Why hasn't Kucinich run for Senator or Governor yet?

:shrug: Wouldn't that do wonders for his presidential aspirations?

I'm not sure just when that is, though...

:shrug:

:rofl:

in 2010?

:shrug:

My opinion, for what it is worth, is that he runs to force certain issues into the public debate, issues that otherwise would have been ignored. Do you really think that the on-going Iraq occupation or the environment would have even been mentioned by Obama, Clinton and Edwards in the primary, if Kucinich had not been out there talking about them?

If he is happy in the House, I'm happy. I would rather get him reelected as an incumbent than have him risk it all and lose. (Oddly enough, you can run for President and for Congress in the same year, but you cannot run for both the US House and the US Senate in the same year.)

Being a gadfly alone doesn't get much done.

as for the Iraq occupation and the environment, there are many other democrats who care about those issues to lay all the credit at DK's feet.

His congressional record of accomplishment is fine by any standard. He has passed more bills than Pelosi in their time in Congress together. And that's despite the fact he can't move his signature agenda items in a body where most members are far to his right. That would be unrealistic to expect and is no measure of real effectiveness.

And of course there is more to serving in Congress than passing legislation. It's the public deliberative body of our nation - the grandest soapbox. DK gives voice in that body to millions of Americans who would otherwise not be represented in our system that rewards centrism. His voice of conscience is there when others are not. He forces other politicians and media to address uncomfortable issues they would rather not discuss. He often sheds light on Congressional workings that others don't.

All of these things and more are forms of effective and courageous leadership.

:fistbump:

They didn't for a moment think that they would get elected. They wanted elements of their platforms displayed and debated. One of them was running for governor.

Another, a former employer, friend, state representative, senator, president of the state senate and Lt. governor is so scary on issues that she only has to be quoted on an issue for it to be discussed and debated. That's not having your finger in the pie...that's waiting for the pie to be served.

Kooch is fine where he's at. I agree that he doesn't want the job, he wants to be heard and he is.

S/SW.

The S/SW corner of Ohio sends us John Boehner and Mean Jean Schmidt, and is not fertile ground for Kucinich.

Seems like a pretty likely answer to me.

He's been my candidate since 2003, but nobody seems to take him seriously even though he's been right, time after time. He's marginalized for being too "liberal..." Oh, no!!! :eyes:

I won't go into the political troubles Dennis would have outside of Cleveland (especially in the Southern part of the state), but one other thing that DK has proven to do poorly...fundraise and run an efficient campaign. Without that kind of organization, any statewide or national office is all but impossible.