Rep. Dennis Kucinich won't deny reports he'll seek a Washington state congressional seat

Source: The Plain Dealer

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ohio will lose two congressional seats in next year's redistricting, while Washington state will gain one.

A trip to Washington state by Rep. Dennis Kucinich last weekend set West Coast media abuzz with rumors that that the Cleveland Democratic congressman plans to seek their state's new congressional seat.

Kucinich's office won't deny those rumors. After the former Cleveland mayor and longshot presidential candidate put out the word nationwide that his current district may be zeroed out when Ohio's congressional seats are remapped, his spokesman says he "received requests from people in 20 states, including Washington state, encouraging him to move and run in their area."

"Congressman Kucinich appreciates the interest expressed in his public service," Kucinich spokesman Nathan White said in an email. "As he has repeatedly said, he fully intends to remain in Congress; he just doesn't know in what district he will run. In the meantime, he is devoted to serving Ohio's 10th district as it currently stands."

Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/05/rep_dennis_kucinich_wont_deny.html

No Person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to the Age of twenty five Years, and been seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and who shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant of that State in which he shall be chosen.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A1Sec2

Happens a lot after vindictive redistricting, actually

He simply beat out the competition on the Democratic side in the primary because he has statewide recognition and had some DC experience on the resume.

He can see the district from his front porch though so it's not quite as dramatic as a Kucinich leap to the west coast would be.

and it may not all be about "redistricting"....

Of course he's finally feeling some of the reverb from that. If Dems cared less about being corporate shills and more about they people they wouldn't attack him so frequently on a regional and national scale and hell, he wouldn't have to attack them either.

However, it is what it is as long as these people continue to try to use Congress as their personal piggy banks and tool to allow them to commit crimes.

Rp

& grant all these qualifiers if the president's numbers looked like that. You don't have to answer, I think I already know. ;) Kooch's fanbase can find a myriad of excuses when it comes to his numerous failures to launch. It's the media; it's the corporate DLC; it's Martians; it's the boogeyman, blah..blah..blah. Ever consider that the American electorate just ain't that into Dennis? :shrug:

I think the general concensus amongst his fans is that it's everyone else's fault that DK isn't ruler of the universe. If only we mere mortals were as smart as you guys. :eyes:

He bothers a lot of people because of his insistence on telling the truth regardless of party loyalty. He takes his duty as a Representative of the people seriously.

As for your 'poll', the only polls that count are elections, and so far, he's been reelected at least eight times. Nice try though, Kucinich haters are actually funny especially those on the left.

Why? Because they can never answer this simple question: "What issues do you disagree with him on"! Never, I have yet to receive an answer to that question from a hater of this great Democratic Congressman.

Instead, they sink into the trap of personal insults, demonstratin their fear that getting into a real discussion based on Democratic principles, they will not be capable of explaining their vitriolic hatred for one of Congress's best Democratic Representatives.

You are not one of them, and you know exactly why, and as an educator of young minds, I should think you would be ashamed.

Again, proving my theory about Kucinich bashers.

Issues don't much matter

...that they don't care what anybody else thinks or what it would take to make it happen.

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in my thread, but I see someone alerted and got the entire subthread deleted.

Daily Kos?? No one hates Liberals more than Kos and his minions. That blog has little credibility with progressives, tens of thousands of whom either simply left or were banned for being too liberal.

I would expect nothing less than some par-for-the-course Kucinich bashing from DK (funny that they share the same initials). They outdo Freepers in their attacks on real Democratic members of Congress like Kucinich. Always have, with the owner of the blog leading the pack. But then he's a 'former' Reagan Republican so it's not surprising at all that while he poses as a 'liberal' he has demonstrated over and over again how much he despises them in reality.

Wherever he decides to run, he will get plenty of support. Or would you rather a Blue Dog or Republican in his place? Because that is the alternative and I get the impression that some people on the left would actually prefer a Repub. to someone like Kucinich who actually stands up for the Democratic Party's stated platform.

I would truly love to hear what about the Party Platform you don't like, but I know I will not get an answer to that question.

have to do with Kooch's legislative success? It's a matter of record, but nice try. Oh, and I'm sure Kos has spent many sleepless nights cause you left. :rofl:

Still waiting for the answer to my question. :hi:

a link to his ramblings on Kucinich? The man is an embarrassment to the left. Why would I care what he thinks? IF he thinks at all, which is questionable.

