A simple political lesson on Dennis Kucinuch

[AllentownJake]

Every 2 years, DLC clowns try to run a primary opponent against Dennis. Every 2 years, the clowns get sent home and waste money that can be spent in races where a DLC clown might be a slight improvement to an RNC clown.

Now, I was told earlier in the day, it was unbecoming of the President to not endorse Blanche Lincoln in a primary because it would be unprecedented to not stand by with the incumbent in a democratic primary by the President, when the President's position of strong support on the Public Option was discussed.

Now, Dennis objected to the health care plan on entirely different grounds, the lack of a strong public option one, and the lack of a single payer amendment for states being the other.

On this board, Dennis is referred to as all kinds of mean and nasty things by those in the "middle."

Oh btw, I'm looking forward for the President to return the favor Dennis did him in January of 2008 by urging voters in the primary to support Dennis despite their disagreements on HCR, just like he did Blance Lincoln...it would be unbecoming not to.

Here is the deal, when you constantly call someone irrelvant and make fun of their principles, when you need a favor, you better have something to offer them based on those principles or the answer is going to probably be no. Hint, Hint Rahm.

[Unvanguard]

1. I'm not in the "middle"--far from it--but I'm still calling Kucinich nasty names.

For the record.

[AllentownJake]

2. Fine

Don't call someone nasty names and expect them to help you with your goals.

[Unvanguard]

11. Diplomacy has never been my strong suit.

Thankfully, though, the job of getting him to change his mind is someone else's. I'm just complaining from the sidelines.

[sabrina 1]

38. Well, that's constructive. Can you explain what you disagree

with him about in this bill? Are you against a Public Option and FOR Romneycare? And do you disagree that the states should be able to institute a single payer system if they choose to do so, which several have said they want already?

Or are you one of those people who doesn't care about issues, but just wants your team to look like they are winning?

If it's the latter, the way they are going now with Rahm leading the way, especially if they pass this awful bill, they will lose.

[Unvanguard]

47. I am for single-payer and for a public option if we can't get single-payer.

But I am also for expanded coverage and subsidies, in the absence of single-payer, and even without a public option. Because I know that a mandate is the only way to expand coverage to high-risk people, I'm all right with it.

So "none of the above."

[JDPriestly]

46. I am grateful to Dennis Kucinich. He is an honest man, and one of the

few with the courage to stand for what is right for the American people. Why do you call him nasty names?

[Unvanguard]

48. Because he is unwilling to do what nearly every other progressive in Congress recognizes

must be done.

To me, that doesn't show principle. Just grand-standing.

[branders seine]

3. I'm with Kucinich.

He's an actual Democrat.

I'm against anyone with an anti-worker agenda.

[stray cat]

4. He is a congressman - and if his region wants him to represent them why not?

every congressional district gets to elect one person to represent them - and its none of my business who they choose.

[bvar22]

35. Which is ONE BIG reason...

why the DCCC, DSCC, the DNC, and the Democratic Party Leadership have absolutely NO BUSINESS interfering in local Primaries.

[laughingliberal]

43. +1 nt

[mike_c]

5. Kucinich speaks for me....

Obama, on the other hand, is a banker's and CEO's man as far as I can tell.

[LakeSamish706]

6. DK rocks and for those that don't appreciate a real Democrat, so be it.

I have his back and I know that many others on DU do as well.

[JVS]

7. What's going on?

[saltpoint]

8. I'm not recommending that Kucinich run at the top of a green Party ticket

but feel that his message has a slightly better chance of getting out there if it is heard.

He will never be the presidential nominee of his own party.

The U.S. Greens are not a major party yet but Kucinich could take them farther toward the goal of becoming one were they to lure him onto their ticket.

[depakid]

9. "it was unbecoming of the President to not endorse Blanche Lincoln"

:rofl:

Aside from the fact that it demonstrates to every two bit extortionist and Republicrat in the House and Senate that there aren't any consequences from the White House for crossing over and voting with actual Republicans- and/or blocking the president's own policies- the endorsement almost doesn't matter.

Obama doesn't carry all that much weight in Arkansas -and he's hemorrhaged so much credibility with the base (even those key constituencies he hasn't gone out of his way to scold or insult) that he may well benefit Halter by doing so.

