Go, Dennis, Go!

[LWolf]

I got this email today; Mimi Kennedy still campaigning for Dennis. I did a quick search and didn't see it posted, so here goes. You can listen to it at the link, or read the transcript, or both.

It's worth the time spent.

http://www.kucinich.us/messages/041204-mimikennedy.php

TRANSCRIPT: Hi, this is Mimi Kennedy recording an audio postcard.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Dennis and the campaign in Colorado. It was a surprise - I had been there so my daughter could see Colorado College, but there was Dennis speaking at the IBEW Union Hall in a very, very moving gathering because it included a lot of military personnel and retired military. A General Lentz introduced Dennis and spoke of how he has seen young soldiers coming to his church food donation program looking for free food so their families can make it through the month. This general absolutely endorsed Dennis' Department of Peace idea and truly understands that support for the troops means the things Dennis Kucinich is talking about. A decent wage for those who put their lives on the line for their country, and support for them meaning that political negotiations must be part of this nation's plan to live in the international community and be worthy of the sacrifice that we call upon our young people and military personnel to stand ready to make.

When Dennis spoke, you could see the room embracing him, embracing his ideas. In Colorado Springs it's very well known, it's a very conservative community, living cheek-by-jowl with progressive people. And at the end during the question period, a young man with a shaved head, Dennis called on him and he stepped forward, and in kind of a trembling but strong voice, he thanked Dennis. He said he had just returned from fighting in Iraq. And he thanked Dennis for himself and on behalf of all of his buddies that were still over there fighting, because Dennis was keeping the message of peace alive in the campaign and bringing it to the Democratic party.

I saw a lot of heads nodding around that hall and I almost wept when at the end, this young man put his hand on his heart and nodded his head. Because I read somewhere that the soldiers in Iraq are beginning to adopt this gesture, which is part of Muslim greeting, which says "My greeting comes not just in my words from my lips, but I greet you with my heart." So Dennis is keeping this message alive.

The national media is relegating a lot of the debate, a lot of what the nominee John Kerry is saying to the back pages, even as the guns of war blaze on the front pages. It's easy to feel helpless. Don't. We can help by supporting Dennis' message. He's campaigning in 16 states where voters are debating the issue of this war, where the local media is debating this issue of the war, because the primary is still to come. And we can send a message to the Democratic Party and really make this party come alive and make it be the hope of the world from July into November.

From 2002 the Democrats stood for this war with the leadership and for not much of anything else that the voters could make out. And that resulted in tremendous losses for the Democratic Party. Dennis and Dennis' campaign is bringing to the Democratic Party the new life and the new blood of the peace movement and even of the military personnel who understand that there needs to be a political component to their sacrifice. And it belongs in the Democratic Party and it belongs especially with our nominee Vietnam Veteran John Kerry.

So give to Dennis' campaign today. Thank God it's still alive. Make the media cover it - we heard him on Bob Edwards this morning - and Bob, who hadn't shown a lot of respect for Dennis' candidacy, understands it now. Because as Dennis reminded us all, men and women are dying in the field. For some this war will never be over, they've already lost someone.

But it can be over, we can redirect our national wealth to health care, to education, to the environment, to jobs. That's the message Dennis is bringing. Help him bring it between now and July. Please contribute as much as you can, and thank you so much.

This is Mimi Kennedy saying "Go, Dennis go."

I too say, "Go, Dennis, Go." And it comes, not just from my lips, but from my heart.

[peacetalksforall]

1. Well, this one has me fighting tears....

A Deparment of Peace. How sweet is is.

We always stress war and killing.

AND....your message introduces something I hadn't considered. The nearness of contact that some of our young people have had in their relationships with another culture can only mean understanding and respect for fellow brothers on this earth. The story of the young soldier with his hand on his heart is ....sorry, there isn't a perfect enough word.

[LWolf]

6. I had the same reaction.

:hug:

[stellanoir]

2. it was really odd. . .

I had been a Clark supporter due to his uber intelligence and resume, but by the time my primary rolled around he and Dean had opted out of the election. I'm in a blue state with marginal electoral votes (4). Kerry had it sewn up for months here. When it came down to me trepidatiously standing before my optical scan ballot with some ominous concerns of the tally, I surprised myself by voting Kucinich because he was the person who I agreed with 100 fold. Kerry already was the shoe in but still I was compelled to vote for someone to whom I had only paid marginal attention. Does that make me a swing voter. . .?

[blm]

4. Many of us did the same.

I never felt conflicted supporting both Kerry and Kucinich. There are many more like me.

[JohnKleeb]

9. I was like that in the end

I feel fine supporting the both of em. Great men they are. Seeing that thing on RFK made me think of Dennis. I like and admire John Kerry but hes not like RFK, hes more like JFK I think. I personally prefer RFK, so Kucinich has the edge lol of being RFKlike.

[gristy]

3. I woke up this morning to hear Dennis being interviewed on NPR

I didn't realize right off who it was, just that he was making sooooo much sense. Man, I sure hope Kerry has a spot for him in his administration.

[LWolf]

5. He came on NPR just as I was

pulling into the parking lot at work. I sat in the truck and listened until he was done. He was straightforward, clear, and refused, openly, to criticize Kerry when asked.

:thumbsup:

[eridani]

7. He will never, ever do negative campaigning

Glad he is still hanging in there.

[Kanary]

8. You're right, he won't EVER do negative campaigning.

That's one of the parts of his stand on peace.

He spoke to this directly in Denver, saying that he disagreed very much with some of the things that Kerry and others stood for, but he also knows that people can change, and that's what he's working for. He won't attack anyone, he will just keep on plugging away, and hope that they hear his message, and his logic, and his........ heart.

I left with such a sense of peace on Saturday. It sounds so ... flat to say that. But, the sense of peace that he exudes is palpable. It covers whatever venue he is in.

So, let others mock and disparage. Dennis is winning hearts one at a time. And, with Dennis, once your heart is won, it stays won.

Kanary

[LWolf]

11. I think that's because,

no matter what is going on around him, Dennis stays Dennis. He stays his course, adheres to his principles, and doesn't let circumstances derail him. I so admire that; it's a quality that so many of us strive for, but often still fall short of.

Dennis wins hearts and minds easily when you take him out of media soundbites and listen to him have a conversation. And then, when those he's won over see his steadfast courage and conviction in action; when they see him stay so consistent to his message, they stay "won."

[Desertrose]

12. In spite of it all, Dennis has a sweetness and purity as well as steel...

his resolve to stay in the campaign and hold strong for all of us...to keep the issues front and center...and to keep reminding us we don't have to have wars...
His dept of peace is such a beautiful thing....

I know, when I read & heard Mimi Kennedy's words...it brought tears to my eyes yet hope to me heart...

I say it too....Go Dennis Go

:loveya:
DR

[no name no slogan]

10. Wellstone was big on these issues, too

Wellstone had a VERY good record with regard to veteran's rights, and taking care of active duty servicepeople, even though he (like Dennis) was a dove 99% of the time.

I'm so sorry I missed the NPR interview this morning, but I just found out tonight that Dennis will be calling a meeting of my Congressional District's (rather large) Kucinich delegation tomorrow night. Our CD convention is this Saturday, where we get to pick two delegates to Boston this summer-- Dennis will certainly be a morale booster for all of us.

Dennis is always inspiring, and the Democrats (and the nation for that matter) need to listen to him if we truly want a world without end, instead of a war without end.

GO DENNIS GO!!!!

[porkrind]

13. I voted for Dennis in my Utah primary.

Kucinich is amazing and inspiring. America would be a paradise if all politicians were like him. It makes me want to cry when I think of the corrupt whores we now have.

Go Dennis!!! :toast: