Chris Floyd takes on Kucinich. "Progressive Front: Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant"

[Karmadillo]

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/1948-progressive-front-well-done-thou-good-and-faithful-servant.html#comments

Progressive Front: Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant
Written by Chris Floyd
Thursday, 25 March 2010 15:38

Dennis Kucinich is now reaping the reward for his high-profile bug-out on the Compulsory Corporate Profit Act of 2010, also known as "health care reform." And what a pearl of great price it is! Well worth selling out your heatedly avowed principles for! I mean, Mahatma Gandhi himself would traded his loincloth for a pinstripe suit to bag some bling like this! Check it out:

Dennis Kucinich the new face of Dem campaign committee.

That's right: Dennis is now fronting the big-time money-grubbing operations of party hacks! Just days ago, Kucinich was condemning the health care bill as a bad, tainted piece of pork:

"a giveaway to the insurance industry -- $70 billion a year, and no guarantees of any control over premiums, forcing people to buy private insurance. I just don't see that this bill is the solution."

But now, he's out there rattling the cup for the very ladlers of corporate pork he has been castigating for months, writing in the new donation pitch:

On Tuesday, I ... witnessed an historic ceremony in the White House, where President Obama signed health care reform into law. I am pleased to have played a role in helping make this important moment possible.

Salon's Alex Koppelman -- who just days ago was bashing the still-dissident Kucinich as a loony goon who is not only an "ineffective legislator" but also a pathetic spokesman for his own wacky causes -- now finds true Beltway savviness in the way Dennis has hooked up with party bigwigs to shake some loot from the rubes:

Under current circumstances, though, using Kucinich makes perfect sense. He can appeal to liberals who might not open their wallets for a lot of other members of Congress, and his seal of approval can be used in an effort to convince Democrats who think the reform legislation doesn't go far enough that they should stay active with the party this year anyway.

In other words, Kucinich is happily participating in a PR scam to perpetuate the corporatist party elite that has just -- for the umpteenth time -- betrayed the deepest hopes of its masochistic supporters. And for your real rootin', tootin', "fightin' progressives" like Koppelman, this is a good thing. Because it's smart. It's savvy. It's playing the game.

more...

[NeedleCast]

1. Now DK isn't far enough left, where will the fringe turn?!?

[blindpig]

5. 'fringe'?

Nice.

As far as I'm concerned DK jumped the shark in 2004 with his groveling speech at the Democratic Convention. His sole purpose has been to give 'hope' to those who hope for a 'leftier' Democratic Party. Pretty obvious now to all but the willfully blind that such a shift was never in the cards and to be honest that should have been apparent in 1968.

Where will they turn? Seems to me there are three options:

1) Turn away from politics, concentrate on 'self-improvement' and other navel gazing.

2)Sacrifice their principles and get on board. Go team!

3)Approach politics from outside of the mainstream dog and pony show, develop, a working class organization based upon peoples needs and justice and take on the ruling class on our terms.

[NeedleCast]

11. Yes, Fringe

For example, people that link to socalist independent in their sig-lines and who post things like this about Obama.

"I don't think that we, as socialists, could ask for better. This dude is doing for the Dems what what bush did for the Repubs"

[dionysus]

12. nice bust. i checked out that pathetic board once... good for a chuckle.

[blindpig]

16. Well good for you.

Improving the quality of you reading, that's a good thing.

'Fringe' relative to lovers of capitalism, no doubt.

[grantcart]

24. When offering condescending clap trap about yr pathetic anti Democratic discussion board

improving the quality of the written word it is recommended to write in correct English:

quote
Improving the quality of you reading, that's a good thing.
unquote

[scarletwoman]

33. Because YOU, Grantcart, would NEVER EVER make a typo in a post,

such as inadvertantly leaving off the "r" in "your".

I'm really amazed that you would stoop to making such a pathetic argument.

[happy_liberal]

23. I have learned a lot from Kucinich over the years

From his speech 'prayer for america' to every aspect of his presidential platform. I was so inspired I participated in his presidential campaigns both times, sending his message as far and wide as I could.

After working for and watching Kucinich over the years, I think he has a specific purpose to keep all the progressives in the Democratic fold and tell them to shut up and accept whatever the party is doing when the time comes. Remember Wellstone and what the powers that be usually do with people that stand up and they don't particularly like it? They like Kucinich. He serves a purpose for them whether he means to or not.

[dionysus]

8. they still got chavez, i suppose

;)

[EFerrari]

19. You say "fringe" like it's a bad thing. Frankly, I'll always be slightly left of

Richard Milhous Nixon, which is where the "fringe" starts today. :)

ETA: And the guy in my sig line favored anarchism. lol

[Orsino]

25. Fuck, yeah.

This "fringe" is right much more often. I wouldn't be too proud of being mainstream these days.

[truedelphi]

31. And someday maybe you'll

Ride in my Surrey "With the fringe on the top!"

Lots of Kucinich and other bumper stickers on this thing too.

geddy-uph!

[Nikki Stone1]

34. You mean the "fringe" that wanted a Medicare type program for everyone?

That fringe?

In the 1960s, we would have been considered fairly normal. It's not we who have moved left; it's the country that has moved right.

[Hannah Bell]

36. not the country. the country favors single-payer a/o medicare for all.

but some elements in the democratic party have.


Twice as many Americans back more government services and spending (even if this means a tax increase) as the number who support fewer services and reduced spending (National Elections Survey, 2004)

•71 percent think that taxes on corporations are too low (Gallup Poll, April 2007)


•77 percent think there is too much power concentrated in the hands of a few big companies (Pew Survey, 2004)


•84 percent of Americans think that big companies have too much power in Washington (Harris Poll, 2007)


•62 percent of Americans believe corporations make too much profit (Pew Survey, 2004)


•Just 38 percent agree with the statement, "Business corporations generally strike a fair balance between making profits and serving the public interest" (Harris, 2007)


•Two-thirds of respondents think that "big business and big government work together against the people's interests" (Rasmussen Reports, 2009)


•Less than 15 percent of the population believes each of the following capitalist industries to be "generally honest and trustworthy": tobacco companies (3 percent); oil companies (3 percent); managed care companies/HMOs (5 percent); health insurance companies (7 percent); telephone companies (10 percent); life insurance companies (10 percent); online retailers (10 percent); pharmaceutical and drug companies (11 percent); car manufacturers (11 percent); airlines (11 percent); packaged food companies (12 percent); electric and gas utilities (15 percent) (Harris, November 2007)


•66 percent of Americans think taxes on upper-income people are too low (Gallup Poll, April 2007)


•59 percent are favorable toward unions, with just 29 percent unfavorable (Gallup Poll, 2006)


•74 percent agree with the statement "Labor unions are necessary to protect the working person" (Pew, 2004)


•A majority of voters think that the United States' "most urgent moral question" is either "greed and materialism" (33 percent) or "poverty and economic injustice" (31 percent). Just 16 percent identify abortion and 12 percent pick gay marriage as the nation's "most urgent moral question" (Zogby, 2004). Thus, nearly two-thirds (64 percent) of the population think that injustice and inequality are the nation's leading "moral issues" (Katherine Adams and Charles Derber, The New Feminized Majority, Paradigm, 2008)


•Just 29 percent support the expansion of government spending on "defense." By contrast, 79 percent support increased spending on health care, 69 percent support increased spending on education, and 69 percent support increased spending on Social Security (Chicago Council on Foreign Relations, "Global Views," 2004)


•64 percent would pay higher taxes to guarantee health care for all U.S. citizens (CNN Opinion Research Poll, May 2007)


•69 percent think it is the responsibility of the federal government to provide health coverage to all U.S. citizens (Gallup Poll, 2006)


•59 percent support a single-payer health insurance system (CBS/New York Times poll, January 2009)


•65 percent respond affirmatively to the following question: "Would you favor the government offering everyone a government-administered health insurance plan—something like the Medicare coverage that people 65 and over get—that would compete with private health insurance plans?" (CBS/New York Times, September 23, 2009)


•71 percent feel that we need "fundamental changes" or to have the U.S. health system "completely re-built," compared to 24 percent who wish only for "minor changes" (Pew Research Center, 2009)

http://www.zcommunications.org/to-save-the-capitalist-system-by-paul-street

[Enthusiast]

37. Thank you for that, Hannah Bell.

The media and corporate spokesmen everywhere reinforce the illusion that anything "left wing" is fringe and way out there. Your polls prove this to be untrue.

If we were to believe the M$M we would think the entire nation is out there with a tea party sign hatin' on Obama.

[bigtree]

2. sour grapes

The man has principles and ideas . . . and now he has a degree of influence and access to the WH. I don't see how this is necessarily a bad thing for the progressive agenda he's so eloquently and doggedly defended over the years.

K&U

[Fumesucker]

6. Eh.. he went from Kookinich to damn near sainthood in one day with the pragmatists.

I thought he had principles, all he has done now is further reinforce my cynicism.

Et tu, Dennis?

[bigtree]

10. meh

. . . sounds like you've become subject to the distortions about his character that you've attributed to 'pragmatists'.

Every politician in Congress brings their strongly held views to the political debate and works to hold forth and generate enough support for their ideas and initiatives to become part of law or put into action. The resulting legislation, however, is a result of an institutional 'pragmatism' which does not tend to afford any one viewpoint or agenda to dictate the legislative outcome - especially with so many diverse views represented there from so many disparate parts of the country. The congressman's identification of his own progressive agenda under the banner of the Democratic party, is, in and of itself, a pragmatism.

[Fumesucker]

13. He's now become a favorite of the pragmatists..

That's fine, just don't expect those of us who want someone a bit more principled to like it.

"No matter how cynical you get it's impossible to keep up." -Lily Tomlin

As I said, my cynicism has increased noticeably the last few days, perhaps you think that's a good thing for our political culture, I don't.

[bigtree]

17. I actually see cynicism in general diminished, at least for a time

. . . by the legislative victory and the real time benefits anticipated to result from that legislative success achieved by our Democratic party. I don't personally see any value or sense in remaining (or growing) cynical in the face of these legislative advancements. The only remedy for those committed to a different or enhanced health reform is to remain engaged and positive about our ability to influence the political debate.

We also need to carry our concerns, in a positive manner, into our primary election season, in order to ensure we have legislators, like Rep. Kucinich, who are willing to remain engaged in the continuing political process until they prevail.The congressman, correctly, voted to allow the political process of reform our party initiated to continue.

[Fumesucker]

21. These events have increased cynicism in that it is obviously impossible to believe politicians

When they tell you they are for or against a given set of policies..

What is the point of voting for someone if you have no idea what policies they are going to oppose or support?

Of course, if all you care about is whether your side get a "win" or not then I guess you won't be more cynical.

[bigtree]

22. I can qualify the things I believe are successes in the bill

. . . specific provisions; many of which were certainly the subject of discussion in the past campaign, and, in the President's pre-passage proposals as well.

[fascisthunter]

3. you'll have to try harder

[NNN0LHI]

4. This crap is aimed at those who do most of their thinking from below the waist

Sorry Pink, I ain't falling for your stupidity.

Don

[dionysus]

7. ROFL.. your God is Dead now eh?

:spray:

don't worry... you've still got 'ol ralphie!

:rofl:

[pampango]

9. Role reversal at DU: DK's defenders now doubt; his doubters now defend.

Could be that he (like all of us) was never as "good" or "bad" as he was portrayed.

[NNN0LHI]

14. I can't wait to see what the guy who gave us Samuel Alito has to say about HCR

Ralphs been pretty quiet so far.

Don

[EFerrari]

18. Ralph did a whole hour with Dennis on Amy's show

the day after DK signed on to the insurance company bail out.

[Ikonoklast]

20. He lost his funding.

The Republican money went to Dick Armey and his Dick Army.

[Fumesucker]

15. Could it be that we were just insufficiently cynical?

I know that every time in my life I've been blindsided it's from not being cynical enough and trying to think the best of people.

[FreedomForAll159]

28. "Could be that he (like all of us) was never as "good" or "bad" as he was portrayed."

Didn't you get the "Dennis is Evil Incarnate tm!" memo?

Here you go

Now

Shhhhhhh ;-)

[Greyhound]

26. Please, did you see the video of his statement following "the meeting"?

Due to the purposeful "blundering" of this corporate administration, he was presented with the binary choice they wanted. Do you stand up for what you know to be right, or do you sink the Presidency? He clearly stated that he still thinks this law is a disaster that will hurt the nation far more than it will help anybody


This is one of the issues where DK & disagree, he is a faithful Democrat and when push comes to shove he sides with the party. He's still the best rep in the House, IMO.

[MisterP]

27. he has, alas, been led into the "veal pen"

this is also why leftists (not "glorious consensus" center-liberals and conservadem centrists) are so fractious: they're not "safe," and they don't let something slide: they pile up good and bad, and if someone's bad enough (though this criterion varies from person to person, and between New Dealers/Societiers, New Lefties, socialists, ortho-Marxists, Marcusians, Trotskyists, liberation theologists, etc.) they drop the candidate for a new one. That's why Tammany arguments of voting someone in to get a bone or a kickback, or that anyone criticizing the party has betrayed the country and themselves, just don't fly with them: obedience, sycophancy, and gratitude are virtues only to authoritarians, Jim Crow, and the town elders of Pleasantville.
Kucinich seems broken, and that's what depresses me the most about the caving: "sure it's a bad bill (even if we polished to a glossy shine)--but do you want to be the TIE-BREAKER/SPOILER?!" is an argument that shouldn't work on an adult politician

[DCKit]

29. Yeah, but it's still gonna suck for the DNC/DLC when his people put him back in.

The people of his district know he's fighting daily on their behalf and not for the 1% who benefit under fascism.

The (D)-corporate and (R)s are going to blow a wad for naught. He's not been wrong and has supporters all over the country. Unless they've got the electronic voting sewed up.

Not a huge fan of some of his views, but I'd rather live in his world, in a heartbeat, than BushCo's*.

[mzmolly]

30. Indeed. Well done! Kucinich is a servant of the people and he voted to save

45 thousand lives annually. It seems some believed Dennis would "serve"their impossible, lie driven agenda, at the peril of Americans?

[EFerrari]

35. A peril which won't go into effect for four years, hopefully!

[unkachuck]

32. right on, Mr. Floyd....

....and they expect us to go forth, support and defend, this limp-dick piece of legislation that won't even kick-in for four years....baby, I've been de-energized....

....'socialism' for greed on wall street, banking and insurance is fine, 'socialism' to save American lives is forbidden....

....let those who love this corporate welfare bill support and defend it....let wall street do it, since they are the ones that are still scamming a needless slice of every precious healthcare dollar....

....as for Dennis, I'm ashamed....