I wouldn't call myself a "fan," but he's not nearly as freaky or ridiculous as people make him out to be. I'd say he's mostly a victim of bad press and that, since he was mayor of Cleveland in the late 70's, there is a lot in the way of personal vendettas aimed at him from the other side of the fence. This is mostly because he stood up to them and was willing to take a political hit in the process. If you're interested, research "Muny Light" and "Cleveland Public Power." He basically kept it alive as a public entity (i.e, he didn't sell it out) and turned out to be absolutely right. He did this while supposedly driving the city into default. In actuality, it was only made to look that way (mostly by the banking industry) in order to knock him out of power. Currently, he's the Congressman in my district. He's a tad too liberal, but is much, much better than anyone the wannabe conservative "base" we have around here offers up. I would have to say that he truly is a champion of the cause for the underpriveleged (I say this as someone who is not underpriveleged). But, at the same time, he understands the business climate of this area a lot better than he is given credit for.
What Jerry Springer has to do with this is beyond me. Kucinich is a Congressman and has been for some time. Springer isn't, nor has he ever been one. If you're trying to draw correlations, remember that Cincinnati and it's surrounding areas are the usual bastions of GOP butt-fuckery.
Nah, I was just honestly trying to remember what city he was the mayor of and I thought it was in Ohio. I wouldn't know about Cincinnati's relation to the GOP since I've never been in Ohio save for an airport layover. I talk to plenty of people in that area for work though, and they all seem nice enough with their midwestern accents and everything. Why were the trying to privatize a city power company? Transmission and local distribution of electricity is a natural monopoly. The only thing deregulation works with is generation.
I don't agree with him on a few things (he wants a complete ban on handguns, not just increased legislation), but I do think he might be the best candidate running right now. Mike Gravel is good, too, and for similar reasons, but I think he's too old to be a viable candidate, and he's had 3 surgical operations since 2000. I think the president should be healthy for stability reasons.
I haven't read a lot into the various presidential candidates (being I'm Canadian) but from what I've seen Kucinich would be the type of person I would vote for. I haven't thoroughly read his platform, but the few things I have seen really impress me.
After already reading about him and realizing that I agree with him on almost every issue, I also found out that his wife is pretty hot. This guy can do no wrong.
I just read up more thoroughly on him and he seems like a good guy. I cannot believe he actually had a mob hit put out on him. Voted against PATRIOT Act, voted against Iraq War and although I do not agree with his more socialist domestic policies he seems to be a guy that doesn't let special interests control his voting, much like a guy on the other side of the aisle (and I know that Mark will hate me for saying this ), RP. I think it's safe to say he's my favorite Dem candidate.
This exactly. But his chances make RP look like a sure thing in comparison. If he did run w/ RP as an independent, I'd totally vote for them.
It's funny, I like them both a lot, but they are total opposites in many ways. I guess I feel that there is not necessarily only one correct way to run a country.
I think we've already agreed that a race of DK vs. RP would offer the most real choice. And, you're right. He doesn't let special interests anywhere near him or his campaign the way others do. This is precisely why a lot of people would like to see him go. I don't see it happening unless he voluntarily steps down.
Many Americans paint him as some extremely radical leftist, but he's no different from a European or Canadian Social Democrat, which isn't so radical at all really. I dislike him because he's not liberal enough on economic matters, and because though he supports social liberty he doesn't always do so in the right way, or for the right reasons. So basically, I dislike him because he's a Social Democrat and I'm a Liberal. :P (Also because his rhetoric reminds me of the New Democratic Party, here in Canada, and that is not a good thing for me to be reminded of).
^ You're mixing up political ideologies with political parties, so I have no clue what you're talking about.
Kucinich is not nuts. If you were referring to elnimio, I can think of a few better words to fit the description.
The best Dem, but I heard he thinks he's been contacted and receives messages from aliens? Whats up with that? Any truth to him saying that or something?
I'm not mixing them up. Liberal = Ideology (also the name of many parties, but I was referring to the ideology) Social Democrat = Ideology (also the name of many parties, but I was referring to the ideology) New Democratic Party = Canadian Social Democratic political party.
No. He said he saw a "flying object he couldn't identify" once...so have I. That doesn't mean it was anything alien. The media, ever bent on making him look like a loon, declared that he claims he saw a UFO via a passage in a book by Shirley McClaine. Yes, that's right. They went to a third party for a paraphrased quasi-quote.
Well of course seeing a ufo doesn't mean it's anything alien. I've seen a ufo too. I just heard he claimed he "received messages from aliens" or something of the sort....but yea, maybe someone in the media just took it way to far like you said...
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWupJvXSegU"]YouTube - Kucinich on Kucinich health plan-Brown&Black Forum[/ame] well played
Yeah, I've seen a UFO too.. Well, clearly an American aircraft, but looked like a really strange F117 Stealth Bomber. Flying over bumblefuck, GA, no less. So, don't really get the big deal here.
I like him and Gravel on a few issues. They both seem honest and genuine. I don't agree with them on the role of federal government though. I would vote for either before anyone running in the two major parties with the exception of RP. Oh and my parents claim to have seen a ufo and I don't think they are crazy.
He just lost to some slut. The Corporate Party wanted to get rid of him and looks like redistricting was a smart move on their part.
One of the very few American politicians I actually respect. Lost to a statist fauxpulist named Marcy Kaptur, who is already a representative. On the plus side, Kaptur's opponent in the Fall may be none other than...Samuel Wurzelbacher (more popularly known as Joe the Plumber).
