It's time to stop dissing and dismissing Dennis. He's the only presidential candidate with guts.

[Ken Burch]

Thursday showed who we could trust and who we couldn't.

One candidate passed the test.

The man from Ohio. Dennis Kucinich.

Unbowed, uncompromised, defiant, Dennis stood up to the heaviest of the White House pressure, ignored the smears and the abuse and the undeserved contempt, and spoke truth to power.

Just once, we need to give our support for president to a candidate who stands his ground.
Just once, we need someone who isn't afraid or ashamed to disagree with the rich and the militarists.
Just once, we need an honest man.

Looks aren't what matter. Height isn't what matters. TRUTH AND COURAGE are what matters.

Kucinich in '08.

He's EARNED your support.

[bonito]

1. I'll vote Kucinich in '08. not a problem!

[Ken Burch]

3. thanks, bonito.

You'll be doing the right thing and you won't be alone.

[pnwmom]

2. I think Kucinich is a good man.

Like Eugene McCarthy, the Senator from Minnesota who ran for President, he's a poet and a philosopher.

But I think we need a leader like Bobby Kennedy.

[Ken Burch]

4. Well, there's nobody really like Bobby at the moment.

In the meantime, we need to reward those who speak truth.

[pnwmom]

11. What would you think if Al Gore were to run?

I think he's matured as a candidate and this could be his time.

[Ken Burch]

12. Gore could be a possibility. It's early yet.

n/t.

[Whit]

5. In the last election I was the only person

in my district to vote for him. Red Tennessee and will again this election !!!

[Ken Burch]

6. Thanks, Whit.

It only takes a few to get it started.

Thursday was a testing time.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

7. K & R. Consistent with his whole political career...

...standing up to those in power and telling the truth has always been his way.

[MADem]

8. Dennis is an important voice. But he doesn't have a chance in hell.

That doesn't mean he shouldn't speak. Even if he can't win (and he can't, he doesn't have the cash, and money talks/bullshit walks--like that or not, it's a fact of campaigning in these times), he's an addition to the discussion, and forces the stronger members in the field to justify their stances.

He won't get my support--he and Gravel are the only candidates I've ruled out, pretty much (I haven't yet committed--still waiting for Gore!) but he has earned my respect.

Just being honest; don't be hating...

[Ken Burch]

9. The "stronger candidates" will only listen if Dennis can show his own level of support

He needs strong showings in the primaries. There's no reason to simply settle for the choice being reduced to a few media-anointed "frontrunners". The two or three at the top now simply think they are OWED preeminience, even though nobody's actually voted yet.

It would not harm the Dems for there to be 700 or 800 Kucinich delegates in Denver. We need to make the convention mean something again. We need to make the primaries mean something again.

The consultants and the "pros" haven't done a damn thing for us.

[MADem]

10. Well, Al Sharpton played the same role on a shoestring. And he did

do a great job of shaping the debate last time around. It really is ideas, at the end of the day, that resonate.

I rather doubt DK will have many delegates at the convention. But that doesn't mean he can't help shape the platform. He just needs to find ways to be seen.

If you're on his campaign, tell him he needs to be more front-n-center on TV and radio. He needs to take EVERY opportunity to do programs, even if he's calling in to radio shows or doing the sat-feed from wherever. And he needs to find one real "hook" to engage the electorate--something EVERYONE can get behind (besides the war)--either a specific healthcare proposal, or education, or something that is fresh, different and OVERDUE...and he should lead with that.

I'll tell you, from my perspective, he does not appear to be running to win, but running to make a point. Or three. And that's fine. Many voices make for strong democracy.

[dave_p]

13. If he doesn't have a chance ...

... it's only because so many people who share his views have decided in advance that he doesn't have a chance. I think if more DUers found out where he stands he's sweep any poll here. I know, that's only DU - but it'd be a start.

[Ken Burch]

14. That's been one of my points all along.

If you want politicians to show convictions, you HAVE to give your support, your active support, the ones who actually do show them. If not they'll just say "why should we bother? Where did it get Dennis?(or Jesse? or George in '72?)".

There doesn't need to be this sharp cleavage between politicians with values and principles on the one hand and politicians who "can win" on the other. The Nineties showed us how little victory in name is worth.

We CAN win on our hopes and dreams. And that's the only kind of victory that isn't useless, in the end.

Fight for your dreams. Have confidence in what's in your very soul. NEVER apologize for disagreeing with a temporary majority.

[Yurovsky]

27. Thank you!

So much of what gets written or said about DK is reinforced by the very people who wish to see the status quo maintained (I'm talking Democrats, not republikans, who want to push things even further rightward).

So few politicians really want to create positive change, with no personal gain driving them. When one comes along (like Dennis Kucinich), the less courageous/statu quo people out there seek to discredit him/her or say that "he/she doesn't have a chance". Well, ANYBODY has a chance, and even the $$$ issue shouldn't be a show stopper in today's e-world (although I've given all I can to DK anyway).

If you all wish to settle for incremental change or more of the same, go ahead and vote for Hillary or Edwards. They're big-time establishment and will be better than what we have now (what WOULDN'T be?). But there's a chance for real, substantial change to make ours a more caring, egalitarian society. It doesn't have to be a dream, people.

There's still time. The first votes have yet to be cast in New Hampshire. But it will take EVERY PRINCIPLED DEMOCRAT/PROGRESSIVE/LIBERAL to do their part and believe that real change is possible. Wishing won't make it happen. We have to get involved and help inform friends, coworkers, acquaintances, and even people with yellow ribbons & W stickers on their cars of the hope that a true American hero like Dennis Kucinich can make.

Please do not accept the establishment premise that he can't win. Whether we think he can, or think he can't, either way we could be right. Think how great this country and even this world could be if DK won, and brought a true, progressive Congress in on his coattails. We might even begin to see our ex-pat friends return to America from their overseas & Canadian refuges.

Don't just dream it, do it.

Kucinich for President in 2008!

[RBInMaine]

17. I Agree With You!

Kucinich is a good progressive with great integrity. But he doesn't have the stuff to win nationally which is what we must do here. A good person and a good addition to the debate, but just not a strong NATIONAL candidate. That's the reality.

[fazoolius_2006]

20. I agree

He is pretty much the equivalent of Tancredo in the GOP race. Dennis is there to bring an edge to the issues and shed light on the tough questions that the main candidates will try to dodge. I don't think he will win, but he sure makes things interesting to watch.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

15. Guts don't win fights. Votes win fights.

If the Democrats choose Dennis Kucinich as their candidate, the Republicans will win. As such, I oppose doing so.

FWIW, I think that he'd make an excellent president. But for as long as America remains anything like it currently is, he'll never be one.

[Ken Burch]

16. Of course, if we settle eternally for

only those who can win "as long as America remains anything like it currently is", America will never be ANYTHING different than it currently is.

We wasted the Nineties settling for victory in name. We need to fight for more now, or else, like in the Nineties, none of our "victories" will mean anything.

I'm sick of us electing people only to see those people surrender and just concede control of the agenda to the right. Clinton did that as soon as he was sworn in. We can assume the Senator from New York will do the same. And the Senator from Illinois, decent as his apparent convictions are, is so fixated on being "conciliatory" that he'll just end up giving up and doing what the right wants as well.

It's time to fight for something better.

[chukufarley8]

18. What?

The 2008 election will come down to clinton and giuliani. Giuliani will win by a landslide just because of his response to 9-11. We've already had a clinton in the white house, we don't need to make the same mistake twice(look what happened when we put a second bush in the white house).

[nickinSTL]

19. I'm with you

I've decided that regardless of the media-annointment of Clinton-Obama-Edwards as the frontrunners and "legitimate" candidates, I will vote for Kucinich in the primary. Without question, he is the candidate whose views are closest to my own, and I'm sick of picking the lesser evil. At least in the primary, I'll vote my conscience. If Clinton (in particular) wins the nom, I'll vote for her over any Repub, but I feel my primary vote should show that not every Dem is supportive of the media-annointed leaders.

I'd really like to see Kucinich more in the media, get on the programs as much as possible, to get his message out.

[MiserableFailure]

21. I love Kucinich's stands on issues, but

he doesn't have a chance.

I wish the top-tier candidates had views like his. It's not Dennis's views that place him in the bottom of the polls, it's his personality and appearance unfortunately. It's not really fair but it's the way it is. If Dennis was to the right of everyone else, he'd still be at the same level of support in polls. I wish that Obama or Hillary had all of Dennis's positions but they don't, and because Dennis does not have a legitimate shot at the nomination, I choose to donate to Obama, who I view as having a shot at beating Hillary for the nomination.

[DutchLiberal]

26. I think Dennis is below in the polls, because he doesn't get nearly as much attention as...

...HRC, Obama and Edwards. They are high in the polls because of name recognition first (especially Clinton) and media coverage second. And why do the right-wing MSM give that much attention to them ans shut out Dennis? Because Dennis as president would be a threat to them and their corporate masters, but the top three candidates wouldn't.

[RFKJrNews]

22. I love Kucinich!!!

He's the best of the current pack, IMHO. Would absolutely LOVE to see him as a running mate for RFK Jr. if he should enter the race.

Heard bobby interview Dennis K. on his "Ring of fire" radio show recently. It seems those two are in complete agreement on most, if not all, of the issues. (hear the interview in the archives at http://ringoffireradio.com)

Kennedy-Kucinich...has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?

Or Kucinich-Kennedy, whichever you prefer. either way, America wins.

SIGN THE PETITION to Draft RFK Jr. to run in 2008!
http://RFKin2008.com

[NEM]

23. Kucinich is fine, the others have no spine or balls.....

As long as we have a democratic congress that is controlled by wimps afraid to take action, by spineless and gutless leaders, leaders who have been handed one bullet after another for their weapon and have yet had the balls to stand up like men, and women, with guts and demonstrate the type of leadership when we gave them the majority, then it is a fact, we are fighting a losing battle.

I, for one, will do nothing, absolutely nothing, to support these useless pieces of garbage until they take their heads out of their asses and grow some balls and do what we elected them to do.

I don't give a rats ass whether they think it is fruitless, or not, WE THE PEOPLE elected them to dop what we wanted them to do, and they have done nothing but give us, and the nation, lip service.

They disgust me, and as far as I am concerned, I will do whatever it takes to make sure that none of these spinless bastards are re-elected the next time they run for re election.

I hope that my words above dont offend anyonel but IO have had it with these do nothings. Kucinich, BTW, not included. He, at least, has shown some spine. As have a few others, but not many, and not the ones that count.

BTW, I am a 68 year old veteran who has just about had it with these jagoffs.

[peacelovechange]

24. perfection.

he has honesty, passion, dedication.
he will make change, he does believe what he says,
and doesnt flip-flop.
he wants PEACE.
he is perfect.

[DutchLiberal]

25. I wish I could vote for him.

[Imagevision]

28. Repukes want Hillary NOT Dennis!!! Hillary they can buy!!

[trixr4neoconkids]

29. I Like Dennis But...

He was a complete disaster as mayor of Cleveland in the 1970s. I am confused with his stances towards womens reproductive rights. Otherwise, I agree with Kucinich regarding a universal health care system for all Americans and an immediate withdrawl from the great foreign policy disaster in Iraq.

I am sticking with Edwards.

[Trillo]

30. Kucinich put out a Press Release yesterday.

I posted it in General Discussion today where it sunk like a rock. Surprising, I hadn't seen it already posted on DU, perhaps I'm mistaken.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1969396&mesg_id=1969396

[Teenager]

31. Kucinich Really does seem like a viable candidate

I really think that Kucinich deserve to be treated with the same attitude and attention that people like Obama and Clinton get.