Kucinich on the Stimulus: “This Economy is Literally Killing People”

[G_j]

http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=109656


Kucinich on the Stimulus: “This Economy is Literally Killing People”

Capitol at Night


Washington, Jan 28 -

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today made the following statement in support of HR 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, known as the stimulus plan. Kucinich points out that in light of the suffering of the American people, there may be good reasons to question but not oppose the stimulus plan.

“A 93 year old man freezes to death in his home because he can’t pay the electric bill; a family of seven perishes in a murder-suicide over financial and job related matters; a 90 year old woman tries to kill herself when the Sheriff arrives to take her house; and a 75 year old woman is buried today after predatory lenders drove her to suicide. More and more Americans are being driven to desperation over losing their jobs and their homes. This economy is literally killing people.

“The banks get a $700 billion bailout as they continue to kick people out of their homes. We must get help directly to the American people. There are good reasons to question the $825 billion stimulus, but there is no good reason to oppose it; not when every crooked interest in this country has been in a long parade at the public trough, while factories are shut, jobs are lost and homes are foreclosed.

“Congress must act today for the people. We must come back again and again with a more comprehensive jobs program, to rebuild infrastructure, fund education, including preschool, and create a universal health program.

“We must gain control of our money system and stop the taxpayers from being robbed by the banks. The banks already have $700 billion, and they’re looking for another trillion. Its time we start to look out for number one, the American people, and pass HR 1 for the American people, and give the American people back some of their money.”

Kucinich later added:

“This debate should not be about Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, blue dog, yellow dogs or deficit hawks. Our economy is failing; millions of jobs have been lost, we need to act now.

“HR 1 is only a first step, but it is an important first step. What we are doing here is like using battery cable to jump-start a car with a dead battery. We are not buying a new battery. We are not buying a new car. We are simply jump-starting the battery of a dead economy. We are still going to have to buy a new battery and eventually we are going to have to buy a new fuel-efficient car. Right now if we want to move forward, we better get out those jumper cables and put them on the battery. Vote for the stimulus HR 1.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1554
http://kucinich.us/index.php

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. I am so glad he is on the Hill.

[kimmerspixelated]

45. Kucinich simply rocks!

[bluesmail]

2. One of the most worthy politicians ever. He's earned my respect. n/t

[Horse with no Name]

14. Correction. Kucinich is NOT a politician

He is a statesman.
Sadly of which we have very few.:(

[bluesmail]

15. yes.

[OhioChick]

3. K&R

:kick:

[1776Forever]

4. We need more DK! Hope he can get out there & blast this message loud & clear!

It is such a shame that the Repub's are getting so much air time! We need more - much more airing of the need for this to pass! Damn it - NOW! Enough!:grr:

[pleah]

5. K&R

[spanone]

6. yes, dennis

[Earth_First]

7. I listened to him on Ed Shultz today...

This man runs circles around 99.98% of Washington.

[Tsiyu]

8. Flame me but he was my primary pick

and I wish he was in the White House :cry:

I do not see this new administration setting us up for anything more than more "wait and suffer and we'll see if there's any way to help you little people."

Frankly, I'm sick to death of waiting.

I know. I know. Give it time. I've heard it all before.....

[Dawgs]

10. Kucinich is not a leader, unfortunately.

He will never get a big enough following.

I think you'll find someone else; a Kucinich-type with the charisma of Clinton or the inspiration of Obama.

[Pastiche423]

12. Dennis Kucinich IS a leader to many, many people

and has a HUGE following. It's TPTB that will never allow him or anyone else that puts The People 1st to become pres.

Btw, Dennis runs circles around the two you mentioned.

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. !

:applause:

[Skittles]

58. he is a leader to anyone who doesn't think looks should be factor # 1

[tabbycat31]

13. I wanted to vote for him

but he dropped out before Super Tuesday

[Tsiyu]

18. He was on our ballots

If not I would have written him in.

He may not be a "leader" but to me, he's about the smartest guy in the room.

[NikolaC]

38. I Voted For Him

in the primary. :rant:Honestly, I am sick of him being put down because of his size and that stupid alien business. If we had more representatives like Kucinich, I honestly believe that more would have been done for the people of this country over the last 20 years than has been done. Really, what has charisma, ass kissing and talk gotten us over the last 20 years? It's too bad that most look only at how attractive their candidates are and not what can actually be done by people who don't continually play the game. Representatives like Kucinich are desperately needed at this time, but when they come along, they are not given a chance the status quo candidate is. Hence, the mess that we are in. Kucinich's constituents are lucky to have him for their representation :rant:.

[Tsiyu]

40. Nice rant

It's not Entertainment Tonight, this politics business.

It should be about who knows the law, who has vision, who cares about more than only the Corporations and fellow politicians.

But it's not.

It's about whom we deem the best spokesmodel, apparently.

[NikolaC]

41. Pretty Much

Meanwhile a lot of good candidates go by the wayside and don't have a chance because they don't have the funding necessary to get their campaign heard. It's a vicious cycle, especially when there is very little choice and the lesser of two evils problem. The good thing is that there are some who are good in Congress and the Senate, we just need more Kuciniches, Waters, Johnsons, Wellstones and Boxers :). Also, I agree with Kucinich, while there are parts of the package I do not like, it is a start that is much needed.

[infidel dog]

43. Politics SHOULDN'T be Entertainment Tonight, but...

this is the age of the all-powerful commercial electronic media. Making this a republic friendly to human beings is going to be awfully tough, especially when a sizable chunk of the population actually enjoys getting its misinformation from fascist talk radio and Faux news. Slobbering dogs eagerly waiting for broadcast bells to ring do not a Revolution make.

[Auggie]

23. No flame -- he was mine too.

[rhymeandreason]

30. Dennis has the courage of his convictions;

he was my first choice.

[Auggie]

32. He's always been that way. He fought for people as Mayor of Cleveland.

[Individualist]

31. I voted for him in the primary

and also wish he was in the White House.

[Tsiyu]

54. If wishes were horses, huh n/t

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. K&R for Dennis.

They're acting like it's a game. So do too many DUers.

[Baby Snooks]

34. Because it is a game to them...

This bill must pass. But the problem with the bill is it is loaded with wasteful spending that will not help anyone. And even what's in the bill isn't going to help those who have lost their homes or are losing their homes. It is your usual Congress at work. Offering the people the crumbs leftover from the bakery they gave the corporations and what does go into federal programs will of course be wasted as well as it always is in the bureaucracy. Maybe half of what is being allocated to various programs will go to the people who need it. The rest will be spent
"in house" by the bureaucrats. Who have their own "bonus" systems.

At least some will be helped - the people who need help the most. But most won't be. They will continue to lose their jobs and their homes and many of them will end up homeless.

This bill does nothing to address the causes of unemployment which are primarily the ability to outsource and the ability to hire "guest workers" for lower wages and without benefits.

That upsets people. Too bad. Go back and read the comments of Barbara Jordan in 1996 when she addressed Congress. And remember that she was a Democrat who cared about all people. Not just her own.

[ihavenobias]

11. K & R

Thanks for posting this G_j.

[Orwellian_Ghost]

16. K&R

[unkachuck]

17. right on, Dennis....

"The banks get a $700 billion bailout as they continue to kick people out of their homes."

....if we're going to throw billions at banking then we should at least do it from the ground up and let people 'buy' time in their own homes....there's no good reason to be kicking people from ANY housing when the economy is this poor, with unemployment this high and rising....

....the greedy private banks will get their blood money in the end, you know that....but right now we need a moratorium on foreclosures, evictions and a mandatory means-test on all current mortgage payments....let the banks cooperate, put something back into society for the economic crisis they manufactured or be nationalized in the peoples' interest....

....millions of innocent families are paying a heavy price for something they had no part in creating....when is this government going to take a stand on our behalf?

[Royal Sloan 09]

19. K&R nt

[leftchick]

20. I know why I never see Dennis on TV

He is the ANTI-Corportist and I LOVE Him!


K&R!