There are no polls taken in other parts of the world on any of our politicians, other than maybe the president. So where did you come up with the idea that I said there were? Do you often just make stuff up like that?

However, Canada just had elections, and the new opposition party there which ousted the old one, has been described in Canada as being the equivalent of a 'caucus of Kuciniches and Sanderses'. They just gained dozens of seats in Canada's government. So I guess Canadians like what he stands for. But then most progressives do.

Did you forget your proclamation? Let me refresh your memory.



http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=433&topic_id=660103&mesg_id=662612

I don't care about Canada. Maybe they can draw a new district for Dennis. Enough evasion, put up the proof that backs your assertion, or admit that you're prone to making stuff up. It's as simple as that. I would hope, as "an educator" you wouldn't allow your students to do this. If you can't back it up, perhaps you should use "IMHO" in the future? :shrug: And please, I don't want to hear something you heard from your 9th cousin, twice removed, in Moldavia or some such.

So, "catch us all up on what's going on in the world". Thanks in advance. :hi:

even save them!

You still haven't answered the question. What issues do you disagree with Kucinich on? Why is it so hard to answer that question?

Oh, and read the quote you just posted. Now show me where the word 'polls' is mentioned.

And Canada is not part of the 'rest of the world'? :rofl: I thought we were over thinking of Canada as 'not part of the rest of the world'!

'A caucus of Kuciniches and Sanderses'!! Reported in Canada this week, and they took over the opposition party position! Go Dennis! A role model for other parts of the world!

You're dishonest, and thank heaven no child of mine ever sat in your classroom. I think this shows the whole of DU that you have no integrity, and that you make stuff up. You have evaded & equivocated for days now, and can't bring yourself to admit that your mouth wrote a check, your a** couldn't cash.

"IMHO"...Remember that tag for the future, before you go speaking for the whole of Europe. Mmmmkay? :thumbsdown: "Educator"? Yeah right. :eyes:

On what issues do you disagree with Kucinich?

As for the rest of your ramblings, I'll let others judge them, although I do believe they are in violation of DU rules. However, I am of the beleif that such diatribes should be left for others to see. :hi:

I'm still waiting for an answer although my hopes are fading I will ever get one.

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/03/10/kos_kucinich/index.html

The liberal case against Dennis Kucinich

By Alex Koppelman









That's some record of achievement, huh? :eyes:

Kucinich had a large role in successfully organizing the Democratic opposition to Bush's IWR.

Yes we went to war, but you can't blame Kooch for those Dems in the Senate who chose to go along with Bush's program.

Somehow, I doubt you'd be so critical of his record if he had simply played the partisan game and acted like a good obedient lapdog.

:rofl:

The man HATES Kucinich, always has. I explained why in my other post. Moulitsas has little credibility among progressives in general, it's interesting that you would use such a well-known pretender to make a case against a real, progressive Democratic member of Congress.

What you just posted is standard Liberal bashing from kos. Kos, part of the problem and for a very long time too.

As for the substance, if you can call it that, as I said, but will repeat, Kos left out as he often does, pertinent information using the old trick of 'lying by ommission'. Have you checked the records of other members of Congress who have been there even longer than Kucinich? His record is better than some even some that might surprise people, and not all a sign of 'accomplishing nothing'. But we're talking Kos here. The only people who outdo kos on Kucinich are freepers.

I don't click on links to DK if I can avoid it. But I don't have to as kos is old and tired in his same old, same old 'I hate liberals' routine. Not a source I would ever use to put forward Democratic values.

and who isn't. You're as delusional as DK. Still waiting for that poll that declares Kooch is "very popular" in Europe. I'll be waiting over here >>>> :rofl:

A district where he would actually know people and issues.

I live in Dave Reichert's (R) district, one of the districts most likely to be split, and it's been held by a Republican for decades. If Kucinich won a primary here, he'd never get past the general. The kind of candidate who can win here is Maria Cantwell, a smart woman with business experience. If the district is split, Suzan del Bene -- with her progressive views and strong business background -- would have a great chance here. Kucinich practically none.

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thread. I love the post that says 'he won by 53% last year but he's not popular at home'. Hilarious. And they call him 'Kootch' and such the same folks who would have a tizzy if anyone called the President by any name but his own,no nick name allowed.
Trashy behavior from rightists is to be expected.

Why on earth would anybody take this idea seriously?

and he wouldn't be running against the big national Democratic heavy hitters?
Really, think before you post.

Until the 2012 election he represents the current district.

So as of 2012 he doesn't have a district to represent anymore

:crazy: :eyes:

of course he's the only rep the state has.

Why I reckon you don't even think he's Old Timey!

but he couldn't win a Democratic primary in any district in Washington. McDermott has a lock on the most liberal district in the state and he isn't planning to retire. There is a small core of Kucinich support in Whatcom County, too, but that district as a whole is more conservative.

stick, and he'll lose. I don't actually believe he'll do it though.

I see this all the time, this false implication about his record, although mostly from rightwingers. His record is normal for Representatives who have served a similar amount of time in Congress. Better than some, not as good as others, like the high profile crowd who manage to pass more rightleaning legislation because they believe in 'compromise and bi-partisanship' over principles.

And if Democrats in Congress would back more progressive legislation instead of bending over backwards to get Republicans on board, his record would instantly improve. One of the reasons why this election is so important, to get more people like Kucinich in Congress so that his excellent stand on Democratic issues has the support it deserves.

It doesn't.

his record is awesome. Hard to believe he ever got anything passed considering our rightwing government and the Big Business interests that control it.

I would believe in him a lot more if he believed in his own ideas enough to actually write legislation that could go somewhere.

Congress. We've been through this many times. Most members have dozens of bills that die in committee.

This is the old trick of not showing the records of other members. In fact, as I said already, his record is better than others some of whom don't even try to introduce legislation, or have no bills make it out of committee.

He also has supported the legislation of others, which is also very important.

OK, let's look at his cohort: Democrats first elected in 1998 who have stayed in the House since then. Luckily I like spreadsheets...

(all data are from GovTrack)

There are 25 such Representatives, which is a decent-sized sample. First let's sort on absolute number of introduced bills passed (sorry for the tabs; apparently there's no <pre> tag on DU):

Rep Introduced Died Passed Pct Died Pct Passed
Danny Davis 98 85 7 86.7346938776 7.1428571429
David Price 61 55 6 90.1639344262 9.8360655738
Bob Etheridge 52 44 6 84.6153846154 11.5384615385
Juanita McDonald 121 112 6 92.5619834711 4.958677686
James McGovern 89 80 6 89.8876404494 6.7415730337
Silvestre Reyes 75 57 6 76 8
Carolyn McCarthy 151 143 5 94.701986755 3.3112582781
Bill Delahunt 66 54 5 81.8181818182 7.5757575758
Ruben Hinojosa 67 45 5 67.1641791045 7.4626865672
Dennis Kucinich 107 102 4 95.3271028037 3.738317757
Marion Berry 82 78 3 95.1219512195 3.6585365854
Vic Snyder 23 20 3 86.9565217391 13.0434782609
Allen Boyd 24 18 3 75 12.5
Leonard Boswell 77 74 3 96.1038961039 3.8961038961
Ron Kind 111 97 3 87.3873873874 2.7027027027
Bill Pascrell 133 126 2 94.7368421053 1.5037593985
Ellen Tauscher 118 115 2 97.4576271186 1.6949152542
Jim Davis 18 14 2 77.7777777778 11.1111111111
Darlene Hooley 115 106 2 92.1739130435 1.7391304348
Loretta Sanchez 71 66 1 92.9577464789 1.4084507042
Diana DeGette 101 95 1 94.0594059406 0.9900990099
Robert Wexler 60 53 1 88.3333333333 1.6666666667
Carolyn Kilpatrick 32 31 1 96.875 3.125
Adam Smith 62 57 1 91.935483871 1.6129032258
John Tierney 51 51 0 100 0


OK, he's 10th out of 25, which is better than I thought.

Rather than spam the board with more tables, let me just list his ranking by the other columns:

By bills introduced, he is 7th.

By bills killed in committee, he is 6th.

By percent of bills killed in committee, he is 5th.

By percent of bills passed, he is 13th.

So, in terms of getting his bills out of committee, he's rather sub-par in his cohort, although his bills that survive seem to do better than others' out of committee, because in terms of his percent of bills passed out of committee that then become law he's 5th (that column isn't shown because Tierney makes you divide by zero).

So, by what percent of his bills get passed, he's exactly in the middle of his cohort, and your point is taken. He's a high-volume backbencher whose bills do well the rare times they make it out of committee (it would be interesting to break down how well his bills did by what party controlled the House, but I don't have those data). Which, again, is not a great record to run on in a foreign district.

Interestingly, Vic Snyder, Bob Etheridge, and Jim Davis are apparently bill-passing machines.

Found it, and it looks worse for DK

Like most of these people, all of his bills that made it out of committee did so in the 110th and 111th Congresses. His were:

1. Honorary posthumous citizenship for Casimir Pulaski
2. & 3. Renaming two post offices.
4. An Underground Railroad museum reauthorization that is still languishing in the Senate

Compare some of the bills his cohort have introduced and passed:

Boswell: a veterans' suicide prevention act

Etheridge: a bill to get more of the farm bill to go to small farms and less to industrial farms, and an inland flood warning system (under a GOP Congress, no less)

Price: the 2010 homeland security appropriation and the 2009 continuing resolution

Reyes: the 2008, 2009, and 2010 intelligence appropriations (2008 vetoed by Bush) and the 2008 FISA amendments

Delahunt: the 2008 student financial aid reform bill

Hinojosa: a water conservation act for the Rio Grande valley and two rural HUD appropriations

Danny Davis: the 2008 DC appropriations act, the Second Chance Act, and the 2008 GAO act

McGovern: the 2008 budget

Having done it numerous times before, I was not in the mood to do so again. But as you can see, those who post numbers hoping others are not aware of how Congress works, and what the records of others are, are being deliberately disingenuous. They have zero credibility with me whenever I see this tactic.

But you took the trouble to get the information which gives you credibility as far as I am concerned.

He has not passed earth-shaking legislation, but then the kind he would be interested in passing, like defunding the wars eg, would never make it out of Committee in the current climate of DC. And he would never get a Single Payer Bill out of Committee either. Legislation most likely to pass would be funding for Homeland Security, a complete waste of tax-payer money, but in the current climate, viewed as a must vote or be seen as not caring about security.

So, considering where this country is, what his issues are, it's amazing he ever got anything at all out of Committtee, let alone passed. We need more people who support the issues he supports in Congress and who are not afraid to vote against these wars eg. But at least he keeps the issues alive as this country goes through this dark period. There are very few in Congress who even try anymore.

Anyhow, thank you again for being willing to do more than just jump on the 'oh he never even got anything out of committee' bandwagon. I respect that.

for what is likely to become the new district, since Reichert's district is much too big -- Suzan Del Bene. We don't need Kucinich.

candidates. Dennis will get the beat down of his life delivered by a superior candidate.

for years by a Republican. It's crazy to think that Kucinich would have a chance here.

I miss Washington.

to become the new district. Suzan del Bene did an excellent job against Reichert in the last election, and will do even better when the district is split. We Washingtonians don't need Kucinich to come here and save us. We've been doing fine growing our own candidates.

Kucinich is thinking of running for the House in a district that hasn't been drawn yet, knowing nothing about the economic, ethnic or political situation of his prospective voters or the issue they care about. I think he has a rather inflated sense of his own importance to the legislative process.

of no reason to assume he can't familiarize himself with information or learn about people.

We organized to beat his $1,000,000 opponent Cimperman a few years ago, now he folds.

Ohio lost 2 Congressional Seats. And with all Repugnants ruling Ohio, I'm sure they want to get rid of Dennis. Repugs will be re-drawing the Congressional Districts.

be a strong liberal, tell the voters not to be dupes of corporations and the voters will just love you.

:popcorn:

tell the truth, rather than we've got, candidates who are bought by Big Business who sell their principles out of fear of losing. Kucinich has proven over several elections, that they are wrong, that without taking huge payoffs from Big Business, a candidate who truly represents Democratic principles, CAN get elected, over and over again.

Too bad there are not more like him. I find it odd to see democrats not wanting real democratic candidates to succeed. Can you explain on what issues you, as a democrat, disagree with him?

but he's hardly some lone progressive. My rep is just as progressive and far more effective. My previous rep, bernie was also just as progressive and far more effective.

And things just continue to get worse as moderates continue to be almost completely (and deliberately) ineffective at passing and preserving good progressive social and economic legislation.

The WH, Senate, and House were completely controlled by centrists from Jan 2009 to Jan 2011.

And they didn't get jack shit done and, as a consequence, got buried in a landslide the 2010 election.

Now were fighting a losing battle for our lives and our rights as republicans steamroll us on the state level.

Moderate politics is epic fail.

The only saving grace is that republicans will screw it up so bad that people will elect Democrats again. But that's 1 step forward and 10 steps back.

And then, moderate Democratic voters will once again drink the MSM kool-aid from their tv's, and proceed to nominate more moderate Democrats, and the cycle of ineffectiveness will be repeated as the country continues to move farther to the right, and deeper and deeper into the ground.

And moderates will once again wonder why. Golly gee, what happened, Batman?

There is a word for people that keep doing the same thing over and over, and expect a different result.
:puke:

You're right: no important legislation was passed in 2009 and 2010.

If you were in a coma.

Perhaps he is afraid that Betty Sutton will clean his clock in a primary election.

At least in theory there should be a liberal district without an incumbent opening up in 2012.

You know outside of his small area of support in his district in Ohio, he would be toast.

I don't think voters in my district would want much to do with Kucinich, as we already have someone that actually gets things done.

about the people that voted for him all these years.

Real kick in the nuts, ya think?

He sold us out on the public option.

He's followed the bush policy of indefinite detention for GITMO detainees.

He's still funneling tons of money to contractors like Blackwater/Xe in Iraq and Afghanistan.

He's let the bankers who caused the global financial crisis to go scot-free (and enjoy their taxpayer-provided bonuses.)

He's given tax cuts to the rich and cut heating services to the poor.

And he's given a free pass to the bushcheney torture administration.

Yeah, he's a professional politician who no longer cares about the people that voted for him all these years. Real kick in the nuts, ya think?

Barack Obama has been a real letdown.

Pick and choose your poutrage, I'll stick with facts instead of feelings.


And Dennis is still toast.

If you and the Blue Link Brigade can find time in your busy schedule of hero-worship, that is.

If I had to guess, I'd guess that it's no accident that Dennis will be re-districted out. Centrist Democrats don't stick up for left-of-center Democrats, while Centrist Republicans stick up for the farthest loony right that their party produces.it's one of the many ways that the goalposts get moved rightward every year. And we wonder why we keep having to drive the ball 80 yards just to get to the 50 yard line.

the midterms. We're feeling the pain of voter apathy or "disappointment".

The effectiveness is moot.

Take it how you want. I don't live in OH or WA, so I don't really give a crap. :shrug:

"You're dishonest... . I think this shows the whole of DU that you have no integrity, and that you make stuff up. You have evaded & equivocated for days now, and can't bring yourself to admit that your mouth wrote a check, your a** couldn't cash."

only options are two unsatisfactory candidates, I can't say 100% of the blame is "squarely' theirs, either.

what it voted for, and so is WI & FL & IN, etc. I'm sorry, but you can make excuses for why people did or didn't vote, but I'm looking at the outcome of "disappointment", and now most want a "do-over". Well, too late. Just ask Russ Feingold & Alan Grayson.

They should be happy with what they have.

High unemployment, endless wars, enormous debt from bailing out banks who committed fraud and got off scot-free.

Ungrateful bastards. :sarcasm:

after the mandate they got in 2008?

If so, then they are worthless.

Recent polling says YES. As a matter of fact, a Dem just won a special election in WI. I don't care what you guys do. I have a Dem President, a Dem Governor, a Dem Senator, and a Dem House Rep, and my life's just fine...thank you very much. And guess what? I voted. :hi:

don't know much about politics, and view the parties by how they treat groups, I'd say they are finding out that neither party is willing to help them.

Now it's a choice of voting for the lesser evil. Yay, democracy.

Oh, and I voted too.

:eyes:

THE NATURE OF BELIEF SYSTEMS IN MASS PUBLICS"
http://www.brucesabin.com/nature_of_belief_systems.html

While most Americans have little understanding of political issues, the ‘elites,' politicians, and political scientists often think of the electorate as being ideologically complex. The reason, according to Converse, is that the politically active represent a small group of mostly well educated elites. The people who get the most contact with politicians are the active elites. Regrettably, the elites are such a small minority of the electorate that they have only marginal impact on elections. The vast amount of political weight is carried by people who cannot accurately differentiate between ‘liberal' and ‘conservative.'

