Date Posted:Sat 2004-01-03 20:30:57 Author: Redeye Subject: I frankly don't know In reply to:
the Goobergunch
's message, "Re: That vicious cycle again..." on Sat 2004-01-03 15:27:48
My positions fall somewhere between Dean's and Kucinich's. Two weeks ago, I'd have said that Dean was far closer to my positions, but then there was that "I accept Jesus" flip-flop. Not that I have a problem with Christian candidates, but Dean has done magnificently without talking about religion for his whole political career. And it's not even going to help him because he's not gonna win in the South anyway (and AFAIK Hispanics don't vote according to declarations of faith).
OTOH, there're still things I think Dean makes more sense about than Kucinich. Trade is one. Health care is another; after 56 years of universal health care being on the Democratic party's platform, I have the right to be skeptical of any Democrat's promise for universal health care unless it's backed by actual results, as with Dean in Vermont.
Kucinich's better on things like foreign aid - deliberately or accidentally, his proposal to increase humanitarian aid by 50 billion dollars a year is almost identical to what the UN is asking the USA to give - and the Patriot Act. I still don't like his promise to unilaterlly withdraw from NAFTA and the WTO; sure, you can oppose free trade, but please try and get agreements changed or revoked bilaterally rather than unilaterally.
