Web Letters: When's the Idea Primary?

Those of us who support Congressman Dennis Kucinich for president find these kinds of columns very frustrating. Everything Borosage laments as being lacking in the campaigns of Clinton, Obama and Edwards can be found in the Kucinich campaign.

Kucinich has been tested. The multi-termed Congressman from Ohio has an outstanding voting record on the important issues of the day. His policies and proposals are rock-solid.

Dennis Kucinich not only favors national healthcare, Medicare for all, (compared to Edwards' national health INSURANCE plan), but he has joined with Congressman Conyers to actually sponsor such a bill, HR 676, now in the Congressional hopper. Kucinich has been advocating this approach for many years, he was ahead of public opinion in 2004, but now he's right in the mainstream, according to all polls on the issue. Kucinich has tagged as a "fault line" the struggle within the Democratic party to admit that private, for-profit health care plans are the sticking point in getting real health care for all Americans.

Kucinich voted against the 2002 Iraq War Resolution and every war-funding bill since then, obviating the necessity for an apology to anyone. Unlike his opponents, he has a detailed 12-point plan for getting us out of Iraq. He was the only presidential candidate to speak at the massive anti-war rally in DC in January. He's been given an award by Military Families Speak Out. He was ahead of the crowd in 2004 on this issue, and now he finds himself in the mainstream of public opinion.

Yes, "activists, particularly in the early primary states, should continue to demand more" of the three candidates you name. Better yet, those activists should turn their attention, and their efforts, to the Kucinich campaign. Check out his web page: Kucinich.US, to find his take on the issues you say we should be caring about, "our global strategy, our imperial commitments, our trade and investment policies, on how to make this economy work for working people, on how to meet threats, from Al Qaeda to climate change." No need for training, Dennis Kucinich is already on top of all those critical issues.

Jean Hay Bright

Dixmont, Maine

It is nothing short of astounding that so-called progressives write lunacy like this, when the perfect vision our country and the world lies right before our noses. I would argue that it is writers like this who ARE the problem, when they fail--for reasons unfathomable to me--to get behind the following vision and shout it from the rooftops:

I want to inspire America to take a new path, a different direction. I envision an America which has the capacity to reconnect with the heart of the world; an America which proceeds in the world optimistically and courageously. An America which understands that the world is interdependent, that it is interconnected, and that what we do today impacts future generations.

I want to break the shackles of fear which have deprived our citizens of rights. We need to change the way this country values humanity, so that instead of fear and lies, we can live our lives based on principles of peace and hope. We need to regain the trust of the American people and we need to have a government which trusts the American people.

It's time for America to resume its glorious journey; time to reject shrinking jobs and wages, disappearing savings and rights; time to reject the detour towards fear and greed. It's time to look out upon the world for friends, not enemies; time to counter the control of corporations over our politics, our economy, our resources, and mass media. It's time for those who have much to help those who have little, by maintaining a progressive tax structure.

It's time to tell the world that we wish to be their partner in peace, not their leader in war. Most of all, it is time for America to again be the land where dreams come true, because the government is on the side of its people.

Ten Key Issues 1. Universal Health Care 2. International Cooperation: US out of Iraq, UN in 3. Jobs and Withdrawal from NAFTA and WTO 4. Repeal of the "Patriot Act" 5. Guaranteed Quality Education, Pre-K Through College 6. Full Social Security Benefits at Age 65 7. Right-to-Choose, Privacy and Civil Rights 8. Balance Between Workers and Corporations 9. Environmental Renewal and Clean Energy 10. Restored Rural Communities and Family Farms

I mean, really, Robert, are you not familiar with the name Dennis Kucinich? The presidential candidate who wrote the above and stands behind it? Do you dislike this vision so much as to not even mention it? Are you paid by big corporations? Are you insane? How can you possibly justify NOT mentioning this vision, while bemoaning that there are no bold ideas out there?

This article is truly pathetic, and I would encourage the writer of it to go on a long sabbatical, and not come back until he gets his head screwed on straight.

For those who want to learn more about this most viable candidate, the one with the ideas, the one who speaks the truth over and over, the one who has done his homework, and the one who WILL be President if we pull our heads out of the dark places, I'd suggest having a look at http://www.votedennis.us.

Daniel Geery

Salt Lake City, Utah

There are no ideas on offer because the ideas that the Democrats have will not sell to the voting public.

So it's better to hide them!

It is what the left always does, in every country, at every election.

Alain Gadbois

Montreal, Canada

Great article!

Public interest and enthusiasm for the campaign is not sustainable going two whole years or more.

None of the candidate's ideas put forth so far is really anything but warmed over New Deal, or replays from the Anti-Vietnam time.

John D. Froelich
NA

Upper Darby, Pennsylvania