Now that Dennis Kucinich has our back, I certainly have his back

[zulchzulu]

Not that it has happened yet, but the good news that Dennis Kucinich has decided to vote for health care reform is excellent news.

I have had a few threads locked here on DU recently where I was basically livid with the possibility that someone like Kucinich would vote against health care reform and essentially help kick the can down the road on health care reform for a generation. I'm not the biggest fan of Kucinich for a couple reasons, but I certainly understand his intentions and usually agree with him on principle. I had even considered tabling in Cleveland this coming late fall to have people vote for no one with the full obvious conclusion he would win anyway.

So, albeit it might be too soon and we are hours away from the official announcement, I congratulate Dennis Kucinich on making his decision to support getting health care reform in its first monumentally huge reform in several decades, if not 70 years or so. With some light in the tunnel where states can begin working on single payer alternatives and even other proposals leading toward Medicare for All in incremental reforms, getting this first legislation passed is what will be seen historically as a very major change in making America a better country.

My apologies to those who were perplexed by my chiding of Kucinich and I hope we can all unify toward the common goals we all are for with whatever you want to call it... Medicare For All, Single Payer... we need to get passed this huge step and build and sculpt further legislation that makes us the envy of universal medical coverage for all of our citizens.

For those who thought Kucinich was correct in not voting for the reforms, I hope you see that the movie is not over. Further reform can be made and we can be resilient in getting the next sets of reform passed.

And we will kick Republicans in the ass in the fall for wanting to side with greed, denial of coverage for millions of Americans and maintaining the do-nothing status quo path of the Party of No in a time of crisis where giving up is the solution for cowards.

[akbacchus_BC]

1. That's good news but are you sure he will vote for the Health Bill to pass?

[dflprincess]

4. If there was a health care bill I'm sure he'd vote for it

whether or not he supports the Insurance Company Profit Protection Act remains to be seen.

[zulchzulu]

6. There have been some news leaks where he is going to support the legislation

I'm sure he will have some stipulations and other comments regarding the legislation, but it appears he will be voting for the bill in its current form.

That doesn't mean he "caved"... it would mean that he knows (as others who will be voting for the legislation) that these are the first steps, much like how Medicare, Social Security, Equal Rights and Civil Rights legislation was initially passed. None of that legislation was "perfect" when it was first enacted.

Through the various amendments and other reform, better legislation is built and conditionally improved.

[ShortnFiery]

2. Don't count your chickens ... NOT YET. eom

[akbacchus_BC]

5. Some of us just like to count our chickens, don't be so negative!

[Cha]

3. St Paddy's Day 2010 will be

interesting to say the least.

[Jennicut]

7. Yup, I will actually be able to watch the Press Conference

in between dropping off and picking up my girls from their schools. I have my doubts with DK but why hold a press conference to begin with to announce you will vote no, just like everyone thought until tonight?

[ibegurpard]

8. bite me

[Cha]

11. bite yourself.

[msongs]

9. gee u think he will start voting for obama's wars too? hmmm nt

[Cha]

10. dennis already voted for the Afghanistan war.

[akbacchus_BC]

12. How come all these great democrats vote with the effing replublicans!

[xchrom]

13. Unrec

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bryn]

14. Tole you so ... that you spoke too soon last night, didn't I?

:)

[harkadog]

15. He doesn't need you.

All the posters on DU trash talking DK 24 hours ago and now the same posters are saying he is "thoughtful" and a "fighter". No, DK will do just fine with out you 'having his back'. He wouldn't want a knife in it.

[Forkboy]

16. +1

[Bryn]

17. +2

[Dappleganger]

25. As I will do just fine without him

and his worshipers. Your pretentiousness is duly noted.

[mkultra]

26. he can always stand on his principles

[Dinger]

29. My Sentiments Exactly

Hypocritical for sure

[cherokeeprogressive]

18. "I will personally table against Kucinich this summer "

I tried to unrec this thread three times before I stopped laughing long enough to do so. Are you fucking kidding me? After the bullshit you posted yesterday?

"Kucinich is acting like a selfish child who loves the limelight and wants to actually vote against people who have pre-existing conditions."

"We are talking hundreds of thousands of lives that would be direly affected by the charlatanesque platitudes that Kucinich enjoys."

"Whether a pin-headed stooge or not, Kucinich voting against health care reform puts him under the welcome arms of greed, lies and corruption that the insurance industry wants to keep as the status quo."

"Kucinich will have plenty of time to look for another UFO by Shirley MacLaine's house like he is on record bragging about."

"his napoleonesue ego... Kucinich has failed many times in his career... The blood on his hands from his decision hopefully will be meaningless, since votes for the legislation will possibly pass without his purist cross-eyed myopia."

Not that you ever would, but I'm fucking thanking my lucky stars that you're not having MY back. That knife HURTS when it's twisted...

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

21. Ouch!

[zulchzulu]

22. You forgot the part about IF he votes against health care reform

Nice editing!

:crazy:

[spoony]

24. No shit, there are so many phonies posting today

All their kumbayah shit after two weeks of trashing DK and everyone else that looked like a nail to them. They'll have to forgive me for finding it a little teensy bit unbelievable.

[Dinger]

30. + Infinity

Some breathtaking BS going on in this thread, and it ain't coming from you.

[krawhitham]

19. he milked it for every bit of attention he could get

[kstewart33]

20. Vote for it? Nah. He probably wants another plane ride with Obama.

Seriously, I'm glad he's changed his mind, if that's the case.

[Name removed]

27. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[burning rain]

28. Let us be realistic.

I'm glad that Kucinich is voting for the health care bill. It's poor stuff but an improvement on the status quo, and probably the best we can expect of today's Democratic party. It's rather fanciful to expect further improvements in the near and medium term. Reforms that didn't make it this time aren't going to make it for a long time, because Democrats are at the peak of their power now, and will have fewer seats and less power after the 2010 election. Neither will the 2012, 2014, or 2016 elections return them to the same position in Congress as today (which, as we have seen, is inadequate to pass even a weak public option). It's difficult to imagine Democrats again having as many seats in Congress and the White House absent another horrid Republican presidency that Americans react against.

[Prism]

31. Today is not, in fact, St. Ike Turner Day.

C'mon, baby, you know I really love you.

Holy hell, someone find the American people a Ramada.

[martymar64]

33. My reaction too: Beat us up, then buy us flowers

How sweet of him.

[flpoljunkie]

32. Salon: Firedoglake's Hamsher reported Kucinich to return donations from health bill opponents.

(I think we liberals, who support President Obama's plan by close to 90% in the latest polls, may wish to show our appreciation to Dennis Kucinich for this courageous decision. Perhaps thru a new or existing Act Blue account?)

WAR ROOM

Liberal congressman had angered supporters by changing his mind on vote for reform legislation

BY ALEX KOPPELMAN

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, angered some of his liberal supporters when he announced Wednesday that he will, in fact, vote for Democrats' healthcare reform bill. But he's taking one step towards assuaging hurt feelings.

Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher -- a fervent opponent of the legislation -- reports that Kucinich's Congressional campaign "will return the money to those who have donated in support of his pledge to vote against any health care bill that does not have a public option."

Just last night, Hamsher had announced that Firedoglake had raised $12,000 for Kucinich as a result of his stance against the bill.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/17/kucinich_donations/index.html