DK Is NOW WHIPPING Other Members Into Line!

[Beetwasher]

GO DK!

From Holding Out To Whipping Health Care -- How Dennis Kucinich Is Helping Dems Pass Reform

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/from-progressive-holdout-to-whipping-health-care----how-dennis-kucinich-is-helping-dems.php?ref=fpblg

A few hours after Rep. Dennis Kucinich switched his support to become a critical vote for the health care bill, he took to the House floor to ask wavering colleagues to join him. Astonished colleagues pointed to Kucinich (D-OH) darting from member to member on the House floor yesterday, saying privately they'd never seen him get so involved in whipping a vote.

--snip--

[Romulox]

1. No shame. nt

[MineralMan]

8. See...the difference between you and me is that I

like Dennis Kucinich, even when I disagree with his positions. When I disagree with him, I say I disagree with him. You appear only to like him when he agrees with your positions. When he doesn't, you turn on him and trash him. No discussion, just name-calling.

Think about it.

[Beetwasher]

10. Yup, I've Always Liked Him, I Disagreed W/ His Original Position

I never trashed him. And when he changed his mind, I applaud him for being man enough to do so.

[MineralMan]

12. There you go. It's politics, not personalities.

Kucinich has disappointed those who thought he could never disagree with them on anything...despite the fact that he has done so many times before.

Dennis Kucinich is a good Congressman. He represents his district well, and that's why they elect him. He's not a idealist in action, even if he is at heart. In that way, he's like most of us. We want an ideal solution, but recognize when that's not possible, and support what's possible under the circumstances, as long as it moves in the direction of the ideal.

It's not surprising to see so many Kucinich supporters now throwing him under the bus.

[Romulox]

13. This post contradicts your earlier one, in which you talk about "liking" DK....

I don't know DK, don't care whether I "like" him or not. If he supports my POV, I support him. Else not. That's how democracy is supposed to work. :hi:

[MineralMan]

15. No contradiction. Liking a politician doesn't mean he/she has

my unqualified support. I can't think of single politician who has that. I just generally like Kucinich. He often holds positions with which I disagree.

He's not from my district. I don't vote for or against him. I don't have any influence on him. So support isn't something I offer. I watch him, like I do all the rest. I support my Congress member, Betty McCollum. I work for her campaign, stand for her in caucuses here in my district, and so on. Dennis Kucinich is not my congressman. But I like him OK.

[Romulox]

16. "Liking" is for celebrities. I don't treat this site like People magazine.

At any rate, a centrist being pleased by centrism is a dog bites man story.

[tavalon]

21. Actually, it's because of him and Anthony Wiener that I've softened on this bill

It sucks but it doesn't completely suck and while it will likely never be made better as it should be, I figure if these people are willing to step into line, I shouldn't give up on it.

[Juche]

30. Same here

I was really disappointed in his early position, but I was upset when people like Markos or people on DU were insulting him personally.

[Romulox]

11. Right. "Like" has nothing to do with it for me. The cult of personality is everything that's wrong

with American politics. :hi:

[MUAD_DIB]

19. +1

[dionysus]

28. he is dead to you now, huh?

[Romulox]

35. I don't engage in the over-emotive, personality driven politics that you do...

He's obviously very much alive. I do not support his position on this matter. Do you see how that works? They're called "issues". :silly:

[TwilightGardener]

2. Most respect I've ever had for him. You go, DK!

[liberal N proud]

3. Must have been one hell of a plane ride he was on Monday

[Cha]

34. ..

:)

[MineralMan]

4. He's saying, "Look, I've made this decision, and here's why."

"Won't you join me. This is the best we're going to get this term. Let's do it, then fix it in the next term."

That's what DK is doing. Good for him!

[madmax]

5. Thank you, Dennis.

Not from Ohio, but will contribute to his re-election campaign.

[NashVegas]

6. Goodness, What a Shock

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7936514&mesg_id=7938562

[cry baby]

7. k & r

[Joanne98]

9. Thank you DK

[joeybee12]

14. I don't know, I'd consider this flamebait...n/t

[Lorien]

17. +1 nt

[Maru Kitteh]

23. A positive post with a positive message about a perennial DU fave is flamebait?

. . . . :crazy:

[dionysus]

29. if it's NOT trashing the HCR bill or obama.. it MUST be flamebait!1!1! or something...

:crazy:

[Beetwasher]

33. It's Flame Bait Because "I" Posted It, And They Don't Like Me

It's the price of being an asshole, I guess. Oh well! :hi:

[dionysus]

38. WELL!11! I MUST USE TEH ALERT!!1!1!

or not

"he was a big 'ol meanie to dennis but now he's being nice to dennis and he can't do that cause dennis is MY pony!"

:hi:

[Jennicut]

18. DK is doing what he feels is right, which is what he always does.

You know, the people that think he is a God who does no wrong go overboard. The people who wanted to primary him go overboard. I repeated in all my posts over this issue that while I disliked his tactics in the past, I did not dislike him. I did not want him primaried, even though some people questioned me on that. I did not want him to even switch his position on the HCR bill unless we really, really needed him. We needed him and he is coming through far more then any conservadems are. For that, he will always be higher in my eyes then all the conservadems and many moderate Dems who were being dragged to vote for this and then doing no work to get more votes. I am grateful to him and I think he is a very good man. I hope this ends the trashing of each other back and forth. Thank you DK.

[Maru Kitteh]

20. GOOD FOR DENNIS! I hope he does all he can and I hope he stays involved!

This is the very kind of thing he could be TRULY effective in! Buckle down and help push the plow, rather than standing in front of it. Bravo! I applaud him!

[DevonRex]

22. I care about votes and action. Dennis is doing a fine job

now regarding this bill. He listened to his constituents and to labor leaders and to Obama and to Pelosi and then changed his mind.

[pampango]

24. He needs to work on two fellow Buckeyes in the Progressive Caucus who are "undecided" -

Marcy Kaptur and Marcia Fudge. We've got 74 "yes" votes from the caucus with 1 "no" and 4 "undecided".

[Dogmudgeon]

25. Progressivism is about Progress, not Pride (a.k.a. "Principle")

There's that old saying about how politics is like sausage manufacture. My aim is that it's all Progressive sausage. Principle is fine, but it isn't lawmaking.

DK has often stood on principle. I like the guy, but I don't think that's a particularly effective way to create social change. This new approach will probably yield better results.

Too many of us have wasted years and opportunities bending over backwards trying to keep our white hats from being sullied with the smallest spot of soil. It's time to go after what we want politically and need socially. So, good for Kucinich.

--d!

[arthritisR_US]

27. +1! n/t

[Beetwasher]

31. delete

[Beetwasher]

32. I Like That, It's Pithy!

:thumbsup:

[Cha]

36. Yeah!

[mzmolly]

26. Awesome! We needed his support perhaps more than we knew.

:toast: to Dennis!

[cherokeeprogressive]

37. Those must be some serious talking skeletons he has in his closet.

I wonder what they are and how the administration found out about them.

[Beetwasher]

39. Yes, That MUST Be It

:eyes:

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

40. I'm sure he's relishing his relevancy.

Good political move on Obama's part, getting Kucinich to do this.

[Cleita]

41. Makes me think we have something

unexpected going to happen. What did Obama offer him in the airplane to get him to change his position? Can Obama add something to the bill when he signs it?

[Pirate Smile]

42. Wow. That's awesome. Go Dennis!

:bounce:

[troubledamerican]

43. Farewell, Dennis. A mandate & an excise tax -- we WON -- YAY

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. That must have been one heck of a flight on Air Force One

President Obama is one persuasive guy.