Dennis Kucinich

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 11:49am

I will continue to vote for him in primaries until someone gives me a good reason why he isn't the best the Democrats have.

With quotes like this, how can anyone not see him as a beacon of light in a dark dark Washington:

"I firmly believe that this nation must take a new direction: away from war and toward peace; away from convoluted schemes that promise expanded health care for all Americans but deliver only a fraction; away from trade policies that rob our nation of jobs; away from fear-inspired laws that deny basic Constitutional rights and lead to oppression and abuse. And, importantly, away from policies that discriminate against targeted groups of citizens because their lifestyles are "different.""

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:37pm

touch, i agree. and not for any cynical reasons, but because i think he truly represents heartfelt positions that resonate with the democratic base. he's not a compromiser, but a leader with vision for the party. love him or hate him, folks know where he stands.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 12:43pm

I think he's easily the best Dem out there. I just wish he was a little more attractive so he could reach a higher office--sounds callous, but it's true.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 1:48pm

He's my favorite!

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:07pm

His is too left for my tastes on some issues, and I think because of that, unelectable.

I agree with his sentiments in your quote, but tell me how you would do these things. I agree with every sentiment, but the devil is in the details, and sometimes, the details he proposes leads me to think is a socialist and an isolationist. Solving our problems will take a lot of work, and cooperating from both sides. I cannot see that happening with him in charge. He is doing more for the cause by being able to constantly stick it to those in power, then he ever could while in power. But, just my opinion.

[Magdalene]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:23pm

I like Barack Obama, myself, if I was voting for a Democrat.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:51pm

sometimes it's not about electablity as much as it is about principle. or rather i might say it should not be. bush won playing to the hard right, why could not kucinich win by playing to the far side opposite the aisle? i truly believe that if the democrats offered someone who was clear about what they stood for and unapologetic about their views that the voters would respect that fact even if they disagreed with some of the views. kucinich's views represent more clearly and closely most of my democratic friends.

oh, and dogs, do you mean physically attractive?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 2:55pm

Papa, I think it is much easier to play to fear than hope. I just think that Kucinich would be great as a UN Ambassador, or perhaps in the Cabinet, I just do not see him as being someone who can win on his own based upon the positions he has taken in the past.

While I want someone who will stand up and say these are my views, and I stand by them, I also want the solutions something that we can find a way to implement.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:11pm

which ones, ywiw? i mean this is the thing i'm trying to get at. is saying that he's unelectable admitting that some of his positions (which i contend are held by most of the democrats here, you being excepted) are unacceptable to the american people? by saying that is it further sorta saying, we know the american people will not elect someone we agree with so we have to find someone who sounds less like us?

i'm not trying to be a d*ck here, but there's a huge portion (ok, not huge maybe, but at least the most vocal) of democrats who agree with all of kucinich's positions. i know it's not fair for me to ask you to speak for all democrats, especially when you've already articulated your differences with the dennis, but wouldn't it be worthwhile to try playing to the far left? if for no other reason than to show just how far outside the mainstream of america some of the views held sacred by the far left are?

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:21pm

Yeah, papa, I meant physical beauty. I'm somewhat taken abackbut very pleased by your apparent embrace of Dennis--I think he's easily the best person the Dems could offer for Prez. I think there's alot more lefties out there than anyone would ever imagine--as well as MANY people who don't realize how left they are. They're just afraid of the label "liberal."

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:29pm

well, it's really not an embrace, dogs, i disagree with almost everything he says, lol. but, i think that he more than any of the other candidates in '04 accurately represented the views of the vast majority of democrats i know. the fact that they admitted as much, but in the same sentence said, but i'll be voting for kerry, was somewhat of a letdown. so looking at it objectively, i was shocked that he didn't get more support. i mean, i can understand a pro-choice, gay rights republican candidate being whooped in a primary because his views are pretty far from the base. but in kucinich, you have a candidate who does indeed represent what dogs says is a larger percentage of the population than anyone will admit being turned away because...why? physical appearance?

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:31pm

"if for no other reason than to show just how far outside the mainstream of america some of the views held sacred by the far left are"

That's the thing, papa. If phrased correctly, people will disapprove of anything. Take the "studies" done on people's views on abortion. One study says 65% of America is pro-choice and another says 65% is against. That seems odd, until you discover that question asked isn't: What is your stand on abortion? Instead, they are asking potent questions like, "Should women be able to exercise autonomy over their bodies" or "Should babies be allowed to be slaughtered". It is my contention that Dennis actually represents most of America, but Americans have all gotten under the idea that since he is "unelectable," we couldn't possibly send him on.

And since when was being pro-peace and pro-human rights the most leftist sentiment in Congress?

[Sing a Song With Me]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:32pm

Dennis Kucinich lacks credibility as the highest-profile contender because he lacks the support of the Democratic party itself.
I don't think anyone here really thought George W. Bush was the best Republican candidate, but he surrounded himself with the high-powered Republicans guaranteed to spin his way through the primary. And they did. He wasn't winning at first and no reason he should have; he couldn't debate McCain on his best day and McCain on his worst. But the Republican party machine got behind Bush and he rode it to victory.
And the solidarity that helped Bush win the 2nd time is what crushed Kerry. Too many people, after he won the primary, gave a half-hearted "I'll vote for Kerry because I have to but I don't like him" kind of answer that was disheartening to say the least and downright frightening to say the most.

[lildogs]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:37pm

But Sing, with Bush you had:
Gov. of Texas
Son of a Pres.
Super Rich Kid


I think the main reason people think he's unelectable is because he comes across as the love child of Ross Perot and Olive Oyl. I don't think that, but I think that's his image, unfortunately.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 2/2/06 at 3:43pm

Papa, it is not his ideas that i have a problem with, but implementation.

I am only going off my recollection from the last Presidential election, where I thought he was close too socialist in some of his economic policies, and isolationsist in some of his foreign policy programs.

I think it is easy to agree with rhetoric, it is the implementation that matters. Democrats need to come up with specific plans on the the hows and whys, then they can get control again.