Kucinich giving up Congressional Seat?

[ShaneGR]

In the last week, 2 high profile West Cleveland politicians have announced they are challenging for Kucinich's congressional seat. Are they anticipating him not running again or just angry he's spent so much time over the last five years away from his district?

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2007/12/north_olmsted_mayor_thomas_ogr.html

North Olmsted Mayor Thomas O'Grady announced on Thursday that he was running for Congress, making him the second official this week to challenge Dennis Kucinich (if he runs for reelection) . On Tuesday, Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman kicked off his campaign for the job.

On Thursday, in front of children at Maple Intermediate School in North Olmsted, O'Grady said that jobs, education and healthcare will be his focus if elected congressman in the 10th District.

Having two office holders in March 4 primary will likely split any anti-Kucinich vote, making it difficult for either one to knock off Kucinich, who won re-election in 2006 with 76 percent of the vote.

Cimperman and OGrady are not alone in their desire to topple Kucinich, whose long-shot bid for president and time away from the district have attracted primary challengers.

Anti-war activist Rosemary Palmer, whose son was killed in Iraq, has been campaigning since June. Barbara Ferris, a former Peace Corps and United Nations worker clobbered by Kucinich in 2006, is also trying again.

[saltpoint]

1. Beats me. I hope he kicks their butts.

[ShaneGR]

2. They are both very progressive

There's a lot of feeling in that district that he doesn't do much. He doesn't bring much money back back for the district and he doesn't spend a lot of time back in the district.

[saltpoint]

3. More progressive than Dennis Kucinich? That would be a rare candidate indeed.

[ShaneGR]

10. Unknown, they're both liberal dems though

In the district, the questions has become who is actually representing the district. The fact is that Kucinich doesn't really spend a lot of time there, and he isnt bringing a lot of money back (JOBS) for the district.

[OzarkDem]

12. Dennis does a great job in his district

Economic problems there are the fault of the Bush administration and the GOP shipping jobs overseas. There isn't much Kucinich can do about that, though he works very hard to fix it.

Put a Dem in the WH and convince our new Dem governor to start working for jobs instead of catering to corporate donors and they may see some success.

[ShaneGR]

14. How do you know Dennis does a "great" job in his district...

I mean, the common feeling in the district is that while people like Kucinich, they don't like that he doesnt do much for the district. Care to say how he does a good job for his district?

[elaineb]

16. "Common feeling in the district"?

Quoting from a Letter to the Editor, published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Nov. 28, 2007:
(http://www.cleveland.com/letters/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/opinion/119624249490400.xml&coll=2)

"In August, I manned the Democratic Party table at the Cuyahoga County Fair in Berea, Kucinich's turf. We had some materials for the primary. I was very surprised. We had to call his office daily for resupplies of Kucinich signs, stickers and buttons. The response was overwhelmingly positive for Kucinich. The reason given time and again was his response to his constituents' requests. There were few negative remarks. When I asked, I was told he has one of the best district offices in Congress."

And from the personal experience of someone I know: My mother, who lives in Kucinich's district in Cleveland, was having major difficulty in getting a problem resolved with the local Medicare office. They were giving her the runaround on her case for *months*. She finally called Kucinich's office in desperation, and they contacted the Medicare office and had the problem solved within 24 hours. This is my example of the effectiveness of Kucinich's office. I regret I can't provide more examples, but I don't live in Cleveland myself.

What is your personal experience with Kucinich's office, ShaneGR? Is there something other than the depressed economy in Cleveland, which was a generation in the making, that you are trying to blame on Kucinich?

If your complaint is with the depressed economy and lack of jobs in Cleveland, I think the local leaders in Cleveland are the ones you should be pointing a finger at. I believe U.S. Congressmen can do very little about the job situation in their districts (or are you talking about "pork", which everyone loves when it's obtained for their own district and hated when it goes to somebody else's district, and is really only a short-term fix anyway?). The city leaders are the ones responsible for attracting more employers to the city, not federal representatives.

If your complaint is with the effectiveness of his local office and its handling of the concerns and problems of his constituents, well, I've heard and read much anecdotal evidence that contradicts what you say, and that, in fact, Kucinich is continually re-elected precisely *because* he does so much for his constituents (even though many of them disagree with some of his positions on issues). Kucinich's constituents aren't all hard-core liberal Democrats by any means, so I wonder why they keep re-electing him?

[OzarkDem]

20. They're the best

and that's because they work at it.

[OzarkDem]

19. I work every day w/ members of his district

who are facing financial and health care crises. His case management staff in district offices are excellent, the best, bar none.

Until a few years ago, I lived in his district and worked with Kucinich and his staff on a number of community based task forces solving local problems. Marty Gelfand is excellent in staying in touch with communities in the 10th District and helping resolve problems.

[saltpoint]

15. That's a fair question for any rep in any district, but my take on Dennis Kucinich

is that he is one of the most progressive American representatives, and his constituents likely know that.

If Palmer or the other challenger is going to overtake Kucinich in a primary, it will take a powerful shove.

And that's possible, but IMO not likely.

I think Kucnich holds that seat as long as he wants it.

[Nutmegger]

4. Agreed!

I hope he cleans their clocks!

Hi OC! :hi:

[saltpoint]

5. Nutmegger! Howdy. Hi right back to ya, and a Happy December, too.

Great -- GREAT photo as well.

I'm jealous!

[gateley]

6. Ditto. nt

[bluestateguy]

7. Probably better if he stays in the House

If he is booted out he might pick up his marbles and go Green in the presidential election. Better to have him inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in.

[Truth2Tell]

8. It'll be interesting to see

if one or both of these candidates has been put up to this by Rham Emmanuel and Company. Watch for the money from the usual big DCCC contributors and the usual AIPAC money guys to flow - then we'll know.

[lvx35]

9. Good. Kucinich should move to Olympia, WA. We have this asshole named Baird...

He was a dem who decided to back the war after going to Iraq...Its an intensely anti-war district, and we know is ass is gone next time he is up. Kucinich can come here and be MY congressman anytime!

Of course what I really want is him in the whitehouse though!!!!

[Kucinich4America]

13. Brian seems to think Vancouver is his entire district these days

And he's playing to the crowd that elected Linda Smith, not the ones who elected him.
I used to think Adam Smith was the worst you could do for a "Democratic" congressman in Washington state.

[OzarkDem]

11. No, he will win as always

as Cuyahoga County Dem Party Chair Jimmy Dimora pointed out last week - "I don't see any of the candidates beating Kucinich". The county party has a long-standing rule that incumbent Dems running for re-election automatically receive the party's endorsement.

He's well liked by people in his district and serves them very well. He and his staffers have also worked hard to help many other Dems get elected. He has one of the best grassroots campaign operations in the state if not the US and he mobilizes it for every Dem running for office.

Tom is a very nice man and a good Dem who needs to run for state level office. Joe Cimperman is also a good Dem who needs to think about whether his loyalty to the party takes precedence over his corporate overlords in downtown Cleveland. Rosemary should also run for state level office.

[NoPasaran]

17. No, he has indicated he will seek re-election to Congress

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2007/12/05/kucinich_to_seek_7th_congressional_term/4206/

[Le Taz Hot]

18. *Sniff Sniff*

I smell DLC backing.

[LWolf]

21. What does he have to say about it?

I skip the speculation and wait to hear from the man himself.