Compare Gore/Lieberman to Kerry/Kucinich

[LeftHander]

Gore moderate with near far right Dem....

WOuld the number of progressives that would return to the Dem party offset the number of moderate/conservative Dems that would vote Bush if Kucinich was running mate?

Or are the progressives for Kucinich too small to make a difference?

Is having a progressive on the ticket to scary for Dems....?


I suspect it is.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. NO

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Under NO circumstances should Kucinich be considered! Outside of DU he is labeled a clear wack-job. It would NEVER work.

Kucinich would best serve our country in a party leadership type of role, such as Minority Whip or Minority Leader (if he ever went to the Senate).

[Wetzelbill]

3. Kucinich is a great man, but that label is a killer

[LeftHander]

4. whack job??

I really resent that. That is almost freeper like...

What I am asking is to think about what the democratic party is....

Is it a moderates only club with fringe "pet progressives" or is a party that stands in contrast to NeoCon Republicanism.

YOu want to talk "Whack-Job" look at Dick, Rumsfeld and Bush they are the "whack-jobs".

Frankly I woud rather go down voting for my ideals then see Kerry pick a conservative corporate Dem that attracts..."swing voters". In my mind swing voters are not the issues any more. They are the reason the country is eff'ed up.

I want to hear conversations about peace and responsibility. I want to see the Bush administration held accountable for there lies that led to a war.

Kerry wasn't my choice in the primaries and I hope he picks a good running mate that represents a BROAD spectrum of the political left.

So peace, healthcare, jobs and social justice are high on my list.

Whack job indeed.

[IrateCitizen]

7. The problem isn't how those paying attention perceive him

The problem is, rather, how those who get their information from the mainstream media perceive him.

Remember that debate with Larry King in which DK's health care proposals were dismissed as "socialism"? Remember the way in which he was treated by Ted Koppel?

Unfortunately, whether we like it or not, these things help to cultivate a certain image within the voting public -- and that image is one of a whack job. It has nothing to do with his policies or ideas -- many of which are desperately needed in the debate. What it has to do with is what he brings, electorally-speaking, to the table. And it isn't too much positive, and a whole lot of negative.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

15. Sorry pal,

I call em as I see em. The vast majority of America thinks Kucinich is a wack job.

[IrateCitizen]

2. I think the number is too small to make a difference

And I say that as a progressive, and a Kucinich Democrat.

I love Dennis, and believe that his message is desperately needed. However, I don't think he brings all that much to the ticket (he only got 9% in his own state in the primaries), and could possibly alienate too many voters. I am certain that more people would like him if they heard him give a full speech on stage -- but how many people are really going to be reached in that way?

If we're going to go with a progressive on the ticket, I can think of a few who are much better organizers, and much more "polished" than Dennis Kucinich. Rep. Jan Schiakowsky (D-IL) comes to mind right away.

[LeftHander]

6. VP debates....

I'd love to hear him go against Cheney...in national debates.

Kucinich would show the vast population that he is smart articulate and has character and most important is a regular guy. The type of person who can aid a moderate President in internal policy debates.

[redqueen]

8. "Regular Guy"

I agree. He's humble, accessible, and speaks PLAINLY.

I think he'd be great, but I'm way biased. :)

[IrateCitizen]

9. You think "the vast population" watches the debates?

You think that the moderator would be balanced between the two, just as they were always balanced WRT DK during the primary debates?

Unfortunately, the voting public does not care about how "articulate" or how much "character" someone has (just look at the dim-bulb in the WH now!). It's all an image thing to them, and unfortunately Dennis cannot help us in that area.

[blm]

5. Kerry and Kucinich are two of the most progressive lawmakers

of the last three decades.

Where Kucinich appeared conservative, Kerry's record is stellar. Where Kerry appeared more conservative, Kucinich's record is stellar.

Kerry has always been WAY to Gore's left. How do you figure Gore as a moderate and Kerry as a moderate conservative?

You think Kerry racked up a lifetime rating closest to Wellstone's and left of Kucinich by being a moderate conservative?

[LeftHander]

10. Kerry percieved to be in the middle...big money

He voted to allow Bush to go to war.

[blm]

12. You rate him based on FALSE perception? Kerry doesn't take corporate pac

money and has advocated for public financing of campaigns since 1985.

Only those who thought they could manipulate the primaries with lies claimed Kerry was "Bushlite" while those of us familiar with Kerry's record knew him to be among the more progressive Democrats of the last 30 years.

He voted for a resolution that allowed Bush the decision to go to war as a last resort. Bush did not honestly implement the guidelines in the resolution. By blaming the resolution instead of Bush you are not holding Bush accountable for lying.

[LeftHander]

14. Oh I want to hold him accountable for lying....

no doubt about that. That is the only way we are going to make any headway towards peace in Iraq.

I am all for Kerry...I;m keenly interested in his VP pick...

as most probably are...

[JI7]

11. start a draft Kucinich for vp movement as Edwards people are doing

kerry wont pick vp based on these things, but it could help to see how many you can get to sign up in support of it.

[LeftHander]

13. I will watch for something like that....

The convention is going to be fun to watch for sure....

I think it is going to be one of great historical conventions....