Of the nine presidential candidates...

[Terwilliger]

Poll question: Of the nine presidential candidates...

Who is the most vocally outspoken against George W. Bush, his administration, and his policies?

[Terwilliger]

1. I pose this question to find out who the opposition candidate will be

maybe we'll luck out and have that person win the primary

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

2. there's a difference in attack while in office and out of office

It's easier to attack when you are out of any elected office, but there seem to be a lot of elected Democrats who won't fight Bush at all. Seems to me Kucinich is the elected Democrat doing that most forcefully at the moment.

[BrewCrew]

16. a surprise?

I voted for DK, but I actually I think Gephardt is definitely over looked in this category. For anyone who doubts that you should read the Wash. Post from Friday. This guy doesn't get the credit he deserves in this area, but he's an excellent Bush basher.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28839-2003Aug21.html

Here are some quotes from the article:
"Gephardt is offering voters the starkest alternative to Bush among the candidates leading in the polls"

"No major Democratic presidential candidate is promising to change the country more dramatically than Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (Mo.)

"Gephardt talks proudly of repealing tax cuts, slapping restrictions on foreign trade and providing universal health coverage.He sounds more like Lyndon B. Johnson or Harry S. Truman."

[Tinoire]

3. Kucinich wins hands down with a documented track record to prove it

Politicians are like used-car salesmen but there's no bitter-lemon law. This is no time for faith-based voting based on rhetoric and Kucinich has the best opposition record out there with a solid track record of fighting the right-wing and courageously speaking out against them.

[cherryperry]

4. No question!

Kucinich is the best man!!!

:hi:

[JasonBerry]

15. Tinoire, AS USUAL, you are absolutely, 100% CORRECT! N/T

~

[Dover]

28. Ditto that. And he spoke out when NO ONE else would. Who remembers?

....

[ComerPerro]

27. Sorry

I like the guy, I admire his resolve. I think he has good ideas.

But I don't think he public will vote for him.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

38. Thanks for going off topic for a lil' jab..

:)
The 'electability' myth is a beatiful thing heh?

TWL

[VermontDem2004]

5. rotflmao Lieberman

[AP]

6. Another good question to consider: Which candidate, in his/her

essence, without even having to open his/her mouth offers the greatest contrast to Bush, which will be apparent to the public.

I tell you, it won't be a candidate who went to Yale and grew up rich.

Kucinich, Edwards, M-B, Sharpton make this cut.

[gully]

8. I grew up poor, but I don't think that's a requirement to contrast Bush...

:shrug:

[AP]

9. Did you go from 0 to 100 mph with nobody to rely on but your

willingness to work hard and your desire to learn, and, if so, was your overriding principle the desire to make a difference in other people's lives. Did you become one of the best at what you do?

If you did this, maybe you would make a good president.

And if you were running against a guy like Bush, I'd be especially supportive of your campaign.

[gully]

13. I 'm not running for president, but thanks... for your support up front.

Am I one of the best at what I do? I'm a Mother, does that count for anything?

[diamondsoul]

24. Then why do you not carry a Kucinich avatar?

He's done all of those things and then some. Just curious, no slam meant to Edwards. The more I watch the more I think he's not far behind Kucinich in my view.

[AP]

31. You know, I love Kucinich too. But when it comes down to picking one

I have to go with Edwards because, when I listen to him I am amazed by how he can take really complicated ideas (which are important for Democrats to convey) and reduce them to incredibly powerful, easy to understand statements.

I think progressive taxation is such a key issue this election, but it's impossible to discuss, because it's all about math. Edwards is finding a way to convey what is so important in that issue in a manner which is really powerful.

Also, you can totally see the expression of skills Edwards honed as a trial lawyer in his demeanor. Long before I knew who Edwards was, I thought that politics is like a trial. You have a theory of how the world works and you have to convince a bunch of average Americans to accept your theory. Plenty of lawyers have been president, but it's been a long time since a good trial lawyer was president (Abe Lincoln -- and what a good president and lawyer -- he put those skills to use convincing Americans that a war against slavery to keep the union together was the right thing to do).

There are many other reasons I pick Edwards over Kucinich, and I'll state them as the primaries go on. I'll add one more. I hate how Americans worship wealth. But I see the value in Americans looking at a successful guy like John Edwards and thinking that there is a guy who had nothing, who went to state schools, who got all the things he has from hard work in a society which values social justice and which allows people who work hard to be rewarded for their hard work.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. It doesn't matter where you went to school

or whether you grew up rich or poor. What matters is whether you are self-absorbed, interested in getting as much for you and your buddies (as is W) or whether you are concerned for your fellow human beings (and there is a long long long list of Yalies who fall in this group). Please don't diss a school just because of one bad alumnus.

(FYI, when W was at Yale to get an honorary degree in May 2001, another Yale alum, Sam Waterston, was there to get a degree as well. This actor, who is also a wonderful humanitarian who doesn't blow his own horn, was applauded much much more than the Shrub. Shows how the folks at New Haven feel.

(No, I'm not a Yalie, but I have a lot of Yale friends, and I write this post because of them)

[newsguyatl]

12. so are you saying

it will be someone who went along with the bush cabal on their illegal and immoral war? :shrug: someone who STILL has and will ALWAYS have blood on his hands?

[BrewCrew]

17. ap

I think you're forgetting someone from that list? It's the candidate most union folks like myself identify with...Dick Gephardt.

[ScreamingMeemie]

35. Maybe your union folk, but the union folk here-relatives, friends aren't

falling for the backing of Gephardt.

[gully]

7. Dean it is...with a documented track record to prove it... ;)

And many other dems are speaking out and have spoken out LOUDLY but it is not making the news (go figure)

[ThirdWheelLegend]

39. I thought the question was who is most outspoken...

not who gets the most media coverage?


Or are you trying to make a funny by spoofing Tinoire?

TWL

[redeye]

10. Dean...

...although Kucinich isn't exactly Bush-lite either.

[ButterflyBlood]

14. who voted for Lieberman?

LMAO

[Oracle]

18. There's no doubt it's Dennis Kucinich...that's why...

the Republicans try and ignore him,(as the big 5 media follow and do as told.) They do not want Kucinich's message out in the mainstream of America, because it's honest and such direct hits on George...damage they know they couldn't really recover from. I do wish Kucinich was in the national spotlight,like say a Kerry.

The Democrats (DLC in particular)also, are doing their best to keep Kucinich in the back round...it'a a power struggle and the DLC is going to do it's best to seize control and only offer their shit Republican lite canidates.

[GreenArrow]

19. The results are a joke

Are people so uniformed? Kucinich has hit the Bush harder than anyone, and for longer, with the possible exception of Al Sharpton.

You may prefer Doctor Dean, but at least be honest enough to give credit where it is due.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

20. Not necessarily.

I think that you're right about DK. But who has gotten more press bashing Shrub? Dean. By that token, he has been more outspoken.
Fair? Nope.

[GreenArrow]

21. Not the same question

"Who is the most vocally outspoken against George W. Bush, his administration, and his policies?" is the question asked in the original post.

The Government controlled media may choose to report more of what Dean says, but that doesn't negate the fact that Kucinich has been saying stronger stuff for a longer time.

You are right about Dean getting more press coverage though.

[diamondsoul]

25. What?

"By that token, he has been more outspoken."

Um, coverage has noting to do with what is said. No, Dean has NOT been "more outspoken" no matter what qualifications you stick on it. Kucinich has that ground locked up.

[snyttri]

22. Is Dean really pro-gun and pro-death penalty as I have read?

If so, that would make him a Bush ally on these issues.

[ErasureAcer]

23. don't forget my favorite...empire supporting

$400 billion dollar pentagon budgets...

makes me sick. :puke:

[Rose Siding]

33. And Bush and Dean both

breath through their noses and live on planet earth. TOTALLY allied :eyes:

[DemBones DemBones]

26. Kucinich is the Real Deal! But, in fairness, outspokenness

against Bush* is rarely reported unless Dean is the one being outspoken. The press is enamored with Dean as they were with McCain for a time in the last presidential election cycle. Thus, Kucinich is the most outspoken but all of the others have spoken out against Bush* and his policies. Lots of trees falling in the forest but the press hears only one. It's easier to do a human interest story on an "outsider" who surprises everyone with his organization than to analyze each candidate's policies and relative strengths and weaknesses. Too many "communications" majors, not enough *journalists* in the news business now.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

29. great poll, shows the basis of the frustration many DK ...

