Kucinich: Democratic Congress Bids Up Bush on War!

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Democratic Congress Bids Up Bush on War!

Washington, Mar 30 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), strongly objecting to his own party’s policies to continue funding the war through 2009, released the following statement today:

“The Democratic Party is forfeiting the public’s trust with its unrelenting commitment to keep the war going when it obviously has the power to end it. Instead of passing the budget and keeping the war going through the middle of 2009, Congress should have rejected it.

“The Democrats have bought the war from an Administration that lied to get us there. They are letting the President know they don’t really plan on enforcing the troop withdrawal deadlines. They won’t even stand behind the party’s wrong-headed timeline, which keeps the causalities rising through 2008.

“Since the President will veto the supplemental bill, Congress has one last chance. It must send the clearest possible message to the President and the world by putting into place a real plan to end the war now. That plan is embodied in HR 1234.

“Within seven days, the House approved almost $300 billion for war between the supplemental appropriations bill and the budget resolution. The $195 billion in the budget resolution stands in stark contrast to the $93 billion for education, job training and social.

“Which is it? Does the Congress want to stop the surge and keep the war going? Does it want to end the war by continuing to fund it? The people will not take kindly to Democrats saying one thing and doing another.

“If the Democratic Party had told the American people last October, ‘Vote Democratic and we’ll keep the war going through the end of President Bush’s term,’ there would still be a Republican majority in Congress. But the Democrats led the American people to believe that they would end the war.”

Kucinich: Congress Subverts Will of American People

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Congress Subverts Will of American People

Washington, Mar 29 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 29) —Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today:

“Today the House will pass a budget which will fund the Iraq War far into 2009!

“The budget includes an extra $195 billion, mostly for military operations in Iraq. Anyone who thinks this Congress is trying to end the war had better think again because this budget signals we will be in Iraq for another two years or more, even though Congress has led the American people and the media to believe otherwise.

“Congress recently engaged in dubious debate about a non-binding surge resolution.

“Even though Congress had, and still has the authority to end the war now, we instead gave it new life with last week’s vote.

“Now $195 billion, on top of last week’s supplemental, means that close to $300 billion in a week has been approved to continue the war.

“This war has sacrificed the lives of our troops and innocent civilians.

“This war has advanced the interests of oil companies and contractors in the manner of a criminal enterprise.

“It has undermined our national honor and alienated friends around the world.

“When will Congress stand for truth and peace, and stop funding this war?”

Kucinich: Democratic Budget Keeps War Going Well Into 2009

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Democratic Budget Keeps War Going Well Into 2009

Washington, Mar 28 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 28) — In anticipation of tomorrow’s vote in the House of Representatives on the FY08 budget resolution, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) released the following statement:

“This budget should reflect the mandate the Democrats were given by the American people in November,” Kucinich said. “The Democrats’ budget does just the opposite: it paves the way for the President to get $195 billion in funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The President’s FY08 budget requests funding for the Iraq war well into 2009 and the Democrat budget accepts that timeline. On the most important issue of our time, we are falling right into line with the President’s plan for the war and his requests to fund it.

“The supplemental that just passed the House last week calls for a withdrawal of troops by August 2008. Why does the budget fund the war for perhaps an entire year past the withdrawal date in the supplemental? It appears that not only have some Democrats bought the war but they think they can win it when Bush has lost it.

“If we were serious about trying to stop the war, the budget would not contradict the supplemental. That is not what voters asked for in November of 2006.

“I will vote against the Democrats’ FY08 budget. We need to put an end to the funding of this misadventure in Iraq and instead invest the money in health care, education, job training, social services, seniors and the environment.

“The Democratic budget will push the total cost of the war to more than $800 billion. This budget does not end the war, it continues it.

“The American people want the war to end now, not in 2008, and not in 2009. The people want the war to end now."

Time for accountability.

Democrats if you want an end of the war, stop funding it. It is as simple as that. Passing these supplemental bills are nothing more than a victory for the republicans as they are showing the great division within the Democratic party. The most recent supplemental passed by the narrowest margin 218-212 and is guaranteed to be vetoed by the president. And in order to get the 218 votes they did receive, the party leaders had to bully the anti-war caucus and include add ons to essentially “buy” others votes.

What needs to be done is to vote on Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s proposed bill H.R. 1234. This bill calls for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops being replaced with a international security force. This is exactly what 70% of Americans want isn’t it? Withdrawal. End the War.

And as reality has it this bill would have very little chance to pass at 2/3 level, since anything that does pass at anything less will be vetoed. But it will accomplish one thing, and that is we will know where each and everyone of the congressmen stand on truly ending this war, and we can make our vote heard in 2008 by getting rid of who lied in 2006 using the anti-war platform.

It is time for accountability and until congresses voice is proportionate with the peoples voice this war will continue and sadly many more will die.

Tom Vilsack endorses Hillary Clinton.

Just a month after terminating his own campaign for President, former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack has endorsed Hillary Clinton. This actually took me as a surprise to hear this. Vilsack, who has voiced that the troops should be removed from Iraq immediately is in a sense a polar opposite to Hillary on the issue. Clinton voted for the war and to this day refuses to call her vote a mistake. If he was really wanting the troops to come home now, it would have been in his best interest to endorse Dennis Kucinich. Kucinich the 6 term congressman from Ohio voted against the war in Iraq and has voted against every appropriation, including being one of only 14 democrats to do so this past Friday.

