And Yet Another One Drops (DAMMIT)

Now Dennis Kucinich has dropped out of the race, one of the few candidates that seemed to have some honor, integrity and offered solutions instead of empty pie-in-the-sky rhetoric. He was made to be a buffoon because he saw a UFO - I posted on that - and most people interpreted it as the "little green men" type of sighting. He was laughed at because of his short stature, the fact that his wife was a head taller than he, and he (and Hilary) stood on a box (at one of the few debates he was allowed to speak) so that all candidates would be even in the lineup. He was even sniggered at because he showed affection to his wife, called "making out" by a reporter. He was part of the list of candidates referred to as "minor".

So, on the negative side, he saw a unidentified flying object, he is short, he shows affection for his wife, and was called a minor candidate. What the blue blazes of hell does that have to do with anything? On the positive side, examine a FEW of the good qualities of the man.

Excerpts from Biography; Wikipedia:
As Mayor -After Kucinich refused to sell Muni Light, Cleveland's publicly owned electric utility, the Cleveland mafia put a hit on Kucinich. A hitman from Maryland planned to shoot him in the head during the Columbus Day Parade, but the plot fell apart when Kucinich was hospitalized and missed the event. When the city fell into default shortly thereafter, the mafia leaders called off the contract killer.^[14] [...]while Kucinich's supporters say that Kucinich kept his campaign promise of refusing to sell Muni Light to CEI and was brave for not giving in to big business. [...] In 1998 the council honored him for having the "courage and foresight" to stand up to the banks and saving the city an estimated $195 million between 1985 and 1995.<sup>[15]

[WA: The MAFIA puts out a hit on a mayor for refusing to sell a public utility to big business? What does that tell you about Big Business? What does that tell you about the courage and honesty of a short man who saw a ufo, loved his wife,and was regarded as a minor candidate BUT who kept campaign promises and acted in the best interests of the city and citizens instead of caving to pressure from powerful people?]

[WA: After losing the next mayoral race he suffered severe financial setbacks; one year he filed income tax of just $34. He grew up poor and endured poverty as an adult, so was in tune with America's working class and the poor.(as many of our rich candidates do NOT understand)]

Bio: cont:</sup>
In 2003, Kucinich was the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Award, an annual award bestowed by the Religious Society of Friends-affiliated organization Promoting Enduring Peace.<sup>[1]

[To read his bio and position on issues, check http://choices08.blogspot.com, scroll down sidebar to Dennis Kucinich. ]

Politically he was blocked from debating several times and had to go to court to be allowed to speak; he was ignored or laughed at by other candidates and the media. He received short shrift from all. He did not deserve that. [Hilary Clinton, with powerful backers, and John Edwards (shame on you, John) agreed to block some other candidates because they "trivialized" the debate. When will these people LEARN about open mikes? I'll post that video later).

I spent hours and hours researching candidates bios, histories, news articles, and viewing too blasted many videos, checked out the pats and the pans. Journalists are expert at ferreting out the least bit of potential scandal - even if they have to skew the facts_ and so far I found not one bit of negative reports on this man, but plenty on his positive qualities and record. Except for seeing a ufo, being short, embracing his wife, etc..

I do not agree with all of Kucinich's positions on issues but I agree with most of them. If he had won I probably would not have voted for him as I have my own pet maverick I favor - but I might have changed my mind during the next 9 months. But there is one thing I agree on: The so-called "MINOR" candidates were treated unfairly and disrespectfully by both the media and some of the other candidates. It was cheap, petty, nasty, unAmerican and unDemocratic behavior on their part. Kucinchi caught the brunt of it, more so than other mavericks. Why? Did they fear him because he was a threat to them if he got equal time, if the public was allowed to become acquainted with him? It is a rotten shame. No wonder Gadfly hates politics so much.

It's almost enough to make me turn Repub instead of Independent. I said ALMOST. (I do not vote straight party lines; I vote for the candidate I think is best or the lesser of two evils, regardless of party, gender, or race).</sup>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080124/pl_nm/usa_politics_kucinich_dc_3

Kucinich drops out of U.S. presidential race

Thu Jan 24, 5:44 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Dennis Kucinich told a newspaper on Thursday he would end his race for the U.S. presidency after registering little voter support in the early state contests.

Kucinich, 61, a liberal member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Cleveland, Ohio, told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer he would make his withdrawal announcement in that city on Friday.

"I want to continue to serve in Congress," he said.

His campaign issued a statement saying he would announce plans on Friday for "transitioning out of the Democratic presidential primary race."

Kucinich is an outspoken Iraq war critic who has consistently voted against funding the war and led anti-war efforts in Congress.

He said he would not endorse another candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination to contest November's presidential election.

Kucinich attracted ardent supporters and stayed in the race even after it became clear that his campaign was going nowhere. His 30-year-old wife, Elizabeth, who stands a head taller than her husband, was generally at his side on the campaign trail.

Kucinich was ridiculed for saying at a Democratic debate that he had seen a UFO, a fact that was revealed in a book by actress Shirley MacLaine.

(To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at http://blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)

(Reporting by Steve Holland, editing by David Alexander

Dennis Kucinich waves to the crowd after speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party 100 Club dinner in Milford, January 4, 2008. Kucinich told a newspaper on Thursday he would end his race for the U.S. presidency after registering little voter support in early state contests. (Jason Reed/Reuters)"

Dennis Kucinich waves to the crowd after speaking at the New Hampshire Democratic Party 100 Club dinner in Milford, January 4, 2008. Kucinich told a newspaper on Thursday he would end his race for the U.S. presidency after registering little voter support in early state contests. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
WA: Does ANYONE know how to eliminate the wide blank area at the bottom of this post? I have deleted as much html that seemed pertinent, to no avail. Please give me any tips you may have. Thank you.

Post on Huckabee follows this post -below the blank acreage.

COMMENTS:

SheaNC said...

Hi, Granny & Worried! I am a Kucinich fan, too. I am hoping whoever wins will be smart enough to allow Kucinich into the administration. In my travels on the web, more people liked him than any of the rest. At least we know good candidates exist, even if they are prevented from winning...

Sunday, January 27, 2008 10:41:00 PM

Worried American said...

Hi sheanc!! It is S-O-O-o good to hear from you! We have missed you. I fear that the so-called "major" candidates that will win the nominations will not want a maverick like Kucinich anywhere around. He is too honest and believes in serving the people who elected him- imagine that!

Do cme back again. You have a new avatar. I like Charlie Brown just fine but my favorite is the little man beating his head on the computer keyboard - I relate to that one.

Monday, January 28, 2008 1:11:00 AM