Dennis Kucinich

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

December 2003

Taken?

There is a question as to whether the Dennis Kucinich women are dreaming of matrimony for naught. The Washington Times Inside Politics reports that Kucinich already has a girl:

According to numerous press reports, Mr. Kucinich already has a longtime girlfriend — Croatian-born employment lawyer Yelena Boxer, who inspired him to become a vegan eight years ago.

"She is known locally as his girlfriend," the weekly Forward noted earlier this year, adding that the couple shared holidays, including Passover.

Are they still an item? That depends on what the definition of "friend" is. Most recently, Mr. Kucinich called Miss Boxer "a close friend" in an interview with the Des Moines register on Aug. 23. (12/1/2003)

Willie Nelson concert

Willie Nelson and The Dave Matthews Band’s outspoken guitar player Tim Reynolds will host a concert for Rep. Dennis Kucinich at one of America’s classic live music venues -- the Austin Music Hall -- on January 3. The release states,

Willie Nelson’s support of Dennis Kucinich’s campaign has been exceptional. In addition to committing to concerts of this type, Willie has done several radio ads in the early caucus state, Iowa, for the congressman. Says Nelson “I am endorsing Dennis Kucinich for President because he stands up for heartland Americans who are too often overlooked and unheard. He has done that his whole political career. Big corporations are well represented in Washington, but Dennis Kucinich is a rare Congressman of conscience and bravery that fights for the underrepresented much like the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Dennis champions individual privacy, safe food laws and family farmers. A Kucinich Administration will put the interests of America's family farmers, consumers and environment above the greed of industrial agribusiness. I normally do not get too heavily involved in politics, but this is more about getting involved with America than with politics. I encourage people to learn more about Dennis Kucinich at http://www.kucinich.us and I will be doing all I can to raise his profile with voters.” (12/3/2003)

On the Planet Kucinich

On the planet Kucinich the candidate has come up with a diabolical plan to subvert the process of winning delegates to the Democrat National Convention. Rep. Dennis Kucinich now believes that if he can make his website the number one visited site among the nine presidential candidates he will win. Of course, it is hard to know exactly what Kucinich is thinking. However, he recently issued a release calling on all Kucinichians to help make his website number one.

Alexa, owned by Amazon.com, counts traffic on users who utilize their Alexa toolbars and Kucinich has had a fast climb in traffic to his campaign’s website since Nov 3. The Kucinich release currently posted on his site urges supporters to help:

Traffic to the Kucinich website at www.kucinich.us has soared. As of December 5, 2003, the site is the third most popular among presidential campaign websites and closing fast on the other two.

On December 5, 2003, Alexa.com, a highly regarded source of data on web traffic, posted this story on its website: http://pages.alexa.com/features/candidates.html

If you want to help increase traffic to the Kucinich website, please do two things:

1.      Put the website address www.kucinich.us in your Email signature. Or, even better, include one of these banners: http://www.kucinich.us/banners.htm

2.      Go to www.kucinich.us and sign up for the campaign Email list. When you get an Email from the campaign that you find important or entertaining, forward it to your friends.

The overall rankings of the site (the lower the number the better) is: Howard Dean-3,755; Wesley Clark-9,779; Kucinich-39,998; John Edwards-37,188; Dick Gephardt-27,780; John Kerry-23,641; Joe Lieberman-85,857; and George Bush-17,248. (12/6/2003)

Kucinich investigation

Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will ask for an investigation of last night's air attack by the United States-led military against a suspected terrorist in Afghanistan, which killed nine children as well as the intended target, according to the Central Command. Kucinich released this statement:

"I will ask for an investigation to determine the circumstances in which the nine children died. This incident is damaging to world peace. Last year an American flying gunship attacked a wedding party in Afghanistan killing 48 people.

"In the name of fighting terrorism, the Bush administration has killed thousands of innocent civilians, including many children. The Bush administration turned what should have been an international criminal investigation into a war. It has set aside international laws. It has not found Osama bin Laden.

"Considering the amount of time the Bush administration allegedly spends on surveillance, the deaths of these nine children cry out for an explanation -- and an investigation."

Kucinich is the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations. He will ask the Subcommittee to hold an investigation of last night's air attack. Kucinich will be contacting members of the Subcommittee to ask them to join in this call for an investigation. (12/7/2003)

Kucinich’s California numbers

Kucinich showed well in the recent California Democrat Endorsement meetings. He came in second to Howard Dean. The organization dates back to 1953 when they organized to prevent Republicans from cross filling on ballots and interrupting the Democrat nominating process. The group is famous for encouraging Eugene McCarthy to run against President Johnson. Endorsement results from the California Democrat Council Area and Regional 2004 pre-primary endorsement meetings (Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7, 2003, held in Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Sacramento,San Diego, Santa Clara, Visalia and Yucaipa):

Governor Howard Dean - 56.11 percent
Congressman Dennis Kucinich - 17.19 percent
General Wesley Clark - 14.48 percent  (12/8/2003)

Kucinich restates: pull troops out

An Associated Press story covering Kucinich’s fund-raiser in NY demonstrates that Kucinich is continuing to stress his position of pulling American troops out of Iraq:

Rep. Dennis Kucinich said Sunday that he is the only presidential candidate with a plan for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and turning the administration of the country over to the United Nations… "We are now mired in Iraq," the Ohio Democrat told about 50 supporters at a Manhattan fund-raiser. "I'm hopeful that George Bush will recognize the dead end of policy that he has arrived at. But if he doesn't recognize it, you're looking at the one candidate _ with your help _ who will be able to extricate the United States from this sordid chapter in our national experience, from this defaming of our national purpose, from this disconnection with the world community." (12/8/2003)

 Kucinich's book ranked higher

"We're crushing the other guys," Jay Carson speaking for the Kucinich campaign declared last week to The Post's Howard Kurtz, noting that Dennis Kucinich's "A Prayer for America" was at 1,044, Edwards's "Four Trials" was 3,325, and Kerry's "A Call to Service" at a disappointing 14,763. But by last night, the ranking for Dean's book, "Winning Back America," had dropped more than 600 places in rankings and was 1,231. (12/8/2003)

Death Penalty

The Boston Globe has an article on how Democrats are changing their stripes on the death penalty:

All six upper-tier candidates are on record as supporting at least some application of the death penalty. Moreover, four were opponents who have modified their views -- Howard Dean, John F. Kerry, Joseph I. Lieberman, and John Edwards. Richard A. Gephardt has been a consistent death penalty supporter, and Wesley K. Clark initially said after joining the race in September that he backed a moratorium on executions, but has voiced support of capital punishment as a punishment option for "the most heinous crimes."

The three Democrats who steadfastly oppose the death penalty are all lower-tier candidates in the polls -- Dennis J. Kucinich, Carol Moseley Braun, and the Rev. Al Sharpton. All three have said they would seek to abolish capital punishment. (12/8/2003)

Kucinich & Nader?

We have just recovered from the surprise of  Al Gore and Howard Dean. Now, is there to be another surprise with Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader? Kucinicn has provided a guest ticket for tonight ABC debate to Nader according to New Hampshire Politics Online:

A Kucinich campaign spokesman said originally Kucinich gave Nader an “all access” pass allowing him to roam anywhere in the debate building, including the spin room. A Democratic Party source said on the condition of anonymity this privilege to Nader was revoked.

Richard Hendrick, Kucinich’s New Hampshire spokesman, said Nader will now likely join other audience members inside the UNH’s Johnson Theater and possibly be available for questions outside of the venue. In a joint appearance in Baltimore last spring Nader implied that if Kucinich were to get the Democratic nomination he would likely rule out a Green Party run for president in 2004. (12/9/2003)

Kucinich’s light bulb

Rep. Dennis Kucinich is using his light bulb campaign theme in a different way. He is now using it to remind voters of his stand as Cleveland Mayor to preserve the city’s public utility as a symbol for "A Celebration of Light: Harnessing the Power of Our Diversity." Kucinich is featured in a Public Forum with Alice Walker, and community leaders, activists and artists in the fields of sustainability, peace and social justice on Dec. 15 in San Francisco.

Kucinich used the symbol of the light bulb to win seats in the state senate and Congress.

Alice Walker is author of "The Color Purple," and "Anything We Love Can Be Saved: A Writer's Activism," has endorsed Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis J. Kucinich. She will join Kucinich on stage for a celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of his stand to save Cleveland's public power utilities.

Panelists, speakers, performers, and host committee members will include: Van Jones, Executive Director of Ella Baker Center for Human Rights; Randy Hayes, Executive Director of Rainforest Action Network and Director of Sustainability for the City of Oakland; Marie Harrison, SF Bay View correspondent; Renee Saucedo, Executive Director of La Raza Centro Legal; Kevin Danaher, Co-founder of Global Exchange; Gaylen Logan of Youth and Fusion; Best-selling author Joanna Macy; Reverend Eloise Oliver of the East Bay Church of Religious Science; Award-Winning Composer Gary Malkin; and Youth Speaks. (12/9/2003)

Kucinich: gets no respect

John Nichols of the progressive newspaper The Capital Times of Wisconsin editorializes about Dennis Kucinich’s lack of news coverage. Much of the major media practice horse race journalism that only covers those candidates that are likely to win. This has put the idealistic campaign of Kucinich at a disadvantage -- even when he leads on stories like the Diebold voting machine story, as Nichols points out:

Typically, Kucinich was ahead of the curve on an important issue. In November, he seized on concerns about the reliability of electronic voting machines produced by Diebold Inc., one of the nation's largest voting equipment manufacturers. Those concerns were stirred by the revelation that Diebold employees had expressed concerns in e-mails about the security of machines produced by the company.  (12/10/2003)

Kucinich’s date

Dennis Kucinich is taking his date to breakfast. Gina Marie Santore said she's a lifelong Democrat and is looking forward to meeting Kucinich for breakfast Thursday at an undisclosed location in Concord. Kucinich caused the launching of an election on PoliticsNH.com when he referenced the fact that he was single and outlined his perfect date and , “if you are out there?  Call me.”

Santore, 34, of Maple Shade, N.J., said she works as a confidential aide to the Garden County sheriff in southern New Jersey. Santore said Kucinich called her to arrange the date, and he was "very kind, very gentle." She said she's attracted to Kucinich, 57, because she finds his views "intoxicating."

"I hope that he's fun," Santore said. "I hope there's a lighter side to him."

On Satore's website appears the following quote: "There is a saying behind every successful man, there is a strong woman." Satore is not a vegan. Kucinich is and has emphasized the fact in his campaign. "I'm not a vegetarian, and I have no problem with someone else who is," Satore said. "He may be a vegan, but as long as he drinks, it's OK." (12/11/2003)

The winnowing begins

Dennis Kucinich campaign reports the day after Kucinich took ABC debate moderator Ted Koppel to task for avoiding questions that would be useful to voters in favor of questions about endorsements, money, and polls, ABC pulled its fulltime "embedded" reporter from the Kucinich campaign. The reporter had been given no warning that such a move was coming. She had discussed at length yesterday with the Kucinich campaign staff her plans and her needs for the coming months. ABC has reportedly also pulled its reporters from covering the presidential campaigns of Rev. Al Sharpton and Ambassador Carol Mosley-Braun.

Kucinich claimed it was another example of his criticism at the debate, namely the media trying to pick candidates, rather than letting the voters do so. In a democracy, it should be voters and not pundits or TV networks who narrow the field of candidates. Kucinich offered that the move, before any state's caucus or primary, appears based on a belief that viable candidates can be predicted 11 months prior to an election, a belief that flies in the face of the historical record. Time and again candidates dismissed as "fringe" have wound up either with the nomination or with a significant impact on the convention and in the primaries.

“This action by ABC, as well as Koppel's comments during the debate, can only serve to disempower Americans, communicating to them that someone other than they is deciding elections and that their votes don't mean much.

“This action also seems to conflict with the network's interest in boosting ratings and Koppel's expressed interest in making the debate exciting, given that Kucinich received the loudest applause of the evening.

“ABC presumably has no vested interest in discouraging voting or in lowering its ratings. It may, however, have an interest in whether Koppel's prediction of the viability of various candidacies proves true,” Kucinich release concludes. (12/11/2003)

Kucinich’s parties

Dennis Kucinich and Ralph Nader took turns standing on a chair addressing an after-debate party in a University of New Hampshire campus pub. The pub was filled to capacity, with a line of people outside waiting for the chance to get in should someone leave. While at the after-party, Dennis placed call to a speakerphone at another campaign event in Chicago, which was being led by Dr. Patch Adams and by the Kucinich supporters who are walking from the Atlantic to the Pacific for Peace. The enthusiastic Chicago crowd cheered so loudly that they could be heard above the noise in the packed New Hampshire campus pub.(12/11/2003)

ABC: Kucinich response

Here is ABC’s response regarding dropping Kucinich:

Rep. Kucinich has succeeded in raising decent amounts of money in small contributions and building grass-roots support in no small part because he has consistently espoused a message that is distinct from the rest of the field and has appeal to many Americans who feel the Democratic Party and the leading candidates don't speak to their aspirations for the nation and the world.

Kucinich's views on foreign policy, defense spending, corporate influence, trade, the politics of meaning, and social welfare are all quite similar to those of his friend Ralph Nader.

These views resonate with many Americans, which was made evident by Nader's success in 2000, and has been confirmed by the following that Kucinich has built this year.

It is an important and distinctive message, but is not likely to capture the Democratic nomination.

However, it does attract a committed and intense following, and it is the responsibility of all major news organizations to report on the substance of that message and the reasons it has appeal for millions of Americans, and to strike a balance in coverage that doesn't inhibit the ability of such messages to find an audience.

To that end, and contrary to the impression some of you have, ABC News has demonstrated its commitment to all the major candidates running for the Democratic nomination by devoting more resources to covering the Kucinich, Moseley Braun, and Sharpton campaigns than any other news organization in the world.(12/12/2003)

Kucinich supports Muslims

"I want to express my support for the victims of this violence apparently motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment. There is no place for such sentiment in a nation founded on the principle of religious liberty.

"We have just observed the International Day of Human Rights. Let us all, brothers and sisters, strive harder to make the ideal of respect for every human being a reality in our private actions and our public policy," said Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Kucinich was responding to a Dearborn, Michigan, incident where police believe someone tried to burn down the building that houses The Arab American News. The fire occurred late Monday or early Tuesday. Investigators say the building on Chase Road was hit with what appeared to be a homemade firebomb. Employees of the paper, including its publisher and editor-in-chief, Osama Siblani, believe it was an act of intimidation. Police have yet to find any suspects in the attack. (12/13/2003)

Kucinich and the Internet

The alternative media magazine “Utne” carries an article that poses the question of whether pollsters are wrong about Kucinich, given his increased Internet activity:

The tracking of the presidential primary candidate websites with stats from Alexa.com was invented by this author in the spring of 2003. By December, Alexa.com had begun posting a link to its own profile of candidate websites at the top of its home page. But the alexa.com ranking system uses the less accurate web site rank score. The moveon.org Internet primary proved that reach per million was more accurate in predicting the winner. But even with the web site rank score, Dean is still in first and Kucinich is still in second place. Media companies, with often obvious partisan views, favoring Republican candidates, use polls with a few hundred people. It's clear that Alexa.com's massively larger "poll sample" base contradicts the conventional pollsters. (12/13/2003)

Kucinich in Iowa

Rep. Dennis Kucinich was unfazed by the capture of Saddam Hussein as he called for the bringing in of U.N. peace-keepers and our troops home: "The appropriate step to take now is to work with the world community to beat international terrorism. Don't lead the world to believe that we are after the oil and being in Iraq's government," Kucinich said. "If we suddenly decide there is another leader we don't like, do we invade that country?" According to the Sioux City Journal.

Kucinich also continued to infer that ABC pulled its reporter from his campaign because of his taking on Ted Koppel in a recent debate: "What right does major corporate media have to tell you these are your candidates?" Kucinich asked. "The American people are looking for candidates who stand up to corporate America. It is not appropriate for the media to tell the people of the United States that these are your candidates and these are not." (12/15/2003)

Dennis Kucinich

"With the capture of Saddam Hussein the Administration's stated goal of removing him from power has been accomplished. Now the focus must be on ending the occupation. International law must be followed and Saddam Hussein must be held accountable for his actions… The United States must seize this moment and end the occupation of Iraq. The United States must reach out to the world community with a new plan to stabilize Iraq, bring UN peace-keepers in, and bring US troops home."  (12/15/2003)

"So we have Saddam Hussein," he said. "It doesn't end the war. We are still at war. Our troops are still being shot at. These other Democratic candidates who are seizing this moment to tell the American people it's okay - they're wrong. We need to get out," said Dennis Kucinich. (12/16/2003)

Kucinich to campaign in Iowa

Rep. Dennis Kucinich is scheduled to make another swing through Iowa this Thursday through Saturday, visiting the towns of Mt. Vernon, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Muscatine, Washington, Coralville, Toledo, Marshalltown, Ft. Dodge, Algona, Mason City, and Des Moines. Kucinich is expected to meet up with Jonathan Meier and four others walking cross-country for Peace and walk through Mt. Vernon to promote the Kucinich for President campaign. Kucinich supporters are walking across America to show support for Kucinich’s campaign. (12/16/2003)

Kucinich is #2

The University of Iowa Daily Iowan editorial board created a ranking of who they think should be the Democrat nominee and Rep. Dennis Kucinich came in second:

The first-in-the-nation caucuses come to Iowa Jan. 19; they will be the first step in electing a Democratic candidate to run against President Bush next November. The Daily Iowan's Editorial Board discussed the policies of each of the nine Democratic candidates and collaboratively came up with a list ranking the candidates 1 through 9. Our purpose is to assist students in gauging the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate as the general election approaches.

1. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

From a social perspective, Dean's rising through the political ranks from his original vocation as a doctor is attractive to voters skeptical of life-long politicians. Other than Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Dean is the only candidate who opposed U.S. intervention in Iraq. He is a proponent of repealing Bush's upper-class tax cuts, and he plans to keep taxes on the middle-class as a way to balance the budget and pay for his universal health-care plan. As governor of Vermont, Dean balanced 11-consecutive state budgets. He has the endorsement of former Vice President Al Gore and, as a former governor, has history on his side. The last active member of Congress to be elected to the presidency was John F. Kennedy.

2. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio.

Kucinich is the most progressive of the Democratic candidates. He is ardently opposed to war of any sort and wants U.S. troops immediately pulled out of Iraq. Kucinich wants the United States to be a world leader and pull out of the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Association, which he accuses of unfair labor practices that cater to corporate interests. He is in favor of slashing the multibillion-dollar defense budget as a way to provide single-payer universal health care and free public education all the way to the university level. He's been involved in politics since he was 20 years old; at age 31, he was the youngest mayor ever to be elected in a U.S. city. (12/18/2003)

Kucinich: media is promoting war

Rep. Dennis Kucinich in a release stated, “The media promoted this war, and now the media does not want to create a debate in this country about whether we should be in a military occupation of Iraq. This is a serious matter for our democracy. I'm suggesting to you that with the capture of Saddam Hussein, this is the moment for the United States to seize a new initiative.”

Kucinich also stated that he was the only candidate who would get America out of Iraq, "We have a way out. I want to know why the other candidates for President aren't talking about it. Why are the Democrats conceding this to President Bush? I am not going to concede a single thing to President Bush."

His release also stated, “At this moment, most Presidential candidates and people in the Administration, including military officials, have resigned themselves to a course of action that would place the United States in a continued military occupation of Iraq for years. I am here today as a candidate for President of the United States to insist that this is the wrong course of action. The United States should be reaching out to the world community to come up with a whole new plan to get our troops out of Iraq. We need to bring in UN peacekeepers and bring our troops home… You haven't heard that reflected in any of the national media, because the media was promoting this war. They promoted the war, and they drove up support for the war, even though there was no proof that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, or that Iraq had vast quantities of weapons of mass destruction. There is still no evidence of that.”

His plan suggested the need for four points:

1.      The United States gives up ambitions for the control of the oil of Iraq. Let the UN handle the oil on an interim basis until the Iraqi people can become self-governing.

2.      The US hands over to the United Nations the contracting process. No more Halliburton sweetheart deals, no more war profiteering, no more contracts going to Administration favorites. Let the UN handle that on behalf of the Iraqi people until the Iraqi people can become self-governing.

3.      The United States must give up ambitions to privatize the Iraqi economy. It is illegal to go into any nation, to invade it, to seize its assets, and then try to chop up that nation's resources and sell them to the highest or lowest bidder. It's a violation of international law. It is a violation of the Geneva and the Hague conventions. We must as a nation renounce any interest in privatizing the Iraqi economy. When we do that, it will help us persuade the UN to take over.

4.      The United States must turn over to the UN the business of helping the people of Iraq develop a new constitution. It will be impossible for any government elected in Iraq that has ties to the United States to have any credibility. This Administration would like to run Iraq by remote control. But it is clear that is not going to happen, because the clerics in Iraq are already insisting on free and open elections, and they are not going to accept any structure allowing the United States to maintain its influence over Iraq.

Kucinich also called on Americans to pay war reparations to the families of Iraqi non combatants.

“What are we waiting for? We know full well the path we must take: not only restoring Iraq by paying for what we blew up, but also by providing reparations to those families of innocent civilian non-combatants who were killed by our action,” Kucinich release stated.”

Kucinich sees the war in Iraq taking away from America’s social agenda.

“I know this is not the only issue in America. But let me tell you something. The longer we stay in Iraq, the higher the casualties. The longer we stay in Iraq, the more money it is going to cost. And the money we spend in Iraq is money taken away from education, away from health care, away from housing, away from a whole social and economic agenda.”

“Don't believe for a second that our presence in Iraq isn't going to sap the vitality of this nation. It is going to undermine our own agenda here at home. It is urgent that we get out.” (12/19/2003)

Kucinich comes in peace

Dennis Kucinich will bring his message of peace to President Bush's former home, Austin, Texas, in Kucinich's first major campaign stop of 2004. On January 2nd, there will be a reception at 6:30 p.m. followed by dinner at Barr Mansion & Artisan Ballroom with special guests Mimi Kennedy and James Cromwell, and entertainment by Tish Hinojosa and Libby Kirkpatrick.

On January 3rd at 8 p.m. there will be a fundraising concert at the Austin Music Hall with Kucinich endorsers Willie Nelson, Tim Reynolds, Michelle Shocked, and Pat Simmons of the Doobie Brothers along with Jim Hightower, Bonnie Raitt, Tish Hinojosa, and Michael McDonald. There will be a post-performance artist's reception at La Zona Rosa, 4th St. and Rio Grande, immediately following the concert.

Jim Hightower is a new addition to the list of participants and a well-known national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and progressive organizer and agitator, as well as being an Austin resident. Twice elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Hightower has authored numerous books, including the recent Thieves In High Places: They've Stolen Our Country And It's Time To Take It Back, a New York Times Best-Seller. His previous books include If the Gods Had Meant Us To Vote, They Would Have Given Us Candidates; and There's Nothing In the Middle Of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos.

Classic blue eyed soul vocalist Michael McDonald, Doobie Brothers' lead singer Pat Simmons, actors Mimi Kennedy ("Dharma & Greg"), and James Cromwell (Babe, "Six Feet Under"), and award winning singer-songwriter Libby Kirkpatrick are also new editions to this weekend extravaganza. (12/20/2003)

"I'm saying we should bring the troops home as soon as possible," he [Dennis Kucinich] said. "We'll bring (United Nations) peacekeepers in and bring our troops home" 90 days after U.N. approval of the changeover, he said.” -- writes The Des Moines Register. (12/20/2003)

Does Uncle Sam want you?

Dennis Kucinich says that there is going to be a proposal for a draft and he is going to oppose it. Kucinich campaigning in Des Moines stated loud and clear that he believes because of the on going war in Iraq that the Bush administration is going to reinstate the draft.

According to the Des Moines Register, "The truth of the matter is . . . if we stay at war in Iraq, and we start to expand the United States' activities, which this administration is planning on, we are looking at a draft," Kucinich said. He spoke at a town hall meeting attended by about 100 people at Creative Visions, a nonprofit social services agency on the city's north side.

"I want everyone to hear me loud and clear on this. I will do every- thing that I can to stop any kind of a draft based on our presence in Iraq. I want to get out of Iraq and leave our kids to pursue their college education instead of dragging them onto a battlefield where we shouldn't even be," Kucinich said. (12/21/2003)

Kucinich profile

The New York Times has a profile of Democrat presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich remains more than a lightweight in this political race. While Carol Mosley Braun wants respect and Al Sharpton wants a stronger voice for Blacks, Kucinich is becoming a liberal iconoclast. The reason could well be his strength of belief in liberalism’s core principles:

Despite whatever dark ideas, at long last, might be taking shape in Kucinich's mind about his odds, he has lost none of his optimistic flourishes. ''The whole world is waiting for an American president who will heal the wounds that have occurred,'' he says. ''We're on the threshold of a new era, where fear ends and hope begins!''

The Times reports the candidate is energized by his visits to California and being around other liberals. He also inspires the liberals in his speeches:

Optimism is central to the candidate's platform. His mantra regarding the war is ''U.N. in, U.S. out!'' He says he believes strongly that ''by eliminating Halliburton sweetheart deals'' and offering the U.N. sway over contracts, the international body is ready and able to slug its way back into the Sunni triangle. On the domestic side, he rails against corporate corruption at the slightest opportunity and favors single-payer health care, free and universal pre-kindergarten, free and universal college tuition at state schools. His pet project is the creation of a Department of Peace, which would redirect 1 percent of the Pentagon budget to somehow foster principles of nonviolence from the domestic level all the way into foreign policy. In one typical speech last month, he said, ''I am running for president of the United States to enable the goddess of peace to encircle within her arms all the children of this country and all the children of the world.''

The Times goes into the question of the image of Kucinich and what is his appeal:

[Douglas] Brinkley's take on Dennis Kucinich is not optimistic. ''He's a product of a 1960's version of masculinity,'' he says, ''when heroic males were people like John Lennon and Bob Dylan. It was a kind of gender-blend -- and a countercultural one. But the counterculture doesn't elect presidents; the culture still does.''

Does Kucinich see himself as on the fringe?

''The point is, I have a genuine, mainstream message,'' he adds, by all evidence believing this. ''There's no question that if I get coverage, I'll rise in the polls. And interestingly, the lack of media coverage has started to become such an issue that the media is covering it!''  (12/22/2003)

Kucinich: uses alternative media

Dennis Kucinich may be shut out of traditional media due to horse race coverage but he is finding a voice in alternative media. There he frequently rails against media monopolies. In California, he recently commented on relations South of the border on Spanish television there. It was carried by the Berkeley Daily:

Beatriz Ferrari, with Spanish language television network Univision asked Kucinich his view on U.S.-Mexico relations. “I propose to ‘take down the wall’ and encourage a new cooperation between Mexico and the United Sates,” he said. This would include canceling the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which only decreases wages for workers under threats of moving jobs overseas, Kucinich said. He would instead replace NAFTA with bilateral trade agreements, which take into consideration workers’ rights, human rights and environmental principles.

Kucinich also supports amnesty for millions of undocumented workers. For too long these “immigrants have been used to reinforce the wealth of private companies while being relegated to second class citizens,” he said. The workers are exploited as cheap labor and if they complain, companies only need to threaten to report their status to immigration officials. “We must change this system,” he cried. Additionally Kucinich said that he supports the controversial measure to offer drivers’ licenses to undocumented immigrants. (12/23/2003)

Kucinich makes mainline seem groovy

The LA Times reported on Dennis Kucinich campaigning in Malibu. The headline was “Kucinich Vibrations Feel Good to Malibu Crowd.”  Here is a part of the account:

In a 10-minute speech, the 57-year-old Ohio lawmaker incorporated Simon & Garfunkel and the Hindu gods Vishnu and Shiva, along with a ringing call for the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq. "My presidency will be about the end of fear and the beginning of hope in this country," Kucinich said in remarks that urged the replacement of American troops with U.N. forces… With a crowd of about 150 whooping and rising to its feet, Kucinich advocated universal health care and slashing the nation's defense budget to better fund education. (12/23/2003)

Kucinich’s new ad

Danny Glover stars in the latest TV ad for Dennis Kucinich. The ads will be previewed on Jan. 4th in Iowa before the Iowa Debate. The ads are to be placed in Iowa, New Hampshire and Washington D.C.

The TV ads, which include 30-, 20-, and 15-second versions, are all variations on the theme "Fear Ends. Hope Begins." In the ad available for viewing today, Glover says: "Fear ends. Hope begins. Listen up, young America. If pre-emptive war continues to drive our foreign policy, if our volunteer troops are stretched thinner and thinner, you could be facing compulsory draft. All young Americans deserve a world without end -- not a war without end. Kucinich for President! The eyes that see through the lies!" As Glover finishes these remarks, the camera zooms in on Kucinich's eyes in a photograph before cutting to a video of Kucinich saying: "I'm Dennis Kucinich, and I'm running for president. Do I approve this commercial? You bet!"

The ads will begin airing in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C., on January 4. Details on the purchases of ad time will be available at the January 4th event in Iowa. Kucinich is also going with billboards in Des Moines, Iowa. The Kucinich campaign put up eleven billboards in Des Moines, making it the first campaign to use billboards in Iowa. The billboards contain the following messages, in addition to "Dennis Kucinich for President": "Support Our Troops... Bring Them Home," "Support Workers and Farmers... Cancel NAFTA and WTO," "Health Care... Not Warfare."

It is reported that Kucinich’s presidential campaign has raised about $4.5 million. (12/24/2003)

Kucinich civil liberties

The Washington Post reports Rep. Dennis Kucinich is using civil liberties as his rallying cry for his campaign:

Civil liberties may seem an improbable rallying cry for a presidential campaign. But Kucinich is an improbable candidate for the highest office: a maverick who takes pride in challenging authority. The Bush administration, he tells all who will listen, is encroaching on citizens' privacy rights. "This administration has overreached in the area of civil liberties," he said. "Government shouldn't have that power. It's not consistent with what we are as a nation."

Kucinich continues to gain a following in certain circles and has gained more press coverage than the other bottom of the poll candidates -- Carol Mosley Braun and Al Sharpton. Clearly part of his appeal is his message:

"My candidacy really challenges the fear that has been promoted in this country," Kucinich said. "They have built up a climate of fear in this country. Fear itself is forcing us to sacrifice our liberties." (12/24/2003)

Kucinich releases peace

Dennis Kucinich offered a Christmas hope for peace and offered a plan for its achievement. Kucinich announced that he will be releasing a multi-part World Peace Initiative. The first piece, being released today, addresses the elimination of nuclear weapons through a 12-point program. Today Kucinich released this statement:

"The holiday season is a time of common aspiration for peace on Earth, but this holiday season the Bush Administration is taking us in the opposite direction, undermining international efforts to stop the spread of nuclear arms. Our government is now developing new nuclear weapons. The Administration is putting the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in jeopardy, thereby increasing the likelihood of the use of nuclear weapons.

"According to an article published yesterday in the Los Angeles Times, diplomats and non-proliferation experts are saying that the Bush Administration's efforts to develop new nuclear weapons while simultaneously condemning such development by other countries creates a double standard which will undermine efforts to curb nuclear arms.

"In this season of peace, the Administration is conjuring nuclear war. This is why I feel it's imperative to announce the first part of a World Peace Initiative, one dealing with the threat of nuclear weapons to world peace."

World Peace Initiative

Part 1: Nuclear Weapons

As President, Dennis Kucinich will work to achieve the following steps to promote world peace:

1. Leading the way toward the complete elimination of nuclear weapons from the earth. Kucinich's goal as president will be a steady movement toward complete nuclear disarmament.

2. Renouncing first-strike policy. Kucinich will set aside the Bush Administration's Nuclear Posture Review, which is a strategy for nuclear proliferation. He will assure the world community that the United States will not be the first to use nuclear weapons.

3. Cancellation of all U.S. nuclear weapons programs. Kucinich will work to put an end to the development of any new nuclear weapons, to the manufacture of any nuclear weapons, and to any plans to test nuclear weapons.

4. Stopping the use of all depleted uranium munitions. Kucinich will order an end to the United States' use of depleted uranium munitions. He will lead an international effort to recover depleted uranium. He will promote environmental remediation. He will develop a program to provide care and restitution for people suffering as a result of the United States' use of depleted uranium munitions, nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons production, nuclear testing, and uranium mining.

5. Banning all nuclear weapons testing by the United States. Kucinich will enact a new policy banning nuclear testing and will work to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

6. Opening talks with all nuclear powers. Kucinich will begin new talks with Russia, China, Britain, France, India, Israel, and Pakistan to develop a plan aimed at the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The first step will be to suspend all "readiness" levels of nuclear weapons systems, including those of the United States.

7. Encouraging participation in the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. Kucinich will encourage all nations to actively participate in the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, and will meet personally with the leaders of India, Israel, and Pakistan to request that they sign as non-nuclear weapons states. He will also meet personally with Kim Jong Il to encourage North Korea to re-join the community of nations through reaffirming its participation as a non-nuclear weapons state.

8. Discouraging nations from acquiring nuclear weapons. Kucinich will work with the nations of North Korea, Iran, Algeria, Sudan, Syria, and others to discourage the acquisition of nuclear weapons capability.

9. Reinstating the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and Canceling the Ballistic Missile Defense. Kucinich will work with Russian President Vladimir Putin to reinstate the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The treaty prevents both the United States and Russia from developing nationwide ABM defense systems and limits employment of new ABM technologies. Consequently, the ballistic missile defense program will be cancelled.

10. Meeting all requirements of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. Kucinich will work to ensure that the United States leads the world again in fulfilling all requirements of the treaty. This means the United States must negotiate the complete elimination of its nuclear arsenal.

11. Committing to greatly expanding inspections. Kucinich will work with the 188 signatories of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and the International Atomic Energy Agency to greatly expand the use of inspections in all nations.

12. Leading an international effort to bring terrorists to justice. Kucinich will cause the United States to participate in a cooperative world effort to track down terrorists who are seeking to acquire nuclear weapons capability. (12/26/2003)

Kucinich qualifies

The Federal Election Commission said in a statement that Kucinich contributions from the following states were verified for threshold purposes of making Rep. Dennis Kucinich eligible for federal matching funds: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. (12/26/2003)

Delaware blues

Dennis Kucinich and Carol Moseley Braun failed to collect enough signatures to meet the filing deadline for Delaware's Feb. 3 primary but could appear on the ballot if they show they qualify for federal campaign funds.

Kucinich’s campaign plans to give state election officials a letter stating that he qualifies for federal matching funds, which would automatically place him on the Delaware ballot. The matching funds deadline is Jan. 7. The last word from Braun’s campaign was that they were having trouble filling out the reports. (12/26/2003)

Dept. of Peace

The Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial believes that Rep. Dennis Kucinich has a good idea in creating the Department of Peace:

Rep. Dennis Kucinich has been talking about a Department of Peace for nearly four years now, long before he started running for president. When the Cleveland congressman reintroduced his bill last April to create this Peace Department, to be paid for by an amount equal to 2 percent of the defense budget, he had 49 co-sponsors.

It's easy to wave off a Cabinet-level peace office as pie-in-the-sky kookiness, on a par with vegan lifestyles or 1960s flower power. But it's far from kooky. Peace is the wave of the future. The sooner we embrace it, the better off we'll be. (12/29/2003)

Love candidate

Patch Adams, the famous clown physician, dubbed Dennis Kucinich the love candidate during an appearance in Portsmouth, New Hampshire:

Adams said that, after a one-on-one evening meeting with Kucinich, he came away with a new label for the Ohio lawmaker: "The love candidate."

A love candidate, Adams said, would look at the discrepancy between the rich and the poor, would solidify the labor base and would get out of North American Free Trade Agreement and the World Trade Organization.

The "love candidate" would also invest huge amounts of money into schools and take away the tax cuts for the rich, he added.

"Thirty percent of those tax cuts could feed and clothe everyone on the planet," Adams said. "A love candidate would not break the bill of rights, but would defend it," Adams said. (12/29/2003)

Kucinich: Dean misrepresenting position

Dennis Kucinich is trying to get someone to take notice that Dean recently mailed brochures to homes in New Hampshire with a headline stating that Dean is the only candidate who 'opposed the war from the start. As everyone knows there is only one true opponent to the War and that is Kucinich. (12/30/2003)

Repeal provisions of Patriot Act

Kucinich will introduce legislation to repeal a section of the FY '04 Intelligence Authorization Act that expands powers granted to the federal government in the USA PATRIOT Act, allowing the government greater power to acquire financial records without judicial oversight from car dealers, pawnbrokers, travel agencies, and many other businesses. Traditional financial institutions like banks and credit unions are already subject to such demands, but this dramatic expansion of government authority will mean that records created by average citizens who purchase cars, plan vacations, or buy gifts will be subject to government seizure and analysis without the important requirements of probable cause or judicial review. This provision initially appeared in a leaked draft of the so-called "PATRIOT II", a proposal the American public and Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate rejected.

"If we allow this Administration to continue this trend of expanding governmental powers at the expense of our civil rights our very democracy is at stake. Today, I join with over 229 communities in 35 states that represent over 29 million citizens, that have passed resolutions opposed to the law, in standing up to this abuse of power. It is now clear the administration's strategy is to pass PATRIOT II in separate pieces with little public debate, in secret, and surreptitiously attached to other legislation. This is far from an appropriate or democratic way to handle issues that affect the fundamental liberties and freedoms of Americans." – Dennis Kucinich. (12/30/2003)

New Willie Nelson song performed for Kucinich

Willie Nelson, who has endorsed Dennis Kucinich for President and will lead a fundraising concert for Kucinich's campaign in Austin, Texas, on Jan. 3rd, wrote a new song on Christmas that he will perform in public for the first time at the Austin concert. The lyrics:

What Ever Happened To Peace On Earth

There's so many things going on in the world
Babies dying, mothers crying
How much oil is one human life worth
And what ever happened to peace on earth

We believe everything that they tell us
They're gonna' kill us, so we gotta' kill them first
But I remember a commandment, Thou shall not kill
How much is that soldier's life worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

(Bridge)

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me, not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

So I guess it's just
Do unto others before they do it to you
Let's just kill em' all and let God sort em' out
Is this what God wants us to do

(Repeat Bridge)

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me, not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

Now you probably won't hear this on your radio
Probably not on your local TV
But if there's a time, and if you're ever so inclined
You can always hear it from me
How much is one picker's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

But don't confuse caring for weakness
You can't put that label on me
The truth is my weapon of mass protection
And I believe truth sets you free

(Bridge)

And the bewildered herd is still believing
Everything we've been told from our birth
Hell they won't lie to me, not on my own damn TV
But how much is a liar's word worth
And whatever happened to peace on earth

Kucinich has planned various events in Austin, Texas, January 2nd and 3rd, including:

A fundraising concert at the Austin Music Hall with Kucinich Endorsers Willie Nelson, Tim Reynolds, Michelle Shocked, and the Doobie Brothers' Pat Simmons, along with Jim Hightower, Bonnie Raitt, Tish Hinojosa, and Michael McDonald. Following the show there will be an artist's reception at La Zona Rosa, 4th St. and Rio Grande.  (12/31/2003)

Kucinich meets with alternative media

Rep. Dennis Kucinich continues to be shunned by mainstream media but finds a welcome review in alternative media. The Kucinich campaign recently registered complaints with CNN regarding lack of coverage of Kucinich in the file archives. However, Black media is willing to sit down with the Kucinich campaign, according to a release on his website. Democratic Presidential Candidate Dennis J. Kucinich will host a meeting with the African-American media on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. ET, at Ben's Chili Bowl, 1213 U Street NW, Washington, D.C. Following the meeting, Kucinich will meet with residents of Campbell Heights Senior Citizens apartment complex at 2001 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C., to discuss their concerns and interests, including affordable housing, universal health coverage, and Social Security. Campbell Heights contains 175 apartments and an additional 48 family units of senior independent living quarters. The center is managed by Dr. Butler-Truesdale, a former member of the Washington D.C. Board of Education.  (12/31/2003)

Kucinich: war reparations

The Concord Monitor reports on Dennis Kucinich campaigning in New Hampshire:

Dennis Kucinich slipped off his black shoes on a chilly front porch last night and stepped into the foyer of a Beacon Street home. Inside, a vegetable buffet and nearly 100 people were waiting for him.

Kucinich sounded his strong theme of anti-war at the potluck:

"This administration wants to drum up this war as a perverted triumph," Kucinich said. "We have to address the issue of reparations for the families of innocent Iraqi people who have died." (12/31/2003)

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