Kucinich Calls for Party Unity

[Clio the Leo]

Oh! What does he know!

Rep. Kucinich Won't Challenge Obama in Primary
August 12, 2010 8:52 AM

Rep. Dennis Kucinich told me today that he will not challenge President Obama in the presidential primary and instead called for unity in the Democratic Party.

"I think what we have to do is focus on coming together for the purposes of getting out of Iraq and Afghanistan," the former presidential candidate said.

Gov. Ed Rendell acknowledged last month that Obama could face a primary challenge from the left after Pat Buchanan asked Rendell on MSNBC if an anti-war candidate could enter race. Rendell said it was "possible" but it "really depends on how far deteriorates."

<snip>

When I asked the Congressman what more the President could do to please the left after pushing through health care, financial reform and a stimulus bill, Kucinich said until the administration addresses unemployment they will continue to hear from the liberals.

“We shouldn’t be capitulating to the Fed or Wall Street with this false notion that a certain amount of unemployment is necessary for the proper functioning of the economy,” Kucinich said. “We have to get America back to work. That is the key and central issue of all of this and in addition, if I might, don’t forget about getting out of Afghanistan and Iraq.”

http://blogs.abcnews.com/george/2010/08/rep-kucinich-wont-challenge-obama-in-primary.html

[zipplewrath]

1. Tell the president

Unity comes when the administration stops using portions of his base as a punching bag.

“We shouldn’t be capitulating to the Fed or Wall Street with this false notion that a certain amount of unemployment is necessary for the proper functioning of the economy,” Kucinich said. “We have to get America back to work. That is the key and central issue of all of this and in addition, if I might, don’t forget about getting out of Afghanistan and Iraq.”

A statement like that could get you labeled part of the "professional left".

[geek tragedy]

2. Dennis is a lot more savvy than I thought he was.

He's going to be a pain in Obama's ass, and he should be. But, he will get listened to because Obama knows he's on the same team.

[Whisp]

27. agree! the two disagreeing could come up with some fine ideas.

I am looking forward.

and I'm not going to call Dennis a shithead because he 'respectfully' disagrees with Obama.
Once he takes on the loony 'obama is like bush' (maybe he already has?, hey everyone has pressure) I will reconsider.

but politics is a contact sport.

[sandnsea]

3. Good for him

Work with someone to get things done. I am really impressed with is pragmatism, I didn't know he had it in him.

[izzybeans]

4. Kucinich is the adult on this.

Seeking unity and maintaining his anti-war, pro-people stance at the same time.

Imagine the audacity of doing both... for shame Dennis, you were supposed to pick sides and torpedo the whole damn thing. :sarcasm:

[Rosa Luxemburg]

5. a sensible view

we shouldn't let the Republicans set our agenda.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. This is terrible news! A black day for DU!

The only thing that will save the country is a real Democratic party -- freed from distractions and encumbrances like having a majority, passing legislation, or governing -- all those thing that just distract us from what is really important.

Because isn't that what it's all about at the end of the day -- us?

[BklnDem75]

7. I see a bus in Dennis' future

[Kind of Blue]

8. Thank you, Dennis.

KnR

[felix_numinous]

9. K & R!!

:dem: strength is in numbers, our internal differences are a world apart from the corporate RW we are really up against.

Unity for the left means to stand up every time individual groups of our members are attacked, against proposition 8, racial profiling, and recognizing rhetoric that insults our very identity. Us standing together looks very different than the homogeneous RW--they are in lockstep, yet we stand up for the individuals who are under attack.

The current wave of snark within the party is every bit of destructive as racism, homophobia and xenophobia. Calling people who voice their ideals unrealistic, or character assassinating Dennis Kucinich for lacking a grasp of reality feeds into Republican talking points, and is actually another form of prejudice. In these forms of attacks, I have heard NO rational discussions over policy whatsoever.

People of the left have MANY voices, working together means having good social skills--if we are to be the actual antithesis of the RW.

[Aramchek]

10. watch your back Dennis. those who once deified you will now come with the long knives

[Forkboy]

12. And those who once came after him with long knives now like him.

Funny how that works, how people are good or bad depending on whether they agree with us or not.

[Aramchek]

13. oh, I still don't like Kooch. but I have to give a man credit when he's right.

and we all know how quick Kucinich's former supporters like to turn on their fellow Democrats

[Forkboy]

14. "Right" = "Agree with me".

[Aramchek]

15. no, he's actually right. I guess you think there should be division in the Democratic Party??

[Forkboy]

18. The message is right, but it's too late I think.

This split has been here since the mid 90's, and instead of dealing with it we've done our best to ignore it, and at times seem to be actively encouraging it through our actions. I don't think it can be ignored much longer if the party wants to survive.

[Aramchek]

24. the division is between people who understand that accomplish what we can

and those who would rather accept nothing if accomplishment means compromising their demands.

Some people are capable of comprehending and working through our political reality.
Others would rather ignore reality and proceed as if a liberal utopia is immediately achievable.

