Editorials & Other Articles

midnight

(26,624 posts) Wed Mar 7, 2012, 09:00 AM Mar 2012

What America Lost When Dennis Kucinich Lost

by John Nichols
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a two-time presidential candidate who for the past decade has been the most consistent critic of war and militarism in the U.S. House of Representatives, was defeated Tuesday in a Democratic primary that pitted him against fellow progressive Marcy Kaptur.
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a two-time presidential candidate who for the past decade has been the most consistent critic of war and militarism in the U.S. House of Representatives, was defeated Tuesday in a Democratic primary that pitted him against fellow progressive Marcy Kaptur. (File)

Kucinich was the first electoral victim of the current round of redistricting, which saw congressional districts redrawn in states across the country after the 2010 Census. A Republican governor and legislature carved up northern Ohio districts with an eye toward eliminating at least one Democratic seat, and they achieved their goal by forcing Kucinich and Kaptur into the same district.

That district favored Kaptur and, after a hard-fought race she prevailed by a 56-39 margin, with the remainder going to a third candidate.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/03/07

5 replies

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Highlight:

What America Lost When Dennis Kucinich Lost (Original Post) midnight Mar 2012 OP

"A Congress without Dennis Kucinich will be a lesser branch." Auggie Mar 2012 #1

Kucinich, Grayson, Feingold zipplewrath Mar 2012 #2

Alan Grayson 90-percent Mar 2012 #3

Very sad to hear this. Another GOP gerrymandering WIN. freshwest Mar 2012 #4

Yet another step towards monolithic parties n2doc Mar 2012 #5

Auggie

(31,207 posts)

1. "A Congress without Dennis Kucinich will be a lesser branch."

Reply to midnight (Original post)

Wed Mar 7, 2012, 09:08 AM

Mar 2012

Yep

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)

2. Kucinich, Grayson, Feingold

Reply to midnight (Original post)

Wed Mar 7, 2012, 09:22 AM

Mar 2012

It gets harder every day to believe that anyone close to a "true progressive" can be elected in this country. They aren't even embraced within the democratic party, much less the country as a whole.

The unfortunate side effect of the radicalization of the GOP and its steady march into insanity, is that it has pulled the democratic party to the right as the moderate republicans leave the GOP and vote for the most right leaning democrats. We don't even have a TWO party system anymore. We have one party, and all those nuts on the right. And the centrists in the democratic party constantly use the fear of the nutballs as an excuse to try to silence the left side of the party. "What do you want, PALIN for president????".

90-percent

(6,829 posts)

3. Alan Grayson

Reply to zipplewrath (Reply #2)

Wed Mar 7, 2012, 10:20 AM

Mar 2012

http://www.congressmanwithguts.com

Alan's running again in his former district in Florida. He's getting $10 a month from me all the way to this November.

And I have his bumper sticker on my Ranger tailgate.

And I live in northwest Connecticut.

It's the least I can do.

And I have to do the same for Elizabeth Warren!

IT WOULD BE A LOT EASIER if their donation links took paypal. hint-hint

-90% Jimmy

PS - Dennis was my first choice for the Democratic Nomination for President in 2008. I put $50 where my mouth is on that one. And I will do it again for Dennis, in which ever arena he chooses. I ain't exactly the Koch Brothers, but, I am never ever giving up.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)

4. Very sad to hear this. Another GOP gerrymandering WIN.

Reply to midnight (Original post)

Wed Mar 7, 2012, 10:26 AM

Mar 2012

n2doc

(47,953 posts)

5. Yet another step towards monolithic parties

Reply to midnight (Original post)

Wed Mar 7, 2012, 02:47 PM

Mar 2012

Sure, people disagreed with Kucinich on some issues, but as the article points out, he was one of the few true anti-war voices in congress. There is tremendous value in that. I am sure Kaptur will continue to be a fine congresswoman. Maybe she will even speak out against some of the war mongering and lost rights we are experiencing. But I wish we hadn't been forced to make this choice.

By the way, her opponent in the General election is none other than Joe the (not really) Plumber. Hope she kicks his butt to the curb.

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