Well I guess you can see Vilsack's thinking as he has now placed himself the front runner as vice president nominee if Clinton would secure the nomination. But it is a shame that to most in politics, personal gain means more that fighting the good fight.

Dennis Kucinich at the SEIU Presidential Forum

Dennis Kucinich speaking at the SEIU Presidential Forum in Las Vegas, Nevada on 3/24/2007.

Congress Votes to Continue Funding War

Congress passed supplemental bill by slightest of margains. The following article is from Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign website http://kucinich.us/

Congress Votes to Continue Funding War

Mar 23, 2007

The House today passed the controversial supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 1591, by a vote of 218 to 212, in Roll Call 186.

Congressman Kucinich voted NO. Standing firm with him were 13 Democrats: John Barrow [GA], Dan Boren [OK], Lincoln Davis [TN], Barbara Lee [CA], John Lewis [GA], Jim Marshall [GA], Jim Matheson [UT], Michael McNulty [NY], Michael Michaud [ME], Gene Taylor [MS], Maxine Waters [CA], Diane Watson [CA], and Lynn Woolsey [CA].

More on this will follow soon. The President has said he will veto any legislation tied to a timed withdrawal.

Congress Has The Power to Stop the War

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Congress Has The Power to Stop the War

Washington, Mar 23 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 23) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today:

“Four years ago Congress was told we have no alternative but to go to war. That was wrong. Now Congress is telling the American people we have no alternative but to continue the war and that by continuing the war for just another year or two, will then be able to end the war.

“War equals peace? I don’t think so.

“This war will achieve the momentum that is swept up into a momentum that is swept up into its tragic hold people of otherwise goodwill--who will vote to continue a war when they really want peace and when the American people want peace.

“I believe you cannot say that you are for peace and vote to keep this war going. You cannot say you are for peace and facilitate the theft of Iraqi oil. You cannot say you are for peace and give the President enough money not just to keep this war going, but to attack Iran if he so chooses.

“If you want peace, vote for peace now. If you want peace, stop funding this war. If you want peace, stand for the truth. What America must do and what Congress has the power to do is to stop the war now, use the money in the pipeline to bring the troops home, set in motion a diplomatic process that would involve the world community in moving into Iraq as our troops move out.

“We need to stand for peace. HR 1234 is the vehicle to do that.”

Ten Consequences of a “YES” Vote on the Iraq Supplemental

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Ten Consequences of a “YES” Vote on the Iraq Supplemental
10 Consequences of A “YES” Vote

Washington, Mar 22 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today:

Let’s speak of the consequences of a “Yes” vote on the Iraq supplemental.

10 Consequences of A “YES” Vote

1) Keep the war going through the end of President Bush’s term;
2) Provide money to fuel an attack on Iran;
3) Force the privatization of Iraqi oil;
4) Escalate the insurgency;
5) Increase the number of troop causalities in the middle of a civil war;
6) Increase the number of civilian causalities;
7) Create a demand for more troops;
8) Enforce cutbacks of the agenda of many in Congress because money that could be used for schools, healthcare, seniors and the environment would continue to be spent for war;
9) Forces the destabilization of the Middle East;
10) Erodes the public’s confidence in Congress.

“It is time to end the war, to bring the troops home, to use the money that is in the pipeline to bring the troops home and to set in place a parallel process to stabilize Iraq.

“That is what HR 1234 is about. I urge its consideration and support by members of Congress.”

Kucinich Discusses War Supplemental on Hannity and Colmes

Dennis Kucinich appeared on Hannity and Colmes to talk about the War Supplemental on 3/22/2007.

Why Congress shouldn't pass the supplemental

Dennis Kucinich explains why congress shouldn't pass the supplemental.

Kucinich: Congress Must Not Continue To Pay For Bush’s War; Thousands of More Innocent Lives Are at Risk

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Congress Must Not Continue To Pay For Bush’s War; Thousands of More Innocent Lives Are at Risk

Washington, Mar 22 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 22) — On the eve of the vote on the Iraq war supplemental that will provide $124 billion in additional funding for the war in Iraq, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) issued an admonition to his colleagues in the House of Representatives.

“A vote for the supplemental is a vote to reauthorize the war all over again,” Kucinich said. “Congress has the sole constitutional authority to deny the President the authority to go to war and to cut off the funds and end this war. Each appropriations approval is a vote to continue the Iraq war.”

The emergency spending package is scheduled to be on the floor of the House tomorrow for a vote.

“There is a fundamental flaw in the debate: you cannot say you are against this war, and vote to fund it,” Kucinich said.

“Congress can debate and pass legislation for redeployment, phased redeployment, a resolution to end the war or a non-binding resolution disapproving of the troop surge. But none of this will have any legal effect. Each and every time Congress votes for a supplemental bill, they vote to reauthorize the war all over again.

“The America people clearly want our troops brought home. They made this crystal clear in November when they voted the Democrats into office.

“Funding the war will keep the troops there. Stopping the funding will enable us to bring them home.

“Tomorrow will be a test of whether Congress is a co-equal branch of government. Will my colleagues cut off the funding and bring an immediate end to this war, or will they continue to buy President Bush’s war?”

Kucinich: A Vote For The Appropriations Bill Is A Vote In Support Of The War In Iraq

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: A Vote For The Appropriations Bill Is A Vote In Support Of The War In Iraq

Washington, Mar 21 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 21) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today:

“Four years ago this week, in violation of international law, standing upon a mountain of lies, the United States went to war against the people of Iraq.

“The United States now has a moral responsibility for the deaths of perhaps as many as one million innocent Iraqis, responsibility for the destruction of Iraq and responsibility for the theft of billions in Iraq oil assets. Those who told lies to take us into war should be held accountable under the U.S. Constitution and at the International Criminal Court.

“Instead of true accountability on the war, the President and the Vice President could get over $100 billion to keep the war going through the end of their term. More war, more civilian deaths, more soldiers killed and maimed. Less money for housing, for health care, for education, for seniors as we borrow money from Beijing to fight a war in Baghdad.

“Instead of accountability, the appropriations bill will mandate the privatization of six trillion in Iraqi oil assets and provide money which can be used to attack Iran to try to grab another seven trillion in Iranian oil assets for the oil companies.

“Support the troops. Stop the war. End the occupation. Support HR 1234.”

As the U.S. Marks the Start of the Fifth Year of the Iraq War, Congress Must Use Its Power to Bring our Troops Home Now

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

As the U.S. Marks the Start of the Fifth Year of the Iraq War, Congress Must Use Its Power to Bring our Troops Home Now

Washington, Mar 19 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 19) — As part of his efforts to build an international coalition to end the war in Iraq and to further his peace plan, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has been meeting with members of Parliament and diplomats in France and the United Kingdom to discuss his plan to end the war in Iraq.

In October 2002, Kucinich did an analysis, which warned the United States not to attack Iraq. He has since emerged as a leading critic of the Administration’s war against Iraq.

Kucinich will be headlining a major Stop the War rally at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, in Central Hall, Westminster, London. He will be reaching out to members of Parliament to strengthen international support for his peace plan.

“This week, we have the power to cut off the funding for the war and bring our troops home,” Kucinich said. “If we continue to fund the war, our troops will continue to remain in harm’s way.”

“In a statement by President Bush earlier today, the President said that if he gets more time, he can win in Iraq. The President appealed for more time and patience from the American people. How much more time are we going to give this misguided quagmire of a war?

“More than 3,200 of our brave men and women have perished in a needless, selfless war that does not have an end in sight.

“I have a real plan in place, HR 1234, that actually has the power to bring the troops home while transitioning to an international security and peacekeeping force.

“The people of the United States are way ahead of Congress in wanting to get out of Iraq. We need to listen to the mandate given to us by the American people on November 7, and act now to use the money that is in the pipeline to bring the troops home.”

Dennis Kucinich Urges Conversation about Impeachment

Dennis Kucinich ask us if we think it is time for impeachment.

Media Advisory: Chairman Kucinich To Hold Subcommittee Hearing on Subprime Mortgage Issues Plaguing Urban America

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Media Advisory: Chairman Kucinich To Hold Subcommittee Hearing on Subprime Mortgage Issues Plaguing Urban America
“Foreclosure, Predatory Mortgage and Payday Lending in America’s Cities”

Washington, Mar 16 - The Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearing will take an in-depth look at predatory mortgage, payday lending and foreclosures that plague inner-city America. This will be the first in a series of hearings Kucinich plans to hold looking at various issues afflicting urban America.

The riskiest segment of the U.S. mortgage market, which serves borrowers with poor credit histories at high interest rates, has seen rising default rates in recent months amid falling prices and slower sales in the housing market. On Tuesday, March 13, the Dow experienced its second largest single day decline in four years and $406 billion in wealth was destroyed because of the subprime market. The Mortgage Bankers Association reported new foreclosures surged to an all-time high in the last quarter of 2006.

Kucinich hopes to bring responsibility and accountability to creditors and regulators through this hearing.

Witnesses for the hearing include:

Panel One
Mr. James Rokakis
Cuyahoga County Treasurer, Cleveland, OH

Ms. Inez Kellingsworth
President
East Side Organizing Project, Cleveland, OH

Mr. Bill Rinehart
Vice President
Ocwen Financial Corporation, West Palm Beach, FL

Mr. Josh Nasser
Center for Responsible Lending, Washington, D.C.

Professor Dan Immergluck
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA

Mr. Roy DeLoach
Executive Vice President
National Association of Mortgage Brokers, McLean, VA

Panel Two
Ms. Rita L. Haynes
CEO
Faith Community United Credit Union, Cleveland, OH

Mr. Ed Jacob
CEO
Northside Community Federal Credit Union, Chicago, IL

Mr. David Rothstein
Policy Matters Ohio, Cleveland, OH

Ms. Fran Grossman
ShoreBank Corporation, Chicago, IL

Ms. Jean Ann Fox
Consumer Federation of America, Washington, D.C.

Panel Three
Mr. Calvin Bradford
National Training & Information Center, Chicago, IL

Mr. Thomas FitzGibbon
MB Financial Bank, Rosemount, IL

Professor Michael T. Maloney
Department of Economics, Clemson, SC

Mr. Jim McCarthy
President
Miami Fair Housing, Dayton, OH

Fishy business going on at YouTube. Is Barack Obama the E-CHEATER?

I visit YouTube almost daily and noticed something fishy with the Barack Obama view number. When I looked at the politician page over the weekend, Barack Obama was in the 100,000 view area, but today I checked and he is now over 400,000 views. There is no way that is a accurate number. How did he manage to get 300,000 channel views in 24 hours, when it took him 6 months to get the first 100,000? My guess is some Barack Obama computer geek supporter has cracked the system and changed the number or someone is using bots to hit the page.

Then I did some research to this and to my surprise I find an article in which someone else has noticed the same thing.

http://techpresident.com/node/159

LOL. Sounds like cheating to me. I hope the Obama camp realizes cheaters never win they just get caught.

Update: As of Wednesday March 21, 2007 at noon est. the Barack Obama YouTube channel has 900,000 page views. Since Sunday at noon, his channel page has had approximately 800,000 views. If you don't think there is some sort of funny business going on you must also think there wasn't any funny business going on when McGwire, Sosa and Bonds were hitting inflated homerun numbers.

Kucinich Welcomes Early California Primary

Dennis Kucinich welcomes California's move up on the primary calendar. The following article is from Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign website http://kucinich.us/

Kucinich Welcomes Early California Primary

Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today that he welcomes the move to an earlier primary election in California because it will give voters a better opportunity to examine the positions of all the candidates. Kucinich said he is already actively campaigning in California, and has numerous events planned in the state over the next few months.

"All of America will be paying close attention to the early contests because that's when they can see the real differences between all the candidates." Kucinich said. "California's decision to move its primary provides even greater opportunity for our campaign to bring our message of peace and prosperity before the American public."

The Ohio Congressman said he will be "crisscrossing this great country" to make sure that by the time the first caucuses and primaries are held, Americans from New Hampshire to California will know the "real differences" between candidates on issues such as the Iraq war, health care and the restoration of American jobs. Even before the California primary was moved up, Kucinich was already scheduled to be in the state on March 24, March 31, April 28, and May 4 and 5. Additional visits are being planned.

Kucinich is the only presidential candidate who has voted against the 2002 authorization of the Iraq war and every war funding measure since. He has also sponsored legislation in Congress to bring it to a prompt end. His bill, HR 1234, was introduced last month.

He said he would also continue to campaign for a national, not-for-profit health care system, a position that puts him at odds with not only the other Democratic candidates, but also with the position of the Democratic Party, which wants to continue to allow insurance companies to dominate the health care business. Kucinich is a co-sponsor of HR 676, which would provide not- for-profit universal health care.
And Kucinich said he will continue to advocate that the United States withdraw from NAFTA and other trade deals which have resulted in the loss of millions of U.S. jobs. No other Democratic candidate has taken that position.

"My opponents talk about 'fixing' NAFTA and WTO," Kucinich said, "when they know -- but won't admit -- these treaties can't be fixed. American workers understand we need to start over if we want fair trade that protects our jobs here at home, as well as protects workers' rights and environmental quality around the world."

Time for Action on Iraq

The following article is from Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign website http://kucinich.us/ and encourages citizen action in ending the Iraq War.

Time for Action on Iraq

Democratic leaders are poised to give President Bush another $120 billion ($120,000,000,000) for the war, more than enough money to keep our troops in Iraq through the end of his term and enough money to expand the war into Iran. Democratic leaders want to fund the war while saying they oppose the war. They are promising to use the war as a campaign issue against Republicans in 2008.

We do not have time to discern whether the leaders who say they are for peace yet vote for war are motivated by sincerity, self-deception or duplicity.

We need to mobilize now to contact Members of Congress to vote against further funding of the war. If the war is to be brought to an end, then Members of Congress must hear from you. Your efforts will make a difference.

Remember last year when Democrats ran TV commercials against Republicans attacking them for supporting the war? Democrats were brought to power in the House and the Senate because of the war. Now, in the first 100 days in a Democratic Congress; it is the Democrats who are raising the banner of war in the name of the troops, in the name of the Constitution, in the name of national security and in your name. Voila! The Democratic version of the war in Iraq.

The Democratic Party is at a turning point. Either we take this nation out of Iraq by cutting off funds NOW or we will forfeit the trust and the confidence of the American people. There will be consequences for Democrats funding the war.

Please join the thousands of citizen activists who are coming to Washington in the next 10 days to meet with Members of Congress to demand an end to the war and a real plan for stabilizing Iraq. Tell them about my bill, HR 1234, the plan to end the Iraq war.

HR 1234 is the plan that will end the occupation, close the bases, bring the troops home, make Halliburton and all contractors come home and stabilize Iraq with an international peace-keeping and security force. HR 1234 will restore Iraq’s sovereignty over its oil, control its food and energy prices and protect its financial integrity by ensuring Iraq will not be the target of World Bank and IMF structural adjustment policies.

Please read HR 1234 before you meet with Members of Congress. This bill, crafted with the consultation of senior UN advisors with expertise in international peace-keeping and security missions, military experts and principals of the international political community is the plan that will end the occupation, bring our troops home and stabilize Iraq.

HR 1234 - Spread the word!

Thank you, Dennis

Kucinich: Is Impeachment the Only Way to Stop War Against Iran?

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Is Impeachment the Only Way to Stop War Against Iran?

Washington, Mar 15 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 15) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today:

“This House cannot avoid its constitutionally authorized responsibility to restrain the abuse of Executive power.

“The Administration has been preparing for an aggressive war against Iran. There is no solid, direct evidence that Iran has the intention of attacking the United States or its allies.

“The United States is a signatory to the U.N. Charter, a constituent treaty among the nations of the world. Article II, Section 4 of the U.N. Charter states, “All members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. . .” Even the threat of a war of aggression is illegal.

“Article VI of the U.S. Constitution makes such treaties the Supreme Law of the Land. This Administration, has openly threatened aggression against Iran in violation of the U.S. Constitution and the U.N. Charter.

“This week the House Appropriations Committee removed language from the Iraq war funding bill requiring the Administration, under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, to seek permission before it launched an attack against Iran.

“Since war with Iran is an option of this Administration and since such war is patently illegal, then impeachment may well be the only remedy which remains to stop a war of aggression against Iran.”

Kucinich has consistently spoken out on the House floor and been an advocate for bringing to light the war this Administration is appearing to prepare against Iran.

Kucinich Asks For Amendment To Supplemental That Would Eliminate Privatization of Iraqi Oil

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich Asks For Amendment To Supplemental That Would Eliminate Privatization of Iraqi Oil

Washington, Mar 14 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 14) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) unveiled an amendment he plans to offer to the supplemental — scheduled to be on the floor next Thursday — that would force Congress to reconsider the consequences of including the Administration’s benchmark on passage of the hydrocarbon law, which would privatize the nationalized oil system currently in place and open Iraqi oil fields to foreign oil companies.

The law will grant foreign companies “national treatment,” thereby stripping both private and public Iraqi companies of any preferential treatment in the process of awarding contracts.

“The United States should not be requiring Iraq to open their oil fields to private foreign companies as a condition of ending our occupation. The Administration’s strong push to enact a hydrocarbon law has little to do with the needs of the Iraqi people,” Kucinich said.

“Instead it is a concerted effort to ensure that American oil companies are granted access to Iraqi oil fields. By adopting this benchmark in the supplemental, and requiring the enactment of this law by the Iraqi government, Democrats will be instrumental in privatizing Iraqi oil.”

In a letter Kucinich sent Monday to House Appropriations Chairman David Obey (D-WI), he wrote: “I urge you to reconsider the ramifications of including the Administration’s benchmark on passage of the oil law. This benchmark and the law currently being considered by the Iraqi government run contrary to the best interests of the Iraqi people and should not be supported by Democrats.”

“We must remove this benchmark from the supplemental and work to ensure any hydrocarbon law put in place is truly the best interests of all Iraqi people.”

A March 13, op-ed article in The New York Times by Antonia Juhasz, an analyst at the Institute for Policy Studies, who has written extensively on the economic aspects of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, states:
“In March 2001, the National Energy Policy Development Group, which included executives of America’s largest energy companies, recommended that the United States government support initiatives by Middle Eastern countries ‘to open up areas of their energy sectors to foreign investment.’ One invasion and a great deal of political engineering by the Bush administration later, this is exactly what the proposed Iraq oil law would achieve. It does so to the benefit of the companies, but to the great detriment of Iraq’s economy, democracy and sovereignty. Since the invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration has been aggressive in shepherding the oil law toward passage.”

Kucinich raised the issue with his colleagues in the Democratic Caucus meeting yesterday. He intends to offer the amendment on the floor of the House next week, whether or not it is made in order by the Rules Committee.

Cancelled Presidential debates smack of manipulation by ‘run and hide’ candidates

The following article is from Dennis Kucinich's presidential campaign website http://kucinich.us/ and shows his displeasure with the other candidates unwillingness to participate in 2 upcoming debates forcing the cancellation of them.

Cancelled Presidential debates smack of manipulation by ‘run and hide’ candidates

AUSTIN (TX) -- The cancellation in the past two days of two planned nationally televised debates because of candidates' "scheduling conflicts" and unwillingness to participate smacks of "manipulation by some candidates who would rather run and hide than defend their records and their positions on the war," Ohio Congressman and Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today while campaigning in Texas.

Widely publicized Presidential debates in New Hampshire in April and in Nevada in August were cancelled after some candidates either backed out after agreeing to participate or declined invitations to attend.

"Whatever their excuses, some candidates are clearly trying to avoid any head-to-head public debate where they will have to answer tough questions -- questions about their votes in favor of the Iraq war, their votes in favor of trade policies that have wiped out millions of American jobs, their votes in favor of abridging Constitutional rights by approving the Patriot Act, and their collaboration with insurance companies and pharmaceutical corporations to deny Americans adequate health care protection."

Kucinich said, "It's an insult to the voters, and the height of cynicism, for candidates to refuse to take the public stage and subject themselves to public scrutiny."

The New Hampshire debate was announced on January 12. Only two days ago, Kucinich pointed out, did some candidates back out because of "scheduling conflicts."

"Is it possible that the real conflict was having to take the stage to defend their votes to fund the war?" Kucinich asked. Votes in the House and the Senate on a $100 billion supplemental appropriation are expected soon.

Other candidates were trying to sidestep the Nevada debate because they claimed that the sponsoring television network, Fox News Channel, was conservatively biased.

"If you want to be the President of the United States, you can’t be afraid to deal with people with whom you disagree politically," Kucinich said. "No one is further removed from Fox's political philosophy than I am, but fear should not dictate decisions that affect hundreds of millions of Americans and billions of others around the world who are starving for real leadership."

Kucinich said, "The public deserves honest, open, and fair public debate, and the media have a responsibility to demand that candidates come forward now, before the next war vote in Congress, to explain themselves."

"I'm prepared to discuss the war, health care, trade, or any other issue anytime, anywhere, with any audience, answering any question from any media. And any candidate who won't shouldn't be President of the United States."

Pre-Iraq-war documents reveal Kucinich 2002 analysis accurately predicted subsequent events

Dennis Kucinich has more than the right to say he told them so to the House and Senate as the Iraq War continues to spiral out of control. In documents that Congressman Kucinich passed around amongst House and Senate members in October 2002 he warned that the war would be a very bad move if we entered into it. Not listening to his warning most voted to authorize the war and we now continue to be involved in a war that should have never been. The following article is from his presidential campaign website http://kucinich.us/

Pre-Iraq-war documents reveal Kucinich 2002 analysis accurately predicted subsequent events

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Thursday, March 8, 2007

CLEVELAND OH – An October 2002 pre-Iraq-war analysis of intelligence and information by Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich that was widely circulated to members of Congress accurately predicted subsequent events, discoveries, and consequences, according to documents released today by the Kucinich for President Campaign.

Among the points raised by Kucinich in his Oct. 2, 2002 analysis of the war-authorization resolution http://kucinich.us/files/pdfs/Oct2002Analysis.pdf, which he presented to members of the House and the Senate eight days before they voted to give President Bush the war-authorization he sought, Kucinich advised his colleagues:

"This language is so broad that it would allow the President to order an attack against Iraq even when there is no material threat to the United States."

"A unilateral attack on Iraq by the United States will cause instability and chaos in the region and sow the seeds of future conflicts all over the world."

"Unilateral action against Iraq will cost the United States the support of the world community, adversely affecting the war on terrorism."

"There is no credible evidence that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction."

"There is no connection between Iraq and the events of 9/11."

Kucinich, who led the effort to mobilize more than 120 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to oppose the 2002 resolution, has pointed out recently that other members of the House and the Senate, some of whom are running for President, were privy to the same intelligence and information that he was. They, however, voted to approve the authorization. Subsequently, some have apologized, saying they made a mistake. Others have said they were "deceived" or "misled" by President Bush.

Kucinich, a Democratic Presidential candidate, is the only candidate who voted against the original war authorization and against every war-funding appropriation since then.

"I saw the same information that my colleagues did," Kucinich said today. "I consulted experts in the military, at the United Nations, and elsewhere in the world community, and concluded we were about to embark on a tragic course that would cost us dearly in lives, in the loss of global moral credibility, and our nation would suffer profoundly and painfully deep scars that might never be healed."

He added, "Some of those who claim they were deceived by George Bush and were 'tricked' into voting for this unconscionable war are now offering those 'credentials' as qualifications to become the next President of the United States."

Kucinich concluded, "Sound judgment is more valid than political posturing. Principled consistency is a more valid measure of qualifications than hyped-popularity. And rational clarity in confronting life-and-death issues is a better measure of leadership than after-the-fact excuses, apologies, or carefully scripted non-apologies."

Kucinich: Congress Cannot Stand By As The Causalities Continue to Pile Up

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Congress Cannot Stand By As The Causalities Continue to Pile Up

Washington, Mar 8 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 8) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) gave the following speech on the floor of the House of Representatives today:

“In a few short days, this Congress will make a momentous decision as to weather or not to fund the continuation of the war in Iraq.

“And yet at this time, the America people clearly want our troops brought home. Funding the war will keep the troops there. Stopping the funding will enable us to bring them home.

“Congresswoman Barbara Lee has an amendment that will fund the orderly return of our troops. I have offered House Resolution 1234, which is compatible with the Lee amendment. The money is there right now in the pipeline to bring the troops home.

“Once we bring the troops home, or our plan is put forth to bring the troops home, we have to have a plan to stabilize Iraq. That’s what HR 1234 will do.

“This Congress cannot stand by as the causalities pile up. We have to remember that the families of the troops are waiting for us to take action.

“Let’s act now. Support the Lee Amendment and support HR 1234.”

Kucinich Takes Steps to Protect Public Control of Great Lakes Water

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich Takes Steps to Protect Public Control of Great Lakes Water

Washington, Mar 8 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 8) — In an effort to protect Cleveland’s drinking water from profiteering, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today used the amendment process to bring attention to the growing problem of water privatization.

“Every human being has the right to clean water. The essentials of life, like water, must be accessible by people before corporations. When access to the essentials is threatened by excessive private gain, I will stand firmly in defense of the public every time,” Kucinich stated on the floor of the House.

Kucinich’s district relies on Lake Erie for its drinking water. In 2005, an agreement was reached between the Great Lakes states that laid out the conditions under which water could be withdrawn. The Bottled Water industry managed to insert language that gave them a special exemption.

Congressman Kucinich continues to oppose that exemption by working to keep Great Lakes water as a public trust.

“In communities all across the country, constituents are increasingly finding themselves fighting bottled water companies for access to local supplies.

“The loophole could be challenged under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution or the under the World Trade Organization, which would give those who want to privatize our public resource virtually unlimited top priority access. We would not just be back to square one; we would take giant steps backward.

Kucinich received a commitment from Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN) on the floor of the House of Representatives to work with Kucinich to help protect these communities from privatization. Oberstar is the chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

“I made a pledge to begin to raise the profile of water privatization as public policy. I intend to explore this issue more deeply as the Chair of the Domestic Policy Oversight Subcommittee of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.”

Dennis Kucinich to make appearances in Minnesota on Sunday, March 11

Presentation at the 6th Congressional District Democratic Farm and Labor Party Meeting

Carpenter's Hall
700 Olive Street
St. Paul, Minnesota

Sunday, March 11, 2007 1PM

Donation $35.00

Contact: Nancy Schumacher at 612-432-6239

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Meet and Greet

Sawadtee Restaurant
607 Washington Avenue S.
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Sunday, March 11, 2007 3-4PM

Contact: Nancy Schumacher at 612-432-6239

Kucinich: Bush Has No Backup Plan for Iraq, Forfeits Right To Lead

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Bush Has No Backup Plan for Iraq, Forfeits Right To Lead
Congress Must End the War; HR 1234 Is the Backup Plan

Washington, Mar 5 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 5) — The Washington Post reported today that the Administration does not have a backup strategy for Iraq. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace said, “Plan B was to make Plan A work.”

“The Administration is claiming there is no backup plan because they intend to remain in Iraq indefinitely,” Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said.

“The Administration did not have a backup plan for the invasion or for dealing with the insurgency. They did not have a backup plan for how to take care of our service members and veterans. The reconstruction program has been a constant failure.

“There is no backup plan to provide energy or jobs for Iraqis. This Administration’s idea of a backup plan is to provide more war and chaos,” Kucinich said. “The Administration is in denial that they have a failed policy. This is completely unacceptable. What we need is a workable plan that is a viable backup to this Administration’s failed plan.”

Last week, Kucinich introduced HR 1234, a plan for the United States to use existing money to bring the troops and necessary equipment home and transition to an international security and peacekeeping force. The legislation was drafted with expert advice from those involved in international peacekeeping missions, the United Nations and the U.S. military.

“This is a practical, workable plan that will stabilize Iraq and get our troops home quickly,” Kucinich said.

“Congress must take action to change the course of the war in Iraq. We must take the first step by asserting our constitutional power to end the war by cutting off funds. The money is there right now to bring our troops home.

“We should be focusing on bringing our troops home instead of leaving them in Iraq to die or to be permanently injured. The next two weeks will be a test of whether Congress will keep faith with the American people who voted last November for a new direction in Iraq -- and that direction is out.”

Dennis Kucinich to make several appearances in Texas on Saturday, March 10

Progressive Alliance Conference of Texas-Keynote Address

Saturday, March 10, 2007
Conference runs from 9:30-4PM
Dennis Kucinich will be speaking from 3-4PM

San Antonio's Northeast Service Center "Toolyard"
10303 Toolyard
San Antonio, TX

Food and Registration Fees:

Box lunches will be provided for those who pay in advance . If you don't pay in advance, we probably won't have lunch for you unless someone cancels. To pay in advance, you may do this online using PayPal, or send us a check.

You are welcome to bring your own lunch, and this is highly recommended if you don't pay for lunch in advance.

No one will be turned away due to lack of funds, but we recommend the following donations to help us defray costs:

PACT registration only (no lunch): $10

PACT registration & lunch - regular or vegetarian: $20

PACT table for an organization (for literature and sales of t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.), no lunch: $20
Note: Getting a table pays for one person's registration fee, but not lunch.
PACT table for an organization plus lunch for one person: $30

For more details on who and how to pay CLICK HERE.

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San Antonio Fundraiser

Saturday, March 10, 2007 4:30-6:30PM

at the home of a local Kucinich supporter

Suggested contribution $25-$75 per person,
Students $10

A light supper will be served, vegan option available

Contact: RSVP by Thursday, March 8 to:
(210)491-0800 or gooddoggromit@sbcglobal.net

Flyer: SAN ANTONIO FUNDRAISER

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Austin Fundraiser

Saturday, March 10, 2007 7:30-10PM

Four Seasons Hotel
98 SanJacinto Boulevard
Austin, Texas

Hosted by Elliot Kralj
Central Texans for Kucinich

$100 Sponsor
$25 General Admission
$10 Student

Contact: RSVP by Friday, March 9 to:
(512) 461-2852 or ek@riolimpio.com

Flyer: AUSTIN FUNDRAISER

Kucinich: Soldiers at Walter Reed Deserve the Best Care Possible

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Kucinich: Soldiers at Walter Reed Deserve the Best Care Possible
Stop Ordering Reviews and Fix the Problem

Washington, Mar 2 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 2) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) issued the following statement upon hearing of the steps the Administration is taking to remedy the decrepit conditions at Walter Reed.

“Our wounded soldiers deserve nothing but the best care when they return home from battle and they are not getting it right now,” Kucinich said. “The indifference of this Administration has been trickling down to affect the veterans and service members. This is just intolerable.”

Today, President Bush ordered a comprehensive review of care for the wounded service members and announced that he is setting up a new bipartisan commission to conduct it. This is the third review to be announced since a Washington Post series last week exposed filthy living conditions and a web of bureaucratic tape that traps outpatients at Walter Reed.

“Stop calling for reviews to find out what the problems are; we already know what they are. Now we need to fix them.”

Kucinich will consider offering an amendment that states that each soldier who comes back from war should be provided with special care until all their needs are met. “We owe it to them and we shouldn’t be slacking on any expense when it comes to caring for wounded soldiers.”

“This is typical of this Administration: ordering more reviews, bogging down the process with more red tape. Just fix the problems. Get our active duty service members and veterans the best care they deserve. All we are getting from this Administration is more mumbo-jumbo,” Kucinich said, citing a quote that appeared in today’s Washington Post by White House spokeswoman Dana Perino:

Asked why Bush considers it necessary to form another review commission, Perino said the aim of the latest panel is “to look forward -- to look at the range of health care and mental health care and other needs, in terms of helping the whole person for veteran care when they return. . . . I know that there is a desire to really focus on the global war on terror veterans.”
Clarifying that answer, the White House later said that Gates “established the Independent Review Group (IRG) to conduct an assessment of outpatient treatment…. The scope of the presidential commission will be broader, including the transfer of discharged servicemen and women from [Defense Department] facilities into the Veterans Affairs system, and other military and veterans hospitals.

“Creating more review groups is only prolonging the time it takes for our veterans and active duty service members to receive the very best, quality care that they need,” Kucinich said.

“We’ve already had a review: it was done by The Washington Post. Now is the time to take action on behalf of those soldiers who put their lives on the line for America.”

Congress Must Vote Down the Supplemental; The Only Way to End the War Is to Stop Funding It

Ohio Democratic congressman Dennis Kucinich's congressional website http://kucinich.house.gov/ posted the following press release.

Congress Must Vote Down the Supplemental; The Only Way to End the War Is to Stop Funding It

Washington, Mar 1 - WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 1) — Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) called on Congress to oppose the Iraq supplemental appropriations bill, citing a 1999 federal court case, which states the only way to end a war is to cut the funding.

“A vote for the supplemental is a vote to reauthorize the war all over again,” Kucinich said. “Congress has constitutional authority to deny the President the authority to go to war and to cut off the funds and end this war. Each appropriations approval is a vote to continue the Iraq war.”

An 1999 U.S. District Court case has reemerged into the debate over Congress’ power to cut off funds and end the war. In the Campbell v. Clinton case 17 Member of Congress, including Kucinich, sued President Bill Clinton for unconstitutionally attacking Serbia without obtaining a declaration of war or other explicit authority from Congress. A war declaration by Congress is required by Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution.

The Court ruled in favor of the Administration because it could find no constitutional impasse existed between the Legislative and the Executive branch requiring judicial intervention. Congress had appropriated funds for the war and therefore chose not to remove U.S. forces. The significance of this case is that the court ruled the only way for Congress to end a war is to cut off funding.

“Congress can debate and pass legislation for redeployment, phased redeployment, a resolution to end the war or a non-binding resolution disapproving of the troop surge. But none of this will have any legal effect. Each and every time Congress voted for a supplemental bill, they voted to reauthorize the war all over again,” Kucinich said.

The supplemental appropriations bill is scheduled to be voted on by the House of Representatives soon.

“The Administration does not have to pay any attention to Congress’ attempt to guide the war. Once Congress gave its consent for military action, it did not have the authority to steer the conduct of the war. Now, the only option Congress has to end the war is to withdraw approval for the war through a cut off of funds,” Kucinich said.
“The Campbell case makes it obvious that as long as Congress continues to fund the war, it cannot simultaneously argue that it’s being usurped with respect to the war powers.

“Each appropriations vote gives the President implied consent to continue the war. That is why Congress needs to take a stand and vote down the supplemental. ”

Kucinich touts 'Medicare for all' plan

The following article was published by the UNION LEADER.com on March 5,2007.

Kucinich touts 'Medicare for all' plan
By BENJAMIN KEPPLE
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff

MANCHESTER – U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat running for his party's Presidential nomination, focused yesterday on the nation's health-care system and the war in Iraq as he wrapped up his third campaign trip to New Hampshire.

Kucinich , received just 1 percent of the vote in the 2004 New Hampshire primary. This time around, though, he is doing things differently. He has been traveling early and often to the Granite State, and has been more aggressive in differentiating his views from those of the race's front-runners.

"My candidacy challenges the Democratic Party and gives the people of New Hampshire someone to vote for who doesn't have any strings attached," said Kucinich, who yesterday morning spoke to a small group of supporters at the Merrimack Restaurant on Elm Street.

Kucinich, a former mayor of Cleveland, touched on other issues during breakfast, such as calling for incentives to boost production of wind- and solar-energy technology, and pushing for full employment in the economy.

The entire article can be found here.

Barack Obama tops the Democratic Primary Poll for 2nd straight month.

Barack Obama topped the Democratic Primary Poll 2008 put on by Put Peace in the Whitehouse in 2008 for the 2nd consecutive month, according to the February Democratic Primary Poll 2008 of announced and expected Democratic candidates. In the monthly online poll, random online voters are asked who will they vote for in the 2008 Democratic Primary, and a total of 1293 votes were cast in the month of February. Obama received 27% (349 votes) of the total. Dennis Kucinich came in a strong and surprising 2nd with 23% (297 votes). John Edwards came in at 3rd place with 15% (191 votes), followed by Al Gore 7% (86 votes),Hillary Clinton 7% (85 votes) and Bill Richardson 6% (82 votes).

Here is a total rundown of the results.

Barack Obama	349 votes	27%
Dennis Kucinich	297 votes	23%
John Edwards	191 votes	15%
Al Gore	86 votes	7%
Hillary Clinton	85 votes	7%
Bill Richardson	82 votes	6%
Tom Vilsack	68 votes	5%*
Wes Clark	60 votes	5%
Chris Dodd	37 votes	3%
Joe Biden	32 votes	2%
Mike Gravel	6 votes	0%

* Tom Vilsack pulled out of the race on 2/23/2007 and will not be included in future polls.

February winners and losers.

Winners
Barack Obama +2%
John Edwards +2%
Hillary Clinton +1%
Chris Dodd +1%
Tom Vilsack +1%

Losers
Wes Clark -3%
Al Gore -1%
Bill Richardson -1%
Joe Biden -1%
John Kerry -1%

If your favorite isn’t where you thought they should be, let your voice be heard and vote. To vote in the March poll go to the link below.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE NOW