democrats should avoid strong words, and just play it safe right down the middle of the propaganda-as-usual road?

[19jet54]

118. It is real simple...

...

1) I only vote for veterans (no-draft dodger like Bush) is worthy to be president. Lincoln was the only exception I can think of, but I did not vote for him. I just don't trust a president who has not been in combat himself first hand, to go to war.

2) I try to vote for the best person who CAN win, which usually comes down to the "least of the evils", none of whom I approve.

3) I only vote for moderates - America was founded on balance of power & the two party system either keeps them fighting and out of the people's business, or the only thing which gets done is middle of the road important business most everyone agrees on.

4) Dennis is a fine congressman, but congressmen usually do not move to president, Governors do as the jobs are very different!

With all of that said, Mike Gravel or Al Gore come close as does Duncan Hunter & John McCain, but I will never vote GOP.

I see little difference between Rush Limbaugh & Howard Stern as both are extremist, both beat their chest like warriors, but none have served or risked their life personally. The are in it for the money, nothing more! At least Dennis is not money hungry, but he is no Veteran either.

He is simply not Presidential - Never fought, never will?

I personally have 10 years military & 15 years federal government experience and have worked for every president since Nixon - but I would not be a good president either - it takes more than ideas, experience and a big pocketbook - Sorry Dennis ain't it!

[LWolf]

119. I don't differ with everything you say.

I don't have a military service requirement; just service. Willingness to take the fight to congress, whether or not they've fought with the military. Willingness to be an active force for change wherever it is needed.

I have done the number 2 on your list for decades. It hasn't worked well for me, so I've moved that one off of my list.

I don't like the 2 party system, and would like to restructure the whole mess. For now, I'll support candidates who are likely to support that restructuring. I'd like to spread the power out over a greater range of ideas and people.

Still, apart from your Veteran requirement, we're not all that far apart.

[19jet54]

121. If Bush had been a combat veteran...

... we would not be in this mess in Iraq! Cheney, Bush and all the "Chicken Hawks" idolize war as some sort of greatness to aspire to? They dream of "King of the World" status, rather than mutual respect with friends and allies. They always LOOK for an enemy to rally the people to build their empires and their false importance. The do not understand they are servants of the people, but feel and act like the masters of them.

Anyone, like Gen. Shinseki or Colin Powell, who disagree with their plans have their creditability attacked. Rather than rely on experience and science, they distort truth and destroy everything and everyone in their path. Rumsfield & Westmoreland will go down in history as major failures and very poor military leaders.

Oh, I forgot Wes Clark in my presidential list - a successful and excellent commander of American leadership. We need a strong military, wise military leaders and President who knows when to use political force and when not to. Like it or not, extremist and fanatical terrorist muslims have declared war on us at 9/11, but rather than rally the world, we acted like bulls in a china closet. Our strongest allies from WWII of Russia, China, France, Germany and others now view our creditability as questionable. There is no longer trust in what we say or trust in what we do.

One of my favorite leaders are Sen. Byrd who was against the war in Iraq, loves our constitution, questions anything new as risky verses tried and true past known Constitutional ideas that work. Rush Bimbo calls his wisdom "Byrd Droppings", but I think Rush has been smoking opium or something anyway? My kids think the 2 party system is broken, my son-in-law is Swedish and thinks everything not Swedish is broken, but the only problem I see right now is the people, congress and the Judiciary are simply not doing their job - Question everything!!!

Dennis is a very good congressman! But we barely hold a majority bicameral with democrats and we need very good congressmen as much if not more than a good president, even after '08. The same holds true with Joe Biden, Barak Obama, Hillary Clinton and any other good democratic congressmen/women who are seeking presidential office. In my opinion, we cannot spare even the loss of one.

Our government is like herding cats, but the truth is we need good, honest civil servants in every part of government and it pretty much takes care of itself. Bush & Rove systematically removed all non-bush loyal GOPers and filled the positions with puppets of his sick twisted view America.

Another requirement of our founding fathers was an age of 35 minimum; The average life expectancy then was 35 - Ref: (http://www.answers.com/topic/life-expectancy?cat=biz-fin) - so to normalize this, the minimum age should be changed to 70 in todays standard. Anyone younger than this is simply too inexperienced, without enough mistakes under their belt to lead. Dennis has no corporate CEO experience & no Governor experience of major responsibility - basically he is an unknown talent of that level of ability (recall the Peter Principal). Bush is the classic bad example with all the right training, except he was a failure in most ever thing he did, including as President.

In summary: Dennis is NOT Presidential material yet - he is simply too inexperienced, and the path he has chosen does not lead to the White house other than to negotiate legislation. No Secretary of State, no government leadership office position in line for the president (line of succession) to claim. Congressman is a minor role in our government! Good ideas alone are just not enough.... peoples lives are at stake, and he has very little live & death experiences on a very large scale. I mean, just look at Bush & how screwed up things can get with the so called "experts" in charge. It is just too important for that!

At this point, I do not see any "groomed" persons described above for the office of POTUS on either side of the isle? I truly wish there were.

[New Era]

65. He has my vote!

If he got the vote from everyone who said "I like him but he is unelectable" then he might just be electable. Especially on the issue of health care, he has a very strong set of cards which will be a very important if not THE issue of the next election. I plan on printing out his health care plan from his website and standing out in front of movie theaters showing Sicko and hand them out to people.

[antigop]

68. Welcome to DU, New Era! n/t

[HCE SuiGeneris]

76. An excellent idea! Proactive participation is so

incredibly important. A very hearty welcome to DU New Era. :hi: :kick:

[redqueen]

80. Health care is huge... both of our "leading candidates"

favor keeping corporate profit as part of their health care systems.

And people still seem to have a hard time deciding to vote for Kucinich in the primary... amazing.

[antigop]

69. Compare Kucinich's Top 10 contributors in 2006 election cycle to the other candidates

http://opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.asp?CID=N00003572&cycle=2006

[ChipperbackDemocrat]

79. Dennis Kucinich: America's Cut The Crap Candidate

If you don't vote for what you really want, You deserve what you get.

If you want national health care, vote for somebody who's putting up a plan for it.

That is why I'm volunteering for Dennis, again.

[Ron Green]

89. HOLY SHIT! Kucinich is truly the only candidate not bought and paid for by

investment houses and multinational corporations.

[antigop]

95. Yes, Ron, people need to follow the money....

They need to see who Dennis' top contributors are and compare that to the other candidates.

[ulysses]

81. and indeed I do.

:thumbsup:

[salib]

82. I support Dennis.

He is the only Liberal choice.

Oddly, or not so, I have now heard that he is "Bat-shit crazy", "woo-woo", "does not work well with others", too liberal, etc. Yet, when challenged, not a one of these who made these comments had anything concrete as an example to back up what they claimed. It is like talking to people who have already drunk the kool-aide.

I refuse to drink it. If you want to go ahead, but I am not going to kill myself following the "leader."

I am voting for Kucinich.

[govegan]

86. Best qualified, smartest, most progressive, most deserving

of your support, and your vote.

Dare to be great! Kucinich 2008!

[bigwillq]

93. He has my support in the primary...

unless Gore decides to run.

[KoKo]

98. Yes....he's the VOICE for Progressives.........at this point and needs to stay in.

I worked for John Kerry once he was nominee Last TIME as a Precinct Vice Chair here in my Red State..but I donated to Kucinich and when to his Rally here in my state because I wanted HIS VOICE OUT THERE!

[ooglymoogly]

101. He has got my total support as long as he can stay in the ring.

k&n

[robertpaulsen]

103. DK is the only candidate who has spoken out about Peak Oil.

If any other candidate has any idea of the crisis we face, they have yet to articulate any awareness of this to the general public. But Dennis has:

robertpaulsen (1000+ posts) Journal Click to send private message to this author Click to view this author's profile Click to add this author to your buddy list Click to add this author to your Ignore list Tue Jan-30-07 07:23 PM
Original message
DENNIS KUCINICH ON PEAK OIL: I’M READY TO LEAD THIS NATION

I spent this past Sunday afternoon at the St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Whittier, California to see Dennis Kucinich speak. After a very eloquent, passionate speech he opened the floor for anyone in the audience to ask him a question. Here is what transpired:

Me: Are you familiar with the Hirsch Report for the Department of Energy on Peak Oil that was one of Project Censored’s top 20 censored stories of 2005, and what would you do as President to prepare America for the global peak of oil production which Robert Hirsch believes could occur within the next ten years?

