Dennis Kucinich

[[Image:E kucinich and husband.jpg|thumb|165px|right|Kucinich, with his ([[British]]) wife Elizabeth.]]{{uspolitics}}
'''Dennis Kucinich''' {{lived|1946}} is a former [[United States]] [[Congress]]man who represented [[Ohio]]'s 10<sup>th</sup> District, and a former mayor of [[Cleveland]]. He was among the most progressive members of the House and opposed the [[Iraq War]] from the beginning. But, alas, times have changed, and his progressiveness feels like it only existed a whole lifetime ago, in a land far far away, never to be seen again.

Kucinich lost his Congressional seat in the [[2012 United States presidential election]] due to [[gerrymandering]] by Ohio's [[Republican]]-controlled state legislature, who redistricted Ohio's seats in such a way as to force their two least favorite members of the Ohio delegation, Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur, to run against each other in the Democratic primary. Kaptur's Republican opponent in the 2012 general election was none other than [[Joe the Plumber]], whom she easily defeated.

Since leaving Congress, Kucinich has shifted towards conspiratorial views. In 2013, he became an analyst for [[Fox News]]<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2013/01/16/fox-news-hires-dennis-kucinich/ Fox News hires Dennis Kucinich]</ref> ([[irony|really]]), on which in 2015, he wrote an op-ed that warned Congress against giving the President Authorization for Use of Military Force powers against [[ISIS]] and advised supporters not to support Democrats who support war against ISIS.<ref>[http://radio.foxnews.com/2015/02/25/dennis-kucinichs-warning-to-congress-about-isis/ Dennis Kucinich's Warning to Congress About ISIS]</ref> He has also become known for repeatedly defending Syrian dictator [[Bashar al-Assad]]<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/26/dennis-kucinich-assad-syria-paid-speech-ohio-governor-primary Democrat's paid speech to pro-Assad group thrusts Syria into Ohio primary] ''The Guardian'' Ben Jacobs 26 april 2018</ref>. After two more failed bids - for governor of Ohio in 2018, and for his old position of mayor of Cleveland in 2021 - in both of which he failed to make it out of the primary, he resurfaced in 2023 as the campaign manager for the presidential bid of [[anti-vaccine]] conspiracy theorist [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]].<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/robert-kennedy-jr-names-dennis-kucinich-2024-campaign-manager-rcna85177 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. names Dennis Kucinich as 2024 campaign manager] ''NBC'' Alex Seitz-Wald and Henry J. Gomez 18 may 2023</ref>
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==2008 Presidential platform==
On December 11, 2006, in a speech delivered at Cleveland City Hall, Kucinich announced he would seek the nomination of the [[Democrat]]ic Party for President in 2008. His platform for 2008 included:

*Creating a single-payer system of [[universal health care]] that provides full coverage for all Americans with the passage of the United States National Health Insurance Act.
*The immediate, phased withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq, replacing them with an international security force.
*Guaranteed quality education for all, including free pre-kindergarten and college for all who want it.
*Immediate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and [[NAFTA|North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)]].
*Repealing the [[USA PATRIOT Act]].
*Fostering a world of international cooperation.
*Abolishing the [[death penalty]].
*Environmental renewal and [[Renewable energy|clean energy]].
*Preventing the privatization of [[Social Security]].
*Providing full Social Security benefits at age 65.
*Creating a cabinet-level "Department of Peace" 
*Ratifying the ABM Treaty and the [[Kyoto Protocol]].
*Introducing reforms to bring about [[Instant Runoff Voting]].
*Protecting a [[pro-choice|woman's right to choose]] while decreasing the number of [[abortion]]s performed in the U.S through indirect measures which will make abortions less of a necessity.
*Ending the [[War on Drugs]].
*Legalizing [[same-sex marriage]].
*Creating a balance between workers and corporations.  
*Ending the [[H1-B Visa|H1-B]] and L-1 visa Programs. (Does that mean banning immigration?)
*Restoring rural communities and family farms.
*Strengthening [[gun control]].

However, he dropped out of the race on January 24, 2008, largely because he was considered way too short to be taken seriously.

==Let's impeach the president for lying==
{{main|Impeachment}}
On June 9 2008, Kucinich gave notice of his intention to introduce 35 articles of [[impeach]]ment against President [[George W. Bush]] on the floor of the House of Representatives.<ref name="PelosisTable">[https://archive.is/mbYGB Rep. Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution], Associated Press via MSNBC, 9 June 2008.</ref> He officially offered his resolution the next day and the Clerk spent just under four hours reading the resolution into the House record. After the Clerk had finished reading the resolution, Kucinich moved to refer the resolution to the House Judiciary Committee.

Calling it "a sworn duty" of Congress to act, Robert Wexler co-sponsored, and signed on June 10 2008, Kucinich's Articles of impeachment for President Bush, and stated: "President Bush deliberately created a massive [[propaganda]] campaign to sell the war in Iraq to the American people and the charges detailed in this impeachment resolution indicate an unprecedented abuse of executive power."<ref>Laurie Kellman, [https://archive.is/ezTHR U.S. Rep. Wexler calling for impeachment of President Bush]. Associated Press via Sun-Sentinel, 11 June 2008.</ref> Democratic leaders Steny Hoyer and [[Nancy Pelosi]] opposed it and Pelosi announced that "she would not support a resolution calling for Bush's impeachment, saying such a move was [[Iron law of institutions|unlikely to succeed and would be divisive]]."<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/kucinich.impeach/ Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution]. ''CNN'', 11 June 2008.</ref>

Of course, the bill went nowhere, and Big Corporate Liberal Media ignored it. Kucinich also called for [[Obama]] to be impeached for bombing [[Libya]] without Congressional approval. The Big Corporate Liberal Media ignored that one too.

==Moonbattery, wingnuttery and assorted other weird shit==
{{main|1=Wingnut|3=Moonbat}}
On the other hand:
*Dennis Kucinich had a 100% "[[pro-life]]" voting record until 2004 when he suddenly reversed position and became [[pro-choice]] at the same time he announced his first run for the Democratic nomination for president.  Must be, like, a coincidence?
*He claimed to have had an encounter with a [[UFO]] ''during'' a political debate.<ref>[https://www.cleveland.com/openers/2007/10/kucinich_at_debate_i_did_see_a.html Kucinich at debate: "I did" see a UFO] Jean Dubail ''Cleveland.com'' 31 October 2007</ref>
*After losing his re-election bid as Mayor of Cleveland — over a refusal to allow private takeover of a Cleveland Public Power by banks holding municipal debt (a position for which he was later vindicated), he briefly went to live with [[New Age]] woo-meister [[Shirley MacLaine]].
*He has [[tinfoil hat|introduced bills to ban]] exotic "[[radiation]], electromagnetic, psychotronic, sonic, laser, or other energies… for the purpose of information war, mood management, or [[mind control]] of such populations" and "[[chemtrails]]".
*Fun quotes from Dennis:

{{quotebox|The [[Subtle energy|energy]] of the [[star]]s becomes us. We become the energy of the stars. Stardust and [[spirit]] unite and we begin: one with the [[universe]], whole and [[holy]]. From one source, endless creative energy, bursting forth, kinetic, elemental; we, the [[Alchemy|earth, air, water and fire]]-source of nearly fifteen billion years of cosmic spiraling.<ref>William Saletan and Avi Zenilman, [https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2003/10/the-gaffes-of-dennis-kucinich.html The Gaffes of Dennis Kucinich]. ''Slate'', 3 October 2003.</ref>}}

{{quotebox|In our [[soul]]'s Magnificent, we become conscious of the cosmos within us. We hear the [[music]] of peace, we hear the music of cooperation, we hear music of love. In our soul's forgetting, we become unconscious of our cosmic birthright, blighted with disharmony, disunity, torn asunder from the stars in a disaster.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050206205325/http://www.newconnexion.net/article/09-02/kucinich.html Spirit and Stardust]. Archived from ''New Connection'', September 2002.</ref>}}

*It is also remarkable that he has only sponsored ''three'' pieces of legislation that have actually passed.<ref>Alex Koppleman, [http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/10/kos_kucinich The liberal case against Dennis Kucinich]. ''Salon'', 10 March 2010.</ref> They involved allowing [[Ukrainian]] TV access to an American program, naming a Cleveland post office, and naming a dead man an honorary citizen of the US. He is possibly the least effective legislator of all time.
*Becoming a [[Fox News]] contributor.<ref>[http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/fox-news-signs-dennis-kucinich-as-contributor_b162784 TVNEWSER:Fox News Signs Dennis Kucinich As Contributer]</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' has stated that he actually ''represents'' Fox.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2013/09/19/five-reasons-why-dennis-kucinich-does-represent-fox-news/ Five reasons why Dennis Kucinich DOES represent Fox News]</ref>
*As a Fox pundit, has adopted pro-[[Donald Trump]] views in recent years, such as e.g.:
**Cheering Trump's inauguration speech — the "American carnage" one;<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/01/dennis_kucinich_cheers_preside.html Dennis Kucinich cheers President Donald Trump]</ref>
**Believing that U.S. intelligence agencies forced [[Michael Flynn]] to resign as Trump's national security advisor;<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/02/ex-rep_dennis_kucinich_says_in.html Ex-Rep. Dennis Kucinich says intelligence community schemed against Michael Flynn]</ref>
**Agreeing to Trump's claim that [[Barack Obama]] spied on the Donald, while also claiming that Obama spied on him (Kucinich);<ref>[http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/351495-it-looks-like-obama-did-spy-on-trump-just-as-he-did-to-me It looks like Obama did spy on Trump, just as he apparently did to me]</ref>
**Believing that the "[[deep state]]" is trying to overthrow Trump, so the US are "under attack from within"<ref>[https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/05/18/kucinich_deep_state_trying_to_take_down_trump_our_country_is_under_attack_within.html Kucinich: "Deep State" Trying To Take Down Trump, "Our Country Is Under Attack Within"]</ref> ''(Spooky!)'';
**Criticising the Democrats for wanting to examine Trump's mental fitness;<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/04/kucinich-rips-dems-for-proposal-to-examine-trumps-mental-fitness.html Kucinich rips Dems for proposal to examine Trump's mental fitness.] Fox news, 4 July 2017 </ref>
:(In fact, his sister Teresa Sikorski, who like her brother had been a lifelong Democrat and has also always supported Dennis, even changed parties so she could vote for Trump in the primary, because he supposedly looks out for ordinary people, unlike [[Hillary]] and the Democrats; Dennis however wasn't that happy about her turning 
coat
 Republican.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-finds-some-unlikely-supporters-in-a-cleveland-suburb-but-can-he-build-on-that/2016/07/17/ebf7eb00-48f5-11e6-90a8-fb84201e0645_story.html She’s a lifelong Democrat who’s voting for Trump. And she’s Dennis Kucinich’s sister.]</ref>)
*He has also defended [[Syria]]'s [[dictator]] [[Bashar al-Assad]].<ref>[http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2017/01/former_rep_dennis_kucinich_aga.html Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich again meets with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:2008 US Presidential candidates]]
[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Former mayors]]
[[Category:Former United States Representatives]]
[[Category:Leftists who turned right with age]]
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[[Category:Political pundits]]
[[Category:Ufology]]
[[Category:United States politicians]]

Categories: 2008 US Presidential candidates, Conspiracy theorists, Former mayors, Former United States Representatives, Leftists who turned right with age, Living people, Murdochsphere, Ohio, Political pundits, Ufology, United States politicians