[serbbral]

21. I like Kucinich too, but......

Had he been the front runner for the Dem's or became President, he would have done some things I would not have agreed with too or would have disappointed me in some kind of way. THEY ALL DO! They ALL promise you things, but when they get in there, they have to make some compromises to get some of the things they want or some of the things they think the people want. THEY ARE ALL POLITICIANS. It does not matter if it had been Kucinich, Edwards, etc., sooner or later, decisions would have been made that we, the people, would not have agreed on. It's bound to happen with EVERYONE. Anyway, it has not even been a month! LOL! It is still VERY early in the game. The economy is so f!cked up, do you really think that Kucinich or anybody could have waved a magic wand and turned it around in TWO WEEKS? Come on, people. Let's get real. NO ONE CAN.

[kenfrequed]

22. I'm sorry but BS!

Obviously no one can reverse 30 years of Reaganesque bullshit in two weeks, that is not at all arguable.

But this 'he's a politician' riff is simply too much. It is sort of the mirror image of the pragmatists that say "He couldn't get elected" or "His plans were to liberal and unaccomplishable." What do you have in common? A lack of vision. You either don't believe in policy towards making the place better and rather than go at it from a DLC compromising career politician mentality you decided to completely roll over and whine about what cannot be accomplished.

This silly attack on Kucinich is a load of crap. There were differences in what and who he represented and most of the other candidates that were on the field. Obama would do well to tack himself in that direction, particularly with universal single payer health care.

And I seriously doubt you are new here. You seem like someones sock-puppet.

[serbbral]

27. LOL!

I find it amusing that you would accuse me (sorry, but I'm literally LAUGHING as I type this) as being someone's "sock-puppet." LOL!I seem to be one of the few who is acting less puppet like than YOU and the majority of the people here, I'm not drinking the Kucinich juice (like you and most of you are), nor am I drinking the Obama juice. I wish I could turn back the pages and let some of you look at how you were not too long ago drinking the Obama juice and acting as if he could walk on water or something, now, since the man has only been in office for TWO WEEKS, he's the worst thing since George W just because he has done a few things you don't agree with and now, you are doing the exact same thing to Kucinich. Many would be saying some of the exact things about Kucinich, if he were in the white house now. The same thing, praise them (the politicians), while they are SAFE AND NOT IN OFFICE, and they can spread the message they want to spread, but when they get into office, time they do a few things you disagree with, then you want to crucify them. Yes, it is SILLY, but not on my part, because I have not attacked Kucinich, like you say I have. You need to go back and re-read what I've stated. What I stated was that, I don't care who it is, Kucinich, or Edwards, or whomever, you were rooting for, THEY SOONER OR LATER WOULD DO SOMETHING YOU WOULD DISAGREE WITH. No one in office is perfect. If you think that Kucinich would NOT let you down in one way or another, then you are VERY naive. These are MY thoughts alone. I'm no puppet for anyone. Like I said, I like Kucinich, I also like Obama, but I'm not going to delude myself into thinking that ANY person running is Christ like.Yes, Kucinich is 'THE MAN'now, but if he were in office now, he would get just as much criticism (or some) just like Obama is receiving now, without being in there for a month. Remember, people at one time looked at Obama as not being a politician and an outsider too! LOL!

[Number23]

49. A little rambling and the formatting is terrible...

but other than that, I completely agree with your post.

since the man has only been in office for TWO WEEKS, he's the worst thing since George W just because he has done a few things you don't agree with. Many would be saying some of the exact things about Kucinich, if he were in the white house now. The same thing, praise them (the politicians), while they are SAFE AND NOT IN OFFICE, and they can spread the message they want to spread, but when they get into office, time they do a few things you disagree with, then you want to crucify them.

I absolutely agree.

[Greyhound]

26. His lack of "politcianism" is what keeps him forever on the outside.

He will not play their game, he insists on representing his constituents, he will talk with anyone about anything, and knows what he's talking about. All of this scares the shit out of politicians, it threatens their power base, it threatens their donors, and it threatens the moribund two party system (the illusion of choice).

