Why Dennis Kucinich is the Best Candidate

[Darranar]

Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate that voted against the PATRIOT Act. He did not act cowardly and vote for Bush’s intrusion into our private lives.

Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate offering a real and reliable health care plan that will cover EVERYBODY. This plan will also get rid of the unnecessary corporate bureaucracy currently clogging up the system.

Dennis Kucinich proudly voted against IWR, and convinced others to do the same. His vote and solid stance against Bush’s disastrous war for oil make him an even better candidate.

Dennis Kucinich has proven that he is capable of standing up to corporate interests, even if it means sacrificing his political future. He stood against a corporate takeover in Cleveland, and though it hurt the city’s budget, it greatly helped the people of Cleveland in the long run.

Dennis Kucinich is a strong supporter of economically liberal policies. He has received excellent scores from many pro-welfare institutions.

Dennis Kucinich is willing to completely scrap unfair trade deals that end up leaving thousands of people across the world working long hours in horrible conditions for little pay, and make us lose jobs here at home – all so some rich person can become even richer.

Dennis Kucinich has never been afraid to stand up and criticize the Republicans, even when it effected his political future.

Dennis Kucinich is willing to cut the Defense budget to improve the horrific education system that currently exists in the US. This is a neccesary and commendable step.

For all of these reasons, I proudly support Dennis Kucinich for President of the United States. If he does not get nominated, however, I will support whoever the Democratic candidate is with no hesitation (unless it’s Lieberman, in which case I will support him after a little hesitation.)

[MuseRider]

1. Ahhhhhh

Now how many times to I get to respond to a nice thread like this? Thank you.

[Darranar]

3. You're welcome, MuseRider.

n/t

[DemExpat]

2. All excellent reasons to back your man!

I hope your candidate does well.

:kick:

DemEx

edit: I took that quizz today somewhere here in GD about picking your best candidate, and Kucinich came out Nr. 1 for me - 100%! That was quite a surprise....

So he matches my ideas and ideals the best. But I'm a Clark backer (from when there were only rumours of his candidacy) because my intuition, heart and mind tell me to!

[Darranar]

4. I hope he does well too!

I doubt he'll win the nomination, but if he does well enough he'll be noticed. And that's a good thing.

[LWolf]

48. It's not a surprise to the rest of us!

:hi:

We've known that Dennis is the closest representative of democratic ideas and ideals.

Regardless of who people choose to vote for in the end, don't you think those ideas and ideals should be getting more air time?

[Darranar]

5. Kick!

:kick:

[Thomas Jefferson]

6. Excellent Analysis. He has my vote

Why not pick the best?

[Darranar]

11. Thanks. n/t

n/t

[hippywife]

13. Indeed, TJ!

That's exactly how I feel. :)

He is working to make life better for all Americans, regardless of who they are, and all the people of the world. That is selfless service and is the kind of dedication that we can rely on from Dennis.

[laura888]

7. His ideas completely make sense to me...

...what doesn't make sense is that a possible majority might find them too "left-wing.

[Darranar]

8. A few will...

it will be about equal to the number of Greens and alienated progressives he'll bring back to the party, though.

[HEyHEY]

9. If I lived thereI'd probably vote for him

But, with this nutjob in the office, I think it is most important to vote in the one which has the best chance to get Shrub gone.

[Desertrose]

10. Well said Darranar

Isn't it interesting that the positive post have to struggle to stay afloat amidst the more negative ones...

I wonder if this doesn't say a fair amount about who & where we are these days.

I hope to be more like DK in that he refuses to speak ill about any of the other candidates....but he will challenge them on thier stands and statements.....maybe I need to take a page from that book. Even though we have been laughed at , put down and not taken seriously...Dennis Kucinich is picking up more & more supporters here on DU and all around the country....I think that is pretty damn impressive...

This thought flashed into my mind the other nite....
Love is patient... fear and anger are impatient...urging you to act instantly.....but not love....love stands through time.....

Peace
DR

[Darranar]

12. Some very interesting thoughts...

I think i agree with you about anger and love. There's a reason why many very kind people are also calm.

I think the reason this thread is struggling is that it isn't very controversial. The only thing I'm doing here is saying why I support something, not why someone shouldn't support something.

[xJlM]

16. Well, thank you

We need more positives here; GD can get depressing sometimes. I hope to get more involved with the Kucinich campaign soon, since I want him to have every chance that he can. You know damn well corporate cash isn't going to support him. I'm just a poor Process Technician, currently unemployed, but I even sent him some of my meager unemployment check during the last fund-raising drive.

[MuseRider]

19. That is so kind

This is what he inspires.

[MuseRider]

17. This is exactly

what I am trying to do. Supporting DK with anger and mud slinging, well, it just does not fit. For me it is a difficult task but I am trying.

[xJlM]

21. The hard part is...

This is only a warm-up to things getting really ugly. Once the primaries are over and the Democratic candidate is chosen the repugs and the "librul media" are going to declare war on whoever gets the nomination. The time for being nice will then be over. DK is a fighter though, and I can't wait to see what he would do to Bush.

[MuseRider]

24. So all of this

will be good practice. DK can stand up for himself, of that I am sure but can I handle it? I am trying. Whoever gets the nomination will feel like he/she has been drawn and quartered on a daily basis. Such a shame.

[roughsatori]

14. Thank you KICK NT

[ElsewheresDaughter]

15. exactly

[Zorra]

18. Dennis is the consummate

populist candidate, a straight talking, straight shooting roots Democrat. The thought of a Kucinich Presidency strikes fear into every little corporate republican heart. He is the Anti-bush.

Dennis will work to make voting incorruptible, he will work to regain media balance, and will work to end corporate control of government. He's the only candidate that will do this.

Unless these problems are solved, very little will be gained in the long term.

:dem:Kucinich

[xJlM]

31. He's the people's candidate

That's for sure, I just hope he can be heard. Money controls all these days, and I don't think he is going to get any corporate support :) If the people get behind him, though... watch out! There's a majority of people here in the US who are so disillusioned with politics and the choices it gives us, if they find there's a candidate who is one of them there may be hell to pay for the corporate whoremasters!

[snoochie]

32. That's what we're working for!

We're taking his message to the streets, and doing an end-run around the corporate media. :-)

[newyawker99]

46. Hi snoochie!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[snoochie]

20. Simply the best.

I agree with all you said Darranar, and thanks for sharing your thoughts on Dennis!

I have to add that I think he's the best for all the reasons you gave, PLUS the fact that he's committed to getting free airtime for candidates and instant runoff voting.

Also there's the fact that he presents the CLEAREST alternative to Bush -- I happen to agree with Ted Rall's theory -- that you need a candidate who stands equally far from the center as the other side's candidate does. That means Dennis!

Go Kooch!

:yourock:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

22. And I think he will do better in Iowa than most people expect

The Iowa caucuses cannot be rigged with funky voting machines, and they draw the party activists.

[Darranar]

23. Kick!

:kick:

[Deja Q]

25. Wow, somebody had read the Patriot Act before voting on it?!

Kucinich gets my vote even more so now!

I proudly support Kucinich as well.

Dunno about Lieberman or Clark, but I'll worry about that if/when the time comes.

[snoochie]

26. Yep Hypno Toad!

He said on Washington Journal (I believe it was that appearance, anyway) that he has a rule - read every bill before voting!

[MuseRider]

27. Gee

what an idea!

[snoochie]

30. Hehehehe...

Seems like it would be a no-brainer, huh?
:think:

[Tinoire]

28. Excellent post!

and thanks for laying it out so beautifully! Kucinich has the most depth and the most contributions to what I believe in than any of the candidates out there. Thanks Darranar!

[sujan]

29. I agree

[rhite5]

33. Thanks for the thread, Darranar

Almost every Democrat I have spoken to has said that Kucinich comes closest to representing their values. They have other reasons for backing someone else. I have talked a few into making donations to Dennis anyway, primarily to keep these issues in the dialogue. I am afraid they would not be mentioned if he were not in the race. His presence pulls the entire debate toward the Left where it belongs.

Money continues to be the deciding factor for how long he can stay in the race. He accepts NO corporate money at all. He gets excellent enthusiastic crowds when he makes appearances on the campaign trail.

Amazingly, he continues to keep up a full time commitment to his job in Congress introducing important new legislation all the time. Under his co-leadership, the Congressional Progressive Caucus has grown and votes as an important block.

This man walks the talk.

[IranianDemocrat]

34. Electing Dennis for our nominee would be a disaster.

How could you guys forget McGovern's campaign?

[Darranar]

35. Nice threadjack...

do you know that he won in a conservative district?

[rhite5]

37. No illusions here. But you are missing the point.

(addressed to IranianDemocrat)

[snoochie]

39. I hear ya... I hear that a lot, actually... BUT--

Times have changed.

We now have our media hijacked by corporations, and most of the American public is waking up to the fact that they've been lied into a war...

We now have a greater wealth gap than at any time since the Gilded Age (we truly are in a New Gilded Age)...

We now have parties that have moved SO far to the right that even conservatives dislike the extremist Bush agenda...

We now have jobs hemmorhaging (sp?) out of this country faster than at any time in history...

We now have a leader who communicates using Orwellian double-speak...

We now have over 43 million people without health insurance and are the only industrialized country without guaranteed healthcare for all...

For these and many other reasons, Dennis will not face the same fate as McGovern.

"Go Go Dennis! Run Run Dennis! If not now, when? If not here, where? If not us, who? If not us, WHO?!" -- from "Go Go Dennis" by Joel Tyler

[meisje]

36. no need to worry

it won't happen

[xJlM]

38. Hopefully, you're in for a surprise

I just love you folks who speak in absolutes, since a lot of you seem to eat your words.

[Mairead]

47. "I just love you folks who speak in absolutes"

And you'll notice that it's always unsupported opinion, never anything to back it up.

Do you suppose they say so little so that, when they have to eat their words, they won't choke on them so much? :evilgrin:

[xJlM]

50. They have nothing to back it up with

They want to talk about their "gut feeling" and ignore things like facts. Yet when you talk about the facts about their "chosen leader" they get offended and want to call it an attack. Doesn't matter whether you have links to back it up or not. Now is the time to get the facts in the open, so Americans can make an informed decision.

[twilight]

40. I agree! DK is THE BEST!!! :)

One thing about Dennis Kucinich is that his message never changes like the weather! Consistently consistent! :D
-------------------------------------------

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.

http://thespiritoffreedom.com/speeches/speech1.htm




DENNIS J. KUCINICH FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004! THE ONLY CANDIDATE WITH A TRUE VISION FOR AMERICA!!! :D

[JohnKleeb]

41. The prayer for America

:cry: ever so beautiful

[twilight]

42. Its my favorite too ...

Go to cspan.org and look for his presentation on Road to the Whitehouse of KUCINICH ON CSPAN: "Road to the White House" - Aug. 3 show - watch video online now.

http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=Series,RWH

Road to the White House
From July 27, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) speaks to Democratic caucus members in Ottumwa, IA. This forum was one of a series hosted by Iowa Senator Tom Harkin with Democratic presidential candidates.
8/3/2003: WASHINGTON, DC:

A GREAT DK Fix! :D

:dem: Dennis J. Kucinich for President in 2004!!! :kick:

[LWolf]

45. Isn't it refreshing?

A candidate who consistently backs the words?

Way to clean up politics. Actually work to do what you say.

Who wouldn't love this man?

[LWolf]

43. Whoa!

A powerful, positive, message.

Thank you so much.

Suggestion: take this post, and make 2 changes:

"effected" becomes "affected."

Delete last sentence; a good communication, but not needed for this purpose.

Now send it, snail mail and email, to major newspapers around the country as an op-ed piece.

Go, Darranar!

[Kucinich04]

44. Any REAL liberal...

Would prefer Dennis to be our President over any other Dem candidate, excepting perhaps Dean, Braun, or Sharpton (and that's a big 'perhaps'). However, any intelligent person (including myself) knows that he is totally un-electable in todays political climate. Maybe, in 2008, if Chimpy gets elected (for his first time) in 2004, and continues along the path he's taken so far, and The Left manages to grab even a modicum of power in the mainstream TV news, the country might be ready for someone like a Dennis Kucinich. But in 2004, despite my optimistic moniker, he ain't got a chance.

That said, GOD do I wish he was our President!!!

[loyalsister]

49. The irony here

is that I know some right leaning anti-choice dems who are supporting him. They're holding out hope that he'll revert to his old ways. The more liberal voters and activists in my area tend to think his epiphany came too late. A state rep. I know told me that a lot of people in Ohio think of him as a RWer. As for what a "REAL LIBERAL" wants- it's all a matter of perspective and maybe the definition of "liberal."
I think a mistake is made here when liberalism is summarized and starkly drawn out by support\non-support for a handful of issues as opposed to a general principle or a disposition. I prefer to categorize the positions on the left and right. Thus, the question would be how many and how much in reference to ideological positions on the left or right?
Liberalism can refer to "how much." ie "How much" control, $ to give, etc. Lots= liberal, very little =conservative. (Notice that * comes out liberal on the right end of the spectrum here).
Also, I would say that liberalism refers to flexibility.
Okay, on general principles, DK is pretty liberal.
DK is an inflexible black\white thinking guy. He has a lot of "all or nothing" policy approaches. Not very liberal.

That said, I do agree that pragmatism will lead us to a different candidate. I think that now is the time for someone who is flexible enough to solve problems with a reasonable timeline and the comfort zone of the general public in mind.

[revcarol]

51. For wanting to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act,

for saying that his first acts as President would be to repeal NAFTA and the WTO

for leading to repeal the Patriot Act:DENNIS, I SALUTE YOU.

LABOR COULD NOT HAVE A BETTER FRIEND.Lifting high the mantle of Wellstone...

[JohnKleeb]

53. I remember when I found out about that, Taft-Hartley

Ive read about in the past and thought it was complete bull, I wondered why the party hadnt tried to get it repealed, Harry Truman tried to but failed then I think as the party moved to the center at least on economic issues it was removed from the party plank. Hes the best out there I think.

[Mairead]

52. For being the only candidate proven to have a tool-steel backbone