Kucinich Says Obama Should Face 2012 Democratic Primary Challenge

[NYC Liberal]

Delusional if he thinks an incumbent will be a "stronger nominee if he receives a strong challenge in a primary."

Quote: Congressman Dennis Kucinich will not challenge President Obama in the 2012 Democratic primaries – “I’m focusing on being reelected to the House of Representatives” -- but he thinks Obama should face a foe for the nomination.

"I think primaries can have the opportunity of raising the issues and make the Democratic candidate a stronger candidate," Kucinich, who sought the party nod in 2004 and 2008, said Thursday. “I think it’s safe to predict that President Obama will continue to be the nominee of the Democratic primary, but he can be a stronger nominee if he receives a strong challenge in a primary.”

Kucinich won’t speculate on who could, or should, run against Obama, who has disappointed much of the Democratic base with moves to the right on issues ranging from last year’s health-care debate – in which he abandoned first the single-payer reform he had once backed and then the public option – to tax policy and entitlement reform.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/158490/kuc...-challenge

[Born_A_Truman]

He lives in his own world. Does he think issues can't be raised any other way?

[There Is No Spoon]

Quote:Congressman Dennis Kucinich will not challenge President Obama in the 2012 Democratic primaries

That's all I need to see - lol.

[Arkana]

When did Obama ever back single-payer?

[Willinois]

(02-11-2011 02:11 PM)Arkana Wrote:  When did Obama ever back single-payer?

As a candidate for Illinois State Senate. Seriously.

[Willinois]

Kucinich comes from the school of thought that believes elections are about something other than winning. I have a lot of respect for him but I disagree on that point.

Decades of liberal candidates running not to win, but only to raise issues, adds to the impression that liberals are unelectable. Liberals can win elections but not by running a half-assed campaign that's only about raising issues.

The next evolution of that defeatist mindset is seen in those who believed Obama was too conservative in the primary simply because he was doing things that a winning campaign does, like raising money and getting news coverage. It breaks down to: winner=conservative, loser=liberal.

The further extension of that mindset is to believe any compromise bill Obama signs is a sell-out failure because being a true progressives means always losing righteously.

In the long term I don't believe that mindset serves the left well. Run to win or don't run at all.

[Born_A_Truman]

(02-11-2011 02:13 PM)Willinois Wrote:  Kucinich comes from the school of thought that believes elections are about something other than winning. I have a lot of respect for him but I disagree on that point.

Decades of liberal candidates running not to win, but only to raise issues, adds to the impression that liberals are unelectable. Liberals can win elections but not by running a half-assed campaign that's only about raising issues.

The next evolution of that defeatist mindset is seen in those who believed Obama was too conservative in the primary simply because he was doing things that a winning campaign does, like raising money and getting news coverage. It breaks down to: winner=conservative, loser=liberal.

The further extension of that mindset is to believe any compromise bill Obama signs is a sell-out failure because being a true progressives means always losing righteously.

In the long term I don't believe that mindset serves the left well. Run to win or don't run at all.

[azmouse]

I'm sick of Kucinich.

[Cha]

Dennis: "Do as I say not as I do".

Maybe in a sane world but we have the enemy within to face with the gopropaganda corporatemedia teabaggers in the general. Dennis knows how it is..he said he was focusing on his own election. He was a deciding vote for HCR and now the idiots have taken over the House.

We'll see what happens..the President does have a country to run though not to mention Foreign Affairs that are shaping the Planet.

[Hekate]

At least Kooch isn't announcing he'll run himself.

[Andy823]

So who is going to run against Kucinich in the primaries? If nobody, the maybe we should "find someone" to help make him a "stronger" candidate!

[Treestar]

He needs to concentrate on his own re-election - he's in danger of going the way of Feingold and Grayson.

[NoPasaran]

I hear that thanks to Ohio's loss of congressional seats he's in danger of having his district disappear from under him.

[Peadar O Suileabhain]

"I think primaries can have the opportunity of raising the issues and make the Democratic candidate a stronger candidate"

Guess who'd squeal like a stuck pig if he was challenged in his own primary.

[NYC Liberal]

I don't want to see Kucinich lose his Congressional seat. I just think his idea that a strong challenger in a primary against an incumbent strengthens the incumbent.

The only way a primary challenge works is if a strong challenger unseats a weak incumbent who wouldn't have done well in the general. When you have a strong primary challenger who puts up a good fight but ultimately loses, then the incumbent wins but is weakened.

[Andy823]

(02-11-2011 06:27 PM)NYC Liberal Wrote:  I don't want to see Kucinich lose his Congressional seat. I just think his idea that a strong challenger in a primary against an incumbent strengthens the incumbent.

The only way a primary challenge works is if a strong challenger unseats a weak incumbent who wouldn't have done well in the general. When you have a strong primary challenger who puts up a good fight but ultimately loses, then the incumbent wins but is weakened.

I don't want to see him lose either, but I agree with you, it only works if a stronger person can unseat the weaker incumbent!

[Buttercup]

I say Kucinich should face reality.

[NJMaverick]

I hear Dennis plans to make a killing with his olive pit lawsuit. That money will fund his 2012 ego challenge.

[Ikonoklast]

"Do-Nothing Dennis"?

Here follows a list of all major legislation that long-term congressman Dennis Kucinich has introduced and been passed into law in his illustrious legislative career:
































.

[jaxx]

Ikonoklast that post speaks volumes. To me Kucinich is the lefts version of Ron Paul. Lots of ideas and whacked out remedies.