[AllentownJake]

10. The chess master argument

would have worked better, but that would force some to acknowledge that the President is not beloved by all democrats everywhere.

[depakid]

15. Whatever we do, we can't offend the Turks

Our own key constituencies, though- the ones who put boots on the ground for us- they need to be slapped around a bit and put in their place from time to time.

[AllentownJake]

17. That was a ridiculous display last week

Utterly shameless and ridiculous.

[Greyhound]

21. I think it's called the "Clinton's coattails syndrome".Remember when we used to

elect a President that didn't destroy his own party's mid-terms chances by antagonizing and disenfranchising his base?

[mod mom]

12. they don't wanted elected officials to put those silly notion of populism into our simple heads.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

13. It's hilarious that the RW'rs here accuse Dennis of being both irrelevant and powerful.

On the one hand he is a mere "attention seeker" on the other he's "destroying the Democratic Party".

[truedelphi]

18. Well in a season wherein we MUST have a health care reform package that is so

needed because the system is broken, yet at the same time we cannot even dream of throwing the Major Insurers who broke said system out on the street where they belong, I guess illogic is the theme for the year!

[AllentownJake]

24. See bankers it appears rewarding failure is the new theme of the party nt.

[howmad1]

42. I disagree.

The democrats who are rewarding failure are sure to be failures come Nov. and 2012.

[JoeyT]

29. They think that about liberals/progressives in general.

On the one hand, we're utterly irrelevant. There are so few of us we barely even warrant scorn and derision. Until election time, when we apparently become powerful enough to destroy the world with a thought. Of course realizing before the election that running neo-con policies may piss progressives off enough that they just refuse to play the game anymore is completely out of the question. We must demand they keep doing as we tell them no matter what the candidate in question happens to think of them.

[karynnj]

31. If you think people here are RWs, you have a very distorted view

of the political spectrum. Comparing results in the primaries, whether Presidential (2004 or 2008) or for lower offices to polls here, it is pretty clear that the distribution of political identities here is significantly to the left of the Democratic party - and even Bayh is not a RW'r, but the rightmost Democratic Senator, significantly to the left of almost all Republicans.

Your political map is as accurate as:

http://www.newyorkerstore.com/Steinberg-Collection/New-Yorker-Cover-3291976/invt/124544

[bvar22]

36. We may be to the Left of the Democrat Party "Centrist" Leadership,

but we ARE smack in the MIDDLE of America.

Here is what the MAJORITY of Americans (Democrats AND Republicans) want from OUR government!

In recent polls(2005) by the Pew Research Group, the Opinion Research Corporation, the Wall Street Journal, and CBS News, the American majority has made clear how it feels. Look at how the majority feels about some of the issues that you'd think would be gospel to a real Democratic Party:

1. 65 percent (of ALL Americans, Democrats AND Republicans) say the government should guarantee health insurance for everyone -- even if it means raising taxes.

2. 86 percent favor raising the minimum wage (including 79 percent of selfdescribed "social conservatives").

3. 60 percent favor repealing either all of Bush's tax cuts or at least those cuts that went to the rich.

4. 66 percent would reduce the deficit not by cutting domestic spending but by reducing Pentagon spending or raising taxes.

5. 77 percent believe the country should do "whatever it takes" to protect the environment.

6. 87 percent think big oil corporations are gouging consumers, and 80 percent (including 76 percent of Republicans) would support a windfall profits tax on the oil giants if the revenues went for more research on alternative fuels.

7. 69 percent agree that corporate offshoring of jobs is bad for the U.S. economy (78 percent of "disaffected" voters think this), and only 22% believe offshoring is good because "it keeps costs down."

http://alternet.org/story/29788/

8. Over 63% oppose the War on the Iraqi People.

9. 92% of ALL Americans support TRANSPARENT, VERIFIABLE elections!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=203x446445

[Generator]

41. Let's see, Dennis Kucinich is a moon bat and a traitor to America

and the enemy. He's the number one topic here like Hamsher was once because he doesn't support our great leaders caving in to the insurance lobby, big pharma, Lieberman, Olympia Snow and Stupak. (did I leave anyone else out Obama caved to?)

