Right On Dennis! Nothing "quirky" about this man. He speaks truth to power! Since when is straight talk quirky? I think the mainstream press is "quirky" for not providing balanced, non judgemental, reporting of these so-called "debates" which are really sound bites.

When you see these statements on the front page of newspapers there will be hope . . . . Until then keep your power dry and find a smile where you can.

That's my guy! He is one of the bravest, most honest politicians out there. That is exactly why the media (propaganda machine) portray him as a non-contender. The powers that be are spineless, corrupt liars who could not tell the truth if this country's fate hung in the balance, which I believe it does. There isn't another presidential candidate out there that isn't in the pockets of corporate America. Go get em Dennis!

Yes his mental health and the effects on our collect health being subjected to his&co's streams of lies. And the health of the individuals in the media in presenting his statements as truth. Even statements like "Kucinich, a quirky, long-shot candidate in the race for his party's presidential nomination in the November, 2008 election." even statements like that are a little crazy for the misdirection that is there. Kucinich being a contender means we don't accept any marginalization of his candidacy or his history or position. Write Reuters now and tell them to stop it!

Right on, Kucinich, tell it to those twisted souls in the White House.

To fredhb:

excellent rejoinder on the use of the word 'quirky' by Reuters, which is obviously meant to downplay Kucinich and his public interventions.

Note also the use of 'long-shot' which aims at disqualifying Kucinich before the game is even over.

Yep, Reuters, a very objective and fair news agency!

I've been questioning Bush Jr's mental health for years now. But I do not think this will make Kucinich any new friends. If Kucinich was a front-runner, the Rovian machine would be called in to destroy him. Remember Howard Dean?

This is the one candidate who speaks from a position of honesty and integrity and nothing but honesty and integrity.

I was watching the debate last night; DK was so clearly head and shoulders above the other candidtates in terms of speaking truth to power, ability to recognize and address the core issues, eloquence, passion, and integrity. No other candidate was even close. You could see that the other candidates were uncomfortable with him. They have sold their souls in their grab for power. Dennis has not; his mere presence in the race shames them all. They won't admit it, but they know it.

But I just get so sad. It was 24 minutes into the debate before Dennis got to say anything. By the time I gave up after 10:00 PM, he still had not been asked a direct question--one that he was supposed to be the first to address. I don't think he got even half the time either Clinton, Obama, or Edwards were allowed.

And this is a reflection of Dennis' suffering at the hands of the mainstrean media. He would have to strip naked and masturbate on stage to get any more than the paltry coverage. He will never get the coverage he deserves.

Even the so-called "progressive" media basically ignore him. I don't think Keith Olberman has ever had a kind word to say, publicly, about Dennis. I am almost certain that Dennis has never been a guest on Olberman's show. (I may be wrong: I am old and my memory is starting to go. I may have just missed it.)Dave Sirota ignores him; Dave is too busy trying to convince us that Edwards is a populist. As if.

Yet Dennis carries on. He must be exhausted. He must know how big the task is and how determined to stop him the establishment is. His very life is the definition of courage. I love this man.

I don't think I'll watch any more debates. I don't think I'll watch any more news. I just get weary. I just can't stand it. I cannot bear to watch as he is left to wither and die.

The difference between the Kucinich and Dean incidents is that Kucinich is taped taking a truthful shot at the Busher while Dean is caught in an over the top reaction. If a Rovian ploy chose to replay the Kucinich comment enough times perhaps Americans would finally realize that they have a non-raving lunatic steering our ship of state.

well, we must all remember to predicate everything on the simple reality that the entire world has finally gone totally insane. the whole world is nuts.

Was anyone else here working for this guy back in 2004 like I was? Anyone remember what happened? Being somewhat honest about his chances of election, the purported purpose of all that work and money many of us put into him was to "influence the Democratic (sic) platform at the convention." You know, maybe something about that pesky illegal war thing...

In case you don't remember, here's a synopsis. Kerry saluted and "reported for duty." Kucinich immediately rolled over like a trained dog, and instructed his delegates to wholeheartedly support Kerry without reservation. Not a SINGLE ATTEMPT was made to do a damn thing to the platform of the Corpo-Dems. Not even a speech. No negotiation. Nothing; all that time and money was a complete waste. Why didn't we sign up with the Kerry campaign in the first place? After all those "differences" were allegedly highlighted during his campaign between him and the other "candidates", the moment it counted he fell into formation like a soldier obeying his CO. This "quirky" guy is nothing more than the DNC's Pied Piper, sent out to call back all the wayward progressives who may be starting to finally get the crazy idea that the D's are just as complicit as the R's.

Fool me once... won't get fooled again, eh? See if he doesn't do the exact same thing again next year. You'll have to look on your own though... you won't find any more of these flattering articles on CD when he does it.

Until very recently, the Bush-Cheney-Rove propaganda machine had convinced the majority of Americans that they had more to fear from terrorist bogeymen than they did from climate change. This is the Bush-Cheney Regime's penultimate crime against humanity!

Well Yea Irish Bear,
I supported Dennis last time too and made some great friends along the way and so I am gonna vote for him again if we get a primary down here in Ann Coulter country.

Sure he won't win...hell that ain't my problem... he is the anchor of the progressives in The Democratic Party or the left wing of the Republicratic political War Machine and he was the only Dem in the debate that brought up "Impeach" on TV.

Hey, he even saw a UFO at Shirley Mclain's, He can't be all that bad....
I guess I just like the little guy because he is from Cleveland too and we have to stick together to survive the persecution and Dennis made me smile.

ah, shrub, the perfect president for the age of fox: fairly unbalanced.

Yeah - well his Dean moment could be the UFO answer; but I don't care. He still has integrity possessed by none of the others. At this stage of the game, he could take a squat on stage and I'd still vote for him.

As someone who has been a mental health professional for over 25 years I can say, based on observations, that Bush is at the very least emotionally disengaged, lacking in empathy, and displays a polarization in his thought patterns that speaks to a "black and white" view of the world. He should, at the very least, be examined by a panel of nongovernmental mental healthprofessionals. I believe it is likely he would be considered unfit for office.

If Dennis is the most progressive candidate on the ballot here in Minnesota, he'll unite Dems and most progressives.

If it's Hillary, expect a splinter.

His honesty is refreshing. Bush is nuts.

Irish Bear wrote: "Not a SINGLE ATTEMPT was made to do a damn thing to the platform of the Corpo-Dems. Not even a speech. No negotiation. Nothing; all that time and money was a complete waste."

I'm a registered Green Party voter in Maryland, who not only donated money to Kucinich's 2004 Democratic primary campaign but distributed Kucinich literature door to door. I don't feel that my time and money was a complete waste. Far from it.

Your description of Kucinich's action at the Democratic convention in 2004 is flatly wrong. There was plenty of hard negotiation over the platform. They were not able to get much changed. Kerry was the nominee; Kerry was going to get the platform he wanted. As for supporting the Democratic nominee, what was Kucinich going to do? Quit the party and run as an independent? Kucinich didn't order any of his delegates to vote for Kerry; he released them to vote their consciences.

Kucinich is engaged in a long-term project to build a strong progressive political consituency within the Democratic Party. He knows he is not going to win the nomination in 2008; his candidacy is a vehicle for that constituency to organize around so that it can eventually win nominations and elections in the future.

I think Kucinich is very smart about what he's doing, and has been and is very successful at organizing and constituency-building.

I was a registered Democrat since 1972, switched my registration to the Green Party to help them get permanent ballot access in Maryland, switched back to Democrat in 2000 out of disgust with Ralph Nader (who, although he was the Green Party nominee in 2000, is not and has never been a member of the Green Party, and in 2004 declined to seek the nomination of the Green Party and ran as an independent), and then switched back to the Green Party, basically out of disgust with the corruption of local Democratic politicians.

I don't think there is an "either-or" choice for progressives, between working to organize a progressive movement within the Democratic Party as Kucinich is doing, or supporting the Green Party and helping to build it up from the grassroots, from local and state elections, to Congress and maybe eventually to a real shot at the Presidency. Both are long term projects and both are needed.

As usual, I've learned more from the comments here than I did from the article. Thanks to all.

I too think Bush may be mentally ill. Frankly, considering his former addiction to alcohol and cocaine, if he had not been born into a powerful family and selected president he may have ended up a homeless person raving on a street corner somewhere.

Parenthetically, this is one more analogous factor linking the Bush regime to Nazi Germany, since some historians now believe Hitler was also mentally ill.

To fredhb:

Please don't ask the MM to be "balanced." Balanced journalism means that if someone says the Earth is round, the journalist has to find someone to say it's flat to "balance" the story. If 99% of climate scientists say climate change is real and is being driven by human activity, the journalist has to seek out the 1% (who are paid by Big Carbon) to say they aren't so sure. The goal of conscientious journalists should be objectivity, not balance.

Can't wait to see what Keith Olbermann says today about Chris Mathews' whoring for the MSM oligarchy by making DK the butt of a joke.

Secularanimist: Thank you from the bottom of my heart for setting the "nobody's good enough for me" people straight. I try to be tolerant. but that type of criticsm wears me out as much as the hate Nadar/blame Nadar types. Get a grip folks. And get your damned facts straight! I, for one am damned glad to have him in the fray, especially considering how shabbily his own party treats him, not to mention the "king makers" in the MSM. Dennis is quite aware of his long shot odds---probably even that if he managed to get a real chance to be President, his life would be in terrible danger. But damn it, folks! He believes in something other than his political future. and fortunes. Name me one other Democrat running for President who fits that bill. He is the conscience, not just of the Democratic Party, but of the nation's electorate, and still some of you will whine and complain that he let you down. Anyone who speaks truth, anyone who exudes the decency and leadership qualities that DK does, is a beacon of hope for all of us, and if people fail to see it, well then, it is really their own blindness that prevents them. I don't have to back a "winner". I just want to support anyone who represents what Dennis Kucinich does. Apart from Cynthia McKinney, name me one politician who has unabashedly put their money where their mouth is, and who refused to back down against overwhelming force to defeat them. DK knows exactly what his odds are, and it is amazing and incredibly inspiring, that he gets up every single day and just keeps doing it. How anyone could not admire that, is beyond my ability to comprehend!

My favorite part of this article is where DK says,"If there's not something wrong with him then there's something wrong with us".

Well said and nicely done DK--I am hoping (and getting ready to do my part come primary and general election time)for your success.

THE WAR MACHINE'S MENECE ... VOTE DENNIS!

Let's not forget that Cynthia McKinney is running as a green party candidate next year.

Although Dennis still has my vote (and always has!) Cynthia is most definitely an honest progressive thinker. This woman is not afraid to stand up to the Rovians, nor to the military industrial complex.

There is obviously something wrong with significqnt segment of the voters who helped this unlearned & reckless person with a disdain for the environment as well as logic, steal the election from a resposible and knowledgeable candidate with an apprecian and understanding of the environment. Therein lies the real problem

there is no room for honesty and integrity in american politics. it is nothing but money. the american people are getting cheated, when a solid man like dennis can't even get out of the shute.

Interesting, since the Bush admin. after the Virginia Tech shooting rampage, took that as an excuse to started going through the private mental health records of ALL Americans in the last year to find out who they could take guns away from. Remember, depression=mental illness too.

Now we have possibly the most dangerous person on Earth (Tex)in control of BOEING(advertiser on Public TV) Nuke cruise missiles, Bombers and chem weapons who really should have an independent mental health assessment done on him to make sure he is umm...sane?....mentally fit?

WTF - "But I do not think this will make Kucinich any new friends."

I think you might have missed K's point. K isn't trying to make friends of the establishment. Rather, he's calling attention to one insane person's behavior and shouting a wake up call to the rest of us who stand by and watch the insanity continue. If the MSM paints K as irresponsible they once again become an accomplice to Bushco's crimes of insanity. Dennis made a very calculated move to show the people how the MSM will defend one of their own by demonizing or trivializing the whistleblower's message. There is nothing careless about this man.

"America's political system is a large and complex criminal conspiracy. Most voters enable it without benefiting from it. Voting is a ploy of the two-party power elites to keep the population docile, delusional and duped. Our government has been hijacked in plain sight, despite elections. We cannot get it back by voting. All the main candidates are part of the conspiracy. Voting only encourages them. In our fake democracy corrupt politicians use doses of voting as a political narcotic. We must free more Americans of the addiction. Otherwise they will keep hallucinating that some Democratic or Republican President or controlled Congress will actually give us the changes we crave for."

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/10/31/004750.php

Dennis is a very rare exception!

The only way Dennis will lose the election is for the people, who like him and his stand on the issues,vote for someone else. Vote your conscience and heart - Vote for Dennis Kucinich.
I worked on his campaign in 2004, and we raised lots of money (for us) for his campaign. Dennis is the only candidate to whom I have contributed this election cycle.

What is there to question? Bush is a f@#$cking moron! The empirical evidence speaks for itself!

Nice to hear someone state the facts clearly.

We need a new Third Party that dispenses with the "Left vs Right" talk radio mentality B.S., and embraces a simple philosophy: Freedom vs. Authoritarianism. The Authoritarians are the enemy of mankind.

Dennis and Ron Paul could run together on the same ticket.

"Dennis and Ron Paul could run together on the same ticket."

they would totally disagree on social programs. Paul is a Libertarian, Kucinich is a left of center Progressive.

That said, they both have some good things to say.

For Bush to not know the weight of his words as president of our nation after nearly 7 years shows that he is neither competent (something which was evident in his 2000 campaign) nor responsible enough for the job.

The Bush administration is the worst disaster to ever befall this nation.

Well, I know Kucinich is socialist and Paul is a paleoconservative, but they are more alike WHERE IT REALLY MATTERS than any other two candidates.

As usual, Dennis Kucinich shows the way. I have wasted hours agonizing over a description of Bush that would capture his bizarre essence. I have called him a creep, a frat-boy, a moron, a war criminal, a cowardly draft-dodger, a moral imbecile, an intellectual pervert, a liar, and a louse. The only thing I didn't call him was mentally ill, and that, of course, is the best description of all. Thank you Dennis.

good, now if we could get a few Psychiatrist to question his sanity, and if found lacking, institutionalize him!

I thought Bush was a loonie on a binge when he was first elected. I believe he is a puppet of the corporations.

Because they made so many mistakes in supporting the president in his rush to "war on terrorism" they continue to turn a blind I to the obvious. I have been voting in elections in this country for 50 years, and I know that people like
Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul, Barry Goldwater, McGovern, and on and on have no chance of getting elected, not because they are quirky, but because they tell the truth. As was once said in a film, "You can't handle the truth" and I believe that Americans in general would much rather hear someone spin them a tale than to hear the truth. That's one of the reasons that we have hedge fund managers paying 15% on hundreds of millions of dollars of "income" because that money has been defined as "capital gains," another fantasy that the politicians have sold to the American public as a truth. Vote out everyone that is in and start over again. It couldn't be any worse than it is now.
And, yes, I think that our president is suffering from a diagnosable disability, and I have a fair amount of experience in dealing with people like him.

I don't care how electable truthtellers are. They'll always have my vote.

"If there isn't something wrong with him, then there's something wrong with us."

Yes, Dennis - it's us....or more accurately "them" - not us on Common Dreams. We know what's what, and we know you are the one to lead America. Would that "they'd" only give you a chance!

Keep on sockin'it to 'em- harder and harder!!

I've been saying for a long time that a madman has the wheel. Kucinich is correct. Everyone should be questioning Bush's sanity; failure to do so may result in war with Iran!

I read quickly thru these responses - don't see that anyone mentioned "Bush on the Couch" - read it. Very revealing. As a govt employee, Bush needs to be drug tested and NOW - and regularly from hereonin. He lacks basic knowledge and intelligence, and he is not even close to being a critical thinker. I blame everyone who voted for him - AND GORE for not contesting the 2000 vote - for the damage done to my country and the rest of the world under GWB's watch. God help us all.

doughyden: "I don't think I'll watch any more debates. I don't think I'll watch any more news. I just get weary. I just can't stand it. I cannot bear to watch as he is left to wither and die."

Amen, My Brother. I am with you. The weariness has taken its toll on me as well. There is no hope for this country when a man like this is flushed away on ALL sides...None.

the media and establishment will do everything in their power to minimize and dismiss the fearless clear-headedness of a true public servant like Kucinich. "Quirky" is cute, small, whimsical, not to be taken seriously. Anyone who doesn't take Kucinich's words about Bush's mental health seriously is asleep at the wheel.

A man like Bush who pushes the big pharmacueticals on with his investment should be taking a few pharmie drugs for his Mental Illness. I believe that King George is a undiagnosed Loonie, In the world of the mentally ill the field that I work in :we are called the Walking Wounded. Well George Bush has alot of wounded Vets he better see his past term as a haunting PTSd Post traumatic spokeman disorder.... he realy does not know English, I say he is a delusional paranoid Schizophrenic Goerge Bush's diagnosis

doughden & celebrity...I feel connected to what you are saying..Dennis is all that keeps me going. There are children that I love that live in Iran. I just sent Dennis another check..I hope everyone else sends him $, too. he is the only hope, as I see it. Worked on his campaign in 2004, do now and will work on his re-election in 2012!

After this comment on the President's mental health, During the debate last night, Russert asked Congressman Kucinich if he ever saw any UFO's. I feel that this question was in retaliation. Shades of Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson. Now Dennis is being classified as a nut by the established media.

"Kucinich, a quirky, long-shot candidate."

I am really tired of this kind of "journalism."

And now they're gonna burn him at the stake about some UFO thing.

Crazy.

What in the world do people see in the other candidates except what they are being sold to see?

And to think I was considering voting for Kucinich just because he has the best looking wife of the whole bunch. This guy has brains!

Great comments by all.

I hear also, despair, in many comments. And I think the reason for that is, while confronted with a deranged and morally bankrupt leadership (which has been left unchecked to continue its damage), we don't believe, really, that Dennis can be nominated as the Democratic choice to help lead us out of this mess.

I would offer this note of encouragement. Every one of the democratic contenders is WAY better than Bush and Company. We really would begin a great process of undoing and redoing even if our only option is Hillary.

So don't give up quite yet, even if we don't see progress in, firstly, the MSM objectively reporting political content, and secondly, in Dennis' numbers and support beginning a reasonable surge upwards.

To repeat -- any of the Democratics running for office is much better than Bush. And the debate last night reminded me that in 50-70% of the problems that we need to tackle, even the "worst" among the Dem hopefuls will bring us forward on those problems.

We need to keep our despair of the Dems down to a management level, also, because we need to keep our focus on who the true "opponent" is -- currently Bush, and next year, Giulliani.

So, while you may be aware that Dennis faces an uphill battle, don't let it bring you down. Even he knows that his chances are slim, and yet he wants his ideas to be given air. They have been. This is a positive.

And while the media sucks, which it has for a while, it is up to us to guard this estate, and it is up to the hopefuls to guard this estate, and no one seems to be under any great illusion about this. Not only Dennis, but the others recognize the failure of the MSM.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Please don't despair of this.