I havta admit -- Dennis K disappointed me last night

[Armstead]

Personally, Dennis the K represents my views almost totally. (And I'm what could be considered a mainstream liberal.) I also respect him as a person of integrity and honesty and directness.

I also believe that he is amazingly informed, articulate and thoughtful. I furthermore believe that if more people had a chance to hear him really discuss the issues and his proposed policies, they'd realize that they agree with him, and that he actually does represent the true interests and aspirations of the "mainstream" more than almost any other candidate.

But unfortunately he doesn't do well in debates. Last night was a perfect opportunity to put himself and his ideas across. But he blew it.

He allowed the whole debate about healthcare take place without inserting the truth about his own position, and about the need to move beyond the band-aid corporatist approach. He also let the whole crap about Iran go by.

Instead he asserted himself where he should not have -- on the question of 18 year old drinking. And then he further marginalized his image by adding that 16 year olds should vote.

Oh Dennis, Dennis.....


It's true that Russert Potatoe did the usual MSM thing of trying to avoid him. However, Dennis doesn't do himself any favors by playing into their hands with flaky stuff like that.

And furthermore, he has to somehow address the dark side of life, in terms of national defense. His "Strength Through Peace" is certainly a worthy goal. I'd rather live in Dennis's world where that is possible.

But the reality is that there are bad people and bad groups and bad countries in the world. There are instances where we can't solve a crisis with love-bombs. Dennis has to make clearer what he would do in situations in which military action or other non-peaceful strategies might be necessary.

I wish, instead of these stupid debates, more people had the opportunity to hear him in venues like the 3-hour Ed Schultz interview. But since we're stuck with this as a primary playing field, DK needs to open up more to reality.

[KansDem]

1. I don't know, any Dem who ABC fears is o.k. in my book...

I must admit I'm not following the primaries too closely at this point. I have been reading debate transcripts but have not been watching them. DU news and analysis about these debates is also very helpful. However, I intend to vote in the general election next year for whomever's name ends with capital "D."

But I will say that any Democrat who scares ABC deserves a closer look...

[Armstead]

2. I'm guessing you mean NBC

In any case, the primaries this time are especially important, if we really want a choice next year.

[KansDem]

4. I was referring to this thread...

ABC News Censors Dennis Kucinich

Why would ABC crop him out of its photo? And why the disappearing polls that showed Kucinich winning the debate? And why wait 45 minutes in a recent debate to ask him his first quesiton?

But if NBC is afraid of him too, then all the better! :)

[movonne]

3. The top 3 candidates disappointed me, that they cannot guarantee

us to be out of Iraq until 2013..

[bellasgrams]

5. How could anyone honestly 'guarantee'.

[Armstead]

7. Them too....But that's one reason I wanted DK to do better

Kucinich represents the honest and only justificble approach to Iraq at this point.

I would have liked to have heard him make that case in a forceful and effective way.

[Tellurian]

6. Russert's Bankrupting Cleavland was a dagger to DK's Campaign..

Voters by association will clearly see why DK's antics of taking a stand (bankrupting Cleavland) rather than finding a suitable compromise or remedy with their major municipal utility company, is just more evidence of DK's unsuitability to the highest office in the land.

[rucky]

8. compromise....major company....highest office...

projection?

[Tellurian]

13. introspection..

[RamboLiberal]

9. I'm disappointed he voted against SCHIP - Standing on his principle

My question is will he compromise if needed to override the Bush veto? How about the other 7 Dems who voted against it?

Dennis Kucinich voted no on SCHIP
I'd wager he might be the only Democrat to oppose the program.

The current SCHIP program in place expires in five days on September 30th. While both the House and Senate (the Senate will pass this version later this week. At last count 68 Senators were on board) have passed the bill that went through tonight, President Bush has promised to use SCHIP for a good 'ole, rip roarin veto fest (yeehaw). He hates the children, dontch'a know? Anyways, the jist of the matter is that tonight, Dennis' vote was immensely important seeing as next week plenty of kids won't be able to visit their doctors. Instead of standing by Ohio, our Children, and his district, Kucinich took the high road to presidential wannabe candy land, and played politics with children's health.

From Buckeye State Blog:

And DK's reason for the no vote?

“I cannot support legislation which extends health coverage to some children while openly denying it to other children,” Kucinich said. “This legislation is woefully inadequate: and I will not support it.

“Legal immigrant children deserve the same quality health care as other children receive. It is Congress’ responsibility to address the main difficulties that prevent legal immigrant children from gaining access to health care. Today, we did exactly the opposite.

“HR 676 guarantees full health care coverage for all children. When considering a universal health care proposal, HR 676, the Medicare for All bill, is the only health care plan that addresses three important issues: quality, accessibility, and cost. HR 676 stands alone in an increasingly crowded field of efforts to provide health care coverage to all,” Kucinich said.

I know someone else who's standing alone tonight. I'm ashamed

http://www.buckeyestateblog.com/dennis_and_his_progressive_screw_you_salute_to_ohios_children

[Armstead]

10. That kind of bothered me too

I hate the phrase "The perfect is the enemy of the good".....But sometimes that's the case.

[2rth2pwr]

11. Waadya mean you can't solve a crisis with a love bomb?

When the Dept Of Peace is in place there will be no more War.

[Armstead]

12. I wish....but the world behaves otherwise

[Auggie]

14. DK dissapointed me too

Though it seems he wasn't given much opportunity to speak. And then Russert brings up the Cleveland bankruptcy from 30 YEARS AGO.

[Armstead]

16. DK gave the right answer to that one IMO

But overall he didn't say what was needed about the big issues, and needsly added fodder to the "flaky" charge.

[slick8790]

17. Valid point, as discussed upthread.

If he's unwilling to compromise the slightest bit, he would not get anything done. Sorry, a candidate as pure as snow sounds good to some jabbering on the internet, but what good do ideals do if you won't budge the slightest inch to get something? Essentially, he's dealing in absolutes, something extremely irresonsible, especially for someone in politics.

[knight_of_the_star]

15. He seemed like he was off his game

When he was talking he seemed almost scattershot in how he was talking to be honest, like he was trying to say too much at once. Its not that I don't like his ideas, its that he didn't seem quite together last night.