Ron Paul & Dennis Kucinich for Libertarian Party in '08, if it comes to that...

[EvilNight]

I mean, sure, we've got a Republican nomination to win right now, but if that fails, we all know damn well we're going to push Ron into running 3rd party one way or another. He's been given the go from the Libertarian Party (the 3rd largest in politics) to run on their platform.

I think Ron & Dennis on that ticket would make history. Call it the Honesty & Integrity ticket. They aren't really that different, certainly not on the important issues and on fixing our government. Win or lose they still get the message out more.

 

[Gadsden Flag]

They're way different on everything except foreign policy.

Kucinich wants socialized health care, government reparations for slavery, etc etc etc.

 

[Dustancostine]

No offense to Kucinich people, but he brings nothing to the table for Ron. There are a thousand better VP candidates than Dennis. While honest, he doesn't agree with RP on anything. Not even foreign policy. He may want to end the war, but not for the same reasons that RP does and reasons and philosophy are very important.

Also Kucinich doesn't bring any voters with him either. We would need a lot more than the 1% of Democrats that he has to win, and it would actually turn off twice as many conservatives and libertarians then would democrats that Kucinich brought in. If RP is going to win the nomination or the Presidency it is going to be through conservatives and libertarians and not liberal socialist democrats.

 

[mtmedlin]

Dennis isnt a Libertarian and he has enough problems at home keeping his house seat. I believe he is done running for pres for at least 4 years.

 

[Ncturnal]

One thing I'll surely never understand is how you can claim to be for Ron Paul and even remotely think Kucinich fits in that picture anywhere. Anyone who thinks they are a match is truly uninformed.

 

[junior_bacon_cheeseburger]

Yes Kucinich is a socialist, but EVERYONE running is a socialist, except for RP of course. They are all for bigger government and more statist intervention, but at least Kucinich is good on foreign policy and civil liberties. I wouldn't suggest he be the VP for RP, but I'd take him ANY day over anyone except for RP.

 

[EvilNight]

They match perfectly. They both vote honestly and speak honestly.

If you want to attract disaffected democrats to your ticket in a third party race, I don't think there's a better choice than Dennis.

This race is NOT about the ridiculous left/right dogma. This is about returning to the constitution and getting this country back on its feet. Dennis and Ron are the only two people running who cite that as their goal. Makes perfect sense to me to see them on the same ticket, and it also strikes me as progress in burying the false dichotomy of D/R we've been stuck with for so long.

 

[ErikBlack]

The reason things never get done in this country is because we are so polarized. Look at the abortion issue. No headway is ever made because neither side will give an inch! One side believes it is murder and absolutely morally wrong. The other side believes its a woman's inalienable right to control her own body and her own reproductive destiny. The same is true of the "socialist -vs- capitalist" debate. Both parties are absolutely convinced that their theory is correct and that the other is a complete disaster waiting to happen, but neither of them have any real-world proof either way because nothing ever gets done that would allow either of these to be tested. Meantime the wealthy elite continue to dominate this country because those with alternative ideas are busy fighting idealogical battles with each other!

I am a staunch believer in capitalism, yet I would gladly vote for Kucinich as V.P. Why? Because as much as I believe in true capitalism it hasn't had an opportunity to be tested yet in our modern world, so I cannot be certain that it will work out. It sounds good on paper. Now lets give it a shot. True socialism has also not been tested. The USSR and other communist governments in the 20th century resemble true socialism as much as our current economy resembles real capitalism. In my mind socialism is a bad idea, but it also has not been tested. So I say lets give it a shot too! Lets experiment. Lets take a chance. Lets stop living in fear of the unknown. If you want change you have to embrace the possibility of failure.

A Paul/Kucinich ticket will be fine with me because either way it will embody a welcome change of course.

 

[DahuiHeeNalu]

Ron & Dennis are very good friends it would work!

 

[FreeTraveler]

One thing I'll surely never understand is how you can claim to be for Ron Paul and even remotely think Kucinich fits in that picture anywhere. Anyone who thinks they are a match is truly uninformed.

It's a small but VERY VOCAL minority. Listening to the Kookchinich supporters here, I understand how the rest of the US feels about Ron Paul supporters.

One more time, for those of you on drugs... Dennis Kookchinich is a SOCIALIST and a GUN GRABBER!!!! WHAT FRIGGIN' PART OF THAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

Edit: Sorry for the insult to drug users. I like a little herbal relaxation myself from time to time.

 

[CelestialRender]

It's a small but VERY VOCAL minority. Listening to the Kookchinich supporters here, I understand how the rest of the US feels about Ron Paul supporters.

One more time, for those of you on drugs... Dennis Kookchinich is a SOCIALIST and a GUN GRABBER!!!! WHAT FRIGGIN' PART OF THAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

Edit: Sorry for the insult to drug users. I like a little herbal relaxation myself from time to time.

He likes the Constitution and he's honest. I agree that there are fundamental differences, and too many to put him on the same ticket.

I'm just saying, that's where the idea comes from.

 

[EvilNight]

You know they would put forth a unified front if they did it. I doubt it's as much of an adjustment for Ron as it would be for Dennis, I'll grant you that one. Still, don't you think Dennis would trust Ron not to give him a cold shoulder, Ron could trust Dennis to help fix the real problems, and that they would work together to try and represent everyone to the best of their ability? Dennis would be presiding over the senate, where I'm not sure we have a lot of friends (and make no mistake, Dennis is a friend here). That's not a bad bully pulpit itself.

There's a wonderful symmetry to having the first realistic third party ticket in over a hundred years made up of respected members of both major parties, who have found enough common ground to get behind a third party ticket. The only downside is that Ron and Dennis have little name recognition, though that is changing slowly.

You earn your adversary's respect and admiration by listening to their opinions seriously. This sets you free to get important work done together, like fixing the USA in this case. Dennis is also someone who takes the Constitution very seriously, yet still has a valuable different viewpoint on the matter. He wouldn't override it despite his differences of opinion. We also know he's anti establishment - he's already risked some of the same things for the same reasons that Ron has. Are you sure another untested VP would do the same?

It was standard practice until 1804 for the runner up in the Presidential election to be given the Vice Presidency. That was before our time, but certainy not unprecedented. If the ticket works out and these two gentlemen live up to the responsibilities that may be placed on them, Ron could take the Vice Presidency under Kucinich's run later and I'm sure they'd get the votes.

It's worth thinking about, especially if you want to convince the more moderate Democrats to come to your tent. If Obama wins the nomination that might be hard, but if Hillary wins it, a lot of democrats will be only too happy to throw their support behind a Ron/Dennis ticket. There are just so many people who are sick and tired of the Bush/Clinton dynasty. It's like a episode of survivor we all seem to be trapped in together.

Go get Ron the Republican nomination so we can be spared all of this craziness. It's a far easier solution!

 

[Kludge]

Favorite useless list:

VP choices : Listed by pick

1. Andrew "The Judge" Napolitano (From FNN)

2. Steve Kubby (Libertarian candidate for 08, pending Ron's status)

3. Drew Carey (From "The Price is Right". Is a somewhat prominent libertarian. And he's got cool glasses so...)

Edit: ~20. Dennis Kucinich (almost forgot topic's topic)
Double-edit to mask the disregard to staying on-topic: Kucinich truly is a liberal, we need candidates that can argue as strongly as possible to promote liberty once Dr. Paul is in office. The "revolution" will continue on for years even if Dr. Paul is elected. At least 95% of congressmen are politicians.

 

[GHoeberX]

Ron & Dennis are very good friends it would work!

Yeah it would; but I think it would have a different name then probably.

 

[mrrzstor]

An honest idiot is still an idiot.

I'd rather not vote than vote for a socialist like Kucinich.