Forget Nader, Hug Kucinich

[MrSoundAndVision]

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17924

(snip)
Ralph Nader is running for president. Big deal. For those of you cooking up schemes to derail his bid for the presidency, I urge you to give him exactly the attention he deserves. None. Angry opposition is exactly what Nader needs to turn his last stand into the Alamo. At the moment he has as much support as the guy who walks around San Francisco with a sign that says the Martians have landed.

This election cycle the Democratic Party must give former Nader voters a place at the table. We can't afford to have them stay at home or cast a protest vote. While I didn't vote for Nader in 2000, a number of my friends did in non-swing states like California. I respect their intentions and the message they were trying to send, but I disagree with the venue they were using to send that message.


This year there is one presidential candidate who is carrying on the Nader mantle with honor and respect. He deserves Nader's name more than Nader does. That candidate is Dennis Kucinich.
(snip)

(snip)
Now the Democratic Party has a responsibility to Dennis Kucinich.


Democrats should offer Kucinich and his supporters one big collective hug and thank them for their efforts to strengthen the party. By embracing Kucinich as an important voice within the party, Democrats will ensure that his supporters don't choose kamikaze support for Nader. Give Kucinich a leadership role in developing long-term policy for the party. Make him the ambassador to disaffected Democratic voters and give him the power to bring them back into the fold. Give him a slot for a major speech at the Democratic National Convention.
(snip)

This guy oughtta vote Kucinich...

[deminflorida]

1. I for one would welcome Dennis Kucinich, Wes Clark, Howard

Dean, Dick Gephardt, Bob Graham, Carole M. Braun, Joe Lieberman, or any of the other candidates to speak at the convention....

Nader is not only NOT a member of this party, he is a traitor to progressive politcs. Not only should he not be allowed to debate in the National Forum, his name should be banned from this board like *.

Any thread mentioning his name should be locked as well.

Make him N*...if you want to refer to him....

[Barkley]

2. I doubt Nader wants to become a Democrat! Ayway ...

I think the party's progressives who backed Kucinich and Dean would better using their creative energies in getting either Dennis or Howard as Chair of the Democractic Pary.

[Sugarbleus]

3. Nader is a has been...I just

got an email from a friend I've been politically "courting" for several months. He claims to be a progressive. Guess what?

He sends me a reply saying he is voting for Nader and hopes others will also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I jumped at the chance to tell him if he must vote for "someone" different then vote for Kucinich. I couldn't believe my friend was so cavalier as to even suggest a nader vote. Damn, I flipped out!

Has anyone SEENNader on TV lately? He is DODDERING. He looks like he might keel over any second. Why in the world would anyone want to vote for someone as OLD and as "has been" as that guy. Geeez

WAKE UP naderites.........it's Kucinich's turn now.

[LWolf]

4. Let's have a conversation about values.

I agree with Dennis. More conversation, less trashing.

<snip>

Dennis Kucinich has steadfastly articulated his hopes and dreams for the country, without regard for the immediate political viability of his ideas. What's wrong with a vegan presidential candidate who eats miso and oat groats for breakfast? Nothing. In fact it's a refreshing change from President Bush, who probably thinks tofu is something you get from walking around barefoot in the gym. Kucinich marches to his own drum. He's the only presidential candidate with an entire web page dedicated to polka, bowling and kielbasa. I bet that even Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt would agree that the Democratic Party would be better off with more bowling and polka.

Kucinich has conducted his campaign like the organizer Nader once was. From house parties to homemade signs, Kucinich has asked his supporters to reach out to their communities and have a conversation about values. He has brought new activists into the political fold. He has not attacked the other candidates; he has only pointed out his differences with them. He has not threatened to start a new party or to trash the nominee.

I value universal health care. I value a living wage. I value affordable housing. I value civil rights. I value a clean, healthy planet. I value small, neighborhood/community run, caring schools.

And I value Dennis Kucinich.

How about you?

[Charlls]

5. hey!! the martian HAVE landed!!

.. havent they?

[MaryBear]

6. I don't quite catch your point, Charlls.

(edited to clarify who is addressed)

[JPZenger]

7. Good Point - Vote Liberal in Primary, Realistic in General

I like the idea. If people want to make a statement that they want the Democratic party to move to the left, then vote for Kucinich in the primary. Then be realistic in the November election and vote for the Democratic nominee.

[eridani]

8. Hug him?

VOTE for him, dammit!!