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

[Freddie Stubbs]

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

[littlewolf]

1. ok isn't there residency requirements ???

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Only those enumerated in the Constitution:

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

[Gormy Cuss]

8. My MOC doesn't live in this district and never has. Everyone knows it. n/t

[Recursion]

17. No requirement to

Happens a lot after vindictive redistricting, actually

[Gormy Cuss]

22. Yes, it's not required. Ours had nothing to do with redistricting though.

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. I understand his desire to move to a new district.....

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

Ohio voters not happy with Reps. Dennis Kucinich or John Boehner, poll finds

"Kucinich, who won 53 percent of the 2010 vote in his western Cuyahoga County district, has a 27 percent favorability rating statewide, and is viewed unfavorably by 40 percent of voters, the pollsters found. In 2012, Kucinich will likely face voters outside his home base because of redistricting."

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2011/03/ohio_voters_not_happy_with_rep.html

[MessiahRp]

6. RW interest groups and Centrist Dems have pounded him publicly for 8 years

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

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. Interesting. What's even more interesting is I doubt you would be so charitable

& 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:

[sabrina 1]

He really bothers you, doesn't he??

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

71. Well, I think I'll take lessons in proper debate from people I respect.

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.

[sabrina 1]

75. Still didn't answer the question though.

Again, proving my theory about Kucinich bashers.

[Armstead]

79. Some people only care about image and stereotypes and partisanship

Issues don't much matter

[Recursion]

80. Exactly. People are so focused on having the answer...

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

[mochajava666]

178. You are exactly right.

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[sabrina 1]

116. And still no answer. As for your question, it was answered

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

122. You can still answer that question here, you know. And what does "that blog"

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:

[sabrina 1]

149. Lol, do you think I ever gave kos a thought until you posted

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

151. I still can't believe you're an educator. "Is our children learning"? I doubt it.

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

"The World IS ready for Kucinich. In Europe eg, he would be, is in fact, very popular and highly respected and would probably be considered a moderate. Seriously, you need to catch up with what is going on in this world. Outside the US I mean, which is probably now one of the most regressive countries in the civilized world.

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:

[sabrina 1]

163. Well, I'm very flattered that you are saving my comments. I don't

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!

[Tarheel_Dem]

181. If you're an example of public school teachers...bring on the Charter Schools.

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:

[sabrina 1]

197. And you still refuse to answer a simple question.

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

86. And then there's this for your consideration....

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

The liberal case against Dennis Kucinich

By Alex Koppelman

"Moulitsas argues that the congressman hasn't accomplished anything at all, and -- though I know I'm going to get slammed for saying this -- I have to agree. Sure, it's good to see a politician standing up for his beliefs and fighting for a point of view that might not otherwise be represented. But there are ways to do that and simultaneously be an effective legislator. Kucinich simply isn't, and he's never really tried hard to be. (You could also argue -- I would -- that the way he goes about things makes him pretty ineffective as a spokesman for his ideals.)"

"In Congress, Kucinich has authored and co-sponsored legislation to create a national health care system, preserve Social Security, lower the costs of prescription drugs, provide economic development through infrastructure improvements, abolish the death penalty, provide universal prekindergarten to all 3, 4, and 5 year olds, create a Department of Peace, regulate genetically engineered foods, repeal the USA PATRIOT Act, and provide tax relief to working class families."

"Notice that the bio never says whether any of that legislation actually passed. In fact, according to the Web site GovTrack, of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office in 1997, only three have become law. Ninety-three didn't even make it out of committee."

"The three that were enacted are, in chronological order from first to last: A bill "to make available to the Ukranian Museum and Archives the USIA television program 'Window on America,'" a bill "to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio as the 'John P. Gallagher Post Office Building" and a bill "proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously."

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

[Armstead]

94. You sorta forget his successful role during the Iraq War debate

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.

[sabrina 1]

121. You're going to have to do better than this. Moulitsas??

: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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

123. It's good to know that it's sabrina1 who determines who's a "true" progressive,

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:

[pnwmom]

140. I think he should find another district in Ohio from which to run.

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.

[proud2BlibKansan]

148. +1

[Name removed]

124. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. The Centrist Democrats are the worst as can be seen on this

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.

[Recursion]

74. He barely got one half of one percent in the WA primary

Why on earth would anybody take this idea seriously?

[TransitJohn]

125. Maybe because Presidential primaries are a lot different than congressional races

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

[harmonicon]

12. What does he care about statewide? He represents his district. nt.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. Not anymore. (nt)

[LiberalFighter]

18. What do you mean not now?

Until the 2012 election he represents the current district.

[Recursion]

19. I took that to mean that his district is about to disappear

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

[TransitJohn]

126. Was he removed or did he resign?

:crazy: :eyes:

[No Elephants]

27. Few in the House have good high statewide ratings.

[cali]

87. my rep has very high statewide ratings

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

[Leopolds Ghost]

127. Sounds like you bear some sorta hateful Grudge against our Soggy Bottom Boy, Tarheel_Dem

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

[AnOhioan]

4. If he does move, Ohio's loss, Washington's gain

[No Elephants]

29. Here's hoping Washingtonians agree.

[quiller4]

66. His following in Washington is very small but dedicated

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.

[sufrommich]

5. His opponent will label him a carpetbagger,the label will

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

[Recursion]

20. He can run on his vast record of passed legislation (nt)

[sabrina 1]

76. Have you ever actually looked at his record?

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.

[Recursion]

78. Yes, if Congress had a lot more liberals, his record would look awesome

It doesn't.

[sabrina 1]

81. Considering how few real progressives there are in Congress

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

[Recursion]

82. He's had 4 bills passed in 14 years. 102 died in committee

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

[sabrina 1]

114. And that is a pretty standard record for most members of

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.

[Recursion]

191. Well, here are the data

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.

[Recursion]

193. Of course, what the actual bills are matters too

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

[sabrina 1]

199. Thank you for doing some research. I appreciate that.

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.

[pnwmom]

103. For good reason. We already have an excellent candidate

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.

[bluestate10]

112. Yes. Washington state does produce strong candidates, in particular women

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

[pnwmom]

133. The district that is probably being split is one that has been carried

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

[Freddie Stubbs]

182. She came very close to knocking off a Republican in a very tough year for Democrats

[sasha031]

7. a beautiful state for a gorgeous evolved couple

[Zorra]

93. Yes. They'd fit right in. Beautiful area, lots of awesome, highly conscious people.

I miss Washington.

[pnwmom]

104. Washington already has an excellent candidate for what is likely

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.

[Zorra]

130. Well, maybe she'll do better this time around. nt

[brooklynite]

9. Forgive me for not being thrilled...

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.

[No Elephants]

34. how do you know what he does or doesn't know? Like him or not, I know

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

[brooklynite]

41. In which case he could just as easily run in any other District in Ohio

[No Elephants]

46. ? Or any district in the U.S.

[Kolesar]

10. Why the hell does Dennis want to leak this?

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

[femrap]

11. He won't have a place to run...

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.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. So, his home won't be in a congressional district?

[former9thward]

28. Not one that he can win.

[KittyWampus]

33. But we've been told endlessly on DU that all a candidate needs to do is tell it straight-

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

[Recursion]

36. Heh

:popcorn:

[sabrina 1]

77. No, we've told, correctly, that we need MORE candidates who

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?

[cali]

88. there are dozens of good progressives in the House- not enough, to be sure

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.

[Zorra]

142. Yeah, and we get told the only way to win is to be a corporate dupe.

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:

[Recursion]

194. *guffaw*

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

If you were in a coma.

[Freddie Stubbs]

195. Ending DADT doesn't qualify as "jack shit?"

[Freddie Stubbs]

40. His area of the state is pretty solidly Democratic

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

[No Elephants]

42. Maybe he does not wish to fight a fellow Dem incumbent?

[Recursion]

60. Presumably it's WA because they're getting new districts

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

[Ikonoklast]

186. Betty would roll over Kucinich.

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.

[Freddie Stubbs]

196. How do you know, as the lines haven't even been drawn yet?

[Ikonoklast]

167. Because 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?

[OnyxCollie]

179. Yeah!

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.

[Ikonoklast]

183. Most of what you posted is pure bullshit.

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


And Dennis is still toast.

[OnyxCollie]

184. You're welcome to refute anything I posted.

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

[lostnfound]

15. Narrowing of the left, narrowing of political discourse

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

23. And when do we place the blame squarely where it belongs? The voters who sat out....

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

[Recursion]

24. OK, but lecturing apathetic and disappointed people won't do much good (nt)

[bobbolink]

30. Ah, but it feels soooo good.

The effectiveness is moot.

[Tarheel_Dem]

59. I'm not trying to convince anyone of anything. Just stating the facts.

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

[OnyxCollie]

185. Please provide citations for your "facts."

"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."

[No Elephants]

43. People have a duty to vote. IMO, no two ways about that. However if their

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

[Tarheel_Dem]

55. Well, you get the government you vote, or don't vote for. OH is experiencing

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.

[OnyxCollie]

144. Blame the victims.

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:

[Tarheel_Dem]

147. If you sat on your ass in '10, then everything you said, sans the "sarcasm" tag. (nt)

[OnyxCollie]

150. Why? Was the Democratic party incapable of fixing any of that

after the mandate they got in 2008?

If so, then they are worthless.

[Tarheel_Dem]

152. Oh, I don't know. Let's ask OH, WI, FL, IN, etc. if they'd like a do over?

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:

[OnyxCollie]

155. Since the majority of the people in the US

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.

[Tarheel_Dem]

159. Yeah. If "the majority of people in the US" were only as smart as you.

:eyes:

[OnyxCollie]

161. Yeah, too bad they aren't as smart as me.

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.

[harmonicon]

16. another reason why states should have non-partisan redistricting laws.

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.

[Freddie Stubbs]

177. Ohio is going to lose two congressional seats regardless of who draws the lines

[harmonicon]

200. I understand that.

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.

[Freddie Stubbs]

201. Considering that his area of the state is where population is decreasing, would it be practicable to

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

[harmonicon]

203. who knows? that's why it should be left to an impartial system.

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

[totodeinhere]

21. It depends on exactly where that new congressional district will be located.

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.

[No Elephants]

39. On the Daily Show, I thought he mentioned the coast or shore--some word like that.

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

[totodeinhere]

129. OK thanks. I missed the show. n/t

[floriduck]

25. Please Dennis

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.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

31. He'll get my vote if it's my district.

[bluestate10]

113. But it isn't your district. Washington State has good homegrown democratic Pols. nt

[KittyWampus]

32. But Dennis's biggest fans seem to think all a candidate has to be is a strong liberal and voters

will flock to vote for them no matter what.

[Recursion]

35. More to the point, they seem to think liberal voters will pop into existence...

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

[Bluenorthwest]

44. Washington State has lots of liberal Democratic voters

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!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

45. This Washingtonian would love to vote for Dennis.

[Bluenorthwest]

48. Of course. It is the East Coast 'moderates' who are here

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

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

51. Meh. They'd rather that Kucinich and the liberal/left disappear and quit annoying the bosses.

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

[Recursion]

53. *shrug* I like the guy, but it's the same issue I had with Grayson

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.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

56. I just want a candidate that doesn't require a torque wrench applied to my nose to vote for.

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.

[Recursion]

58. Sending Cleveland into default as part of a game of chicken sits badly with me

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).

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

62. Did you vote for him?

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

[Recursion]

63. In the primaries I consistently vote for Sharpton

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.

[AnOhioan]

95. His actions saved the City of Cleveland approximately....

$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?

[Zorra]

101. You mean this?

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,

[eridani]

164. He restarted his political career based on his action to preserve Muni Light

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.

[Zorra]

97. Yep. There is a marked divide between EC moderates and WC liberals.

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.

[pnwmom]

105. And also lots of good liberal candidates. We don't need him. n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Alan Grayson boosters were saying the same thing until last November

[Bluenorthwest]

47. Election advice from the Great State of Florida!

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

[Freddie Stubbs]

49. We can certainly tell you what doesn't work

[trumad]

50. Well---at least we haven't recalled a Gov...

and replace him with a Austrian actor.

[No Elephants]

52. I have mixed feelings about Kuch, but his district, which Daily Show described as "blue collar"

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.

[Recursion]

57. Consider his time as mayor (a union-busting mayor, at that)

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.

[AnOhioan]

99. Back up your statement

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)

[Recursion]

117. Google for "Hongisto"

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.

[AnOhioan]

119. Mentioned Hongisto in my other post

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

[Recursion]

120. Delete

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

[Ikonoklast]

169. And he wasn't above playing racial politics as a councilman.

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

[quinnox]

54. Washington state would love him, come on over!

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.

[quiller4]

67. I live in Washington and there is no way I want such an ineffective

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

[quinnox]

68. ok, you are one voice

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.

[Recursion]

69. Washington 2008 Democratic Primary election results

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...

[quinnox]

70. Wow, completely meaningless

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

[Recursion]

72. That was a primary, not a poll

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?

[pnwmom]

139. If he couldn't get 1% in a primary, why do you think he'd do better

than the Democratic candidates here who actually know the state?

[pnwmom]

138. LOL. n/t

[OnyxCollie]

145. He did better than Biden

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.

[pnwmom]

137. You may be right about Seattle. But Seattle isn't getting a new district.

[Norrin Radd]

166. Only if our progressive Rep. Jim McDermott didn't seek reelection.

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

[NashVegas]

132. + 500

[cali]

92. baloney. it all depends on the district. there are some very red patches

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

[pnwmom]

106. Why don't you invite him to Oregon then? We don't need him here.

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.

[quinnox]

111. I'd love for him to come to Oregon

But who appointed you the spokesman for Washington state??

[pnwmom]

131. I'm a lot more familiar with my district than you are.

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

[eridani]

165. That depends. I campaigned for him on 2004 and 2008, and think that--

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

[Hannah Bell]

168. left? maybe if you're in your twenties in seattle or portland. otherwise, not so much.

[Kingofalldems]

61. Unrec for constant attacks on Democrats--

Original post and OP's responses in thread.

[Freddie Stubbs]

73. I too am frustrated by Kucinich's attacks on fellow Democrats, especially the Obama administration

[apocalypsehow]

83. +1. n/t.

[Kingofalldems]

91. I meant your attacks on Democrats --but you knew that--also

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

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

143. It's like some type of

blue-douche tag team action going on tonight.

[Kingofalldems]

172. +1

[Freddie Stubbs]

173. It would appear that with 173 replies, this subject is of acute interest to DUers

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

;)

[pnwmom]

136. Agreed. As if Washington's Democrats have to be saved by Kucinich. n/t

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[LeftinOH]

65. Kucinich is my rep; I'd prefer him to stay in Ohio and duke it out, in whatever

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.

[AnOhioan]

96. I no longer live in DK's district, moved back across the river

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.

[suffragette]

108. Could you describe what is going on there with the redistricting?

Is there a chance you could fight it?

[LeftinOH]

171. There's been no news yet about how the re-districting will happen..

[suffragette]

180. Thanks for the reply

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.

[ecstatic]

85. His opponent would eat him alive. "They didn't want him in Ohio,

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

[Matariki]

89. Whoohoo!

He is WELCOME here!

[Matariki]

90. So, he will simply lose his seat after redistricting?

Not be in Congress anymore? Who engineered that travesty?

[AnOhioan]

107. The Repub legislature in Ohio...they could not beat him in elections...

so they will erase his district.

[Name removed]

98. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[pnwmom]

100. delete dupe

[pnwmom]

102. No, thanks. We don't need a carpet bagger from Cleveland.

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.

[Upton]

109. Who is "we"??

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

[pnwmom]

134. Welcome him to your OWN district then!

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

[Upton]

192. DelBene. Burner, Dave Ross..

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

[quinnox]

110. We?? speak for yourself!

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

[pnwmom]

135. Fine. Let them welcome him into their districts, if they're so short of

good candidates.

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

[lumberjack_jeff]

115. In what is most likely to be WA-10

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.

[Recursion]

118. If everyone in the state who voted for him in the 2008 primary...

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

[Tarheel_Dem]

153. >>>>

:spray:

[Leopolds Ghost]

128. Two out of 18? That's an enormous population loss.

[pnwmom]

141. Kucinich-style Democrats will hate this, but Washington

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?

[OnyxCollie]

146. Your Senators voted for NAFTA?

Well, thank your Senators for fucking up Ohio.

Ohio one of the leaders in jobs lost to NAFTA, report says
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/05/ohio_one_of_the_leaders_in_job.html

The North America Free Trade Agreement has cost the United States 683,000 jobs in less than two decades, and Ohio is one of the biggest losers, according to a report released Tuesday.
Ohio lost 34,900 jobs -- 0.6 percent of its total state employment -- through NAFTA, concludes the report by the Economic Policy Institute, a research and policy group in Washington, D.C.. That placed Ohio fourth among all states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in terms of percentage of total jobs lost to NAFTA.

You got yours. Fuck everyone else.

[pnwmom]

156. As I said, Kucinich's politics wouldn't fit very well in Washington.

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.

[leftstreet]

154. "Democratic part of the state" BS. Democrats ignore the rest of the state

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

[pnwmom]

157. Actually, more state money goes into eastern washington per capita

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

[leftstreet]

158. I was talking about the Democrats ignoring the eastern parts of West states

Not their economic tax structures

[pnwmom]

162. It hardly seems like they're ignoring the eastern part

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.

[leftstreet]

198. The Democrats give the eastern halves of western states tax dollars?

How do they do that?

:eyes:

[Freddie Stubbs]

174. Perhaps he can do for for Washington what he has done for Ohio

[hfojvt]

160. bummer, another story that makes DK look bad

"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.

[Ikonoklast]

170. No, the only person making Kucinich look bad is...Kucinich.

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?

[Freddie Stubbs]

189. If he doesn't run in WA, I'm sure that OH voters won't hold this little flirtation against him

[snooper2]

175. "he fully intends to remain in Congress;

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

[Freddie Stubbs]

176. If he were to run in WA, he would probably have to resign his seat in OH

[Tarheel_Dem]

190. Keyboard please....

:spray:



:rofl:

[progressoid]

187. What the hell? Why not just run again in Ohio?

[Freddie Stubbs]

188. Perhaps he thinks he has a better chance in a state where he isn't as well known

[harmonicon]

202. The Republicans will gerrymander the districts so that it's impossible for him to win. nt.