Moving the Social Security Office and Congressman Kucinich

[Doug Gordon]

Friends:

I was recently contacted by the Lakewood Observer and asked to post a blog entry on behalf of Congressman Kucinich to provide users of this form with an update on the Congressman's work in Washington and in the community.

The Cleveland-area faces many challenges and needs a strong and independent advocate in Washington who will challenge the status quo, fight the special interests and ensure the community gets the assistance it needs. Often the priorities in Washington do not reflect the needs of the people. For nearly ten years in Congress, Kucinich has challenged Washington to address the real needs of people.

Lakewood, and the whole Cleveland-area, face many challenges but none are greater than the need to create jobs, strengthen the local economy, provide adequate and quality health care to all and end the war in Iraq.

To improve the local economy, Kucinich has worked to keep jobs, create new jobs and invest in infrastructure. There is no greater example of this than last year when the Department of Defense recommending shifting over 1,000 well paying federal jobs out of DFAS Cleveland. Because of a bipartisan effort led by Kucinich, Congressman LaTourette and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, not only were over 1,000 jobs saved, DFAS is set to add an additional 500-600 jobs.

Protecting the local economy also means protecting NASA Glenn. When the President submitted his 2006 budget to Congress it contained a $60 million cut in funding for aeronautics, the primary work of Glenn. Because of a bipartisan and bicameral effort that Kucinich led, Congress halted involuntary layoffs, reversed funding cuts and restored funding for aeronautics. Congress also inserted language valuing the specialties at NASA Glenn. Specifically, Congress passed an overall funding increase of $60 million for the aeronautics research program over budget request, including $25 million for hypersonics research.

The efforts to save DFAS and NASA Glenn mirrors similar efforts, led by Kucinich, that resulted in hundreds jobs being saved at LTV (now Mittal) Steel, Cleveland Pneumatic Plant, and Viking Sewing Machine.

With changes coming to the automotive industry that could greatly affect the Cleveland-area, Kucinich will look to replicate his past successes and continue efforts to ensure that jobs stay in the area and the economy continues to grow.

Cleveland's problems are not partisan and their solutions should not be either.

That is why Kucinich joined with Congressman LaTourette to introduce bipartisan legislation to make a substantial investment in the area's, and nation's, infrastructure. The bill is not just an infrastructure bill, it is a job bill. Federal investment in infrastructure improvements creates jobs and helps the community remain strong. That is why, in over ten years in Congress, Kucinich has worked with both sides of the aisle to secure over $105 million in federal transportation and infrastructure funds for communities throughout his district.

You cannot discuss the local economy without discussing the decline in the manufacturing base. The two are intertwined, and the neglect on the federal level to manufacturing policy can be directly related to the decline of the Cleveland-area's local economy. The past two Administrations have pursued trade agreements and manufacturing policies that have greatly harmed the local economy and shipped jobs overseas. Kucinich strongly challenged both President Clinton and President Bush as they pushed trade agreements that accelerated a race to the bottom, abandon workers and shipped jobs overseas. Kucinich will continue to challenge any trade agreement, or manufacturing policy, that does not protect the community and its workers.

The economy is also harmed by the skyrocketing costs at the gas pump and the overwhelming prices people are paying to heat their homes. To bring relief to the community, Kucinich has introduced legislation to address both these issues and is working with his colleagues to pass these vital pieces of legislation.

The economy in the Cleveland-area is hurting because of misplaced priorities in Washington. Kucinich has been at the forefront of challenging these policies and will continue to do so in the name of the millions of Ohioans being left behind.

Another challenge facing the community is the lack of adequate, affordable and quality health insurance. To address this, Kucinich has authored and co-introduced, HR 676, Medicare for All, a bill to provide high quality health care to every American. This bill would provide all Americans the health care they need, from any doctor they choose, at a universal, high standard of quality. Americans would not be burdened with co-payments, premiums or deductibles. Rather, they would be guaranteed access to medically necessary health care, including inpatient and outpatient care, dental care, vision care, pharmaceuticals, and other treatments that a patient's doctor would deem necessary.

Medicare for All would cost the same amount of money that is now spent on health care costs. Funds would be provided by savings from a vast reduction of paperwork, existing government spending on healthcare, savings from rational bulk procurement of medications, a tax on the top 5% of income earners, a small tax on stock and bond transfers, and a phased-in payroll tax that is less than what employers currently pay on average for employee health coverage that is much less comprehensive.

