It Ain’t Over ’Til…

[redqueen]

http://www.kucinich.us/

March 4, 2004

The Cleveland Plain Dealer asked Kucinich today what part of ‘it’s over’ he didn’t understand. Kucinich responded: "The part that says that we're still in Iraq, that says there are 43 million Americans without any health insurance, the part that says we lost 3 million manufacturing jobs, that we've got a front-runner who basically has taken NAFTA and the WTO off the table. And the part that says, last I checked, this is still a democracy."

Kucinich told the Plain Dealer his continued presence gives a forum for important ideas in the Democratic Party. "There are critical differences within the Democratic Party which have to be aired, and they really reflect on whether or not the Democrats can win the election in November," he said. Kucinich warned against ending the debate now and taking it outside of the Democratic Party. “It will be assumed that Democrats may not care about these things," he said.

"It might be true that any Democrat could get 49 percent of the vote right now. The question is, how do you get that other 2 or 3 percent that takes you over the top?" Kucinich said. "And that's why my value to this race could end up helping to save the day."

[mopinko]

1. don't take this the wrong way

not intended as flame. but where the heck is dennis geting the money to stay in the race?

[redqueen]

2. He's raised 1.1 mil this quarter

He's TRULY grassroots, so it's a very low-overhead campaign.

[Evil_Dewers]

3. very low-overhead campaign

but so far, he's yielded low results.

[redqueen]

7. Well hey, be honest

Nobody expected him to get anything, so his still being here and still raising that kind of dough is impressive!

And if he can keep the Iraq war lies and continuing occupation (plus the threat to our treasury and the upcoming draft) as high-visibility issues, then I say it's HIGH results!

[Evil_Dewers]

12. I have obsolutely no problemo with DK staying in the race

'til the convention.

But I do have a problem with his supporters here bashing presumptive nominee Kerry.

DK runs a positive campaign. Some of his supporters here do not emulate their candidate.

[redqueen]

14. Yeah I agree, and it's unfortunate

We're all human, and subject to those ever-so-irrational emotions (ew). Until we get over that, hurt feelings and misdirected jabs at each other and our causes are going to continue.

But you gotta admit, he's a helluva guy. :) Right? Right???

He is! And I can't wait to hear either his beautiful acceptance speech (LET A WOMAN DREAM OK?!) or his fiery speech about how his supporters should start backing Kerry... either way, this man is GOLD.

[MercutioATC]

19. You don't have a problem with DK staying in?? What about "get in line"?

Weren't you just insisting that everybody get in line behind Kerry? Didn't you classify Kucinich supporters as having "moved on to the bargaining phase" (in the anger/denial/bargaining/acceptance process) while you saluted the people who have "reached the final stage of acceptance" and shifted their support to Kerry?

A little memory refresher:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=432938

:shrug:

[Evil_Dewers]

41. What about "get in line?"

Get in line applies to the Deaniacs, Clarkies & Edwardians -- since their candidates have suspended their campaigns. I believe DK is still running for president and JFK has not mathmetically clinched the nomination.

redqueen has a positive attitude, even though she knows DK winning the Dem nomination is a dream.

At least she doesn't bash Kerry and his supporters like the bitter Deaniacs do.

"If you can't say nuthin' nice, don't say nuthin' at all."--Thumper, in the movie Bambi.

[Mairead]

6. He's getting it from us, the forgotten people.

and since his is the truest of grassroots campaigns, he doesn't need much.

[Mick Knox]

4. Kucinich would make Mondale's loss

look good.

He couldnt even get 49% IMO.. he's get about 33-35%.. the truely Hate Bush.. Hardcore left, Partisan Dem, etc.

Nope, Kucinich is in LA LA land..

No pres or even serious candidate in the history of this country has been as left as Kucinich.. and there is a reason for that... The USA is far from ready for him...

But.. he has every right to campaign for Air Time at the convention.. for whatever good he thinks it will do.

[redqueen]

8. Thanks for your unity-building input!

:)

[info being]

9. Well, maybe DK is getting them ready

Ideas like his have a way of staying in your head. You go on with your life and see things a little differently.

[redqueen]

15. Hey! Somebody Gets It!!!!

:)

I know you always did, IB.

