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Originally Posted by host
Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, and even with his much maligned haricut, John Edwards, all seem to be the candidates not "on the fringe".
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host......Paul and Kucinich are absolutely "on the fringe" and not simply as a result of lack of funding or media exposure.
Their positions on many issues, other than the Iraq war and bringing the troops home asap, are out of the mainstream.
Unlike Paul, most Americans do not want to end Social Security and Medicare. Nor do they want a Medicare-type program for all citizens to replace their employer-based health care program like Kucinich.
Most Americans do not want an end to many (most?) federal programs like Paul or an expansion of such programs like Kucinich....examples, most Americans do not want to eliminate federal aid for college education (Paul), but they also dont want a program to provide free full-day, full-calendar year prekindergarten education for every 3-5 year old in the country (Kucinich). Most Americans dont want an end to unemployment compensation (Paul) nor do they want a guaranteed government job for all able-bodied unemployed (Kucinich).
Most Americans dont support shutting down the EPA and leaving environmental protection to industry self-regulation (Paul) nor do they support the concept of clean and safe water as a "right" that takes federal regulation far beyond the current level (Kucinich).
Most Americans may want to restore America's image around the world, but dont believe the US can end wars and civil conflict around the world through a Department of Peace (Kucinich) nor do they want the US to remove itself from participation as a partner in the international community (Paul).
Consider most Americans like Goldilocks.......the Ron Paul bed is too hard for most Americans (the federal government is too big and intrusive and acting unconstitutionally).....the Dennis Kucinich bed is too soft (an expanded federal government is the solution to all social and economic ills in the country). ....the current bed is just right for most...they just want new clean sheets (a more efficient and less wasteful and corrupt federal government that is more responsive to the people and less responsive to special interests).
host...where I agree with you is in regard to the obscene level of special interest funding of campaigns of the other candidates....2008 will be the first $billion election. That issue needs to be addressed through serious campaign reform, Congressional ethics reform and a greater emphasis on government accountability, but dont confuse that with the extreme positions of Paul and Kucinich.