Why does Kucinich remain a Democrat?

[Toots]

The Democratic Party as it exists today in Congress does not share the same beliefs as Kucinich. They believe in the power of the Corporation and not of the people. Money is speech to them and they belittle Kucinich at every oportunity. I don't get it? :shrug:

[flvegan]

1. Uh oh.

:popcorn:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. woohoo

:popcorn:

[dbt]

3. It's a fair question.

:popcorn:

[terrya]

4. It's DEMOCRATIC Underground, Toots.

It's a utter mystery to me why people come to this place and bash the Democratic Party. THIS is something I don't get.

[Toots]

5. So I take it you are happy with the Democratic Controlled Congress?

I don't get it either...

[terrya]

8. Not entirely. But I don't make blanket statements about the entire Democratic Party,

Which you seem to be doing.

[Toots]

105. I see your reading skills leave a lot to be desired

In no way did I say the "entire" Democratic Party. I said the Democrats in Congress. I doubt there are many here that are pleased with the way they are running their Majority. But those same people love the Democratic Party..I doubt you will be able to ascertain the difference but at least I put it out there.

[MethuenProgressive]

16. A majority is not 'control', Toots.

We need a super majority to be fillibuster and veto proof.

[bvar22]

59. A simple majority is indeed "control",

The definition of "control" in either the House or Senate IS a simple majority.

The Republican Party never had a super majority under either Bush or Clinton, and they STILL managed to move their agenda, force concessions, and pass awful legislation.

Using the lack of a super majority as an excuse for the poor performance of Democratic Party Controlled House and Senate is LAME.



"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans. I want us to compete for that great mass of voters that want a party that will stand up for working Americans, family farmers, and people who haven't felt the benefits of the economic upturn."---Paul Wellstone

[stranger81]

78. the repugs are still advancing their agenda NOW, even as the minority party

With able assistance from the Democratic majority, I might add.

[natrat]

22. because the current dem party are paid off crooks with small special interests

who cling to it because no other party will represent them;morality on larger scheme be damned-toots---special interests in most cases care only for that special interest

[ixion]

28. yeah, when unquestioning loyalty is so much more desireable

:eyes: :sarcasm:

[personman]

61. To some of us, democracy is more than a party

or a buzz-word to grab votes. All the party is to me is a slightly better shitty option than the alternative. So I'll bash when I wanna bash.

If public opinion is loud enough, sometimes they can be forced to make concessions. If we shut our mouths, sit obediently, wait patiently, we get nothing.

I don't understand why some normal people who (presumably) aren't billionaires shut down their critical faculties, and embrace elite parties and politicians with paternalistic awe, frequently against their own interests.

[lame54]

71. It's my party and I'll bitch if I want to

[Perry Logan]

99. FALSE MEME ALERT: the Democrats in Congress showed the highest Democratic unity score in 51 years.

You can repeat it all you want--it just ain't so:

"President Bush's success rating in the Democratic-controlled House has fallen this year to a half-century low, and he prevailed on only 14 percent of the 76 roll call votes on which he took a clear position.

"So far this year, Democrats have backed the majority position of their caucus 91 percent of the time on average on such votes. That marks the highest Democratic unity score in 51 years."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1728952&mesg_id=1728952
http://public.cq.com/docs/cqt/news110-000002576765.html

Don't let the media rhetoric fool you. The Democrats have acquitted themselves quite well--especially given their bare majority in both houses, and a relentlessly obstructionist Republican minority.

this 110th Congress has had more roll call votes this year than any
other Congress in history, almost doubling the number under the previous Congress overseen by Boehner
and House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL):
The House last week held its 943rd roll call vote of the year, breaking the previous
record of 942 votes, a mark set in 1978. The vote was on a procedural motion related to a
mortgage foreclosure bill. When the House adjourned on Oct. 4 for the long weekend, the
chamber had reached 948 roll call votes, putting Democrats on pace to easily eclipse 1,000
votes on the House floor in 2007.
Last year, the Republican controlled House held 543 votes, and for historical comparison,
the last time there was a shift in power in Congress, Republicans held 885 roll call votes in
1995. The Senate, which has held 363 votes this year, isn’t on pace to break any
records, but has already surpassed the 2006 Senate mark of 279 votes.
Much of the lack of progress can be traced back to obstructionism by conservatives. Approximately “1 in
6 roll-call votes in the Senate this year have been cloture votes,” noted a JulyMcClatchy report. “If this
pace of blocking legislation continues, this 110th Congress will be on track to roughly triple the previous
record number of cloture votes.”
It’s interesting that Boehner is criticizing the 110th Congress as doing nothing. After all, the House, under
his leadership, met for just 101 days during the second session of the 109th Congress, setting the record
“for the fewest days in session in one year since the end ofWorld War II.”

[Tesha]

124. Probably because even Democrats can always do better.

The Democratic Party *USED* to do far better, when it was
a party of the people and not of the Corporations.

For example, can you imagine the current party passing
the 1964 Civil Rights Act? or even Social Security?

Tesha

[cali]

6. simple is as simple does and you seem

to do it quite well.

your blanket condemnation of all dems other than kucinich speaks to laziness on your part.

[madmunchie]

110. I actually think it is a fair question. Much of the Democratic Party in Congress is really quite

anemic acting and almost really being Republican in some ways. We do need a third pary, (or maybe a real 2nd would be nice) The Dems and Pubs have been too close for too long. Sadly Kucinch is one of the few Dems actually acting like a Dem. It would be nice if all of the real wolves would take off their sheeps clothing and just come out.

[qdemn7]

7. Do you want Kucinich

On the outside looking in? Or on the inside looking out? At least on the inside he might have a chance of influencing his fellow Dems. How much are they going to listen to him if he leaves the party?

[B Calm]

9. I think the real question is: Why does Hillary remain a Democrat?

[flvegan]

10. Oh, dear. Hold on...

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[blondeatlast]

77. Yep, that one made me sit down. Pass the salt... nt

[derby378]

11. DING-DING-DING!

:applause::woohoo::applause::woohoo::applause:

[terrya]

12. And the thread turns into another Hillary bashing!

Wow, THAT was an unexpected turn of events! :eyes:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. oh snap

:popcorn:

[cali]

25. yep. she'd just fit in perfectly with the repuke

majority what with that 93% rating from Progressive Punch, and similar liberal rating from the ADA, not to mention all those 0 ratings from conservative organizations like the ACU.

:sarcasm:

*note: don't think those organizational ratings tell the whole story, but anyone who actually uses a small portion of their brain, can tell that Clinton is social liberal, and a centrist when it comes to other issues.

[maddiejoan]

27. Because she IS a Democrat.

[B Calm]

30. No, Kuchinich is the REAL democrat!

[maddiejoan]

31. Hint --They BOTH are.

If you wish to belong to a lock-step party, then the perhaps you aren't a Democrat.

I leave the blind ideological lock-step stuff to the Republicans.

Perhaps you are forgetting what democracy means.

[B Calm]

35. I'm not the one who started this tread. That person thinks Kuchinch

should leave, not me!

[maddiejoan]

37. Then respond to them.

FWIW --I'm a Kucinich supporter.

But to say HRC isn't a Democrat is just ridiculous.

[B Calm]

39. A REAL DINO she is too!

[maddiejoan]

44. sorry --that's just absurd.

HRC is no DINO.

Maybe you should look at her record.

[RC]

32. A Democrat or a DINO?

She is too hawkish to be a true liberal and leans toward the corporations a wee bit much. Not to mention the campaign money she excepted from William-Rupert Murdoch, a far rightwingnut. Now why would Murdoch give money to a Democrat?

[flvegan]

34. Stop paying attention.

[RC]

46. Somebodys gots to.

Heaven knows there are precious few that can back up enough from their 'Darlin' For Prez' to see what they are really rooting for.

[maddiejoan]

36. Why did Hearst give money to FDR?

Was FDR enough of a democrat for you?

[MonkeyFunk]

41. Murdoch has given money to numerous democrats

And the money he gave Clinton was for her senatorial campaign, not her presidential run. He said she was a good Senator for New York - and he was right.

By any measure, Clinton is a good Democrat. High ratings from the ADA and ProgressivePunch, lousy ratings from any conservative rating group you can find.

[RC]

63. Rupert Murdoch Loves Hillary Clinton

Clinton has worked hard to take the edge off her reputation as a card-carrying liberal. She has has collaborated with congressional conservatives on some peices of legislation, called for a "common ground" on abortion and cut a political figure some on the left see as decidedly un-liberal.

Clinton, who made her debut in the Senate Armed Services Committee four years ago, has never voted against any major Iraq military spending legislation. She has also taken two high-profile trips to Iraq – journeys that may have helped to strengthen the credentials of a senator with no military background or experience.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/09/politics/main1600694.shtml

<* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *>

Could Rupert Murdoch make Hillary Clinton the next president?
Imagine a day next year when The Wall Street Journal endorses Hillary Clinton for president.

I know what you’re thinking: “A cold day in Hades when that happens.”

Then imagine a day when a President Hillary Clinton, contemplating the launch of another preventive war somewhere in the world, calls Rupert Murdoch to talk things over.

Now you’re thinking I’ve lost my mind.

But consider that Murdoch is about to buy the Journal. Then consider the hand Murdoch had in making Tony Blair the British prime minister ten years ago. And finally, consider the revelation this week that Blair rang up Murdoch three times in the days just before the launch of the Iraq war.

Still sound implausible? OK, I’ll walk you through it.

http://www.dailyreckoning.us/blog/?p=445


I'm thinking I'd be looking for someone else to vote for.

[bvar22]

65. Murdoch has done MORE than just donate to Hillary.

Murdoch has openly campaigned for her election.
He has held "invitation only" fundraiser to drum up money and support for Hillary among the other NeoCon warmongers.

[leftchick]

66. "leans toward the corporations a wee bit much"

:rofl:

a WEE bit??

:rofl:

[upi402]

94. That's right

Talk about a deal with the devil.
I want to think they are seeing a dangerous action by the criminals in power and are being careful. But I have zero faith in having faith after all that has happened. And Alito is forever for my lifetime. We have been screwn.

[Le Taz Hot]

42. Oh, now THERE'S a question!

Pass the :popcorn:

[sarcasmo]

45. A former Walmart board member that in itself should make her a Republican.

DINO, Democrat in name only.

[MonkeyFunk]

47. oh bullshit

you obviously know nothing about her tenure at walmart.

[sarcasmo]

49. Having a tenure at Walmart is enough for me.

Vote for her is no different than voting for Bush, IMHO. She will not come out and renounce this War, ask yourself why?

[MonkeyFunk]

52. Yeah

Nader told us something like that in 2000. How'd that work out for you?

God, some days I wonder how some people here manage to find their way out of bed in the morning.

[sarcasmo]

53. Keep supporting her, Kucinich gets my vote the only REAL Dem

At least Dennis renounces the War, hard to defend your candidate when they don't renounce this immoral War.

[MonkeyFunk]

54. yawn

Another so-called purist.

Well, you 2 percenters can act as superior as you want - it's really all you have to cling to.

[rjones2818]

60. Vs a pragmatist with no real values.

The door swings both ways.

[MonkeyFunk]

86. People who view

pragmatism as a negative in politics have no business being interested in the topic.

[cyclezealot]

90. and if being pragmatic means

we are not solving our problems, then why bother.

[MonkeyFunk]

91. It doesn't mean that

it just means you have to concern yourself with what other people want and need, and that you won't get exactly what you want, exactly when you want it.

I don't understand why people who have such difficulty understanding that concern themselves with politics - it's guaranteed to lead to perpetual disappointment.

[cyclezealot]

102. If a candidates' solutions don't

solve our problems why bother. I won't. Examples such as Hillary's, it's not that she has a solution, but the role of money is more important. Until we have real reform, I will just say, let things go to hell. In the end, we will be miles ahead.

[MonkeyFunk]

106. And Kucinich is entirely unpragmatic

and no matter how much you support him, he'll never get elected, and he'll never implement the things he talks about.

My candidate will improve things. Your candidate will stand on the sidelines and rant.

[cyclezealot]

115. and we will rely on

our candidate to stop the additional damage Hillary will foist upon the American worker and people as did Bill. As we did when Bill passed Nafta in collusion with the Repukes and Hillary got us into a war of deceit and Kucinich rallied a majority of House Democrats to vote against Bush's war. Real solutions there.