Must support our leader at all costs. (said with robotic voice)

I think I can get this at FreeRepublic. NEVER step out of line works on this site too. Meanwhile, your hero, Kerry is for taxing health benefits-just like McCain and Obama. I find that not very Democratic. I find it a slap in the face. I think it's downright Republican and I don't appreciate propaganda like "cadillac" plans. Obama is even better at the propaganda than the last admin.

I think the Democratic/Republican sham is coming into light. Oh and this place as gotten considerably more right wing since Obama was elected president. I wonder why that is.

[amborin]

14. Kucinich is a true progressive! K&R

[Coyote_Bandit]

16. Maybe

Blanche doesn't want Obama's support.

:shrug:

[timtom]

19. I'm guessing that DK-bashers really LIKE the war on terra,

and think that the Patriot Act Extension is a great idea.

I know how MY representative voted: "No."

And, I know how DK voted: "No."

Case flipping closed.

[ClayZ]

20. Bravo Dennis K.

K and R

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LWolf]

25. .

:wow:

:dunce:

[Bluenorthwest]

32. So you support Lincoln, who voted no, and also

favor Republicans over Democrats?
The President is backing Blanche. So that is your 'vote' count for you. You are promoting the idea of voting for a Republican. Vile and disgusting.

[emanymton]

23. My Gut Tells Me To Stand With Dennis _"Kucinich"_

.

Your post would be so much stronger if you took enough time to get the correct spelling of the man's name. This not FreeRepublic, spelling counts.

The Democratic Party is in need of serious reform. Mr Dennis John Kucinich may be a fine candidate to lead the charge for reform. So take the time to get the facts; please.

Ema Nymton
~@:o?
.

[LWolf]

26. If more Democrats stood with DK, the party and the nation would prosper. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

27. Dennis thinks people in politics should have principles

The DLC/Obama crowd thinks that principles are poison.
And of course, all those centrist name callers blew their wad far too early. They have raged against Kucinich and other liberals over every little thing. Many of them it might be due to Kucinich's support of equal rights for all, many of the DLC crowd are prejudiced 'one man, one woman' types, like Palin is.
I've supported DK for years. He has supported my issues as well. Obama supports the views of the bigots who oppose my equal rights under the law. The choice is easy as pie.

[glitch]

33. Principles are Ideological and therefore Impractical.

(unless of course the ideology is Friedman "Chicago School" economics, then it is both principled and practical)/sarc

[pundaint]

40. I'm fine with a continuum with Dennis at one end and Unprincipled at the other.

I'm with Dennis

[Echo In Light]

28. K/R for DK

[bigtree]

30. I don't agree with his vote

. . . but I understand and respect his stance. I still don't believe he'd allow his vote to actually kill the bill. We'll never know on this one, so all of the finger-wagging is ridiculous.

[dave29]

34. Dennis has plenty of support on this board. I think that is obvious.

I'm sorry people called him names.

[DisgustedInMN]

37. I'd take 1 Dennis Kucinuch over 1000 Barack Obamas ...

.. any and every time. DK is a man of conviction, integrity, and honesty. DK actually fights for what he says he will in his campaign, once he is in office. I trust Dennis Kucinuch to not be bought by corporations and to ALWAYS do the right thing.

Barack Obama?


Not so much.

[debunkthelies]

44. K&R

I agree, Dennis doesn't promise what he isn't willing to deliver.
That's called integrity, and I'll take that over smiling empty promises any day.

[elocs]

39. The strawman at DU is that if you don't agree with DK then you are a DK hater

and you cannot possibly be a true progressive. All further arguments proceed and are based upon that perceived pillar of truth. Any dialog or discussion is then pointless. You are either a worshiper or a hater--no in between.

[RoccoR5955]

45. Kucinich, CONSISTANTLY votes for

WE THE PEOPLE, not them the corporations.
And what is this country all about, people, or corporations? And don't give me any fecal matter about corporations being people, because they are not. Corporations are pieces of paper.

If you want to save the corporations, you're a RepubliCON. If you are for WE THE PEOPLE, you're a Democrat. Plain and simple.

You freepers on this board are all being discovered.
I'm taking names now, so that I can kick gluteus maximus later!

KUCINICH/SANDERS 2012!