[lams712]

33. What's so "far left" about...

....national healthcare??? (mosts Americans want it)

What's so far left about calling out Bush's LIES re:Iraq and WMDs and wanting to END AN ILLEGAL WAR?????

What's so far left about wanting TO SAVE AMERICAN JOBS??????



These are core Democratic Party values. Please tell what's so out of line????

[DuctapeFatwa]

21. That Kucinich is considered "far left" merely because he proposes

a slight deviation from the status quo, says volumes.

[Forkboy]

40. yeah,it says,"we're fucked!"

and I mean ALL of us as a species.

[saltpoint]

5. Of the many things I admire and respect in DK --

-- one near the very top is his absolute mastery in dismissing the media.

The Plain Dealer is better than a lot of papers -- I like it better than the Dispatch and Enquirer in Ohio -- but DK handled those questions beautifully.

Long live Dennis Kucinich.

[redqueen]

10. He rocks my world!

And I get to see him speak in person tomorrow!!!!

:party:

I hope I hope I hope I get a chance to get a pic with him... but he's so exhausted... *crosses fingers*

I love this guy!

[Evil_Dewers]

13. DK needs to get engaged to Alicia Silverstone.

That'll give him a bump.

[redqueen]

16. LOL

She's got some good taste in politics! Gotta hand it to 'er!

[zulchzulu]

11. Sharpton has more delegates than Kucinich

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/special/images/primaries/gc_005_server.swf

Sharpton 24
Kucinich 18

While I may agree with Kucinich 40% of the time, he is a weak candidate. Elections are about getting votes. Votes are about getting people convinced to vote for you.

You may like him, but...

[redqueen]

17. Sharpton's and Kucinich's delegates will likely cooperate

at the convention and get some MUCH NEEDED changes made.

It's not all about winning, and he DOES get votes.

Weak candidate or not... you're welcome to your opinion... you have to admit he's brought ideas to the table that while many admit are ahead of his time, NOBODY seems to want to admit they have to be PUT ON THE TABLE BY SOMEBODY, SOMETIME.

He's doing it NOW, for US.

Thank the man! Throw him some DOUGH!

[Mick Knox]

18. Kerry campaign strat wont change after convention

It NEVER happens.. its a good talking point.. but Candidates decide their platform.

I'm willing to be money or other wise.. NOT ONE THING changes about Kerry after the convention.


Kerry will run on his own merits and beliefs... he wont change them because of speeches, heard a million times already, by Dennis and Al.

Not only that... they dont even have enough delegates to warrent any consideration worthy of that.

In fact.. quite the opposite.. they will move right. This is a fact since Clinton.. or they we will be defeated like Mondale and Dukakis.

I'm sorry to be so negative.. but honestly.. we need to win.. not goof around with this crap anymore..

I shouldnt get so aggravated as this site is not representative of anything real.. but it just bothers me.. and me being addicted to it like I am leads me to want to address it..

Man, if someone knows Dennis.. please tell him to wake the hell up.

He is a smart guys.. and he is Lying when he says this crap.. intentionally. He knows the candidates and their advisors set the platform.. not the play pretend convention.

[G_j]

20. he has every right to stay in the race!

and he should. eom

[goodhue]

23. goal is to affect party platform

See, e.g.,

http://www.democrats.org/about/2000platform.html

[Dookus]

27. And he'll have to do it with

less than one half of one percent of the delegates.

[snoochie]

28. There are delegates from other pro-liberal candidates

who will help to change the platform.

[Dookus]

30. Well...

Sharpton has 24. That will help bump them up to almost 1%.

Since Kerry's the most liberal of the others (except perhaps Clark, who has already endorsed Kerry) I don't think there'll be a whole lot more.

[Kanary]

36. Sit there and heckle, dooooooookus, while the rest of us work

on pulling this country back from the brink.

Then, if we succeed, you can keep griping.

If we fail, from lack of support, you can laugh and ridicule to your heart's content.

Be negative and belittling all you want... we have a country that is gasping.....

Kanary

Another Delusional Diehard for Dennis!!

Kucinich 2004!

[Dookus]

38. I'm not heckling

I'm pointing out mathematical facts.

I know those facts aren't to your liking, but that's not my concern.


For awhile now everytime somebody points out a fact, the Kucinich people jump all over them. That's irrational behavior.

The fact is, Kucinich, even if he doubles his delegate count, will still have less than 1% of the delegates at the convention.

You don't like that fact, but there's no point denying it, or attacking me for pointing it out.

[snoochie]

26. Silly

This isn't about changing Kerry, or his campaign. This is to influence the Democratic Party platform, not his.

What you're calling 'goofing around with crap' is what we are calling the beginning of a movement to change the Democratic Party back to where it should be, or better.

We can't go on with states cutting funding for hospitals that treat the indigent while Medicaid is strapped because we have to have tax incentives to pay corporations so we can keep our damn jobs. We can't go on pretending like the issue of a living wage is going to be handed down from on high. There are many areas that this country's progressive party has been lacking in.

THAT is why we disagree with you that what he says is crap. We share his goals and values, and correctly recognize that this is a very opportune moment to stake out a claim for the LIBERAL agenda.

[zulchzulu]

37. Much of what Kucinich says is indeed crap

Cutting and running out of Iraq would be stupid and disastrous in the region.

Getting out of NAFTA and WTO would cause international trade wars as well as collapse the economies in the Western Hemisphere, Europe and Asia.

Setting up universal healthcare and getting rid of the profit from the healthcare industry would not only be incredibly expensive and top-heavy, but it would never get off the ground in the first place.

To me, Kucinich's ideas are generally like a cook in the kitchen that keeps pouring the cayenne pepper until it makes the meal impossible to eat. He goes way too far to the left and would never be able to get anything accomplished.

People like Tom Ammiano endorsed Kucinich in San Francisco. Ammiano is for making the minimum wage around $14/hour. This is exactly like something that Kucinich would back. Surely, Kucinich wouldn't mind seeing that it would cost $8 for a Big Mac or seeing inflation and the cost of living skyrocket.

He is a weak candidate if you look at how poorly he's done in the primaries. He should stick with trying to get his congressional seat.

[Mairead]

43. I think you should check your facts

[DoveTurnedHawk]

29. The Two of Them Have Like 1% Between Them

While they might have a voice, I don't really think they will have enough votes to advance an agenda.

DTH

[lams712]

34. That should change to Kucinich's favor as time goes on n/t

[KoKo]

22. Kick!

:kick:

[Mairead]

42. yak

[goodhue]

24. critical differences have to aired that reflect on whether dems can win

"There are critical differences within the Democratic Party which have to be aired, and they really reflect on whether or not the Democrats can win the election in November,"

[revcarol]

25. redqueen check your box.

x

BTW, look at the way Kerry is already coming around on some issues. In his victory speech on NATIONAL TV, he said, "We will increase the minimum wage."That may be on his site, but I think he never said it in any of his stump speeches.He's already more reasonable on Iraq occupation and WTO/NAFTA.

DK and DK supporters are PUSHING HIM AND THE PARTY to do the right thing. We can only make more of an impact by CONTINUING TO PUSH, by voting for DK, and contributing to his campaign.

[TrueAmerican]

31. Sad

the man is full of himself.

He needs to change is name to Dennis Fulofshit.

[lams712]

35. You're sad for wanting to suppress debate and....

....freedom of choice. Way to live up to your name TrueAmerican.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

32. I think it's really funny

that we have persistent stalkers who get all bent out of shape that we spend our own money on a candidate who is getting no publicity.

I could go on and on about shriveled souls who are incapable of thinking outside the box and who don't know their history (namely, that every great social movement in history was started by small groups of people who were considered crazy), but I won't. :-)

[Dookus]

39. lol

so we're shriveled souls with no sense of history because we don't agree with your choice of a candidate?

Anyone with a real sense of history knows that fringe candidates don't get elected. Anyone with a real sense of history knows men polling under 3% don't get elected President. Anyone with a real sense of history knows that change is slow and painful, and electing ONE man doesn't automatically ensure anything.

DK will not be able to govern by fiat, although he pretends that he can. His unilateral decisions to pull out of Iraq and pull out of NAFTA and WTO are disastrous policies, and the only way he can implement them is through executive order. He cannot provide healthcare without the congress. He cannot do much of anything without the congress. Anybody with a sense of history and a basic high school civics education knows that.

[G_j]

44. yea

so I guess he should just shut up and get with the program.


:argh: