Kucinich MN Endorsements

[goodhue]

http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4152522.html

Kucinich was endorsed Monday by Minnesota's Senate Majority Leader, John Hottinger, DFL-St. Peter, and Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, who said his "politics come from the same mold" as the late Sen. Paul Wellstone.

Hottinger, who said he has known Kucinich since the 1960s, said "he's offering at least some new ideas," including the Department of Peace. Hottinger said this would be a welcome change from "the current policy of belligerence and bellicose full-time war."

Hottinger also praised Kucinich's trade policy and health care. Asked about the widespread perception that Kucinich is a marginal candidate who can't possibly become the Democratic nominee, Hottinger said that at this point in previous election cycles, former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were regarded in much the same way.

Of the top three elected Democrats in Minnesota -- a list that includes Sen. Mark Dayton and Attorney General Mike Hatch -- Hottinger is the only one to endorse a presidential candidate.

[snoochie]

1. Thanks for posting this!

Really appreciate reading this... thanks again.

[cosmicdot]

2. Kucinich's populism on display in presidential declaration

Speaking to an audience of about 300 people in the City Council chambers, where he started his political career at the age of 24, Kucinich described a sculpture that stands over the entrance of the U.S. House of Representatives called "Peace Protecting Genius." The statue portrays a woman with her arm outstretched over a winged boy.

"I am running for president of the United States to enable the goddess of peace to encircle within her arms all the children of this country and all the children of the world," Kucinich said. "As president I will work with leaders of the world to make war a thing of the past, to abolish nuclear weapons."

[Desertrose]

5. Thanks for the visual cosmicdot

:hi:cosmicdot...how ya doin today? :hug:

I've heard him talk about that sculpture more than once ...thanks for posting the photo.
Isn't Dennis amazing? His speeches are so inspiring...the goddess of peace image gives me goosebumps. We desperately need to be inspired in these strange & trying days.....thank you, Dennis!

Peace
DR

[cosmicdot]

14. vote in the DU primary

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=537909

:hi: desertrose!!!

[kimchi]

3. WTG, Dennis!

Love the goddess of peace quote. The man inspires me. I know he is ultimately electable--if people open their eyes in time.

[diamondsoul]

4. Well this isn't an endorsement, but MAN it was cool!!

I just spent the evening in a packed house with Michael Moore! Someone asked him about the Demo candidates. He mentions QWe Clark and there is a lot of applause, then he mentions Dennis Kucinich, and there is twice as much applause!! I bought two of his books, and stood in line to have him autograph "Dude, where's my country?". The line was huge, and I saw one of our volunteers there. I was toward the end of the line, and when he got to me, he saw my kucinich shirt, stopped signing and shook my hand before moving on to the next person!

I left there in tears because he has no idea what he did for me a few years ago, or why I wanted to go see him, yet he took the time to shake my hand. It was just...really special.

[LWolf]

6. Thank you, Senator Hottinger,

for the endorsement. And for the timely comments about President's Clinton and Carter.

[no name no slogan]

7. On the front page of the Minneapolis Strib today (Oct 14)

They featured this announcement, along with a small blurb (in big letters, no less) about tonight's upcoming announcement in Mpls! We're expecting 1,000, but we'll probably get more like 2,000 at the rate things are going!!!!

For those curious who are in the Twin Cities area:

Dennis Kucinich Announces Presidential Bid
TONIGHT, Oct 14, 2003 at 6:00 PM,
Roosevelt High School,
4029 28th Ave S,
Minneapolis, MN, 55406.

(and watch out for the guy with the blue shirt, brown ponytail and glasses singing and playing guitar-- that would be me!) :)

[dpbrown]

8. Hope to see Minnesotans tonight at Roosevelt!

Come see Dennis' announcement in Minnesota at Roosevelt High School!

Followed by an announcement party at Babylon Cafe!

Go, Dennis go!

[LWolf]

9. I've got a friend and fellow DK supporter in MN.

I'll have to check with him to see if he is going to be there!

[dpbrown]

10. 1400 people gave Dennis a rock-star reception

What a great speech.

Winona LaDuke, Sen. John Marty, and DFL Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger all spoke.

Dennis rocks.

[Desertrose]

11. oh coool! tell us more...

when you get time of course...
wish I coulda been there.....


Go Dan
Go Dennis
:yourock:


Peace
DR

[no name no slogan]

12. Yes indeed it ROCKED!!!!!!!!

Dan is TOTALLY correct in his comments re: the event. If he doesn't post details, I'll see if I can sneak away a minute or two to do it.

