Kucinich has little influence within the House.

[cali]

That's one reason why this is being largely ignored- and not just by the MSM but also by most of his peers. Even among the progressive caucus there is not widespread support for Impeachmenr. The House Leadership doesn't support it. Elected dems in general don't support it. It's not going to happen before bush leaves office. I wish it had happened, but it sure as hell won't happen now. Good for Dennis for sticking with it, but it's a totally doomed effort. And for many millions of people who are struggling to just get by day in and day out, it's hardly the most important issue.

[LakeSamish706]

1. At least Dennis can say that he did his utmost to stop these thugs...

All the other freaks in Congress will understand the chance that they missed out on some day, I hope.

[bryant69]

3. Perhaps they'll say they were focused on widening their margins in congress N

and in electing President Obama.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[LakeSamish706]

6. Perhaps... But just letting this Admin. walk away is criminal in itself....

Congress is also charged with upholding the Constitution, and for the last 8 years they have failed miserably.

[MuseRider]

14. Lotta good that will be

if we just let these freaks out to do this again and they will do it again. Next time will be the end if we don't actually reach it before they are out of office.

[bryant69]

17. Maybe Kucinich should bring forward a bill outlawing the Republican Party

Just to be safe.

Bryant

[MuseRider]

18. Why would he do that?

That is really a stupid answer. Jesus.

[Growler]

43. Because it has as much chance of happening n/t

[MuseRider]

46. Of course it doesn't

but that isn't the entire point now is it?

He knows as well as we do that if we had a House 3 times this size with the same types of Representatives we have now there would not be enough backbone present to equip a small snake.

Think and think hard and other reasons for doing what he did will come to you. It is not that he doesn't play well with others, it is that there are no others there worth playing hardball with. Well, there are some but not enough.

[LakeSamish706]

19. I agree with you, but one Congress person can only do so much and in my...

mind Kucinich has gone above and beyond in standing alone with his Articles. Where the hell are all the Democrats anyway?

[MuseRider]

26. They are waiting until something really bad happens

then they can pull out their "big guns". :eyes:

Hopefully we will have a majority after next election. What? We do? Well then, guess we better stay quiet so we won't lose that next election huh? Shhhhh. Bushco can't do anything bad enough in the next few months worthy of putting our election at risk. The people can take it, they are not all in the streets yet are they?

[wtmusic]

30. Widening their margins? 89% approve of impeachment.

If anything, they're narrowing margins by not supporting it.

That Pelosi/appeasement tack is so old.

[bryant69]

37. Source on that figure please

I have a hard time believing that 89% of the country approves of impeachment

Bryant

[wtmusic]

38. .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3419283

[bryant69]

58. Thanks for the link. n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

13. Bullshit.

If Kucinich really cared about this, he's had years to be doing the kind of groundwork necessary to get his ideas into action. He's had years to work on authoring basic legislation, raise his status within the House, form alliances with other members, and put in the hard work necessary to become a respected power broker within the institution.

He has done none of this. Instead, he spent his time on two ridiculous vanity campaigns for President and other juvenile tripe.

As is always the case with Kucinich, this is a STUNT designed to appeal to the liberal base of the party. And like his campaigns for President, it is specifically designed to fail so that he can claim he's being shortchanged by the big bad media, party leadership, and a host of other easy targets.

This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to garner support from the party base so he can use them for fundraising. It is, in short, a sham.

[LakeSamish706]

20. And Bullshit to you to... He is one Congressman and has absolutely no...

support from his fellow Congress critters.... WTF do you expect from him anyway?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

23. Of course he has no support from them.

He doesn't play well with others. And judging from his actions, he doesn't care to either. There's a reason he has no support.

[MuseRider]

29. It is hard to do

the right and just thing and think of the country rather than re election and majorities of worthless representatives. Not many have that kind of integrity so we end up living with Bush for all this time.

Hey, I would rather play with others myself but just can't make myself cave that much.

Worthless or not he did it. Who else can you say that about? Not many and they don't play well with others either but at least they take their oath with the gravitas it is meant to be taken with.

[wtmusic]

31. Yeah! If he'd only worked WITHIN the system

of backslapping, influence-trading, handshaking, and porkbarreling, he's be so much more effective at going after backslapping, influence-trading, handshaking, and porkbarreling.

:crazy:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

32. I thought he was going after violations of the Constitution.

And again as in another thread I'll point to Barney Frank, and additionally Bernie Sanders as liberals who have worked within the system and have gained power and respect without compromising their integrity.

