Which of the Declared Democratic Candidates For President...

[David Zephyr]

1.) Voted against the Iraqi War Resolution? Only one: Dennis Kucinich.

2.) Has the best national health care proposal? Only Dennis Kucinich.

3.) Has formally introduced the notion of "impeachment" of the Vice President? Only Dennis Kucinich.

4.) Talks without hesitation and consistently about "peace" as a policy of our government? Only Dennis Kucinich.

It's reality time for me.

I will support any of our candidates. I really like Obama, but if Al Gore doesn't run, then I have to go with the one who seems to do the right thing when it really matters. And that's Dennis.

The other candidates should listen to Dennis and learn from Dennis.

[Double T]

1. Top candidate on my short list.

[MazeRat7]

2. i still think Richardson has the experience to rebuild international relations and get us out...-nt

[wildbilln864]

3. Kicking for DK! The only choice! eom

[Truth2Tell]

4. We all should vote for Dennis in the Primaries!

Save our "lesser of evils" vote for the general. I'm afraid we're gonna need it.

[mmonk]

41. If everyone voted for him in the primaries,

he could win.

[napi21]

5. You need to vote for who you think is the best to lead America.

I agree with Dennis on several issues, but when he starts harping on a department of Peace, and no more wars, he looses me. I wish he was right, but the World simply isn't there, and I doubt it will be in my lifetime either. It's nice to think about a peaceful world, but think about it. We can't even have peaceful neighborhoods in the US! How the hell do you think some Prez will be able to have peace in the World?

[eridani]

6. If you don't ask for it, you will never get it

Doesn't mean that war is going away anytime soon, but to rule out other ways of thinking is really silly. If you'd be satisfied with a kitten, ask for a pony.

[napi21]

7. I wouldn't be satisfied with a kitten, but I also don't want a pony!

I've never really thought of the candidates as animals, but I guess if I did, I'd want a dog. Most dogs are very loyal and supportive of their home and their family, and will fight to the death to prevent harm to them. Beyond that, all they want to do is please them.

Come to think of it, I've always trusted my dog's opinion of people. He's always been right in his opinion, and I've been fooled!

[eridani]

10. Um, analogy----------'kay? n/t

[jpgray]

20. While many of Dennis's policies are impractical, I think hed make an exciting president

He would shake up Washington more than any other candidate. Does he have a chance of winning? Nope. But I do think his candidacy is worth at least a primary/caucus vote unless you are in a crucial primary state.

[ComerPerro]

29. yes and no. I certainly see what you are saying. But, keep in mind

part of campaigning is sharing your ideas, your goals, your vision, so people know what you are about.

If you bring compromised legislation to the table, it will only suffer even more compromise by your political rivals.

And I think that's what Dennis is doing when he talks about these, he is describing the kind of country he wants to lead. It might not be practical, but the ideals can be crafted into practical and meaningful legislation.

[ljm2002]

60. That's odd...

...because the idea of a Department of Peace really gets my attention, in a good way!

Goodness knows we've had enough of the other.

[slipslidingaway]

8. And the only candidate to speak against the draft Iraq oil law

as a benchmark in the supplemental bill.

And the only candidate to vote against the Patriot Act. (who knows how Obama would have voted)

And did any other candidate visit Lebanon last year, if so I missed the news.

Does any other candidate even think the administration needs to be held accountable for anything, if so I missed that as well.

[LittleClarkie]

9. Which of our candidates weren't in the Senate and had no opportunity to vote against the IWR

I'm just sayin'.

[jpgray]

18. As Dean proved, sensible opposition to Bush's rush to war was possible outside of Congress

I'm sure David isn't ignorant of that, of all people. :D

[LittleClarkie]

21. Well, it was his first point. And he didn't phrase it as opposition, he mentioned the vote.

Hence it bugged me a bit. Obama wasn't there. I don't think Richardson was there (not sure, I know he used to be a Senator).

[jpgray]

22. I think it's reasonable to cut him a little slack--the intent isn't to degrade Obama

But rather to promote Kucinich. If he had said "the only candidate to consistently oppose the war" I'd agree more with your quibble.

[MonkeyFunk]

25. no

Richardson was never a Senator. He served 14 years in the house, though.

[LittleClarkie]

30. Ah, thanks.

Shoulda looked that up.

I knew he'd been something other than governor at some point.

[MonkeyFunk]

31. oh, he was lots of things!

he was a staffer on the Senate Foreign Affairs committee, then a congressman. Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy, and now Governor of New Mexico. Quite a career.

[LittleClarkie]

32. I should probably take a closer look at him. Sounds like he might be qualified for the job

Now wouldn't that be refreshing.

[David Zephyr]

45. Well, I'm pretty ignorant and a terrible speller, too...

but certainly Howard Dean, Senator Obama and Wes Clark all opposed the war before it took place as did many others. However, the fact does hang out there that of all the declared candidates, only Dennis, who had the opportunity to vote up or down, did the right thing.:)

[LWolf]

37. Obama.

He conveniently opposes the war before he gets to the senate, and then votes to fund it.

Richardson.

Gravel.

Am I missing anyone?

[HCE SuiGeneris]

11. Only the best candidate out there -- that the media completely avoids

GO DENNIS!

[bonito]

12. What you said, K&R! n/t

[leftshoe]

13. Kucinich is a little too far tot he left for me.

I am one of those socially moderate, populist Democrats that gets harped on all of the time by the more progressive members of the party, so Kucinich isn't my cup of tea. I do think that he may make a good vice-presidential candidate, someone to really show the world that America has leaders looking to push an agenda of peace, rather than violence.

Edwards/Kucinich? Yes, I'm dreaming.

[jpgray]

19. Welcome to DU! As long as we work together where we agree and treat each other with respect

Disagreement on a few issues isn't necessarily a disaster. :D

[mmonk]

38. I would have no problem with such a ticket.

I'm one of those progressives you're talking about.;-)

[David Zephyr]

46. Big welcome to the DU, leftshoe.

:hi:

Hang around with us more and you might find you're more to the left than you think. Welcome.

[leftshoe]

52. Thanks for the welcomes guys!

:)

[Nikki Stone1]

14. My Dennis!

Well, I'll share. :)

[G_j]

15. who has the guts to challenge the military industrial complex

our insane miliary spending and the prevailing "empire" mentality?

you guessed it

but don't forget Gravel either.

[jpgray]

17. Gravel is good on those points, but his "fair tax" idea loses me completely

[dfgrbac]

43. You need to look into the Fair Tax more.

The current income tax system and the IRS is about as unfair as you can get. The tax burden is loaded on the poor and middle class while the rich have so many loopholes many don't even pay tax. And once they get our money they blow it up with war. The truth about the income tax was revealed completely in Aaron Russo's movie AMERICA - FREEDOM TO FASCISM.

As former Senator Mike Gravel says, "You can make the FAIR TAX as progressive as you want." You do this through probates for essential goods.

[jpgray]

56. A poor person would get taxed a greater percentage by income to buy a car, a book, a CD, etc.

Regressive. And also bigoted, with the implicit idea that poor people don't need/deserve superficial things. Also I don't understand the argument "the income tax is flawed, therefore destroying and replacing it with a regressive system is the only answer." Why not plug the loopholes and keep the percentages?

[dfgrbac]

58. Umm, let's stop and think - as Mike Gravel says.

I would pay a percentage maybe like 20% (whatever the tax is) on a $20,000 car. That would be a tax of $4,000. Mr. Gates would also pay 20% on his Rolls that costs $120,000. That would be a tax of $24,000. That sounds fair to me. And Mr. Gates would never have a loop hole to escape that.

And everyone would get the probates for essentials. These probates would provide much (by percentage) to low pay citizens, and would be almost irrelevant to Mr. Gates.

That's not regressive!

[jpgray]

59. What if you buy the same car? And what percentage of Gates' income is $120,000?

What percentage of your income is $20,000? My examples of the book and CD remain unanswered.

[dfgrbac]

61. And who can afford 10 cars, and who cannot?

There is significant difference there.

When people have money, they tend to buy.

Taking away the tax on income would provide more money to poorer people. With that additional money people can choose to save to better themselves.

[jpgray]

16. Caucusing for DK was one of the most pleasant experiences I've had in politics

I knew his flaws, I knew his good points, and I knew I was arguing for the best guy who supported my values to the fullest. I was thrilled he was involved in our primary for that reason--you can be a Democrat without throwing out your values completely.

[David Zephyr]

47. Where did you caucus for Dennis?

And thanks for your activism!

[jpgray]

57. In MN.

:D I feel like mentioning my work for DK every time I ask people to cut our too-slow and too-timid Dems a -little- slack, but I've resisted. Let them think I'm a paid Pelosi operative, or something. :P

[salinen]

23. Issue by issue

DK is aligned with our (du)desires more than any other candidate. It seems to me anyway.

[John Q. Citizen]

24. Dennis is aliegned with America issue by issue. His issues are all majoritarian

plus he will say exactly and explicitly where he stands on every issue. There's no wiggle room with Dennis. He's as up front as to where he stands as any candidate I've ever seen.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

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

[Swamp Rat]

27. Geaux Kucinich!!

:kick:

[Warren DeMontague]

28. The Primary is the time to vote for whoever closest resembles your views.

I'm with you. If Gore doesn't get in, I'm probably voting for Kooch. Or maybe Edwards but he'll have to really impress from now til then.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

33. I agree 100% with what you said

!!!!!

Go Dennis!!!!

[buddhamama]

34. Kucinich has my support

He was my candidate 4yrs ago and i am even more impressed with him now.

i appreciate Obama as well.

[David Zephyr]

44. You have always been with Dennis. I like that about you.

I bounce around like a bee bee in box car. :)

[Forkboy]

35. Couldn't agree more.

[mmonk]

36. I contribute to both Kucinich and Richardson.

I would contribute to Gravel, but what's the point when you support Kucinich? Kucinich is the best candidate for the thinking crowd and true progressive IMO. I like Richardson for his credentials (which outstrip his opponents by a mile) and internationalist approach. But Kucinich's articles of impeachment make him the constitution's choice. For that alone, I give him deference.

[Odin2005]

39. Unfortunately he's unelectable.

[mmonk]

40. As long as everyone is a lemming.

[OnionPatch]

42. And unfortunately a large segment

of Americans *are*lemmings. I hate to have to say that, but the evidence is overwhelming. (Think build-up to Iraq War.)

[dysfunctional press]

49. everyone is.

in one way or another.

[David Zephyr]

48. Now that was a bit uncalled for here. Senator Obama is a great candidate.

Obama certainly has the electability sizzle and I think it's just his natural grace. He's probably the most electable of all the candidates, but any of our candidates will beat any of theirs. I am certain of it. It's low tide now for Republicans.

Still, my point about Dennis stand. Give him the credit he deserves.

[churchofreality]

51. Yep

I like his ideas, it's good to have people like him to keep things honest. You have to be realistic about his electability though.

[Hissyspit]

55. And so is Hillary, and so is Obama, and so is Gravel, and so is...

He's not unelectable. He is a longshot for the nomination. Not the same thing.

[verse18]

50. 5.) Wants to end the War on Drugs

6.) Supports free public education, pre-school through college.

7.) Addresses issues of campaign finance reform.

8.) Wants corporations to be held accountable for their actions.


Dennis Kucinich!!!!

I could go on, but check out the issues section of his official website for more. http://kucinich.us/issues

[wiley]

53. You lose me with that "only" part

Not necessary, and not necessarily true. There is ample time to debate these matters.

[Individualist]

54. DK gets my vote.