[Forkboy]

28. Sigh.

So much deeper than that. I wish it could be broken down into something so easy, but it can't, nice as it sounds and tempting as it may be to think that. I did too for awhile.

[Aramchek]

30. it doesn't sound nice at all. but that is what's happening.

If you met me in real life, you'd probably call me a Santa Cruz hippie.

But on here, my rationality makes me seem like a centrist to those who are willing to be irrational.

I want to accomplish real things for the benefit of future generations. Things that can be built on.
I don't want to have to say to my grandkids, "well, we almost got you everything you needed but it got stalled in the Senate so we got nothing instead"

[Forkboy]

31. And I think that's a fair sentiment.

But the choice isn't between everything and nothing, and if we're at 50% then there's nothing wrong with expecting us to be at 60%. In school, we grade kids and expect them them to improve. We don't say to the kids, "Well, you may not know math, but at least you can read." We tell our kids not to settle for less, but then tell other adults to do just that. When you paint the Left as wanting everything you're correct (we all should). When you paint them all as thinking that they'll actually get everything you're incorrect. We all know perfection is unattainable (though Jennifer Connelly is giving it a run for her money). And the things that are wanted by the Left are genuinely good things that would help more than just those wishing for them.

There's nothing wrong with trying to imagine that things can be better, and to work towards that ultimate goal, even knowing it can never be reached. Obama himself ran on that very theme, Hope and Change. By asking people who genuinely need help to slow down in trying to get the Change part, you're snuffing out the Hope part. The political reality is that in 2 or 6 years we will have a new person running this country, and we need to make as many advances as possible while we have the chance to do so. As it is, I feel we're very lucky that the GOP has made itself such a shambles, but that luck isn't going to hold forever. The more progress we make now the more they have to work to undo it, just as Obama is trying to undo their idea of progress (twisted as it is).

If instead of trying to slow down the advance on important issues that they say they mostly agree with, the center unloaded on the Right guns a blazing, most of the Left's criticisms of them would vanish, and rather quickly. The left likes vocal, aggressive advocates that will go after their goals passionately and with little regard for who on the Right gets their feelings hurt. Yes, there will always be people who are going to complain, and do so loudly, but that number would shrink dramatically, and pretty quickly. So speaking of imagining things, imagine what it would be like for you here at DU if there was even a drop of 50% in the amount of complaining you see. ;)

The Left is always pushing against the Right, and as centrist you're just getting caught in the crossfire. If we both put our full aim Rightwards imagine the progress Obama could make in his next 6 years? If you feel he's already done a lot, imagine how much more he could do with all of us pushing him towards these goals (one's that I believe he mostly agrees with as well), instead of half pushing and half protecting. He's a very capable dude, and I really don't think the added pressure would hurt him. I think it could do just the opposite and truly push him over the top and give his presidency a lasting legacy. By treating him like a faberge egg we're actually just selling him short.

And I don't mean you have to coddle the Left and agree with them just because. But if you're a Democrat than you already lean more to the Left than the Right, so why not avoid the fire from your own side as much as you can by adding to the pressure on the Right with the energy that's being spent on slowing the Left down? If you want something, why get mad at the ones who want it even more than you? Doesn't it make more sense to join in towards that goal full speed ahead? Who does it really hurt to slow these things down in the name of pragmatism? Who is it being pragmatic for? The ones on top, always. That's who.

All of this assumes that we want the same things, and I think for the most part we do.

[Aramchek]

33. Obama got HCR where Clinton didn't because he worked within the system as it exists

Nothing was done on HCR up until Obama because no cornerstone had been laid to build on.

Now that a cornerstone has been laid. We can build on it.

Just because we don't build the whole house at once, doesn't mean it's not getting built.

We're not slowing down because of pragmatism, we're going just as fast as our system of Governance allows given that long-term success is the goal.

[Clio the Leo]

11. And Howard Dean says....

"I've said I'm supporting the president in 2012."

http://twitter.com/HotlineJosh/status/20990544708

[Aramchek]

16. now, they only have Jane Hamster to lead them

[TheKentuckian]

17. Y'all are the hero worshipers. People of conscience can agree to disagree

and be in very different positions.

I could give a fuck of Obama campaigns against me or refuses to take my calls.

[Clio the Leo]

19. But when Gibbs disagrees with some folks, it's a problem.

I have no problem with criticism of the President by itself (although I can take it from Alana Grayson better than I can your average armchair pundit) but when Gibbs throws it back out, some of us have proven to have skin thinner than rice paper. That's been my issue all along, its fine if you can dish it, but you better be prepared to take it when it comes flying back at you.

[TheKentuckian]

23. Where abouts can I see Dennis going after liberals with tired Fox taking points and having a public

hissy fit about not getting enough credit for scammy flammy deals with criminal "stakeholders"?

[Clio the Leo]

29. Kucinich is not the problem....

... it's the people following him around Capitol Hill w/pen and paper in hand who are the problem. It's not Dennis' job to pontificate for a living, thus, he is not whom Gibbs was referring to.

[Radical Activist]

40. It's funny but when I started to read you comment

about repeating Fox talking points and having hissy fits I thought it was going to be about the "Obama is like Bush" crowd.

[CakeGrrl]

20. Oh bull. To wit, the number of people fervently rec'ing the posts

that most effectively convey the message "FUCK YOU, GIBBS!"

People who can agree to disagree don't have their collective panties in such a big bunch. And the fact that they deliberately choose to misinterpret what was said so they can keep their anger going full-bore is not indicative of being interested in "agree to disagree" civility.

[AtomicKitten]

21. Doesn't surprise me one bit after his great speech at the 2008 Democratic Convention ---->

-----> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9H6Ci1vmnw&feature=fvsr

:loveya:

[DCBob]

22. The "drugged out" left may OD after hearing this.

Thanks Dennis.. that was the right thing to say.

[JoePhilly]

25. Will Dennis be thrown under the Bus for selling out??

:popcorn:

[Whisp]

26. good for you, Dennis!

I will always love you.
I know I'm not supposed to because everything has to be black and white, good or evil. If I support Obama am I supposed to hate you?

But I know you, like Obama, has the best interests of us at heart. You may have different ideas but I don't think either of you are evil shits. I can stand a lot of disagreement as long as it's not the bawling brat kind cacophony here lately. ;)

[SoxFan]

32. Ruh-roh!

[Number23]

41. lol!

:rofl:

[BeyondGeography]

34. Constructive

How boring.

[CakeGrrl]

35. k/r - Kucinich has the right mindset:

Continue to advocate for the change you want, but understand the big picture and stay unified against the REAL opposition.

[old mark]

36. Well, I'm glad someone in Washington is...Will Dennis run in 2016?...

Since when did Fast Eddie Rendell become an expert on anything other than his own ego? Is he becoming the Pat Bucnanan of the Democratic Party?


mark

[saltpoint]

42. Hi, old mark. I gotta say, whenever there's an article

that makes reference to Rendell or god forbid, quotes Rendell, I find myself bailing out and turning over to the film reviews.

Rendell never lit much of a fire for me. I guess I'm not much of a Rendell Democrat.

[old mark]

43. I was a PA state civil service employee under Tom Ridge and Ed Rendell...

Ridge was by far the better governor to work for. Rendell gave us the toughest contract fight we had in the enture time we had been unionized...EVERYTHING was up for negotiation and they fought us hard on every word and sentence on things we had established for 40 years. Rendell cut benefits, froze wages, increased the harrassing atmosphere in the workplace, and cut health insurance benefits. He established a web site that ALL state employees got each month that let us know how wonderful he was and how much he "appreciated our contribution..." Simultaneously, another PA site bragged about how little state employees wre paid and how so much work was done by so few employees... PA at the time was the 49th state in terms of state employee benefits and conditions, ahead only of Alabama.
He balanced the Philly budget on the backs of city employees several times as Mayor, and he has NO FEELINGS for the working people he claims to love.

Ed Rendell is an egotistical nasty little fascist asshole...he reminds me of Mussolini.

mark

[saltpoint]

48. It sounds like you were there on the front lines

and your account confirms what a lot of us feel about Rendell.

I'm glad you made it through, and more power to ya.

[old mark]

49. I was an AFSCME Steward, and was involved in several employee lawsuits

against the state...I gave written testimony and some advice in several cases of seriously abused employees.

Rendell is a bastard and always sacrifices the worker for political gain.


mark

[Hydra]

37. Hmm...

Must be bad if he thinks nothing can be done to right the course.

I wonder what I'd do in his position. Risk everything and try to bring the ship around, or keep the position I have and try to be the voice of reason?

[readmoreoften]

38. That's why I ultimately don't listen to Kucinich. He only exists to corral dissenting voters into

the party. I agree with him on most things, but he is their company man. The Democratic Party's "tolerance" of people like Kucinich has nothing to do with wanting a big tent and everything to do with managing the left and center of the party for the benefit of the corporatist, right-wing, accommodationist wing of the Party. I have much respect for left liberals inside the Party. I have zero respect for the accommodationists. And anyone who tells me to get in bed with the war mongering, anti-immigrant, union-busting right wing Dems is doing the devils' bidding as far as I'm concerned.

[Radical Activist]

39. This is a serious medical emergency!

Everywhere!

I'm not too surprised though. I suspect Kucinich understands that, despite compromises forced by the Senate, Obama is moving the country left on most issues.

[CTLawGuy]

44. Under the bus with Dennis!

lol!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

45. The short bus?

OK. I'm officially ashamed of myself for that...

I should be banished to the Lounge.

[CTLawGuy]

47. easy there!

NT

[John Agar]

46. Dennis has been much more mature in his responses...

Than Gibbs was with his unfortunate statements, including the attack on Kucinich.

Gibbs divisively mocked Kucinich and insulted a key portion of the president's support base.

In response, Dennis K. has tried to heal that wound, while Gibbs seems to be content to let it fester.

It's very strange.