It’s a source of constant amazement to me when I hear/read from Kucinich supporters what an incredible "leader" he is and what a horrible ripoff it is that the Democratic party leadership has not permitted the former presidential candidate’s pet issues to be included in the party’s platform. It may well be that the party leaders have a better perspective of the "leadership" qualities the diminutive politician actually possesses as opposed to the new age psycho-politics he’s been extolling to the "fruits and nuts" who make up most of his constituency.

Here’s the version of Dennis Kucinich’s single term as mayor of Cleveland that his air head supporters believe and preach —and what they leave out.

The story: Kucinich "was elected mayor on a promise that he would not sell off or privatize the beloved and trusted city-owned power system, though Cleveland was deeply in debt. Cleveland Magazine offered this summary: ’Kucinich refused to yield to bankers who gave him a choice: Sell the Municipal Light System to the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. or the city will go into default. ...’ When Kucinich refused to sell Muny Light, the banks took the unprecedented step of refusing to roll over the city’s debt, as is customary. Instead, they pushed the city into default. It turned out the banks were thoroughly interlocked with the private utility, CEI, which would have acquired monopoly status by taking over Muny Light. … By holding to his campaign promise and putting principle above politics, he lost his re-election bid and his political career was derailed. But today Kucinich stands vindicated for having confronted the Enron of his day, and for saving the municipal power company. ’There is little debate,’ wrote Cleveland Magazine in May 1996, ’over the value of Muny Light today. Now Cleveland Public Power, it is a proven asset to the city that between 1985 and 1995 saved its customers $195,148,520 over what they would have paid CEI.’" (Kucinich campaign Web site)

Reality check: Banks expect borrowers to show responsibility. Muny Light was one of Cleveland’s few remaining assets and had been losing money for a decade. The banks wanted the city to sell it to cover previous loans. As one bank director put it to Kucinich (in the Cleveland Magazine article Kucinich selectively quotes), "You have the opportunity to straighten up some of your house by selling your losing Muny Light plant. If you’re going to ask us to roll over these notes, you’ve got to show some financial responsibility." In exchange, the banks offered to throw in an extra $50 million loan.

Kucinich rejected the offer. He asked the banks to wait a few months to let him hold a special election on an income tax increase to pay off the loans. The banks said no. Kucinich then tried to force the tax increase in a last-minute city council session and was rebuffed. Cleveland Magazine concluded, "It was [Kucinich’s] love of confrontation that eventually forced him into this ultimate confrontation." The default made Cleveland a national laughingstock and led to Kucinich’s overwhelming re-election defeat. In 1995, a panel of 25 historians ranked him the seventh-worst mayor in American history.

Now, I ask you, would any sane citizen feel confident that their government is in capable hands with a man who, in the only executive position he held in his entire political career, somehow managed, in a single two-year term, to steer a major American city into default (the first major city to do so since the Great Depression? If you said yes, my advise to you would be to lay off the funny mushrooms.

Take it from someone who has been a lifelong resident of Cleveland, this country would be in better hands with Al Sharpton, let alone John Kerry. Thank your lucky stars.

Mickey McDonald Cleveland, OH

Reflections on Dennis’s speech

Wow! - Dennis was incredibly dynamic! That has got to be the best speech I’ve ever seen him do! Yet It was bittersweet.

When he was announced and came on the stage - the whole place cheered! All those people who wanted to vote their hearts but cowered under to the ABB lie spoke up. The atmosphere was electric!

Many Kucinich supporters displayed Kucinich signs - illegally smuggled in. Ironic, a day after one of our kind was dragged off the floor in handcuffs for unfurling a banner saying US out of Iraq.

He spoke of what we wanted. What the country wants. Displeasure over the illegal war in Iraq, realistic solutions to health care, ending outsourcing, NAFTA, and the exploitation of workers overseas which would have been GREAT!, were it not for the segways to party unity and support for John Kerry - as if Kerry stood for any of what people were cheering for. To pretend that Kerry didn’t stand for continuing the occupation for at least 4 more years and committing to having our kids come home in body bags for that period. A military draft and committing more US troops overseas. More “free trade” agreements with the resulting continued undermining of our economy and the loss of whole industries. The continued erosion of our civil liberties with more “patriot act” type laws - all things Dennis spoke against, but Kerry is for. You could see the disillusion on the faces of many of our delegates as the camera’s panned the crowd.

I was disappointed that he laid these issues on Bush’s lap, but brushed under the carpet that Kerry wants to continue and expand the worst of the Bush agenda. Acting as if Kerry would fix what we cared most about when Kerry will do the opposite.

I understand why he did it. Political survival and his belief that he can do the most good by working within Congress to further our agenda. And to an extent, he is correct. But is still seems dishonest.

During the speech I couldn’t help but reflect on another Kucinich supporters post - a woman who identified herself as the mother of draft age children and trying to find an excuse to support Kerry. She said that Kerry’s spouse seemed “nice” and she liked his record on voting for environmental issues. I couldn’t help but wondering if those environmental issues would be better served in the long run by having her kids around to fight for them, rather than fertilizing a 6 by 2 ½ plot of ground…

Shortly after, Al Sharpton spoke and said: “the only freedom we have is to elect John Kerry as president of the United States”. It reminded me of a Modern World cartoon that bashed homeland security “… freedom to, uh, uh…” the woman next to him says: “ free to display the flag!” and he says - “yeah that’s it!”. Such hypocrisy!

The two parties are in fact only one - the corporate party and the system is rigged. This election was also stolen, as it was in 2000. Only the public is being duped into thinking we are electing an improvement over Bush, when in fact Kerry is worse than Bush.

In a couple of hours, Kucinich delegates and probably a few others will lodge a protest vote by voting for Dennis - but it won’t make a difference. It will make news for a few days, but it will be forgotten - having no long term effect. In November, many Kucinich supporters will “hold their noses and vote”, while others will stay away and swear off politics forever - like 50% of the American public. Our country is on a fast track to what happened in Russia when it fell, corporate America having corrupted our political system and like a bacterial culture that is about to overgrow it’s culture medium, or a cancer, it is about to dump us for more fertile media. We are truly doomed.

Hey Charley — Yes - I too felt a kinship with the victims of psychological abuse in Guantanamo. I was sleep deprived and ordered to attend daily meetings at 7 am that were nothing but pressure to conform. They could have taped the first meeting and played it every morning for the rest of the week, and let me get some sleep. All the running to and fro across town to the progressive events, then to a meeting back at the hotel to see if we would change our vote. I kept attending the meetings, to have a voice, feeling that if I didn’t go, a decision would go forth, stating we were all in agreement, when we were not. And then, when I clearly had spelled out that the speech was to include the phrase "visionary for peace" our elected official reader chose to read this as "missionary for peace" which to me sends a completely different message. At least peace was mentioned, and for that, I should give thanks.

The entire event was scripted and choreographed like a Hollywood oscar presentation. I was pleased when they passed out the "hope" signs when Edwars spoke, but was chastised and told that it was too soon for hope and to put my sign down... I felt used as part of a charade to fool the public. I gave away my Thursday night credentials and didn’t go.

The one thing we differ on is that I had no trouble at all getting my pink into the hall - and on Wednesday, I was searched with wands and still managed to get my Tibetan bell in, to ring for Dennis’s speech! (It was in my backpack, and they seemed to concentrate their search on my person, rather than my possessions). I brought in extra pink scarves every night! It was amazing to me how many people left their scarves in their hotel rooms - and every night needed another one... These Kerry supporters no doubt have more souvenier DJK scarves than we, his delegates were left with! oh well — at least the word is out! Claire in Portland

Kucinich delegates feel voice wasn’t heard

BOSTON — Minnesota delegates for Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich suggested Thursday that they were misled into casting most of their nominating votes for John Kerry.

"I am feeling regretful," said Kucinich delegate Donna Cassutt, of Minneapolis. "We are committed to electing John Kerry ... but I was sent here to represent [Kucinich] people. It was not an easy decision."

Faith Kidder of Minneapolis, who helped coordinate the state Kucinich campaign, said she felt she was "strong-armed" into voting for Kerry.

"It’s an example of the hierarchical, top-down administration of the Kerry campaign," she said. "I won’t do anything on a campaign that treats people like this."

http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4902020.html

The game in Democracy is persuasion. If you are not getting your point across then you may have to temper your idealism with a bit of realism.

So don’t give up on the Democrats, for the scene is no different in the Nader camp either. Keep working at it. If you are right then the world will come around to you later if not sooner. Best wishes,

Syed Abbas Toronto

Charley, if you’re looking for a TRUE "democratic" party, you might look to the MN IP or the MN Greens. Neither party has been corrupted by corporate money.

In the end, it will take a third party to set the other 2 straight.