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***NJMaverick*** · 03-09-2012, 12:23 PM

Quote:...Congress did not lose a leader.
I made this same basic point about Kucinich in March of 2010. At the time, he’d only succeeded in passing three of the bills he sponsored. Those three were, in chronological order:

A bill “to make available to the Ukranian Museum and Archives the USIA television program ‘Window on America,’ ” a bill “to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio as the ‘John P. Gallagher Post Office Building” and a bill “proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously.”

In the two years since then, Kucinich has gotten one more bill passed. It named another post-office building in Cleveland.
Kucinich’s supporters will point out that he advocated for much more than he got passed. He opposed the war in Iraq, he pushed for single-payer health care, he introduced articles of impeachment for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney (and mused about impeachment for Barack Obama), and so on. They’ll be right. But so what? For all of his advocacy for liberal issues, Kucinich got almost nothing accomplished. He’s one of those legislators who becomes a favorite of the base—this happens on both sides; look at Michele Bachmann—by talking a lot while doing very little. Effective legislators build coalitions, they work to persuade their colleagues, they even compromise, if that’s what’s necessary to get legislation passed (or blocked, if that’s the goal). Not Kucinich. Liberals may miss him, briefly, but they’ll forget him soon enough. After all, he left nothing to remember him by.

Read more http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/ne...z1oe4Iypb2

**jaxx** · 03-09-2012, 12:33 PM

All hat, no cattle.

***There Is No Spoon*** · 03-09-2012, 12:47 PM

Uggh, these sites that use ALL CAPS for their headlines irk me to the point of ignoring the content.

***NJMaverick*** · 03-09-2012, 01:00 PM

(03-09-2012 12:47 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote: Uggh, these sites that use ALL CAPS for their headlines irk me to the point of ignoring the content.

That's a shame, because you are missing some good stuff.

***There Is No Spoon*** · 03-09-2012, 01:11 PM

(03-09-2012 01:00 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:
(03-09-2012 12:47 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote: Uggh, these sites that use ALL CAPS for their headlines irk me to the point of ignoring the content.

That's a shame, because you are missing some good stuff.

If the content is good I read it, I actually could care less about piling on Kuch - he's gone and that's that.

***NJMaverick*** · 03-09-2012, 01:17 PM

(03-09-2012 01:11 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote:
(03-09-2012 01:00 PM)NJMaverick Wrote: That's a shame, because you are missing some good stuff.

If the content is good I read it, I actually could care less about piling on Kuch - he's gone and that's that.

I guess we see things differently. Sure superficially one might see this article as piling on Dennis. On the other hand DK's complete lack of real accomplishments is actually an indictment of those that held him up as s hero, at least if you take time to consider the implications.

***There Is No Spoon*** · 03-09-2012, 03:07 PM

(03-09-2012 01:17 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:
(03-09-2012 01:11 PM)There Is No Spoon Wrote: If the content is good I read it, I actually could care less about piling on Kuch - he's gone and that's that.

I guess we see things differently. Sure superficially one might see this article as piling on Dennis. On the other hand DK's complete lack of real accomplishments is actually an indictment of those that held him up as s hero, at least if you take time to consider the implications.

OK, I read it - the article is very brief synopsis of what I've (we've) known/been saying for many, many years.

Am I missing the punch line here? Seems like more shadow boxing of the Professional Left to me.

**janedrake** · 03-09-2012, 01:36 PM

That piece speaks for me; add to it the strange paradox that while Kucinich often threatened to vote "no" with the Republicans against Democratic policies, he is still regarded as a liberal hero. I'll never forget that the straw that broke my back was his craving-the-spotlight behavior during the countdown to the healthcare debate, to the point where he had to be wooed for his vote aboard Air Force One. He'd also written a very misleading-by-omission op-ed on the ACA in a local Ohio paper that did his constituents a huge disservice. Further, after all his posturing against the ACA (although he did vote for it in the end), he positioned himself at the presidential podium at the end of the ACA signing ceremony so that he could be photographed accompanying President Obama off the stage - like he was Obama's good buddy all along. Kucinich's sour grapes concession speech says it all about the guy.

***NJMaverick*** · 03-09-2012, 01:43 PM

(03-09-2012 01:36 PM)janedrake Wrote: That piece speaks for me; add to it the strange paradox that while Kucinich often threatened to vote "no" with the Republicans against Democratic policies, he is still regarded as a liberal hero. I'll never forget that the straw that broke my back was his craving-the-spotlight behavior during the countdown to the healthcare debate, to the point where he had to be wooed for his vote aboard Air Force One. He'd also written a very misleading-by-omission op-ed on the ACA in a local Ohio paper that did his constituents a huge disservice. Further, after all his posturing against the ACA (although he did vote for it in the end), he positioned himself at the presidential podium at the end of the ACA signing ceremony so that he could be photographed accompanying President Obama off the stage - like he was Obama's good buddy all along. Kucinich's sour grapes concession speech says it all about the guy.

Dennis is an amply demonstrates what happens when people elevate ideology over good and bad. Ideology is suppose to be guidelines to achieving good, but some people have made ideology a end rather than a means. Those are the type of people that love Dennis and what he accomplished.

**janedrake** · 03-09-2012, 02:01 PM

(03-09-2012 01:43 PM)NJMaverick Wrote:
(03-09-2012 01:36 PM)janedrake Wrote: That piece speaks for me; add to it the strange paradox that while Kucinich often threatened to vote "no" with the Republicans against Democratic policies, he is still regarded as a liberal hero. I'll never forget that the straw that broke my back was his craving-the-spotlight behavior during the countdown to the healthcare debate, to the point where he had to be wooed for his vote aboard Air Force One. He'd also written a very misleading-by-omission op-ed on the ACA in a local Ohio paper that did his constituents a huge disservice. Further, after all his posturing against the ACA (although he did vote for it in the end), he positioned himself at the presidential podium at the end of the ACA signing ceremony so that he could be photographed accompanying President Obama off the stage - like he was Obama's good buddy all along. Kucinich's sour grapes concession speech says it all about the guy.

Dennis is an amply demonstrates what happens when people elevate ideology over good and bad. Ideology is suppose to be guidelines to achieving good and bad, but some people have made ideology a end rather than a means. Those are the type of people that love Dennis and what he accomplished.

Agreed - that's what I refer to as "toxic idealism" - siding with those on the wrong/dangerous/hurtful side of an issue, while insisting it's for the right reason.

**Brainwreck** · 03-09-2012, 01:38 PM

I missed the man I thought he was--until I got a better look a while back. Since then every time I would see his name I'd only feel sad, and diminished for having been so gullible. Thank you, NJMaverick, for posting that brain clearing piece. Grin

**Ikonoklast** · 03-09-2012, 01:46 PM

Many here in NE Ohio saw Kucininch for what he actually was, not for what some thought he was.

Just another congressman with little to show that he ever served in Congress...with a cult following.

**suzie** · 03-09-2012, 02:47 PM

Well, Dennis K doesn't seem to be gone yet.

He's trying to garner his share of fame today by raging against the Obama administration over the cleric in Yemen. I'm guessing that since he lost his seat, and probably correctly blames Obama, he'll be hoping for a Republican win in November.

Like Paul Begala says, maybe Dennis can join the GOP in rooting for the Chinese in the Summer Olympics.

**jaxx** · 03-09-2012, 08:03 PM

A big reason I am glad Kucinich was beat is that the little tyrant threatened impeachment for President Obama about Libya.

March 22nd, 2011
11:35 AM ET

353 days ago
Kucinich talks impeachment, threatens military funding for Libya

Washington (CNN) After declaring President Obama's decision to order airstrikes on Libya a potential "impeachable offense," Ohio Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich is calling for an immediate halt to all funds for any further military action in the conflict.

<..> In a series of interviews on Monday, Kucinich suggested the President could be impeached for his actions. For now, the anti-war Democrat tells CNN he has no plans to initiate any impeachment proceedings.

"Now, impeachment is a process. I haven't gotten into that. I raised the question as to whether or not (President Obama) exceeded his authority and raising the question as to whether or not it is an impeachable offense," Kucinich said.

<..> Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul, a libertarian Tea Party favorite, also argues the President lacks the Constitutional authority to take direct military action without a vote in Congress.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/201...for-libya/

I wouldn't be surprised to see DK go republican....looks to me like he'd be right at home with others who don't like PBO.

**pappy** · 03-10-2012, 07:19 AM

He will probably just take his show on the road to Washington.

Like a cheesy horror movie villain he'll just keep coming back for an endless series of sequels.

Perhaps we could title the nest episode, "DK2: Dennis Does Seattle".

Sorry SeattleGirl! Really sorry.

***NJMaverick*** · 03-10-2012, 07:45 AM

(03-10-2012 07:19 AM)pappy Wrote: He will probably just take his show on the road to Washington.

Like a cheesy horror movie villain he'll just keep coming back for an endless series of sequels.

Perhaps we could title the nest episode, "DK2: Dennis Does Seattle".

Sorry SeattleGirl! Really sorry.

I have to think the people of Washington wouldn't buy into this snake oil salesman

**pappy** · 03-10-2012, 07:58 AM

(03-10-2012 07:45 AM)NJMaverick Wrote:
(03-10-2012 07:19 AM)pappy Wrote: He will probably just take his show on the road to Washington.

Like a cheesy horror movie villain he'll just keep coming back for an endless series of sequels.

Perhaps we could title the nest episode, "DK2: Dennis Does Seattle".

Sorry SeattleGirl! Really sorry.

I have to think the people of Washington wouldn't buy into this snake oil salesman

I agree, they probably wouldn't buy into his act although a small percentage will. Enough will buy in to feed his ego and get him face time on TV. Then, like the "snake oil salesman" he will just move on to new and more fertile ground.