-- the "other" Minnesota Dan B. (there's two of us, y'see) :)

[dpbrown]

15. I was running around so much I'm not sure I'm the best but...

We started out around 5:00 p.m. getting ready. There were already people coming in then, about an hour before the "event."

We had tables of literature, ushers at all the entrances handing out envelopes and explaining how important it was to put names and addresses on the donation envelopes, because Dennis is nearly the only one still keeping his promise to abide by the public financing laws, so every donation up to $250 is doubled (keep that in mind when you read dismissive news articles that say he's "seventh" in fundraising - you can nearly double that amount).

People got a copy of Dennis' speech or his Ten Points and an envelope.

We started with the Central American (I'm sorry, I don't know where they're from) indigenous dancing group that's been a mainstay in all the pro-peace marches and demonstrations in the Twin Cities. They are awesome! Then we had some musical entertainment (Dan B. of course is awesome! I don't know anyone else's name, though).

The whole thing was staged in an auditorium that held upwards of 1600 people, and it was standing room only. The backdrop of the stage was the deep red curtain, upon which we hung a huge banner (that we had made ourselves) that was a take-off of the bumper sticker, with Dennis' name on it. Then we added some of the lawn signs, hung on the curtain, and a large (probably 8X10) custom-made fabric piece that had "Minnesota for Kucinich" in white on a blue background - it was beautiful, and we hung it so it would be right behind the entertainment, the singers, on the stage.

Senator John Marty spoke, and got the crowd riled up. Then DFL Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger spoke on the telephone, and had some great things to say. Then Winona LaDuke appeared, and really got the crowd fired up. Then Mimi Kennedy (plays the mom on Dharma and Greg appeared, and introduced Dennis, who (at the last minute!!) decided to enter down the aisle from the back of the auditorium, and with people screaming and hollering like he was some rock star, he came down the aisle, shaking hands and high-fiving, before taking the stage and giving an electrifying 18 minute speech that had the crowd on its feet roaring in standing ovations numerous times.

Then he was off to his next gig (I understand the BFEE found a way to hold him up at the Minneapolis airport so he couldn't get to Chicago on time), and we cleaned up and went to our party at the Babylon International Cafe and Gallery on Lake Street.

I talked to several people who told me that coming in to the auditorium they were undecided, but upon hearing what Dennis had to say they were ready to get to work to help out this dynamic man with a vision for where to take America from the damage the BFEE has done to us. People left converted.

I don't know why anyone would settle for someone less.

I hope people who were in the auditorium more than I was (I was monitoring the back door for media and VIPs and trouble-shooting a lot), can fill in the blanks where I've left stuff out.

Dennis is truly awesome!

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[goodhue]

21. good summary

Very complete account, Dan.
The indigenous dancers were of Mexican origin I believe, now living in the Twin Cities. They were great!!!
Also, I think Winona Laduke actually spoke before Hottinger phone call.

For those of you not in MN and/or not familiar with capitol politics, the support of DFL Senate Majority Leader Hottinger is huge!!! Many of his colleauges jumped on the Dean bandwagon last spring with an apparent ignorance of Kucinich. Fortunately, some of our DFL leaders such as Senator Hottinger and Senator Marty can think for themselves. Their support speaks volumes to what stand up people they are. We in MN are very lucky to have such leaders.

It was a great event and was bigger than August rally in St. Paul.
I can't wait until he comes back soon. With the kind of response he is getting in Twin Cities, I'm sure he will be back again.

Only downside was that Kucinich only spoke for 20 minutes. It was great but the crowd would have loved some Q & A. But he had to move on quickly to Chicago. Does anyone now when and if he got there?

Also see
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=108&topic_id=60505

[dpbrown]

22. Kucinich met delay at MSP airport

And I understand he had to speak to Chicago over the phone.

I think Minnesota ought to be challenging the other states to get out the Kucinich support, here.

Do you hear that, other states?

;-)

Dan Brown
Saint Paul, Minnesota

[dpbrown]

16. I probably left something out...

So I hope everyone else will fill in the blanks.

[no name no slogan]

13. Kick (n/t)

:kick:

[MrPeepers]

17. Those are some good ones.

Congrats to Dennis!

[blm]

18. great news...

DK is coming on stronger than any of the media will note.

[JohnKleeb]

20. Theres a The Nation article about it

I was told that it was good. :argh: take that Media Whores. Yea he is doing good and I am happy hes my candiate, and my dad put up our Kucinich sign in the middle level window.

[lams712]

19. I'm really bummed I couldn't make the announcement...

....at Roosevelt HS, I had to work late. I'm glad to hear that the event rocked!!!!


DK is tha' MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!