I will vote for Kucinich definitely.

I would say he was right to vote to authorize the President to take action against terrorist cells but didn't expect Bush to be so blunt in airbombing Afghanistan.

Vfor911 wrote anarchism : a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups.

You are absolutely dead-on, but the Govt, elites and self-serving media instead conjures images of black-clad Bakunin terrorists who will bomb civilization back to the stone-age.

John Nichols--I dare you to spearhead the move to get Dennis Kucinich a fair hearing in the USofA. I fear the truth is that a small portion of us want Kucinich; the majority want continued war and the Walmart way of life.

Wouldn't it be great if you proved me wrong?

I like Kucinich. However, to be complete, he was wrong in 2001. Only one member of Congress voted against the unconstitutional H. J. Res. 64. That was Lee. And she got raked over the coals.

Congratulations on the article, Mr. Nichols.

If you read HR 64, he was RIGHT on the money, in 2001, and 2002, and 2003, and 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. We have so many people running for president -- couldn't we get this straight??

I am voting for Kucinich. I have known about him, since the 2004 election. You won't get a better president.

All of them -- Obama, Hillary, Richardson -- would do well to learn something from him: Honesty is the best, if the only, policy.

I like Dennis, too. However, I have a hard time trusting him because he stays with the Dems, and because he caved in with his electoral votes in the last election. Still he is consistent with the peace talk. Honestly, I think Beekeeper is right -- most US citizens are OK with endless war, and they are not interested in the world, or foreign policy. Not sure at this point what it would take to turn that around.

Kucinich will get my vote, too. How can he get more airtime from Big Media? How about Amy Goodman? Can't she have him weekly on Democracy Now! so at least those of us listening to her will get on board with Dennis?

No, he's not perfect. Yes, he has and will continue to vote for things that we might not agree with. But he WON'T invade Iran. He WILL at least try to roll back the tax breaks for the wealthy. And he'll try to get a moderate appointed to the Supreme Court. He's the best on offer right now.

Amy and Michael Moore, can you help get out the word about him?

Some say Dennis Kucinich should be an independent. I, for one, am glad he has so far remained a Democrat. We must remember that in the Democratic candidate field, his presence has already allowed him many opportunities to speak to national audiences in the debates, a forum he otherwise wouldn't have had so far.

Meg:

It will take death and destruction to hit home!

It will take $5.00+ Gas prices.

It will take very public displays of the Government crushing descent.

It will take double the amount of people to loose their homes.

It will take another 25 Million people on top of the 45 Million or so to be with out
Health care.

It will take Salaries to be reduced, and unemployment reaches all time highs.

It will take shortages on the things we purchase everyday.

It will take the cost of things we purchase to become too expensive for six figure income house holds to afford.

It will take $10 a gallon for milk

It will take an outbreak of a disease that only the rich can afford cures for.

It will take riots and visuals of wide spread police brutality.

It will take seeing the military on your street everyday.

It will take curfews.

It will take Government permission to leave the country or maybe even your state.

It will take many more to be U.S citizens to be "extraordinarily renditioned" off somewhere.

It will take all this to happen, and when you turn on the news, you will here them say to your face, with cold disregard for life, utter distain for the people who are watching, they will look you in the eye and say everything is fine.

They will tell us that the U.S is safer and better than ever before.

It will take 1984 for people to wake up.

And then.........It will indeed be too late.

~Future~

Good god! What does it take to get progressives fired up and pulling hard for a candidate who so CLEARLY represents their interests, and who has a 30-year history of selfless service and integrity? Did he, or didn't he get HR 64 right? Who the fuck cares? Really? The list of legislation he's written that is in the common interest of common people (and common dreamers) is a mile long. He's been so consistently right on a host of domestic and foreign policy issues for so long. Am i supposed to think he's secretly just another patriarchal male pig because he married a beautiful young woman? Or that he may have "gotten it wrong" when he pulled a little girl's pigtails once in grammar school?

Christ, it's like trying to herd kittens. What more could anyone ask for on this site? Do I care if he endorsed Kerry in 04? No. What was he supposed to do, endorse Bush instead? Leave the party, take his ball, and go home? Look, I didn't even vote in 96 I was so disheartened. The first and only presendential election I ever missed since I began voting in 84. Nader brought me back into active political participation in 2000, so spare any horseshit about how I might've helped Bush. Kucinich allowed me to cast a ballot for a democrat for the first time WITHOUT having to hold my nose.

Even if you don't think he's "electable" (whatever that's supposed to mean) in the general election, then you STILL want to vote for him in the primaries. If he goes into the convention with 10 to 15 %, instead of 2 to 3, then the party HAS to take him, and us, seriously. It could very well mean the creation of a Cabinet level post for a new Department of Peace, which Kucinich could then be tapped to head. That's REAL, incremental progress for progressive ideas and policies.

So, again, WHAT'S not to like?

Sign up now to be an active supporter: http://www.kucinich.us

GO DENNIS!

I like Bill Richardson. He's a nice guy. He is somewhat progressive. He is certainly well to the left of Hillarbama.

But he's not very smart. And he's about as inspiring as a coat of beige paint drying on the wall.

I'm registered Green. But I re-registered Dem when Kucinich last ran, just to vote for him in the primary. That's where I'm coming from. But I'm jaded. Candidates like Kucinich are idealists; they're the conscience of the polity. But if they got elected, they either would soon be assassinated, or at best wouldn't be able to get anything done in Congress. The problem is our economic culture; 300 million people living in big houses, driving gas-guzzler cars, depending on supermarkets, working jobs that depend on govmnt pork. You say all progressives must vote for Kucinich. That's about 5% of the electorate.

Real progressives must choose Dennis Kucinich in 2008!

Please vote for him, for the sake of this planet and all future generations hereafter...

Thank you so much for your recognition of Dennis Kucinich. I supported him last time around and was nearly laughed out of the caucus I chaired. They all went for "count every last vote" Kerry, who, like a good member of Skull & Bones, cut and ran like hell when attention to all the irregularities in Ohio might have saved us from more Bush & Cheney. This time around, I will have the privilege of reminding them.
Kucinich is consistent, un-attached - the "no strings" portion of his campaign speech is right on! Remember, it is definitely a fact that Kucinich can't win, if we don't take a stand and vote for him.
Forget the "winner" business and vote and support your conscience.

Meg: "I have a hard time trusting him because he stays with the Dems, and because he caved in with his electoral votes in the last election."

I am SO tired of hearing this bullshit comment, Meg! WTF was he supposed to do when he had NO CHANCE of being elected in an election year where the theme was: "ANYONE BUT BUSH!" Should he have given the to Al Sharpton?

Many "alleged" Progressives are constantly digging for yet another excuse to put down the ONLY candidate who CAN make a difference. His constant Progressive record doesn't mean shit to you?!

YES! I am angry and emotional right now, but DAMNIT more of you should be as well. Anger and emotional is what led to our freedom from the FIRST King George. NICE and intellectualing ain't gonna cut it. WAKE THE FUCK UP AND GET ANGRY TOO!!!

I hope everyone read Daniel David's post as well!

You think we are not angry celebrity? Think again. I am tired of the whold phucking system. I am tired of people saying they have done all the right things when they haven't. Ron Paul supporters keep saying his record is impecable, its not! H. J. Res 64 was a load of crap and I want these jokers to say so. Say they were wrong. But, they won't. They try to justify their vote instead. I trust nobody at this point. Copy?!

BTW, I voted for Kucinich in the last primary.

Lord have mercy. I'm with you guys. But, I'm still very concerned about anyone who maintains ties with the Dems. I will absolutely be voting for Dennis. There is no one else to even consider.

Kuchinich will never be President, period. Stop wasting your time, and my time and everyone else's time with your unrealistic fantasies.

If you really want to pursue Kuchinich's agenda, you have to build a movement within the Democratic party that has real power and influence. You'll have to develop the capacity to conduct a coordinated national campaign that targets voting districts where you can tip the vote to a progressive candidate. Once you have a strong, united progressive caucus in congress, you'll have to work TOGETHER to influence policy and develop a strangehold on the agenda.

Of course, progressives will never be successful at this. Too busy worrying about honeybees, complaining that one of Obamas supporters said something bad about gays once, demanding that everyone stop eating meat, and clinging to wild eyed fantasies that Kuchinich, or Nader or Ron Paul(!) will become President. (BTW, I'm gay, vegetarian and have a tiny carbon footprint).

It's called pragmatism. Republicans have it, progressives don't.

Here is my unrealistic fantasy. And I am sticking with it to the bitter end.

anarchism : a political theory holding all forms of governmental authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups.

BTW, I have vigorously campaigned for Dennis in Illinois and worked as a poll watcher. I like him. Nothing wrong with keeping an eye on him or anyone else.

Kucinich does NOT have the credentials and proven experience that Bill Richardson does. Just compare their bios. I think the press would like to get Kucinich in their sights which explains all the misleading support for him.

Again, just compare the bios for experience and knowledge with an open mind. I could be wrong, but you'll be hard-pressed to pick Dennis over Bill after a fair and unbiased comparison.

"I like Kucinich. However, to be complete, he was wrong in 2001. Only one member of Congress voted against the unconstitutional H. J. Res. 64. That was Lee. And she got raked over the coals."

Thanks V for getting that out. Barbara Lee needs to run for President.

Kucinich (and Gravel) keep the rest of them honest. Let's see what fighting words Dennis has on Tuesday's debate. He'll have to do it without Gravel, who is currently being excluded. Was his direct condemnation of Hillary last debate to much? If you want to support Gravel's voice being heard (even if he's not your candidate), check these links:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/letgravelspeakoct30

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-mike-gravel/why-nbc-and-the-dnc-want-_b_69397.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-bissell/gravel-supporter-puts-his_b_69789.html

Thank you KUCINICH for never relenting in your fight for the people, and thank you THE NATION for Italicizing his name. His name should be shouted, not spoken, and it should italicized in bold, when printed.
Progress!

Richardson said on Democracy Now that the Clinton sanctions against Iraq that killed 500,000 children were the right policy. How many people to you have to complicit in killing before being considered a war criminal?

gyptian I agree. wouldn't a Lee-Kucinich tickect be great?

One guy ain't going to save this sinking ship of an empire. We need wholesale change in our lifestyles in order to confront the problems our country, and world, face today. As bad as Bush and the boys are, they evolved out of a political system that has allowed corporate interests to replace "we the people" in our Constitution. The vast majority of the American people are honest hardworking citizens, but there are a lot of "good Germans" in our government and media today.
Hoa binh

Terran1212,

Kucinich didn't vote to authorize the President to take action against terrorist cells. This is what he voted for:
That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons HE DETERMINES planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, . . .

Kucinich proposed legislation prior to the invasion of Iraq asking for evidence and costs. Why didn't he do the same for H. J. Res. 64?

Moreover, the Taliban offered to hand over OBL if we could provide evidence that OBL was responsible for 911. But, OBL wasn't responsible for 911. Therefore, we couldn't provide squat and we invaded a defenseless nation.

"It's called pragmatism. Republicans have it, progressives don't."

Or so they tell you. Mostly I've learned that's just another device to keep you in your place and to assert a kind of social dominance. pragmatism might actually be being vegetarian, or living a simple life off the grid.

I've found that people who bow down low before authoritarian pragmatism are denying themselves the freedom to make their own discoveries at which they might be surprised, and in that surprise take delight, and in that delight find a joie de vivre, and in that joie de vivre look back on the pragmatism of authoritarians as sort of melancholy and lacking.

gavingourley wrote: "Kuchinich will never be President, period. Stop wasting your time, and my time and everyone else's time with your unrealistic fantasies. If you really want to pursue Kuchinich's agenda, you have to build a movement within the Democratic party that has real power and influence. You'll have to develop the capacity to conduct a coordinated national campaign that targets voting districts where you can tip the vote to a progressive candidate."

Well, that's exactly what Kucinich is helping to accomplish by running for the Democratic Presidential nomination. He knows that he won't win. But by running for the nomination, he is helping to build a progressive movement within the Democratic party that has real power and influence, and helping to develop the capacity to conduct a coordinated national campaign that targets voting districts where you can tip the vote to a progressive candidate. In addition he is fighting to open a space in the public debate for a progressive point of view and a progressive agenda to be heard.

Running for the Democratic nomination is an excellent vehicle for furthering all of these things. Kucinich is doing just what you say needs to be done, and he is being very pragmatic about it.

"Some say Dennis Kucinich should be an independent. I, for one, am glad he has so far remained a Democrat. We must remember that in the Democratic candidate field, his presence has already allowed him many opportunities to speak to national audiences in the debates, a forum he otherwise wouldn't have had so far."

Which is more than Gravel can say, given the debates where his time has been cut, or that he's been shut out of altogether - but not to worry, the MSM picked up the slack by rigging the results of the Iowa debate that Kucinich won. http://www.intosanity.com/?p=26

Of course you're glad that Kucinich is in the party - if it wasn't for people like him, your party would have no credibility at all. If you're going to insist that the Democratic Party is a valid force for change, at least have the integrity to support those who are following in the legacy of Wellstone, instead of the centrist pro-Empire sham dished out by Hillary.

Daniel David,

We know you're a shameless supporter of the Democratic party, but at least do a better job at it... Lieberman became an independent and did it limit his ability to get elected, get the megaphone, etc?

There's no reason why they can't exit stage left, as well as stage right.

Who cares about the Dems? The Republicans? The Greens? Ultimately we need to reach a post-partisan world, leave these mobs/gangs/ruling dynasties behind us and focus on issues. Not controlling cliques.

Here's an example of how Cheney's pals over at Halliburton doesn't give a crap...

"They don't even know to get tested for it, unless someobody tells them - and I'm sure Halliburton isn't going to be the company to tell them" - Former Halliburton water purification specialist documents widespread cases of contaminated water being supplied to US troops by Halliburton.

Video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeIxHQ-lkuM

boy howdy--You say that even if all progressives voted for Kucinich, that would be only five per cent of the population. I say that progressives must not only vote for him, but actively support him. The majority of the population doesn't even vote, they're so disenchanted with the whole corrupt system. It's up to us to spread the word that there IS a candidate that represents the majority (who are not living in big houses--they're lucky if they have a small house these days). This is a daunting task, because the corporate media and even the Democratic Party do not want people to hear the truth. But what is our alternative at this point in time?

Check out Kucinich.us and donate if you can. Remember--he's not getting those corporate donations.

restive,

I've never said a bad word about Kucinich. I AM a Kucinich supporter, and I'm glad he's a Democrat.
(Otherwise, he would have never been in Congress.)
If Dennis isn't nominated, I'll go with Barack, John, Hillary, or whomever they pick. So far, Dennis too has also seen that approach as his own brand of patriotism.

Paul,

Lieberman only switched independent because he had to.
As for the post-partisan world, Good luck! I'm not going to be able to live long enough to see it. As for shamelessly supporting the Democrats, yes, I do. It's more shameful in my view to support Republicans, or to promote voter apathy, a useless tactic that also works to advantage of Republicans. And so many here at CD pride themselves on doing that very thing.

It's good to see "Kucinich" in the heading - it doesn't happen very often, but when it does I feel a tingle of hope arising.

I think Dennis Kucinich is definitely one to watch for the future, perhaps not for 2008, or perhaps so, I hope it IS 2008. Even if not, the seeds are being sown now, by Dennis, Mike Gravel, and by the good people here on Common Dreams. They are taking root. Whether Dennis Kucinich will be the one to harvest the crop in the future remains to be seen, but it is his work now which should be given credit.

Really... endorse any candidate you like... they're all the same. The system is so corrupted at the core that Dems and Repubs are interchangeable. I'm sure Dennis is a man of good intentions. Does anyone know if Dennis has given a speech to the CFR or is a member of the CFR? If so, then he's bought and paid for too. Alas, I'm convinced that we're all doomed to an existence of slavery. It's just a matter of time before we're all required to have an RFID chip in order to conduct daily business... and it's at that point that we lose our souls.

It's a sad state of affairs when one has to depend on one man, whether Dennis Kucinich or Paul Wellstone, for democratic ideals to even get a hearing in the Democratic party.

At a time when talk of war is growing louder, will we hear a real debate or merely the exaggerated echoes of those who have never gotten anything right?

Maybe progressives should give up the idea that the neonuts have never gotten anything right, because they did get something right - the something that matters most to them: That the American people could be tricked into enslaving themselves to the catastrophic neonut ideology/agenda.

elmysterio,

Come on, yes our government is corrupt but there are a few (very few) good people in our government. You'd probably like what Ron Paul has to say although Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel are right there with him in wanting to give our Democracy back to We the People.

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=3735&edition=1&ttl=20071026212624

Hi...from UK; put the url above on here cos there is a blog on bbc right now about sanctions against Iran...listen, guys and girls..bbc debates NEVER get your great input as on common dreams...most US contributors are neocon supporters and the incisive comments YOU make never get across to the British public..Can some of you register at the link above and tell HOW IT REALLY IS. just like you do on here!!! PLEASE. the UK NEEDS to know the truth about Bush and his fascist henchmen! Tx...Roger

Daniel,

"If Dennis isn't nominated, I'll go with Barack, John, Hillary, or whomever they pick. So far, Dennis too has also seen that approach as his own brand of patriotism."

I think Dennis' support of the Democratic Party is also his greatest weakness, at least at present; I don't think it's about patriotism though, thankfully. (I think patriotism is nothing less than a highly pernicious form of brainwashing, but that's another topic.) It's strategic on his part - someone needs to rail against these winners (that would be called sarcasm, they're anything but), and he's in a good position to do so.

As far as going with the tide - well, it's your conscience, do what you will. Personally, I'm much more in the thinking of Cindy Sheehan: I'll break my voting hand before I do such a thing. How many times are we supposed to be conned by this BS before we realize that we're being suckered into a losing strategy? No thanks.

At the least, we need third parties; but what we really need is a movement that is committed to lasting change, that is both non-hierarchical and grass-roots. I look forward to the day when you finally at long last realize that your beloved party is stabbing you in the back as much as the rest of us, Daniel, and join us.

el mysterio,

"Alas, I'm convinced that we're all doomed to an existence of slavery. It's just a matter of time before we're all required to have an RFID chip in order to conduct daily business… and it's at that point that we lose our souls."

If there's one thing that slaves do consistently, it's escape. The moment they force RFID chips on us is when we use whatever is at our disposal to find a way around them. There is hope - gather with your friends, and find comfort and knowledge in each other.

Kucinich can only win if he gets the most money. Period.

I have donated to and am voting for Kucinich because his views reflect mine far more than any of the other candidates. End of story.

Kucinch needs money go to the website and donate. All of you who do support him, check out the phone banking for Nevada on the website we need your voice.

I can't support Kucinich because he remains a Democrat. Sorry, but that's the law in Colorado. In order to support Kucinich in the caucuses, I'd have to be a registered member of the Democratic Party. And since the overall policy of the Democratic Party is one of supporting every war since Vietnam and a continual expansion of pro-corporate government, I couldn't possibly register as a Democrat.

His endorsement of Kerry in 2004 was telling. The same as his coming endorsement of Hillary is equally telling. When push comes to shove, Kucinich will choose to support candidates and a party that I find abhorent. When push comes to shove, we know Kucinich will not stand by his values. He'll place his membership and acceptance in a pro-war, pro-corporate party as being more important that what he tries everyday to convince us to believe in.

I supported Kucinich and went to the caucuses for him in 2004. But now that he's made if very, very clear that he doesn't really believe in what he's saying, I don't see the point in doing it this time around. In fact I view the Kucinich campaign as a complete waste of time, energy and resources.

Come August, Kucinich will have lost in the phony rigged game that's the Democratic party. And he'll be here on the stage in the Pepsi Center endorsing a candidate who's policies I find abhorent. And we'll look around and all the time and energy and resources that have gone into the Kucinich campaign will have accomplished nothing and built nothing that lasts beyond the last primary.

Put this time and energy into building a party that can represent us. And if Kucinich really believes in what he's saying, he should leave the Democratic Party and help with that effort.

I like Dennis and his positions. However it was clearly demonstrated in 2004 that most Democrats don't like him personally (perhaps too short or ugly - sorry dude). Is Dennis the *only* congressman or politician to make sense? I believe there has to be a willing and electable progressive public figure in the USofA. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Progressives need to find a well known public figure that is willing and electable and stand behind him. Democrats.com has been running a fantasy presidential poll for years now, however it does not restrict to willing and electable progressive democrats only. The Draft Gore campaign is a little wishful thinking since I suspect he's probably cut a deal with the DLC/DNC/PNAC/HeritageFund etc. to stay out of the race.

Who is willing and electable?

Quick question on Kucinich. Next August, where will he be?

Next August, there will be major protests here in Denver against the policies of the Democratic Party. If he really believes in what he says, he'll be out in the streets with us. That's where the people who support his policies will be.

But instead, you'll find him inside the Pepsi Center endorsing the very policies he says he opposes by endorsing the nominee that supports them.

If I find Kucinich out on the streets with me next August, then I'll change my opinion of him. If I find him leaving the Democratic Party to lead an independent campaign for the Presidency, then I'll change my opinion of him.

With any Democrat, watch actions, don't listen to their words. And I'd be very, very surprised if Kucinich's actions next August won't be to be inside the Pepsi Center supporting a candidate and policies that his words say he opposes.