Dennis Kucinich- The Origami Congressman

Several entirely unexpected things happened today: the sun rose, the Earth continued spinning on its axis, the Globetrotters beat the Generals, and Dennis Kucinich submitted to the demands of his party superiors and personal ambition:

I joined with the Progressive Caucus saying that I would not support the bill unless it had a strong public option and unless it protected the right of people to pursue single payer at a state level. It did not. <...> I have decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation.

Now, I like Kucinich. Really I do. But the only question with the guy isn't if he's going to fold, but when (and will it be a crane, or a fish, or a frog? Hey, cool, a panda this time!). As with the Iraq war platform plank sellout in 2004, so with the health care vote now.

Congressional Progressive Caucus members like Kucinich achieve nothing because their threats are empty, and everyone knows it. They achieve nothing because they're willing to risk nothing. They're taken for granted because they are in fact granted.

As with Progressive Democrats, so with progressives who vote for Democrats. Yes, they're angry about Iraq and Afghanistan and civil liberties and bailouts and drone strikes and health care and every other atrocity the Democrats sponsor or support, but it doesn't make a damn bit of difference, because everyone knows that no matter what happens they'll still dutifully vote for those same Democrats. And until the day comes when they finally decide there is some shit they will not eat, they'll continue to lose.

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http://www.distantocean.com/2010/03/the-origami-congressman.html

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Can you not imagine a world outside of the current narrow discussion? That's sad. And reactionary.

I actually have lived in so called "socialist" countries. I have had the good fortune to experience their "national" health care.

I KNOW by experience what it is like. . .and I like it!

I think that, if you don't like my reply to your propaganda, you should understand that I didn't like your propaganda and that, if you can't take the heat, you may want to get away from the fire.

We've had plenty of that here from long-time DUers. But, then, maybe you are one of those. Who knows?

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:hi:

Dennis did say that he had doubts about this bill, he knows this bill is crappy as of now. Sanders, Dean Howard, etc. support this bill so we gotta trust them to make a way to Single Payer for All eventually. We've got to start somewhere. Many of us know this bill sucks as it is.

Disappointment. Until Prgressives are willing to say "no", "no more", and mean it, not much will change for the better. Read Chris Hedges' post on alternet. We are in for a rough ride when the courage to do what's best for people is trumped by doing for corporations.

I can't read Kucinich's mind, and certainly don't know what it was that finally "convinced" him to change his vote on this terrible disease management insurance reform corporate bailout, perhaps that will become known. Seems something Obama said/threatened must have had some immense power... dirty, dirty game...

The corporations are becoming more and more entrenched. And you thought "socialism" was scary? Try fascism wrapped in the flag and the rhetoric of "this is all we could do, it's better than nothing".