[MonkeyFunk]

118. As I said

he'll stand on the sidelines and rant.

He won't actually accomplish anything.

[rjones2818]

100. Pragmatism for the sake of pragmatism

ummm...let's see...what term should I use...oh yeah (!)...sucks. Too bad it seems that this is the type of pragmatism most national Dems practice.

[MonkeyFunk]

101. Not for the sake of pragmatism

for the sake of getting stuff done.

Politics is an inherently pragmatic pursuit. It's negotiation, it's compromise, it's messy, and it's unsatisfying to people who want exactly what they want exactly when they want it. But that's a problem with their expectations, not a problem with politics.

[cyclezealot]

103. that is why obama is full of crap.

There is no compromise with the likes of Tom Delay. Almost all, The Repukes are all wind up dolls, with energizer batteries provided by K Street. As John Nichols said of O'Bama. Don't compromise with their ilk, defeat them. They are not interested in compromise.

[MonkeyFunk]

104. There's compromise on everything

The founders compromised on slavery. that's politics.

[cyclezealot]

116. If Obama can get compromise

with the likes of Boehner , without destroying a plans merits ; than O'Bama is more than a miracle worker. He is a magician. All they know is privitatization.

[MonkeyFunk]

119. All politicians compromise, even Kucinich

He compromised his views on abortion when he ran for President.

Anybody who backs a politician who refuses to compromise is backing a loser.

[cyclezealot]

125. get off it

Kucinich did not compromise. He evolved due to the influences with his family and in particular his daughter. yes, Kucinich does compromise, but not with critical issues like Iraq and the neocon agenda. And certain issues like being pragmatic. Hillary's sucking up to insurance companies to give us an ever more expensive healthcare system; its not a matter of compromise ,it is something to oppose. / And again , I repeat how timeley I thought John Nichol's opinion piece about O'Bama's working with the Repukes. Nichols said we don't need to work with them, they need be defeated with their no tax pledges and privitatization schemes. You think they want to compromise with him. They ride a one way track and to compromise with them is to jeopardize the well being of the American people. O'Bama will learn his lesson, when the baby boomer generation right wing attack machine make mincemeat of him and his ideas. O'Bama has yet, to hardly feel the scorn of the baby boomer aged right wing attack machine, but he will.

[rjones2818]

111. Actually...

it gets bad stuff done most of the time. Have some people stand up for their beliefs and move the bar to better.

Pragmatism for pragmatism's sake (which I think you describe perfectly) may get stuff done, but as we've seen with the FISA capitulation, funding to continue the Iraq occpation, even the SCHIP compromise (which failed) just gets stuff which is bad done.

[MonkeyFunk]

112. You're just wrong

You don't think FISA would be a helluva lot worse if the President didnt have to compromise?

Sorry, but youre just NEVER going to get exactly what you want when you want it under our political system. The best you can do is limit the harm, and make incremental progress. Screaming won't change that, throwing a tantrum wont change that, and deriding everybody who understands the nature of the game wont change that.

As I've said many times, I don't know why people who value purity bother to interest themselves in politics - it can only lead to disappointment.

[rjones2818]

113. Evil is not something to compromise on.

Some day you'll understand. Probably too late, but you'll understand.

[FREEWILL56]

120. So how has hillary gotten bush to compromise on anything?

She seems to be the one caving into bushco. Just asking.

[Blackhatjack]

13. There are perks belonging to the Majority Party in the House...

If you think Kucinich is marginalized in the Democratic Party, let him try on the mantle of being an independent.

At least he has a platform to make the case for his ideas and proposals.

It is the difference between working inside the Party for change as compared to a lone voice trying to change the Party positions from the outside.

[Toots]

15. There is at least one voice of logic and reason in this madhouse

I appreciate your reply..

[aquart]

14. Why do YOU remain a Democrat?

Or are you just slumming?

[Toots]

18. I am not now nor have I ever been a Democrat

I have never claimed to be one either. I am a registered Independent and a very strong Liberal..This forum is for those of the Liberal persuasion as well as Democrats if I have read the rules correctly. Have you read them?

[cyclezealot]

17. Agreed. The Democratic party is not deserving of Kucinich

Honesty is a much misplaced value in the Congress. But, the progressive caucus in the HOuse. Reason not to give up. There are tons of brave Democrats, serving us under the yoke of a compliant leadership. He has not given up on the Democrats because of those brave Democrats in the Progressive Caucus.He'd betray his own ideals to abandon them. At least at this point of time.

[Annces]

20. never-mind

[Warren Stupidity]

21. Because Nader's approach is wrong?

Nader's analysis is correct, but only as far as it goes. His strategy of a third party is wrong, and Kucinich's approach of working within one of the two institutionalized parties is the only path that has a reasonable chance of success.

[begin_within]

23. My question is, why is it that so many Democrats do not share the same beliefs as

Kucinich? Why aren't they copying his ideas and platform? Is it just because so many of them are tied to corporate money?

[magellan]

84. Great question

One I'd like to hear the answer to.

[MonkeyFunk]

87. Because the voters in many areas

are not all that liberal.

Conservative democrats tend to represent conservative districts, and the alternative is a conservative republican, not a liberal democrat.

In other words, if America were very liberal, we'd have more liberal representatives. But it isn't, so we don't.

[lonestarnot]

24. That is funny. I thought he was just being ignored.

:shrug:

[Orsino]

26. For the chance to lead the party to a better place.

If he were somehow to win the presidency on a third-party ticket, he'd find the Democratic leadership opposing his every initiative.

[nealmhughes]

29. In reality, both parties, the DP and RP are both coalitions with the minor parties lacking leaders.

The struggle within the coalitions is as important as who will lead the coalition. That is why we have primaries and caucuses for the POTUS. Now, once we get to the local level, we had might as well rename each part of each coalition, since the leaders are basically the gubernatorial and congressional candidates and their money bags.

By this "European" analogy, Kucinich is a leader of the Bread and Peace Party, which is in coalition with the Middle Way Coalition. What we call the GOP is the Father Knows Best Coalition, and amongst its constituent parts are the Anti-Sodom Force, the No Tax and No Pot Patriots Brigade, etc.

The coalitions pool money to elect the constituent minor parties' candidates. And that is why Dennis Kucinich is a Democrat (aka Middle Way Coalition member) while still a leader of the Bread and Peace Party.

[Hippo_Tron]

88. LMFAO Anti-Sodom Force and No Tax and No Pot Patriots Brigade

:rofl:

I think that's the best description of the Republic Party I've seen yet.

[Le Taz Hot]

33. Because he is one?

(Was that a trick question?) :crazy:

[FREEWILL56]

121. I didn't know the GOP was 1 guy.

Or was that a trick question?

[FREEWILL56]

126. On second thought it could be one guy if the GOP stands for

The Grand Old Pretzel. Bush keeps bringing this up too.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

38. Perhaps he stays in the party because it's the "lesser of two evils".

There are quite a few nose-holding Democrats that fall in category..like me.

[undeterred]

40. Kucinich is the only TRUE Democrat.

[cali]

51. are you 10 years old

or 11? Seriously, how is it to think so simplistically? The only true dem? what a pile of steaming shit. If you don't know of any other true dems, you simply don't know much at all about the topic.

[Warren Stupidity]

64. Vermont Gov. Dean: I represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party.

He must have been 10 or 11 when he said that too, huh?

[cali]

75. And that has to do with what?

Gov Dean never claimed he was the only dem in the entire fucking party.

[undeterred]

69. Wow.

What an intelligent response. I'll be thinking about it all day.

[cali]

74. let me give you a clue.... or 10 or more:

Maxine Waters
Lynn Woolsey
Jan Schakowski
Henry Waxman
John Conyers
Ted Kennedy
Russ Feingold
Tom Harkin
Pat Leahy
Barbara Boxer
Jerry Nadler
Barney Frank

etc., etc.

[mudesi]

80. Kucinich is the only TRUE Democrat running for president

I think that's what the above poster meant.

[undeterred]

107. Thank you. That is what I meant.

But some people are so eager to start fights in GD, they will attack other Democrats for things they don't say.

[sarcasmo]

43. The two parties do mirror themselves. Corporate Whores about 75 percent of both parties.

[L. Coyote]

48. Irresistable DEM-bashing flame bait. Ohhh, oooh. - - - Hey, ask him.

Maybe because he represents everything great about the party, and the party represents everything great about democracy.

It is called a representative democracy for a reason. Dennis is the perfect representative for his district. He would not do well in North Dakota, just as Byron Dorgan would not be the perfect match for inner-city Cleveland. Even though ND votes 2/3 R, they have 2 great DEM Senators because the DEM party isn't 100% menacing Dennises.

Welcome to the big tent. We want your vote too!

[toadzilla]

50. we live in a 2 party system.

third parties are currently not viable options. Dennis is a true Democrat, its everyone else who has strayed away from what the party is supposed to stand for, not Dennis.

[RufusTFirefly]

55. Famous Democrats: George Wallace and FDR

See the similarities?

That's the point.

The Democratic Party loses its way periodically (or, as Norman Bates would say "just goes a little mad sometimes"). This is one of those times. I'm glad that Dennis is remaining in the Democratic Party. I'm hoping he will be able to lead it back to its working-class roots and away from its current corporate ass-kissing tendencies.

That's why I remain a Democrat and post to Democratic Underground. I am hoping that the Democratic Party and with it, the United States, can come to its senses.

[IronLionZion]

57. it is a big tent party

we have all sorts of people in our party. Pretty much everybody from everywhere is welcome; we have conservatives, liberals, socialists, libertarians, moderates, corporate-types, peaceniks, war-hawks, and all races and religions. Not so with that other party.

[RufusTFirefly]

73. Well, sort of

When I cited FDR and Wallace, I deliberately chose a Good Guy and a Bad Guy.
But now I realize that the two men shared something important in common.

Despite Wallace's appalling racism and FDR's upbringing of wealth and privilege, both men were champions of the "little guy" (although, granted, in Wallace's case that little guy had to be white). Defending the little guy is what being a Democrat is all about.

Historically, Democrats have valued Main Street over Wall Street.

That's what troubles me about some of the current Democrats. I'm not sure you can say that about them.

[IronLionZion]

76. That's an excellent point

about protecting the little guy, but that is still a matter of perspective. There are protectors of the little guy who get bashed quite regularly for their conservative views on social issues or whatever. And there are some social liberals who usually side with big corporations over the little guy.

And then there's Hillary. If you look carefully at her health plan, no one entity really takes it all (not even big insurance), and no one is entirely hurt by it either. And no matter how much we disagree with the details, she really does make sure that everyone gets health insurance and no one gets left behind.

[DemBones DemBones]

82. In his later years, Wallace championed all the

little guys, including blacks. He apologized for his earlier positions.

[RufusTFirefly]

83. You are correct.

Reminds me of that former Klansman who now criss-crosses the country, teaching tolerance.
Perhaps his brush with death made him re-evaluate his prejudices.

[Tom Joad]

68. LBJ also. the man who committed genocide in SE Asia.

i think he was mainstream Democrat.

[BlueJac]

56. The Democrats....

Most are full of false promises and pockets full of corporate money.

[Basileus Basileon]

58. Yeah, why doesn't he go join up with Ron Paul?

[rjones2818]

62. Maybe they'll both be nominated!

It'd be the best campaign we could hope for!

[Tom Joad]

67. damn good question. He's antiwar, the Dem. party is just the opposite

though they insist that wars be better managed.

[lame54]

70. It's the rest of them that should quit

Dennis is trying to restore the true meaning of the Democratic party
It's my party and I'll bitch if i want to

[Eric J in MN]

72. Maybe because he knows we have a 2 party system.

We should try to get as many progressive Democrats in Congress as we can, including with primaries.

Support Donna Edwards in Maryland.

[AlertLurker]

79. Dems seem to love and hate Dennis Kucinich for the same reason.

He reminds them what the Democratic Party, at its best (under FDR) meant to the working poor and middle class of America.

He, unfortunately, also stands in stark contrast to every other candidate in the running for the Democratic nomination because of his refusal to either accept corporate payola or watered-down principles.

He's not overly subtle in reminding them, either.

When he can be heard over the rest of the candidates, his message is one that Progressive Democrats DESPERATELY want to hear: That they can restore America and its Constitution, change the direction of America's corporately-driven domestic and foreign policies and restore PEACE.

A lot of people see his message as both naive and unattainable, but if you are shooting from as far away as Dennis Kucinich is, if you don't aim high, you will never hit the target...


Support Dennis Kucinich NOW!

[Desertrose]

81. Because he wants to change the party from within....

not start another one.

He feels that it is easier to work with an established party.

I used to think that...anymore, I don't know if the Dem party can be returned to what it once ws....the party for the people, not the corporations.

DR

[mmonk]

85. Why should he change when the party has gone right?

Maybe they shouldn't remain democrats.

[Solar_Power]

89. Green Party

Maybe he could join the GP

[Jim Lane]

92. Several good responses buried in the haystack of Hillary bickering

I agree with the answers given by qdemn7, MonkeyFunk, Blackhatjack, cyclezealot, Warren Stupidity, nealmhughes, L. Coyote, and Eric J in MN. Let me highlight two specific points:

1. The constituencies are in the Democratic Party. It's easier to try to move the party to the left than to move millions of people who identify as Democrats to changing their allegiance to a different party. Remember that at least 99% of the voters devote less time and energy to thinking about politics than DUers do. A big chunk of the electorate will show up on Election Day and vote for "their" party based on party loyalty. If you go outside the Democratic Party, you give yourself the huge and unnecessary task of trying to move that mountain.

2. As an example of the institutionalization of the two-party system that other responses mentioned, consider two campaigns: Nader 2000, and Kucinich 2008. Kucinich has been in every televised debate. Although he hasn't been given equal time, he's gotten at least some time. He's helped keep the other candidates honest (or, for you cynics, somewhat less dishonest). He's made the case for the progressive position on Iraq, health care, etc. What about Nader? He wasn't in any of the Bradley-Gore debates (as he could have been if he'd sought the Democcratic nomination) or the Gore-Bush debates in the general election. His television exposure consisted of occasional shots of him standing in the parking lot outside a debate venue, complaining that he wasn't being treated fairly. Kucinich's approach does more to help bring about a progressive majority.

A better question would be: Why doesn't Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats anyway, formally join the party? As a Democrat, he could accomplish more for his agenda.

By the way, in my subject line, the phrase "Hillary bickering" is intended to refer to both sides of that threadjacking. I personally agree with many of the criticisms of Hillary that were made here, but this was not an appropriate place to make them.

[upi402]

93. He's a rare true Dem among corporatist-lites

He is right. The imposters need to leave and give us our god damn party back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Kucinich4America]

95. Dennis Kucinich represents everything the Democratic party SHOULD be.

What it once was, and what it can be again. Quit listening to the corporate whore media and take a good look at the traditional values of the Democratic party. Can you honestly say that the DLC and the so called "blue dogs" represent those values.

End corporate media. End NAFTA. End outsourcing. Save the Middle Class. Save the REAL Democratic party. Save the country. Vote Kucinich!!

[Bolo Boffin]

96. Why did Paul Wellstone? n/t

[johan helge]

97. Because he's not an idiot

- in 2000, Nader chose to run outside the Democratic party. If he hadn't done that, Bush would never have happened. I'm sure Kucinich doesn't want to help the Republicans, like Nader did.

[philosophie_en_rose]

98. Because he has no joementum.

:rofl:

[OzarkDem]

108. Because his party has always supported him

especially here in Ohio when he was under years of constant attacks by the GOP. NE Ohio Dems stood behind him when he decided to make a comeback, running for state rep, then Congress.

All politics is local, and Dennis has always been a vital part of the Democratic Party. They've supported him through good times and bad.

[book_worm]

109. Why don't you go to Green Underground to advocate that a Dem leave his party?

or better yet instead of asking us why don't you ask DK and see what he says?

[stuartrida]

114. Dennis is the ONLY choice for any progressive who wants RON PAUL as VP!!!

[Desertrose]

117. Rumors rumors rumors.....

My aren't we busy spreading this one.....


I have heard no "announcement"from DKHQ.

[sakabatou]

122. It's not set in stone

Now put that tin-foil hat back on...

[MonkeyFunk]

123. No real progressive wants

Ron Paul as VP.