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Let the Forum Begin |
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The forum is about to start, and the big crowd is almost to their seats. I had the opportunity to ask union members in the audience what they’d like the candidates to discuss. Ron from Oak Park, Ill., a member of Local 608 of the Letter Carriers, said he’d like to see the forum focus on domestic issues. Specifically, he’d like to hear their solutions on how to deal with the increasingly “prohibitive” cost of higher education in this country.
Cindy, a nurse from the Chicago area, says she’s seen too many people come into the hospital without insurance. Patients without coverage “don’t get the care” they need, she said, and they leave the hospital earlier than they should.
Several members of AFGE Local 1395 talked to me about the consequences of outsourcing critical government work to private contractors. They also would like to hear what the candidates will do to stop social security privatization. Robin, a registered nurse, said she wants the freedom to form unions strengthened with passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. In fact, it looks like several of the candidates coming out now are wearing Employee Free Choice Act stickers. Several other nurses mentioned the Respect Act and Safe Staffing Act as their top priorities.Stay tuned for more coverage of the AFL-CIO Presidential Candidates Forum from Soldier Field.
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Cindy is absolutely right. The number of uninsured and insured is staggering - America has the worst medical care of any Western country. This question should definitely be on the agenda tonight, and although I can’t be in Chicago tonight, I look forward to hearing what they say!
Dennis Kucinich
In boxing…there is a term commonly used to describe the single best fighter in any given weight class. “POUND-FOR-POUND” is the term…and, I have to tell you…in three of the last four debates, I can only describe the performances of Dennis Kucinich as making him POUND-FOR-POUND…the BEST Candidate ON ANY STAGE.
Prior to the start of this debate…Kucinich was the easy choice of anyone associated with the Peace Movement, because NO ONE ELSE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE of this race wants to even be CALLED, “The Peace Candidate”.
After TONIGHT…LABOR has not only found itself a New Candidate and “Shining Star”…but also someone who…IF THE ORGANIZED LABOR MOVEMENT DOES WHAT IT SAYS IT IS WILLING TO DO…and GET IN BEHIND SOMEONE RIGHT NOW…in Iowa, New Hampshire, and EVERY ONE of the former Industrialized States of the Northeast, Mid-east, Midwest, Northwest, and California…I am prepared FOR THE FIRST TIME to suggest that Dennis Kucinich CAN BE A LEGITIMATE CANDIDATE for this nomination.
It is UNCANNY, how history tends to repeat itself. In 1992…when I wrote that previously referred to speech for Jerry Brown…Brown ended up LITERALLY two weeks short of becoming the nominee of the Democratic Party. Could Jerry have won a General Election in 1992? I don’t know…and probably not, given the recently Post-Reaganesque location of the political pendulum. However…the key point in my analogy is that at THAT time…the DNC (headed then by Ron Brown)…and virtually every Inside the Beltway Democratic Power Player had annointed THIS TIME, Bill Clinton as the nominee..while there was still a legitimate battle going on.
Internally…the DNC was attempting to strong arm ANYONE who even THOUGHT about coming out for Brown, by telling them…”EVEN IF HE CAN WIN THE NOMINATION…HE CAN’T WIN IN NOVEMBER.”
Now…even knowing the Mrs. Clinton CANNOT “win in November”…the same DNC (minus Ron Brown, of course)…want to AGAIN end the race before it begins…by attempting to minimize the ability of Dennis Kucinich (and all others) to be competitive in a General Election.
The political pendulum has swung, however, this time. And, with the performance which Dennis Kucinich gave tonight…the humor…the intensity…the power in his words which has been burgeoning with each and every debate…all I can say is…IF LABOR WANTS A CANDIDATE WHO WILL SCRAP NAFTA, SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO CREATE REAL MANUFACTURING AND HIGH PAYING JOBS IN THE UNITED STATES…AND WHO WILL APPOINT ADMINISTRATORS AND JUDGES WHO WILL BE SENSITIVE TO LABOR ISSUES AND WORKING AMERICANS…
Dennis Kucinich has CLEARLY established himself as the Candidate Labor MUST ADOPT…NOW.
Kucinich not only hit it out of the park, tonight…but fortunately…the bases were loaded when he came to the plate.
Kucinich answered EVERY QUESTION ASKED…and somehow managed to refrain from answering ones which were not asked of him. He was respectful, knowledgable, understanding, appreciative…and spoke with the wisdom, authority and vision which perhaps for the first time, CLEARLY established him as a viable Candidate and prospective leader of the most powerful nation on earth.
NOTE TO JOHN SWEENEY…
YOU FOUND HIM…NOW GET BEHIND HIM. THE IOWA STRAW POLL IS TOO IMPORTANT TO WASTE SUPPORTING JOHN EDWARDS. GET YOUR PEOPLE OUT NEXT WEEK IN IOWA, FOR KUCINICH. PUT HIM ON THE CHARTS AND INTO THE REAL GAME.
Note to Dennis Kucinich…
STOP SMIRKING WHEN YOU SCORE BIG! The people who look like they know what to do when they get into the end zone…are the people who ultimately score the most touchdowns…especially with the fans. I KNOW you haven’t BEEN THERE enough to know this…but, trust me, Dennis…John Edwards ONLY DOES ONE THING WELL…HE MAKES A POINT TO THE JURY…and manages to maintain his poker face. You’re on a roll Dennis…and closing in on a potential Endorsement. Make it easier for all of us to say yes. DON’T STOP BEING THE HUMBLE DENNIS WE KNOW AND LOVE…just because you made a funny…OR, even a GREAT POINT.
Assessment: “A+”
See FULL Presidential Forum Commentary by Lionus at:
www.myspace.com/lionusunleashed
LionusUnleashed said, RE: Dennis Kucinich
“”"In boxing…there is a term commonly used to describe the single best fighter in any given weight class. “POUND-FOR-POUND” is the term…and, I have to tell you…in three of the last four debates, I can only describe the performances of Dennis Kucinich as making him POUND-FOR-POUND…the BEST Candidate ON ANY STAGE.”"”
I like that analogy.
I have another analogy for you that IMO is equally accurate.
Hillary Clinton had the “Biggest Set of —–” on the stage.
IMO, all the Democrats present were great, but “Hillary’s my Girl”
Well said Lionsunleashed. Think our leaders are listening?