Kucinich.us is going active again. Watch Dennis take the Presidency.

[genius]

A message from Congressman Dennis Kucinich:

In seven days, on Tuesday, April 5, I will relaunch http://www.kucinich.us, the Web site originally used for my 2004 Presidential campaign. Dedicated to empowering activists nationwide, Kucinich.us will be a platform for educating and organizing around the issues that brought millions of people together to create a politics with heart and intelligence, celebrating our highest capabilities and enabling the triumph of hope over fear.

The theme of the new Kucinich.us will be "Insight and Action." To aid in the education and empowerment of activists everywhere, I will share my insights on a range of critical issues. I'll give calls to specific action and provide specific tools to help engage supporters in working to change the world, starting in your own communities.

In a new feature, Report from Washington, I will provide my inside view of late-breaking events from right inside the Capitol. Updated frequently, even several times a day if issues warrant, this report will be your link to what's happening, as it happens.

In a new streaming video presentation, I challenge the Administration's plan for privatization of Social Security. This presentation also will be available for purchase on disk and tape, and in a downloadable slide show, suitable for use in grassroots organizing. Those who are prepared to take organizing to a new level and wish to hold Town Hall meetings in their communities will be able to sign up through the website to arrange to have me call in to answer questions after the presentation of this video.

This is just the beginning of a new series of Town Hall videos, starting with Social Security and extending to a range of other critical topics. With these insights and tools, you'll be empowered to discuss the issues confidently, to organize, and to carry the message to others.

Spring is here. We're back. Together, we'll create a new beginning.

Sincerely,

Dennis Kucinich

[whistle]

1. That's great, we need an honest president

[blogbear]

2. Best wishes to Dennis with many thanks for what he has done for his..

district and for the country..His input has been and remains vital for a free society!

[Warpy]

3. Let's hope Dean tells him how to build a grassroots organization

this time around. That's why he didn't have a prayer last time. People said, "Well, I like what he stands for, but he aint got a prayer."

If he starts building a real organization from the grassroots up, he may have a chance in 08.

[Jim Sagle]

4. Dennis couldn't take the dogcatchercy.

[Jackson4Gore]

5. Isn't that the truth. Sharpton would have a better chance.

[genius]

6. Dennis could take any office he wants in 08. Aren't you jealous?

[jojo54]

7. If not the presidency

then at least Sec of the Interior, HHS or something. He's got some really great ideas for fixing all the f__kups that Georgie did.

[Jackson4Gore]

9. I like Dennis okay, but reality says he can't win the Presidency.

[genius]

15. Based on results, if the Party had run him in 04, Bush would be out.

Dennis doesn't quit and he would have united the party better than the candidate we had.

[Freddie Stubbs]

31. He couldn't unite the party in 2004 to chose him as the nominee

What makes you think that 2008 will be any different? :shrug:

[genius]

42. Dennis was THE REASON Kerry beat Bush. Wake up.

Liberals and Declines to state had mostly given up on the Democratic Party in 02 and left in disgust. This made the Party so weak, it didn't stand a chance in 04. Dennis came in, and although some TV-watching Dems were afraid someone with minimal coverage couldn't win,Dennis got a commitment from third party members and from declines to state and from disenchanted Dems to vote for the eventual nominee. According to the exit polls, Kerry won. Then Kerry quit and gave it all to Bush. Kucinich, the uniter, would never have quit. With publicity, he would have received millions more votes than Kerry because those who stayed home would have come out also.

[Freddie Stubbs]

60. But Kucinich couldn't win the primary

In fact, he could even be competative in his own state. What will be different in 2008?

[demwing]

16. Are you serious?

What about in 04? Did Kucinich just not want to get elected that year?

[okieinpain]

59. ok, I'm not going to laugh, I'm not going to laugh.......haha..haha

[IndianaGreen]

61. Yeah, and we did so well with the candidate of the Establishment in 2004

So great to see Kerry/Edwards being sworn into office on January 20, wasn't it?

[Pepperbelly]

8. I wish him well.

:D

[dave123williams]

10. He's not very telegenic...

I like what he has to say, but he looks like a hobbit.

Yes, it matters, when considering if people will vote for him or not.

[IndianaGreen]

62. We did so well with telegenic war heroes in 2004, didn't we?

Keep banging our collective heads against the wall and perhaps the wall will suddenly disappear.

[dave123williams]

63. I just want Dennis' brain in Edwards head, you know?

[iwantmycountryback]

11. Yeah, right.

He's a good man with good principles but his chances of becoming the President are nil.

[FreedomAngel82]

12. I don't know that much about him

but I wish him luck.

[genius]

14. Here's why everyone loves him.

Years ago Dennis became Mayor of Cleveland on a platform of stopping a planned takeover of the city-owned electric company by the major power broker that was responsible for the northeastern blackout a few years ago. He kept his campaign promise - even when the power giant bought up the bank's loans from the city (taken out before Dennis) and declared them immediately due. Dennis still held true to his campaign promise. They threatened his life repeatedly and he still held true to his campaign promise. He managed to defeat a recall effort and continued to hold true to his promise. After his term in office as mayor, he was hanging out in Laguna Beach (CA) and a reporter came up to him and told him he was a famous hero. The City of Cleveland had discovered he had saved the residents hundreds of millions of dollars and the City had named a building after Dennis.

Dennis has never backed down from a promise. He always does what he feels is right. He has always put himself last and the people first.

In Congress, he is regularly re-elected by 75% of the vote in a district that is half Republican.

Dennis led the opposition to USA-PATRIOT and to the Iraq War in Congress. He also tried to get Congress to pass Rush Holt's bill calling for a voter-verifiable paper trail. He was among the Congresspersons who stood up with Barbara on January 6, 2008.

He sponsored the Department of Peace legislation, which is a more positive approach to security and peace, both nationally and internationally, than anything we have now.

He backs universal health care and wants an abolition of the death penalty ( a barbaric practice that separates us from the rest of the industrialized world). He opposes NAFTA and the WTO (as these prevent countries from enforcing their own labor and environmental laws).

He was the most pro-choice of the candidates last year - being the only one calling for the use of Roe v. Wade as a litmus test.

He has a perfect voting record. Check out the chart athttp://patrickhenrythinktank.org/house-scores.html

When he speaks, everyone is captivated. He is so honest and direct that the crowds cannot get enough with him. To go to one of his events is like it reportedly was to go to a Bobby Kennedy event. Dennis is really awesome. He just needs publicity to win the Presidency.

[ISUGRADIA]

26. Most of what you mention was known about DK in 2004

and he still did poorly not breaking 10% in most states. He's a good Congressman but he not shown that he could win a Democratic primary contest. Good luck to him on advancing his ideals, but truly, I can't see him breaking out of a limited % in most states just like in 2004.

and some corrections:

"In Congress, he is regularly re-elected by 75% of the vote in a district that is half Republican."

Not in 2004, he was down to 60%. Still a landslide, but a victory by a smaller margains than normal.

"he was the most pro-choice of the candidates last year - being the only one calling for the use of Roe v. Wade as a litmus test."

Kerry did too. See http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/06/20/national1340EDT0606.DTL

[corker]

13. Great man!!!

[Sparkly]

17. This will be a different country when someone like him can win

I wish for that country... But I don't expect it in my lifetime.

[Radical Activist]

43. It will never happen if

we don't work for it and expect it in our lifetime. The lack of confidence in the appeal of our ideals is the biggest obstacle to the success of the left.

[ZootSuitGringo]

18. I like Dennis much more than other politicians,

but he's not someone I would support for the Presidency.

[Hippo_Tron]

19. Dennis needs to start smaller

House members no matter what their political views are not viable presidential candidates unless they are leadership members, because they don't represent a large enough constituency and don't have enough name recognition.

[Blue Topaz]

20. I love Dennis and everything he stands for

I heard him speak last year in a jam-packed venue in Oregon. He was very charismatic and friendly, connected well with the audience.

Sadly, I agree that the people of this country will never elect him Pres. Still, I hope he keeps fighting the good fight.

[AmericanDream]

21. He doesn't have the presidential stature

I like Kucinich's ideas alright but he doesn't have the personality to be America's representative to the world. Sadly enough...one's personality, including physical apprearance, happens to be just as important as his/her ideas when it comes to presidential politics! He should remain an active part of the political debate and hopefully he'll serve in the cabinet of the next democratic administration. But President Kucinich? Nah, ain't happening (practically, realistically, or idealistically)

[sandnsea]

22. WTF IS THIS THREAD?

Goddammit people, knock this shit off. Kerry isn't good enough, Kucinich isn't good enough. Do you people really think Clark and Dean can do EVERYTHING???

:argh:

[ZootSuitGringo]

23. Doh...

who mentioned them?

Chill, please. It's going to be alright.

[DerekG]

24. He'll be the next RFK...in more ways than one

Does anyone honestly believe that a humanist like Dennis Kucinich would survive any bid to seize control of the world's leading terrorist state?

[Selatius]

25. You hinting that he'll be assassinated if he gets "too close"?

[Radical Activist]

45. That wouldn't surprise me.

The record of mass movement leaders being assassinated to conservative leaders being assassinated is improbably one sided. Huey Long, MLK, RFK, Malcolm X, Paul Wellstone. What leaders on the right were killed? The odds of all that being coincidental are hard to swallow.

[DerekG]

46. He wouldn't make it to his inauguration

Forgive me if this sounds defeatist, but this empire has to self-destruct *before* statesmen like Kucinich rise the upper echelon. How do you think the rightists and tacit liberals--who demand that we be in a state of perpetual war (beginning in 1950)--would take this whole Department of Peace idea?

[sarahlee]

27. You can get a hint

of the websites new design if you check out the forum at the Kucinich site. The new banner is up there.

[goodhue]

49. great banner!

[x_y_no]

28. Even though he's not my choice ...

I'm very glad to see him stepping up to the plate again.

We need his voice.

[welshTerrier2]

29. here's the correct link:

http://www.kucinich.us/ (the BP added an extra comma to the link and it doesn't work)

i'm looking forward to reading Dennis' daily commentary ... i hope he includes a DU-like forum on his website so we can really communicate with each other and with him ...

[sarahlee]

30. See note above

There already is a forum - always has been, but it has just been "updated"
http://www.kucinich.us/phpBB2/

[welshTerrier2]

34. thanks sarahlee ...

i just registered as "welshTerrier2" at the link you provided ...

[Nikki Stone 1]

32. I voted for him in the 2004 primary. Will do it again.

He was the only Dem I agreed with consistently.

[donsu]

33. hello there! voting in america is still rigged

your hopes are only dreams

[sellitman]

48. Bingo! Rigged elections favor only one candidate

And he/she ain't from our side. I like 98% of what Kucinich is about but we have business to attend to first.

[mopinko]

35. fat chance dennis

you let them steal your state. you didn't say a peep. sorry. you lose.

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. He was one of the most vocal Democrats speaking out about what

was happening in Ohio. ;)

[mopinko]

39. i don't think so.

http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/3/9/172256/7299

show me a peep he made. one. i recall one flimsy statement, right about christmas time. period.

[Freddie Stubbs]

40. Hehe. I was just being sarcastic

I forgot to add the ;)

[mopinko]

41. that's good

i thought you had lost your mind.

[Radical Activist]

44. He said a lot

and he was one of the House members to speak on the floor in favor of the vote not to certify. He was one of the few to talk about the voting issues before election day as well.

[mopinko]

47. like john kerry

he was silent when it counted. sorry, to me, that is where i draw the line. if you didn't speak out IN NOVEMBER 2004, you will never get a dollar or a vote out of me. ever.

[goodhue]

52. Kucinich did speak out in Nov 2004

See my posts below (#50 & #51).
Your facts are simply wrong.

[mopinko]

54. whoopdee doo

a couple of press releases. he wasn't even at the conyer's hearings. there were many threads here about where the hell is dennis, including this one-
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=203&topic_id=156167&mesg_id=157279
i guess it was physically possible for him to do less, but only barely. sorry, he was a.w.o.l.

[goodhue]

50. Wed, Nov 16th: Kucinich endorses Ohio recount

http://www.augustafreepress.com/stories/storyReader$28754

Kucinich endorses Ohio recount


Inside ...

Chris Graham

[e-mail]


At least somebody from the Democratic Party is willing to say that he supports the pending vote-recount effort in Ohio.

That somebody: former presidential-nominee hopeful Dennis Kucinich.

"I strongly support the request for a recount in Ohio," the Ohio congressman said on Wednesday.

Green Party presidential candidate David Cobb announced on Monday that he and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Michael Badnarik plan to file joint requests for recounts in all 88 of Ohio's counties.

The requests will be filed once the county electoral boards in the Buckeye State have certified their results, the candidates said. A spokesman with the Ohio secretary of state office told The Augusta Free Press on Monday that the deadline for the electoral boards to certify their results is Dec. 1.

Kucinich on Wednesday joined Cobb and Badnarik in criticizing what the congressman termed the "highly partisan activities of state election officials" that he said "cast doubt on the integrity of the elections process."

Cobb and Badnarik have called on Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican who served as the co-chair of the George W. Bush Ohio campaign, to recuse himself from having any role in the recount process.

"We need an election system and election officials we can trust," Cobb said Wednesday. "The problems in Florida in 2000 and the problems in Ohio in 2004 will repeat themselves in 2008 unless we do something about it. Our elections should be administered by an independent nonpartisan commission, and not by the state chairs of the Republican presidential campaign."

[goodhue]

51. Nov 10th: Kucinich On The Presidential Election in Ohio

http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1110-31.htm

Published on Wednesday, November 10, 2004 by CommonDreams.org
A Note On The Presidential Election in Ohio
by Congressman Dennis Kucinich

The 2004 presidential election was determined by the results of Ohio. The unofficial result, as reported on November 3, had George Bush with approximately 136,000 more votes than John Kerry. Senator Kerry conceded the election to President Bush. He also said every vote would be counted.
I have been vigilant in monitoring Ohio's election in 2004. Attorneys from my party closely monitored the election before and during election day. While there were some incidents of voter intimidation noted by the attorneys, most if not all cases were resolved at the scene because of quick action by challengers, witnesses, the Kerry campaign, and volunteers from other campaigns including my own.

The unofficial count gave Ohio to George Bush by approximately 136,000 votes. The official count by county Boards of Election will begin on Saturday, November 13, 2004. It is due at the Secretary of State's office by December 1. The Secretary of State must certify the election by December 3.

During this interim period, attorneys from both political parties, and those representing me, will be watching the procedures by county Boards of Elections carefully. Among the most important issues to note is the counting of the overvotes. Overvotes occur when more than one candidate is indicated on the punch card. Another issue relates to whether all properly cast provisional ballots will be counted.

My constituents have also brought other issues to my attention. In an effort to provide appropriate government oversight, I am reviewing every issue and bringing them to the attention of attorneys, congressional authorities, party officials, or Boards of Elections, as appropriate. I want to assure my constituents and others who have contacted me with their concerns, that I am paying c lose attention to this important period of time between the initial results and the official vote tabulation and will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action where supported by facts.

Serious problems surfaced in this election that must be addressed at the state and national level. Some were inefficiencies in handling the massive turn out. No citizen should have to wait for hours to vote, or worry whether their vote was actually counted.

Glitches in electronic voting in the Columbus area should move all legislatures to demand paper receipts for voting machines. Without such a paper trail, no true recount can ever be done. Note that no Diebold electronic voting machines were employed in Ohio.

Clear efforts at voter suppression and intimidation were well handled by the courts and election officials. Dirty tricks occurred across the state, including phony letters from Boards of Elections telling people that their registration through some Democratic activist groups were invalid and that Kerry voters were to report on Wednesday because of massive voter turnout. Phone calls to voters giving them erroneous polling information were also common. Attempts to subvert our right to fair elections must be investigated and prosecuted when possible.

With passion running so high in this country and specter of Florida 2000 still hanging over the presidential voting process, it is important to gather hard evidence prior to disputing the legitimacy of the election.

Meanwhile, it is obvious that the Help America Vote Act of 2002 needs to be refined. Arduous voter identification rules unfairly penalize the poor, lead to a violation of rights and defeat the intent of the act.

The official tabulation of votes for Ohio will begin on Saturday and will include four categories not reflected in the unofficial count: provisional ballots, late absentee ballots, overseas military and overseas civilian.

If the difference between George Bush and John Kerry is less than one quarter of one percent after the official tally is completed (about 16,000 votes) an automatic recount occurs under Ohio law.

If the margin is greater than one quarter of one percent, a candidate can request a recount at an expense to the candidate of $10 per precinct. Because there are approximately 12,000 precincts in Ohio, the recount would cost about $120,000, before legal fees. A recount would entail a visual inspection of every punch card ballot.

I believe we must pursue every lead which raises questions about the integrity of the electoral process. Our work may not change the outcome, but it will demonstrate that beyond our commitment to our candidates, we have a higher commitment to our democracy.

[deek]

36. fabulous news

:bounce:

[fujiyama]

37. Why doesn't he run

for a statewide office first? We'll see what kind of chances he'd have in winning president. Personally, I doubt he'd win either an office for either senator or governor. OH is a pretty consrvative state overall.

Kucinich is a good man, but I don't see him ever being nominated, let alone being elected president.

[Mairead]

53. With the mix of nay-sayers and lip-servers around here,

a place whose population always claims to be very liberal and to hate what's going on in the nation, I have no doubt that Dennis is again spinning his wheels.

And if there's anyone here who's still, somehow, in spite of everything, in any slightest doubt about why the US is spiraling down the crapper toward the fascist cesspit and accelerating as it goes, you've only to look around you at all the bullshit artists, posturing do-nothings, and barely-figleafed rightwingers here. Legends in their own minds who are willing to start 500 threads and argue endlessly about a tiny tragedy they can't affect in the slightest, but not willing to roll up their sleeves and do anything real or meaningful.

What do you suppose the place would assay out to, if you bunged a stroke of lightning through here and got rid of all the makeweights? I'd guess maybe 2%, myself. One person in fifty.

That's fairly pathetic.

[Clarkie1]

55. If you feel so strongly that 98% of DUers are "makeweights"

perhaps you should start a new forum?

Maybe call it "the real democratic underground," or something like that?

Just offering up a friendly suggestion.

[mopinko]

56. i think the most important issue for our party

is getting rid of the corporate clone, bush enabling, corrupt assholes. i think this is an important discussion. dk talks a good game, but i don't see much rubber meeting the road.
i don't think you have any idea who here types all day, and who does and gives. do you think someone is a makeweight for pointing out who talks and what walks?
i think talking and listening matter. a lot.

[zulchzulu]

57. Good luck, Dennis

I doubt he'll ever be President, but I'm glad he'll give it a shot again.

[bobthedrummer]

58. I'd trust him with my life.

I voted for him in the primaries.