The Kucinich agenda

[Blarch]

Dennis is a great man, make no mistake.

But why is he still running ? If he thinks he can win he is delusional, there is 0% chance he can win.

So why does he stay in the race ? ..is it ego ? I can't figure this one out.

[TooBigaTent]

1. Maybe to keep someone with Democratic values in the picture. If he drops out,

all we will get is more DINO verbiage from the "top tier." They will have no need to espouse any liberal position because they will be competing for the Blue Dog dems, repugs, and indies.

Not where they should be, IMO.

[Blarch]

5. your right.

Edwards and Obama have no democratic values :eyes:

[MadHound]

2. It is why he kept running last time,

To get his message out, over and above the media induced silence that encompasses the left most of the time. This time however he is being kneecapped by his own party, who are pushing him off of primary ballots and excluding him from debates. They aren't going to let his message to continue being broadcast through the primaries like in '04. God forbid we have somebody out there telling the truth:eyes:

[bryant69]

3. To keep the other candidates honest, I would guess

I mean if the liberal voices drop out of the race, than the candidates have no reason not to run to the center as early as possible.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Sparkly]

4. He wants to be heard.

He's promoting what he believes in, through his campaign. He's the only one (I don't count Gravel) who's really differing on policy proposals. I wish there were a debate format like the other night's, with him included. I'd like to see him challenge the others on their proposals so that they have to answer.

[Blarch]

7. So..Dennis is hijacking the elections to get his message out ?

Can't he get his message out some other way ? Don't get me wrong, I love the guy, but he needs to be asked a question.

"Do you think you can win" ...If he says yes then he is delusional, and should be excluded from being president, it shows very bad judgment of the situation.

If he says no, then we need to ask him WTF he is doing ?

[Webster Green]

10. Hijacking?

Why do you hate democracy?:eyes:

[Blarch]

12. Face it

he is staying in a race he has no chance of winning.

This is a matter of judgment, he is showing very bad judgment of the situation.

[Sparkly]

15. Participation is good for democracy.

And what he brings to the debate helps put the other candidates in perspective.

When it comes to REAL "change," he's out there on his own.

[Blarch]

17. OK.

That seems to be the view. He is in it to be heard. I will accept that.

[pocoloco]

6. Duh......

Maybe he is sick of what is happening in America??

[cyclezealot]

8. ITs because Edwards message is suspect.

Some of us know rhetoric is way too easy. Its one's record. Ego. Why would one run when running subjects themselves to the media moguls harassment. Most politicans would run and hide and the special interests get out their guns. Like Kucinich and the electric utilites when he was mayor, his career comes second. It only sharpens his determination to fight for principal.

[Webster Green]

9. I'm voting for him because I believe in what he is saying..

Am I delusional for voting for him, though I know he has no chance of winning?

I'm doing it as a matter of principle. Probably the same reason he's staying in.

Mmm-kay?

[Blarch]

11. Thats a problem

If Dennis was asked..."Do you think you can win ?" he would have to answer no.

When Nader was in the race and had no chance of winning the DU attacked him for being a spoiler.

[Webster Green]

14. I voted for Nader in 2000..

Again...a matter of principle. I want to see viable third party alternatives. I lived in a safe state.

[Blarch]

24. LOL

So if you didn't live in a safe state you would not have voted on your principles ? ...why even mention it ? ...afraid of being called a spoiler ?

Safe state ? :shrug:

[Webster Green]

28. Correct. If I lived in a "swing state" I would have voted for Gore.

I wanted Gore to win, however, I think we can do better than the current two-party, winner takes all election process, so I wanted to support the Green Party in California. California was destined to nominate Al Gore, so my vote to support third parties (in general) was a safe vote.

This concept is new to you? You've never heard the term "safe state"?

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. A more relevant question: Why is he not making a serious run?

Everywhere I turn, he has a lot of support among the rank and file. I would blame the media, but Kucinich does not seem to be making any serious effort at running. That is very disappointing.

Ok, so he is an issues candidate, trying to force the real candidates to address things like the occupation of Iraq and impeachment. But if he is going to let himself be dismissed as a non-entity, he cannot be effective as an issues candidate. If Obama, Clinton and Edwards to not see him as a threat, they will ignore the issues that Kucinich is trying to raise.

[Sparkly]

16. I think it's about money.

I'm not sure what he could do to make his candidacy any more serious.

[Blarch]

18. he could the same thing Dodd and Biden did.

nothing. They all wanted better numbers, but it just wasn't there. Accept it, thats what Dennis needs to do.

[Sparkly]

20. I think Biden and Dodd were really in it to win.

So when it was evident they couldn't, they dropped out.

I think Kucinich would like to win, but has reasons to stay in besides winning.

[Breeze54]

23. An even more relevant question: Why aren't you helping him?

He's the only candidate speaking the truth and fighting for "We the People"!!

Not for "We, the Corporations"!! :grr:

He's the only one that didn't vote for the Iraq War!

[TechBear_Seattle]

26. I have helped as much as I can

I have given money. I have contacted his Washington State campaign office to volunteer my time. I have talked him up here and among my friends, and I am organizing them to attend the Democratic Caucuses on February 9. The problem is that Kucinich does not seem to be putting much time on the campaign trail, which is not helping his visibility.

[Breeze54]

35. Kucinich is meeting all over the country almost daily!!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Portsmouth, NH - Meet & Greet With Dennis Kucinich At Popovers On The Square (1:20PM - 1:40PM)
Monday, December 31, 2007

Manchester, NH - Join Dennis And Elizabeth At Resolution For Peace: A New Year's Concert For The Community (10:00PM)
Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Manchester, NH - Join Dennis And Elizabeth At Resolution For Peace: A New Year's Concert For The Community
Thursday, January 03, 2008

Durham, NH - Dennis At Every Child Matters Presidential Forum (11:00AM - 12:30PM)

Keene, NH - "Reclaiming America: Vote For What You Want" (7:00PM - 9:00PM)
Saturday, January 05, 2008

Bennington, NH - Breakfast With Dennis At Common Place Restaurant (9:00AM - 10:00AM)

Peterborough, NH - Dennis Signs Books At Toadstool Bookstore (11:00AM - 11:45AM)

Manchester, NH - Elizabeth At Candidate Spouses Forum (12:00PM - 4:30PM)

Peterborough, NH - Local Artists Lunch With Dennis (12:00PM - 1:00PM)

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Manchester, NH - $50 Fundraiser Dinner For Dennis Kucinich With Viggo Mortensen (5:30PM - 7:00PM)

Manchester, NH - Live Broadcasst - Congressman Kucinich On Impeachemnt Panel (8:00PM - 9:00PM)
Thursday, January 10, 2008

Westland, MI - Lunch With Dennis Kucinich (1:00PM - 2:30PM)

Troy, MI - Talk And Q&A With Dennis (7:00PM - 9:00PM)
Friday, January 11, 2008

Detroit, MI -Presentation And Rally With Kucinich And Conyers (7:00PM - 8:30PM)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Livonia, MI - Dennis At Justice Caucus Fund Raising Dinner (6:00PM - 7:00PM)
Monday, January 14, 2008

Ann Arbor, MI - Rally And Presentation With Congressman Kucinich (2:30PM - 4:00PM)

Harper Woods, MI - Talk And Q&A With Dennis (7:00PM - 9:00PM)

Thursday, January 24, 2008

South Carolina - Details TBA - Dennis In Congressional Black Caucus Democratic Debate (7:00PM)

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

New York, NY - Amy Goodman Interviews Dennis (8:00PM - 8:45PM)

[TechBear_Seattle]

37. I humbly sit corrected

The last I heard from the MSM was that he had not opened campaign offices in several states, which was costing him participation in at least one high profile debate. I should know better than to pay attention to the media regarding Kucinich. :banghead:

[Blarch]

39. Obama was also anti-war, and made it known

[AlertLurker]

19. Kucinich is, in reality, nothing short of an Edwards plant.

Just think how much more of a "progressive populist" Edwards might look, once the actual Progressive Populist bows out...

Dastardly...just dastardly.

Seriously, I can't see it as merely ego. DK has a seriously progressive platform that his opponents have to address and his Congressional record is so exemplary that the other Democrats have to work that much harder to shine (but they don't actually 'shine'...) in comparison. For this reason alone, I believe he has been important to this race. His example, at least to me, exposes some candidates as the corporatist boot-lickers they truly are.

[Breeze54]

21. Because we need a champion!!

His continued fight is what has helped change the dialogue in many ways including
what the M$M anointed front runners have been starting to say and fucking up on
and fighting over!! Change, my ass! :grr: He's keeping them honest!

[Naturyl]

22. He's keeping his voice in the mix

And by doing so, he's keeping MY voice in the mix as well, and that of other progressives.

Edwards is a good candidate, but there's only one Kucinich, and only he is really speaking for progressives with no compromise. He's done so his whole adult life, so why would anyone expect him to stop now?

[begin_within]

25. I want him to be heard.

That's why I gave him $100 two days ago, to keep him around.

[NashVegas]

27. I Think It's All About Deal-Making

Dennis attracts the primary votes from the most left of voters, keeping them away from a more viable left-leaning candidate. This allows the most milquetoast candidate to collect the lion's share of primary votes.

In exchange he doesn't get laughed off the House floor when he introduces legislation others might want to, but would consider it political suicide for whatever greater aspirations they may have.

That's just my theory, anyway.

[maxanne]

29. in looking at your responses

You've already made up your mind - and just started this thread to say negative things about Dennis Kucinich.

Why?

If he's a delusional nobody with no chance - why even bother to start a thread about him?

What I find interesting is that Republicans don't do this. They don't chew on each other - they don't diss the other candidates.
They suck it up and hang together - and stand up for each other.

It's a sad day when I am forced to point out that we could stand to learn a thing or two from them.

[Blarch]

30. Ya, OK

If you asked Dennis "are you in it to win it" ...what do you think he would say?

BTW, If he thinks he can win it that makes him delusional, lets be honest now.

[maxanne]

34. I know what he would say

but that's not the point.

Why did you bother to start this thread - and why bother to lie about how much you admire him, when clearly the opposite is true?

Are you so desperate for something to do that you decided DU needed yet another attack DK thread?

[Zorra]

31. Could it be because he genuinely thinks that he can do a better job

as Prez than anyone else? And that if someone else is elected, they'll botch the job?

I tend to think that way.

[timtom]

38. Yep.

Makes complete sense to me.

[Emit]

32. He's an extremely important voice -- a conscience, if you will, for the party. n/t

[Blarch]

33. Agreed.

:hi:

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

36. He is a much needed gadfly to remind us what democracy is all about.

[leftofthedial]

40. so there will be at least one actual Democrat running

for as long as possible

[Peace Patriot]

41. Kucinich is in the race because the primaries are right forum to discuss the ISSUES

--in a broad, national policy way--the only forum for such discussion in our war profiteering corporate news monopoly-dominated medialand! Do the corporate media assholes provide broad discussion--discussion of solutions and ideas outside of those sanctioned by the war profiteering corporations? No, they do not. And they are no longer required to provide "equal time" for opposing ideas, as they once were.

Jeez. Why would any Democrat want to exclude BROAD DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUES at the primary stage? That's the appropriate stage for it to happen. And clearly anyone who thinks that a candidate with apparently tiny support shouldn't be running in the primaries, doesn't much believe in democracy, and buys into the corporate news B.S. that it's all about personalities and "stars," and NOT about GOOD IDEAS.

Also, this has TRADITIONALLY been how new ideas and new movements begin--with an outlier presidential candidacy. And, finally, who knows what will happen? The election is a year away.

I just can't believe it--someone upthread saying that Kucinich is "hijacking the election" because he wants the election to be about IDEAS--real ideas, new ideas, real reform. How else will these things be advocated, if no one else is advocating them, or at least not as consistently, and sincerely and strongly as Kucinich is?

We really need to smarten up, people, about corporate control of the political discussion. They want you stupid. They want you to go for something squishy like "the politics of hope." They can work with that. They can rob you blind and kill your children with that. They can continue destroying our country with that. It's kind of like the Church in the Middle Ages promising a heavenly reward. But what they DON'T WANT is someone coming on THEIR BOUGHT AND PAID FOR AIRWAVES--not our public airwaves, that we permit them to use; THEIR airwaves--and talking about busting up their corporate monopolies, pulling their corporate charters, seizing their assets for the common good, and kicking them the fuck out of our country if they dare to violate our laws and regulations.

And now they're starting on Edwards, because he's starting on them. I say if a candidate is honest, and if a candidate really stands for something, and is not running for goddamn Holy Roman Emperor--to be crowned by Pope Diebold--he or she should hang in there, in the presidential race, and shout the truth as long and as loudly as they can. It's the only forum, in a completely corporate-dominated media scene, where a little truth can get squeezed in, among all the shilling and shallying.

[Desertrose]

42. You are exactly right. Thank you, Peace Patriot!

They do want us stupid so they can appeal to us on an emotional basis and control our choices.....as you said "politics of hope".."change"...and on and on.

Dennis speaks to the issues and never lets up. No other candidate does that. Can you imagine this campaign without Dennis in it?

As to winning...yeah, primaries are about a lot more than "winning"....its about getting new ideas and hopefully even movements going.


Hijacking the election? What a stupid stupid comment. Shows just how dumbed down we are about our own election process.


I say thank goodness we have Dennis Kucinich speaking out in this farce of a primary where the corporate candidates are all nicely laid out for us to choose from..this funny little guy?... we'll just pretend he's not here....

DK is already a winner as far as I'm concerned.

DR