by David Burn | Feb 26, 2004 | Politics
Dennis Kucinich, the most radical elected official in America today, won the Democratic caucus on this small island in the Pacific this week. He took over 50% of the vote. According to news reports several lifelong Republicans and a number of Independents crossed over to the Democrats in order to vote for Dennis. Dennis also took 30% of the vote in the state as a whole, coming in second to Kerry. Thank you Hawaii for voting your hearts.
Illinois voters do not declare their party affiliation at the time of voter registration. Thus, our state’s Tuesday, March 16th Democratic Party primary is an “open primary.” You can walk up and declare at the voting place. I’m very pleased with this news (I called the elections bureau to confirm) and now plan to abandon my fiercely Independent stance in order to become a Radical Democrat and cast my vote for Dennis. At least for a day.
by David Burn | Feb 22, 2004 | Politics
Jane and John Kerry (in background) at protest for peace
There are men in American who love to hate Jane Fonda. I will not give them the service of a link, nor any further mention here. I will say being outspoken for peace demands integrity, honesty, and bravery especially during times of great national peril, as is any time during war.
by David Burn | Feb 19, 2004 | Politics
This map shows, by county, how well Bush and Gore fared in the 2000 Presidential election, an election Gore won by 500,000 popular votes. Only Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah had zero counties reporting for Gore. Alaska had one county that went to Gore. Anyway, it’s interesting to see who lives where. For other great maps, check out National Atlas dot gov.
by David Burn | Feb 12, 2004 | Politics
Once upon a time, I was a finely tuned political person. I worked on Capitol Hill for a leading wilderness concern, and I believed deeply in the importance of participating in our so-called democracy. Looking back, I may have gotten too close to the reality of the situation–that our nation is, in fact, an oligarchy–leading me to turn away from the overtly political and toward the personal, or spiritual. My new mantra became, “If you want to change the world, start by changing yourself.”
I did change myself. I exorcised the anger that threatened to destroy me. And while anger can clearly fuel one’s work, it makes it hard for people with opposing views (or similar views, for that matter) to accept anything you have to say. One thing I had to say, then and now, is political dissent is often generated from love. Love of country, in particular. Dennis Kucinich is coming from a place of love. That’s why he is so utterly remarkable.
I came of age in the midst of Ronald Reagan’s shenanigans. Now, we face more of the same from the Texas oilmen in possession of the White House. Thus, my political consciousness, and those of millions of Americans, is being re-ignited. It is time to act again, to speak out, and do whatever is necessary to dethrone this illegitimate would-be-king and his sycophantic court. For not only are foreign nations under attack, but our entire way of life, as granted in the Bill of Rights, is under attack.
Greenpeace is under attack for acts of civil disobedience off the shore of Florida. Protestors in Iowa are now under attack. Anybody who dares oppose King George and his idiot lawyer from Missouri could be next. At times like this is it crucial to know our nation’s history–the sickening facts and the noble truths. There’s a long history of dissent and an equally long history of attempts to quell it. Boston-based scholar Howard Zinn is the de-facto expert on these matters and I urge you to read or re-read his landmark book, A People’s History of The United States (shown below).
by David Burn | Jan 30, 2004 | Politics
I tuned in tonight to MSNBC for the entire 90-minute Democratic Presidential debate from Greenville, South Carolina. Dennis Kucinich, a congressman from Cleveland, Ohio (and the city’s former mayor) is my new candidate. I was for Howard Dean six months ago, although my support lacked true conviction. After Iowa, I began to believe a Kerry-Edwards ticket can deliver the much needed knock out blow come November. I still believe that combination is the country’s best bet for change at the executive level. Yet, tonight after paying close attention to all the candidates, I have new found respect for the free-speaking Rev. Al Sharpton of New York City and Dennis Kucinich.
Of course, Kucinich’s progressive views will not attract enough market share to put him in the Oval Office. I recognize that, but it bothers me not. I prefer to support and vote for the candidate I want to win, not the one I think has the best chance to win. After all, it’s an election, not a horse race.
During the last Presidential election, many progressives voted for Green Party nominee and consumer advocate, Ralph Nader. This outraged many liberal Democrats, as they accused Mr. Nader of stealing votes from their pal Al, which sadly led to the reign of George the Horrible. No. Al Gore lost the White House on his own accord. If more people wanted Gore to be President, they would have voted for him. It’s really that simple.