In order to test people's understanding of party values, respondents were asked to link issues that were related according to party values. Converse chose issues that he considered to be easily understood by anyone with minimal political knowledge–simply that liberals who support expanding welfare domestically are also likely to support increasing foreign economic aid. Most people were unable to even make that simple connection of values.

~snip~

In looking at history, Converse attempted to show that major ideological debates have little impact on elections. Converse cited evidence that during the election of Abraham Lincoln, most Northerners had little, if any, knowledge of the tremendously heated debate concerning slavery. Similarly, during the Un-American Activities hearings of the 1950s, a third of Americans surveyed were unable to name a single Representative or Senator conducting the investigations. People, in essence, are socially ignorant on even the most dominating issues.

The only time people displayed some semblance of ideological constraint was on issues that clearly and directly affected them personally. For example, blacks and Southerners were likely to retain beliefs concerning desegregation. The more remote an issue was from the person's daily life, the less likely the person was to have a constrained opinion, or even to have knowledge that the issue was in debate.

There are purely objective mathematical ways to draw congressional districts, and I think it should be done in every state. If the Democratic party really wants to be a populist party, I think they should push for this. There are ways that they could, for instance, by giving nationwide party financial support to places where this is done or suggested by a Democratic opposition. They could also favour states with such laws in presidential primaries.

Of course I'm dreaming here. We're fucked. Sometimes I just can't help but point out that there are very simple fixes that would go a long way to fixing big problems.

However, it's likely that Kucinich will purposefully be drawn into a congressional district that is nothing like the one he's been representing, and/or his district will just be sliced into several pieces with weird shapes. The just want him out. If they left it up to chance he might still lose his district, but at least he'd have the same chance as anyone else. To have your district drawn not because of what's good for the people but for petty grievances over one politician is crazy.

draw another district similar to the one which he currently represent?

Every single district would probably change, and that would be a-ok, because it would be even across the board.

Once you go inland from the coast Washington state gets red pretty fast. Dennis wouldn't stand much of a chance in a district based in the eastern part of the state.

John Oliver was brutal to him--and Dennis behaved oddly, I thought.

Come to Vancouver/Camas, WA and run against Jamie Hererra, the Republican who took over the seat after our prior congressman retired. We need you here and now.

will flock to vote for them no matter what.

...in places where they aren't currently.

No one has to 'pop up' out here. But the fully blue west coast notes that a few East Coast voices take issue with Ohio and Washington. Funny that the West Coast posters think Dennis should run and are asking him to run, but the critical voices are all from the East Coast. I'm sure the people of Washington State are yearning for the wisdom of the East Coast to guide them. Good luck with your campaign!

freaking out about the idea of a Democrat running in a State they've never been to. It is very telling.

Of course, while demanding that we support the party come what may.

It's fine to have grand, ideological, never-going-to-pass pet projects, but that shouldn't be all you do. Or really even most of what you do. If you can't swallow your pride and feeling of ideological correctness and accept the version of your goal that is possible, I have to question how much you really want it as opposed to how much you want to be known for wanting it.

I'm willing to do some compromising..up to a point. Beyond that point, my nose refuses more punishment.

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." John Quincy Adams

"I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all." Thomas Jefferson to Francis Hopkinson, 1789.

"Were parties here divided merely by a greediness for office,...to take a part with either would be unworthy of a reasonable or moral man." Thomas Jefferson to William Branch Giles, 1795.

That's the kind of temperament I don't like in government. So does firing police officers for striking (funny how his faceoff with the police union went down the memory hole here).

I have no qualms about voting for alternatives to the 2 party system when the candidates are off the map in my eyes.

who is the only candidate to put full voting rights for DC in his platform.

In the general I vote for the Democrat.

So, no, I've never voted for him.

$195 million in the ten years after he refused to sell what is today Cleveland Public Power. He was later given a commendation by the Cleveland City Council which applauded his stance.

He was victim of a political ploy...I would say the banks and corporate interests were "playing chicken" and Dennis called their bluff.

As far as friction with the police department goes...the only thing I remember was his firing of Police Chief Hongisto, a man who had become very popular with the residents and media. Can you provide a link to any article that states he fired police officers for striking?

In 1978, Cleveland's banks demanded that he sell the city's 70 year-old municipally-owned electric system to its private competitor (in which the banks had a financial interest) as a precondition of extending credit to city government.

When Mayor Kucinich refused to sell Muny Light, the banks took the unprecedented step of refusing to roll over the city’s debt, as is customary. Instead, they pushed the city into default. It turned out the banks were thoroughly interlocked with the private utility, CEI, which would have acquired monopoly status by taking over Muny Light. Five of the six banks held almost 1.8 million shares of CEI stock; of the 11 directors of CEI, eight were also directors of four of the six banks involved.

By holding to his promise and putting principle above politics, Kucinich lost his re-election bid and his political career was temporarily derailed. But today, Kucinich stands vindicated for having confronted the Enron of his day, and for saving the municipal power company. "There is little debate," wrote Cleveland Magazine in May 1996, "over the value of Muny Light today. Now Cleveland Public Power, it is a proven asset to the city that between 1985 and 1995 saved its customers $195,148,520 over what they would have paid CEI." He also preserved hundreds of union jobs.

http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/

Principles over self interest. Terrible thing.

Careful of RW talking points. They're all over the internet,

Where is the bank that refused to extend city credit unless Kucinich agreed to privatize its public utility? Failed.

Where is the utility that wanted to buy Muni Light? Bankrupt.

Public power has been expanded in Cleveland, and has saved consumers hundreds of millions of dollars. This is failure? I'll take it in a New York minute.

Born and raised in WA and I'd vote for him in a heartbeat if I was still there.

And I'm sure my friends and relatives would also.

You guys did so well in 2010, the West Coast simply yearns for your wisdom to be imparted to us!

and replace him with a Austrian actor.

seemed to love him. So, I think what was done to THEM in redistricting stinks.

I wish him well and hope that his new constituents, if any, are as happy with him as his current constituents have been.

And if he is not eleted again, I hope his voice continues to be heard. Every nation needs a left.

He barely survived the first mayoral recall attempt in Cleveland history (by less than half a percent) after he fired police officers for collective bargaining, sent the city into default, and lost the next election to Voinovich (yes, that Voinovich). He's well-liked in Parma, but Cleveland as a whole didn't seem to like him.

that he fired police officers for collective bargaining. Or in other words....put up or shut up.

The deal with Cleveland Public Power has been discussed ad nauseum....he did not put the city into default...a consortium of banks and businesses did, for political reasons.




(edited for typo)

He wanted the police to up their patrols of housing projects, they went on strike, he went apeshit. His police chief, Hongisto, claims that Kucinich had ordered him to put police pressure on political opponents (which there was not much evidence for) and hire political allies (which there was). He faced a recall vote after this, which he won by 6 tenths of one percent (which, incidentally, was all he got in the WA primary in 2008).

On a tangent, but a pet peeve of mine, after this he got a concealed weapons permit, something he would deny to non-politicians.

Yes, Dennis and Hongisto had issues...and H9ongisto was fired...nothing about firing officers for striking...try again.

This isn't worth it. Feel free to the last word.

Dennis isn't near the saint most people think he is.

I live in Oregon, and both our states would elect Kucinich to office with comfortable margins.

I'm afraid those of you not from this region don't understand how left it is over here on the beautiful West Coast!
The major cities are full of progressives and liberals, more than enough to offset the right wing hicks who live in the rural areas.

loudmouth representing me. I have my issues with Norm Dicks but I'd support Stormin Norman over Dennis any day of the week.

Of course, there won't be 100% agreement on anything. But I know very well there are TONS of liberals and those on the left in Seattle who would LOVE Kucinich as their representative.

He is a dream candidate for many people over here in the West.

http://vote.wa.gov/elections/wei/Results.aspx?RaceTypeCode=O&JurisdictionTypeID=1&ElectionID=3&ViewMode=Results

Dennis J. Kucinich Democrat 4,021 0.58 %

Whoever these people are, they weren't voting in February of 2008...

I shouldn't have to explain why that poll is totally irrelevant!

That's often called "the only poll that matters".

You really think somebody with a strong base of support wouldn't even clear six tenths of one percent?

than the Democratic candidates here who actually know the state?

and Dodd

and Richardson

and Gravel.

Those guys did worse than Kucinich. They should all drop out of politics. No hope for any of them.

Though I wouldn't mind Kucinich being a rep here in a different district.

without liberal cities. Left? not compared to where I live.

The new district will likely be formed from Reichert's district, and the best candidate will be Suzan del Bene. We don't need Kucinich.

