# Whither Kucinich? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 28, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578 "2011-05-28T16:49:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/1 "2011-05-28T16:49:45Z")
[Dennis Kucinich,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Kucinich) the most famous left-liberal in Congress (but not the most leftiest member – that would be [Bernie Sanders](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders)), is losing his Ohio seat to post-Census redistricting. [So he is thinking of moving to Washington State to run there.](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/us/politics/24kucinich.html) (You can **do** that?! Yeah, yeah, of course you can, remember Hillary Clinton?) ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/2 "2011-05-28T17:00:45Z")
I love Dennis, but this is a prime example of why there needs to be term limits. He doesn’t _need_ to be in Congress to advance his progressive agenda. What has he concretely accomplished in Congress anyway? I’m sure being in Congress is a cushy job, but that’s no reason to run. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/3 "2011-05-28T17:10:37Z")
I think he’s SOL, and I don’t like it when political candidates go shopping for a district whose demographics are favorable to their election. Whether he gets elected or not depends on how whether or not the local Democratic Party and Washington residents cotton to this kind of thing. I don’t think it’s a term limits issue in particular, but if he does this, how can he make any kind of credible claim to knowing how to best represent that district? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/4 "2011-05-28T17:18:13Z")
Well, that’s the thing. He hasn’t really represented his district, per se. He’s mainly used his position as kind of a bully pulpit to add a progressive voice to the political debate. That’s about all he can hope to do, given the political reality of DC. But given his stature, he could accomplish that just as readily outside of Congress as inside. If we had term limits, this wouldn’t be a problem. He could have taken his best shot at representing his district in Congress, then stepped aside for someone else and become an intelligent and respected critic/activist. But he, like everyone else in DC, wants to make a career of being in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/5 "2011-05-28T17:46:25Z")
I think Kucinich should stay in Cleveland and run in whatever congressional district he now finds himself in (is it inconceivable that he could win?). Or take a step down and run for state senator or some other Ohio state office (judging by what’s going on now in Columbus, they need some progressive firepower). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/6 "2011-05-28T17:52:48Z")
> [@threeorange](#): > > I think Kucinich should stay in Cleveland and run in whatever congressional district he now finds himself in (is it inconceivable that he could win?). [A map of Ohio’s Congressional districts.](http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=OH) Since Congress is controlled by Republicans and all the districts around Kucinich’s are controlled by Democrats, it’s likely his district will be combined with that of another Democrat and he doesn’t want to run against them. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/7 "2011-05-28T18:13:33Z")
Term limits are a joke. If you think he has stayed to long, vote him out. Instead yo legislate him away. Often you will push out a pol that the people like and think is doing a good job. How does that make sense? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/8 "2011-05-28T18:14:18Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, that’s the thing. He hasn’t really represented his district, per se. He’s mainly used his position as kind of a bully pulpit to add a progressive voice to the political debate. That’s about all he can hope to do, given the political reality of DC. But given his stature, he could accomplish that just as readily outside of Congress as inside. Except that, given how many times he’s been re-elected, apparently what the people of his district _want_ is someone bully-pulpiting progressivism. So he _has_ been representing his district. ---
**Author:** ![littlespeedysuperbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@littlespeedysuperbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/littlespeedysuperbike)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/9 "2011-05-28T21:02:40Z")
He should move to Dayton and try to knock off John Boehner! Boehner has won that seat by 30 points in the last three elections, but all three elections have been against Democratic opponents who don’t even have Wikipedia pages. Thirty points is a big margin to make up, but the district is only R+14 on the “Partisan Voter Index”. A couple missteps as Speaker (which have already happened), a good year for Democrats, some nationalization of the race, and he could be hearing footsteps. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/10 "2011-05-28T21:12:04Z")
As a resident of the town Kucinich is considering moving to, I would probably vote for him if he were the Democratic nominee for Congress next year. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/11 "2011-05-28T22:25:45Z")
Stick it out or start using what clout he has to help with an organization like MoveOn or the DCCC or BoldProgressives. There are plenty of options, but he wants to be a legislator. Would he win if he ran against another Democrat in that district? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/12 "2011-05-29T00:23:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Would he win if he ran against another Democrat in that district? Probably. He’s very popular among Democratically-inclined Clevelanders. I don’t know whom he’d be running against, though, and he might be refraining from running against another Democrat out of a sense of professional courtesy. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/13 "2011-05-29T00:33:05Z")
Haven’t the Republicans learned anything? If they strike him down, he will become more powerful than they could possibly imagine. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/14 "2011-05-29T02:04:11Z")
Death is only the beginning… -XT ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/15 "2011-05-29T02:14:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Probably. He’s very popular among Democratically-inclined Clevelanders. I don’t know whom he’d be running against, though, and he might be refraining from running against another Democrat out of a sense of professional courtesy. That’s cute…and naive. Elections have consequences. This is what happens when you lose these particular ones. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/16 "2011-05-29T03:09:47Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > That’s cute…and naive. Avoiding pissing of your fellow party members might be neither cute nor naive. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/17 "2011-05-29T03:17:18Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Avoiding pissing of your fellow party members might be neither cute nor naive. Elections have consequences. If he wants to keep his spot, he’ll stay right where he is and fight for it. Presumably he’s a senior member. If not, then that’s different. If he is, then win your seat again and keep on going. That’s the political reality of redistricting, especially when you lose. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/18 "2011-05-29T04:01:18Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Elections have consequences. I have no idea how this is connected with the claim that Kucinich’s decision is cute or naive. > [@](#): > > If he wants to keep his spot, he’ll stay right where he is and fight for it. Or he’ll find another seat that he thinks he has a good chance of winning. What’s the difference? > [@](#): > > Presumably he’s a senior member. If not, then that’s different. If he is, then win your seat again and keep on going. I don’t know what you mean by “senior member,” but senior members can lose elections and they can also be pitted against other senior members. Either way the senior member may lose the election. “Elections have consequences,” as you say. Furthermore, challenging a fellow party member can – whether you win or lose – make it much more difficult for you to advance your goals. And – even more important – challenging a fellow party member in the primary may leave you both so weak that whoever wins may be prime for upset by the other party. It’s not uncommon. It’s how Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) won in an almost solid Republican district in 1992. “Elections have consequences,” as you say, and it may be something other than cute or naive to decide not to risk throwing an otherwise safe seat to the opposition. > [@](#): > > That’s the political reality of redistricting, especially when you lose. Your post seems like a series of non-sequiturs. Another political reality of redistricting is that you might have to go looking for a different office to run for rather than running for the same office again. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/19 "2011-05-29T04:13:53Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I have no idea how this is connected with the claim that Kucinich’s decision is cute or naive. > > Or he’ll find another seat that he thinks he has a good chance of winning. What’s the difference? > > I don’t know what you mean by “senior member,” but senior members can lose elections and they can also be pitted against other senior members. Either way the senior member may lose the election. “Elections have consequences,” as you say. Furthermore, challenging a fellow party member can – whether you win or lose – make it much more difficult for you to advance your goals. And – even more important – challenging a fellow party member in the primary may leave you both so weak that whoever wins may be prime for upset by the other party. It’s not uncommon. It’s how Ted Strickland (D-Ohio) won in an almost solid Republican district in 1992. “Elections have consequences,” as you say, and it may be something other than cute or naive to decide not to risk throwing an otherwise safe seat to the opposition. > > Your post seems like a series of non-sequiturs. Another political reality of redistricting is that you might have to go looking for a different office to run for rather than running for the same office again. Yes, but typically, people don’t move to another state to do so. If they lose a seat on Congress, they might run for governor or some other position in their state. I bring up seniority because if the person running against Kucinich is a senior member, then I can see Kusinich yielding to that person. If not, then I think it’s a completely stupid idea. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2011, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578/20 "2011-05-29T04:29:41Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Yes, but typically, people don’t move to another state to do so. If they lose a seat on Congress, they might run for governor or some other position in their state. They might do any number of things. Apparently, Kucinich seems to believe that none of these things are feasible options. And he very well might be right about that. > [@](#): > > I bring up seniority because if the person running against Kucinich is a senior member, then I can see Kusinich yielding to that person. “Seniority” might very well be completely irrelevant. First of all, the sitting member might be very popular in her district, regardless of seniority. Challenging a sitting member in a primary of the same party very often leaves whoever wins in a weakened position, and less likely to win in the general election, not least because you might piss off the _voters_. > [@](#): > > If not, then I think it’s a completely stupid idea. Whether it’s stupid will be determined by the relevant voters. After all, elections have consequences. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whither-kucinich/583578.md?page=2)