[wtmusic]

33. Barney who?

Where is Barney on Bush's crimes? Where is Bernie?

Oh, nowhere. That's what I thought. Full of integrity, and dead fucking nowhere.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

35. Where are they?

They're actually sponsoring legislation, like Sanders' repeal of the most odious portions of the PATRIOT act, that have a snowball's chance in hell of passing. But I guess they should just be grandstanding instead.

[wtmusic]

36. Calling out W for the deaths of over 1 million is grandstanding?

My, my, my. Be silent, succumb, placate, appease.

IMO, you have a very warped perspective.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

40. No.

Using articles of impeachment as a fundraising exercise for your reelection campaign is, though.

[wtmusic]

41. Why Dennis isn't grandstanding.

Grandstanding would be standing up at a packed session, calling W names, indulging in hyperbole, then sitting down.

Dennis created an eloquent three-hour presentation with copious references and no details ommitted. It was factual, logical, and delivered to an empty chamber. His articles would not be possible without a sincere commitment to justice being served.

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

50. Of course it wasn't delivered to a packed chamber.

The house was not the intended audience for his show. His audience was impeachment activists that he hopes will be dumb enough to believe he's serious about this and send him $$$.

[wtmusic]

52. There must be some good money in it then.

Maybe because enough people believe there is a basis to it.

Or maybe you're right...he's just following in the footsteps of all the others who have gotten rich quick from following unpopular but virtuous positions.

:crazy:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

53. I really want to know...

...how many people outside of Cleveland and DC would ever have heard of him were it not for his vanity campaigns for President and the stunts he pulls (which inevitably go nowhere.) Seriously, the man has no record of legislative achievments upon which he can stand. Compare his record of sponsored legislation to just about any other equally well-known member of the House and tell me his batting average. It's terrible.

[wtmusic]

55. Ask, and ye shall receive.

Statistics: Dennis Kucinich has sponsored 106 bills since Jan 7, 1997, of which 94 haven't made it out of committee (Average) and 2 were successfully enacted (Average, relative to peers). Kucinich has co-sponsored 3202 bills during the same time period (Many, relative to peers).

Some of Kucinich's most recently sponsored bills include...
H.R. 3875: To permit the Secretary of Labor to make an administrative determination of the amount of unpaid wages owed for certain violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act in the New Orleans region after Hurricane Katrina.
H.Res. 799: Impeaching Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors.
H.R. 4060: Universal Prekindergarten Act
H.R. 6000: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to impose a windfall profit tax on oil and natural gas (and products thereof) and to allow an income tax credit for purchases of fuel-efficient passenger vehicles, and to allow grants for mass transit.
H.R. 6150: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, as the "John P. Gallagher Post Office Building".

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/person.xpd?id=400227

[Runcible Spoon]

65. excuse me, can you show me ANY campaign that ISN'T a "vanity campaign for President"?!

I assure you, if there WERE one, it would be Kucinich's. I can't believe you get some notion of tacky grandstanding from DENNIS of all people. Have you been asleep the past couple of months?!

[Runcible Spoon]

62. amen. this thread is beyond frustrating.

:hug:

[AuntPatsy]

47. I am curious, what do you think he hopes to gain? The presidency that he has already lost?

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

49. Money for his re-election campaign.

He knows that every time he does something like this, it's all over the intertubes. He's trying to con the gullible into believing impeachment is going to happen, and hoping that they will donate to him.

[Runcible Spoon]

63. Nice to sling mud against the only candidate who WASN'Tstrictly thinking of his own selfish ambition

Love em or hate em, Clinton and Obama certainly prioritize getting themselves elected over taking the more ethical, progressive path on anything.

[loveable liberal]

2. Well, it should be.

The problems we face today all stem from Bush's focus on sending tax dollars to his cronies. It is theft of public funds. His whole presidency was aimed at destroying government watchdog agencies and creating a system of capitalist anarchy where the already well advantaged solidified their position.

Joe public has no chance in this system.

[Imalittleteapot]

4. On a positive note, the 35 Articles are now on record.

Maybe not now, but some day they will haunt gwb and damage his already lame legacy.

[LakeSamish706]

9. I for one, want more than his crap legacy damaged! n/t

[Richardo]

11. THAT is the payoff.

...and kudos to Kucinich for putting them together.

But that's all that will happen.

[AlCzervik]

21. correct and that does matter.

[bdamomma]

5. it will be important issue if this POS attacks Iran.

[cali]

8. true enough.

and again, I'm glad Dennis did it.

[mmonk]

7. We have to remove enemies of the constitution

once we regain power. If the democratic party is not up to the American framework of constitutional guarantees, a new party needs to rise in America for me to stay in politics. Otherwise, I will just be an agitator for freedom in a damned country.

[goodhue]

10. Impeachment itself is not the point, it is about airing the truth of the 35 articles

And my congressperson Keith Ellison is certainly with Dennis on this. Too bad some of you are not so lucky. If they were my representative I'd get on the phone with them and ask them to get of the dime, and expose the truth. Scott McClellan's book alone substantiates a good number of the articles.

[ColbertWatcher]

12. I saw that on the internets, too!

Oh, wait, I posted a joke like that on the truthiness encyclopedia.

I hope that's not where you got your information!

Although, I am flattered when someone repeats one of my own jokes to me!

Thank you!

[Benhurst]

15. Hardly a surprise given what has floated to the top of that institution.

[KharmaTrain]

16. Stop It...You're Pooping In Cornflakes!!

We're dealing with goons who voted against Mother's Day...and to prevent health benefits from children...and to veterans...and protects the speculation and profiteers. It's not what you or I think...unfortunately it's what 33 repugnican Senators do...they're the ones who will protect this regime to the bitter end. Meanwhile it becomes a media circus that allows the corruption and fleecing to go on while attentions are distracted.

In a way, this is a good thing...at least the Presidential sniping has ended...a new target/distraction has comes along.

[ColbertWatcher]

25. True, but don't forget when Dennis was mayor of Cleveland...

...they bashed him then too.

[KharmaTrain]

28. Dennis Is DU's Patron Saint...

For the most part I have been a supporter of what Congressman Kucinich stands for...it's the way he goes about it that I think he needs improvement in. His report card says "unable to work well with others"...and that's hurt him no matter how sincere or good his intentions are. Unforutnately if you criticize the style...somehow that's sacrilidge around here. There's no grey area allowed.

Cheers...

[wtmusic]

34. "Unable to work well with others" and "unable to compromise his ideals"

are two very different traits. IMO it's more of the latter, and if that's hurt him so be it. It hasn't hurt his ideals.

[KharmaTrain]

39. The Art Of Compromise

A very important part of what's left of this country's "freedom" is that people can dissent and disagree...or to advocate a position. The trick is to get a consensus where more agree than disagree...to be able to convince and/or cajole collegues to support the right things.

Now if he wants to stand on principles...and I applaud him for that...state it as so. I have always admired and supported his stand on this issue, but, as I've said previously, saying and doing are two different things. His ability to work with others and organizational skills have hurt him more than helped...thus what he does remains more symbolic than real.

[Breeze54]

42. "unable to work well with others"? You mean the DLCers, DINO's & the Rethugs!?! GO DENNIS!!!

:rofl: :rofl: That's why I like him soooo much!!! ;)

[KharmaTrain]

51. Also A Lot Of Democratic Voters...

Or he'd be on his way to the nomination in Denver.

I guess that makes 95% or more of the Democratic party DINOS. Oh well...

I like Dennis as well...may he always give those great 1 minute speeches every morning on the House floor...and I hope there are sponsors for this resolution...on this matter I don't mind being proved wrong. But just look at how little coverage or feedback this has gotten...not just in the corporat media (no surprise there) but also from many major Progressive blogs.

[Breeze54]

59. The voters didn't decide about DK, the M$M did, remember? Shut out from the debates?

He was barred from debates! He was vilified on the news... daily? Did you forget all about all that?

[KharmaTrain]

60. He Ran A Non Campaign In Iowa

The media ignored other candidates who did better than he did...he had an organization in place from '04 and let it fall apart. It's easy to blame the media...I saw him at several of the debates, as did many others...he wasn't shut out. One of those debates was at last year's Yearly Kos...he could have owned that convention but grandstanded at the debate and then vanished at the small group session. He lost a lot of support that day. In the end he ran an invisible campaign. But it's so much more convenient to blame

[Breeze54]

61. You can't rewrite history... sorry.

Kucinich, Top-Rated Democrat, Excluded From Des Moines Register Debate

Submitted by Chip on Thu, 2007-12-13 08:22.

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/29350

Kucinich, Top-Rated Democrat, Excluded From Des Moines Register Debate | PRNewswire.com

The highest polling Democratic Presidential candidate among the Party's progressive, grassroots, activist base, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, has been excluded from the Des Moines Register-sponsored Presidential debate here on Thursday because his Iowa field director operates from a home office rather than a rented storefront.

Despite being the top-ranked Presidential candidate in polls conducted by Democracy for America (DFA), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), and one of the country's leading progressive publications, The Nation, Kucinich was not invited to participate in the debate because "It was our determination that a person working out of his home did not meet our criteria for a campaign office and full-time paid staff in Iowa," according to a statement from the newspaper's top officials, including editor Carolyn Washburn.

The dismissive reference was to Kucinich Iowa Field Director and State Coordinator Marcos Rubinstein, who coordinates campaign activities from his home office in Dubuque, bolstered by a dozen-or-so other senior campaign staff who have traveled the state over the past several months.

Both the DFA and PDA have been extremely active in Iowa in the past few weeks promoting the top vote-getters in their on-line polls. The DFA is planning to run full-page ads featuring Kucinich, as well as second and third- place finishers John Edwards and Barack Obama; and the 90,000-member PDA has been sending emails to its Iowa members advising them that Kucinich scored first with 41% while Edwards came in a distant second at 26%.

The results of those polls, and others showing Kucinich ahead of "invited" candidates -- Senators Joe Biden and Chris Dodd -- apparently carried no weight at the Des Moines Register, despite the fact that the newspaper and other national media have been portraying the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses as a national political event that may determine the outcome of the Presidential race.

"The Iowa caucuses have been portrayed as having national implications, and if the Register has decided to use hair-splitting technicalities to exclude the leading voice of the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, then the entire process is suspect," according to a statement from the Kucinich campaign. The Iowa Democratic Party, Iowa Public Television, and well-funded political interests have barred Kucinich from previous public appearances. "The Des Moines Register's arbitrary and unreasonable exclusion of Congressman Kucinich is consistent with the treatment that the Congressman has received from the entrenched political and institutional interests in Iowa."

more...

[lovuian]

22. Your missing the point dennis is saying here are the crimes

Congress of this President you have HEARD THEM its not like you will say I didn't know

Bush has a list as long as your arm

what is showing and saying is this Democratic Congress and lets be honest its Democratic now is turning a blind eye to his crimes of MAJOR import

those who turn away are condoning Bush's actions this Congress is the saddest representation of Americans I have ever seen
Pelosi and Reid are PATHETIC PATHETIC

this is what Dennis's Message is

[spanone]

24. if they knew how they had been fucked over, it would certainly be the people's most important issue

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

27. These wrongs at least had to be clearly enumerated and entered in the record

At least someone TRIED. Historians will look back on the many crimes of this administration and shake their heads over the utter cowardice of the opposition party, in setting the precedent for an executive branch to get away with these crimes without even mentioning them, an executive that was allowed to dictate whatever it wanted, regardless of the Constitution.

[Fireweed247]

44. And WE the PEOPLE don't really matter??

When they ignore Kucinich, the ignore US.

The US Congress needs to be thrown out of office, they are too arrogant and ignorant.
The 'News' channels need to have their licenses confiscated.

[spanone]

45. history will view dennis as the one who stood up to a tyrannical, would-be dictator....imho

[AuntPatsy]

48. Obviously so do the people which is why its time to regain it....

[Lydia Leftcoast]

54. At least he's going on record as saying that the Bushies are war criminals

which is a hell of a lot more than most of the so-called "moderate" Dems have ever done.

By the way, this war that our War Criminal in Chief started is one of the reasons that so many people are "struggling to just get by day in and day out," so whether they know it or not, it IS an important issue.

[mzmolly]

56. I applaud Dennis but I hope he will act responsiblly and not harm our

chances to sweep the house/senate with divisive "Democrats will not hold Bush accountable" rhetoric. We're close to being able to do just that, but we have to be patient, difficult as that is.

Again, I applaud Mr. Kucinich, we need him, I just want him to proceed with some appreciation for the "politics" involved when he speaks on this issue.

[flvegan]

57. Upholding the Constitution was overrated anyway.

Do nothing bunch of nobodys. So glad we took "control" of Congress. Whatever.

[mmonk]

64. Just like the constitution or the people.

[Hannah Bell]

66. "influence" = $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Cleita]

67. That's right.

Your post is the one that speaks the truth on this thread.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

68. If not impeachment...

Maybe we can at least hope for a formal condemnation of the Bush administration sometime in the next few years. The ultimate question will be how Dubya is portrayed in the history books 30 years from now.