Why is Kucinich still campaigning?

[FuriousMNDem]

Wild theory:

Is he running to try to set up a Green Party run? God, I hope not.

[incapsulated]

1. He's running...

For the delegates and therefore some influence on the Platform. And in the Party.

He's not going Green.

[Zinfandel]

28. Geeezzz, isn't that somethin to be happy about? WOW, who cares...right??

[incapsulated]

29. Uh...

Did I say something wrong?

I have no problem with Dennis having a say in the platform. Good for him. I was just correcting what the poster was saying.

:shrug:

[Padraig18]

45. He's won't have enough delegates to influence the platform.

The platform's gonna say what John Kerry wants it to say.

[oldhat]

2. Either

Vanity or ego.

[CharlesGroce]

6. you need to improve either

your comprehension skills or your actual knowledge of what's going on, because Kucinich has said why he's still running AND IT MAKES SENSE!

[oldhat]

10. LOL

Heh.

[leftistagitator]

11. Kucinich is a good man

He will stop campaigning after the nomination, and use what influence he has to convince Kerry to do the right thing and adopt an agressively progressive platform. He's not going Green or attacking Kerry in anyway, and he represents an important bridge between the Democratic Party and disenfranchised liberals.

[Webster Green]

14. That is cynical BS!

really!

[GreenArrow]

20. uh, find me a politician who doesn't have vanity or ego

DK is way down on that list.

[arcane1]

35. you are certainly paying attention

:eyes:

[El Supremo]

3. Why?

To try and convince Kerry that his support for any part of this war and occupation was wrong and is wrong.

[JI7]

4. no, he said he is going to support John Kerry

he is campaigning to spread his message. he knows he isn't going to be the nominee but he wants to get his message out. he mostly bashes bush and doesn't attack kerry so i don't see anything wrong with it.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

12. Will Kucinich get to say his piece at the convention?

That will only happen if the Kerry people see and advantage in it. I think it definitely should happen. The DKers will get their moment to sing the Internationale, and the hard core supporters of all candidates will see Kerry's people doing right by an erstwhile challenger. Reverse it and imagine how much leeway the Bush handlers will allow critical voices at the GOP convention.

So I hope DK gets to do his thang on national TV (even though the "liberal" networks won't even bother to show the convention), and then repay the favor by working his folks into a lather over JFK.

[no name no slogan]

24. Actually, the Dem leadership has been VERY welcoming of him

He recently opened his Boston convention office, and has been received warmly by the party and the Kerry campaign.

Why? Because they know that the people DK is bringing into the party are people who are either new voters, or those who have left the Democratic Party out of frustration because they've ignored progressive issues.

Also, there's a lot of Kucitizens who will be attending the convention as observers and volunteers, as well as delegates. There's a whole slew of events going on the week of the convention, including the Boston Social Forum (www.bostonsocialforum.com). There are busses coming from around the country for this convention, and the chance to work with the campaign on what we're going to do in the future

I have a feeling DK will get to speak at the convention. If he gives as rousing a speech in Boston as he's done on the campaign trail, it will definately get the delegates energized to win this fall.

Dennis Kucinich is not just running for president, or to get his message out. He's building a truly grassroots progressive movement that will affect the future of the party AND the country beyond this election. This campaign is a means to an end, not the end itself.

For most Democrats, their fight will end November 2. Ours will begin November 3, no matter who the president-elect is.

:D

[CharlesGroce]

5. I think you know whay he's still running

so stop being annoyed and start being democratic colleague.

[oldhat]

8. How about

How about Kuchinich starts being a Democratic collegue and backs Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry?

[no name no slogan]

25. Because the nomination's not official until after the convention in July

and, according to the Gregorian calendar used by most of the planet today, it's still May.

Funny, I don't recall as many people yelling at Jesse Jackson to bow out in 1988 when Dukakis got enough delegates for a first ballot victory. Why are you so worried about what Dennis Kucinich is doing?

:shrug:

[Kanary]

7. Wondered why we haven't had any of these lame posts lately

Maybe, try reading his website, before making false assumptions and getting yourself all in a lather.

[Terry_M]

9. Kucinich is Campaigning

So that DUers keep posting why is Kucinich still campaigning threads :P

[MercutioATC]

13. Because he's still a candidate?

Just a wild guess....

[mmm]

15. You bet he is! And he has something to say.

Dennis reminds us what being a Democratic is supposed to be about.

[Kenneth ken]

16. because

* he has honor and integrity - he said he was a candidate from the beginning to the convention.

* he is the best Democratic voice for progressive values in this country.

* he is doing what your sig line suggests - keeping alive progressive ideas and values.

does any of that bother you?

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ACK]

18. No I hope he just wants to move the platform to the left

And make the voice of the progressives heard in the convention.

In fact, that would be really cool and I think he has said that was what he was after but I am not sure.

_

[Radical Activist]

21. He did that for the entire primary

Kucinich did a good job of moving several of the candidates to the left, including Howard Dean. Really, Sharpton and Kucinich were controlling the debate in the primary even though the corporate media never gave them credit for it. I hope DK keeps it up!

[GreenArrow]

19. because someone has to tell the truth

and it isn't the two major party candidates. Kucinich has been right on pretty much every issue, unlike Kerry, and considerably more than that faux cowboy from Connecticut.

[cyclezealot]

22. Because when we his loyal supporters

Send him the cash to keep running and peg him to fight the good fight for a progressive platform, something of which we can be proud..
Something that actually solves some of our societal problems, instead of selling out to the interests that are trying to prevent real solutions...
I hope Kucinich keeps on the tug to make Kerry not be such a coward,somthing that will encourage the 50% of the voting public to not stay home because both parties are the same.
You think Kerry's Health care solutions and trade stands will stop the health care, job hemorage...? I don't ...

[Hippo_Tron]

23. He's running for the exact opposite reason of the one you stated...

Kucinich is running to bring green party voters BACK into the democratic party. His message is "Look, you can complain about imperialist foreign policy, corporate corruption, etc. or you can actually do something about it by coming back into the democratic party and showing John Kerry that he has a progressive base." I've been a Kerry supporter since mid 2003, but I sure appreciate the work that Dennis Kucinich is doing for the party.

[no name no slogan]

26. Excellent post

You nailed it right on the head.

As a Kucinich supporter, we've seen a lot of this type of remark over the last two years. We even had a constitutional officer of our state party say, in public, that Dennis Kucinich was going to defect and run as a Green anyway, so why should the Democrats bother with him?

We reported these comments to the party chairman, and he apologized to the campaign for this officer's remarks. It was only appropriate, considering all the Dennis has done for the party.

He was one of Al Gore's biggest champions in Ohio, where he persuaded many left-leaning voters to not vote for Nader and support Gore in 2000. He has consistently said, throughout this campaign, that he is a DEMOCRAT, and believes in supporting the party, and trying to influence it from within.

And his supporters have brought a lot of new energy to the party. In my state, we've won leadership positions within the party and are directing our efforts toward a new progressive movement in the state, made up of not only Kucitizens, but supporters of other candidates, too.

Thankfully, Kerry and the party leadership recognize this, and have been very receptive to Dennis. They know the importance of getting more Democratic voters to the polls, and they want to help us as much as we're helping them.

Sure, we've faced some resistance from some party hacks, but for the most part we've been welcomed with open arms. The Democrats know they need some new blood in order to keep the party relevant, and we've helped provide it.

[cyclezealot]

31. I want to vote for Kerry.

But I am not convinced at all that Kerry will be that much different about "Imperialist foreign policy,corporate corruption.. "
I think he has betrayed his words, 'who will be the las to die for a mistake."
Anyone see the reports, think posted here that Guardsmen called up for Iraq are driving trucks for Halliburton, since no Iraqi will do that job. Puting these reservists at greater danger.
Kucinich does not get Kerry to appeal to the 50% of us who feel it a waste of time to vote - it only encourages them...., I will have to force myself out of bed on election day.
Had Gore listened to Kucinich earlier and gone progressive earlier in the campaign, he would have more easlily won the election that he won.

[Hippo_Tron]

43. In order for it to work you have a little faith in Kerry...

I know he has recently taken several positions that many here disagree with but you have to remember that he doesn't do so by choice. The right wing has spent four years scaring the shit out of people and making anything that differs from their policy too much as "evil liberalism". This unfortunately means that Kerry has to run to the center a bit more than usual.

Now, step back from all of what Kerry's done almost all of his life. His years of taking liberal positions show that he would absolutely enact a progressive agenda once in office if he felt that the political climate would allow for it.

The basic difference between Kerry and Kucinich is that Kerry is extremely politically ambitious. Kucinich takes the positions he believes in and lets the world know about it. Kerry tries to do what he feels is right but will take no position publicly that will seriously hurt his chances of being elected. He's a politician, and politics is about winning. Nonetheless, he's a politician with a good head and a good heart. He wants to help America but knows he can't do that if he doesn't get elected.

Basically, what I am saying is that Kerry might not be on that path to be the president that we want him to be, he absolutely has the potential to be. What we need to do is show him that he has the support he needs on the left to take those positions that he wants.

And look at it this way. Getting Kerry to take more liberal positions is a hell of a lot easier than getting Ralph Nader elected.

[cyclezealot]

34. One reason for hope for Kerry

Among we skeptics of Kerry not happy with his war position. AMbassador Joe Wilson was on Democracy Now this morning..Wilson is on Kerry's campaign staff.. Kerry knows of the Bush corruption in regards to this war...Palmer leak is Treason.
With Wilson on his staff, maybe Kerry is just holding off his war criticism until the right time..? If not....Trying to appear balanced and fair..Like Fox news.

[Zinfandel]

27. Fuck this...

Have you listened? Considered perhaps, there just might be someone speaking, almost silently, the words perhaps you really need to hear???

Only for a the true progressive Democratic message...that obviously... only very few are hearing...it can't go on like this...Just listen.

why... http://www.kucinich.us/

Spend a little time...to understand, Dennis Kucinich WHY?

No reason.

[eridani]

30. Because he was right about Iraq?

And the Dem position needs to reflect that?

[LWolf]

32. Even "morning edition" said so this morning.

Of course, they didn't mention his name. But I heard a piece discussing that while * and many dems, including Kerry, support staying in Iraq, there is a growing movement from both sides to bring our troops home. More people are finally, a year and too many lost lives late, realizing that we shouldn't have gone to begin with, and we need to get out now.

Like the prophet without honor, Dennis never seems to get the credit, even among his own, but he has been a driving force since the beginning.

AND HE WAS, AND IS, RIGHT!

[goodhue]

33. Oregon primary is Tuesday. Here is current schedule . . .

http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.php

Friday, May 14

Grants Pass, Oregon
8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Grants Pass Forum
Ambassador Auditorium
604 NW 6th St.
Contact: John Granacki, [phone] (W): [phone] (H)

Cave Junction, Oregon
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Cave Junction Forum
Blue Moon Coffee & Books
119 N. Redwood Highway
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Sparrow Hansbuer, [phone] (W); [phone] (H)

Brookings, Oregon
2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Brookings Forum
Chetco Community Public Library Meeting Room
405 Alder St.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Pat Sherman, [phone]

Bandon, Oregon
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Bandon Forum
Bandon Community Center
1100 W. 11th
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Janet Bates, [phone] (H); [phone] (C)

All items subject to change. More details will be posted as soon as available.


Saturday, May 15

Florence, Oregon
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Florence Forum
Siuslaw (Florence) Public Library
1460 9th St.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Jeff Mason, [phone]
Contact: Stuart Henderson, [phone]

Lincoln City, Oregon
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Lincoln City Forum
Bijou Movie & Coffee Lounge
1624 NE Highway 101
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Sarah Gray, [phone]

Oregon City, Oregon
4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Rural Organizing Project: Rural Caucus & Strategy Session
Atkinson Memorial Church
710 6th St.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Marcy Westerling, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wykanushpun Gala
Governor Hotel
611 SW 10th Ave.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Donald Samson, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
7:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Iranian-American Professional Society of Oregon Scholarship Gala & Fundraiser
Portland State University, Hoffman Hall
1833 SW 11th Ave.
Contact: Massoud Jourabchi, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Savannah Social Hour
Savannah Caribbean Restaurant
105 NW 3rd Ave.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Woodrow "Woody" Broadnax, [phone]

All items subject to change. More details will be posted as soon as available.


Sunday, May 16

Gresham, Oregon
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Gresham Forum
Java Bay Coffee
3030C NE Hogan Dr.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Barry Ball, [phone] (H); [phone] (C)

Oregon City, Oregon
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Oregon City Forum
Clackamas Community College Community Center
19600 Molalla Ave.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Taylor Wrenn, [phone] (H); [phone] (C)

Lake Oswego, Oregon
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Lake Oswego Forum
Lake Oswego High School Auditorium
2501 SW Country Club Rd.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Lelah, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Random Acts of Dennis
NW 23rd Ave. between Glison & Lovejoy
Contact: Renee Hyatt, [phone]

Hillsboro, Oregon
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Hillsboro Forum
Sweet Oregon Grill
6393 NW Cornelius Pass Rd.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Molly Wilson, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Animal and Human Rights Forum
Lewis & Clark Law School; McCarty Classroom Complex, Rm. 1
10015 SW Terwilliger Blvd.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Matt Russell, [phone]

All items subject to change. More details will be posted as soon as available.


Monday, May 17

Portland, Oregon
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Presentation
Catlin Gables High School
8825 SW Barnes Road
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Roberta Cohen, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
A Morning with Dennis Kucinich
Westmoreland Union Manor Cafeteria
6404 SE 23rd Ave.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Nelly Fox-Edwards, [phone]

Milwaukie, Oregon
10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: Milwaukie Forum
Milwaukie Senior High School Auditorium
11300 SE 23rd Ave.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Jennifer Fullilove, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Reclaiming Democracy: PCC-Sylvania Forum
Portland Community College - Sylvania Campus
12000 SW 49th Ave.
Phone: [phone]
Contact: Aline, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Random Acts of Dennis
SE Hawthorne Blvd. & SE 37th Ave.
Contact: Renee Hyatt, [phone]

Portland, Oregon
7:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Majority Visibility Project Shindig
SE 39th Ave. & Powell Blvd.
Contact: Clint Raulsten, [phone]

[eridani]

36. Letter from Kucinich to Kerry

Sen. John F. Kerry
c/o John Kerry for President, Inc.
519 C Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002

Dear Senator Kerry:

I was delighted to learn that you and I will both be campaigning in the Portland, Oregon area on Monday, May 17. As I am sure you know, I have spent a considerable amount of time in Oregon over the past month, and I have come to appreciate the enthusiastic interest and strong spirit of independence of Oregon voters, especially when it comes to participating in meaningful public dialogue on the most crucial issues facing our nation.

Your decision to visit the state obviously reflects your recognition of the importance of sharing your positions and your plans with Oregonians.

With both of us being there at the same time, I think that we, as Democrats, have a unique opportunity to jointly share with voters our vision of how the Democratic Party can take this nation in a new direction - especially as it relates to the war in Iraq and our position in the international community.

In these past several weeks, I have been asked over and over again by the people of Oregon how the policies of a Democratic Administration will differ from those of the current Republican Administration. Obviously, I can speak only for myself, but next week, you and I have an opportunity to answer those questions together and to listen to what the voters have to say in the interest of building a strong and unified base of support that will lead to a Democratic victory in November.

I understand that you may be appearing at Milwaukie Senior High School on Monday and have a public appearance scheduled at 6.p.m at Pioneer Courthouse Square. I also will be at the high school for a 10:30 a.m. event and I would happy to make whatever schedule adjustments are necessary so we can jointly have a "conversation with the voters of Oregon."

I will ask Andy Juniewicz from my staff to contact your office to coordinate the details of a joint appearance on Monday.

Respectfully,

Dennis J. Kucinich

National Headquarters 1
1808 Lorain Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44111 ×
Phone: [phone] ×
Fax: [phone]
www.kucinich.us

[LWolf]

37. Did I remember to mention

how much I love this man?

:loveya:

[cyclezealot]

39. If Kerry does not respond to DK issues

he may get my vote, but not my money. Polls show support for DK's positons...They just don't know how to associate a face to their own aspirations.

[LWolf]

40. I feel much the same way.

He has my vote. But he doesn't have my support for positions I don't agree with. Some of his positions are good; some are ok. Some I don't care for. All are better than Bush. But, just my humble little opinion, Dennis Kucinich owns the positions most vital to our country today.

[no name no slogan]

41. So far, I am voting for Kerry-- but that's it

I will vote for him in November. However, I'll reserve my funds (and fundraising abilities) for truly progressive candidates in other races, unless Kerry does take some truly bold stands on Iraq, Foreign Policy, Trade, or Health Care. So far, I haven't seen it, and I'm not holding my breath, either.

There's at least two congressional races that I'll help with, in addition to numerous state legislative races, too. We don't have a senate or governor's race this year, but the MN DK group is reorganizing and building a long-term grassroots issues-based coalition which will long outlast this election cycle.

November 2 is only one election. It will probably take a few more to get this country back on the right track. And THAT is my major concern.

[cyclezealot]

42. We had over 200 Kucinich volunteers

in our area working for Kucinich during our presidential primary.The elections are are determined by media exposure..Grass roots activism has a hard road to hoe compared to the power of special interest TV ad money. All things considered we got 5% of the vote for Dennis in this rather conservative, uncohesive area..Think that pretty good in a repug area, which has a weak Democratic party.
So what are you doing to keep the Kucinich/Dean activists together to fight another day? We all seem pretty demoralized since we feel grass roots challenges in a tv media oriented state is a rough road to travel.

[no name no slogan]

47. We're starting a "club" within the Democratic Party, among other things

This post pretty well sums up what we're going to do. We'll have our own website (www.progressivecaucus.net) up and running within a day or two, too.

We all in MN knew that Dennis faced an uphill battle in the primaries, but we all kept on fighting. Despite a severe media blackout (they failed to report a rally of 2,700+ for Dennis, but mentioned one by Edwards that attracted "nearly 2,000"), we still got 18% at our caucuses, and are sending nine delegates to national.

Also, Minnesota has a strong tradition of underdog, progressive, grassroots politics-- we gave the country Gene McCarthy and Paul Wellstone, remember? Plus, we decided, long before our caucuses, that we needed to stick together and look beyond November 2.

A good number of our people have become part of the party machinery. We have many precinct chairs and co-chairs, Senate District chairs, and even one Congressional District co-chair in our ranks-- not to mention the numerous members elected to the state party's central committee, and the numerous Kucitizens who hold director-level positions in Senate districts and Congressional districts, too.

As the late, great Democratic ex-Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill used to say, "All Politics Is Local". We're truly starting at the community activist level, and working our way up. The next several years will be very interesting in Minnesota-- and will serve as a model for the rest of the country, we hope!

:D

[LWolf]

50. I am heartened by this.

The Kucinich group I met with is still active; I'm just getting emails at this point. They are an hour's drive away, and I've been working 12 hours a day this year, so I haven't met with them since our primary.

I am considering a move out of state; many things have to come together at the same time for it to happen, and I don't know if it will be this summer or next summer. As soon as I'm sure where I'll be, I'll either get busy with the Kucinich group I've already met with, or find a progressive group in my new state.

I think MN makes a great model for the rest of us.

[no name no slogan]

51. Hey glad you think so!

THAT's exactly what we're hoping to do! We want to make the model "portable" so that it can be set up/taken over by whomever wants to use it.

We've got a number of us going to Boston the week of the convention to help out (not just as delegates), and we plan on presenting the details of our plan to the national campaign, for their use in the future.

Also, Kevin Spiedel (sp?), formerly the political director of the Kucinich Campaign, also started a new organization called Progressive Vote (www.ProgressiveVote.org). I imagine that eventually we'll affiliate with them, since we're doing much of the same thing.

All I can say is that no matter how 2004 turns out, 2006 will be a VERY big suprise for MANY people!

:D

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[Darranar]

44. He is trying to put progressive ideas out into the open...

and onto the Democratic platform.

[Eurobabe]

46. why NOT?

influence the platform...

[genius]

48. He's campaigning for us. He's saving our party.

[mdguss]

49. Kucinich Ran in the First Place to Keep People From Going Green:

I respect that and I respect him. He's a good guy. But at this point I question if it is really helping now. Nader is already out there campaigning singing the tweedle-dum tweedle-dee crap from 2000. At this point, I think it'd be better for the party if Kucinich bowed to reality (as Howard Dean has also) and tried to keep his supporters in the tent by supporting John Kerry.

[no name no slogan]

52. Who says that's NOT what he's doing?

He has always stated ad infinitum ad nauseum that he WILL support the eventual nominee! He has even said BY NAME that he'll support John Kerry.

Furthermore, he does NOT attack Kerry on the campaign trail. His message is, and has always been, that we need to get rid of Shrub and replace him with a good Democrat.

Not to mention the fact that most of the important issues would be off the table if he were not out there talking about them. The misguided war/occupation of Iraq, the destruction of NAFTA and the WTO on the world's workers, a sane military budget, single-payer health care, free public pre-k through college education for all Americans and a new "New Deal"-style program to rebuild our public insfrastructure would not even be DISCUSSED if DK were not still in this race.

NOBODY ELSE in this race (save Sharpton, maybe) had the courage to stand up and honestly talk about the issues without fear. Yes, the other candidates had nice "solutions" that may have given the patient another year or two, but only Kucinich talked about truly healing the whole patient, instead of just treating its wounds.

He's a breath of fresh air in a primary season dominated by empty suits and botox injections.