Pleasing everyone is not the issue, doing what is best for the most is, and that's what he strives to achieve.
:kick:

[serbbral]

37. Re: Greyhound says:

"His lack of "politicianism" is what keeps him forever on the outside" and "He will not play their game, he insists on representing his constituents, he will talk with anyone about anything, and knows what he's talking about. All of this scares the shit out of politicians, it threatens their power base, it threatens their donors, and it threatens the moribund two party system (the illusion of choice).

Pleasing everyone is not the issue, doing what is best for the most is, and that's what he strives to achieve."



As I recall, the same things were said about Obama. People believe or believed that Obama would/is striving to do what's best for most. ALL those congressmen, representatives, statesmen, will not do what we want 100% (as President), Kucinich is no different in that respect.It's only been two weeks.

[G_j]

55. for real n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Dennis is the man!

He was the first Democratic candidate to come to my town, and as always he had my support. He dropped out before our Primary, which I wish he had not done.
He's a hell of a speaker live.

[piesRsquare]

25. Thank you, Congressman Kucinich...

Thank you for making it clear what is actually happening to the People.

Point of correction, however: The 93-year-old man *was*, in fact, very able to pay his electric bill, but for some reason, he didn't. It is believed he was suffering from the onset of dementia.

I know that's not the point, but it's also imperative that whenever Dems speak, the facts are certain...

Thank you again, Congressman K...

:-)

[byeya]

28. I donated to Obama; but, I donated more to Dennis

and still donate to him. He's the best and should be on an Obama steering committee, or in the cabinent, rather than the failures Obama has surronded himself with and nominated. Go Dennis!

[prolesunited]

33. Point of clarity

He needs to take the 93-year-old man out of the list of examples. Turns out he had about $500,000 in the bank. I think this is more a case of dementia and lack of support.

[lizziegrace]

44. Regardless of how or why

WE Energies was still able restrict power to the point he froze to death during a Michigan winter. I think he should stay on the list.

[bdamomma]

35. Dennis is always in our corner, maybe we should be calling him

to say thank you for understanding our plight.

[diane in sf]

36. I knew Bush would kill more people here through his domestic polices than he did in Iraq

Lack of jobs, healthcare, retirement benefits,loss of savings— they're all direct killers.

[Eryemil]

39. Also my candidate, before I left the country for university in Canada.

It was going to be my first year voting.
But I think I'm staying here for good. Canada has more than earned the loyalty of this future molecular geneticist.

[tclambert]

42. Yeah, I'm getting to like this Kucinich guy.

His chief value may be in making cutting edge speeches. Say it enough times and earn enough Amens, and soon it's no longer cutting edge, it's mainstream.

[Mike 03]

46. And let us not forget the epidemic of murder suicides. He's right.

This is a great argument to counteract the stupidity of the repukes.

[katty]

47. thank you again and again Dennis!!

[Number23]

48. Love it. Happy to rec

[man4allcats]

50. It is this kind of basic common sense and cut to the chase type thinking

that make me proud to say I supported Dennis Kucinich.

[zogtheobvious]

51. I do believe....

I do believe that Mr. Kucinich deserves a cabinet position.

[Undercurrent]

52. .

Dennis is the sweet conscience of the Congress.

[DollyM]

53. My husband and I were just talking about this today . . .

We are in desparate need of jobs but can't find anything. We send out dozens of resumes and if we even get an interview, we are competing with a half a dozen younger people so once a prospective employer sees my husband is 55 years old, he never gets a call back. He has tons of experience and education but I guess they figure he will want to too much money. How do we tell employers with any dignity that we will take just about anything at any salary because we are BROKE. People think that because we have Master's degrees we can get any job we want, it's exactly the opposite. So first and foremost, our goverment also needs to put money into creating jobs for people, not just construction jobs but jobs for people like us too, professional jobs in social services and social programs, education, etc. We get cold too without heat too just like the elderly person and even though we don't have a family of small children, we still would like to be able to pay the bills too. I have never been so frustrated and angry in all my life. I wish I could find someone in Washington that would listen to this segment of the population that isn't old or small but is still just as cold and hungry and desperate.

[G_j]

56. kick

[bobthedrummer]

57. kick