The Conyers/Kucinich bill is the signature national health insurance bill currently before Congress. The bill has more co-sponsors than ever before. HR 676 currently has 68 co-sponsors in Congress. HR 676 is the subject of a national grassroots campaign. The legislation is endorsed by 72 union organizations and town hall meetings have been or will be held in 90 cities this year.

Lastly, the Cleveland-area, and nation, continues to suffer because of the ill-advised, ill-conceived, misguided and failed war in Iraq.

Since early 2002, Kucinich has been the leading voice in Congress in opposition to the war. Kucinich believes we need to begin removing all our troops from Iraq in a quick and orderly manner--- in a matter of months not years. To address this Kucinich introduced the first, and only, bipartisan legislation calling for the withdrawal of forces. (H. J. Res. 55).

Kucinich also strongly believes that Congress has failed at its Constitutional duty to conduct oversight over this Administration's war policy. In an attempt to push Congress to meet its oversight duty, Kucinich has used a little known parliamentarian procedure known as a Resolution of Inquiry to demand accountability from this Administration. Kucinich has introduced three resolutions asking for documents regarding Iraq's weapons disclosure to the UN before the war, the White House Iraq Group and the Rendon and Lincoln Group. The Administration released the Iraqi disclosure to Congress in response to Kucinich's resolution. Kucinich also forced Congress to investigate the missing $9 billion in Iraqi reconstruction funds that have yet to be accounted for.

With over $250 billion spent on the war, and more appropriated, the war is draining vital financial resources needed to address the critical needs here at home.

Kucinich will continue to challenge the war and demand that all our troops come home in a quick and orderly fashion. Kucinich has challenged both the Administration and his own party on this issues and will not stop until all our troops come home.

I understand this time of year rhetoric gets heated. But, the facts are clear-Kucinich remains a strong, unwavering and effective voice for the community in Washington with a lengthy record of accomplishment.

I appreciate the Lakewood Observer granting the Congressman this opportunity to share his record with the blogosphere.

I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

Doug Gordon
Communications Director,
Office of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH)
Washington, DC

[terry batdorf]

Mr Gordon,

Please outline the highlights of things Dennis has actually done in terms of jobs, money, etc for this district over the course of his reign. I would like you answer in bullet statements only. Save the retrotic and fluff for his speeches.


Thanks,

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim,



Terry


You ignorance knows no boundaries, everyone that knows Ken knows he believes in decency and respect.

It would seem that you are alone in not being able to handle free speech. But I would expect this. I came from a miltary family, I guess you did not. Respect was ingrained in our bones. You do not repsect the board or yourself and you are certainly disrespecting your country.


peace



.
_________________
Jim O'Bryan

"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad. If not, don't worry. Just forget about it."

--Dalai Lama

Terry

Oh yeah, I still agree with that. My stepfather was a Lt. Colonel, we had to face facts, and read them. Funny thing during Vietnam he was very mad at me. A couple months ago he called and apologized, and went into great detail about how Iraq is worse than Vietnam, and the lies are nothing short of an attack on the Constitution. The reason he was serving. As he put it, The president was his boss, but his allegiance was to the Constitution.

peace

[Jeff Endress]

How do you spell POMPOUS?

I would like you answer in bullet statements only.

Concerns over the Forum police degrade into format police.

The Chef

[Joan Roberts]

This whole thread has a totally weird 'Alice in Wonderland' feel to it.

Mr. Batdorf, if you are a conservative Republican, you should join me in working to keep the governor's mansion in Republican hands, for the re-election of DeWine, Pryce, and Chabot, and for House pickups in seats to be vacated by Strickland and Brown. OH10 isn't worth your breath.

Mr. Kampe, sorry but I can't for the life of me figure out why you're even wasting your time on your OWN PARTY's super-safe OH10 seat. Not when there is so much to be done elsewhere (see above). Plus you can work to beat Ney and maybe even force LaTourrette to spend some money.

Mr, Kampe if you're a Republican doing "covert ops" I speak for many of my conservative friends. PLEASE STOP! You're no good at it!

[Dennis J Kampe]

re Gordon FIRST ( only or Only as needed ) 4/13 6;01 pm post

Contacted by LO : WHOM ? WHEN ? WHAT EXCUSE USED ?

Suggest it is a "Protect your Bosses A$$" effort since his Dist 10 "solution" is HIDE - DO NOT RESPOND - BE MIA for 2 or 9+ years .

Question as per T Batdorf / D.J. Kampe / Others

"What SPECIFICALLY has he DONE ( successfully ) FOR the RESIDENTS of the 10 th District "
- NOT the Universe , the World , the USA etc but NE OHIO District 10 . The djk defenders "answer" is " .............................." ie NO ANSWER which is one of the few truthful things they post about his accomplishments for your BOSS .

I too would ask a cut to the catch Bottom line answer not 1000 or 3000 word OPINIONATED political essay . Adding his name to HR-676 - introduced by John Conyers with djk as one of 57 other co-sponsors is really PATHETIC . Either use ALL 57 other Co-sponsors or remove the singly added djk tag or use the correct HR-676 ID . Unbelievable he/you would try to phony up this legislation ID . But of course when you have done nothing and are becoming more and more desperate - anything goes ?

Surely you know the difference between Introducing legislation and having/getting it PASSED . djk legislation : generally AT MOST 1 or 2 other co-sponsors - MOST by him alone and ALL BURIED FOREVER in some committee or sub-committee . NEVER seen again- ie 1 "successful " djk legislation in 9+ years = his Track record and A FACT .

Seems BOTH you and your Bo$$ don't / can't understand the difference between FACTS and OPINIONS - suggest as I did to him in person that he look up words in a dictionary . Example NASA Glenn protection - YES Voinovich + DeWine and YES in Dist 10 but NO djk "efforts to help" - ie hold a local meeting or two , unless you call his 40 yr MO - Come in after fact , hold Press Conference like meeting , Get his 15 sec/min of (sh)- f- ame , Blame some one else , Hold 2nd conference a few weeks later , re-blame others in another 15 sec/min shame/fame meeting, and then move on to next disaster . Unfortunately for the group he "represents" - this - Accomplish nothing - blame others strategy has worked ( for djk ) for 40 years . PATHETIC .

Again what FACTS can you/he supply vs those in PD earlier this week - Nominal 35 % LOSS - NASA Workers , contractors and budget in past 4 years ie middle of djk term . So RETENTION of 65% workers ? budget is his legacy ?? What an Accomplishment !!! Same for Mittal Steel ! "Save" 50 % of jobs and claim another Victory ! With friends and help like this who needs enemies ? Keep up the Good no Great Work for us !

Your "replicate his past successes" like running City of Cleveland into 1st major city default in 30 years ? - Oh yes - Others responsible not djk - Hell he was only "the man or really Boy wonder " but others responsible .

For a 9+ year seniority - djk has NO support , No sponsors or co-sponsors and as such we in Dist 10 have NO future under his "leader$hip" - PATHETIC

Again the question " What has he done SPECIFICALLY for the residents of Dist 10 - those he supposedly represents - POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS over the past 2 or 9+ years ? " Default answer used by all previous responders is " ............................" ie NOTHING ZIP ZERO .

Am "waiting" on "my" representative to solve the energy crisis by introducing legislation to repeal / suspend the "Law of Gravity" so gas goes longer etc . Same probability of success as most/all of his past introductions . What counts are ACCOMPLISHMENTS not phony/after the fact legislative bill shifting and for him blame re-direction .

re "the War" - djk solution Bring them Home ( now?) so I'll vote against providing $$$ for continuing efforts . Why not just disband the DoDefense and replace it with his DoPeace ? I am sure those and all other terrorists will immediately see the light and immediately stop .

Finally you provide "proof" in your own post of my position - "kucinich challenged BOTH the administration (Reps) and his own Party (Dems ) ie dennis is ALONE , NO SUPPORT again and again and again . Who suffers ? not djk - he picks up his $165,200 yearly check - District 10 residents suffer via growing unemployment , and no fed funds locally ( even Youngstown got More gas highway funds when their congressman in jail then djk got for Dist 10 ) Other Major ACCOMPLISHMENT for our REPRESENTATIVE ?

Sorry I droned on so long but it is hard to present Facts to counter your and other djk lovers/supporters opinions as shown in their previous posts .

Again the question " WHAT has he done SPECIFICALLY FOR Dist 10 resident in a positive fashion over the past 2 or 9+ years ?" Bullet answers Okay but based upon past responses I expect Blanks

DJ Kampe

[Grace O'Malley]

Calling Kucinich's district "supersafe" is an understatement, Joan.

From the PD:

http://www.cleveland.com/weblogs/openers/index.ssf?/mtlogs/cleve_openers/archives/2006_04.html#131050

If a politician speaks in the woods ...


Barbara Anne Ferris, a Democratic candidate for congress in the 10th District, not only lacks a primary opponent today at her City Club debate, she won’t have much of an audience, either.

Since incumbent congressman Dennis Kucinich has refused to square off with her, WCPN radio, which broadcasts many of the City Club debates, will not cover Ferris’s solo appearance. And, according to a City Club spokesperson, Ferris has attracted less than two dozen people to the event.

