The Last Act

Yesterday, I took the Kucinich bumper sticker off my bumper. It was long past relevant (if it ever was) but neither Obama nor Clinton spoke as directly to my concerns so I continued to display my loyalty to Kucinich even as I knew I would vote for either Democrat. I have a long tradition of removing bumper stickers on the day after an election; it's a way of moving on regardless of the outcome.

My bumper looks pretty bare now, only a Veterans For Peace sticker on the driver's side. Kucinich's sticker isn't completely gone, though. His "2008" featured planet earth and a peace symbol in place of the zeros. I cut that part out and will put it in the corner of my back window. Kucinich may have been a political zero, but his ideas are worth remembering. That much of his campaign should never end.

Richardson-Kucinich 08

Or maybe Kucinich-Richardson as long as Richardson has a broad portfolio like the current VP. I don't think Dennis would make a good figure head like W., though. What I like about these two is their combination of ideas and accomplishment. Bill Richardson has done just about everything in government and policy. Kucinich has championed progressive policy in an overwhelmingly right-wing Congress. Richardson and Kucinich share core values about progressive economic and social policy. Both represent working-class America. Cleveland and New Mexico. Together for America. I like that.

Of the two, Richardson seems more the can-do guy who tackles problems and runs projects. Using the current model of Executive administration, that would make him VP. Kucinich is a strong policy advocate and a man who refused to sell a community asset in return for, which might be more suitable for the president. I've seen and heard Kucinich and Richardson speak. In both cases I was impressed.

None of this makes any difference since few candidates run as a team. It may well be that Richardson and Kucinich dislike each other or their egos get in the way. Together they could command poll numbers in the high single digits. Still, ideas and accomplishment...that sounds like a great platform for an aspiring national executive. Kucinich and Richardson offer more possibility in that direction than I see in any other candidates.

I will post this endorsement widely so that any potential voters anywhere who care what I think can make a fully informed decision.

An Early Choice

Funny how things work out. I studiously planned to pay little attention to presidential politics in 2007 since this is way, way early to be making any decisions. But then I met Dennis Kucinich. Actually, I met his wife, Elizabeth, first in early May when she came to town. I know some of the local contacts for the campaign and when I heard they were looking for cheap accommodations, I offered a vacant furnished rental unit for her use, an offer they quickly accepted. I attended one of the events where she spoke and was highly impressed. Elizabeth Kucinich is well spoken and did a good job of conveying her husband's ideals, which sound much like my own.

Last week, Kucinich himself came to Phoenix. During that visit, he met with about 30 of us from the various peace and justice organizations. Once again, I was impressed with what I heard. Not just his opposition to CheneyBush's Iraq fiasco but his recognition that the issue is more than the Iraq war, it's about renouncing war as an instrument of national policy. He's also for single payer health insurance and many other policies I believe would contribute to social and economic justice in this nation and the world.

Kucinich is viewed by the mainstream media as a hopeless long shot. They are probably right. After all, he is challenging what has been the bipartisan consensus underpinning American foreign policy for the past 60 years. Americans these days have no understanding of a world not dominated by our military and economic policies and are unlikely to respond to his challenge. The MSM are probably right--Dennis Kucinich will most likely not be even a long shot candidate this time next year.

Even so, I put a Kucinich bumper sticker on my truck, if for no other reason than I agree with much of what he says and to give his message what little visibility I can. I mean, when was the last time you saw a presidential candidate bumper sticker that included Peace Sign? That alone is worth the space on my bumper.

This year may be too early for a presidential campaign. It's never too early to re-think American militarism.