The Observation Deck

Okay, this might sound a bit strange coming from me, but am I the only one who thinks its a little strange that Cimperman has already spent lots of time and effort going after Kucinich with gimmicky stunts, yet to this date still hasn't posted anything regarding real issues on his website?

He keeps asking "where's Dennis?", but I'd like to know "Where Joe stand?"

Is he running for a political position or is he trying to get a job with Comedy Central, either way, he's quickly losing credibility with me.

Bret Callentine wrote:Is he running for a political position or is he trying to get a job with Comedy Central, either way, he's quickly losing credibility with me.

Where was it originally?


FWIW


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I always give people the benefit of the doubt until they give me reason to alter my expectations.

When I first hear of someone running for office, I assume that they are serious. In this case, it's quickly becoming obvious that he's more interested in making headlines than making policy.

People that think they can just take pot shots at Kucinich and gain popularity are grossly underestimating the value of adversarial respect that an independent like myself still has for a man like Dennis Kucinich.

Bret Callentine wrote:He keeps asking "where's Dennis?", but I'd like to know "Where Joe stand?"

Is he running for a political position or is he trying to get a job with Comedy Central, either way, he's quickly losing credibility with me.

A Senate candidate in Kentucky who was challenging an incumbent ran a series of ads showing a man holding a leash. He was being pulled along by a pack of blood hounds. The verbiage of the ad was something like, "where is Senator Foghorn Leghorn". The ad would show the hounds looking up and down the street in and out of houses and over the river and through the woods. No sign of Senator Foghorn Leghorn. He had no time for the people of his State or their problems.

The challenger won.

I prefer politicians who offer substantive policy details and a consistent ideological perspective. That is why they lose.

People respond to inane commercials and are more likely to be influenced by a clever line like "where's the beef" than a series of substantive debates.

If Cimperman were to have called a press conference and gave a dynamic, brilliant, substantive, clear, concise, bold and innovative agenda he wouldn't have received 10 seconds air time.

I prefer a congressman who actually cares about his district . However, I think the majority of this particular district prefers the dog and pony show.

Your are 100% correct, Bill.

Just look at the "comment" section attached to the article on www.cleveland.com

Ugh.

Kucinich is dropping out of the Presidential race tomorrow, perhaps he feels the heat from Cimperman and others.

http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2 ... al_bi.html

Bret Callentine wrote:I always give people the benefit of the doubt until they give me reason to alter my expectations.

When I first hear of someone running for office, I assume that they are serious. In this case, it's quickly becoming obvious that he's more interested in making headlines than making policy.

People that think they can just take pot shots at Kucinich and gain popularity are grossly underestimating the value of adversarial respect that an independent like myself still has for a man like Dennis Kucinich.

I'm sorry that Cimperman hasn't made his record, his interests, his platform, etc. more visible, because we've worked with him and his office on a number of issues. We've found him to be a smart, caring and creative councilman, who has done a great job for his ward in the city of Cleveland.

I'm sorry that Cimperman hasn't made his record, his interests, his platform, etc. more visible, because we've worked with him and his office on a number of issues. We've found him to be a smart, caring and creative councilman, who has done a great job for his ward in the city of Cleveland.

And THAT is what I'd rather focus on, instead of the dog and pony show crap!

I think the days of discussing policy are over.

Politicians can say whatever they want, but that doesn't mean they can deliver on their promises. And it seems that races are more style over substance (since the early sixties).

Joe Cimperman has to win the primary and the only way he can do that is to rouse voters who are turned off by Dennis's presidential run. There are a lot of disaffected voters.

Rosemary Palmer and Barbara Ferris have been talking about the issues but are virtually invisible.

Cimperman shows up and pulls some splashy media stunts and everybody and their brother knows he's in the race.

I'm not personally comfortable with this tactic even if I know it is probably the clearest path to success. I know Joe Cimperman and I think this path demeans and diminishes the serious qualifications he has.

What's worse is that I wondered today, knowing that Dennis is pulling out of the presidential race, how he is going to continue to be heard on a national platform.

I'm not a great supporter of Congressman Kucinich for a variety of nuts and bolts reasons, but I am a huge fan of the Congressman's broad message and integrity.

So suddenly, I'm feeling pretty split about Kucinich getting out of the presidential race because his voice will be further denigrated.

Cimperman is getting the Plain Dealer endorsement.

This could get interesting.

Ryan Salo wrote:Cimperman is getting the Plain Dealer endorsement.

This could get interesting.

this comes at no surprise because the PD hates Kucinich with a passion.

that's like Bill O'Reilly endorsing a republican in the presidential race. To me that endorsement has no value, but to the average citizen that reads the PD and has no opinions of their own, just the PD's opinion, it might mean a lot.

Ryan Salo wrote:Cimperman is getting the Plain Dealer endorsement.

This could get interesting.

Agree that the primary could get interesting - I don't think it has anything to do with the PD's endorsements though.

Richard Cole wrote:

Ryan Salo wrote:Cimperman is getting the Plain Dealer endorsement.

This could get interesting.

Agree that the primary could get interesting - I don't think it has anything to do with the PD's endorsements though.

It was a weird endorsement. Most of it was a litany of why they hate Kucinich, why they don't think the other candidates won't work and then, in the end, a bit about why Cimperman is the best that is left. Yeesh. Some endorsement.

That said, I have personal reasons to really distrust Cimperman (his treatment of a friend of mine who lives in his ward was pretty bad...fair warning...don't get on his bad side and by that I mean don't disagree with him...his taste for theatrics runs fairly deep). So when I say that I don't think newspapers should be endorsing anyone might sound personal, too, but it isn't. I thought the first rule of the news was to report it, not be it. I know that dude who writes the apologies column once per week (where he defends many bad decisions by the paper or at times gives solemn mea culpas) I am sure has done something on this but I am curious what the answer would be. Most likely it is "well, the other media sources do" or something like that.

Too bad one of the other non-Cimperman/Kucinich folks could make headlines by being smart and loaded with good ideas.

Phil Florian wrote:It was a weird endorsement. Most of it was a litany of why they hate Kucinich, why they don't think the other candidates won't work and then, in the end, a bit about why Cimperman is the best that is left. Yeesh. Some endorsement.

Congressman Kucinich may have had a death bed conversion to the concept of representing his district but I don't think his heart is really in it. The day after his re-election he will be on the next jet plane back to Hollywood.

I prefer a congressman who shares my belief that a smaller, less intrusive government enhances freedom, opportunity, economic growth and individual enpowerment. Since few people share that belief I have to settle for something else.

Since our republic has evolved into a kleptocracy I am resigned to the fact that what we need is a good kleptocrat as our congressional representative.

I mean it as a complement when I say that Cimperman would be a good kleptocrat.