"Wake up, America!"

I was browsing videos on Youtube and came across Dennis Kucinich at the DNC convention in 2008 and thought I would share it with you, as a reminder of what this party could be if we elected the right people. Seriously, why isn't he in the oval Office? Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv0smG7ptcM&feature=related

He's not president because he's short, gnomish, and brilliant. The American electorate goes for taller, rougher looking and with an aw-shucks kind of charm.

That's it, essentially.

He also succeeded FDR when he died and did fairly well in those years in office, so it wasn't too hard to for him to get reelected. I think if America gave Dennis a chance, it would not regret it and he would really help this country.

Seriously - look at the response.

I've asked myself this many times. Dennis is brilliant, and is what America needs. He's a true progressive who won't give in to the Repukes. And I've gotta admit, I kind of like his idea for a Department of Peace.

Would you still support Kucinich if he nominated Ron Paul as his VP? It is a hard question for me because, if God forbid something happened to Kucinich, Ron Paul would be president, but I'll say this at least Paul has principles. I disagree with his principles, but at least he has them. So, I would support Kucinich/Paul, but I'd prefer a progressive VP.

I don't care for Ron Paul or his positions, but I admit he does stand by his positions. I doubt Kucinich would pick Paul, though, I'm thinking he would go with someone progressive.

:hi:

Also, who cares if he believes in UFOs? I think it is very likely, I don't think at all, we are alone out here.

:rofl:



You asked the question, I gave my answer. And FWIW, not all America is as "broadminded" as you, which is why Dennis gets so little support from his own party, in a primary. He's run a gajillion times, and been rejected soundly each time.

I'd be more impressed if I thought Dennis could be elected statewide first. He had a chance to do just that (open Voinovich seat), and I suspect his statewide numbers were appalling. I'm afraid he's going to lose his House seat as well, he'll start a PAC (ala Sarah Palin), and he can then devote all his time to running for president, and collecting donations from passionate, but delusional people. More power to him.....

in Washington with any principles? If that is delusional than so be it.

another corporatist.

the "principles" in the world, but if you have no chance in hell of getting elected, it's just a vanity run, and Dennis has had plenty of those, so what's one more? :shrug:

I remember when those Nader voters in 2000 were lecturing us about "principles", and we wound up in two wars, an economy on the brink of depression, a city underwater with tepid federal response, etc., etc., etc. I think we all admire "principles", but we disagree about who actually has them.

Blame the SCOTUS for stopping a recount and appointing Bush.

The crypt keeper promised he wouldn't run in states that were competitive between Gore & Bush, took a buttload of cash from Repukes to play the spoiler, and still has a fan club at DU.

I'll take this opportunity to point out that Michelle Bachmann inspires this kind of passion in a portion of the Repub base, albeit a tiny portion, but they are passionate. I guess "principles" is in the eye of the beholder?

Walmart board member? I'm sure you know from "corporatist". :eyes:

So technically, it was a UFO. Frankly, I don't care about his belief in UFOs; Carter claimed to have seen one too and he was a pretty decent President.

What kind of democrat unrecs one of the most progressive and principled voices in their party?

I loved that speech. He spoke for me. But then I'm not like everybody else. I don't want to be. They're asleep.

my stock in him dropped considerably when he took that ride on Air Force One.

Sorry, I'm just not sure what ride you are referring to? Was it a policy decision of the president's that you feel he shouldn't have supported?

While Obamacare, so to speak, is a marginal step in the right direction, it doesn't address the fundamental problems with our health care system. America needs a public option, if not a single payer system.

I was disappointed with Dennis after he relinquished his principles for a shitty compromise.

Perhaps, it was the best move, pragmatically. However, we need people of conviction and progressives ideologues who do not compromise over a re-hashed GOP health bill. I don't like ideologues, but we are forced to fight an ideologue war. The GOP brought this battle to us since the movements conservatives hijacked the GOP during the Nixon administration, which came all too apparent under the Reagan administration. They have been waging this battle of ideology for at least 3 decades. Seeking compromise with them or re-hashing their past policies is not the solution.

We absolutely need change in this country and drastic change. We need fighters, not politicians that compromise or adopt policies from a wretched GOP.

However, don't get me wrong. I absolutely love Dennis and admire the man. I just wish he fought harder over what he believed in.

On the campaign trail he was very firm in his support for Single-Payer. It is disappointing to learn of that compromise, but to be fair even Sanders voted for the compromise. I do think if we can get Dennis in office in 2016 we will have single-payer.

Seems there's quite a bit you don't know about the "principled" guy you want for president. In all Dennis' seven terms in Congress, can you cite one piece of leglislation, sponsored by Kucinich that actually made it out of committee, onto the floor, and onto the president's desk? And I don't mean naming post offices, and shit. I mean, legislation that made a difference in the everyday lives of the people he claims to fight for? Here, let me answer that for you:



I'm not sure what makes you think the guy who has the above track record would somehow be more effective as president? If you look up the word ineffective, there's probably a picture of Dennis next to it.

At least Kucinich has principles and is a true progressive. I don't know how so many people who claim to be progressives can be so opposed to him.

Very effective. Do a google search for Obama's accomplishments. As a matter of fact, search for that magnificent clip of Rachel Maddow running down the list of those accomplishments. Since it's obvious you're a casual observer, I think you might even be surprised. You've already admitted there's quite a bit you don't know, so go crazy with google, and get back to me. ;-)

he didn't even try to get single-payer or a public option, I know he hasn't ended the wars and he has started a new one without the approval of Congress, which in my opinion should is borderline impeachable. The only legal authorization of military action is a Declaration of War by Congress. Yes, I realize that means that Truman,JfK,and others all broke the law under my view.

"How Congress helped thwart Obama's plan to close Guantanamo"

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/22/107255/how-congress-helped-thwart-obamas.html

Didn't agree with Libya, but I'll take the constitutional scholar's word over yours & Kooch's "opinion" about the scope of his military powers. I have always supported the mission in Afghanistan, even under Bush. And since you're so plugged in, you should know that this president made no secret of his intentions to honor the Iraq SOFA, and to finish the mission in Afghanistan, and guess what? We voted for him anyway.

You're long on "progressive" rhetoric, but come up short on actual facts.

on edit: BTW, he didn't campaign on single payer. And the public option was dropped in favor of getting 37mil uninsured people health coverage. You don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, even kooky Dennis knew that, which is why he eventually voted for HCR.

Republican plan. Say what you will, but at least Kucinich or Sanders would have fought for single-payer or at least a public option. What about Obama not vetoing the Patriot Act? He could have done that, but he didn't. Kucinich would have.

:shrug: If it's as easy as you'd like us to believe, Dennis and Bernie should have been able to get all that stuff in the final bill, right? I'm sure the president would've signed it. Say what you will, while Bernie and Kooch may be wonderful at red meat speeches for a small slither of the base, you only have to look at their actual legislative successes to know that their records belie their hero status. That's just a fact.

That is what Obama is, he is basically Bill Clinton.

You mean the guy who left us with a surplus, a balanced budget, and the greatest job expansion in decades? The guy whose running mate wasn't good enough for the purists among us? Is that the Bill Clinton you mean? I have my issues with BC, but they certainly have nothing to do with the job he did as president.

Let's face it, if Kooch could miraculously get more than 1% of the primary vote, Independents would flee in droves, much like they did with Sarah Palin. Neither party can win without Independents, and they don't seem to care much for weird ideologues, and Dennis certainly qualifies.

The Left is the base of the Democratic Party and it is time the party started listening to its base. For all their terrible faults, at least the Republicans listen to their base.

And they may live to regret it. Wrap it up however you like, but ideologues scare the shit out of most of us, as evidenced by the rapid decline of the GOP's approval:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x653030

PPP: Bad news for Congressional Republicans

The small slither of the GOP base that they're now playing to, will ultimately come back to bite them, as it would either party. That's why Dennis has been so unsuccessful in his many attempts at higher office. The Dem base, and I don't mean "progressives", won't bite. Sorry. :-(