But who appointed you the spokesman for Washington state??

And my district is the one most likely to be split.

--the carpetbagger tag would be a serious issue. Not with me, but with plenty of other people.

Original post and OP's responses in thread.

Double unrec for constantly clogging up LBN with crap that doesn't belong there. Another form of disruption.

blue-douche tag team action going on tonight.

BTW, thank you for always giving my threads a kick!

;)

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kind of district we are left with. We've had quite enough of our businesses and people fleeing to 'greener pastures'. When quality politicians start doing it too.. well, that's pretty shitty.

But I will echo your post. He should stay in Ohio and fight for a seat. He is probably trying to avoid a primary showdown against a fellow Democrat. He is big on party loyalty, though for the life of me I cannot figure out why. Far too many in the party are willing to throw him under the bus.

Is there a chance you could fight it?

Our process here is in the early stages, with a bipartisan panel for the process.
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/19/1511096/panel-starts-tricky-job-of-state.html


I understand what you were saying above.
I would feel the same.
Happy that I live in a district where we keep electing McDermott and also happy with my state Reps and state Senator.

so now he's trying to get a job here!"

He is WELCOME here!

Not be in Congress anymore? Who engineered that travesty?

so they will erase his district.

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Suzan del Bene is well positioned to win in the new district. She did very well against Reichert, and should do even better in the re-constituted district.

As a longtime Washington state resident, I like the idea of Kucinich coming out here...

But if Reichert is the one currently representing you, it's almost unimaginable to think he could be replaced by Kucinich.

they all lost to Reichert by similar margins...so what's your point?

I know tons of Dems who would love Kucinich to come to Washington state and be a candidate.

good candidates.

In Reichert's district, we've got a much better chance with Suzan del Bene than we'd ever have with Kucinich.

Dennis might have good support (Grays Harbor and Thurston counties).

On the other hand, it will probably also include at least two major military communities.

...moved to the putative WA-10, he would get 4000 votes.

:spray:

is largely Boeing/Microsoft country -- especially the western, Democratic part of the state. And we do a lot of business through our ports.

That's why our Senators both voted for NAFTA, which many progressives despise. Our state gained more jobs than it lost with NAFTA. I can't imagine Kucinich succeeding in the eastern or southern Seattle suburbs -- too many red and purple voters. I could imagine him in Jim McDermott's district (or one just like it). But we're lucky enough to have Jim McDermott. Why would we want to replace him with Kucinich?

Well, thank your Senators for fucking up Ohio.



You got yours. Fuck everyone else.

Except for Seattle proper, which is unlikely to get a new district, the state isn't very blue.

I regret NAFTA's effects on the midwest. But it wouldn't have mattered who, as Senator, we voted for. They were all yes votes on NAFTA.

They NEVER field decent candidates or funnel money into eastern WA OR MT or ID

than goes out in taxes. The western part of the state, where most of the industry is located, helps to support the eastern part.

Not their economic tax structures

when they give that part a disproportionate share of tax dollars. And, in return, the eastern part largely votes red.

:shrug:

I suppose it's a chicken or the egg kind of question. Do Democratic Senators "ignore" the eastern part of the state because there are relatively few Democrats living there; or are there few Democrats because they feel ignored? I tend to think the former; I assume you think the latter.

How do they do that?

:eyes:

"In the meantime he is devoted to serving Ohio's 10h district."

Yeah, he looks real devoted. That must be why he made a trip out to Washington state, to serve the 10th district.

Funny how no one that supports him has a problem with him being loyal only to his political career, and not his erstwhile constituents who voted for him, gave him money, campaigned for him, and got him elected.

So, the fight just got a little tougher for him and instead of campaigning in a new district on his superior platform, he bails, looking for greener pastures.

I guarantee you he will not pick a new district with a Republican representative to run against; he will run a primary campaign against a Democrat in a traditional Democratic district.



Does anyone think he would treat them any better or differently as their new congressman?

When the going gets tough, the tough pack up and leave?

he just doesn't know in what district he will run." :rofl:



Thank you thread for the morning laugh...
Funny shit right there.

Hey dude, sorry but you've been let go with the layoffs...But, but, could I just stay in the parking lot or the closet? Sure, but don't expect a paycheck :rofl:

I'm going to start calling Dennis Swingline :P

:spray:



:rofl: