Kucinich drops out?!

[Willravel]

According to the following article, Congressman Dennis Kucinch, best known for his leftist philosophies and impeachment attempts, has dropped out of the race for President of the United States in 2008.

Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich is dropping out of the Democratic race for president.

Kucinich will make the announcement Friday at a news conference in Cleveland. In an exclusive interview with Plain Dealer editors and reporters, Kucinich said he will explain his "transition" tomorrow.

"I want to continue to serve in Congress," he said.

Kucinich said he will not endorse another Democrat in the primary.

Kucinich is seeking a seventh term in Congress, but his long-shot bid for the White House has drawn four Democratic opponents.

http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindeale...ential_bi.html

I will continue to support Congressman Kucinich in his various endeavors, as I believe him to be a man of conscience and a capable leader, but my support for president in 2008 will now be shifting behind Senator Barack Obama.

I must admit that this is disappointing. Dennis Kucinich, to me, represented a welcomed vacation from the land of the lesser of two evils. I don't normally find myself agreeing with a politician on so many of his or her ideas.

Thoughts? Besides the obvious "it was inevitable" comments, of course, as even I knew that he had no chance whatsoever.

[dc_dux]

He evidently made a passionate speech of the floor of the House yesterday to announce that he will introduce a resolution to impeach Bush (to go along with his earlier resolution to impeach Cheney) on the day of Bush's last State of the Union address next Monday.

He riled the Republicans with this..:

"The President and Vice President lied and 4,000 of our soldiers died. The President and Vice President lied and a million innocent Iraqis died in a war that'll cost us two trillion dollars while people here in the states are losing their jobs, their health care, their homes, their dignity. Lies are weapons of mass destruction. Lies are also an impeachable offense. Monday, January 28th is the State of the Union. We already know the State of the Union, it's a lie."

...and then had the words "stricken" from the Congressional Record when the Republicans went ballistic over such charges!

His real concern should protecting his House seat...he has serious primary challengers for the first time. (article)

I dont agree with some of his more extreme policies....and even less so for the other maverick, Ron Paul

But the American people needs such voices in Congress to be part of the legislative debate.

[Willravel]

I enjoyed that speech very much. I sincerely hope that Obama has the foresight to ask him to be VP should he beat Hillary.

[dc_dux]

Originally Posted by willravel

my support for president in 2008 will now be shifting behind Senator Barack Obama.

Welcome to the Obama family

[samcol]

Sad imo. I like his position on the war and some of the legislation he introduces such as impeachment. Also he spear headed the recount in New Hampshire which was honorable considering the difference in poll numbers and results as well as the difference in machines vs. hand ballots.

He has the balls to stand up to the administration which is severely lacking today in Washington.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by dc_dux

Welcome to the Obama family

I keep waiting for people to say "Once you go Obama, you'll be the pride of your mama" or some such horrible tweaking of the "once you go black" phrase.

[samcol]

Originally Posted by willravel

I enjoyed that speech very much. I sincerely hope that Obama has the foresight to ask him to be VP should he beat Hillary.

He really should ask Dennis. If I remember correctly Kucinich threw him a bone in Iowa he should return the favor

[dc_dux]

Originally Posted by willravel

I keep waiting for people to say "Once you go Obama, you'll be the pride of your mama" or some such horrible tweaking of the "once you go black" phrase.

But can you dance?

Obama's response to the question at the recent debate about Bill Clinton being the first black president:

"I have to say that, you know, I would have to, you know, investigate more of Bill's dancing abilities. You know, and some of this other stuff before I accurately judge whether he was in fact a brother," Obama said.

Originally Posted by samcol

He really should ask Dennis. If I remember correctly Kucinich threw him a bone in Iowa he should return the favor

The likelihood of Obama asking Kucinich to run as his VP is the same as the Republican candidate asking Paul to run in the same capacity.....NONE.

[Willravel]

Originally Posted by dc_dux

But can you dance?

Obama's response to the question at the recent debate about Bill Clinton being the first black president:

"I have to say that, you know, I would have to, you know, investigate more of Bill's dancing abilities. You know, and some of this other stuff before I accurately judge whether he was in fact a brother," Obama said.

Something about how horribly awkward that answer was delivered has me laughing out loud.

Bill Clinton is an "aww shucks" white boy who'll flirt with your wife right in front of you.

[Elphaba]

If he is leaving the race to protect his seat, I applaud him. As others have already said, we need people like him representing the public.

[ratbastid]

Originally Posted by willravel

I keep waiting for people to say "Once you go Obama, you'll be the pride of your mama" or some such horrible tweaking of the "once you go black" phrase.

It's not that hard.

Once you go Barack....

[loquitur]

don't know about you guys, but I find the obsessive focus on race to be profoundly depressing.

Obama is a very, very impressive guy. He's also a conventional big-city left-wing social engineer. You may or may not care for that, but that's what makes the world go 'round. That his skin is black is not an especially important consideration, and I find it distasteful that so many people think that's the sum and be-all of his candidacy. It's not. Take him for the person he is, not for the race he is.

[MSD]

Originally Posted by willravel

I enjoyed that speech very much. I sincerely hope that Obama has the foresight to ask him to be VP should he beat Hillary.

It's possible, but I think that to win more swing voters, Richardson has a pretty good chance. I would not mind seeing a man who supports gun owners' rights and wants to decriminalize marijuana as VP. I would almost certainly vote for that ticket.

Originally Posted by dc_dux

But can you dance?

Obama's response to the question at the recent debate about Bill Clinton being the first black president:

"I have to say that, you know, I would have to, you know, investigate more of Bill's dancing abilities. You know, and some of this other stuff before I accurately judge whether he was in fact a brother," Obama said.

I had to Google it, but holy crap, he actually said it.

