Who the hell are these people attacking solid progressives (like DK) on this site?????

[Go2Peace]

Geez, multiple posts (rightly) hailing Alan Grayson and then in another post folks call out Dennis like he is an "enemy of progress" because he is doing almost the exact same thing? What the heck is going on here?

You can disagree with Dennis' approaches to various issues (I sometimes do), but what he has done, even as a losing candidate, has been incredibly helpful and necessary. So he sounds like a bit of an idealist? Well, imagine if all the "idealists" shut their mouths and became pragmatists... Nothing would ever change, period. You always need guys like DK, like Michael Moore, yes even like Ralph Nader. They serve a purpose and bring things into the discussion and bring interest that would not otherwise be there.

I wish folks would realize how much these "idealists" have effected even what we have in the presidency. I am not sure we understand how much the rallying from people like these effected the last election. Someone needs to clearly communicate the "best possible" alternative just as much as others need to communicate the ways we may have to compromise. There is a place and need for both.

To criticize people like Dennis Kucinich because he is not as "powerful" or as "effective" as others is to almost entirely miss the very valuable service that he provides. Sure he could be more powerful if he were willing to take a more "pragmatic" approach. But I think that his approach is fits him fine, and provides a far more valuable service to the American people.

[stuball111]

1. Dennis speaks his mind,

And was doing it before Grayson found center stage. I think they're both great...

[slay]

222. Dennis is awesome

I too question the motives of those who would slam Dennis on this site. :shrug:

[bjobotts]

267. I seldom see anyone trashing Dennis here.Wish you had exampl;es

[bjobotts]

268. However, after midnight some troll goes about unrecommending every video

[bjobotts]

269. right down the line, which I then re-recommend.Shouldn't be ablt to rec. without leaving a post

[bjobotts]

270. Don't know why, but take Dennis' name off and most agree with his ideas

[slay]

273. I know it's weird - he's been demonized by "the right" and corporate media

Kind of like Howard Dean and the "Dean scream", and the word liberal, and now socialism. He's also often mocked for his appearance even though that has nothing to do with his ideas or actions. It makes me sad sometimes that people are so shallow and easily manipulated as to be afraid of someone like Dennis who actually really seems to care about people and our rights. But I also know there is big money behind marginalizing people like Dennis - rich, powerful people who know they would not be nearly as rich or powerful if Dennis or people like him had their way. Bah. :(

[Go2Peace]

277. Awesome! I see I underestimated DU. Too cool folks!

I had to be offline for a while.

What a great upwelling of support for the alternative progressive voices! I guess I was wrong,I didn't think this would get so many recs. Too too cool!!!!!

[stuball111]

303. Well, when you get a guy like Dennis....

Who is honest and speaks in a straight forward manner, and one who makes sense, it's refreshing. Most of politics loves drama, and guys like him, and Grayson, and Wiener are guys who have common sense, not like most of the GOP, and some Dems, Barney Frank is another one I like, although some find him a bit off the wall, he doesn't pull any punches. These guys, and many more, are a good voice that Obama should listen to.

[Go2Peace]

2. Got my first unrec! from +6 to +5. Guess I hit a nerve? Why? Care to say?

[Stinky The Clown]

50. No one will own up to it

They're fucking cowards.

But as I post this, you're up to +68.

I will make it +69.

[Robyn66]

98. I have found lots of people un-rec just because they disagree with you

which IMO is lame and cowardly. Its much easier than discussing differences. I don't think it was the intention of the feature.

[defendandprotect]

136. If I strongtly disagree with something, I'm even more anxious to see it discussed . . .

what's wrong with the "UN's" is they really don't trust free speech --

and probably don't really like it!

[boilerbabe]

266. OK, I must have to look up UN-Rec in the dictionary?

Otherwise than that, I am guessing that UN-Recs are people that can't take a good discussion and have to whine or something? If everyone agreed on everything, this world would be either way too boring or way too annoying. My brother is on this site a lot more than I am and he tells me of all the crazy stuff that goes down. I am oblivious to it all.

He tries to make me feel better by saying it's because I have "a life", but really, I don't. Work, go home, work and go home is a life? Hahaha. So whatever, I don't spend enough time on this site to know the inside dialogue that you apparently have here.

I also have heard that people were getting reprimanded for speaking their minds (if it was "anti-Obama" in any way). What's up with that? Can't we have a dialogue here?? Makes me glad that I don't spend a lot of time here.

[defendandprotect]

312. New feature to combat "Recommendation" for threads . . .

which is the "UNRECOMMEND" which actually subtracts from the Recommendation numbers!

[Stinky The Clown]

145. Unintended, unforseen consequences

And you're right. They unrec instead of discussing, because they don't like the topic, or because of who made the post.

I see them as cowards. Or lazy slugs.

[question everything]

169. Whcih is why I hate this function

never use it - well, maybe once or twice - and go out of my way to R posts that are "less than 0."

Yes, it is cowardly and a neat way to by pass DU rules that, I think, are very selectively implemented.

[shadowknows69]

185. +1

[bvar22]

220. Thats why I LOVE the new "Top Tens Page".

It actually works AGAINST the anonymous unrecers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=greatest_threads&topten=1


Now I don't have to scroll through pages of GD looking for "<0" to find something worth reading.
Try It. You'll like it.

[short guy]

261. I love this funtion,

it lets me say what I want without saying it.

[defendandprotect]

313. So, let's say, in a thread supporting capital punishment which you

presumably would be against -- you'd simply UN it rather than discussing

your views on why it is wrong?

hmmm....

[rhett o rick]

227. You just got 225. Cheers. nt

[Go2Peace]

278. Totally awed... Not just to get a post with so many recs, but it is nice to see I had so

underestimated DU sentiment. Too cool!

[boilerbabe]

265. What is an "unrec"? I don't go on this site often enough

to figure out the "insider" language here. Fill me in!!

[Oregone]

3. Attacking the centrists for attacking DK is divisive

How could you! Oh, the horror.


:)

[Go2Peace]

5. I guess my title did sound a little provocative. But I was hoping the content sounded more of an

appeal for reason than threatening...

[Oregone]

6. If Ive learned anything from Obama, what we need to do is all come to the table...

And allow the centrist attackers to attack viciously in the spirit of bipartisanship. We cannot let some foolish appeal for reason get in the way of being able to share the table with any fucking idiot who has something on their mind. When we are done, perhaps Rick Warren can lead us in prayer.

[joeycola]

21. Too bad he never allowed single payer to 'come to the table"

[bjobotts]

271. A public option that anyone can buy into would turn into single payer

[bjobotts]

272. People would not even notice the change as everything the same except who pays the Dr. bill

[Oregone]

319. The PO would have to be intelligently engineered very specifically and carefully for this to happen

And "IF" that were happening, there would be as much chance of passing it as there is in passing Single-payer. Congressmen (and the lobbies that control them) are not stupid enough vote for A thats designed to become B, if they are dead set against voting for B.

The PO will turn into the PO. Period. Anything else is fantasy fairy magic talk

[bertman]

33. Ooooohhhh. That was a real good one, Oregone.

:thumbsup:

[avaistheone1]

49. Obama says single payer supporters are "radicals".

:wtf: :crazy:

[liberation]

109. When did he say that?

[leftstreet]

62. +1

[Joe Fields]

155. and then we all join hands and sing songs?

So, anyone who disagrees is a fucking idiot?

Love your world view.

[Oregone]

158. "So, anyone who disagrees is a fucking idiot?"

I certainly didn't say that, now, did I? Perhaps that is a straw-man you are crafting.

I am merely commenting on how Centrism, by virtue, is devoid of ideology and looks beyond the implications of policy to define that which is "good"; and such a definition rests solely upon all parties being able to contribute to legislation, rather than what the legislation actually accomplishes. By these means, this political philosophy enables and empowers everyone in the legislative process, fucking idiots alike. But by no means did I say everyone {that I disagree with} is within the fucking idiot classification. I surely know some of them are simply corrupt and paid off.

[Joe Fields]

173. that is exactly what you said. would you like to clarify?

I'm giving you an opportunity to be just a little more clear.

[Oregone]

177. And Im giving you an opportunity to use basic reading comprehension

How can something be "exactly", when you paraphrase, reframe, and insert words? Its beyond me. I wonder what category you would fall into.

[Name removed]

183. Deleted message

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

[Oregone]

191. Reading: Its not just for kids anymore

Try it!

[grahamhgreen]

174. Nicley put!

:fistbump:

[gleaner]

230. If I have learned anything from Obama ....

It is a pervasive feeling of betrayal and fuddlement. I don't think I want to go to the table unless someone has some pizza. I need something to bite.:wtf:

[rhett o rick]

228. Ok you got me. nt

[truedelphi]

320. + 1. n/t

[Go2Peace]

4. 2 unrecs and not enough nerve to comment what you found wrong about my observations?

[elocs]

7. I gave you an UnRec on principle because you are whinning about UnRecs.

That's stupid and unbecoming. DK is a DU god and all you have to do is to positively mention his name in your OP and people will fall all over themselves to Rec it. By noon today you will probably be on the Greatest Page on the Front Page, so give it a rest and let people wake up for the day.

Also, you might try and be a little less in peoples' faces and demanding that they explain things if they do not agree with you. That goes a lot farther not only here but in life.

[sabrina 1]

9. Why do you use the word 'whining'? It is so rightwing, and so

Bush era rightwing which makes it even worse. The OP asked a question. Why would someone unrec a question rather than discuss it? He was not 'whining', he was asking a question.

If I bothered with the unrec button, one thing I would use it for, would be for people who use rightwing talking points and words. Mostly because they are so over-used and have no effect anymore, other than to remind me of the early Bush years fighting his supporters online, most of whom accused anyone who disagreed with them of 'whining'. They were certain this was a brilliant thing to say.

[cali]

13. oh for the love of rationality. whining is not a rightwing word.

pathetic.

[Go2Peace]

15. No, it is often used in an Authoritarian context though, as it was

It is used to shut others up instead of dialoging. Easier to say "stop whining" then to explain why you would oppose the thinking in the OP. In that way it is just like Right wing tactics.

[cali]

16. yeah and people of all political persuasions do that.

Just like you're doing. It's a tactic used to delegitimize.

[Go2Peace]

18. I am not going to bicker with you Cali.

(edited to fix the spelling, I didn't want to add another post to this subthread)

I wasn't "calling you out". Not sure why you felt you needed to put me in my place. But whatever, we'll agree to disagree.

[cali]

20. fine. but it's bicker, not bikker.

[bertman]

34. Quit yer whinin', Cali

[Go2Peace]

279. Aww, quit yer belly achin about percieved whining and read George Lakoff

Check this out. It might help you to understand that I am not whining, but rather trying to communicate what is a real concern about how we approach language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqFxHTh98Ww&feature=related

The Political Mind:

http://www.amazon.com/Political-Mind-Understand-21st-Century-18th-Century/dp/0670019275

[fooj]

157. Yep.

Pot meet kettle.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

96. Wow. You Really Do Whine A Lot Huh.

You so silly.

[hfojvt]

204. What are you doing here?

I hadn't seen you in so long I figured you were in an Obama gulag somewhere.

[Go2Peace]

280. You "answered" me twice, see my post #279

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

296. Ummmmm, No I Didn't. God, Now You're Whining About The Number Of Responses Someone Gives You.

Whine whine whine. Give it a rest.

:rofl:

[Name removed]

321. Deleted message

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

[sabrina 1]

17. Pathetic that you do not recognize it as such.

Clearly you are so used to seeing it now used on so-called progressive boards by so-called progressives, you are unaware of the history of political boards. Which is being written by some excellent writers right now and I hope to be able to contribute to it, having been there.

One of the things that always identified DLCers was their yearning to be just like those 'tough' (to them because they never had the guts to take them on preferring to go after liberals) rightwingers. And one of the ways they tried to do that, was to adapt the language of the right to use against their own side.

The right paid quite a bit of money to develop the language they used online to attack the 'left', all those rightwing think tanks. It was sad to see progressives imitate them, rather than have the creativity to develop their own tactics. But then, many posing as progressives never really fooled too many people.

Have we met before, btw? You seem familiar for some reason ~ anyhow, as I said, it's an interesting history and very exciting to have been there watching it as it progressed, or regressed depending on your pov :-)

[Go2Peace]

19. Have you read George Lakoff's work on the political mind?

Sounds like you have or something similar. His works really opened up my eyes. The mind is NOT rational. It is emotional. Lakoff shows how the "Liberal" mind tends to follow the "nurturing" frames learned in youth, while the "conservative" mind tends to follow the "authoritive" frames. The way the mind works (emotional and in "frames", rather than rational, was discovered (surprise!) in the early 80s.

Republicans have been doing their reading and have filled our language with authoritive references and frames. That is why, authoritive language, is almost always more attached to a conservative approach, whether we want to rationally admit it or not. Those frames are repeated for a reason.

http://www.amazon.com/Political-Mind-Cognitive-Scientists-Politics/dp/0143115685/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_3

[sabrina 1]

166. Yes, I have thanks for the link.

Bullies easily adapt to the use of bullying language. The right was aware of that, plus they assumed that 'liberals', a word they managed to change the meaning of, were over-educated weaklings who were best dealt with by using childish attacks such as calling them 'whiners' eg, or 'martyrs' rather than debate them. It worked at first, especially online. By reducing debate to childish name-calling they distracted people from the issues and turned every discussion into a flame-war. As is happening here lol!

[cali]

51. sorry, but whining isn't a wingnut word or a wingnut tactic

it's laughable that you claim it is.

Anyone who thinks the right coined either the word or the tactic of using the word against someone they're arguing with is about as fucking clueless, honey, as it gets. You see that on sports boards and gossip boards and just about everywhere. Gasp. It's tossed around outside the virtual world too, and has been since before there was an internet.

[sabrina 1]

179. No, it's not. No one owns words, although you'd never know it

Look what happened to Rep. Grayson, eg.

It is how it words are used by the wingnuts and their DLC admirers, and how this particular word was used here, in exactly the same way. 'Whining' is one of many favorite wingnut words to describe liberals.

Everyone knows this, don't know why you are even arguing about it ~

[dionysus]

71. they paid money to come up with the word whine? sometimes whining is just whining.

:shrug:

[sabrina 1]

154. No, they paid money to appropriate existing language to use as a

tool against the left. No need to invent words. Not many people used words to describe adult behavior as 'whining'. That was usually reserved for children. And that is why it was a favorite word for the right to use on 'liberals'. Now, with many on the left imitating those on the right, it really has no value, name-calling rarely does.

If you spent time on mixed boards around 2001, rightwing political operatives were all over the place, shutting down boards in some cases, and easily identifiable by the words they used. They all sounded alike. As if they all went to the same kindergarten. O'Reilly, Hannity, Limbaugh et al, helped ~ and yes, they did coin a few words of their own.

But mostly it was a fierce battle online between the left and the right and they were armed with tactics that were provided for them, while most on the left were not that organized. Tactics that now seem pretty lame, which they are. But being lame was deliberate, in fact that is what made it all the more effective as it's hard to argue with a two-year-old. They had fun developing tactics to use against their stereo-typical image of 'liberals'. And at first people did exactly as expected, tried to argue with them reasonably.

But if you weren't there, then you wouldn't recognize it. Most normal adults do not call other normal adults 'whiners' or 'martyrs' or in fact, any name to make a point especially people who are supposedly on the same side. It was a shock to be attacked that way at first, but we developed tactics of our own after a while, like terrifying them with facts, and not allowing them to drive people off boards, which was their goal and did work ~

But the word 'whine' will always remind me of those days along with a few others, and the rightwing morons who helped get us into the mess we are now in.

[dionysus]

184. i appreciate your backstory. to be honest i never thought of that.

i have been on DU since 2001, i wonder if the word was used back then.

[sabrina 1]

193. Actually, it was but probably not on DU back then.

Wish I had known about DU at the time. I went online to try to get information as like a lot of people I knew something was wrong but the media, as you know, was not much help.

Not knowing anything about blogs or forums at the time, I stumbled on a board that was pretty much taken over by rightwingers. At first I was shocked by them, frightened too as they were so nasty threatening to turn in anyone who said a bad word about Bush etc. Most liberals left, so you were pretty much on your own with them and it's hard to describe now, but the atmosphere was pretty frightening, as they intended.

But rather than let them drive me off the board (there was no moderation and no one knew who ran the board, so nowhere to go to 'whine' lol!) I got angry and decided that the best way to annoy them was to stay and help the few remaining liberals (funny, I never thought of myself as a liberal either at the time, but they decided what you were).

It was nearly two years before I discovered there actually were leftwing boards where you could criticize Bush without being called a traitor or turned into the authorities! Lol!

But to answer your question, yes, words like 'whine' and 'liberal' used as an insult, and 'martyr' and several others, were their usual responses to anyone who tried to make a rational point. At the time, it was hard to believe that you couldn't have a rational discussion about politics. But then, I didn't know how organized they were at the time. And as I said, I was fascinated by the way they all used the same language, even new members who had not been there before.

I got used to them eventually and even got along with a few of them who did give credit to anyone who hung in there. But when we lost the 2002 election, it was painful to think of how they were going to react, which they did. They posted taunting comments like 'where are all the lieberals hiding' and 'we're in charge now, either get on board, or get out of the way' etc.

I know it sounds silly now, but it was hard to get back on that board but I did and my only comment was 'we'll be watching what you do with all this power, it IS all yours now'. or something like that. And I was surprised when one of the worst of them instead of attacking me, said 'I give her credit for at least not running away'. I have to say, I'm glad I had the experience, they taught me a lot, painful as it was. Lol!

[dionysus]

195. DU has changed so much since then. with a dem in office, it's almost 100% infighting now.

it's both entertaining, and sad. and like a train wreck, impossible not to jump into.

i've despised the DLC for a really long time, and it's hillarious to see some newbies here calling posters who have been against the DLC for years and years paid DLC operatives or corporate whores, or "you're what's wrong with this party."

but it's always entertaining.

[sabrina 1]

198. True, but I noticed the infighting even before Dems won.

and was very sad about it. Not at first though, it was so great to discover the left boards in the beginning and everyone was so united on the issues I felt vindicated, as before that I thought I was so in the minority, that maybe I was wrong.

I also thought then that anyone who was a Dem was 'good' ~ and had a hard time admitting that wasn't always true. Didn't know about the DCL, Blue Dogs etc. until later.

Also, at first, most of the people online (on the left at least) were not political operatives, they were just citizens and ordinary people, but later, I did notice that changing and many who made a living from politics, began using the internet to push their own agendas. That started a split on left boards between ordinary citizens and political operatives. But that's another story ~

[dionysus]

306. the primary fighting in 03-04 was bad, but it died away. the primary fight this time has never

stopped. it isn't spoken of, no one will cop to it, but it's obvious if you're familiar enough with that particular time.

[hfojvt]

206. that's an interesting story

but of course, now the word has been picked up by those who play in the internet mosh discussion pit and can be used by anybody trying to belittle somebody else. Seems to belong to the lexicon of "the wahhmbulance" and "get over yourself" type of phrases.

[flyarm]

225. correct Sabrina..the right wing also used "prove it" over and over again..

to send the liberals on wild goose chases ..this slowed down the flow of information getting to those who were looking to find out more of what was going on..it is all deflection ..they never added to debate or conversation..they were what i called "shit disturbers" ..send to the internet by operatives to slow down truth from getting to the masses..

I too see the same thing going on here..with the added feature of the Un-Rec..which is censorship..and is being done by many here and being blamed on freeper types..when I would bet the farm is not..or only a small percentage of them ..I believe it is DLC type operatives working these boards to slow the flow of truth and information!

[sabrina 1]

247. You're absolutely right, flyarm, I had forgotten about that.

I remember being asked to 'prove it' over and over again, and they would add 'and don't bother with any commie links'. 'Commie links would have been the NYT, WAPO etc. so that didn't leave much to use.

I just remembered a funny thing that happened when I told them one day (trying to defend Clinton who they were obsessed with) that Bush Sr. had had an affair and that the same woman who turned in Clinton, had turned in Bush Sr. That nearly caused a riot, and naturally demands to 'prove it' from dozens of them, 'or take it back'!

Well, I knew they would not accept any MSM sources, so I searched for some neutral source which is hard to find, but for once, I felt like God was on my side when I found a link to the story on, of all places, NEWSMAX! One of THEIR favorite sources. That was one of the few times when they had no comeback. And to this day I have no idea why Newsmax kept that story on their site for so long. But it was a rare victory in response to their demands for proof.

But yes, you're right we spent hours trying to find sources to back up points that they probably knew were true, but were really just trying to distract from.

[timtom]

26. I think elocs may have meant

the spelling is so right-wing.

Which it is.

[pundaint]

219. Exactly, It is a right wing attribute, it used to just be a tactic

but now it done constantly and for everything, even for their own ideas once Democrats accept them.

[elocs]

23. Because that is exactly what it is and how I use UnRec is my business. n/t

[RedCloud]

104. The word was "whinning" and Urban dictionary to the rescue...

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=whinning

[Go2Peace]

12. Isn't that a little reactionary in itself? Rec or unrec on the basis of the OP, not on a comment

about recs? And I wasn't whining. Unrec and run just doesn't seem constructive. No-one had posted anything in argument. I wanted to see the discussion that went with it? What is "whining" about that?

[elocs]

25. Sounded like it. Your OP was 15 minutes posted and you complain about UnRecs.

My prediction of the Recs you would eventually get was exactly right and I bet by tonight you will have 100 Recs.

[elocs]

135. Another spot on prediction. By 1 p.m. this thread has 128 Recs.

I guess there was no reason to obsess in the early minutes of the thread about how many UnRecs or Recs it had.

[sabrina 1]

156. It was your unrec, that got the ball rolling ~

I'm glad the OP mentioned your unrec as otherwise I probably wouldn't have felt the need to balance it out. So at least one rec came as a result of your whining about him whining. And you helped by keeping the thread kicked. Kucinich thanks you! :hi:

[elocs]

167. Let's be real here. Any postitive thread about DK at DU will get tons of Recs.

You know it as well as I do. The OP was obsessing about Recs from the get-go on the thread, watching it from minute to minute.

So my congratulations on making it to the Greatest Page and on the Front Page with more than 100 Recs, just as I predicted. Given the same situation I would UnRec it again as I do with all threads which complain right off the bat about getting UnRecs.

[sabrina 1]

180. No, I don't know it. I have seen Kucinich trashed far more

on progressive boards than he has ever been on rightwing boards. The DLC crowd detest him, so it never surprises me to see Kucinich hate comments, and on some boards, even front page rants against him by 'left' blog owners.

As for going to the trouble of unrec'ing anyone who asked why someone unrec'd their comment, that seems a bit obsessive to me. Definitely a very minor issue not worth bothering about imho. But, if it makes you feel like you're doing something worthwhile, that's your business.

[LiberalLovinLug]

192. You unrecommend "all threads" simply based on if someone complains about Unrecs?

So you don't even have to bother reading them. Makes the job that much easier. You just jump from OP to OP and if even one of the thousands of DUer's is complaining (is it restricted to complaining about unrecs?) you click on the Unrec and go about your day smugly satisfied that you have 'balanced' yet another thread.

This is another reason I HATE this unrecommend system. Trigger happy malcontents giddy with another power button.

[sabrina 1]

8. I gave you a rec for standing up DK who has stood up for

the issues we care about when hardly anyone else did. And to counter the unrecs ~ DK touches nerves, maybe he makes people feel guilty for not standing up for what is right, or because their guys won't do it, and when he does, it makes the politicians they support look bad. Whatever, he does get the rightleaning Dems very upset, which means he's doing something right.

[rudy23]

11. Look--I've also been talking about the unrec-bots since summer, and their "whining" talking point

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6098846&mesg_id=6098951

All part of the same team if you ask me. They're trained to go down this road of attack---why else would so many people act so strangely, and use the exact same terminology? EVERY time someone complains about unrec they are called a whiner by the same couple of dozen people. Then they'd go down the same list of criticisms "Oh, you just want your pages on the greatest page because of your ego." or, "only losers need the greatest page to tell them what to read" Real nasty ad hominem attacks that seem out of place even for DU, but all using the same catchphrases and terminology. Right around the time the attacks on DK started? Hmmmm....

[kenfrequed]

61. I would agree

I was concerned about that myself. Either the DLC people on here don't have real jobs and can hang out here all day every day, or there is some organization to the unrec-assault.

[rudy23]

67. Yep. It's only about a $9 an hour job. Considering how much the insurance lobby has spent already

why wouldn't they hire a few dozen people to go on message boards all day, or about 25 hours a week, and tout corporate policies?

If the right was considering hiring people to go on message boards and cast doubt on their legitimacy, why wouldn't the DLC? Isn't the progressive blogosphere a hindrance to their message?

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2007/02/23/political_bloggers_fear_publicists_will_infiltrate_sites/

[dionysus]

79. can you point out a single pro-insurance company post on here?

[rudy23]

80. Every single post against single payer, or a strong public option.

I guess "pro insurance company" wouldn't be entirely appropriate. Maybe "anti-sweeping reform" would be more like it.

[dionysus]

83. i don't think it is that simple. at all.

i don't see anyone against a strong public option, or even single payer.

basically you have a subset of people who are public option or nothing, versus a group of people that know, unfortunately, that single payer currently doesnt have anywhere near the votes need to pass.

IE, if it's this tough to get blue dogs to agree to a public option, how on earth do you think a single payer bill could get passed in this climate?

it's a group of people who would like no reform at all if they can't get their way, versus people who would be greatful for any reform that can help a large number of people.

to put it in 3 words; idealists vs. pragmatists

i think it's naive or disingenuous to insinuate that the majority of people on here, and it is quite a sizeable majority, who believe that the end result will be a public option coming out of committee are somehow DLC\Ins. Co. supporters or anti-reform. and to claim they're not liberal or progressive is an insult.

the sad truth is that we are where we are because we are not a liberal nation (we could and probably would be if the citizenry were educated and aware), we're not a conservative nation, we're not even a centrist nation. we are a nation of ignorant and apathetic people who don't give a shit.

for every poster on DU, for every knuckle dragging freeper, for every passionate citizen speaking up at a town hall, for every union member fighting for rights, there are probably 10 fools who don't give one fraction of a shit about this stuff. as long as they can afford beer and can watch their football or reality TV, they just don't care. the only reason corporations have been able to steal swaths of the government and rob us blind is that there aren't enough people who care to stop them.

that's how they can rob the country blind right out in the open and no one can stop it.

[kenfrequed]

132. It is a sad and sorry insult

To imply that people that are obstructing like Max Baucus are 'pragmatists'

[dionysus]

137. not Max, DUers you guys are calling DLC shills for not shitting their pants every day in rage. but

you knew that. it was abundantly clear in the chain of posts leading to my response and the response itself, so that's a weak-ass strawman you pulled.

[kenfrequed]

211. It isn't a strawman

It isn't a strawman if it is the thesis or your analysis as to the character of the blue dog/DLC sorts.

Logic lesson:

A straw man is taking the weakest or smallest or least true element of an argument. Blowing it up into BEING the central argument and then handidly defeating it.


I recommend you do a little more study into fallacies of logic before whipping that gun out again Tex.

[kenfrequed]

213. And actually...

A good proper defective strawman uses arguments yoru opposition doesn't even really make, instead relying on arguments that peopl on your oppositions SIDE make.

I believe you directly stated they were pragmatists.

[dionysus]

300. if you read any of the posts, i was clearly talking about the groups on DU, not senators, so FAIL.

you know, the different factions of groups on DU, and how phoney it is to be calling DUers DLC operatives simply because they disagree with you.

how on earth you are trying to make this about max baucus and senators is well beyond me.

:shrug:

[sabrina 1]

168. Yes, very rightwing tactics ~ and they are out of placeon

progressive boards, or were. Not so much anymore, but easily recognizable as they are so old now, and just as lame as they always were. Kucinich seems to bring them out every time ~ lol, he must be doing something right

[rudy23]

10. I've been talking about this since the summer---it seems like an orchestrated talking point to me

I think it was part of the DLC's attempt to take single payer completely out of the debate from the start, and to get a head start piling on what's sure to be the final bill's biggest critic:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6022082

[Go2Peace]

14. I agree that DU seems to be getting a high level of "operatives" lashing out with a particular

agenda. That wasn't what the OP was about, but (this is not my first account) I am surprised at some of the posts that come from +1000 post accounts. Think about it, if you wanted to influence a site, you won't hit hard with the first 50 posts, you will bide your time until you get up to at least +1000, which lends some credibility and also, I am sure, adds tolerance when an admin sees a "freeper" looking post.

I can't prove this theory, but what we may see is many people new to the political spectrum and brought in by the last presidential campaign, and they may be too young to understand the role people like DK have and how important it is, or they may really think that incremental small change works (it doesn't, it actually is more effective in taking the steam out of movements for real change).

I don't know exactly what is up, but I am not sure I would call DU a "progressive" site at this point, unfortunately. People seem quite confused about what kind of society they want. I am surprised at all that "liberals" would hold onto any belief that we could somehow make the current order work without MAJOR changes to the way it operates and the rules involved.

[dionysus]

72. it sure makes one feel good about oneself to think that all the people who disagree with you are

nefarious DLc operatives.

me, i kinda think it's paranoid.

[Go2Peace]

281. huh? You sure created a heck of a generalization. Innacurate at that

They are talking about a new law that paid operatives on news sites must identify their employer, it is that broad a problem. It is silly to think the same thing does not occur here. Surely you recognize that we are in a remarkable age of propaganda from many sources? There are thousands of political volunteers and hirelings who spend all day on sites like this trying to get others behind their employer's ideas.

Does that mean there are more operatives than non operative posters? No. But are they effective? Absolutely.

[scheming daemons]

41. So your bashing of Obama is NOT an "orchestratred talking point"...

...even though it exactly parrots the bashing done by others of Obama in other outlets...


...but someone ELSE'S bashing of Dennis Kucinich *IS* orchestrated.



Got it.



Nice double-standard you got there.

[dionysus]

74. have you ever noticed that the people who claim the most that obama supporters think he is God...

think St Dennis the Perfect is God?

another favorite of mine is that he didn't poll poorly because he's a bit of a whackadoo, it's because of a grand conspiracy...

[fascisthunter]

112. I doubt people think either politicians are "gods"

Saying so implies people as being irrationally attached to either. I revere the man for standing up for workers, minorities and for sharing my beliefs regarding politics.

[kenfrequed]

63. Agreed-squared

I noticed that posts that were pro single payer getting slapped with two or three unrec's within the first 15 minutes of their being posted; of course this was when the counted the total number of unrecommendations.

[midnight]

22. K&R for Dennis Kuchinich.

[mmonk]

24. I gave you a recommend.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

27. DK does for some reason rub some people the wrong way.

Personally, he was my first choice for President. I know that some people here say that he would have no chance of winning the election, but that shouldn't be what forms our opinion of him.

He's been speaking for the average American and that scares the RW into using smear tactics against him. The fact that he does rile the RW that much strengthens my feeling that he represents what more of the Democrats should be doing.

Maybe then, we wouldn't have everything being "taken off the table".

We're being led by busboys instead of fighters. I don't mean any disrespect for busboys.

[Scruffy1]

209. Dennis Kucinich is a leader

Leader are always attacked as extremist. Most of the rest are just part of the herd. Being "effective" is Washington code for selling out.

[juno jones]

274. LOL!

No Not Busboys! Actually, busboys posess some fire in the belly, they believe someday they'll wait tables too...and they overhear some amazing dinner conversation to boot. :)


We are unfortunately led by pragmatists who have allowed stagnation for far too long. Dennis and the people like him are what we need to present alternatives and stimulate conversation.

Welcome to DU!

[Altoid_Cyclist]

290. Thank you!

That's why I made sure that I didn't offend any busboys.

They work a lot harder than the majority of our elected officials.
They actually do their job and don't blithely send troops to die or steal millions of dollars and try to deny people health care.

[stray cat]

28. Because we don't think they are gods - all knowing and all powerful and always right?

just because someone else does? Also, they have to win a national election to be president and change the world and so far they haven't come close so people are delusional when they say they would change the world for the good - first they have to appeal to enough people to be able to change anything.

A agree they serve a useful purpose - and should speak up. That is their main job to make people think - too many Duers think presidents and national leaders should be identical to them but national leadership requires different gifts.

[Dawgs]

29. I don't attack DK. I attack his supporters.

They often act like they are better because they supported DK over anyone else.

[tomp]

38. we are. nt

[dionysus]

78. you proved his point.

:rofl:

[Cha]

118. Ah, but you're not.

[tomp]

253. matter of opinion, i guess. nt

[kenfrequed]

65. Feh

In Minnesota Kucinich told his supporters to back Obama.


Kucinich is not a cult of personality. His supporters tend to care about the issues from a very progressive position above all else. Were Wellstone still alive and a contender most uf us would probably also be shouting out his name.

[dionysus]

75. ding.

[Forkboy]

127. Isn't the reverse also true?

I see it. Do you?

[Go2Peace]

282. I have great respect for DK, but I voted in the primary for JE and in the election for Obama

I don't see how I have to get on "one side or the other". I just recognize the value of what Dennis does and stands for. And I think his stands, while not always pragmatic, are an essential and necessary good, I just don't see them as distracting. His work almost always raises the bar, even if someone else may take that "bar" and do a better job with the rest of the race.

[TransitJohn]

30. Democrats.

Most Democrats aren't very progressive, if you haven't noticed.

[bigwillq]

31. All politicians should be criticized.

Even Democrats. Even the good ones. Even the President. Even DK.

[liberalhistorian]

66. Good point and

very true! NO ONE should be immune to criticism. We criticize the right for demanding conformity and a "lockstep" mentality, but we do the same thing. Let's not do that.

[Fumesucker]

32. All progress depends upon the unreasonable man..

"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man." -George Bernard Shaw

[WI_DEM]

35. So Kucinich can never be criticized but it's always open season on Obama?

[scheming daemons]

40. Apparently...

:eyes:

[Go2Peace]

283. I didn't realize my OP said that?

[Peacetrain]

36. You are kidding me right?...you forgot your sarcasm thingy?..

Just getting everyone jolted up before they go to work?

[tomp]

37. you either agree with dennis' positions or you don't.

most democratic politicians don't. to anyone paying attention, that is not a surprise.

most ordinary people don't really get to hear what his positions are because he is minimized by the media and democratic politicians.

the only thing i've objected to was dennis' response to the famous flying saucer question in the last primary. he should have embarrassed that guy and told him in no uncertain terms to give him a real question. instead he tried to answer it. it was a big mistake and i was surprised at his response and sorely disappointed as it signaled the end of his campaign.

i still contribute to him monthly.

that people on du oppose dennis is no surprise either.

[juno jones]

276. He is too honest.

For some reason people take that for naivety.

Unfortunately, the UFO he shoulda passed on. Questioning the interviewer's query's relavance would have been an excellent tactic.

[Echo In Light]

39. The party reflects its dominant %; older, professional types embarrassed by "loony" Left

Although DK would be relegated to that status by some of the conservatives here, he generally has a lot of support.

[Jackpine Radical]

42. I guess this thread was bound to end up as a mudfest, but think there are the seeds for

a reasonable dialog here.

Essentially, we do indeed need idealists like Kooch & Nader. We probably need more than that, in fact. The modern Progressive left lacks a Marx, an Engels, a starting point. K&N are there with coherent positions on reasonably practical matters. They present what ethicists sometimes term "aspirational goals--" standards one would like to see attained, but has no real hope of attaining. The problem arises when these idealists run for public office. Symbolic runs, i.e. exercises in democracy taken in order to get their ideas some exposure, are presumably wholesome and very useful. But the problem arises when one tries to imagine them actually exercising power. Both tend to at least give the impression of being rigid adherents to fairly narrow perspectives (and in both cases I share their perspectives, at least to a 90% level of overlap), and are therefore generally unacceptable to the public at large, who seem to want to vote for a drinking buddy and not someone who will treat them to a cascade of moral lecturing. But Kooch and Nader as personalities who are totally alien to the pragmatic (and money-dominated) apparati of both political parties, and will never get the sort of media attention or party support needed for a nomination. This leaves them the option of a third-party run, and if they do this, they will inevitably pull 3-5% of the vote away from the next most-liberal major-party candidate, and they will be blamed for the defeat of that candidate.

But all of this is about more-or-less normal times. I think we're now in a pseudo-recovery, a social dead-cat bounce, and are headed for a depression that will not go away until we make the changes necessary to turn this country into a viable entity with a green, sustainable economy. The only real question is how much misery we will put up with before we realize how fucked we are, how much misery we will put up with before we realize that only the ideals of a Kooch or a Nader will get us off our path to ultimate destruction. When and if we get to that point, all hell is going to break loose, and no amount of money will buy the Corporate State an "acceptable" (i.e. tame) CEO. Then we will see the Stahlfaust. Whether we can win against the Steel Fist--whether we will even fight against it, or meekly accept our own trip to nowhere in the cattle cars, is the question that will determine the course of this new century. And will determine whether we will ever see a leader arise on the shoulders of Kooch and Nader.

[Go2Peace]

284. Can I rec your post :)

Very well said. I haven't completely given up hope with Obama. I am dissapointed in how he is governing presently, but he could take a wide swing in a different direction, he's a smart man.

But I more expect along the lines you mention. And either way, I recognize and respect the part that people like DK and Nader play.

[mopinko]

43. needless flame bait. nt.

[NorthCarolina]

52. I disagree. K&R for DK...America's Congressman n/t

[Go2Peace]

285. seems you are in the minority. Did you see the thread I am referencing last night?

DK was severely trashed.

I admit I turned out to be wrong about DU sentiment as a whole, but I think maybe others needed to see this as well as I did.

[slipslidingaway]

44. knr for Kucinich n/t

[peace13]

45. Dennis is not the only one!

The Russ Feingold group was achieved by the admin yesterday. Russ and Dennis are two of the hardest working Dems. You have to wonder what the DU focus is sometimes.

[nvme]

46. Is it more effective to grab headlines?

I think DK is right on most if not all of his causes. But he only manages to grab headlines. He might be able to tweak a debate, but he hasn't been able to mobilize a movement. There have been many movements over the years. There have been many people who have right on their side. Right does not mean change.
The American people might be better served if they were actually served. Action leads to change in thought. not vice versa

[Echo In Light]

53. The media system owned and run by vested interests make sure such views don't gain momentum

It's a rigged game, and in current form is unreflective of the fact that many, many people from all walks of life agree w/many of DK's positions. But those views are so marginalized and removed from mainstream discourse that they seem alien, even bizarre when compared to many of the dominant ideologies, and hence are attacked on that basis alone, even when disguised.

[Go2Peace]

286. I respectfully completely disagree. DK helped make our current "movement"

possible. A movement of mostly pragmatists was what we had in the 90's and we are in danger of repeating that same mistake. We need people like DK to contrast where we are with where we should be going.

[Romulox]

47. A LOT of DUers are "ex-Republicans" who were driven out of their party by religious wackos.

That's why phrases like "socialist" and "cultist" are acceptable insults here.

[NorthCarolina]

54. Nah, I just think they are freepers who thrive on stirring up the Dem boards n/t

[tonysam]

48. DK has never accomplished anything of note

during his career as a representative. He throws a lot of red meat out there for his supporters, but he has never done anything of note. He isn't somebody who "gets things done."

Kucinich is probably the most overrated member of Congress.

Not to mention I didn't care for the guy when I met him in person during the presidential campaign. He couldn't be bothered with the "little people" and stick around long enough for meeting and greeting supporters after a campaign stop in Reno. He cared more about his appointment with a local radio station than whether he got any votes. Well, screw him, I thought.

[Romulox]

55. Your story is full of holes.

You start out by claiming that Kucinich has "never accomplished anything of note..." (emphasis mine), then later complain that he wouldn't "stick around long enough for meeting and greeting supporters..." (sic)

Why would characterize yourself as a "supporter" of someone you claim has "never accomplished anything of note...", and isn't it bizarre and childish to remove your support because he (gasp!) failed to meet you? I base my support on policies.

I call nonsense on your post! :hi:

[dionysus]

81. can you provide a list of significant bills he has authored, to refute the post?

[Romulox]

159. I will, right after you explain why the poster who feels he NEVER has accomplished anything

is

a) at a Dennis Kucinich campaign stop; and
b) is whining that this person (for whom the poster has no respect) won't chat with them.

:hi:

[dionysus]

161. i don't give much creedence to anecdotes like that. it was a serious question.

:hi:

[Romulox]

164. And the kickoff team enters the field!

The anecdote was obviously fabricated. :hi:

[U4ikLefty]

257. Isn't thatt the same gotcha question the Rethugs asked of Kerry

during the 2004 campaign?

[Forkboy]

260. Claiming he has done nothing is highly ignorant.

You get upset at vapid criticism of Obama (rightfully so), so how about not engaging in it yourself when it comes to DK? :shrug:


Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore.

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Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq.

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Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days.

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Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date.

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Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq.

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Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.

----

Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels.

----

Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR.

----

Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol.

----

Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization.

----

Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.

----

Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination.

----

Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health.

----

Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.

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Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages.

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Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs.

----

Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes.

----

Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification.

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Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent.

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Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years.

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Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant.

----

Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight.

----

Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses.

----

Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border.

----

Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet).

----

Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing.

----

Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25.

----

Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox

----

Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

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Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.

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Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation: To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation.

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Kucinich co-sponsored re-introducing the Equal Rights Amendment

----

Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements

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Kucinich co-sponsored for emergency contraception for rape victims

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Kucinich co-sponsored ensuring access to and funding for contraception

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Kucinich co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment: Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements

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Kucinich co-sponsored requiring Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad

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Kucinich co-sponsored a bill limiting capital punishment

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Kucinich co-sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

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Kucinich co-sponsored the Innocence Protection Act: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.

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Kucinich co-sponsored allowing rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans

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Kucinich co-sponsored the National Improvement in Mathematics and Science Teaching Act: To improve the quality and scope of science and mathematics education.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored for health impact assessments for environmental health

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Kucinich co-sponsored strengthening prohibitions against animal fighting

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Kucinich co-sponsored a bill weakening the requirements on voluntary prayer

----

Kucinich co-sponsored establishing greenhouse gas tradeable allowances

----

Kucinich co-sponsored prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands

----

Kucinich co-sponsored allowing Americans to travel to Cuba

----

Kucinich co-sponsored acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention Act

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the MX Missile Stand-Down Act: To take the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) missiles off of high-alert status.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act

----

Kucinich co-sponsored requiring text on TV for visually-impaired viewers

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Kucinich co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation

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Kucinich co-sponsored requiring full disclosure of outsourced employees

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Kucinich co-sponsored allowing an Air Traffic Controller's Union

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Kucinich co-sponsored extending unemployment compensation during recession

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Kucinich co-sponsored changing Social Security disproportionately affect women

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Kucinich sponsored impeaching Dick Cheney for lying about Iraq

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Kucinich co-sponsored providing benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees

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Kucinich co-sponsored recognizing Juneteenth as historical end of slavery

----

On November 1, 2007, Congressman Kucinich reintroduced legislation to ensure all children ages 3-5 years-old will have access to quality early education programs. The Universal Prekindergarten Act, HR 4060, would ensure that all children ages 3-5 have access to high-quality, full-day, full-calendar year prekindergarten education. It would provide students with early educational opportunities to help lay the foundation for future academic success. Funded by both state and federal money, the services will be free-of-charge and completely voluntary for families who choose to participate. The bill will supplement existing federal and state prekindergarten programs, will provide for professional development of early childhood educators, and will increase salary levels in order to recruit and retain qualified staff..

Congressman Kucinich, a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, introduced the bill with 37 original cosponsors. He has sponsored universal prekindergarten legislation for over five years.

A less comprehensive prekindergarten bill, the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, was marked up by the Committee on Education in June 2008. Congressman Kucinich won three amendments to that legislation which would pave the way for expansion of prekindergarten services. The first two amendments improved the bill’s definition of a “high-quality” prekindergarten program, while the third amendment created a more robust reporting requirement that would improve effectiveness and oversight.

----

In November 2007, the Committee on Education and Labor, of which Congressman Kucinich is a member, took up the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Congressman Kucinich worked to include two key provisions in the Act. On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act into law.

Congressman Kucinich advocated for the inclusion of language from H.R. 3637, the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which would provide $50 million for colleges and universities to train future sustainability professionals. The money would be competitively awarded and would develop, implement and evaluate sustainability programs in higher education. The language was included in the final bill that was passed by the Committee and eventually signed into law.

----

Also included in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act was the language from Congressman Kucinich’s own bill, H.R. 2707, to reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. This important legislation will re-authorize a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.

The bill also passed the House unanimously as a stand alone bill on July 30, 2007.

----

Congressman Kucinich received more than $600,000 in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY08 Appropriations Bill for two different organizations in his district.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood received more than $430,000 for a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) provides an extensive array of social service programs that promote the health, well being and safety of Cuyahoga County’s citizens. Recognizing the importance of the first five years of a child’s development, the BOCC established the Office of Early Childhood to administer Invest in Children (IIC), the County’s early childhood initiative. Since 1999, IIC has served 131,000 children, 75 percent of the population under age six. IIC is a comprehensive early learning system that offers a range of services from home visitation to the promotion of health and safety, to high-quality early care and education experiences.

----

In October 1999, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich visited Cleveland State University campus to meet with students who were denied financial aid due to the school’s financial aid system. Congressman Kucinich and his congressional staff helped to facilitate finding solutions for students with financial student aid problems and served as an intermediary with CSU administration officials. After a formal request was made by Congressman Kucinich for assistance, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley deployed staff to CSU to help students. Secretary Riley also received from the Congressman a collection of e-mails, letters and a videotape which outline the students’ problems with the financial aid system at CSU. Congressman Kucinich is awaiting a report from the Inspector General on this situation.

----

He worked with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Ohio State University to formulate a new federal program that would enable junior high and high school students to receive training in entrepreneurial skills. This legislation, originally the "Future Entrepreneurs of America Act" (H.R. 4175) was introduced in June 1998 with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, including Congressman Steven LaTourette (R-Madison). It was later introduced as an amendment to HR 1995, the "Teacher Empowerment Act," and was passed. In the 107th Congress, he introduced the Future Entrepreneurs of America Act (HR 1617), to supply funds going directly to schools and local educational agencies to educate students. It also would establish of a National Clearinghouse for Teacher Entrepreneurship to encourage teacher interest and involvement in entrepreneurship education.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored a Bill to open 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Redefines the term "distressed area" to include an Indian reservation with a population of high risk youth of sufficient size to warrant the establishment of a BGCA. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1753. Became Public Law No: 105-133.

----

Rated 64% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.
Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.
Rated 94% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.
Rated 80% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.
Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.
Rated 90% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
Rated 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection
Rated 85% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes.
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record.
Rated 92% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation.

[tonysam]

301. What in the world are you talking about?

Tell me one thing this guy has accomplished legislatively in the years he has been in Congress.

I suspect you can't.

Well, I was THERE in Reno when he spoke in a room of some 600 supporters or would-be supporters. Many of them came from California driving over Donner Summit in the snow to see this guy, even if they couldn't caucus for him in Nevada. They liked the guy and wanted to hear what he had to say. His wife Elizabeth was there, too.

But Kucinich couldn't be bothered with meeting and greeting with people for more than a couple of minutes after he spoke. NOT ONE OTHER CANDIDATE IN EITHER PARTY WHO CAMPAIGNED IN NORTHERN NEVADA during the caucus season and during the general election--including Barack Obama and challenger John McCain--stiffed would-be supporters because his ego was more important. Those candidates would stay until almost the last person left, without exception. Not ol' Dennis. It was more important he go to a radio interview with his wife than it was go talk with people in person and listen to their concerns.

Well, it is standard operating procedure that people who run for the job of president of the United States actually care about meeting with people at rallies and speeches. It goes with the job. Dennis Kucinich was running a vanity campaign, and believe me, it showed.

Well, screw him and the horse he rode in on.

Dennis Kucinich was ONLY candidate campaigning from either party who I absolutely didn't like. I had the privilege of seeing almost all of the Democratic candidates and a number of the GOP candidates. I have a heck of a great series of scrapbooks from the campaign season, by the way.

[Romulox]

305. Hey. Change the subject, since the inconsistencies in your story are apparent!

So, can you tell me why your feelings were so hurt by the alleged snub by the man you have no respect for? You're fabricating your story whole cloth.

[yurbud]

57. Is it better if a rep "gets things done" that hurt people or line corporate pockets more?

[Forkboy]

258. Try again.

Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore.

----

Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq.

----

Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days.

----

Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date.

----

Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq.

----

Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.

----

Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels.

----

Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR.

----

Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol.

----

Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization.

----

Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.

----

Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination.

----

Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health.

----

Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.

----

Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages.

----

Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs.

----

Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes.

----

Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification.

----

Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent.

----

Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years.

----

Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant.

----

Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight.

----

Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses.

----

Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border.

----

Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet).

----

Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing.

----

Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25.

----

Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox

----

Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

----

Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.

----

Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation: To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored re-introducing the Equal Rights Amendment

----

Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements

----

Kucinich co-sponsored for emergency contraception for rape victims

----

Kucinich co-sponsored ensuring access to and funding for contraception

----

Kucinich co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment: Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements

----

Kucinich co-sponsored requiring Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad

----

Kucinich co-sponsored a bill limiting capital punishment

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the Innocence Protection Act: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored allowing rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans

----
Kucinich co-sponsored the National Improvement in Mathematics and Science Teaching Act: To improve the quality and scope of science and mathematics education.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored for health impact assessments for environmental health

----

Kucinich co-sponsored strengthening prohibitions against animal fighting

----

Kucinich co-sponsored a bill weakening the requirements on voluntary prayer

----

Kucinich co-sponsored establishing greenhouse gas tradeable allowances

----

Kucinich co-sponsored prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands

----

Kucinich co-sponsored allowing Americans to travel to Cuba

----

Kucinich co-sponsored acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention Act

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the MX Missile Stand-Down Act: To take the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) missiles off of high-alert status.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act

----

Kucinich co-sponsored requiring text on TV for visually-impaired viewers

----

Kucinich co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation

----

Kucinich co-sponsored requiring full disclosure of outsourced employees

----

Kucinich co-sponsored allowing an Air Traffic Controller's Union

----

Kucinich co-sponsored extending unemployment compensation during recession

----

Kucinich co-sponsored changing Social Security disproportionately affect women

----

Kucinich sponsored impeaching Dick Cheney for lying about Iraq

----

Kucinich co-sponsored providing benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees

----

Kucinich co-sponsored recognizing Juneteenth as historical end of slavery

----

On November 1, 2007, Congressman Kucinich reintroduced legislation to ensure all children ages 3-5 years-old will have access to quality early education programs. The Universal Prekindergarten Act, HR 4060, would ensure that all children ages 3-5 have access to high-quality, full-day, full-calendar year prekindergarten education. It would provide students with early educational opportunities to help lay the foundation for future academic success. Funded by both state and federal money, the services will be free-of-charge and completely voluntary for families who choose to participate. The bill will supplement existing federal and state prekindergarten programs, will provide for professional development of early childhood educators, and will increase salary levels in order to recruit and retain qualified staff..

Congressman Kucinich, a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, introduced the bill with 37 original cosponsors. He has sponsored universal prekindergarten legislation for over five years.

A less comprehensive prekindergarten bill, the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, was marked up by the Committee on Education in June 2008. Congressman Kucinich won three amendments to that legislation which would pave the way for expansion of prekindergarten services. The first two amendments improved the bill’s definition of a “high-quality” prekindergarten program, while the third amendment created a more robust reporting requirement that would improve effectiveness and oversight.

----

In November 2007, the Committee on Education and Labor, of which Congressman Kucinich is a member, took up the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Congressman Kucinich worked to include two key provisions in the Act. On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act into law.

Congressman Kucinich advocated for the inclusion of language from H.R. 3637, the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which would provide $50 million for colleges and universities to train future sustainability professionals. The money would be competitively awarded and would develop, implement and evaluate sustainability programs in higher education. The language was included in the final bill that was passed by the Committee and eventually signed into law.

----

Also included in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act was the language from Congressman Kucinich’s own bill, H.R. 2707, to reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. This important legislation will re-authorize a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.

The bill also passed the House unanimously as a stand alone bill on July 30, 2007.

----

Congressman Kucinich received more than $600,000 in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY08 Appropriations Bill for two different organizations in his district.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood received more than $430,000 for a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) provides an extensive array of social service programs that promote the health, well being and safety of Cuyahoga County’s citizens. Recognizing the importance of the first five years of a child’s development, the BOCC established the Office of Early Childhood to administer Invest in Children (IIC), the County’s early childhood initiative. Since 1999, IIC has served 131,000 children, 75 percent of the population under age six. IIC is a comprehensive early learning system that offers a range of services from home visitation to the promotion of health and safety, to high-quality early care and education experiences.

----

In October 1999, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich visited Cleveland State University campus to meet with students who were denied financial aid due to the school’s financial aid system. Congressman Kucinich and his congressional staff helped to facilitate finding solutions for students with financial student aid problems and served as an intermediary with CSU administration officials. After a formal request was made by Congressman Kucinich for assistance, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley deployed staff to CSU to help students. Secretary Riley also received from the Congressman a collection of e-mails, letters and a videotape which outline the students’ problems with the financial aid system at CSU. Congressman Kucinich is awaiting a report from the Inspector General on this situation.

----

He worked with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Ohio State University to formulate a new federal program that would enable junior high and high school students to receive training in entrepreneurial skills. This legislation, originally the "Future Entrepreneurs of America Act" (H.R. 4175) was introduced in June 1998 with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, including Congressman Steven LaTourette (R-Madison). It was later introduced as an amendment to HR 1995, the "Teacher Empowerment Act," and was passed. In the 107th Congress, he introduced the Future Entrepreneurs of America Act (HR 1617), to supply funds going directly to schools and local educational agencies to educate students. It also would establish of a National Clearinghouse for Teacher Entrepreneurship to encourage teacher interest and involvement in entrepreneurship education.

----

Kucinich co-sponsored a Bill to open 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Redefines the term "distressed area" to include an Indian reservation with a population of high risk youth of sufficient size to warrant the establishment of a BGCA. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1753. Became Public Law No: 105-133.

----

Rated 64% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.
Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.
Rated 94% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.
Rated 80% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.
Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.
Rated 90% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
Rated 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection
Rated 85% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes.
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record.
Rated 92% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation.

[yurbud]

56. the so-called centrists are trolls who know how to make their numbers here look far greater

than they actually are, but starting a lot of threads, repeating empty talking points ad nauseum rather than engage in actual debate, and using a lot of part responses that could almost be automated.

Their real numbers here are very, very low, according to this poll I did a couple of years ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5567638&mesg_id=5567638

The apologists for the corporate Democrats claimed that this was an inaccurate poll, that more moderate voters don't come to sites like DU, but it is probably pretty accurate for population of DUers.

[Individualist]

58. DLC detests Dennis

They're anti-progressive.

[Echo In Light]

60. "America has one political party with two right wings." Gore Vidal

[rudy23]

68. It's definitely a DLC thing. Does anybody know anyone outside of DC who supports them?

It's not like there are a great deal of amateur DLC-ers. It's a group that's only relevant to its members, as far as what they seek to accomplish.

[Individualist]

70. Corporations, neocons, and the military industrial complex support them.

[jmondine]

59. Donkey Kong is a progressive?

[Go2Peace]

287. got a chuckle out of that. I actually remember that game!

[berni_mccoy]

64. DK is not the same as Alan Grayson.

DK is an extremist who speaks the truth.

Alan Grayson is a truth teller as well, but not an extremist like Kucinich.

I think they are both valuable to the party, but in no way do I think they have done the same thing.

DK has done a great deal for the progressive cause during his career and has made some enemies, some who are in his own party. Dennis also loses points when he goes too far and calls out similarities between himself and Ron Paul.

Alan Grayson is relatively new and has not crossed people in the party. He's stuck to beating the GOP up side the head.

[Vidar]

69. Recommended for Dennis.

[SandWalker1984]

73. What's wrong with constructive criticism?

What is wrong with having constructive criticism? (Emphasis on constructive)

I guess I have a different perspective than some. I don't approach politics as a "team sport." It's not my D team vs that other R team.

I watched, from the sidelines, as neocons took over and destroyed the Republican Party, driving out all but the most rabid, brain dead fundies and the corporate CEO-types.

Last thing I want to see happen to the Democratic party is to have the DLC gut and destroy my party -- and they ARE trying to turn our party into the Republican/corporate II party. That's why, when I see Democrats being heavily influenced by these corporatist, Republican types, I criticize. If more Republicans had criticized Bush for his actions, would their party be in a different place now?

No, I am not a Dennis basher. However, I do agree with some that he tends to talk the talk but fails to walk the walk. Especially when certain powers that be threatened to run a strong opponent for his seat. (Can you say Cynthia McKinney??

While I am at it, I find some people get way too hung up on the rec and unrec thing. People, our country is in a real bad place right now and there are those who wish to take it to an even worse place.

Choice of words (didn't know the Republicans owned certain words of the English language) and rec/unrec crap is petty and distracts from having a worthwhile discussion about issues. I quit posting at the other big Dem site because of the ridiculous censoring and the all too often "I did not, you did too" garbage. Some threads read more like 1st graders talking on the playground.

There are a lot of really great people that post on Democratic Underground and I respect and admire them. People posting legitimate criticisms for discussion should not be faulted, they should be applauded. Those posting what are obviously cheap shots should be ignored.

Let's keep DU an open, thought provoking message board where people can come to discuss their likes, dislikes and most of all concerns about our party. If we don't keep up the vigilance, you have only to look at the Republican party to see what can result.

[slackmaster]

76. Here's a link to some reading material that you may find helpful

http://www.democraticunderground.com/forums/faq.html

[harun]

77. DK tells the truth, most people aren't used to that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. There are a ton of trolls here lately

This place needs disinfecting. LOL

[Echo In Light]

85. A lot of 'new' posters who registered yrs ago

My take on this tactic is that it's regular DUers who don't want their user name attached to the overtly rightward leaning views that sneer and come down on what they perceive to be "loony" Lefties, so they adopt another user name for that purpose.

[dionysus]

86. you blame suckpuppets? i see a ton of low post count DUers hammering the administration.

[BlooInBloo]

87. They just make shit up to further their conspiracy theories.

[dionysus]

89. oh shut up. when we get our checks friday from the DLC i'll buy you some beers.

:rofl:

[BlooInBloo]

90. I dunno if my boss, Ron Paul, would permit that.

[dionysus]

93. !

:spray:

[BlooInBloo]

97. :) Just following your lol lead.

:)

[dionysus]

100. have you ever considered that Dennis himself is the shadowy figure that really controls everything

behind the scenes? He's the *real* man behind the curtain!

[BlooInBloo]

113. hahaha! Image of the south park episode with Mickey Mouse controlling the Jonas Bros popped...

into my head when I read that.

:rofl:

[subcomhd]

207. how funny was the evil Mickey? nt

[Echo In Light]

91. When a poster w/under 200 posts registered yrs ago, it's usually fairly obvious by their tone

... as to where they stand ideologically.

[dionysus]

101. yeah, but how many of those to you really see here? i could count on one hand the number i have

noticed, and they usually get pizza fairly quickly.

[BlooInBloo]

114. They see MILLIONS of them!!!

Of course, the ghosts and phantasms are products of their own conspiracy-theory minds, but whatever.

WE'RE ALL OUT TO GET THEM!!!!

Funny thing is: I *never* see them complaining about anti-Obama trolls.

Oh yah - that's because Moonbeam McCrazypants people are too busy posting in support of those threads.

[dionysus]

117. Moonbeam McCrazypants? you listen to steph don't you?

[BlooInBloo]

119. Fuck THAT - I made up that moniker all on my own a few years back!

Did somebody steal it? I'm SOOOOOOO suing!

[debbierlus]

84. We need people like Dennis to be the true LEADERS instead of being fringe

Kucinich would BLOW Obama away as President, but even the so-called 'liberals' & 'progressives' on this board, treat him as some sort of fringe, even though he is more closely aligned with true progressive views then any of the current party leaders.

[BlooInBloo]

88. Always fun to see hefty amounts of unrec whine in a thread that is > +100 recs.

[Go2Peace]

288. That is soooo yesterday ;). I posted those comments last night when indeed

both the thread trashing DK and the unrecs were occurring. I am sure a lot of unrecs occurred today but I have to admit I have gladly admitted I was wrong about the general feeling on DU. Thankfully views like yours appear to be the minority.

[BlooInBloo]

298. Of course you did. That's why it's so frickin hilarious....

Americans' complete and utter inability to tell the difference between short-term transient behavior and long-term steady-state behavior is always a hoot.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

92. Oh Please. Kooky Kucinich Has Been Effective With Just About Nothing.

Sure, he's great at speaking the exact cliches zealot type progressives want to hear; but not much more. He's kinda a one trick pony. So many of his ideas are laughable and many good dems I know consider him to be some sort of a laughing stock. That's just the way it is. He's popular with the fringe, but that's only a very small fraction of the overall electorate. Overall, he's just Kooky Kucinich.

[liberation]

111. I noticed you did not give a single example to back up your ad hominem... hmmmm

LOL

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

115. Don't Need To. Can't Prove A Negative.

Tell ya what though: How bout you prove it wrong and list the REAL accomplishments he HAS had. Now that you could prove. 1, 2, 3, GO!

[liberation]

125. Actually, you are the one making the accusation. The burden of the proof is on you

BTW, the whole "you can't prove a negative" is a BS co-op which does not apply to your post. I assume you read it somewhere and thought it would be witty. LOL.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

129. LOL Knew You'd Cower Away From The Task ROFLMAO!

Ummmmm, you can't prove a negative. I'm able to prove he's done nothing exactly how now? Ummmmmm, here ya go:

Here are links to what he's accomplished in his many years in office:




See that? Nothing. I've proved my case. :spray:

There is no burden of proof on me. He's a whackjob that has accomplished little to nothing. All but the highly minority and way small percentage fringe zealots are aware of that.

But you have a chance to prove me and the others wrong. Why not post his accomplishments? Shouldn't that be easy for you? Are you just lazy, or are you not doing so simply because you know it wouldn't really show him as being effective whatsoever?

C'mon son... Don't cower... Stand up and defend your man with facts! Ready, set, GO!!!!!!

[liberation]

138. Logic 101 fail

You used your opinion as fact. You have proved nothing.

As I said, you're putting the burden of proving your accusations on other people. It is like you accusing your neighbor of stealing and offering your opinion on the matter as the end all be all of the case.

So hold on the laughter.

[dionysus]

141. as loathe as i am to agree with OMC, please post Dennis' accomplishments. everyone i have ever asked

to do so can't.

cause he doesn't really have any.
:shrug:

[BlooInBloo]

223. He married an uber-hottie, so he can't be all bad.

That's about the best I can offer, as to his accomplishments.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

295. Thanks. A Member Below Actually Tried To Post Them, But It Was A Huge Fail.

Here's my response which has all the original attempts still included. HUGE fail on the member's attempt to show the Kook as being anything more than worthless.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6706609&mesg_id=6716529

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

148. FAIL.

You're done. :hi:

[Skittles]

218. he would have been much better than what we have now

MUCH better

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

250. No, He Would've Remained Useless. nt

[kenfrequed]

246. He has been a congressman

He has voted.

He has made speeches.

He has done the same work as most congressmen have. The difference is how and for what he has voted. The difference is for whom and for what he has spoken out for. That is why progressives praise him and the DLC sorts demean him.


Of course some of the legislation he has backed has failed. So I suppose if you vote in a progressive manner and that fails to achieve the results he intends than he must be a failure and should be out of congress? To replace him with what? A representative in the mold of Max Baucus?

But it really wouldn't matter what is posted specifically, you would shout it down or diminish or demean it. So what are we Really arguing about?

Be honest and put your beliefs and stances on the Issues up front and discontinue this absurd charade.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

251. He's Done Nothing But Be A Whackadoodle While Accomplishing Basically NADA.

[Forkboy]

254. It must suck to be wrong so often.

On November 1, 2007, Congressman Kucinich reintroduced legislation to ensure all children ages 3-5 years-old will have access to quality early education programs. The Universal Prekindergarten Act, HR 4060, would ensure that all children ages 3-5 have access to high-quality, full-day, full-calendar year prekindergarten education. It would provide students with early educational opportunities to help lay the foundation for future academic success. Funded by both state and federal money, the services will be free-of-charge and completely voluntary for families who choose to participate. The bill will supplement existing federal and state prekindergarten programs, will provide for professional development of early childhood educators, and will increase salary levels in order to recruit and retain qualified staff..

Congressman Kucinich, a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, introduced the bill with 37 original cosponsors. He has sponsored universal prekindergarten legislation for over five years.

A less comprehensive prekindergarten bill, the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, was marked up by the Committee on Education in June 2008. Congressman Kucinich won three amendments to that legislation which would pave the way for expansion of prekindergarten services. The first two amendments improved the bill’s definition of a “high-quality” prekindergarten program, while the third amendment created a more robust reporting requirement that would improve effectiveness and oversight.
--
In November 2007, the Committee on Education and Labor, of which Congressman Kucinich is a member, took up the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Congressman Kucinich worked to include two key provisions in the Act. On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act into law.

Congressman Kucinich advocated for the inclusion of language from H.R. 3637, the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which would provide $50 million for colleges and universities to train future sustainability professionals. The money would be competitively awarded and would develop, implement and evaluate sustainability programs in higher education. The language was included in the final bill that was passed by the Committee and eventually signed into law.
--
Also included in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act was the language from Congressman Kucinich’s own bill, H.R. 2707, to reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. This important legislation will re-authorize a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.

The bill also passed the House unanimously as a stand alone bill on July 30, 2007.
--
Congressman Kucinich received more than $600,000 in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY08 Appropriations Bill for two different organizations in his district.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood received more than $430,000 for a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) provides an extensive array of social service programs that promote the health, well being and safety of Cuyahoga County’s citizens. Recognizing the importance of the first five years of a child’s development, the BOCC established the Office of Early Childhood to administer Invest in Children (IIC), the County’s early childhood initiative. Since 1999, IIC has served 131,000 children, 75 percent of the population under age six. IIC is a comprehensive early learning system that offers a range of services from home visitation to the promotion of health and safety, to high-quality early care and education experiences.
--
In October 1999, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich visited Cleveland State University campus to meet with students who were denied financial aid due to the school’s financial aid system. Congressman Kucinich and his congressional staff helped to facilitate finding solutions for students with financial student aid problems and served as an intermediary with CSU administration officials. After a formal request was made by Congressman Kucinich for assistance, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley deployed staff to CSU to help students. Secretary Riley also received from the Congressman a collection of e-mails, letters and a videotape which outline the students’ problems with the financial aid system at CSU. Congressman Kucinich is awaiting a report from the Inspector General on this situation.
--
He worked with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Ohio State University to formulate a new federal program that would enable junior high and high school students to receive training in entrepreneurial skills. This legislation, originally the "Future Entrepreneurs of America Act" (H.R. 4175) was introduced in June 1998 with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, including Congressman Steven LaTourette (R-Madison). It was later introduced as an amendment to HR 1995, the "Teacher Empowerment Act," and was passed. In the 107th Congress, he introduced the Future Entrepreneurs of America Act (HR 1617), to supply funds going directly to schools and local educational agencies to educate students. It also would establish of a National Clearinghouse for Teacher Entrepreneurship to encourage teacher interest and involvement in entrepreneurship education.
--
http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1460
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a Bill to open 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Redefines the term "distressed area" to include an Indian reservation with a population of high risk youth of sufficient size to warrant the establishment of a BGCA. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1753. Became Public Law No: 105-133.
--
Rated 64% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.
Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.
Rated 94% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.
Rated 80% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.
Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.
Rated 90% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
Rated 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection
Rated 85% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes.
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record.
Rated 92% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation.
--
Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore.
--
Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq.
--
Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days.
--
Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date.
--
Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq.
--
Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.
--
Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels.
--
Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR.
--
Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol.
--
Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization.
--
Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.
--
Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination.
--
Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health.
--
Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.
--
Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages.
--
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs.
--
Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes.
--
Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification.
--
Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
--
Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years.
--
Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant.
--
Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight.
--
Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses.
--
Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border.
--
Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet).
--
Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing.
--
Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25.
--
Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox
--
Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored recognizing Juneteenth as historical end of slavery

A resolution recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and expressing that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future.

Recognizes the historical significance to the nation, and supports the continued celebration, of Juneteenth Independence Day (June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved African Americans were free). Declares the sense of Congress that:

1. history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future; and
2. the celebration of the end of slavery is an important and enriching part of the history and heritage of the United States.

Legislative Outcome: House versions are H.CON.RES.155 and H.RES.1237; related Senate resolution S.RES.584 counts for sponsorship. Resolution agreed to in Senate, by Unanimous Consent.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored providing benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees
SUMMARY: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007

* Employees and their domestic partners will have the same benefits as married employees and their spouses under--Employee health benefits
* Retirement and disability plans
* Family, medical, and emergency leave
* Group life insurance
* Long-term care insurance
* Compensation for work injuries
* Death, disability, and similar benefits
* Relocation, travel, and related expenses.
--
Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.
--
Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation.
To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation .
--
Kucinich co-sponsored re-introducing the Equal Rights Amendment
--
Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements
--
Kucinich co-sponsored for emergency contraception for rape victims
--
Kucinich co-sponsored ensuring access to and funding for contraception
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment: Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a bill limiting capital punishment
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Innocence Protection Act: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans
--
Kucinich co-sponsored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grants program to:
1 recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period ;
2 reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and
3 improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the National Improvement in Mathematics and Science Teaching Act: To improve the quality and scope of science and mathematics education.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored for health impact assessments for environmental health
--
Kucinich co-sponsored strengthening prohibitions against animal fighting
--

Kucinich co-sponsored a bill weakening the requirements on voluntary prayer
--
Kucinich co-sponsored establishing greenhouse gas tradeable allowances
--
Kucinich co-sponsored prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing Americans to travel to Cuba
--
Kucinich co-sponsored acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the MX Missile Stand-Down Act: To take the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) missiles off of high-alert status.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring text on TV for visually-impaired viewers
--
Kucinich co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring full disclosure of outsourced employees
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing an Air Traffic Controller's Union
--
Kucinich co-sponsored extending unemployment compensation during recession
--
Kucinich co-sponsored changing Social Security disproportionately affect women
--
Kucinich sponsored impeaching Dick Cheney for lying about Iraq

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

293. Hell, You'd Know Right? Sorry to Embarrass You Like This, But Here Ya Go:

On November 1, 2007, Congressman Kucinich reintroduced legislation to ensure all children ages 3-5 years-old will have access to quality early education programs. The Universal Prekindergarten Act, HR 4060, would ensure that all children ages 3-5 have access to high-quality, full-day, full-calendar year prekindergarten education. It would provide students with early educational opportunities to help lay the foundation for future academic success. Funded by both state and federal money, the services will be free-of-charge and completely voluntary for families who choose to participate. The bill will supplement existing federal and state prekindergarten programs, will provide for professional development of early childhood educators, and will increase salary levels in order to recruit and retain qualified staff..

Congressman Kucinich, a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, introduced the bill with 37 original cosponsors. He has sponsored universal prekindergarten legislation for over five years.

Didn't even make it out of committee. FAIL

A less comprehensive prekindergarten bill, the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, was marked up by the Committee on Education in June 2008. Congressman Kucinich won three amendments to that legislation which would pave the way for expansion of prekindergarten services. The first two amendments improved the bill’s definition of a “high-quality” prekindergarten program, while the third amendment created a more robust reporting requirement that would improve effectiveness and oversight.

--

Holy shit! He improved a definition in a Bill! Fuck yeah! The people of Ohio are so much better off now! You rock Kook! ...Oh, it hasn't even made it out of committee? Shucks.

In November 2007, the Committee on Education and Labor, of which Congressman Kucinich is a member, took up the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Congressman Kucinich worked to include two key provisions in the Act. On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act into law.

He wasn't the sponsor, and was one of SEVENTY cosponsors. The bill hasn't even made it out of committee. Again, FAIL

Congressman Kucinich advocated for the inclusion of language from H.R. 3637, the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which would provide $50 million for colleges and universities to train future sustainability professionals. The money would be competitively awarded and would develop, implement and evaluate sustainability programs in higher education. The language was included in the final bill that was passed by the Committee and eventually signed into law.

Really? Advocated alone? With 50 others? In what way? How do we know he even did that at all? Ohhhhhhhhh, cause he said so on his own website, even though no other reference could be found on google? Again, FAIL

--

Also included in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act was the language from Congressman Kucinich’s own bill, H.R. 2707, to reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. This important legislation will re-authorize a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.

The bill also passed the House unanimously as a stand alone bill on July 30, 2007.

Ohhhhhh Dennis, you're my HERO!!!!! What would we have done without you! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Congressman Kucinich received more than $600,000 in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY08 Appropriations Bill for two different organizations in his district.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood received more than $430,000 for a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) provides an extensive array of social service programs that promote the health, well being and safety of Cuyahoga County’s citizens. Recognizing the importance of the first five years of a child’s development, the BOCC established the Office of Early Childhood to administer Invest in Children (IIC), the County’s early childhood initiative. Since 1999, IIC has served 131,000 children, 75 percent of the population under age six. IIC is a comprehensive early learning system that offers a range of services from home visitation to the promotion of health and safety, to high-quality early care and education experiences.

Wow, he put in local desires into an appropriation bill...... Ummmmm, kinda just like EVERYONE else. Yay for Dennis!!!!! LOL

In October 1999, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich visited Cleveland State University campus to meet with students who were denied financial aid due to the school’s financial aid system. Congressman Kucinich and his congressional staff helped to facilitate finding solutions for students with financial student aid problems and served as an intermediary with CSU administration officials. After a formal request was made by Congressman Kucinich for assistance, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley deployed staff to CSU to help students. Secretary Riley also received from the Congressman a collection of e-mails, letters and a videotape which outline the students’ problems with the financial aid system at CSU. Congressman Kucinich is awaiting a report from the Inspector General on this situation.

Wait... He did this in 1999, but is still awaiting a report from the inspector general? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

He worked with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Ohio State University to formulate a new federal program that would enable junior high and high school students to receive training in entrepreneurial skills. This legislation, originally the "Future Entrepreneurs of America Act" (H.R. 4175) was introduced in June 1998 with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, including Congressman Steven LaTourette (R-Madison). It was later introduced as an amendment to HR 1995, the "Teacher Empowerment Act," and was passed. In the 107th Congress, he introduced the Future Entrepreneurs of America Act (HR 1617), to supply funds going directly to schools and local educational agencies to educate students. It also would establish of a National Clearinghouse for Teacher Entrepreneurship to encourage teacher interest and involvement in entrepreneurship education.
--
http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1460

HR 4175. Never made it out of committee. FAIL. HR 1995. Wooohooo!!!!! He proposed an amendment to a huge bill and it was agreed to by voice vote. Yay Dennis! You rock!

Oh, but HR 1617. Poor Dennis. Never made it out of committee. Whoopsie. FAIL

Kucinich co-sponsored a Bill to open 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs

What bill? Did it pass? Was he one of a gazillion cosponsors again? I know you just copied and pasted from his website and all, but do you have any facts to go along with it?

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Redefines the term "distressed area" to include an Indian reservation with a population of high risk youth of sufficient size to warrant the establishment of a BGCA. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1753. Became Public Law No: 105-133.

He did no such thing. The bill was introduced by a REPUBLICAN, and Dennis was one of twenty three cosponsors of the bill. He effectively, was irrelevant. FAIL

--

Rated 64% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.
Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.
Rated 94% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.
Rated 80% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.
Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.
Rated 90% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
Rated 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection
Rated 85% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes.
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record.
Rated 92% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation.
--

Ratings = Worthless as it relates to effectiveness and accomplishments. He's a Democrat. He should have those ratings.

Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore.
--
Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq.
--
Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days.
--
Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date.
--
Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq.
--
Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.
--
Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels.
--
Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR.
--
Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol.
--
Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization.
--
Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.
--
Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination.
--
Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health.
--
Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.
--
Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages.
--
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs.
--
Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes.
--
Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification.
--
Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
--
Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years.
--
Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant.
--
Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight.
--
Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses.
--
Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border.
--
Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet).
--
Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing.
--
Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25.
--
Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox
--
Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

Oh my God!!!!! He votes on stuff!!!!! I mean, NO representative actually VOTES on stuff! What a guy! What a hero! Dennis is a superman!!!!!...... Oh, wait... Forget it. All congress folk vote. And what a surprise! He voted the same way as a gazillion other house Dems. WOOHOOO DENNIS!!!!...

Oh, by the way, did his vote make a difference in any of them or was his vote completely irrelevant? Oh, and on which ones did the bill pass or fail in a manner matched to his vote? Conclusion? WORTHLESS information as it relates to his effectiveness.


--

Kucinich co-sponsored recognizing Juneteenth as historical end of slavery

A resolution recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and expressing that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future.

Recognizes the historical significance to the nation, and supports the continued celebration, of Juneteenth Independence Day (June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved African Americans were free). Declares the sense of Congress that:

1. history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future; and
2. the celebration of the end of slavery is an important and enriching part of the history and heritage of the United States.

Legislative Outcome: House versions are H.CON.RES.155 and H.RES.1237; related Senate resolution S.RES.584 counts for sponsorship. Resolution agreed to in Senate, by Unanimous Consent.

H.CON.RES.155: Woohooo! He didn't introduce it, but hey, he was one of 58 other cosponsors! What a game changer!!!
H.RES.1237: Woohooo! He didn't introduce it, but hey, he was one of 70 other cosponsors! Dennis is god!
S.RES.584: Woohoooo!!!!! Dennis rea... Wait, he's not in the Senate? Oh yeah. That's right. Guess that one was useless.

Kucinich co-sponsored providing benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees
SUMMARY: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007

* Employees and their domestic partners will have the same benefits as married employees and their spouses under--Employee health benefits
* Retirement and disability plans
* Family, medical, and emergency leave
* Group life insurance
* Long-term care insurance
* Compensation for work injuries
* Death, disability, and similar benefits
* Relocation, travel, and related expenses.

He didn't introduce it, but hey, he was one of 90 other cosponsors! Dennis, the people of Ohio are bowing down to you!!!... Oh... Hold on... This never even made it out of committee. Oh well. FAIL

Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.
--
Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation.
To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation .

Awesome! He voted on stuff again! I mean, congress critters normally don't vote on stuff right? LOL

And hey, did any of that stuff actually pass?

Kucinich co-sponsored re-introducing the Equal Rights Amendment
--
Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements
--
Kucinich co-sponsored for emergency contraception for rape victims
--
Kucinich co-sponsored ensuring access to and funding for contraception
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment: Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a bill limiting capital punishment
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Innocence Protection Act: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans
--
Kucinich co-sponsored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grants program to:
1 recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period ;
2 reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and
3 improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the National Improvement in Mathematics and Science Teaching Act: To improve the quality and scope of science and mathematics education.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored for health impact assessments for environmental health
--
Kucinich co-sponsored strengthening prohibitions against animal fighting
--

Kucinich co-sponsored a bill weakening the requirements on voluntary prayer
--
Kucinich co-sponsored establishing greenhouse gas tradeable allowances
--
Kucinich co-sponsored prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing Americans to travel to Cuba
--
Kucinich co-sponsored acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the MX Missile Stand-Down Act: To take the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) missiles off of high-alert status.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring text on TV for visually-impaired viewers
--
Kucinich co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring full disclosure of outsourced employees
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing an Air Traffic Controller's Union
--
Kucinich co-sponsored extending unemployment compensation during recession
--
Kucinich co-sponsored changing Social Security disproportionately affect women
--
Kucinich sponsored impeaching Dick Cheney for lying about Iraq

Ohhhhh wow...... He cosponsored (i.e. didn't come up with himself) a whole mess of stuff along with a whole bunch of other dems. Hey, do you have any actual results on any of these? I mean, I know you just copied and pasted from Kooky Kucinich's website and all, but what were the results? Oh yeah, they probably almost all went NOWHERE.

So really? This was the best you could do? The guy has been in congress for 13 fucking years and that's all you've got? A bunch of failed shit? 13 fucking years and there's practically zero things he actually ACCOMPLISHED. Ooooh yay! He got underground railroad education passed! What an absolutely amazing feat!!!!!

Such a shame. You copy and paste a whole litany of garbage, yet when summarized factually amounted to virtually NADA

Conclusion? HUGE FUCKING FAIL

[Forkboy]

314. You being on this board embarrasses me more than your post here ever can.

You claimed he had done "nada". You're clearly wrong, and you even admit so yourself without even knowing it, which is why you're a source of constant amusement.

Ratings = Worthless as it relates to effectiveness and accomplishments .

First you say he did nada, then say the ratings measure his effectiveness and accomplishments. Wouldn't then those high ratings be a sign that he has done something and not "nada"? And do you feel those ratings for Obama, which are equally impressive, also mean nothing and instead prove that he's done nothing? And will you have the guts to start a thread about that? I doubt it. You're all show and no go.

And feel free to tell us all which of his positions on those ratings you disagree with. He's no Jack Bauer, so I can see why you don't like him, being the manly man you are.

Oh my God!!!!! He votes on stuff!!!!!

Yes, I'm glad you admit he does things and isn't doing nada. The argument wasn't whether he did what other Dems do, but whether he did anything at all. As you admit, he votes, which is rather important isn't it? And those issues he votes on? Perhaps you can tell us which ones you don't agree with, if you have the guts for that as well. Or you can admit that those are good votes on important issues that are solidly Democratic. I doubt you have the guts to do either.

Oh, by the way, did his vote make a difference in any of them or was his vote completely irrelevant?

Yes, his 1 vote was equally as relevant as every other person's 1 vote was. This has been today's math lesson.

Now, this will blow your mind, which is better than you blowing yourself, but I actually agree with people who say DK isn't a great leader, and I don't think he'd be able to get any more done than Obama is on many issues. But he stands for us Democrats repeatedly, he votes as solid as anyone on the issues we Democrats claim to care about (and those Democrats include you, do they not?). He's far from perfect, but he's also a damn sight better than many, unless people like Bayh and Baucus are your idea of useful. Which judging from many of your posts one would suspect.

So tell us, which of those things he's voted on and supported do you think are bad? Would you have preferred that he DIDN'T vote on any of those issues? Is that your idea of useful? Knowing you the answer is yes.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

316. He's Done Little More Than NADA. And Wow, You Should Pay Attention A Bit More.

My quote: Ratings = Worthless as it relates to effectiveness and accomplishments .

Your quote: "First you say he did nada, then say the ratings measure his effectiveness and accomplishments."

I said that? Hmmmmm, maybe you should look up what worthless means. Ratings = worthless as it relates. i.e. If we're talking about how effective he is and his accomplishments, than those ratings mean dick. i.e. They're irrelevant in relation to this discussion. i.e. All the stuff you put afterwards about me admitting he hasn't done nada, was nothing more than an embarrassing error on your part due to your inability to have understood a quite simple quote of mine (posted above). How sad for you.

As for the rest of your post, it was beyond weak on a level of refutation. In fact, any educated clear minded and objective reader would recognize it as such and would without a doubt be aware that my refutation above blew you out of the water and completely decimated your argument. Your return argument was far too weak to even begin to wipe the dust away from your arguments obliteration.

Feel free to blather on now. My earlier refutation still exists and since it blew your argument away, I have no problem letting it stand as my final word. I'm sure some inane empty snark will follow in reply so have at it. :hi:

[Forkboy]

317. I have no problem letting it stand as your final word either.

[scheming daemons]

94. This is DEMOCRATIC Underground.. not PROGRESSIVE Underground

I'm sorry that the site you came from (Progressive Independent) is not as successful as you want it to be.


But *THIS* site is for Democrats of all stripes... not just "Progressives".

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

99. Damn Fuckin Straight! Fuck That Other Site!

Hear fuckin hear!

:toast:

[BlooInBloo]

102. Oh - there's actually a "progressive underground" site?

(runs and checks)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

116. Kind Of. But It's Really Just A Gathering Of The Most Deluded And Mentally Unstable Political Folk.

They're like, wayyyyyyyyyyy off the deep end and are so far from 'sane' it ain't even funny. It is one of the most deluded and flat out insane websites you could come across.

[BlooInBloo]

120. Pretty unpopular site, from the number of posts I saw.

[Forkboy]

128. And you're not a member?

Amazing!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

130. Nah. Waste Of Time Trolling On A Deluded Site. It's Why I'm Not A Member Of FR Either.

Sure, some love to troll and cause disruption in the whackjob sites, but I've never had the desire.

[liberation]

139. wooooooooooooooshhhhhhhhh

.

[Krakowiak]

143. Thank gawd it passed (right over his head) nt

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

147. Right Back Atcha...

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Romulox]

205. A *little* slow on the uptake, aren't you? nt

[Forkboy]

244. You can tell how wrong he is by the amount of smilies he tries to use to hide it.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

249. Again, Right Back Atcha.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Morans... Gotta love 'em LOL

[Romulox]

302. A sputtering response 10 hours later doesn't do much to prove me wrong.

:hi:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

307. So Sayeth The Imbecile Who Does So 12 Hours Later.

:hi:

[proud2BlibKansan]

149. He was at one time

I believe he got kicked off. :shrug:

[Melinda]

151. Bull; DU's big tent is for progressives of all stripes... not just progressive Democrats

Democratic Underground (DU) was founded on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2001, to protest the illegitimate presidency of George W. Bush and to provide a resource for the exchange and dissemination of liberal and progressive ideas. Since then, DU has become one of the premier left-wing websites on the Internet, publishing original content six days a week, and hosting one of the Web's most active left-wing discussion boards.

We welcome Democrats of all stripes, along with other progressives who will work with us to achieve our shared goals. While the vast majority of our visitors are Democrats, this web site is not affiliated with the Democratic Party, nor do we claim to speak for the party as a whole.

No where in the above paragraphs do Skinner et al exclude 'Independent' Progressives. All are welcome here if they "work with us".

And some of us wonder why nothing has been accomplished in DC now that Dems have control. :eyes:

[WonderGrunion]

294. Calling Obama a coprotatist sellout is not working with us

Just saying.

[Melinda]

308. Dunno where that came from, but I'll take the ball...

Follow the money trail to the DLC, look at the makeup of PO's cabinet and advisors, and then get back to me on corporatists, mmm'k?

[Codeine]

170. Fucking THANK YOU!

:applause: :applause: :yourock:

[L0oniX]

233. You must be hoping for a one term Dem president.

[tomp]

255. democrats of all stripes...

...except progressives, suck ass, and are part of the problem not the solution.

[Go2Peace]

289. Actually I am a registered Democrat. So your label failed

And I think the fact this hit number 1 is proof enough that it is generally a progressive site.

[Kermitt Gribble]

95. So-called 'centrist' Dems, DLC/corporate apologists,

and the fan club types who attack anyone that speaks anything negatively about Dems. The past year or so it seems there has been a huge increase in the number of these posters.

K&R for DK

[Echo In Light]

105. Such posts are easy to spot as they ooze gleeful hatred and self congratulatory superiority

[Subdivisions]

103. I posted this a few weeks back and was eviscerated over it:

And now, after Obama's lilly-livered move to pass on a visit by the Dalai Lama, I am even more inclined to see this happen. I don't have any allusions, though. Apparently you have to look a certain way (Cool?) to be president. That is unless you outright steal it.

I know I'll get torched for this, but Obama is becoming more disappointing every day. He does not represent progressive ideals, he's breaking promises, and he's continuing bush policies relevant to prolonged detention, wire-tapping, and war.

I believe that DK would represent progressive and broader Democratic ideals if given the chance. Heck, he such a reasonable guy that he might even be open to some ideas from the right if he sees them as just. And these goddamned wars? They would be consigned to history.

[Echo In Light]

106. Anyone that Corp America deems "electable" can not and will not represent progressive ideals

That runs counter to the chief aims; protecting the system as-is.

[Subdivisions]

108. And therein lies the bigger fight:

To elimate the influence of Corp America in our elections.

I won't hold my breath.

[Echo In Light]

110. The People would have to be accurately informed as to react accordingly

W/o a national platform to bring those voices together, the heterodox view remains marginalized and easy for pro-establishment types to mock/belittle.

[debunkthelies]

181. I have to agree

with your view.
I also am very disappointed in President Obama, especially after all the work I did last year in hopes of the "Change".
My original choice was DK but I knew he wouldn't sell out to the big money strong men.
And in this world of corrupt politicians and warmongers looking for the next country to kill, there's no place for a man of honor, integrity, and a belief in the duty of a President to serve the people who voted him into office.
I just hope we all grow some brass ones before we find ourselves walking in zombie lock-step into the police state waiting to be initiated by the all powerful 'masters'. Or there won't be an election in 2012.
Call me a conspiracy theorist but with the way our law enforcement has become so militarized, and using some of the same weapons that are used in the wars on our own people it makes one wonder.:think:

[peacetalksforall]

107. Accused of being an idealist? I think of the three Kennedy's and King as

idealists. What is wrong with D. Kucinich as an idealist?

Idealism lives in Dennis. And he is our conscience as well. We must support him. He is us. He is me.

[man4allcats]

121. People like Dennis Kucinich, Michael Moore and perhaps even Ralph Nader are the REAL pragmatists.

Dennis and others like him realize that it is not pragmatic for a country, especially a highly industrialized country, to have anything other than single-payer health care. Dennis and others like him realize that in a democracy it is not pragmatic to set aside the Constitution and the Rule of Law so that corrupt politicians can go free while their undemocratic policies continue unchecked. Dennis and others like him realize that democracy is not about pandering to special interests. Pragmatism in a democratic society should mean doing the sensible thing to further the cause of We The People and the democratic principles for which we claim to stand. Unfortunately, the entire political right and much of the left have forgotten that. Personally I'm very glad to have pragmatists such as Dennis Kucinich, Michael Moore and yes, even Ralph Nader.

[liberation]

131. They are ideologes... and there is nothing wrong with that.

Frankly there is nothing in politics than a "pragmatist" which is another term for "I don't believe in anything I don't have to or can be inconvenient for my interests."

A pragmatist in politics is a bad thing, simply because politics by definition implies ideology. A person lacking ideology in politics is dangerous because we don't have a clue about where he stands. A lot of people, many in this site even, think the government should be run like a business. However, what does work for private enterprise does not work for public institutions and vice versa, and honestly it shouldn't. We're now thinking of our politicians more as business managers than actual politicians, it is dangerous. And this is how we have ended under the current paradigm of "fear mongering." Since fear is the only thing these "managers" can offer to keep us in check. It is definitively easier, than having a positive vision of what we want this society to strive to be, and work to implement said vision.

As I said, nothing wrong with ideologues.

[HughMoran]

175. Wow, people have to be insane ideologues in your world

Anybody who has any sense that it's not worth starting a fight or war over is an idiot in your world.

Practical people (AKA pragmatists) are "not to be trusted" in your world.

Yours is the most right-wing like incomprehensible nonsense I've ever read here.

[man4allcats]

199. I think of pragmatism as

emphasizing that which is practical or "generally stressing practical consequences as constituting the essential criterion in determining meaning, truth, or value." I see no meaning, truth or value in business/politics as usual unless the truth is that the only real meaning in any of it is the dollar value that goes into the pockets of corporate CEOs and the politicians they own at the expense of the people and their democracy. The best if not the only way to successfully run such a shell game is to have ideologue politicians saying that we must be practical to advance the interests of the nation while being true to its principles when what they really mean is that maintaining the status quo is the best way to make the rich richer at the expense of those who are not rich. In short, ideologues speak in generalities to sell a myth to those who think they can get their freedom effortlessly by turning on the TV rather than by going out and working for it. Kucinich, Moore and others like them are quite specific about what they believe, why it matters and what it will take to realize those beliefs. There's nothing mythological or ideological about any of it. In the 1984 reality in which we live, even the definitions are changed. Up is down; black is white; pragmatic is ideological. The true progressive movement seems to me to be quite sensible and therefore most pragmatic in terms of the founding principles of this nation and the genuine welfare of its people. Whether the right and center right are called ideological or something else (greedy, self-centered bastards comes to mind) makes no difference to me. They most surely are not practical and therefore not pragmatic, at least in my view.

[swilton]

122. Agreed and a big K&R

Before there was Grayson and Weiner, there was Kucinich - a very exclusive club!

[Prism]

123. It's the curse of the Blue-shirter

There are many people in politics, on both sides, who merely root for their parties as if they were sports teams and who see the prominent politicians of their party as celebrities or quarterbacks to be defended and praised no matter what. DU isn't unique in this. Look at Republicans who cheer wildly for Sarah Palin even though she has no coherent political policy. Look at conservatives who defended Bush to the very end, even though the man's fiscal policy was about as opposite to fiscal conservatism as anyone, Republican or Democrat, has managed in the past three decades.

As long as "their guy" is winning, that's all they care about. With Democrats in power, there is a tension that shoves aside liberal policy in favor of marks in the win column. This is why even popular liberal agenda items like LGBT rights are consigned to the trash heap in the name of partisan victory. That's why things like health care can be gradually watered down into a corporate boondoggle, but people will declare it the most amazing thing we ever could have imagined.

It's the win that's important, not the people, not the policy, not the country.

People like their teams. As long as our party is in power, we're going to have these people who will sacrifice anything and everything as long as there exists the possibility they can declare some kind of victory for their team at the end of the day.

I call them the Blue-shirters. They call themselves Democrats, they cheer for the team, but there is no policy, no constituency, no people they won't trample over to make sure that power is retained and the image of potency perpetuated. Liberal Democratic policies are a total afterthought, and if they ever get in the way of that win, well, they must be ground into dust and the people promoting those policies discredited and villainized.

That's how we end up in situations where someone who wants health care for all, sound economic policy, and equality for all citizens can end up being called a hater, freeper troll, right-wing operative, etc. It's never ever the policy that's important. They must protect the team at all costs.

So they do, to the detriment of us all.

[Melinda]

153. Amazing post - thankYOU!!!

I couldn't have said it better myself. Thanks!!

[Bunkie0913]

124. Dennis Kucinich Speaks for ME!

This is the first time in a long time I bothered to log in. I'm here everyday but never feel like my voice will lend anything to the discussion. It really chaps my ass when people dog Dennis. There are very few in the field of politics who truly stand for the people. You know why Dennis isn't rich? He can't be bought or bossed. I love him, really. If he and I weren't married, I'd be hitting on him. 'Course he'd never have anything to do with me 'cause I'm a chain-smoking, beer drinking, foul-mouthed, steak-loving hillbilly and he's a saint.

[nadinbrzezinski]

126. Democratic Leadership Council. Boiubon Liberals, blue Dogs

should I go on?

[SIMPLYB1980]

133. Maybe some of us realize he is nothing more than a grandstander.

He has never and will never accomplish anything important because it wouldn't help him get money from the left. It always amuses me at how he raises money by attacking his fellow Democrats. I think he could better spend his time attacking republicans at least then he's not doing any damage.

[grantcart]

134. I don't understand why people are hyper critical of either DK or the President

They are actually working to get something done.

[Echo In Light]

142. Those critical of DK use it to hate those whose views/ideas are similarly aligned

As where often times those critical of the current pres admin are so b/c they understand that ours is a rigged system, a phony Rep Democracy, and do not base this on any personal 'dislike' of Obama, the actual individual, but on the overarching aims and long standing track record of the U.S. govt.

Basically, it's people who dislike what certain other people represent to them, versus those who are critical of our corporate/state nexus. Yet you'll continually find that the former sector projects their own approach on the latter ... much the same way Bush/Cheney supporters would dismiss any criticism of Bushco as "Bush bashing" based on the idea that the critic must "hate" Bush personally, b/c that is how they approach such matters, and so assume everyone else must also.

[dionysus]

146. lol, so the people calling him a "fucking fool", "corporate whore" and "republican" actually don't

dislike him? (that's just the ones i saw today)

hoookay!

:rofl:

[grantcart]

163. lol people who hate DK are projecting based on hate and those that hate

Obama are based on high minded principles.


Now that is projection!. lol

[Echo In Light]

165. Again, the insistence on framing critiques of US policy as "hating" an individual

???

That's not what it's about at all, as such criticisms would be fairly uniform throughout the country's past several pres admins, w/Bushco obviously being something of an exclamation mark.

And what's "high minded" about being critical of corporate rule, an immoral War Machine, and a continued foreign policy that requires that machine to be as grotesquely bloated as it is?

[grantcart]

203. What is high minded are people that enter into the public arena and at

personal risk fight for public policy, especially when they have turned away from an easy path of high income high profile jobs to start as a community organizer or a mayor.


There is nothing 'high minded' about smashing on keys in a discussion board although I enjoy the conversation and learn a lot here. If you think that making such criticisms amounts to "high minded" activity then you are simply applying a salve to your conscience without actually having to engage the actual power structure. Whatever the actual power structure in a country is, that is what it is and simply picking out adjectives against it, whether it is Burma or the US, doesn't count for much. So I find the condescending, patronizing remarks that are made of both President Obama and Representative Kucinich many things but none of them particularly 'high minded'. While policy wise I would probably agree with DK on almost every point, it doesn't actually count if you can't get it passed.

There is a lot of entrenched hatred in this board aimed at the President and also some aimed at DK, not to be confused with those that have some policy disagreements with some or either of them.

[stevenleser]

210. [phone]....

[QC]

140. Welcome to Democratic (Leadership Council) Underground!

Seriously, though, while the site seems to have lurched pretty hard to the right the past couple of years, I think that the majority of the community here--as opposed to the loudest few who try to dominate the site and control all discussions--are still good progressives.

It's just that a lot of the loudest are decidedly more "centrist" than was once the case. That seems to have more to do with their loyalties to a particular politician than to any sense of ideology or even plain old right and wrong.

[rudy23]

144. Amen. Also, the politicians are getting hip to the blogosphere.

They're making sure they, and the lobbyists who own them are well represented online. The grownups are figuring out how to work the internets.

[QC]

152. Yes, I think that's a big part of things, too.

It's pretty obvious sometimes.

[Desertrose]

150. Thank god for Dennis Kucinich....

wish we had more like him.

He always speaks the truth.

[Forkboy]

160. Honestly, even as a DK supporter, it doesn't really bother me.

The left gives it to the center and the center gives it to the left. It's always been this way. It always will be this way. And it's like this in every party. It's the endless tug of war between ideas, and no party is a love in. I also know that the two groups actually agree on far more than they disagree on (in general anyways).

[JVS]

162. They just want to make sure that the good doesn't become the enemy of the barely tolerable

Or something :crazy:

[valerief]

171. DK is worth his weight in gold! Well, double his weight, cuz he doesn't weigh a lot. nt

[NeedleCast]

172. Still waiting for one of the DK supporters to post his list of accomplishments

All the bluster about what an amazing president he'd make (hehe) remains unsupported by a list of accomplishments.

[NeedleCast]

241. Still Waiting

Surely one of you DK fanbois can produce a list of DK's accomplishments in his long political career?

[Forkboy]

252. You turn (hehe), fanbois.

On November 1, 2007, Congressman Kucinich reintroduced legislation to ensure all children ages 3-5 years-old will have access to quality early education programs. The Universal Prekindergarten Act, HR 4060, would ensure that all children ages 3-5 have access to high-quality, full-day, full-calendar year prekindergarten education. It would provide students with early educational opportunities to help lay the foundation for future academic success. Funded by both state and federal money, the services will be free-of-charge and completely voluntary for families who choose to participate. The bill will supplement existing federal and state prekindergarten programs, will provide for professional development of early childhood educators, and will increase salary levels in order to recruit and retain qualified staff..

Congressman Kucinich, a member of the Committee on Education and Labor and the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, introduced the bill with 37 original cosponsors. He has sponsored universal prekindergarten legislation for over five years.

A less comprehensive prekindergarten bill, the Providing Resources Early for Kids (PRE-K) Act, was marked up by the Committee on Education in June 2008. Congressman Kucinich won three amendments to that legislation which would pave the way for expansion of prekindergarten services. The first two amendments improved the bill’s definition of a “high-quality” prekindergarten program, while the third amendment created a more robust reporting requirement that would improve effectiveness and oversight.
--
In November 2007, the Committee on Education and Labor, of which Congressman Kucinich is a member, took up the College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2007, which would reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Congressman Kucinich worked to include two key provisions in the Act. On August 14, 2008, President Bush signed the College Opportunity and Affordability Act into law.

Congressman Kucinich advocated for the inclusion of language from H.R. 3637, the Higher Education Sustainability Act, which would provide $50 million for colleges and universities to train future sustainability professionals. The money would be competitively awarded and would develop, implement and evaluate sustainability programs in higher education. The language was included in the final bill that was passed by the Committee and eventually signed into law.
--
Also included in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act was the language from Congressman Kucinich’s own bill, H.R. 2707, to reauthorize the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. This important legislation will re-authorize a competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education to research, display, interpret and collect artifacts relating to the history of the Underground Railroad.

The bill also passed the House unanimously as a stand alone bill on July 30, 2007.
--
Congressman Kucinich received more than $600,000 in the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education FY08 Appropriations Bill for two different organizations in his district.

The Cuyahoga County Office of Early Childhood received more than $430,000 for a Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. The Cuyahoga County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) provides an extensive array of social service programs that promote the health, well being and safety of Cuyahoga County’s citizens. Recognizing the importance of the first five years of a child’s development, the BOCC established the Office of Early Childhood to administer Invest in Children (IIC), the County’s early childhood initiative. Since 1999, IIC has served 131,000 children, 75 percent of the population under age six. IIC is a comprehensive early learning system that offers a range of services from home visitation to the promotion of health and safety, to high-quality early care and education experiences.
--
In October 1999, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich visited Cleveland State University campus to meet with students who were denied financial aid due to the school’s financial aid system. Congressman Kucinich and his congressional staff helped to facilitate finding solutions for students with financial student aid problems and served as an intermediary with CSU administration officials. After a formal request was made by Congressman Kucinich for assistance, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley deployed staff to CSU to help students. Secretary Riley also received from the Congressman a collection of e-mails, letters and a videotape which outline the students’ problems with the financial aid system at CSU. Congressman Kucinich is awaiting a report from the Inspector General on this situation.
--
He worked with the Greater Cleveland Growth Association and Ohio State University to formulate a new federal program that would enable junior high and high school students to receive training in entrepreneurial skills. This legislation, originally the "Future Entrepreneurs of America Act" (H.R. 4175) was introduced in June 1998 with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors, including Congressman Steven LaTourette (R-Madison). It was later introduced as an amendment to HR 1995, the "Teacher Empowerment Act," and was passed. In the 107th Congress, he introduced the Future Entrepreneurs of America Act (HR 1617), to supply funds going directly to schools and local educational agencies to educate students. It also would establish of a National Clearinghouse for Teacher Entrepreneurship to encourage teacher interest and involvement in entrepreneurship education.
--
http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1460
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a Bill to open 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs

Amends the Economic Espionage Act of 1996 to make grants to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to establish and extend club facilities where needed, with particular emphasis on establishing clubs in and extending services to public housing projects and distressed areas. Redefines the term "distressed area" to include an Indian reservation with a population of high risk youth of sufficient size to warrant the establishment of a BGCA. Earmarks specified funds to provide a grant to BGCA for administrative, travel, and other costs associated with a national role-model speaking tour program.

Corresponding House bill is H.R.1753. Became Public Law No: 105-133.
--
Rated 64% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record.
Rated 100% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.
Rated 94% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record.
Rated 80% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.
Rated +10 by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.
Rated 90% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence.
Rated 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection
Rated 85% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes.
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record.
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record.
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record.
Rated 92% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation.
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record.
Rated 100% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation.
--
Voted YES on keeping moratorium on drilling for oil offshore.
--
Voted YES on investigating Bush impeachment for lying about Iraq.
--
Voted YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq starting in 90 days.
--
Voted NO on declaring Iraq part of War on Terror with no exit date.
--
Voted NO on authorizing military force in Iraq.
--
Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.
--
Voted YES on raising CAFE standards; incentives for alternative fuels.
--
Voted YES on prohibiting oil drilling & development in ANWR.
--
Voted YES on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol.
--
Voted YES on assisting workers who lose jobs due to globalization.
--
Voted YES on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.
--
Voted YES on protecting whistleblowers from employer recrimination.
--
Voted YES on giving mental health full equity with physical health.
--
Voted NO on denying non-emergency treatment for lack of Medicare co-pay.
--
Voted NO on limiting medical malpractice lawsuits to $250,000 damages.
--
Voted YES on allowing reimportation of prescription drugs.
--
Voted YES on paying for AMT relief by closing offshore business loopholes.
--
Voted YES on providing tax relief and simplification.
--
Voted NO on making the Bush tax cuts permanent.
--
Voted NO on Tax cut package of $958 B over 10 years.
--
Voted NO on allowing electronic surveillance without a warrant.
--
Voted NO on continuing intelligence gathering without civil oversight.
--
Voted NO on continuing military recruitment on college campuses.
--
Voted NO on building a fence along the Mexican border.
--
Voted YES on establishing "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet).
--
Voted YES on restricting employer interference in union organizing.
--
Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25.
--
Voted YES on strengthening the Social Security Lockbox
--
Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored recognizing Juneteenth as historical end of slavery

A resolution recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and expressing that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future.

Recognizes the historical significance to the nation, and supports the continued celebration, of Juneteenth Independence Day (June 19, 1865, the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved African Americans were free). Declares the sense of Congress that:

1. history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future; and
2. the celebration of the end of slavery is an important and enriching part of the history and heritage of the United States.

Legislative Outcome: House versions are H.CON.RES.155 and H.RES.1237; related Senate resolution S.RES.584 counts for sponsorship. Resolution agreed to in Senate, by Unanimous Consent.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored providing benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees
SUMMARY: Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007

* Employees and their domestic partners will have the same benefits as married employees and their spouses under--Employee health benefits
* Retirement and disability plans
* Family, medical, and emergency leave
* Group life insurance
* Long-term care insurance
* Compensation for work injuries
* Death, disability, and similar benefits
* Relocation, travel, and related expenses.
--
Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.
--
Voted YES on allowing stockholder voting on executive compensation.
To amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to provide shareholders with an advisory vote on executive compensation .
--
Kucinich co-sponsored re-introducing the Equal Rights Amendment
--
Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements
--
Kucinich co-sponsored for emergency contraception for rape victims
--
Kucinich co-sponsored ensuring access to and funding for contraception
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a Constitutional Amendment: Constitutional Amendment for equal rights by gender.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored reinforcing anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring Code of Conduct for US corporations abroad
--
Kucinich co-sponsored a bill limiting capital punishment
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Innocence Protection Act: To reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing rehabilitated drug convicts get student loans
--
Kucinich co-sponsored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grants program to:
1 recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period ;
2 reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and
3 improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the National Improvement in Mathematics and Science Teaching Act: To improve the quality and scope of science and mathematics education.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored for health impact assessments for environmental health
--
Kucinich co-sponsored strengthening prohibitions against animal fighting
--

Kucinich co-sponsored a bill weakening the requirements on voluntary prayer
--
Kucinich co-sponsored establishing greenhouse gas tradeable allowances
--
Kucinich co-sponsored prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing Americans to travel to Cuba
--
Kucinich co-sponsored acknowledging the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900s
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Birth Defects Prevention Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the MX Missile Stand-Down Act: To take the 50 Peacekeeper (MX) missiles off of high-alert status.
--
Kucinich co-sponsored the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring text on TV for visually-impaired viewers
--
Kucinich co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation
--
Kucinich co-sponsored requiring full disclosure of outsourced employees
--
Kucinich co-sponsored allowing an Air Traffic Controller's Union
--
Kucinich co-sponsored extending unemployment compensation during recession
--
Kucinich co-sponsored changing Social Security disproportionately affect women
--
Kucinich sponsored impeaching Dick Cheney for lying about Iraq

http://ontheissues.org/2008/Dennis_Kucinich_Welfare_+_Poverty.htm

----------

Don't mention it! :hi:

[change_notfinetuning]

176. Kucinich is right on the money - just unelectable.

He was right on Iraq, right on single-payer;
Stood up for the people as Cleveland's mayor.

Right on impeachment, right on the bailout;
Unlike his party, never a sellout.

Right on manufacturing, right on free trade;
Stands up for unions and isn't afraid.

Right on immigration and securing the border;
Right about getting our priorities in order.

On most things he's right, but not presidential;
Not too well liked by the most influential.

He's on our side and not on the take,
But we keep falling for ones who are fake.

Maybe Dennis "the Vegan" Kucinich
Said if elected, he'd make us eat spinach?

If it weren't so serious, it would really be funny;
We don't want a president who's right on the money.

[winyanstaz]

189. I agree with your post...

but don't say he is unelectable. Remember, not so long ago it was concidered that a man of mixed race could never be president.
Kucinich can be president someday if we want a real president who will keep their word and fight for us.
Obama has proved that much...so..yes we can elect Dennis...
We can do anything we agree we want to do. Yes we can.

[BzaDem]

178. Because he is the enemy of progress?

His definition of progress (and what he supports) is that anything that can't pass Congress at that particular moment in time. He voted against cap and trade and will almost certainly vote against a house healthcare bill even with a public option. At a certain point, those who vote against the entire Democratic agenda for whatever reason should be held accountable. I ask you why you aren't attacking him.

[Taverner]

182. Because some of the folks here are in fact, Republican moles

And those folks know I am talking about them

[mistertrickster]

186. Mega dittos. The one way we should imitate the cons? Unity.

I don't mean march in lockstep.

But the level of vituperation a lot of folks vent on their comrades in arms around here is wholly unnecessary and counter-productive.

Hang together or hang separately. Benj. Franklin

[winyanstaz]

187. K & R ....

Dennis has stood up for the American people time after time after time.
To criticize him for having ideals or for all his hard effort on the behalf of American citizens is just plain anti-american.
Name one other Congressperson that has done half as much?
Time after time after time he has been absolutely CORRECT on his stand. He was one of the very few who spoke up about the iraq war...and now we know it was all a bunch of lies..why the HELL are we still sending our troops there? We have no business there.
To belittle the man because he not bought and paid for by the powerful lobbyists also stinks.
If the man runs again for President..I will vote for him.

[TheKentuckian]

188. I don't attack DK but I do advise people to not put too much stock into him

or anyone else that "speaks truth to power" that can't get it done at least statewide or from a conservative district at least. It's easier to be a spitfire with a small audience or to the choir.

I'd also argue the impact to the American people is minimal because many have no idea what he says or stands for. Don't get me wrong he forces people to address issues in a primary that edges things in the right direction but other than that...meh. He just doesn't have consistent impact as a legislator or on much other than attracting young people who become disillusioned because nobody listens to Dennis.

[sui generis]

190. Dennis believes what he says and ACTS on it.

Unlike our current leader in the oval office.

Oh I do believe that Obama truly does believe that gay marriage is a state's rights issue, though. hmmmm :think: I wonder if interracial marriage should be a state's rights issue? Oh it's all so confusing!

AGREED. But I've gotten flak for daring to consider that democrats should be progressive and not "mainstream", which is shorthand for we couldn't bear the thought of voting for another lame republican so we're pretending to be democrats with the rest of you bleeding hearts, and we're mainstream ya know.

Sheesh.

[BzaDem]

194. Somehow his definition of "acting" on it is voting against anything that might actually pass.

He voted against cap and trade, and he will almost certainly vote against healthcare reform, even with a public option. If the tide turns left, he will just turn his meter left to make sure that anything he supports won't have a chance of passing.

[dionysus]

196. a grandstander.

[autorank]

200. An honest politician

Why have this health reform bill if it's not serious. It isn't. There's a four year phase in for
the vaunted "insurance exchange" and that's the only place the public option functions according to
no less of an authority than President Obama. So what do the uninsured do for four years? And what
do those tens of millions, including the 15 million self employed, do for four years. Overpay for
health care, get less than they need, be sick and die.

This health care reform also functions as the health insurance preservation initiative. They're all
over the place. Wonder why they've stopped the disruptions around the country. They won!

I think what Grayson is doing is great but, I have to tell you, he's acting like this health bill
is 'the thing,' and it's not. It's half way form nowhere. The Republicans are in nowhere land but
half way is not nearly adequate. That's not grandstanding.

[sabrina 1]

242. You mean like the War in Iraq?

Or the supplementals? Especially the one with the hidden clause about getting the Iraqis to sign over their oil to Global Corps? He was threatened with censure by his own party for telling the American people the truth about what was in that bill.

He votes for what's right, not for what's 'left'. He isn't even all that left, he just tells the truth and refuses to be bought off the way so many of the others are.

I think you're wrong about him going further to the left just because he's contrary. I've never seen anything to suggest that his votes are cast for any reason other than, they were the right votes.

As far as him not getting anything done, do you blame the person who tries to save a life when there's an army working against him, or do you blame the army?

[sui generis]

292. how dare you

have false idols. Obama is the one true god! Seize her and eject her from the party!

:silly:

jeepers, it's like that here some days.

[sui generis]

291. I would vote against the baucus bill.

Even IF it included a public option. Reading IS fundamental - just because we call it health care reform does not make it so when it's actually reducing access to healthcare and using law to require that private citizens purchase private insurance whether or not they can afford the insurance and whether or not they can just afford to pay cash.

One other thing about Kucinich - he represents people. I have no idea who or what our current administration represents, but it ain't you and me. Bank bailouts, auto bailouts, mortgage bailouts, insurance company bailouts. When do we get our bailout?

[90-percent]

197. DK

In 2008, Dennis was my first choice for President and got my first donations. I voted for Edwards in the Primaries, but when he dropped out, I donated and supported Obama.

I will support Dennis in his next House run, if my laid off 50 to 65 year old economic oblivion doesn't catch up with me first!

I can like Dennis and Grayson at the same time!

-90% Jimmy

[sam kane]

201. Please do not put Dennis in the same camp as the man who gave us Bush,

with help from others. I can no longer hear that voice or read the name without cringing.

[stevenleser]

215. +1

:-)

[kath]

202. DLC fuckers. Too damned many of 'em.

[Grinchie]

208. The DLC Hates Dennis Kucinich, but loves Corporate Facism and Greed

It's usually the same tired hacks defending Unlabeled GMO in our food supply, or somehow trying to beat their chests about how great the American Military is, and that it needs a Trillion dollars a year to barely function.

Or that Greed is somehow still good. These people are dinasaurs that live in a little box that they never leaves, and are happy to re-live the good old days of Bill Clinton, their favorite President, while ignoring the fact that Bill Clinton's policies were as directly responsible as Dubya's to get us where we are today.

The so called "Vast Right Wing Conspiricacy" is a smoke screen for and Administration that seeks to deflect criticism for it's own stupidity and Corporate whoreishness. It's truly remarkable that Bill Clinton would revive this boogeyman so early in his second term of the DLC, but it makes sense. They know that they are screwed, simply due to the wholesale abandonment of the Progressive platform and the Liberal Left.

This administration deserves to be left at the side of the road and abandoned, and it's pretty clear that they realize that people are doing just that.

Thei so called "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" is more properly known as the "Vast Numbers of People that are Conscious and Paying attention". Some are Educated, Some are not, but they do know that we are on the wrong track.

[theFrankFactor]

231. Agreed!

JOIN US!
http://TheFrankFactor.com

[Grinchie]

237. Would love to, but trying times are coming, and I'm preparing for the onslaught

I really wanted to think that we as Americans could have made a turning point with Obama, but the Administration so far has proven time and again that the Status Quo remains entrenched, and they don't have a clue on how to proceed. It's like they are shell shocked that the majority of Americans are actually conscious enough to see through the lies and rehashed policy blunders that the Administration clings to, much like an old textbook on keeping the little people happy and controllable.

Unfortunately, the old Textbook is now recognizable as Corporate propaganda, and the Government doesn't have a plan B, other than maybe another War with Iran, some meddling in South America for Corporate interests, and refusing to regulate the Industries that are too big to fail, for fear that they could cut off vital supply chains and infrastructure whenever they feel like it, much like Enron did in California.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm going to make damn sure that I have everything I need to provide for myself "Just in Case", and that means focusing on meaningful self education, strengthening my economic education and positions, and avoiding the tainted Political System until I have all my ducks in a row.

I appreciate your video commentaries Frank. We need people like you to cut loose on these brainless Politicians and speak the truth. I don't think I've seen one video of yours that has not deviated from the obviousness of the Lobotomized thought processes that prevail in the Government today. Unfortunately, at this point, it appears that logical thinking is not required in todays world, and the unending stream of stupidity does nothing more than keep the American People off balance and easily manipulated. God forbid somone like you, or Kucinich, or even Ron Paul, say anything that brings a slightest wisdom into the conversation. That goes against the Computer generated talking points that prevail in mainstream media, because they might make people think.

[booley]

212. I like Kucinich and Grayson

They need to tag team the way repubs do.

I also liked when Ryan used to call the GOP out. Too bad he seems to have lost his balls when it came to health care.

Really, why do I have to choose one or the other? I only wish McCaskill was half as good instead of a sell out.

[Duppers]

214. righteous rant!

:thumbsup:

Long live DK! Alan Grayson & MM!

[L0oniX]

216. Proudly R & K ...and fuck those asscarrots who unrec'd!

[barbtries]

217. for what it's worth

dennis kucinich is the congress person i respect the most of any. i only wish i could have voted for him for president.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

221. At first I thought, I didn't know Donna Karan was all that progressive.

To much project runway I guess.

[BEZERKO]

224. My only issue with him is that he seems more interested in

leading a Dennis Kucinich movement than a liberal or progressive movement. I could be totally off base here, I don't know. It's when he claims to be the only true Democrat running for president or whatever. I don't think that's helpful.

[thelordofhell]

226. They're all just jealous because he has a hot wife

:spank:

[rhett o rick]

229. As my wife says daily, "Men are pigs". Oink.

My response is "So, what's your point?".

[RoccoR5955]

232. If they attack Dennis Kucinich, they attack ME!

This is supposed to be a left wing site. When they attack the most progressive liberals, they attack me, as well as the site.
There is not a damn thing that I disagree with regarding Kucinich, Sanders, Hinchey, and other Liberal members of Congress. By disagreeing with them, they disagree with me, and I will stand for the people that I believe in, as well as their values and other beliefs, so long as I have fingers to type, and a network connection! Without such forward thinkers, we all would be in the Stone Age, without even a wheel!

[scheming daemons]

235. "this is supposed to be a leftwing site" ... um, no....

When I say:

"If they attack Barack Obama, they attack ME!"

you'd call me a "koolaid drinker".



This is a Democratic site... for *ALL* Democrats.... not just Kucinich fan boy ultra progressives.

[RoccoR5955]

318. I guess even conservative Dems like you should be allowed.

Even if you are a Democrat in name only.
Democrats are supposed to be the party of WE THE PEOPLE, not them, the corporations.
Obama has yet to prove to me that he is not a corporate shill. I thought he might be, and I voted for him, but I am afraid that I am mistaken.

[wroberts189]

234. Great post knr nt

[scheming daemons]

236. "Who the hell are these people attacking a Democratic President (like BO) on this site????"

This isn't "Dennis Kucinich Underground".... It's "Democratic Underground".


And Barack Obama is more representative of the Democratic party than Kucinich is.

[Ardent15]

238. Dennis refuses to play the game of politics

He tells it like it is. One of the few, I might add.

[Individualist]

239. +244 recs so far

:thumbsup:

[femrap]

240. Kucinich rocks....

people who criticize him buy into what MSM says about him...he's short, saw UFOs, etc.

MSM has always made him out to be 'off' or 'crazy.' He's NOT. He's the only sane one around.

And if people don't support DK and Michael Moore, you're not a progressive....you're just shallow.

[DWilliamsamh]

243. I agree about DK. His voice is important, and best suited for the Congress.

[inna]

245. +261 Dennis baby. what's the DU absolute record in terms of recs, i wonder?...

[Starry Messenger]

248. It's funny.

I was never a big DK fan until assholes here started attacking him. Then I started paying closer attention and cultivated a greater appreciation for Dennis. Nice job assholes! :thumbsup:

[saltpoint]

256. There be a gaggle or two of us who might love the man but still feel

he isn't getting a damn thing done.

The record would appear to back that claim up pretty good, too.

In consecutive runs for the Democratic nomination DK fell wildly short of the mark. No appreciable change in strategy from one year's failure to win to the next cycle's failure to win. The same thing that served him very, very badly the first time he dove straight back into the second time. It failed the second time even more.

You and I don't get the dividends from liberal triumphs in the Congress without the pragmatic approach you appear to eschew. We've praised Kucinich's brave words but see no dividends, no results, no outcomes that represent meaningful reform. He talks a good line. We listen. And then years go by and nothing happens.

[Rex]

259. Some people just don't like a good thing.

My guess. I personally love DK.

[nvme]

262. DK is an attraction

in this freak-show. Great DK said amazing things. Fine. Has it or is it making a difference? Is he getting things done. One does not have to compromise ones integrity to garner accomplishments. He made strong points when he was railing against the current public option. It is a sell-out. Single payer is the most useful way of providing coverage for all. Then, then why is there no single payer? Why is he not fighting this measure tooth and nail? if a freshman congressman from FL can raise some noise, then Why is DK not ratcheting up the heat? He like all the rest of the congressmen enjoying their privileges yet he permits the status quo. Fine Maybe I am talking out of my ass. maybe he is Uber effective and hyper-valuable to the party. I just don't see it in him. He like the rest of congress is locked into this learned helplessness that over whelms washington, state and local governments and here. I would much prefer to see action. words are far too cheap.

[mzmolly]

263. Dennis often rails against Democrats, Grayson railed against Republicans.

This is why he's considered ineffective.

[G_j]

311. you left out

Dennis railing against Republicans.
:shrug:

[mzmolly]

315. All too often he goes after Democrats.

I'm not saying he doesn't ever go after Republicans. I'm simply spelling out the difference between Grayson and Kucinich and why they're received differently.

[boilerbabe]

264. I agree with you, though I have no idea who Alan Grayson is..

I am glad that there are "alternative' candidates or those that are not afraid to buck the system like Dennis Kucinich and others. I really would love to see them become more viable candidates. I think I was afraid of voting for people like them, since we all get herded like cows to the slaughterhouse with no alternative. If more people made a concerted effort to vote for these guys, then maybe we would see some revolutionary changes to the system (and the "status quo").

[Norrin Radd]

275. kr

[dana_b]

297. looks like more people defending him

and some very vocal people attacking.

The thing is, it's become some DK v.s. Obama thing on DU - or that's how it seems. That's just too silly for words. They each bring something to the table although comletely different and obviously Obama is going to make a much bigger dent.

I love Dennis' spirit and his values. And yes, he DOES get a lot done - contrary to what some people say!

[Echo In Light]

299. Those two, O, & DK, symbolically represent conflicting aims, morals & ideologies

Yet it's usually from only one side of it that one tends to encounter the belligerent fiercely barking at others from within their cages. It amazes me how those types apparently don't suspect that many sitting on the fence are able to accurately identify their preferred brand of venom ... which is why a thread like this will attract so many more pos than it does neg.

[earth mom]

304. Awesome OP! Most rec'd in DU history perhaps?

Yeah, it would have been but for all the idiots who unrec'd it.

Oh well, DK Rocks! :woohoo:

[Individualist]

310. Another DK thread has 345 recs - so far

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6714871&mesg_id=6714871 :)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

309. The right v left wars are continual on DU. Looks like the left is winning this one. K&R

[Lord Helmet]

322. It's the Kooch's birthday today!

:party: