Ani DiFranco: "Why Is Kucinich Unelectable?"

[Hissyspit]

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/09/johnny_rotten_on_kucinich_he_a.html

From the Cleveland Plain-Dealer Politics Blog:

Meanwhile, folkie Ani DiFranco, another Kucinich fan, tells the Buffalo News: "I think there is a mass disillusionment with democracy in general right now. The first thing that pops to mind in what has already become an election season is how many times I hear people say, 'Boy, that Dennis Kucinich, he makes an awful lot of sense; he's definitely my favorite, but he's unelectable.' And I say, 'Why is he unelectable? Because you just said so. You have no faith in Democracy anymore.'"

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I maintain that he IS electable...

People just have to believe it, support him, and vote for him...

And then it will happen...

He's got my vote...

I still have faith, however misplaced it might be, in Democracy...

[knowbody0]

2. me too, Peggy

shoots straight from the hip, no bs. I admire him

[Atman]

3. FUEL

They were digging a new foundation in Manhattan
And they discovered a slave cemetery there
May their souls rest easy now that lynching is frowned upon
And we've moved on to the electric chair

And I wonder who's gonna be president
Tweedle Dumb or Tweedle Dumber?
And who's gonna have the big
Blockbuster box office
This summer

How 'bout we put up a wall
Between the houses and the highway
And then you can go your way
And I can go my way

Except all the radios agree with all the TV's
And all the magazines agree with all the radios
And I keep hearing that same damn song
Everywhere I go

Maybe I should put a bucket over my head
And a marshmallow in each ear
And stumble around for another dumb numb week
For another hum drum hit song to appear

People used to make records
As in a record of an event
The event of people
Playing music in a room

Now everything is cross-marketing
It's about sunglasses and shoes
Or guns or drugs
You choose

We got it rehashed
We got it half-assed
We're digging up all the graves
And we're spitting on the past

And we can choose between the colors
Of the lipstick on the whores
Cuz we know the difference
Between the font of twenty percent more
And the font of teriyaki
You tell me
How does that make you feel?
You tell me what's real

They say that alcoholics are always alcoholics
Even when they're dry as my lips for years
Even when they're stranded on a small desert island
With no place in two thousand miles to buy beer

And I wonder is he different?
Is he different?
Has he changed
What he's about
Or is he just a liar
With nothing to lie about?

Am I headed for the same brick wall?
Is there anything I can do
About anything at all?
Except go back to that corner in Manhattan
And dig deeper
Dig deeper this time

Down beneath the impossible pain of our history
Beneath unknown bones
Beneath the bedrock of the mystery
Beneath the sewage system and the path train
Beneath the cobblestones and the water main
Beneath the traffic of friendships and street deals
Beneath the screeching of kamikaze cab wheels
Beneath everything I can think of to think about
Beneath it all
Beneath all get out
Beneath the good and the kind and the stupid and the cruel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel


There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel
There's a fire that's just waiting for fuel

-Ani Difranco, "FUEL"

[Horse with no Name]

4. Because the mainstream drones on and on about him being unelectable

And many buy it (even here).

[Cleita]

5. He and other would be leaders like him are not unelectable.

It's our system that has made a farce out of the election system that allows the corrupt to become our leaders instead of candidates like Kucinich. Think about it.

[superkia]

19. The system is broken but if we all spead the word, we dont need the MSM!

I think it falls into the citizens hands, anyone that would say that he is the candidate standing up for us and the best candidate but falls to the media and doesn't spread the word of him, is at fault! I think he is different and not your typical politician and thats why people think hes unelectable, to me thats the part that makes him electable, he is different because hes actually standing up for the people and being ignored! Hes not out dodging questions and spinning everything like most of the candidates out there.Its sad when my family and friends rights are being taken away by our government and I cant do anything to protect them. Just spread the word myself as much as possible and I feel most are ignoring the message.

Its the same when I talk to friends about some of the things that are taking place in politics and our country, first they don't believe me and when I show them some facts, they then move to the " well its the government, we cant do anything" Its the same principle here, we have a candidate standing up for the things we all complain about but we say well Clintons going to win or hes unelectable and we quit. We become the sheeple just listening to our television for advice like it was some great wise person that knows all?

Depending on how the primaries go, that should be our motto, America, the country of quitters! Kill dogs and we will castrate you, kill a white woman and we want you dead, RAPE US OF OUR RIGHTS AND DESTROY THE COUNTRY, AHHH THATS OK!

[DJKDJKDJK]

6. Because we HAVE to go to war with Pakistan, dontcha know?

WWIII is right around the bend. We have to have WWIII before we have WWIV...that will be the last one...I promise.

[Perseid]

7. You have no faith in Democracy anymore

That says it all right there.

[Greyhound]

8. I think it is because people know, in an unconscious, visceral sense, that we

no longer live in a Representative Republic, and haven't for at least 2 or 3 generations. What is really sad is that they just don't care.
:kick: & R

[sandnsea]

9. McGovern

People just know that 80% of the country just don't see things the way Kucinich does. 20% is an awful lot of people, just not enough to win an election with.

[Gregorian]

16. Right. Most people are happy with their "commercial" reality.

I like to use college radio as an example. So many people like the crap radio that plays the same music over and over, interspersed between the rancid commercials that also play over and over. I found college radio. It took time to appreciate it. Then I feared it wouldn't last. Now, thirty years later, I'm still very much impressed with it. High quality music, no commercials. It makes my life a better one. I'm still surprised that people would rather listen to garbage than to an eclectic mix of music.

Kucinich is like the college radio of presidents. And most people see that as foreign. A mixture of great ideas that sound crazy to people. I also give very high marks to Gravel. People also can't see past their own fears.

I'm blabbing. I'm beat up from a long long bike ride. But that's how I feel even if it sounds silly.

[hughee99]

10. It's not about faith in Democracy, IMHO...

People vote for the person they believe will be the best person for the job. That's democracy, and it works pretty well (election fraud not withstanding). It's about faith in PEOPLE to get involved and informed enough to make an accurate assessment as to who the best candidate is. That's how I see it anyway.

[Selatius]

11. He's not electable because he has no media buy, no media access

You need to be filthy rich or be able to raise a lot of money quickly to get on television. This is why you see Hillary more than Kucinich; she's got a lot of donors.

If Kucinich were rich like Ross Perot, this wouldn't be a problem, but that IS the problem: You need money to get ahead in our political system. As a result, the rich have a competitive advantage.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

14. This is why we need Clean Money to run campaigns on...

Then the pols have the money from the state, and they can talk about the issues...

Instead of having their hands out for the bucks...

And subsequently being owned by those who donated to them...

Just my two cents...

:shrug:

[Gregorian]

15. Also he doesn't speak for the military complex.

The country depends upon that facet of the economy. $400 billion per year is a lot to lose. A lot of that would not exist under Kucinich. I know that's not really true. But that's the sentiment. The military runs America. But he'd resist that.

I can only dream about what this country could become with him in the White House.

[AverageJoe]

12. The whole "Kucinich is unelectable" thing

is based on the premise that he doesn't have movie star good looks. It's that simple.

He's clearly the best declared candidate.

[DJKDJKDJK]

18. His campaign isn't well run.

That's part of his problem. My mind continues to be baffled why there is no contact information for each state/city on his website.

Dennis has supporters all across the country, tens of thousands but the campaign isn't doing much of anything in getting them organized into grassroots efforts so they can get more.

Call up the campaign @ 1 877 413 3664 and start hampering them over not having state contact info up. Tell Mike Criscione to do his fucking job! Tell John Sweeney to get a brain. And tell the interns to revolt against the lack of leadership at HQ.

Tell them Paul told you to call. =)

[Gregorian]

13. Great article!

Lydon is nowhere near as loony as people make him out to be. He comes across very strange. But that's strange in a strange world. He's actually very right on. So much so that it freaks people out. He said what I'm afraid to say.

I know why I loved both Bongwater AND PIL. It's why I love Dennis Kucinich. Civil rights, fairness in justice, honest media, lack of aggression, insight, listening, understanding.

[bleever]

17. Direct link to Ani's article is here:

http://www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/158366.html?imw=Y

Good stuff, all the way 'round.

[pnwmom]

20. Because Americans don't elect Philosopher-Poets.

Unfortunately, they prefer TV and movie actors.

[Katherine Brengle]

21. I love her. And she's right.

We live in the reality we make for ourselves.

[poverlay]

22. I'm proud to vote for him and you Hissyspit. "President Kucinich has such a lovely ring...nt

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

23. ah, Ani, the future Mrs. Adenoid_hynkel

I agree with her 100% here

[saltpoint]

24. I want Kucinich to enjoy more affirmation from larger percentages of

people but he's not breaking 3-4% in almost any poll, which is generally what he received in most states' primaries in 2004.

Measured by substance and dedication, Kucinich excels. But politics also involves the pragmatist's toolkit and there just isn't such a kit in the Kucinich arsenal.

I'd like to see his team bring in some vividly imaginative minds and try some new approaches. Kucinich is battling ABC, for instance, on fair coverage, and I nod my head yes, that's the correct opinion and position, but it does nothing to advance his candidacy or project his voice to the back of the room.

Kucinich has to find more imaginative ways to send the package in the mail. It has to be sturdy for the long haul ahead and it has to draw attention. The boots imagery to honor the fallen in those ceremonies on Iraq? Something like that. Visual symbols associated with Kucinich and Kucinich's message, seet against the backdrop of a common landscape or setting. Those boots speak very, very loudly and bore their way into the flesh and deep brain. Very powerful.

There's not going to be fair coverage for the Kucinich campaign in the mainstream media. It's going to have to come from somewhere else.

[the other one]

25. Because Politics is a beauty contest, and DK looks like a hobbit.

If only the electorate were less shallow than that.

[Bennyboy]

26. I gotta wonder why myself...

I hear that all the time. Are that stupid to not vote for the guy that makes the most sense adn vote for another Pretty boy that makes no sense?

[Desertrose]

27. That's the question, isn't it Ani.

K&R

[Mythsaje]

28. A lot of people HERE think he's a flake...

He's unelectable because the corporate media would crucify him.

Unfortunate, but true.

Ani DeFranco is a bit of a flake herself.

Not that I have anything against flakes. But plenty of Americans do. From atheists to evangelicals to average folks who have no patience or interest in "spiritual" matters. Of course, a lot of folks would consider ME a flake.

Then again, I'm not running for President.

[mhatrw]

29. You go, Ani! n/t