Dennis: (to me) Of course I’ve read the reports and I’m familiar with it. And Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, who is a Republican from Maryland has done some great work on the Peak Oil issue. (to audience) In a word, what Peak Oil means is it’s a point at which we pass the peak of an oil supply and we start to work on non-renewable resources being depleted. What does this mean? It means that they’ll seek other environments such as in Iraq and Venezuela in the inevitable way some of our leaders like the open markets. It also means there’s an urgency right now to work at conservation, I mentioned this earlier. What we have to make…when I was growing up, President Kennedy created this challenge of wanting to put somebody on the moon. So they organized the whole country, we were competing with Russia at the time, but he organized the country. So we had this great cause, to harness our intellect for our scientific power and to bring this nation together, this great cause to reach for the stars. We need a similar call! And I’m ready to lead this nation in a similar call. To conserve energy, to develop alternative energy and to move away from non-sustainable forms of energy which, by the way, not only jeopardize our politics, but jeopardize the planet. So all this is connected. I spoke earlier about oil being interconnected and interdependent, you know, our energy policies have an effect on our politics. Our politics affects the rest of the world. Our energy policies have an effect on our health. Our health determines what our demands are for health care in this country. All this stuff is bound up together. So we need to have a call where we come together as a nation. There’s a hunger in America right now for coming together! For uniting! But not some kind of false unity, but in a higher purpose that states who we really are and just identify ourselves with something that’s almost transcendent, beyond ourselves. We have this potential right now to be more than we are, dreaded(?) in the world. Americans are ready to call and to participate something in this grand cause, not just to save ourselves but to save our nation and the planet. What a great opportunity this is! What a wonderful time it is to be alive, to realize that we can consciously reconstruct the world! That we are called upon to save the world! That we have the intelligence and spirit to do it and we only have to have the willingness to do it. We only have to believe that our political system is ready for transformation and if we have the courage to take it in that direction, then I’ll take it and I’ll change it. But (we’re) just waiting and testing ourselves as to how far we’re ready to go to bring about the change, and I think there’s a readiness now. I think people have seen enough of the war! I think people have seen enough of the deception! They’ve seen enough of the undermining of our civil liberties! They’ve seen enough to the point that (they’ve) hijacked(?) an entire American agenda!



This is my transcription of my audio cassette recording. I placed question marks after words I was unsure of, but for the most part I think Kucinich's message is pretty clear. We need to have a plan to deal with Peak Oil on the level of the Apollo Moon Project President Kennedy initiated. Has any other 2008 Presidential candidate articulated an understanding of or a plan for Peak Oil? Regardless, I've decided that even though mainstream media may ignore him, Kucinich has earned my vote for President in next year's primary.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=266x2266

[thethinker]

104. You guys are right

Kucinich will have my vote through the primaries. My state is a late voter - which is the pits. By the time we vote and have our state convention, we will already know who the winner is. I am still voting for Kucinich in the primaries - just to make a point.

Guess I had better send a donation also.

[Spike89]

105. Not a "wasted" vote by any means!

The whole idea that votes only count if they go to the winner is obscene and is a huge reason we're all feeling like we have no choices. This is exactly what the established powers want us to think. The reality is that in the primaries every vote for a candidate that stands for something sends a message to the others. For instance, if enough people vote for Dennis to get noticed, you can bet that Hilary and Obama will shade to the left to grab those votes. He doesn't need to win, just get enough votes to get attention.
Doesn't anyone remember Perot? He never had a chance to win the presidency, but he sure made all the candidates pay attention to deficits. Kucinich can do the same for more progressive political issues, but only if people stop buying the corporate line that a vote for a non-winner is a wasted vote.

[Prophet 451]

108. Whatever happened to voting for the candidate...

... who's views most closely match your own? Is that a difficult concept?

I'm a Brit so I'm not eligible to vote in the primary or general but if I were, I'd not only vote for Dennis, I'd give him money, go around putting up posters, work the phones, even sit at a desk and stuff envelopes for him.

I don't agree with him on every issue, I wouldn't expect that of any candidate but I agree with him on most things and his stance on the war has been nothing short of heroic. More importantly, he is the only candidate from either party offering a genuine change to the current climate of wealth-worship. Most of the other candidates will tinker with it but they won't push for the wholesale root-and-branch reforms that the system needs (possible exceptions for Gore because the enviroment is very much his burning passion and Obama because I know little about him). The current enviroment since Reagan has placed business above care of the people on the government's "to-do" list. Clinton was better than most but even he just tinkered with the system. Dennis seems to have the nerve and the ideas to push for genuine change.

Molly Ivins once said that in the primary, she voted to change the world; in the general, she voted for the least objectionable (and she was Texan so she knew from objectionable). OK, he's short, not telegenic and not an especially good public speaker and his wife's a hottie (for some reason, having a wife who's actually hot rather than handsome seems to count against politicos but if Newt can survive his marital history, Dennis is a shoo-in). I don't care. I wouldn't be voting for him because he's not some strapping six-footer with a voice like James Earl Jones or because I'd like to boink his wife. I'd be voting for his ideas. Because I agree with most of them.

[Subdivisions]

109. This thread is timely for me as I've been given

alot of thought as to who I would support should Al Gore actually not enter the race and today I decided that I would support Mr. Kucinich. If Al does enter the race, KOOCH for Veep!

[nedbal]

110. Universal Single Payer Not for Profit Health Care then he's my candidate

[catrose]

115. Proud to support Kucinich AGAIN n/t

[cboy4]

116. Put me down! He's a wonderful human being.

:)

[Faux pas]

117. I voted for him last time and I'll vote for him again and again and

again, every time he runs. Maybe a real person will win this time and blow the heads off the status quo. I'll be there with my dancing shoes on. GO DENNIS!

[focusfan]

124. Dennis Kucinich will win if we all stick together

and vote for him.as of now with the Bush and Cheney
aministration the world has gone to Hell in a hand basket.