http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005 by the authors Tue, 19 Aug 2003 16:34:49 EDT http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-15389 Well, O, that's one interpretation of history. 15389@blogcritics.org Tue, 19 Aug 2003 16:34:49 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-15377 In 1977, he was elected mayor and inherited a giant mess. A previous administration had misspent tens of millions in bond funds, and the banks came to the young mayor in a power play, saying that unless he agreed to sell MUNY Light, the city's municipal electric utility, the banks would call in the loans and send the city into default. "They were trying to blackmail me," said Kucinich. Despite enormous pressure to sell the utility, Kucinich refused, and Cleveland went bankrupt. Everyone thought the boy mayor's political career was over. Even he thought that. But Kucinich prevailed. Even his harshest critics today admit that history has vindicated him, that he was right to refuse to sell MUNY Light. After a long hiatus, Kucinich returned to politics, first as a senator and then as a congressman. From Washington, D.C., he's led successful crusades for his district. He has kept hospitals open, saved a steel mill and changed rail traffic in Ohio neighborhoods. 15377@blogcritics.org Tue, 19 Aug 2003 15:26:32 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13803 Opportunism is not partial to any party or ideology 13803@blogcritics.org Sat, 26 Jul 2003 12:14:53 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13799 Jackson was once anti-abortion? It's not surprising, considering what an opportunistic buffoon he is. Like many lefties, I was snuckered by him in the 80s, to my everlasting regret. However (and this has nothing to do with Jackson), there is a difference I should have noted between sincerely changing your views over time as against turning on a dime to get elected, a la Kucinich. But it cuts both ways. Many Republicans made a sudden conversion to the pro-choice cause in the 90s to save their careers. And, of course, George Bush I became anti-choice in a minute so he could be Reagan's running mate in 1980. 13799@blogcritics.org Sat, 26 Jul 2003 11:14:57 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13779 Mike, I agree with you wholeheartedly, a rarity. If I dare push the point, would you say that same thing about Jesse Jackson, who similarly changed his opinion on abortion? 13779@blogcritics.org Sat, 26 Jul 2003 01:07:44 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13766 Thank you Mike - it's pretty fundamental. 13766@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 22:43:17 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13764 Anybody who switches on an issue like abortion is not to be trusted. It's one thing to change your mind about tax credits for microbusineses in downtown Newark or somesuch, but you have no credibility when you announce one day that abortion is murder, and the next that it is a private matter. Or vice versa. 13764@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 22:39:04 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13756 Kucinich wants us to think he's a racehorse. However, I question whether he's even fit for the glue factory. 13756@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 21:18:48 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13740 Mark - I can be uppity, but I am rarely snotty. You have to think you know something others don't to be snotty, and I don't know anything ;) Assplow: a word created by Eric, overused by me. Craig, I am not a Republican, but you have inspired me. 13740@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 17:33:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13736 Only assplows down't like "assplow" 13736@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 17:13:24 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13729 Dawn, I would have thought you would like Kucinich. I think Kucinich is a great candidate if you are a republican. If he gets the Dem nomination that will GUARANTEE that Bush will win the election. In all seriousness, I hope he disappears before he embarrasses the hell out of Northeast Ohio. I agree that "assplow" might be the funniest description for a human I have heard in a long time. 13729@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 15:46:03 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13724 i think somebody needs to start a new news network....something like fox but without the snottiness. i'd just love to see dawn doing commentary like this. "assplow" on network tv would be oh-so-funny. 13724@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 13:46:11 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13723 Quite 13723@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 13:44:27 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/25/111823.php#comment-13722 Kucinich is perhaps the most annoying and incompetent politician I have ever encountered. I find him offensive on every level and anyone who supports him is a grade A assplow. Do I make myself clear? 13722@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Jul 2003 13:42:28 EDT