Pressure Drop: Brave Sir Dennis Ran Away

[Karmadillo]

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1945-pressure-drop-brave-sir-dennis-ran-away.html

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Well, so much for conscience. The other day here, we had kind words for the stand taken by Dennis Kucinich against the boardroom-backroom boondoggle known as the health care bill. The main thrust of that post was not meant to be the innate wonderfulness of St. Dennis but the hypocrisy of the "Fightin' Progressives," such as Commander Kos and Alex Koppelman, who had launched a vituperative attack on Kucinich for daring to oppose the bill -- a measure which not only represents a complete and craven surrender of even the smallest crumbs of the progressives' original hopes for health care reform, but was also fatally tainted by the brazen bribe Obama took from the gorging, gouging drug and insurance cartels to make sure their destructive sway over American health care remains unbroken.

Still, I admit I was pleasantly surprised to see Kucinich stand up against the health care bill, apparently on principle, especially as he was also sponsoring a bill to end the Afghanistan War at the same time. (I realize the latter was a wholly symbolic act -- then again, all acts are symbolic to one degree or another; that is, they symbolize the moral stance behind the act, whether it is effective or not. Thus, "savvy" compromises on, say, appropriations for the Terror War or detainee policy or illegal surveillance symbolize an underlying acceptance of atrocity, tyranny and war crime.)

But I suspected the fix was in when I saw reports that Kucinich was flying with Obama for a presidential appearance in Ohio. There was little or no chance that Kucinich would have been engaged in such high-profile hitchhiking if he was not already in the bag for Barack.

And so it proved. Kucinich's cave-in did win him a respectful nod from the New York Times, which featured his turn-around in a front-page web story that had none of the usual snide asides about his "kooky" ideas that normally accompany any mainstream mention of him. The Washington Post kept the wonted snark, however, noting in its lede that:

...Kucinich, often a proponent of very liberal, unlikely ideas such as the creation of a "Department of Peace" and the impeachment of then-Vice President Cheney, has found his pragmatic streak.

Impeaching Dick Cheney! Gawd, what a loon, eh? And peace? We don't need no stinkin' peace.

Anyway, in the end, Dennis proved to be no menace at all to the Boondoggle Express. He got on board offering the same lame justification for junking his principles that a plethora of progressives have served up: the idea that passing the current HCR (High Corporate Returns) bill is somehow a step forward toward real reform somewhere down the road someday. The usual line is something like, "If we don't pass this horrible bill, we won't get another shot at real health care reform for 20 years." Or as Kucinich himself put it (somewhat inelegantly): "This is a defining moment for if we will have any opportunity to move off square one on health care."

more...

[KittyWampus]

1. have to comment on the unoriginal article title. The author probably thinks it was clever.

But really, taking TWO phrases from two disparate sources and mashing them up like this is just sad. And desperate.

I can't be bothered to read what the guy says.

[BeFree]

3. It was flamebait

Just trying to keep his job with creative writing.

Dennis is right, it is an historic step forward, this so called HCR. The dam is broken and water is pouring out.

Of course, DC being DC the way it is, the whole thing has been played by most of the politicians for everything they can milk out of the process. And in that regard we don't know what Obama promised the Kooch. I hope he gets a lot. Dennis deserves a lot.

[Arkana]

2. Well, it's begun.

Under the bus for St. Dennis!

[Ozymanithrax]

4. Dennis has finally shown he is a progressive...by deciding to vote for a progressive bill...

There comes a time in everyones life when they have to quit talking about doing something good and act.

It was his time.

[Kalun D]

11. NOT

THIS IS NOT A PROGRESSIVE BILL

[Bolo Boffin]

5. Actually, I salute the bravery it took to not only change his mind...

...but whip for the bill, despite what purists like Jane Hamsher and Chris Floyd were going to do to him over it.

[dhill926]

7. yes, yes.....and yes...........n/t

[Stardust]

6. That's just plain mean. nt

[The_Casual_Observer]

8. If a shithead like that is against the bill, then it must have some merit.

[laughingliberal]

9. A stupid piece

I appreciated what Kucinich said about the bill and that he stated his opinion of the bill has not changed. I read his statement and believe he changed his vote to yes not because he believes the bill really helps us but because it gives him room to stay and fight another day. I expect he will continue to stand for and work for progressive issues.

Too much obsessing here about one politician or another.

[Berry Cool]

10. Anyone read the comments?

They're like a progressive mirror image of the freepers. Convinced the country, and the world, will come to an end if this bill is passed, and wondering how they are going to survive the coming apocalypse. The only difference is, they're not placing stock in an arsenal of guns. They're just going "oh noes" and melting into a puddle of disgusted goo.

[Kalun D]

12. WA post?

DLC corporatist PIECE OF SH*T

FU*K ALL THE DLC FUC*ERS

may they rot in hell with the repugs

[upi402]

13. +1,000^

:evilgrin: