So did he and dave get together and figure out which weird story from childhood to talk about?

thanks for posting this. two of my favorite people... le sigh.

he's too short and his appearance is too goodhumoured - not a chance he'll win the elections.

What a great guy. I'd like to be american just to vote for him.

I like his positions, I value his opinion, but at the end of the day, I come back to Lord Acton: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Simply stated: this government is out of control.

I'm going with Ron Paul. It's time we chop back the overgrown weed that is the U.S. Federal Government. Let the states take care of health care. CA and NY are already leading the way.

Great decent guy. Too bad he'd probably get elected Prime Minister of Canada before he gets elected President.

Actually, zaphod, the issue is not that the government is out of control. The issue is that politicians like Cheney-Bush are out of control. The government serves a very important purpose for people and helps keep greedy corporations from controlling everything -- or at least should. The issue isnt to get the government out of our lives, it's to get the corporations out of the government.

Dennis is the only candidate worthy of my vote. I am behind him 100%.

I pity those Americans who are so shallow as to make statements like "he's too short to be elected".

America needs a radically NEW DIRECTION and Dennis is the answer.

www.kucinich.us

"I'm going with Ron Paul. It's time we chop back the overgrown weed that is the U.S. Federal Government."

ive been saying this for years! who needs a postal service or public education! privatize it all!

I vote for Kucinich's wife.

"'I'm going with Ron Paul. It's time we chop back the overgrown weed that is the U.S. Federal Government.'"

"ive been saying this for years! who needs a postal service or public education! privatize it all!"

Oh, and there's so much more.

Kill Social Security and Medicare. Fuck the elderly!

Clear cut and pave every public park and national forest. You want scenery? Buy an island!

Privatize police and fire departments. As with health care, if you can't afford these things, you don't get them!

NO PUBLIC ROADS. You want a road, buy one!

Shut down ALL government oversight. Corporations have the right to be free from oppressive public protections. If you don't like the lead and arsenic in your tap water, then use the free market and buy bottled! And test your own food, you dirty socialists!

"Paul '08: Little George Bush brought you to the ledge. Let Ron push you over!"

He wisely understands that universal, single-payer health care is the best system.

He wisely understands we "achieve security through peace."

But then there's this, from his website:

"Do you support greater enforcement or stricter penalties in regards to current law that punishes employers who knowingly hire undocumented immigrants?"

"No. Sanctions on employers of undocumented workers have failed."

Huh? The number of sanctions against illegal employers enforced by the Bush administration is less than 1% of the number enforced by the Clinton administration. According to one source, there is $250 billion in uncollected fines out there. Doesn't everyone know that the Bush administration has chosen not to enforce current laws sanctioning illegal employers?

The only candidate of either party who has the courage to honestly speak his mind and follow up with action, e.g. impeachment articles against Cheney.

All the others are deliberately hiding. Carefully filtered through the advice from countless over-paid consultants. Afraid to say what they honestly believe. Fearful of giving their opposition something that can be used against them.

Kucinich has what this country needs to climb out of this dismal abyss. Respect for his fellow human beings and the willingness to try and understand them. Are we too shallow and superficial to realize this?

You know, if all the people who said, "Great guy, too bad he's too short", "too bad he's too nice", or "too bad he won't win" would just vote for the guy, HE'D WIN!

Don't be a defeatist, and don't be a moron. Vote for your principles and VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH. Put your money where your mouth is, and donate $25 or so to his campaign, and you'll see how popular he really is. The more money he raises (he doesn't take corporate donations, that's why he's not taken seriously by the corporate press), the more press he'll get, and the more people will vote for him. Get off your duff and act on your beliefs!

You'd better believe that corporations are donating big time to the candidates who will sell you out, and support corporate greed. You know, Hillary (lots of defense contractor $$$) and Obama! It's the best oligarchy corporate money can buy! If you don't like the sound of that, pitch in to the candidate that truly supports YOU, the average American, not corporate greed.

As for Dani R., you're doing just what the Neoconservatives want you to do—dismantle the goverment that has protected us from Corporate Oligarchists for this 230+ years. They want government to look bad so you'll support dismantling it (that's why they let the Katrina debacle happen, and all the other scandals they've perpetrated). Then the Corporate Oligarchists can take over, and Americans will be their indentured survants and bond slaves. Don't be an idiot! Vote Kucinich.

I would like to see an America in which people vote for the candidate that best represents their philosophical and political views and stop voting strategically, or based on a candidate's height, sex, or whether they sigh too much during debates.

This is how we get presidents like Bush and why the Dems may get Hillary who will lose to whoever the Republicans put up.

Kucinich has my vote. Kucinich 08' kucinich dot us dot com

Libertarians are like biology students who were enthralled by lecture but skipped out on lab to go shoot guns at cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon. This is why Ron Paul should STFU.

In spite of that, when Kucinich dismissed negative freedom, on Letterman of all places, I vomited in my mouth a little.

Neither of these douchebags have my vote, and may both of them rot in hell, or hades, or wherever the true god Zeus sends people who suck.

I like his positions, I value his opinion, but at the end of the day, I come back to Lord Acton: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

VOTE FOR DENNIS KUCINICH. Put your money where your mouth is, and donate $25 or so to his campaign, and you'll see how popular he really is. The more money he raises (he doesn't take corporate donations, that's why he's not taken seriously by the corporate press), the more press he'll get, and the more people will vote for him. Get off your duff and act on your beliefs!

Two interesting comments. Both probably unrealistic, but I have to say that I'm with Katherine.

While I'll give Ron Paul credit for putting up principled conservative/libertarian positions in the face of Bush's slide into Christofascism, libertarianism is often extreme, often unrealistic, and often wrong - in my opinion. It is extreme in its ideological adherence to privatization as a cure-all for society's ills. There are good historical reasons why laissez-faire economic systems need to be regulated. Libertarianism assumes that free-market systems will always be more efficient. In fact, they will be efficient at yielding profits for producers, but history shows that producers have no particular fealty to competition and certainly no particular interest in worker's health or environmental impacts, just to name a couple of examples of areas where a libertarian governemnt would be hellish.

I like Kucinich and I think that support for Kucinich is important even if he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell. I'm not stupid - I don't think he is the only person "worthy of my vote" – I do think a strong showing for Kucinich would help embarass corporate media pundits enough that they would stop referring to guys like Edwards as "far-left" liberals. The center of American politics has been so skewed by the right-wing noise machine that we need genuine liberals like Kucinich to stand up as examples of what decent men liberals can be. (Seriously, who wouldn't you like to see Kucinich representing liberalism instead of Ted Kennedy?)

What a breath of fresh air! He's not just another well-rehearsed politician. This man's got real heart, soul, courage, and integrity. And the fact that he doesn't come from a place of privilege, means that he's one of us! Dennis Kucinich is exactly who we need to turn this country around: a leader who acts from a place of compassion, and will lead us out of the mess we're in to a place of peace and prosperity. He's got my vote!

Kucinich is the real deal...a man of integrity...no corporate ties, can't be bought. NO STRINGS ATTACHED!! Spend the next 7 mos. telling everyone about him & let's commit to the candidate who can REALLY change this country & the world....not just pretend to, like the others who are corporately controlled. DK is not.

Who else has had the guts to file impeachment papers against Cheney? It's time to stand up for our constitution...call your Congressperson 202-225-3121 (give your zip) & ask him/her to sign on to HR 333.

He's the only candidate who's been against the war from the very beginning AND has never voted for funding...all the others HAVE voted for funding which re-authorizes the war & keeps it going. Gotta cut the purse strings!

Dennis is for NOT FOR PROFIT single payer health care--everyone else is taking insurance funding & are therefore for systems that keep the insurance companies wealthy!

DK is the only one who didnt vote for the Patriot Act (the first OR 2nd version!!)--a document that has violated our 1st, 4th, 8th, 9th, & 14th amendment rights. ALL the other candidates voted FOR this at one time or another.... how can you support someone who did that???!!!

He is the only one willing to end NAFTA, which has sent jobs overseas, & driven us to buy cheap foreign goods made by slave labor, with no environmental standards. NAFTA also damaged commerce in Mexico, which has increased our immigration situation.

Dennis is committed to diplomacy, communication...peace keeping. Stop settling for a candidate who is for a few good things but is not very different from the Repubs. Vote for the man who believes in service to his country. Kucinich is one of a kind---integrity like his simply doesnt exist on Capital Hill. He is rare. Support his campaign. Go to www.kucinich.us Thank you.

Sure, if all americans would actually vote according to political principles, and not according to looks, charisma, etcetera, he might have a chance (however slight, I really don't think majority opinion has changed in the last four years). Sadly enough, they don't.

Rest assured, the rest of the democratic world is quite similar.

If Americans voted on their political principles and not looks, charisma et cetera, they'd still not give Kucinich or Paul a chance in hell because the American people aren't reckless revolutionaries. It's bad enough that every new President hardly knows WTF they're doing, Bush aside I can't think of a single incoming President more out of the loop than Kucinich and Paul.

"Security is achieved through peace" is just as stupid as "Security is achieved through war".

Send these two stinkers to the outhouse.

Dennis Kucinich is the only member of congress who is standing up for the voice of the people. It is terrible what things have come to. Our Health care, public schools, the war, and our foreign relations. Bush has monopolized the government. He has expanded the EOP, and he has created a conservative judicial branch, and now congress is powerless. It doesn't matter that the Democrats have a majority in congress, Bush has made sure of that. But it's not too late. Kucinich can put this country on a path that can save and promote our status as a world leader and earn our rightful place as so.

VOTE DENNIS KUCINICH 2008 2-WORLD-PEACE-FOREVER

Why is Dave such a horribly un-impartial host and interviewer here?

horribly un-impartial

You mean partial, do you. Perhaps Dave sincerely believes he is a nice guy.

david letterman, who's been one of my top favorite media personalities for close to 30 years, was in top form imo for this interview. i have yet to see a good interviewer who is completely impartial.

After seeing Sicko yesterday I believe that there is only one candidate in the election who deserves to sit in the Oval Office and the person is Dennis Kucinich. You are the man Dennis!!!

i was impressed and inspired when i saw dennis kucinich on david letterman. the state of our country is currently depressing, at best, and this candidate seems to have the heart and soul to pull us out of the muck. compassion and peace should and will rule over corruption, greed and stupidity. dennis kucinich has my vote.

Why is Dave such a horribly un-impartial host and interviewer here?

Unlike Chris Wallace, Sean Hannity, Chris Matthews, etc., Dave Letterman does not work for a "news" organization. Dave is under no obligation to be impartial.

BTW, if you want to see "news" correspondent Brit Hume do figuratively to Bush what Monica Lewinsky did literally to Clinton, go to

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,98111,00.html

He's the only candidate who really sticks to his guns, and strives to do the RIGHT thing. It's sad that so many people would rather vote for style over substance. I guess people in this country really have become... stupid, after years of following the likes of Paris Hilton and others who are famous for simply being rich and good looking, but not too bright. Is that what we really want in a PRESIDENT?! Kucinich may not have moviestar looks, and a polished plastic veneer, but he is the candidate who can turn this country back around and put us on the right track! Come on, people! Are you really that shallow and mindless?! I for one and tired of voting for the lesser of two evils. I'm voting for the right candidate this time, and let the chips fall where they may. If everyone would do that instead of commenting on his looks and saying he can't win... he WOULD win!

Before he was on Dave, I didn't really know him; while he was on Dave, all I could think was, "imagine the possibilities for our world if he was elected president!" He's fantastic, but don't be fooled; he's not someone to be trifled with and can stand up to the best of them. It would be so refreshing to have someone with so much integrity and honesty.

Before he was on Dave, I didn't really know him; while he was on Dave, all I could think was, "imagine the possibilities for our world if he was elected president!" He's fantastic, but don't be fooled; he's not someone to be trifled with and can stand up to the best of them. It would be so refreshing to have someone with so much integrity and honesty.

You know, if all the people who said, "Great guy, too bad he's too short", "too bad he's too nice", or "too bad he won't win" would just vote for the guy, HE'D WIN!

exactly right, catherine. this foolishness of "electability" is just that - foolishness.

anyone is electable if enough people vote for him. so let's vote on issues, experience, and capability.

since mr. kucinich is the only one who has a real plan for getting out of iraq and for universal healthcare, and the rest of his positions are also quite reasonably progressive, i can't figure out why non-neocons WOULDN'T rush to support him. the three front-runners are all for different ways to keep private, for profit insurers in business and/or dragging out the iraq occupation in various ways.

dennis is my frontrunner at the moment. until someone better steps up to the plate. if such a person exists.

I met him Saturday and I talked with him for a few minutes at Gay Pride here in St.Pete Florida. He has a wonderful sense of humor, admitting that everyone thinks hes a joke. But he does have the right ideas. And his wife is beautiful but thats another story in its own.

go Dennis !!!

I campaigned for Kucinich in '04, and will again in '08. I donate to his campaign. I am curious about how many people support Kucincih and his ideas, but have been sold the self-perpetuating story that he'll never win, and won't vote for him out of fear that their second or third choice won't win if they vote for the long shot. vote your hopes, not your fears.

I campaigned for Kucinich in '04, and will again in '08. I donate to his campaign. I'm a home-grown Texan. I'm just not one of 'those' Texans.

I am curious about how many people support Kucinich and his ideas, but have been sold the self-perpetuating story that he'll never win, and so they won't vote for him out of fear that their second or third choice won't win if they vote for the long shot. i have a feeling that happens a lot more than people think.

vote your hopes, not your fears.

What a shame it is that such an obviously genuine and far-sighted politician seems to be a DOA candidate in real terms. People like him running for the highest office in the land doesn't restore hope in the American electorate for me, it makes me even more desolute. It is not that America cannot produce a good electable candidate anymore, it's just that even when we do, out of 300 million, they frequently are just non-starters at the polls. I'll vote for him in a hot heartbeat in the Democratic primaries but ultimately I am fairly sure that my final choice at the polls will be either Hillary Clinton and Barac O'Bama versus whatever slime-ball the Republicans dredge to the top. Once again, I will have to hold my nose and chose the lesser of two evils. Why should that be? When there are people like Rep. Kusinich whom I could vote for and really feel like my views were expressed. Hats off to the nerly 50% who do vote in Presidential elections because every 4 years I feel a little bit dirtier about myself for having to make such a limiting choice. I give up on the USA! It's screwed from the inside out. "We have met the enemy and they are us." Walt Kelley (aka Pogo Possum.)

The stink of the American electoral process is not coming from the candidates, it is coming from the voters!

To The Nation To the Editor: >

This letter is in response to the July 16th/23rd editorial "Get in It to Win It" the title of which grabbed me with excited expectation of a real rousing call to real progressive activists to jump in to electoral politics as candidates ourselves. Then I read this distressed line, "The point is not to organize for a particular contender but rather to assure that whomever wins is accountable to our stances against the Iraq War and for the restoration of civil liberties, a robust response to global warming and universal healthcare." This marks an incredibly disappointing retreat by The Nation, who know full well that there is only one candidate that supports that agenda unequivacly: Dennis Kucinich. Already a vast majority of Americans call for a withdrawal for Iraq, yet there go the rest of them again voting to send money for the continued occupation, and with the "slow bleed" strategy MoveOn went for. It is only by supporting candidates who are with our vision that we will turn things around. Once David Letterman heard him for himself, he said he'd vote for him. On a related note, I look forward to a sober investigative piece on the whereabouts now of the "Deaniacs" from 2004.

Yeah, Letterman had him on his show alright. Here's a political genius who never gets TV time and all Letter could talk to him about was how hot his wife is. What complete waste. No mention of his health care plan, his Iraqi exit strategy, the fact that he won the Ghandi peace award, his support of gay marriage, flat taxes, etc. That time should have been spent introducing people to the briliant mind that could actually reinvent America. Thanks, Dave. Apparently your tired sense of humor is more important than imnportant issues at hand.