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| Candidate Draws Support From Peace Activists, New Age Gurus |
| 2003-06-03 |
| Are all our Dimbo friends this far gone? I know Dennis is. Dennis Kucinich, a champion for down-to-earth issues such as blue-collar jobs and the beleaguered steel industry, is showing his spiritual side as he courts supporters in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. Peace activists, New Age gurus and people who practice alternative religions are among Kucinich's donors - many of them attracted to the Ohio congressman's stand on less-than-mainstream issues, such as a call for a Cabinet-level Department of Peace and his support for medical marijuana. Medical marijuana? Like,dude. Why not just add it to the school lunch program. "I have a holistic view of the world," Kucinich explains. "I see the world as interconnected and interdependent and that leaves no room for war." Got a feeling Dennis has some experience with "medical" marijuana. Save some for us, willya Dennis. Don't bogart it all? Kucinich's legislation to create a Department of Peace and ban the use of weapons in space hasn't won widespread support in Congress, where a majority in the House and Senate supported President Bush's decision to wage war against Iraq. But those proposals are a cornerstone of his campaign, often mentioned in his speeches on the need to transform society and make nonviolence an organizing principle. Dennis Kucinich: Skipper of Spaceship Earth. "We need a message of peace. It's not about backing down. It's not about rhetoric. It's about a way of life," said Chris Griscom, a spiritual adviser who's been a close friend and supporter of Kucinich for nearly 24 years. Has his psychic weighed in? His "seer"? His clairvoyant? Kucinich took his message to Santa Cruz, Calif., this week, headlining a rally called "Imagine America" with lifestyle guru Marianne Williamson and healthy living author John Robbins, a political donor who, like Kucinich, is a strict vegetarian. Robbins also is national co-chair of Kucinich's campaign. Kucinich-Sharpton 2004 Williamson, a close friend and political donor of Kucinich's, founded the Global Renaissance Alliance, which teaches peace activists and others how to lobby their local congressmen to support Kucinich's Department of Peace bill. The Global Renaissance Alliance? I'll bet they sit around, smoke a lotta dope, solve the worlds problems, and tell each other how noble and good they are. Other supporters include Carol Rosin, a peace activist who founded the Institute for Cooperation in Space. Rosin hosted Kucinich at a home in Malibu, Calif., last year where he talked about his vision for a world without weapons in space and especially without war. The Institute for Cooperation in Space? I'll bet they sit around, smoke a lotta dope, solve space's problems, and tell each other how noble and good they are. At a peace conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia, last year, Kucinich was more specific about his beliefs. He spoke about how the Eagle Nebula, a star-forming region that is 7,000 light years from Earth, reminds him of the relationship between stardust and the human spirit. Medical marijuana, my ass! Sounds like Dennis will next push medical hallucinogens. Sounds like he's already started the experimentation process for the FDA. "The energy of the stars becomes us. We become the energy of the stars. Stardust and spirit unite and we begin: One with the universe," Kucinich said. Wow! Look at all the pretty colors! Wow! Look what my hand is doing! Several of his speeches, such as "Spirit and Stardust," "A Prayer for America" and "The Soul of the Worker," have been posted on dozens of Web sites created by his supporters. Rosin sells videotapes of Kucinich's Malibu speech on her Web site for $40. The money benefits Rosin's space institute, which in turn supports Kucinich's peace-related efforts. Expect to see it soon on Comedy Central. Kucinich said Rosin is one of many campaign backers, a reflection of the fact that the popularity of his candidacy isn't limited to mainstream politics. Freaks are people too. Man. "My campaign appeals to labor, to machinists, to auto workers, and it appeals to feminists. It appeals to the dreamers and to those who have a vision of a new America, and it appeals to those who believe in the real potential of this country," Kucinich said. Kucinich, a Roman Catholic, also is close friends with actress Shirley MacLaine, who is the godmother of his daughter. It was MacLaine who first introduced Kucinich to Griscom, whom MacLaine wrote about in her best-selling book, "Dancing in the Light." This explains a lot. Was Dennis a Roman Centurion abducted by aliens in a previous life? Griscom founded The Light Institute and Nizhoni School For Global Consciousness, both located in Galisteo, N.M., to teach people how to connect with their inner self, partially by helping them to remember their past lives. Kucinich donated $3,000 in speaking fees earned last