Shows the basis of the frustration many DK supporters display here on this board.

Kucinich is BY FAR more outspoken against the administration and has been for MUCH longer.

for example...Feb 2002:(this was WELL before he considered running)

snip>
"Because we did not authorize the invasion of Iraq.
We did not authorize the invasion of Iran.
We did not authorize the invasion of North Korea.
We did not authorize the bombing of civilians in Afghanistan.
We did not authorize permanent detainees in Guantanamo Bay.
We did not authorize the withdrawal from the Geneva Convention.
We did not authorize military tribunals suspending due process and habeas corpus.
We did not authorize assassination squads.
We did not authorize the resurrection of COINTELPRO.
We did not authorize the repeal of the Bill of Rights.
We did not authorize the revocation of the Constitution.
We did not authorize national identity cards.
We did not authorize the eye of Big Brother to peer from cameras throughout our cities.
We did not authorize an eye for an eye.
Nor did we ask that the blood of innocent people, who perished on September 11, be avenged with the blood of innocent villagers in Afghanistan.
We did not authorize the administration to wage war anytime, anywhere, anyhow it pleases.
We did not authorize war without end.
We did not authorize a permanent war economy."
snip>

read the rest at:
http://www.kucinich.us/speeches/speech1.htm


Then we look at these resultsof this poll and Dean is winning?

I think because of the media(corporate media) coverage that people have been led to support Dean for alot of the reasons they should be supporting Dennis Kucinich.

Well we can only do our best to keep getting the name of Dennis K out there and making people realize that his policies are the absolute best of the candidates for the future of this country and the world.

anyway cheers,

TWL

[Dover]

30. I think you're right. I've asked some Dean supporters I know why they

were choosing Dean over Kucinich (I really wanted to know) and they gave me a list of things Kucinich..NOT Dean...endorses. It's so sad and disheartening to me that Kucinich's remarkable courage and clarity is being so undervalued. Many that recognize and admire him...particularly those who were lifted out of their fear by his words during our country's darkest moments, when no one else would speak...are now parrotting the media about his unelectability or making superficial comments about his looks. We deserve what we get in this country when we don't recognise and fight for the real deal when it comes along.....a rare thing.

[JI7]

32. i voted kucinich

although my candidate is john kerry, for this poll (question asked) kucinich easily wins, with maybe a challenge from sharpton.

[ScreamingMeemie]

36. For poop's sake.. The man was getting no coverage until word of his

internet usage caught on. I call it smart. DK could have done it as well. But Dean has not always been getting tons and tons of media coverage. That was recent.


Example: 7 people at the first Dean Meetup in March '03. What City? Detroit. Pretty damn big city for only 7 people.

[mdmc]

34. Graham

I support Dean. Graham has nothin' to lose.

[Booberdawg]

37. It never fails

No matter how you ask a question about the candidates, everyone will vote for their favorite candidate, regardless of the question. LOL!

[tameszu]

40. Is vocally outspoken the best criteria?

I mean, it might be the best criteria for motivating the base (although not even that, as it wouldn't explain why Dean, and, well, everyone is doing better than Kucinich). But doesn't it seem like the best candidate would be the one who offers the best alternatives to Bush?

Just sayin'

[ThirdWheelLegend]

41. Well as for best alternatives...

Besides being the most outspoken, Dennis Kucinich is also the best and most alternative to *.


http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_10key.htm



TWL

[JustJoe]

42. I'm a Dean man thru & thru ... but ...

I voted for Kucinich on this one. Not even close.
However, DK cant get elected & wont even be nominated.
It's his style first & his radical ideas second.
I want Bush out of there & Kucinich is not the man.
But there is no question that he is the "most
vocally outspoken against" Bush & his policies,
both in the volume of his outspokenness and in
the substance of the same.