Reply #10: Response [View All]

I do not know enough about Muny Light to comment, so I will take your word for the events in Cleveland.

Here now some paragraphs from the article:

"Both Kucinich's positions and his style are unconventional. He is the most vociferous opponent of the war in Iraq, and the most vociferous critic of the Bush administration's preemptive strike; and he has very atypical positions also about internal and economic affairs. While the other candidates have called warily for some kind of general health insurance for every citizen, Kucinich believes that the federal government should take charge of such insurance, an idea which Americans, who believe in a non-interventive administration, can hardly comprehend."

Would you call that a fair representation of DK?

"Moreover, at a time when Kerry and Edwards have barely touched on the subject of American trade agreements and their effect on the economy, Kucinich has a clear picture of what should be done: to pull immediately out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, the World Trade Organization and all other economic treaties to which Washington is a signatory."

Would you call that a fair representation of DK?

"The first thing Kucinich would do if he were elected president would be to pull the American troops out of Iraq and put UN forces there instead. In general, he believes the lesson to be learned from the Iraq war is that the U.S. has to give up the right it sees for itself to invade any country in the world."

Would you call that a fair representation of DK?

"Kucinich's idea for solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is based on the establishment of a Palestinian state as soon as possible. "If there is a Palestinian state, you will not have to occupy the territories," he says, but hastens to add that details must first be worked out."

Would you call that a fair representation of DK?

Yet you take this paragraph with the writer's lack of horse racing knowledge to dismiss an entire newspaper.

"I am in the race up to the convention. The nomination is not done until someone gives his acceptance speech and that moment has not arrived yet," he says. Comparing himself to the mythological horse who won the race despite all odds, Kucinich says: I am like Seabiscuit. I am in back now, but I have a strong finish."

DK made the comparison with Sea Biscuit, not the writer.

As for this paragraph: Which I gather you are referring to.

"The 56-year-old Kucinich does not look like a future president. He is short, dresses in unconventional clothes (some say sloppily), and is a vegan. Unlike the other candidates, he does not have a supportive wife at his side. Instead, he goes on highly publicized dates during the race, in the hope of winning not only the presidency but also true love."

Let me remind you that John Kennedy probably became President because he looked "more" Presidential during the debates of 1960 than did Richard Nixon. You may recall that people who "listened" to the debate actually thought Nixon did far better than Kennedy. Let me also remind you of that ride Michael Dukakis took in that tank with that goofy helmet on his head. That was not the highlight of his campaign. Like it or not appearance does count. It's a sick concept for sure, but it is reality. Let me also remind you that DK could have nixed the whole "Dating Game Show" foolishness any time he wanted to, yet he went happily along with it. As for what he eats. I don't give a rat's ass what his diet is like and unless I am wrong, it is his supporters that are making a big deal over it.

When and if you re-read the article, you will find that DK was treated a lot better than he has by writers in the US.

Knee jerk reactions usually come back to bite.