year to Griscom's school, campaign finance reports showed. Oh! Stop It!! You're Killing Me!!! A hippie scam artist! Who'da thunk it! "He's a visionary and a statesman, and I am a visionary, so we've always gotten along," Griscom said. I'll bet you see visions. Good Peyote in that New Mexico desert? Kucinich, who is one of nine candidates competing for the Democratic nomination, has said he will decide in June whether or not to remain in the race. Please! Stay in! Who else could give us stuff like this? It's pure platinum. "The response that I get keeps getting more and more powerful," Kucinich said during an interview this week. "The fact that I write about and talk about themes that have a spiritual connection is, I think, an important part of that," he said. "People want someone who understands and has a higher concept of where our country is going." This guy is a United States Congressman. How proud his district must be. |
| Posted by:tu3031 |
| #14 "a star-forming region that is 7,000 light years from Earth, reminds him of the relationship between stardust and the human spirit." Wow!Like totally cosmic,man. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-06-04 09:17:05 |
| #13 He spoke about how the Eagle Nebula, a star-forming region that is 7,000 light years from Earth, reminds him of the relationship between stardust and the human spirit. Spokesmen for the Eagle Nebula hastened to distance it from Kucinich's remarks. "The nebula is just a nebula," said Ann Astronomer, a close confidant of the gas cloud. "It's very involved in its work in the creation of stars, and has no wish to get involved in the politics of any one planet, especially one so distant." Privately, many observers said the nebula, known as M16 to its friends, was amused that hokey speeches along the lines of "we are all stardust" could gain political traction. "This observation is good for provoking a quick frisson of wonder," reported one scientist, who wished to remain anonymous, "but it's hardly a basis for policy. The Gzh'nathortn!ns were gibbering about this 1.5 million years ago. Didn't do them any good." |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2003-06-03 20:11:24 |
| #12 Yank - I know, but I was running with the goof on those 'Picard - Riker '96' bumper stickers I saw years ago. |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-06-03 15:29:46 |
| #11 I think Kucinich will bow out of the race. After Monmdale got slaughtered, I don't see the Dems putting up a candidate this easy to defeat. Again. |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2003-06-03 15:05:58 |
| #10 NO sorry, i doubt theres any poll that shows kucinich's views mainstream of self-identified dems or registered dems. You can define core any way you want - i doubt your statement applies particularly well to donors, campaign volunteers,etc. And Marin County is hardly representative of most affluent Dem areas. The dems were shocked and awed years ago. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-06-03 14:53:13 |
| #9 Kucinich is marginal only because most Dems are pragmatic, and put winning the election above ideology. Actually, he represents the views of the new Dem. core fairly well; in affluent Democratic-voting suburbs (say, Marin County, CA), his views are absolutely mainstream. As a lifelong Democrat -- until this year -- I hope he is nominated, and then gets some 20% of the vote. The liberal Dems. need to realize how out-moded their ideology has become -- they need some political shock and awe. Maybe then they could restore their party. But until that happens, they have lost voters like me. |
| Posted by: closet neo-con 2003-06-03 13:54:57 |
| #8 Now that the Cuyahoga River won't burn anymore, ol' Dennis is advocating something else to smoke. |
| Posted by: G-Man in Chicago 2003-06-03 13:36:01 |
| #7 Raj, Picard is a Frenchman played by an Englishman. Either way he's not eligable under US election laws. |
| Posted by: Yank 2003-06-03 13:06:50 |
| #6 He's starting to sound like Jerry Brown. |
| Posted by: duane 2003-06-03 11:58:45 |
| #5 The DemocRATS' only hope - Picard / Riker 2004! |
| Posted by: Raj 2003-06-03 10:43:49 |
| #4 Oh please please please, let Kucinich or Dean be the top of the Demo ticket! The huge loss this ticket would end up with will make the McGovern and Dukakis losses look like they were down to the wire, by comparison. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-06-03 10:27:50 |
| #3 Perhaps surprising (to some), I attend a "New Age" church. I can report confidently that Kucinich doesn't have ALL the "new age" vote tied up. |
| Posted by: ColoradoConservative 2003-06-03 09:40:07 |
| #2 kucinich is marginal. Kerry may hope he draws off leftie support from Dean, just as Gephardt, Edwards and Leiberman hope Dean draws off support from Kerry. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-06-03 09:18:02 |
| #1 We have a department of Peace. Sec'ty Rumsfeld runs it well, when they let him |
| Posted by: Frank G 2003-06-03 08:56:25 |