LIKE THE LATE, GREAT PAUL WELLSTONE WHO CARED DEEPLY ABOUT PEOPLE, ISSUES AND PEACE … OHIO CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH IS IN THE SAME MOLD … The Following Articles and Press Releases Were Sent To Me By Fellow NYC Kucitizen – Thank You Linda

DENNIS KUCINICH SPEAKING FROM THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE
Congressman Kucinich introduced H. Con. Res. 450 on Wednesday, July 18th, calling upon the President "to appeal to all sides in the current crisis in the Middle East for an immediate cessation of violence and to commit United States diplomats to multi-party negotiations with no preconditions."

"Mr. Speaker, we make war with such certainty, yet are befuddled how to create peace. This paradox requires reflection if we are to survive. Making and endorsing war requires a secret love of death, a fearful desire to embrace annihilation. Creating peace requires compassion, putting ourselves in the other person's place, and all of their suffering and all of their hopes, and to act from our heart's capacity for love, not fear. The fight against terrorism in the 21st century is beginning to have the feel of the fight against communism in the 20th century, conjuring of enemies, scapegoating, and wanton destruction. Our war on terror has become a war of error, so we blame the exercise, our capacity for warmaking. And because we have not yet begun to explore our capacity for peacemaking, we are reduced to a predatory voyeurism, once making war, watching war, being aghast at war, impotent to stop our own creation. We are the most powerful Nation, but we do not have the power to reserve for our self or to grant to our allies an exemption from the laws of cause and effect. The fate of the world hangs in the balance, and until we consciously choose peace over war, life over death, the balance is tipping toward mutually assured destruction."

STATEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN DENNIS J. KUCINICH ON THE VETO OVERRIDE OF THE STEM CELL RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT ACT
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=47366
“This debate is not about whether or not embryonic stem cell research should occur. The Administration is not stopping private embryonic stem cell research. It just opposes the expansion of public stem cell research. The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act is the safest, most ethically and morally sound way to proceed with this potentially life-saving scientific advancement. The private sector is not restricted from such research. The legislation, vetoed today, would have expanded the number of frozen embryos to be used for stem cell research by the Federal Government. Federally sponsored research is subject to greater oversight and safeguards and higher ethical standards. Recent scientific breakthroughs have demonstrated that embryonic stem cell research has life saving potential. It could result in saving millions of lives. It could be the answer to the prayers of those who suffer from Parkinson's, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injuries and other debilitating conditions. Embryonic stem cell research will continue with or without the federal government. This bill would have expanded federal research, which will be subject to greater oversight and safeguards. I disagree with the President’s decision to veto this important legislation and hope Congress will continue to work to advance this important, and life saving research.”

PDA ANNOUNCES SUPPORT OF CONGRESSMAN KUCINICH’S H.CON.RES 450
Congressman Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, will introduce a resolution Wednesday that calls on President Bush to appeal to all sides for a cessation of hostilities in the Israeli-Lebanon conflict and to commit the United States to multi-party negotiations. The resolution already has 20 co-sponsors. Progressive Democrats of America is supporting the Kucinich effort and asking PDA members to write to their representatives urging their support for the measure. See link:
http://capwiz.com/pdamerica/issues/alert/?alertid=8919726&type=CO

LEBANON IN CRISIS; BUSH, MOST DEMOCRATS IN DENIAL
John Nichols, The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?bid=1&pid=103517

"The continuing violence in the Middle East is spiraling out of control and is on the verge of being full-out regional war in which there will be no winners," says Kucinich. "The US has a moral obligation to become immediately engaged and to try to seek a peaceful resolution to the situation. This Administration must seek an immediate cease-fire and return all sides to the negotiating table." "The region urgently needs diplomatic assistance," the congressman adds. "The only way the US can reclaim its role, as a mediator is to speak and act like a mediator. Unfortunately, the Administration is making statements that only will contribute to escalation." Kucinich is right. This is a testing time for members of Congress. Those who join Kucinich in calling for action to ease the conflict will be remembered as leaders - and as the true friends of Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and a battered peace process. Those who fail to do so will deserve to be remembered - and vilified -- for their failure to act when a humanitarian crisis unfolded before the eyes of the world.