[Ustwo]

Originally Posted by MSD

It's possible, but I think that to win more swing voters, Richardson has a pretty good chance. I would not mind seeing a man who supports gun owners' rights and wants to decriminalize marijuana as VP. I would almost certainly vote for that ticket.

You say that like the VP matters.

[dc_dux]

Originally Posted by loquitur

don't know about you guys, but I find the obsessive focus on race to be profoundly depressing.

Obama is a very, very impressive guy. He's also a conventional big-city left-wing social engineer. You may or may not care for that, but that's what makes the world go 'round. That his skin is black is not an especially important consideration, and I find it distasteful that so many people think that's the sum and be-all of his candidacy. It's not. Take him for the person he is, not for the race he is.

I'm not aware of an obsessive focus on race.

What I see is that the Democratic party looks different than the Republican party and is more reflective of the country and that is noteworthy.

A woman, a black man, (and an Hispanic man until several weeks ago) among the Democratic candidates as opposed to five old white Republican males does not go unnoticed.

But their race and gender hardly defines their candidacies.

[Elphaba]

Originally Posted by Ustwo

You say that like the VP matters.

Bwahahaha! You must be kidding, ustwo. Cheney hasn't mattered in this administration?

[SecretMethod70]

To be fair, Cheney has radically altered the role of the Vice President. Only time will tell whether these changes will stick.

[ratbastid]

Originally Posted by Ustwo

You say that like the VP matters.

I don't think you've been paying attention these last seven years.

[highthief]

Originally Posted by willravel

According to the following article, Congressman Dennis Kucinch, best known for his leftist philosophies and impeachment attempts, has dropped out of the race for President of the United States in 2008.

I find it interesting - this guy's policies would have him elected over all the other candidates in Canada, the UK, and much of Europe, but he cannot get a sniff in the US. A stark reminder of how different the US is from many of its allies.

[Jinn]

Obama's response to the question at the recent debate about Bill Clinton being the first black president:

"I have to say that, you know, I would have to, you know, investigate more of Bill's dancing abilities. You know, and some of this other stuff before I accurately judge whether he was in fact a brother," Obama said.

I had to Google it, but holy crap, he actually said it.

You (or they) have taken it completely out of context. It it's original context (I watched the Black Caucus) it was perfectly appropriate (and hilarious).

YouTube

YouTube

[Ustwo]

Originally Posted by ratbastid

I don't think you've been paying attention these last seven years.

So you are saying Obama would act in reality the same way the left thinks Cheney secretly runs the government?

No, the VP doesn't really matter.

[dc_dux]

Of course it matters....if the top dog wants it to matter.

In the case of GHW Bush, Quayle could have been replaced by the WH dog Millie and it wouldnt have mattered.

The Clinton/Gore team was probably the best recent model.....the Pres gives the VP a narrowly defined role and specific policy objectives and lets him run with it.

We've seen the other extreme for the last seven years....GW Bush either wanted his VP to be actively involved in most policy decisions and to help implement an ideological agenda (perhaps because of his own insecurities in his ability) or was bullied into by Cheney (who, if you recall, was asked by Bush to come up with a pool of potential running mates and recommend one for VP...and recommended himself).

Where it doesnt really matter much and where its more perception than reality is in the notion that a VP is selected to "balance the ticket" either demographically or to cover a weakness in the Pres candidate's resume in order to appeal to more voters. People dont vote for VP.

[Ustwo]

I'm trying to remember this Clinton/Gore team.

All I seem to recall is Clinton, and some vague hard feelings between them in 2000.

[dc_dux]

Memory problems, huh?

Think comprehensive regulatory reform, the introduction of e-government (Access America) and other related programs under VP Gore's National Partnership for Reinventing Government.

You can dismiss the accomplishments if you like.

[MSD]

With his lack of foreign policy experience, Obama would have to allow his cabinet a significant role in his administration. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that a VP would have a say.

[Ustwo]

Originally Posted by MSD

With his lack of foreign policy experience, Obama would have to allow his cabinet a significant role in his administration. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that a VP would have a say.

Its hopeful thinking. The only president I think that had foreign policy experience before becoming the president was GHB.

[dc_dux]

Originally Posted by MSD

With his lack of foreign policy experience, Obama would have to allow his cabinet a significant role in his administration. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that a VP would have a say.

I agree...and I think he might look to folks like Biden or Richardson.

Or a long shot possibility, former congressman Lee Hamilton (of the 9/11 Commission and the Baker/Hamilton Iraq Study Group) or an even longer shot, former Senator Sam Nunn (currently Chairman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies)

[joshbaumgartner]

Dennis represents a voice that is very important to have in our political discourse. I am sorry to see the end of his campaign even though we all knew it was not destined for victory. Having been a delegate for him in 2004 and having supported his candidacy again this year, I find that as much as he is one who you can easily find at least something you think is kind of 'out there', he is a man who has no problem speaking truth about exactly what he believes in and one who does not lack conviction in progressing those important matters.

With his withdrawal, I don't feel too bad though, in that I know there are a selection of very good candidates to choose from. This is no 'lesser evil' choice. However, I feel strongly that the only candidate that truly has the same passion for doing what is right even in the face of what politically makes sense is John Edwards, and I will be voting for him here in Texas in our primary, and seeking a spot as a delegate for him at the state convention.

John has a gravitas and broader acceptance than Dennis could amass. He could have quite easily adopted the same "mainstream" politics of Obama and Hillary and be right along with them in the race. He could certainly have been successful enough politically taking the Romney tack. But instead he is completely committed to standing for the less well off of this country, those people that don't participate in campaigns, certainly don't contribute money, and hardly even vote. Not a politically rewarding group to champion, but he does so anyway. This has earned him my respect and my vote.