Kucinich Targets Convention

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0511-01.htm

so what do you guys think Kucinich can accomplish?

THE DEMOCRATS MUST DISAVOW THE POLICY OF MAINTAINING PERMANENT MILITARY BASES IN IRAQ

Look back on the Philippines around the turn of the 20th century: they were a coaling station for the navy, and that allowed us to keep a great presence in the Pacific. That's what Iraq is for the next few decades: our coaling station that gives us great presence in the Middle East. –Jay Garner, former US regent of Iraq

While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein. –Project for a New American Century

The people of Iraq are not likely to share this goal, and the US can impose it only by using repressive methods that will make Saddam look like Mother Teresa. There is a lot of room for argument about the best way to stabilize Iraq, but we must disavow the policy of permanent military conquest of the oil resource base and put our money into developing alternatives to oil. We have to do it eventually—let’s start now while it’s still an easy transition. Kucinich has been leading on this issue for two years.

KERRY DOESN’T NEED ANY MORE DELEGATES—HE NEEDS A PLATFORM REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF AVERAGE PEOPLE

Kerry should be running with a pledge of real universal health care, with no one left out. Sick people should not continue to be a cash crop for insurance companies. The Pew Foundation says that 82% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans prefer universal health care to the Bush tax cuts. If we can’t mobilize that kind of popular sentiment to make policy, what in heaven’s name is wrong with us?

We are already paying for universal health care—we just aren’t getting it.
--Dennis Kucinich

THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD STAND FOR AN END TO EXPORTING AMERICAN JOBS

We can have bilateral trade agreements conditioned on workers' rights, human rights, and environmental quality principles. This would provide security for American workers and for workers worldwide. Enough of telling displaced manufacturing workers to learn computers, and then sending those jobs away too. Nobody wins the race to the bottom!

With all the talk we’ve had about ‘electability,’ why continue to ignore the one issue which has the most appeal to so many people who are otherwise conservative?

The issue that I believe will put the Democratic candidate right over the top will be his condemnation of NAFTA/GATT, free trade, and his pledge to end our participation in the World Trade Organization. If he wants to win by a comfortable margin, all he has to do is that. The massive number of red states that voted for Bush last election will turn to blue, and he will waltz into the White House like a halfback who strolls untouched into the end zone. End of game. –Carl Worden, conservative Christian columnist for the Sierra Times, Bush voter in 2000.

BRING THESE ISSUES TO BOSTON!
CAST YOUR VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH!