From our beginnings in the 18th century, the United States of America has been the underdog in the international scene. Though our underdog status has left us long ago, the American people have a penchant for rooting for the underdog that is exemplified in rooting for sports teams and characters in Hollywood movies. Some Americas even latch on to underdogs in the political arena in hopes to accomplish items in their civic and economic agenda. We have seen the far left shouting from the rooftops that health care reform is not going far enough. They site their hero Representative Dennis Kucinich as the underdog who can lead them to salvation. But this is just not the case.
Moulitsas [of DailyKos] argues that the congressman hasn’t accomplished anything at all, and — though I know I’m going to get slammed for saying this — I have to agree. Sure, it’s good to see a politician standing up for his beliefs and fighting for a point of view that might not otherwise be represented. But there are ways to do that and simultaneously be an effective legislator. Kucinich simply isn’t, and he’s never really tried hard to be. (You could also argue — I would — that the way he goes about things makes him pretty ineffective as a spokesman for his ideals.)
In fact, Kucinich has been a congressman since 1997 and only 3 pieces of legislation he has sponsored have become law. Wowsa. Simply put, you can’t call yourself a progressive if you move nothing forward. If I were a Republican, Kucinich would be my favorite Democrat Congressman — that’s how ineffective he is.