Kucinich experts: Is there anything Dennis can do to project himself as a real contender?

[mtnsnake]

Is there something he's doing wrong that can be righted? Is there a part of his image that can be tweaked to put him past the tipping point?

If only he could win. Why can't he?

I think if there is one Democrat who best represents the ideals of all Democrats, it would be Dennis Kucinich. I'm sure that many of you would agree with me on that, but we also would agree that he'd never win an election. Thus, he never gets anywhere in the primaries. But why is that? And is there anything that can be done about it?

So, what it is that keeps Dennis from being a winner? Please don't say it's his appearance. IMO, he's no uglier a candidate than any others we've had in modern times with the exceptions of Kennedy and Clinton. In fact, I think Dennis's appearance is a plus.

Does he not do well in the primaries because of his political ideals? How can that be...especially if we seem to agree with him so much?

Does he not do well in the primaries because he's a two-faced politician? We all know that's not the case.

Does he not do well in the primaries because he isn't able to generate enough money? If that's the case then there ought to be a way to solve that.

Does he not do well in the primaries because he's the "Peace Candidate"? If that's the reason, then that's our problem, not his.

Does he not do well because it's only the far lefties who cherish him? I don't think so, but maybe I'm wrong about that.

Does he not do well because he's got ideals that are too extreme for our Party? Well, if that's the case then why is he such a hit with all the voters who consistently vote him into the House?

So why is it that Dennis Kucinich just doesn't go anywhere when it comes to presidential primary races? Is it his personality? Is it something else? Is there anything that can be done to remedy the situation so that this man can get the just consideration that he deserves?

Please enlighten me as to why this man "can never win". Maybe if we can figure it out, maybe this guy could become electable. Maybe there's some small kink in his armor that can be remedied, thus propelling him to becoming the front runner of all Democrats.

Any ideas what Dennis can do to get his image across as a winner instead of a loser? Any ideas on what he's doing wrong, if anything, that projects him as "not having any chance of winning"? Maybe if we can figure out why, maybe a few things can be tweaked to turn it around for him.

[flvegan]

1. 2 things: Shorter last name and his claim to be Anna Nicole's baby's daddy

I kid, obviously, but it seems that the voting masses get lazy after two syllables. Our last president with more than two was...? Or, go totally with name recognition and change his last name to Kennedy.

The Anna Nicole Smith baby-daddy thing would only be to create hype, and get his name on the lips of the people. I think Paris Hilton has a hell of a shot at politics based on this theory alone.

Dennis was my choice in the last round, and he's mine in this round again.

[donsu]

2. he is a real contender - it's the media that holds him back

nt

[mtnsnake]

3. I'm not doubting you, but if that's the case, then what can be done about it?

If that's all it is that's keeping this guy from being perceived as a heavyweight, then there has got to be a way to solve that. If other contenders aren't held back because of the media, then Kucinich doesn't need to be held back either. Either he's got it or he doesn't, and if he's got it then we can find a solution to the media thing.

[donsu]

5. maybe he can do a Dean thing and use the internet

by shouting out on the net that the media is being unfair, etc. and have a heavy amount of contacting the various medias saying 'what's up', why are you ignoring Kucinich? and publishing the answers from the media, etc., etc.

I don't know, just some suggestions.

the neo con owned media will do what ever they want.

[LWolf]

4. It's the "no strings attached" part.

One of the qualities that makes him the most attractive, imo. He isn't owned by corporations, pacs, or any corrupt organizations that pull strings behind the scenes. Hence, he gets little media attention, and most of that he does get is spun to portray him as "extreme," when, in fact, his positions on issues are those of common sense and integrity.

A small elite hold the money and power, and he's not one of them. Even the majority of his own party, supposedly the party of the working class, holds the privileged, ivy-league wealthy in greater respect.

The values of his own party are apparently in contradiction. Is the Democratic Party the party of the working class, the average citizen, or is it the kinder, gentler side of corporate democracy?

[mtnsnake]

8. Interesting

Thanks. Maybe if we can keep figuring out the problems, we can come up with some solutions. Then again, if "the values of his own party are apparently in contradiction", it might take a little more doing than I thought.

[LWolf]

22. Here is one big contradiction:

The party claims to represent the "working class" the less than elite, but party members show more respect, and concede more power, to the elite.

[CRH]

6. The media ...

His position on issues is sensible to people who genuinely listen to what he says, but the media casts him a leftist juvenile gazing into the looking glass.

As well some people can't travel beyond 'presidential' or 'leadership' stereotypes, where physical appearance and often size, falsely command attention.

But, IMHO, his greatest handicap is his desire to turn government in the direction of serving the people, both on a national and global level. As well, he is a humanitarian, and that all but disqualifies him in the US supremacy crowd, that dominates both parties. This handicap translates into the worst example of 'presidential bearing', for the money people that are the power behind the politics. And the MSM is the tool these people use to place information, opinion, and candidates, within our realm of choice. So, they will never portray Dennis Kucinich as anything other than a wistful gazer into a leftist fairytale utopia, or perhaps a 'socialist'.

[mtnsnake]

9. Your post clearly explains some things I was wondering about

when it comes to the media and how it pertains to someone like Kucinich. All too often, people just say "It's the media" but they don't explain why, as you just did. Good job.

[brazos121200]

12. So what your'e saying is that as long as

the far right corporate elite control the media democracy is a sham. If the media can keep any candidate they desire out of the winning column then why bother to vote at all?

[CRH]

15. yeah, that pretty much says it ...

When the media wants us to think war, they saturate the airwaves and hard print with reasons, real or imagined.

When the media wants to divert us, there is Scott and Lacy, or Nicole Smith.

When the media wants to distort us, there is the toppling of Saddam statue without a contextual wide angle lens.
or Pvt Lynch, or fill in the __________.

When the media wants to scare us, there are the pictures of the WTC, then talk of mushroom crowds.

When the media wants to insult us or suppress our questions, without investigation, they shout 'conspiracy theory'.

When the media wants to show our intelligence no respect, they continue to support the legitimacy of election 2000.

When the media wants to shape an election, they use words such as 'elect ability or anger', with perhaps a sideshow of playing a context distorted tape 700 times that suggests an un presidential bearing. Or sometime they simply, pull all their reporters from a candidates campaign trail. Or, as in the last election cycle, when in the May debate, the NY Times began by eliminating coverage of Kucinich, Sharpton, and Braun. Pull the liberals out of the field and the others can talk more conservative. Then during another debate rather than framing the issues Ted Kopple implied verbally, that all three candidates were running 'a vanity campaign'; and after a sharp retort by Kucinich, that it was Kopple's job to 'frame the issues not the field', and received the largest ovation of the night, ABC quietly removed all reporters from the three campaigns.

[mtnsnake]

16. You should post these thoughts as a new thread

If you do, and I'm around at the time, I'll be looking to recommend it to the greatest page, as I'm sure many other posters will do.

Very well said, CRH.

[skipos]

7. There was a DUer who claimed to have worked for him in 2004

and felt that Kucinich wasn't really even trying to be president, just trying to bring up issues. That could be part of the problem. Even Clark and Sharpton outperformed Kucinich in 2004, and they don't exactly have the love of MSM or big $$ behind them either.

[leftofthedial]

10. money

media-cultivated perceptions of his ideas

media-cultivated perceptions of his charisma

pervasive public ignorance

[dkofos]

11. He, (and everyone else)needs to quit listening to the M$M.

It won't do to let the M$M choose the next Prez. That is up to We The People.
The people that say he is unelectable say that because they are afraid of the direction the
country will take with a real Progressive at the helm. Sure the M$M will crucify him just like they did
Howard Dean. Remember the scream? Dean would have won in 06, and the M$M knew it. Dennis is a true leader.
He knows what the people of this country need, (better than the people themselves know). If the only reason to
not support him, is because of what the M$M says about him, well that is just ridiculous.

If he has to go to all 50 states, and talk to all 300 million Americans, to get his message out
then that is what he must do. He knows what the American people want and need. His speeches are
eloquent and passionate. All the people have to do is listen.

It only takes 25% of the 200,000,000 citizens eligible to vote to win the Presidency.
That's only 50 million people. that is half the number of people who didn't even bother to vote in
the last presidential election.

Get an E-mail campaign going thru all the progressive web sites.
Go on the Dailey show.
Hit ALL the progressive talk shows.
Hit some of the more rational (do they even exist) conservative talk shows.
Make Dennis Kucinich a household name, (like Hillary Clinton)
Start a campaign to register more voters. 2 million from large states less from smaller states
Tell the people how great this country could be if they can just take it back from the corporations.
Hire me as your campaign manager!!

People are fed up with the status quo. They are ready for change.
Now is the time for real leadership.

[mtnsnake]

13. Awesome post!

You and some of the others have pointed their finger at MSM. You've gone one step further in offering some concrete solutions.

By the sounds of it, I'm wondering if what Kucinich needs is some better guidance.

Hire me as your campaign manager!!

If it were up to me, I would give you the job, but I'd wanna be your assistant!

:thumbsup:

[dkofos]

17. Thanks

If I get the job, so will you.

Are you reading this Dennis. I need a job!!

[Fresh_Start]

14. for a start, remove the horoscope shit from his website

we've had enough of the 'fate' driven leadership.

[MonkeyFunk]

18. yeah

and never mention chemtrails again, and stop advocating research and medicare money for things like homeopathy.

IOW.... stop being a new-age woo-woo.

[donsu]

19. disagree, those things are not 'new-age woo-woo'

where did you hear new-age woo-woo used to describe him?

[MonkeyFunk]

20. I've heard it

said by people who don't believe in chemtrails and homeopathy.

I know it's hard to believe, but Kucincich does NOT represent the majority of Democrats when he espouses such ideas, however popular they may be here. And support for such ideas shows a faith-based approach to science that is just as objectionable as the approach of the current administration.

[Fresh_Start]

21. I wouldn't hire a person who claimed

qualification for detail-orientedness because they were virgo.

Its completely unprofessional.