Kucinich in news in Iowa

[cryofan]

Dennis Kucinich is making some news in Iowa. Here are some of the articles:



From:

http://www.dailyiowan.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=559436


Some excerpts from the above URL:

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Kucinich stumps on, ignoring skeptics

By Jeffrey Patch - The Daily Iowan
Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, begins virtually every sentence with the same eight words - "As the next president of the United States ..."

Kucinich clearly believes that mantra, but he's had a tough time persuading major media outlets and other candidates that he's for real, often being consigned to the realm of a "low-tier" and "long-shot" candidate.

"It's about people going with your hearts and not just who you think is going to win," Kucinich told The Daily Iowan in a meeting with editors and a reporter.

The progressive congressman maintains a loyal following among UI students. Hundreds of people crammed into the IMU Wheelroom to hear Kucinich deliver a blaringly loud speech outlining his vision and condemning President Bush.

"The students on this campus can send not just a message but a vision to America," he said. "You can start a campaign on anger, but you can't move a nation on anger."

Kucinich raised the decibel level so much, a few audience members were seen smiling awkwardly, holding their ears.

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Asked about his flip-flop on abortion - he now supports a woman's right to choose after years of voting in the House showed otherwise - he said, "I support a litmus test for Supreme Court justices. I didn't come to that decision overnight. It was a journey for me."

The former Cleveland mayor also told a few students representing Students for a Sensible Drug Policy that marijuana "ought to be decriminalized. But I'm not interested in promoting the drug. I don't even smoke."

In his meeting with the DI Editorial Board on Nov. 14, Kucinich said he offers the clearest alternative to President Bush.

"When people choose me in the Iowa caucuses, they will have a chance to choose between the night that exists in Washington and a new day," he said.

Kucinich also compared the Pentagon to a Mafia protection racket.

"We're told that if we only spend more money, we will be OK. The Pentagon did not stop 9/11. As long as there's fear, people say, 'Whatever you need.' "

The 57-year-old complained about the other candidates' positions on health care, saying their plans to insure people fall short of his pitch to cover everyone in a single-payer system.

"I'm not an insurance salesman," he said. "Insurance salesmen are wonderful people, but the president should not be selling insurance."

E-mail DI reporter Jeffrey Patch at:

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Also from
http://www.dailyiowan.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=559170

Some excerpts:
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Kucinich deserves a second look
Editorial

By DI Editorial Board

In the upcoming presidential election, the candidate considered to have the most progressive views is Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. In a meeting with the Daily Iowan Editorial Board last week, Kucinich asserted that, as the election draws nearer, he will emerge as the clear alternative to the contentious policies of the current administration.

If elected, Kucinich's first act would be to withdraw the United States from the World Trade Organization and North American Free Trade Association. He thinks both groups cater to the greed of corporations and sacrifice fair labor as a result.

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He is in favor of reducing the Pentagon's budget, and he opposed President Bush's request for $87 billion to help restore Iraq.

"Where does that money come from? That money comes from our domestic agenda. It comes from money that should go to education, housing, health care," Kucinich told the DI.

While his strong commitment to peace is admirable, at this point, to pull U. S. troops out of Iraq is not feasible. When the U.S. forces invaded Iraq and removed Saddam Hussein from power, it became America's responsibility to establish a new government and restore order. Regardless of whether it was a good decision to intervene in the first place, the U.S. government is fundamentally required to clean up the mess it created.

Like most of the Democratic candidates, if elected, Kucinich plans to repeal Bush's tax cuts, which, he contends, favor only the wealthy. With the billions saved from holding tax rates to the status quo and reducing the defense budget, Kucinich wants to appropriate money to all 50 states that would make public colleges and universities free for all students.

As idealistic as his free education plan is, he still needs to examine the long-term effects of such a measure.

He is trailing significantly in the polls, which leads many Democrats to ask, "Why would I vote for a guy who can't win?"

It is important to note that, though Kucinich's campaign has received scant media attention to date, his message resonates loudly with those who care to listen. At this weekend's Jefferson Jackson Day fund raiser, he received a standing ovation.

"Electability" is a term often discussed in regards to the pool of potential candidates. However, such decisions should be based on a candidate's beliefs, as opposed to how often those beliefs grace the headlines.

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Also, from:
http://www.dailyiowan.com/main.cfm?include=detail&storyid=559263

Some excerpts:
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Finding the real star in star power
News Analysis

By Calvin Hennick - The Daily Iowan
"Star power" has been a hot topic among Democrats lately. Several months ago, Bill Clinton said the party had two rising stars: His wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and retired Gen. Wesley Clark.

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Although many in the national media have reported that Rodham Clinton eclipsed the candidates, it was actually the other way around. In fact, it's possible that some of these national reporters on tight deadlines headed toward the filing room without ever hearing the candidates.

Rodham Clinton received an enthusiastic welcome from the crowd, but her speech was not the highlight. She said much of what the other candidates have been saying for months and added little new.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry made a strong showing at the event, as did North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.


Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich finished his speech to a standing ovation, which is more than Rodham Clinton can boast.


The real story, however, was former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, who brought a 43-bus caravan of supporters to the event. The place erupted when he was introduced, and much of the crowd joined in chants of "We want Dean" throughout the night. At one moment during his speech, Dean's rooting section unfurled three enormous banners, each emblazoned with a different word: Win. With. Dean.

Dean ended his speech by engaging the crowd in the chant "You have the power." There seemed to be the sense that this was about a movement, not a candidate.

Rodham Clinton is only a star for the same reason that George W. Bush was a star in the 2000 election: She shares her last name with a former president. Although such star power may get people to turn out to big-ticket fund-raisers, it won't necessarily get them to the polls.

Dean, on the other hand, may be a "weak" candidate on a number of levels: He's from a small rural state. Whether deserved or not, he's perceived by many as angry and divisive. But he showed this weekend that, if anyone has the star power to take the White House, it's probably him.

This weekend should have put to rest the conversation about star power. Rodham Clinton draws a crowd, but Dean excites them. For whatever reason, the national media continue to ignore that, much as they've ignored Kucinich's ability to thrill his audience.


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Well, some pretty slanted and loaded language there, but at least they are spelling his name right, etc....

[redqueen]

1. Thanks for posting these.

Looks like I have some letters to write. :)

[Rainbowreflect]

2. Thanks

I was laying in bed the other night, thinking about a friend asking me why I supported Dennis over the other dems. It popped into my head that I believe this country is balancing on the edge of disaster, about to fall into the abyss. While I believe any of the dem candidates can build a bridge over the abyss created by the current administration. I believe that Kucinich would give this country wings to rise above. A little poetic maybe, but it is how I feel.