Kucinich admits: "The votes aren't there"

Good interview with Dennis Kucinich in Salon (get a subscription, cheapskate).

One particular statement stuck out, though. Kucinich was asked whether he supported the impeachment of President Bush. He responded (emphasis mine):

First of all, as a matter of practical politics, there's not going to be the votes in the House to be able to deliver any articles. Secondly, there won't be the votes in the Senate to deliver a conviction. And third, why go through the exercise when we're right at the verge of a presidential election?

Wha--? "Practical politics"? "There won't be the votes"?

If the right thing is to impeach Bush--and clearly, given that Kucinich believes (as I do) that Bush lied to get us into war, impeachment is the right thing to do--why doesn't he get that process started?

Someone asked him that question when I saw him speak in April. His response was similar: "The votes aren't there."

"The votes aren't there." Hmm... "The votes aren't there."

Why does this sentiment sound so familiar?

Oh. Wait. I know. Because that's exactly why I don't support Dennis Kucinich for President.

Unlike some Dems who don't support Kucinich, I like him. I like his vision for the world ("war is not inevitable; peace is inevitable"), I admire his passion, he struck me as dead honest when I saw him in person. The way Dennis Kucinich wants the world to be? That's how I want it to be, too.

But the votes aren't there. Clearly. As clearly as the votes aren't there to impeach Bush.

Here is my altered version of Kucinich's words. The words in brackets are all I needed to replace/add. "So, Brian, do you support Dennis Kucinich for President?"

First of all, as a matter of practical politics, there's not going to be the votes in the [primary election] to be able to deliver [the nomination]. Secondly, there won't be the votes in the [general election] to deliver [the White House]. And third, why go through the exercise when we're right at the verge of a [vitally important] presidential election?

The meaning of the last sentence is slightly altered, but the rest pretty much tracks.

I'm actually feeling a little bit of relief right now. The decision to switch from Kucinich to Dean wasn't easy.

But now at least I know one thing: Dennis Kucinich understands why I'm not supporting him.

(UPDATE: My guess is that Ralph Nader wouldn't understand.)