2008 The Nation Endorses…
posted by December 26 at 9:40 AM
onWell, no one, as far as I can tell from reading this long editorial. But the campaign of Dennis Kucinich is calling attention this excerpt:
In his stands on the issues, Dennis Kucinich comes closest to embodying the ideals of this magazine. He has been a forceful critic of the Bush Administration, opposing the Patriot Act and spearheading the motion to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney. He is the only candidate to have voted against the Iraq War in 2003 and has voted against funding it ever since. Of all the serious candidates, only he and Governor Bill Richardson propose a full and immediate withdrawal from Iraq. And only Kucinich’s plan sets aside funds for reparations. Moreover, Kucinich has used his presidential campaigns to champion issues like cutting the military budget and abolishing nuclear weapons; universal, single-payer healthcare; campaign finance reform; same-sex marriage and an end to the death penalty and the war on drugs. A vote for him would be a principled one.
But…
But for reasons that have to do with the corrupting influence of money and media on national elections as well as with his campaign’s shortcomings—such as its failure to organize a grassroots base of donors and web activists—a democratic mass movement has not coalesced around Kucinich’s run for President. The progressive vision is there, but the strategy necessary to win and then govern is lacking. In most cases, the rules of the Iowa caucus require that a candidate reach 15 percent of the vote to achieve “viability”; supporters of candidates who fail to do so can choose another candidate. Simply put, many Iowans will soon face a question that the rest of us may have to answer later: if not Dennis, then who?
Comments
Thank you Eli. I have been behind him for a while now, but I assume that most like me are just rallying behind someone else because why waste a vote at such an important time. If there was a massive WE as a people are voting for K... then I'd be in.
"The Nation" I love that magazine and hate it at the same time. I read some of the editorial commentary and just think "WTF??"
This whole thing kills me. Fucking stupid two party bullshit.
The Nation is boring, but not as boring as Mother Jones, or Utne for that matter.
God, I hate Utne.
I really hate Kucinich who by the way was pro-life for forever and only became pro-choice when it became politically expedient.
i became pro-kucinich when i saw his wife.
atta boy, dk.
I toured the USA in 2003 as an environmental organizer working with union activists. We drove east from Seattle to Miami, and from the Dakotas onwards the unions rallied behind Missouri democrat Dick Gephardt. Dick Gephardt's supporters all looked the same: overweight, white, middle aged and middle class. My heart cried as they chanted racist rhetoric and littered the parks with glossy Gephardt placards. Yet, at every rally an age and ethically diverse group stood smiling, oddly confident with their subdued yet powerful presence. These other Americans stumped for Dennis Kucinich and impressed me with their knowledge of the current political issues. These others volunteered in their communities, supported local entrepreneurship, and read books. Kucinich may never win the presidency, but by running he has differentiated the visionaries from the sheep and the Democrats from the Republicans.
Yes, the "we're smarter than than you" attitude no doubt accounts for Kucinich's failure to get any real support.
Those stupid overwight middle Americans.
They probably like zoos, too.
They even imght shop at Wal-Mart, claiming to "need lower prices."
It is so much better to be in the superior vanguard. Than to communicate with real people and win.
Maybe his problem that he expects American's to be better and smarter than they are, or at least aspire to be.
Thats why he won't win.
Wow. Way to be completely irrelevant. Also, I thought The Nation liked pro-choice candidates.
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