In Oddball Interview, Dennis Kucinich Questions Bin Laden Raid, Refuses to Blame Syrian Government

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich is known for his sometimes kooky commentary. In one example back in 2007, he told viewers during a presidential debate that he has personally seen a UFO in the sky.

While millions of Americans can surely relate to seeing something they couldn't quite identify overhead, Kucinich's statement that he felt a connection "in his heart" when he saw the "triangular craft" and that he heard "directions" in his mind is a bit more difficult to believe.  Watch him discuss it below:

In a recent audio interview, Kucinich leaves behind the extraterrestrial to provide his perspective on some more pressing matters -- Bin Laden and Syria's ongoing government crackdown. According to The Plain Dealer, the Congressional lawmaker refused to lay blame on the Syrian government for its recent attacks on protesters, offering what almost seemed like a quasi-defense of the Assad regime:

"We also understand that there's very serious questions raised about the conduct of the Syrian police, but we also know the Syrian police were fired upon and that many police were murdered," Kucinich continued...

"I've read where President Assad has made certain commitments, and I would imagine that when things finally settle down, that President Assad will move in a direction of democratic reforms," Kucinich said. "He has already made that commitment from what I can see."

When the conversation moved to the Bin Laden raid, Kucinich explained why he decided to vote "present," rather than joining the vast majority of his Congressional peers in a congratulatory vote that merely aimed to support the intelligence community for its anti-terror actions:

Kucinich was one of only four House members to vote present on the congratulatory measure, which passed 406 to 0. Twenty-one House members didn't vote. The same measure also passed the U.S. Senate without opposition.

"I think that's a debate that is worth having," Kucinich said, adding that the resolution suggested the matter was closed.

"We understand what Osama Bin Laden stood for," he said. "But the deeper question is: 'What do we stand for?' Not what he stands for, what do we stand for? And what direction are we going? That is a concern I have."

Kucinich said he couldn't really discuss whether the action was handled appropriately because "I was not in that room, I don't know how it went down."

File these most recent quips under "Kucinich says the darndest things." What will he come up with next?