Why Kucinich?
Jeff Alworth of Open Source Politics explains why he's supporting Kucinich:
Briefly, members of OS Politics seemed interested in a proposal to have an intra-blog debate about our favorite candidates. All in good fun--the Deaniboppers against the Kucitizens against the Kerriotes. A way for people who are on the same team to compare notes, that kind of thing. Alas, it seems to have lost steam.
Never one to let a dead horse lie, I'm issuing a nudge-and-wink challenge here to supporters of other candidates. My man Kucinich (that's coo SIN itch) against all comers!
So for starters, today I'll offer a preamble about why Kucinich is the best candidate. I'll include the usual disclaimer: I want Bush out and I'll vote for the Democrat. After two elections of casting a Nader ballot, I'm prepared to try to change things from the inside (the outside having been an abject failure). As long as Joe's not the man, my ballot is in the bag (and if he becomes the man, we'll really have some fun debates).
That said, we are offered quite a selection. Safe to say, if you're anything from slightly left of Bush to McGovernesque, there's a candidate for you. The most liberal are the two K's, Kerry and Kucinich. Add Dean and you have a pretty fair troika of progressivism. So why Kucinich?
A Whole Vision
America is in a dangerous place right now. Economic and governmental power is divided among fewer and fewer entities. While in office, George Bush has consolidated these gains in ways unthinkable just three years ago. With the tragedies surrounding 9/11, he's solidified the conservative party line, and made it safe to fear again in America.
In my judgment, the antidote to this should be profound, radical change. Not necessarily in terms of policy--I'm not advocating Communism--but rather seizing back from conservatives the very definitions of politics. We need someone who advances a positive, hopeful agenda for Americans. Someone who will remind Americans of the enlightened values on which this country was founded, not the narrow, fearful, hate-fueled politics of the Republican party.
Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate with this vision. A great example is his view on terrorism. His solution? International cooperation and a policy position that begins with peace.
As we stand on the threshold of a new millennium, it is time to free ourselves, to jettison our illusions and fears and transform age-old challenges with new thinking. We can conceive of peace as not simply the absence of violence but the active presence of the capacity for a higher evolution of human awareness, of respect, trust, and integrity.
Citizens across the United States are now uniting in a great cause to establish a Department of Peace, seeking nothing less than the transformation of our society, to make non-violence an organizing principle, to make war archaic through creating a paradigm shift in our culture for human development for economic and political justice and for violence control. Its work in violence control will be to support disarmament, treaties, peaceful coexistence and peaceful consensus building. Its focus on economic and political justice will examine and enhance resource distribution, human and economic rights and strengthen democratic values.
Domestically, the Department of Peace would address violence in the home, spousal abuse, child abuse, gangs, police-community relations conflicts and work with individuals and groups to achieve changes in attitudes that examine the mythologies of cherished world views, such as 'violence is inevitable' or 'war is inevitable'.
Authenticity
At the end of the day, most people are more impressed with a candidate's character than they are with his policies. When I first looked through the candidates, I was of course attracted to Kucinich's views. But it wasn't until I saw Dennis in Portland that I became really enthusiastic about him. He seems enormously credible to me. He's engaging and bright, but mostly, he seems authentic. That bit about peace comes from his website; it's not in the third person, and it wasn't written by a staffer--he wrote it.
Speaking of website, check his out. It's funky and real; while most candidates have a list of a dozen or so issue categories, Kucinich has 39 (and counting). They include Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Campaign Reform and Instant Runoff Voting, Disability Rights, Water as a Human Right (here are his ten key issues). This is a wonk's wonk; a guy who knows the issues and where he stands on them.
If you're going to rush the gates of the power structures, you have to do it with someone who won't drop his sword when the arrows start to fly. Kucinich will go all the way. This may not be a club of one, but it's a club who definitely includes this one.
There are issues with Kucinich--electability being number one (of course, DK has thoughts). But that's another post. This one is about why Kucinich is the best candidate.
Convinced?
Subscribe to this blog's feed