The Observation Deck

Kucinich Declares Victory for Working Class Voters

Under Pressure RTA Agrees to Maintain Service During Election

Washington D.C. (October 6, 2008) -- In response to the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (RTA) announcement that it would not cut service on November 2, 2008, two days before the national election, Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) made the following statement:

“I am glad to know that RTA, after being subject to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation, relented and will not institute service cuts two days before the national election. Unfortunately, it was only after learning that the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary had requested a DOJ investigation of its practices did RTA respond. 

“I am not satisfied that there was no ill intent on the part of the transit agency to deprive Cuyahoga County voters their ability to get to the polls on Election Day. I am not satisfied with RTA’s slash and burn approach to cutting off service to its riders in the face of its budget shortfalls. I am not satisfied with RTA’s philosophy of threatening and instituting fare increases and service cuts before exploring other options for meeting its budget. 

“I am satisfied that voters will be able to use RTA to get to and from the polls on Election Day. Therefore, I thank Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers for responding to my request of September 24, and to the DOJ for any work they have done so far in responding to Chairman Conyers’ call.

“Despite the fact that this was done under the pressure of a costly and time-consuming civil rights investigation and potential lawsuit, it is nevertheless a victory for working men and women of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, who may not have otherwise been able to get to the pollsâ€￾

Background: On September 24, 2008, after learning of RTA’s call to cut service to riders two days before the November 4 election, Congressman Kucinich sent Judiciary Committee Chairman Conyers the following letter: http://kucinich.house.gov/UploadedFiles/rta%20cony.pdf available here.

Once again, we have Dennis to thank.

Must be Thousands maybe Tens of Thousands of Lakewood and Ohio-10 voters who will use their LOCAL bus service to get to their LOCAL polling stations

Great job denny - another? Feather in your cap ! Or is this number 1 for 10+ years of efforts for the residents of Ohio-10

Dennis J Kampe wrote:Must be Thousands maybe Tens of Thousands of Lakewood and Ohio-10 voters who will use their LOCAL bus service to get to their LOCAL polling stations

Great job denny - another? Feather in your cap ! Or is this number 1 for 10+ years of efforts for the residents of Ohio-10

Dennis

Your bitterness slip is showing. Congressman Kucinich(I know you do not think elected officials deserve anything but contempt, but I like to show the respect earned through the ballot box) has done many things for Lakewood, the region and the country.

While I wish I could be as Lakewoodcentric as you are Parmacentric, but sometimes I must look beyond me and my neighbors. This would be one of three things this year that have affected Lakewood in a positive manner. With another large one to be announced shortly.

Then we can thank him for being one of the sane people voting no on the bailout, his stance on the war, and much, much more.

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JOB

Maybe denny can take the Lakewood RTA bus to the City Club of Cleveland debate THIS YEAR , considering he has been MIA for past several/many years ie Too busy or everyone knows where he stands or lastest flip-flop or "out to lunch" again or undefensiveable stances or Unable to answer "What has he done for Ohio-10 NOT Ohio or USA or World or Galaxy or Universe or denny etc "

Note denny agreed to attend but WILL he show UP ?

"Vegas" odds 2:1 against but Calif monies/needs will change situation !

As per the rest of your opinionated letter - it is just that - Your Opinion

Dennis J Kampe

Dennis J Kampe wrote:JOB

Maybe denny can take the Lakewood RTA bus to the City Club of Cleveland debate THIS YEAR , considering he has been MIA for past several/many years ie Too busy or everyone knows where he stands or lastest flip-flop or "out to lunch" again or undefensiveable stances or Unable to answer "What has he done for Ohio-10 NOT Ohio or USA or World or Galaxy or Universe or denny etc "

Note denny agreed to attend but WILL he show UP ?

"Vegas" odds 2:1 against but Calif monies/needs will change situation !

As per the rest of your opinionated letter - it is just that - Your Opinion

Dennis J Kampe

Dr. Kampe

You hatred of Congressman Kucinich knows no bounds.

1) Right about the war,

2) Right about predatory lending

3) Right about food and medicine security

4) Right about the ecology

5) Right about the bailout(not needed had the rest voted against the war)

6) Right about his office placement

7) Right about Social Security Office

8) Right about India Garden

9) Right about RTA

10) Probably right about the City Club Debate, even if he is wrong, percentage in his favor.

As for the baseless California/Hollywood comment, by voting no to the bailout, that was voting no to the $468 million to Hollywood Producers.

I wish he could do for Parma what he did for Lakewood, and maybe he has you are too blinded with hate to see it. But besides the list above, 160 additional jobs to Lakewood.

His opponent would do?



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so he was unsuccessful in getting any lasting changes at RTA (like he demanded at the RTA meeting in Rocky River), but that's okay, because at least we'll be able to take the bus to vote.

Jim,

even IF he is correct in most of his positions (and that's a big IF), then what? As much as I admire his determination, at best, I would realistically have to describe Kucinich as politically impotent.

Bret Callentine wrote:so he was unsuccessful in getting any lasting changes at RTA (like he demanded at the RTA meeting in Rocky River), but that's okay, because at least we'll be able to take the bus to vote.

Jim,

even IF he is correct in most of his positions (and that's a big IF), then what? As much as I admire his determination, at best, I would realistically have to describe Kucinich as politically impotent.

Oh now we raise the bar.

He is a joke, well, OK but he doesn't do anything, OK he doesn't do anything but...

Bret, as one of few that is correct on all of this, we throw him out because the others are not smart enough to see the forest for the trees?

The truth if you dig a little deeper, he has far more support than you might imagine. I think 3/4 of the house and 1/4 the senate has signed on to The Department of Peace.

He had been working with a mostly Republican Congress for most of his residency in congress, chance for any action nil. Also look at what you Kampe, and others do even though Congressman Kucinich is right. Marginalize him, make jokes, anything but giving him credit for clear thinking.

According to my rough list, $2.5 trillion in savings.





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Oh now we raise the bar.

Jim, I constantly try to raise the bar.

Unfortuntely, I believe Kucinich constantly lowers it. He comes out with a long list of things that he suggests need to be done, then, when he gets a few table scraps from congress, regardless of whether even a minimal goal was reached, he declares VICTORY!!!!!

GCRTA is a joke. If this was a private industry, it would have gone bankrupt by now, due to poor management, so Kucinich takes the microphone and calls them out. He demands accountability, demands an investigation, demands continuation of routes and controls on increased fares. He gets the crowd all riled up.... and then nothing.

and when they re-schedule their cutbacks and changes by a week. ONE FREAKIN' WEEK. Kucinich comes out to proclaim VICTORY!!!!!

Yeah Dennis!!!!! Good Job!!!!!

I know that regardless of what the hundreds of people in that room said, all they really wanted was to protect their ability to take the bus to vote. Forget about making it to work on November 10th, as long as they can vote, it's all worth it.

Bret

Go back and read the context in raising the bar.

Nothing? Getting people energized, nothing. While not big, a 2 day extension for voting is a victory.

Now I can understand why Dr. Kampe has become crazed with his attacks.

But you a Lakewoodite should know first hand the work he has done. Trains, Social Security, Jobs, Veteran's Medical benefits and Help, Food crisis, and predatory lending.

I do not see it as a loss in anyway shape or form.

But, we have been known to disagree.


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I am hoping that maybe he can convince RTA to change their plans all together. I do understand the importance of people getting to the polls on election day but I think it is even more important for people to be able to use the RTA on a daily basis to get to work, to get to school, to get to doctors appointments and to be able to buy their groceries.