[Dennis J Kampe]

THE FULL QUOTE vs the mary edited version

Source is PD political writer not a LO "defend djk" at any cost including truth or integrity lakewoodite or self appointed member of the LO "police"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Barbara Anne Ferris, a Democratic candidate for congress in the 10th District, not only lacks a primary opponent today at her City Club debate, she won’t have much of an audience, either.

Since incumbent congressman Dennis Kucinich has refused to square off with her, WCPN radio, which broadcasts many of the City Club debates, will not cover Ferris’s solo appearance. And, according to a City Club spokesperson, Ferris has attracted less than two dozen people to the event.

Kucinich didn’t tell the City Club officially that he was blowing off the debate until last Friday. But he told the Plain Dealer earlier that he would not appear with Ferris because she has not focused enough on issues. But he’s being a bit disingenuous.

Kucinich, who handily beat Ferris two years ago when she ran as an independent, simply doesn’t want to share his spotlight with a lesser known candidate.

Kucinich, for instance, said he would have been happy to debate Ferris during his meeting with Plain Dealer editors and reporters. (The Plain Dealer invited both to appear but scheduling problems prevented such a meeting.)

“It would have been interesting to put another candidate next to me and go over the whole arc of issues and see who really understands the district and who understands the issues and who’s prepared to act on them,â€Â￾ he said.

Based on that comment, the Plain Dealer asked him why he won't stand next to Ferris in public and prove he has more substance than Ferris.

The some-times cagey Kucinich replied, “I wish her well.â€Â￾


-- Mark Naymik

[Dennis J Kampe]

Since Mary wants to use the www.cleveland.com/open posts - suggest she see ( defend) the April 11 post given in FULL below :

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dennis: Tilting at his own party


The whole "outsider" thing seems so 2004. But Dennis Kucinich still wears it proudly.

Says a new e-mail fundraising plea for his reelection campaign: "The Democratic Party is struggling to rediscover its soul. Leading Congressional Democrats still support the war; still support corporate-run health care, still support trade without protections for workers' rights, human rights or the environment. Predictably, the corporate media which fueled our march to folly in Iraq still sides with the corporate wing of our party. "

He cites FDR, JFK and Martin Luther King. He says, "Day in and day out, whether in the spotlight or not, I have persisted in walking the path of peace, of social and economic justice."

This isn't a brand-new new message. Kucinich originally posted it on his reelection site April 6, with the headline: "What Happened to the Soul of the Democratic Party?"

Never mind that President Bush's job approval rating is lower than ever (38 percent in today's Washington Post-ABC poll) and Republicans nationwide -- and especially in Ohio -- are mortified of losing power. Kucinich wants his party to go father -- "not only to encourage Democrats to take a stand but to offer real alternatives to the prevailing thirst for empire and plutocracy."

What a long, strange trip it still is. Speaking of which, check out the theme of an upcoming Kucinich "fun-raiser": "It's not far from the circus when you are the circus."

- Stephen Koff

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AGAIN Old news ( except for our REPRESENTative ) or perhaps his memory is failing / failed ?

His Fund Raiser Theme - "YOU are the CIRCUS" speaks for itself and apparently his view of his $upporters .

D.J. Kampe

[Jim O'Bryan]

Contacted by LO : WHOM ? WHEN ? WHAT EXCUSE USED ?

DJ Kampe

Dennis

I asked Doug if he was interested in joing the discussion. No excuse was given or asked for. As the Lakewood newspaper and me it's publisher I contacted the office so we could get the facts straight from the office.

Dennis you know how I am with facts! I thought it was best.

.

[Doug Gordon]

Friends:

Thank you to all of you who read my post and responded.

I realize that no matter how many posts I make some people will just not agree. I respect the rights of others to disagree, and I am glad the web, and particularly blogs, have given many people a new venue in which to express their views. Free political debate is the centerpiece of our democracy.

I encourage everyone to visit Congressman Kucinich's website --
http://www.kucinich.house.gov -- and make up your own opinion on his record and accomplishments.

Thank you--

Doug Gordon
Communications Director
Office of Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH)
Washington DC

[Dennis J Kampe]

J O'Bryan

Thank you for the additional info re You as LO Publisher inviting djk DC spokesman to comment on / defend his boss . I am sure this is standard LO treatment and one can probably count the number of times this has been done in past week/month/year on both hands? or 1 hand ? or 1 finger or less than 1 finger ?.

Or possibly is it related to the "Fact" that nano-technology is needed to separate Mr LO from djk considering how closely the latter is following the former ? Other cruder images / comments but maybe more accurate views could be substituted for the above PG rated one . I leave that to the readers mind .

Finally what should we expect next ? Letters from Bio Willie or Shirley ? Or even better , his Mother or Aunt or Mrs d III extolling his program , values , life style ? I wait in eager anticipation


Back to the original Point - I find it absolutely AMAZING

What hypocrites we see in the mirror .

The LO "police" are strangely SILENT when a NON Lakewood , NON NE Ohio , NON Ohio First Time Submitter spouts his OPINIONS about his boss . Yet NOTHING from the self appointed LO Police or Mr LO himself for this invited individual .

This "special" treatment is In lieu of the standard :

Where do you Live ?
Are you born , breed etc in Lakewood ?
Why are you posting? Why are you posting here ?
Who asked you to post here or Who sent you ?
What do you know about Lakewood ?
Have you lived half or more than half of your life in Lakewood ? etc etc etc

This coming from those who know but don't follow the LO rules re posting / ID -
ie Only for others - Not me ! or my buddies ?

Instead One only hears the sound of the red carpet being rolled out for Mr Wash DC

Apparently If you post like me- Welcome.If not- see above questions re "membership"


D.J. Kampe

Resident of a larger universe than Lakewood
ie YES the world actually extends beyond the City of Lakewood Borders .


PS Particularly impressed (depressed?) with D Gordon's above "Free political debate is the centerpiece of our democracy" . This must be THE reason his boss is avoiding any political debate with BA FERRIS . Timely , beautiful , on target and sadly imo TRUE . Another plus for the residents of Dist 10 thanks to Dennis NO Debate K.

You can Run but cannot Hide - Joe Louis

[Charyn Varkonyi]

Arrrggg,,,

Dennis - I will try to speak as plainly as possible.

Relevant background: I worked in the Ferris campaign last time - worked with her and for her to help her get out in front of people to address the real world problems facing NE Ohio. I believed in her and her message.

Now for the record:
I DONT OBJECT TO YOU HAVING AN OPINION.
and
I dont object to your criticisms of the incumbent.

What I, and I believe MANY others, object to is the tone and hostility with which you present your views and the personal attacks on the candidate. YES YES YES - it is free country - you can act like a saint or a jacka$$ and it is your business.

BUT -

We dont have to like or appreciate it, and personally I am absolutely aghast at the fact that you are doing irreparable harm to Barbara in the process. (Yes, Kate - sadly he is... much to the republican glee *wink*)

I disapproved of these tactics when they were applied to Clinton, I disapprove of them with Kucinich, and I STRONGLY disapprove of them with our current president who, by virtually of his dully elected status as the president of our country deserves respect even when where vehemently disagree with his policies.


Do you get it yet???

I know I am spitting in the wind and likely to be flamed from all sides, but after the amount of work we put in to see it all being dragged down by posts like these and the subsequent inaction by the candidate is disheartening to say the least. This is the Achilles heel of the democratic party.

Who is the republican candidate for this seat anyway?

Peace,
~Charyn

[dl meckes]

I invited Barbara Anne Ferris to post her platform here. I have invited some of her supporters to post here.

I invite any candidate for whom Lakewoodites may vote to post here.

Since OH10 includes Lakewood, discussion regarding Lakewood representatives does fit in the Lakewood discussion area, at least in my opinion.

The LO does have a clear agenda to ask people to contribute.

The Observation Deck has contributors who do not reside in Lakewood.

And the posts here reflect only the opinions of the people who made them.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Dennis

You are killing me. First Barbara Anne Ferris has been a member of this board since we started. she has always been open and allowed to post. Just the other day I asked her to post.

As for the slant. If I was as slanted as you suggest why would I put Brabara Anne Ferris on the front page of the paper. For the record, many on the staff thought I should run it on page 4 or 5, and take that view from now on. But it was I that said the front page, it is only fair, and if you look the headline is above the fold, something I cannot ever remember given to Dennis.

Another point is that Congressman Kucinich was not at the deabte for the same reason Barbara Anne Ferris could not wait to talk to the media and Dennis. In her own words to be last night, "Hey Jim,

In my overloaded campaign schedule this week - I actually meant to send you a note to ask you about the substance of Mr. K's Monday meeting on pre-K education - I saw you standing in the back.
I really wanted to stay for the whole thing to hear the details (just because I'm a policy junkie), but had made a commitment to a group of Vets that I absolutely could not and would not break."

This was the exact group Congressman Kucinich was speaking to that morning. What is the difference?

You argument just does not hold water.


peace