Dennis Kucinich is a politician, folks...

[rox63]

Many of the people here who were supporting DK's threatened "No" vote on HCR forget that he too is a politician. He will do what he needs to do to get reelected, including voting for a less-than-perfect HCR bill.

Personally, I applaud him for changing his mind. When it is running the way it is designed, Congressional votes are about compromise. Yeah, I have problems with the bill. But you've got to start somewhere. Not getting started at all is no longer an option.

Donning my flame-resistant suit and running for the hills now... :hide:

[lamp_shade]

1. ..

[ShortnFiery]

2. We don't KNOW what he will do yet. I'm hoping that he does the right thing ...

and not get lured into this mess. Grayson, Weiner, Dean and Big Ed are "out of touch" and easily swayed by SHINY OBJECTS. I hope against hope that Kucinich STAYS STRONG.

However, even if he folds, it doesn't make the Senate HRC bill less of an horrific TROJAN horse. The door will then be kicked open allowing the Insurance Cartel a stranglehold on the American Populace through mandates.

And the DEMOCRATIC PARTY will be left out in the cold for many election cycles.

Don't pass this bill!

[cali]

5. lol. for you, anyone who disagrees with you is simply Judas

in post after post after post after post, you make that clear. It's pitiful, dear.

[saltpoint]

15. This observer would not characterize Grayson, Weiner, and Dean, for

example, as "out of touch."

Possibly it's someone else who's out of touch.

[Lyric]

3. "When it is running the way it is designed, Congressional votes are about compromise"

[KharmaTrain]

4. Come Too Far To Turn Back Now...

As one whose dealt with politicos for over 4 decades I long ago learned not to "fall in love" with a candidate or specific politician. It's long been said that politics is the "Art of the possible"...and there are few, if any "perfect" bills. Standing up for principals are well and good when one's running for a job, but once they're elected, the focus has to be on accomplishing and accomodating. It's "horsetrading" and making deals...how government works.

The real job begins once a bill is enacted...and in some cases the lag time provides cover to make major fixes. It's up to people like Kucinich and others to push for those fixes and up to us to elect more Progressives who will ensure those fixes are done right and pass.

[rox63]

11. I agree

Personally, I'd love to see a single-payer system. But it's not politically achievable right now. Just like I believe there will some day be equal marriage for all in this country, I also believe that some day we will get a single-payer system here in the US. And I admire people like DK who keep pushing for it. But we need to get the process started now, even if the bill is not what many of us would like to see.

[KharmaTrain]

13. Good To See Some Reason Settling In...

Personally I prefer a public option to give people choice and competition, but either way, the political climate will not allow for either, but then while it can be distateful, you take what you can get and hope to fix or build from there. I don't see this as the end in the least...and an issue that will remain important as long as people are having to deal with greedy corporates. If these companies try to abuse the new laws, it's our job to call it out and then demand for alterations or revisions to close the loopholes. Either way, with some kind of healthcare "reform" in place it changes the focus towards more real reform rather than trying to start this whole thing over and probably run into all the same obstacles again.

I think Congressman Kucinich stood for good principals, but appears to see a bigger picture and I'm glad he's come to the same conclusion many of us have to work with what we get rather than come up empty. Perfect, hell no, but I'd rather deal with reforming a bill than reruning this last year all over again.

Cheers...

[DrDan]

6. he changed his mind? link please.

[saltpoint]

8. He's evidently called a press conference for this morning.

We don't know what he will say yet.

Some reports indicate he may be switching his 'no' to a 'yes.'

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/87269-kucinichs-wednesday-announcement-could-be-defining-moment-for-health-reform

[EFerrari]

7. Dennis has my support whatever he decides. He's put in a lot of work

educating on this issue.

[mmonk]

9. There is a difference between being forced to by the party elites

and saying one thing and doing another. I call the latter politicians.

[stray cat]

12. If he is truly principled and thinks the status quo is better than the bill - he is a coward

and lacks principle if he caves because his peers fail to support him

[apocalypsehow]

20. A truly principled person wouldn't allow themselves to be "forced" by anyone or anything.

The Congressman from Ohio falls into your latter category.

[stray cat]

10. Will he announce his candidate for presidency?

[elocs]

14. Wow, and here I thought he was one of the DU gods, almost up there with pot.

Almost.

[icee]

18. Lol. He's lost that now, and it is not retrievable. Obama has

indicated that they are using Kucinich "for cover" with Liberals. When the bill turns out to be the disaster that I see, that "for cover" will come back at Kucinich in spades.

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. "Hurry, Hurry, Hurry, folks, step right up"..........

This whole thing has turned into a sad carnival.

[icee]

17. Dennis Kucinich will look back on his action of voting yes for

this insurance company giveaway as one of the worst in his career. Myself, I have listened to him and supported him with time and money from here in California because I believed he was a true liberal. I henceforth erase him from memory. This bill will crush the middle class and turn away Democratic voters from the mid-terms. I don't believe voters will suddenly vote Republican (though some will, like Indies); rather, they will just stay home, like me and my family.

[Echo In Light]

19. I supported his choice to go against it, but certainly understand his final decision

Must be under incredible pressure in that type of situation, and the stance he took opened up needed debate.