Did Kucinich put too many eggs in one basket (Iraq)

[Armstead]

I have a question about Dennis Kucinich.

It strikes me that he has put all his eggs in one basket -- Getting out of Iraq. Has that limited his appeal too much and drowned out the rest of his message?

Don't get me wrong. Iraq is obvoiously an important issue. But IMO Kucinich's real strength is his stance on domestic policies like trade, corporate power, etc.

But it seems like he deliberatly shunted those aside and answerwed every question with an answer about Iraq.

It's personally disappointing to me. I have not expected Kucinich to win, but I did hope at least he'd help to get a real liberal progressive message out there.

Anyone have any thoughts about this?

[cprise]

1. Did Kucinich try to save his seat in the Senate?

I think so.

[sleipnir]

2. ???

He's in the House...FYI

[jfxgillis]

3. Kucinich

Ever only had one little robin's egg and a tiny little basket.

He did FINE for his purposes.

Unlike a lot of observers, the so-called "vanity" candidates didn't bother me any. They have a PRINCIPLED purpose to play--raising important issues and ideas that otherwise won't get a hearing--and a SELF-INTERESTED purpose--gaining experience, generating donor lists, prepping for a run for higher office, etc.

Kucinich can take on either of those two numbskull Republican Senators in OH now and scare them but good, maybe even BEAT 'em.

Wouldn't that be nice?

[HFishbine]

16. Kucinich's "principled purpose"

proved to be less important than revenge for his hurt feelings.

"I'm anti war. UN in US out! Now go caucus for a guy who got us there in the first place."

Yep, real principled.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

4. He did better than predicted? Where is the problem?

He gets ZERO media coverage compared to the others. He has to fight against constant falsehoods about Iraq. I think he did well, we can't expect everyone to wake up from their "Manufactured Consent" all at once.

:)

TWL

[stickdog]

5. Yes. He hit a homerun. (nt)

[Tinoire]

6. Not when you consider that Iraq is a domestic issue

every dollar spent in Iraq is a dollar taken away from social programs for Americans. It all revolves around Iraq now and Iraq revolves around everything. Multi-dimensional circles within circles.

[poskonig]

7. Dennis is shrill very often.

I will concede towards the end of the debates, he started presenting himself much more professionally. It really isn't the issues that hurt DK as much as the presentation.

[Mattforclark]

8. With the > 15% viability caucus system,

it seems to me like 1% is quite good if you are polling considerably under 15%.

[stickdog]

10. Not if your support in concentrated in a few precincts.

Dennis won't get a single Democratic convention delegate out of this deal.

The only thing his strategy managed to do was give Edwards far left cover. Kucinich is to Edwards as Moore is to Clark.

When his hardcore progressive supporters realize that all their hard work is actually being used to prop up pro-war, pro-corporate DLC candidates, they'll drop him like a hot potato.

I'd say he went from hero to zero except it's not true. He actually went from hero to 1.2.

[DemBones DemBones]

9. Not at all! Kucinich has more clearly defined politices than

any other candidate, I believe. Look at his website and see what I mean.

He does believe getting out of Iraq ASAP is essential for solving other problems but he's not a single-issue candidate.

He and John Edwards agreed to help each other in Iowa and this strategy contributed to Edwards finishing in second place. Edwards now has momentum for NH and SC and he knows Dennis helped him get it. I think he'll remember that and be a friend to Dennis in return. Gephardt has dropped out of the race now, too, tightening the field before NH, where Clark and Liberman will be campaigning. If Kucinich and Edwards hadn't had an alliance, Gephardt might well have been second or third in Iowa.

DK's message is out there in Iowa and will be getting out more everywhere as the campaign goes along. Having delegates will enable him to influence the platform and the choice of nominee at the convention (and, with luck, BE the nominee!) And he'll be able to keep the others in the race from drifting too far right. He will also have the opportunity to talk more about other issues as the field narrows (and the media realize he's not quitting.)

I'm reasonably happy about how DK is doing. This is the beginning.

[stickdog]

12. There are only 56 delegates from Iowa. Dennis' 1.2% entitles him

to exactly ZERO Democratic convention delegates.

http://www.thegreenpapers.com/P04/IA-D.phtml

Was that really worth the support he lost from true believer progressives today?

I mean, to him, not Edwards.

[Indiana Democrat]

11. Kucinich didn't have a chance from the start.

That's reality...Regardless of his stance on Iraq.

[Iverson]

13. It appears that way.

Each candidate needs to distinguish himself or herself, and this is the single most important way that Kucinich does.

I'd say that he did get his progressive message out there. The mainstream of the party just finds it unacceptably far left to oppose Bush's preventive invasion.

These are insane times.

[Polemonium]

14. There has it seems to me been an increasing air of the

Miss America contest in American politics. That's probably tied to the incredible popularity of the idiot box, and subsequent short attension spans. But this year the biggest most important issue to folks going to caucus (27%) in Iowa was their perception that the candidate could beat *. What that perception is based on I can only imagine, but it ain't issues. I worry for our future.

[blondeatlast]

15. As a fence-sitter between Kucinich and Edwards, I believe you are on to

something. One of the biggest issues to me is seeing a universal, single payer health care system. DK is the only candidate that is proposing this. But I've never heard him stress it at all.

He is the only semi-viable candidate that was willing to address the mass corruption that has become prevalent in society. But he never made it well known.

I hope he can hang in until the convention. I want to see him have a real effect on the platform.

[Armstead]

18. That's the nail I was trying to hit

IMO,what is most appealing and politically important about Kucinich is his domestic agenda. That's where his overall ideas and goals could really resonate with a lot of people.

Regardless of whether it could get him the nomination, giving voice to the need for fundamental domestic reform on issues like healthcare and a change in direction i n our valaues and priorities was the most important long term effect he could have.

Iraq is important, but in one sense it is a transitory and divisive issue. I just wish he had (does) not bring it up in response to every other issue out there.

[plurality]

17. I agree

I too have often thought that he has put WAY too much focus on Iraq. Unfortunately much about his campaign leaves me wondering if he really is trying to win. That or he hired the worst campaign staff imaginable, at least here in New Hampshire anyways. Since he never has ANYONE at large gatherings of Democrats and at his events he doesn't even have staffers signing up people that showup.

[mmonk]

19. No

he has done well in discussing other issues as well. Also, you can never put too many eggs in a basket about truth.

[Armstead]

20. Kucinich is amazing in one-on-one interviews

I've heard several long radio interviews with DK, and have always been remarkably impressed. Whatever his merits as a candidate, he really gets it, and expresses clearly what many people -- including mainstream swing voters -- sense and believe, but can't articulate.

That's why his campaign has beemn disappointing to me. Instead of the clarity he can bring, his answer in the debates and otehr "soundbite" venues is "US out UN in" in Iraq.

I have just hopped to hear him bring more of his actual Big Message to the primaries, to help bring some reality to the process and wake up the Democratic Party.