It appears Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) isn't especially effective as a lawmaker -- of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office over a decade ago, only three have become law, while 93 "didn't even make it out of committee

Bills to give medicare to all, impeach Bush/Cheney, open investigations into Bush appointees, strip away the power grab of the executive on National Security matters, restory civil liberties lost to the Patriot Act and FICA expansion etc etc etc.

It says less about Kuncinich and more about the Democratic party (and it's Washington leadership) that these ideas die in committee.

I was tempted to somewhat defend the Utah Majority Leader by pointing out that the event took place 25 years rather than while he was in politics. However, I see that he was married at the time and the then-15-year old's former Sunday School teacher.

He's on his own.

I couldn't agree more with thorin-1. It's one thing to disagree with Kucinich's current stand on Health Care Reform, but quite another to start what looks like the beginning of a campaign against one of the *very* few consistent and principled members of the Democratic caucus.

* It appears Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) isn't especially effective as a lawmaker -- of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office over a decade ago, only three have become law, while 93 "didn't even make it out of committee."

just great - going after one of the only democrats with a spine for failing at passing very progressive legislation - that is really going to help. WTF is wrong with you benen?

I really like the idea of "an interactive waterboarding" exhibit in the Bush Presidential Library.

Is "you go girl" too yesterday?

Wapo: Hillary Rodham Clinton widens her circle at the State Department

She has walked the halls and popped into offices unexpectedly, created an electronic "sounding board," and held seven internal town hall meetings to listen to gripes about everything from policy to cafeteria food to bullying in the workplace. She installed six new showers that joggers requested, is taking steps to remedy overseas pay inequities and instituted a policy that allows partners of gay diplomats to receive benefits. She became a heroine to the Foreign Service when she went to bat to get funding for 3,000 new Foreign Service positions for State operations and the U.S. Agency for International Development -- the first boost of this magnitude in two decades.

Several career employees said they were caught off guard initially by Clinton's level of engagement in internal management, particularly coming on the heels of her more reserved predecessor, Condoleezza Rice. On her first tour of the building, before she was sworn in, Clinton requested a budget briefing. Kennedy said it soon became clear what she meant: not an overview, but a line-by-line review that took three sessions to complete.

Shamila Chaudary -- a self-described "backbencher" -- had toiled for years as a faceless expert on the Pakistan desk when one day she found herself invited to brief Clinton. Chaudary, 32, said the two sparred over whether it was prudent to engage non-governmental power centers in Pakistan, with Clinton expressing skepticism.

Chaudary held her ground, making the point that "we've been seen as not engaging with them, and it's hurt us a lot." She said that although she and Clinton "didn't necessarily agree . . . she said that it's very important for us to debate like this. . . . This is how she said she wants to do business."

Within 48 hours of their meeting, Chaudary was promoted to a front-line job in the office of policy planning.

i just love the vindictiveness against kucinich the obamabots spew.

the dude is who he is -- ufos and all. he stands up for what he thinks is right.

kucinich to some is more like the kid in front of the tank in tiananmen square than "an ineffective legislator."

who's effective for you lynchers? lieberman? hahahahahahahahaha... pathetic...

It appears Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) isn't especially effective as a lawmaker -- of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office over a decade ago, only three have become law, while 93 "didn't even make it out of committee."

I never thought I'd say it, but Benen, you're contemptible. You were once a must read precisely because you clearly weren't part of the third rate establishment-propping up hack class.

No longer. Welcome to their club. Be seeing you.

I couldn't agree more with thorin-1. It's one thing to disagree with Kucinich's current stand on Health Care Reform, but quite another to start what looks like the beginning of a campaign against one of the *very* few consistent and principled members of the Democratic caucus.

I disagree with Kucinich on his stand against the current Health Insurance bill. But it is a very narrow thing. Many Kucinich's criticisms are valid. But there are just enough important provisions that I support the bill. Plus the fact that if the bill goes down it will be at least another 20 years before any of those provisions are seen again.

But as you say, disagreeing with him on this issue does not take away from the fact that he is a true progressive and that the Democrat leaderships constant spurring of his ideas is a bad thing.

And the fact that the Democratic leadership seems intent on villifying him while heaping rewards and praise on Nelson, Stupak and other right wing Republicans (who have weakened the bill and still being compromised with) just shows the depth of disrecpt the party leadership has towards it's own base.

and other right wing Republicans

I meant Democrats. It's hard to tell the difference these days.

I hate to spoil the Kucinich love-fest, but anyone who lived in Cleveland in the '70s knows that the guy is ineffectual, mainly because he's so impressed with his own political purity that he alienates and antagonizes people all over the place. At a time when Cleveland was losing its tax base and deep in debt, he was ranting against the evil corporations, which, uh, kinda sorta pay those taxes the city needs. It's one thing to have fine, noble principles. It's quite another to know how to make them a reality.

"if the bill goes down it will be at least another 20 years before any of those provisions are seen again"

...for the same reason all those Kucinich-sponsored bills went nowhere: Democrats are gutless.

For a while I thought that to vote third-way was to throw away my vote; the last four years have proven that to vote any other way certainly is.

Thanks to all who are supporting Dennis Kucinich and his principled stands on behalf of most Americans, in the face of villification by the right and the left. Benen didn't see fit to identify the bills that Kucinich introduced; he just used a number. We are fond of calling out Republicans and Blue Dogs for their meritless (grand)stands, but when someone with a mind and an ability to speak it challenges the status quo of the "left", his reputation is besmirched.

Mr. K may be small in physical stature, but his courage and intellect make small his critics.

Though I will probably continue to read this blog, I will be much more critical in my reading. I think this comments thread says a lot for the faithful readers, and I am encouraged by the support for Mr. K.

I am committed to Oneness through Justice and Transformation
peace,
st john

Kucinich is a dwarf with a hot wife?! Wha? Just kidding, however his stand against the health care reform legislation is counter-productive. Now to the tissue box, Benen simply linked an Alex Koppleman Salon piece (A. It's Salon.com. B.) Alex looks like he gets high, a lot). Now those two points do not carry any weight, very similar to the whining and shame projected at Mr. Benen for linking to the article. Are you folks collectively old enough for the "big rides" yet? The number of Kucinich bills that made it out of committee would probably be more statistically significant if compared to say other elected officials in congress, however the pudding has set and there isn't much there! At this point no Democrat (or DINO) is exempt from the responsibility of getting the damn bill passed. Flex your principals all you want but pass the god damn bill or else. Kucinich is a progressive "Jebus", that and $3.50 will get you a nice latte at Starbucks and a better one at Peets.

* It appears Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) isn't especially effective as a lawmaker ..."

Wow what a crummy thing to write.

I fully support T-Rex's view of Rep. Kucinich. "Purity" in politics is an oxymoron; especially as a major part of politics is knowing when to compromise in order to move towards your goal. Also, anyone else see the one unifying note in every piece of legislation referred to by thorin-1? All are grandiose, eye-catching, head-line-grabbing pieces of legislation. Odd, that.
Mr. Kucinich knew, or should have known, that all of those pieces of legislation were bound to be shot down the minute he proposed them. I don't fault him for proposing them; I do fault him for failing to follow up. Nibbling away at problems can often result in reaching the desired results, although it may take longer and not be as noticed.
There's a word here I'm trying to think of...it's found at race tracks, I think.

I had no idea that the WaMo had its own comedy troupe: "The Not Ready For Reality Time Brayers."

With all the screwed-up bovine excrement going on, courtesy of the Beckylvanian Rushboist Coultergeistish Republikanner beasties; with roughly 1-in-6 Americans not getting enough to eat; with better than a full tithe of America's workforce "officially" unemployed, and another share at least of that quantity unofficially so; roughly 46,000 Americans in their graves just last year due to a healthcare system that effectively kills at a much more efficient rate than an Egyptian plague of Moses-like proportions; war criminals getting off not only scot-free, but raking in private-sector salaries and speaking fees that could, when combined, put a nice down payment on the windowless sarcophagus that they all deserve to be encased within; a recalcitrant, bigoted, freedom-hating mob who, labeling themselves as "the loyal opposition" are about as worthwhile to these United States of America as were Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge to Cambodia---------all you can do is blather on about the sacrosanctness of Kucinich?

Where in the gods' names did anyone ever come up with the absolute regurgitatory glop that a politician's "principles" were more important than the rule of law, the self-respect borne of millions of positions of employment, and the lives of tens of thousand, if not hundreds of thousands, of American lives? All those who suffer the direct and indirect consequences of the aforementioned plagues upon the American People do so as the direct result of those who instigate those same said consequences by means of a "no" vote.

For my personal few coppers' worth on the man, I'd suggest we just rename him "Minority Leader High Lord Grand Poobah Mitch McKucinich," hang a plate-sized golden pachyderm plaque around his neck, and be done with him.

Or better yet---given the time of year---just call him Judas, toss him his thirty silver pieces, and point him to the tree from which he might simply hang himself.

And I cannot, in both defense of and in good conscience for those who must most assuredly suffer any of the above-mentioned agonies in the name of the greater glory of his "principles," include as part-and-parcel of such an invitation the words "in effigy."

Damn Dennis Kucinich to hell, beyond hell, and to places that make uber-hell look good.

"I hate to spoil the Kucinich love-fest, but anyone who lived in Cleveland in the '70s..."

Yeah I'm sure stories about things that happened 4 decades ago are much more relevant than what's happening right now.

"he's so impressed with his own political purity that he alienates and antagonizes people all over the place."

Seeing what's happened in the last year I think there are a good number of "democrats" that need to be severely alienated and antagonized. Start with Rahm, Reid, and Obama.

"At a time when Cleveland was losing its tax base and deep in debt, he was ranting against the evil corporations"

What a surprise that a kucinich basher is a chamber of commerce type. I'm shocked.

"It's one thing to have fine, noble principles. It's quite another to know how to make them a reality. "

Because the way to make principles a reality is to tear down those with principles and reward those with none. You'll be voting obama again naturally...

@S. Waybright on March 12, 2010 at 8:16 PM
Thank you for your intelligent and compelling argument for unprincipled, pragmatism.

You're quite welcome, ST J....

Thank you for your intelligent and compelling argument for unprincipled pragmatism...not.
Did I forget to register the snark attack?

wow, we gots us some blind Kucinich luv goin on. Hard to see how he ever lost the Presidential nomination with all this support.

ok, so maybe the way Benen worded it was harsh (although that was how Koppleman presented it), but is anyone really going to argue the premise as to Kucinich's effectiveness? It isn't about whether he is right or wrong, but there are lots of people with great ideas that are lousy leaders, lousy statespersons, lousy politicians, lousy managers - it just so happens Kucinich is among them. it isn't just because Congressional Democrats are impure corportist DINO poopy-heads. When Kucinich ran in early state primaries in places like Iowa where media is cheap and the nature of the caucuses skews the turnout towards lefty true blievers, he still couldn't get out of single digits. I've yet to meet anyone who thought he even did a passable job in Cleveland.

Its one thing to agree with his policy ideas, but to take to the barricades over his effectiveness is just myopic. Let me put it in terms any good progressive shouold understand: as a "leader" and representative of the viewpoint, he's no Paul Wellstone. He's not even a Russ Feingold. They were/are both much more effective at working with others, getting some victories where they can, and in Wellstone's case even charming the press to a degree to cover his discussion of progressive positions.

It isn't enough to be pure of progressivism. For it to matter, you have to be a passable politician as well. Facts is facts: Denny isn't.

And you are still quite welcome---noting that the abrupt change in your sig-line from all caps to all lower case denotes a particularly-bland case of sociopolitical ineptitude normally found among individuals who spend enormous amounts of time face-booking and my-spacing with their fellow teabagger-minions about the latest bold commentaries from the carnivorous uber-visionary known as Ted Nugent....

It appears Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) isn't especially effective as a lawmaker ..."

Wow what a crummy thing to write.

Posted by: Dale on March 12, 2010 at 7:36 PM

It is a crummy thing to write, but it is the truth.

I flirted at being in love with Kucinich, but I realized he doesn't need me, or you, he has enough love for himself he doesn't need anybody else.

He was sent to Congress to represent his constitutents. I wonder if they are impressed with his ideological purity. You can sure can't put a lot of people to work with ideological purity. Give me a John Murtha or Ike Skelton anytime over some self-impressed purist. This is a democracy not Mount Olympus. Sometimes you have to put your purity aside to do something for the team.

I don't even think you have to go as far the other direction as Murtha (and I wouldn't). I think Bernie Sanders is more effective than Kucinich. Harkin, who is consistently in the top 5 or so in measures of progressive voting, is more effective. Weiner and Grayson I would argue are already more effective. Why? People actually like them, they communicate effectively, they don't turn people off (and therefore off of hearing their message). That some people here wish you could be both annoying and petulent and still be effective comes as no surprise, however.

Uh Benen, you nasty DLCer, Kucinich "isn't effective" with his legislation because he actually puts for PROGRESSIVE bills calling for GOOD PROGRESSIVE programs or changes and insects like you, DLCer corporatists, HATE anything that even hints at being good for "little people".

You are David Brooks but less effective as a douche.

"it isn't just because Congressional Democrats are impure corportist DINO poopy-heads."

not just but that is about 75% of it. Kucinich could be a better politician certainly. But the fact that he's one of maybe 3 or 4 actual progressives among two parties absolutely owned by special interests means the deck is more than a little stacked against him.

And when the dems have been utter shit heads the impulse to take it out on one of the few guys doing the right thing is beyond contemptible. It's also sadly typical for the douchebags that support thi monstrosity.

Hey Benen, your objectively pro-torture, pro-illegal spying, pro-war, pro-corporations, anti-Medicare, anti-universal healthcare, as evidenced by your attack on Kucinich (based on the actual substance of all of Kucinich's bills) has lost you another reader.

You are vile.

Forty Six Thousand Americans die each year because they can't get health care insurance. I wonder how they will feel if the health care bill vote fails because Dennis (the purist) Kucinich votes no. All warm and fuzzy because he stood on his "principles" in the face of impossible odds? I wonder? I suspect that mostly they will be scared, and mad as hell that the SOB made the perfect the enemy of the good because that is the pure thing to do.

You mean reconcilliation requires that the bill reduces the deficit??? And it was used to pass the budget-busting Bush tax cuts????

OMG.

praedor and squiggleslash, resignations accepted.

if the Kucinich post was all it took, Steve, you should have done it long ago!

The story of the Utah House Majority Leader echoed the piece you had the other day Steve about Republicans getting off scott-free in these cases. The Utah House members APPLAUDED him for his revelation. They're supporting him! He'd rightly be considered a pedophile. My Gawd what has become of the Republican part?

because it isn't all about Kucinich. . .

I think Constance is a brave, beautiful young woman and I wish her nothing but peace and strength (which will be in short supply as she gets blamed for prom being cancelled). But the ACLU needs to pick its courtroom fights better. This is a virtually unwinnable case, and losing lawsuits harm the cause -- worse still if they somehow win at trial and take a loss in a published appellate case.

The school's position was clearly discriminatory, and the case would have been good had the public school held a prom that excluded Constance or her date. But the lawsuit as it is suffers from a huge defect in that schools are certainly not required to have a prom. They can cancel the prom all they like. And courts are exceedingly deferential to school administration to begin with. But when your "remedy" is essentially to force a school to do something they are under no obligation to do in the first place, that's a really tough win anywhere, tougher still in a conservative rural area. Sure we all know it is retaliatory toward her, but all they have to do is say "if prom is going to be a controversy and people are going to argue and be upset, it isn't worth having - and besides, we were worried for her safety" and they have a rational basis (since orientation generally hasn't been given strict scrutiny yet, and there is no fundamental right to a prom). Moreover, retaliation claims require that what you suffer retaliation for is a protected activity (or that your whistleblowing supports state public policy). It is likely that while she was unfairly retaliated against, this particular retaliation, while ugly, is not legally redressable.

But when they lose this and it gets loads of press, the next case with better facts will now be harder because the other side will point to this case as persuasive precedent. Sorry, Constance, but the ACLU isn't making the right call on this one.

Prefer someone like Liebermann to Kucinich? No. I'd prefer someone like Ted Kennedy, who worked with his opponents when he had to, got half a loaf instead of refusing to take a crumb, and readied himself to fight for the rest of the loaf the next day. That's how you satisfy your constituents, as opposed to satisfying one's limitless ego.

'The three (kucinich sponsored bills) that were enacted are, in chronological order from first to last: A bill "to make available to the Ukranian Museum and Archives the USIA television program 'Window on America,'" a bill "to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio as the 'John P. Gallagher Post Office Building" and a bill "proclaiming Casimir Pulaski to be an honorary citizen of the United States posthumously." '

Poor Dennis doesn't get any respect when he threatens to shit on a bill that might just make more of a difference than posthumous citizeship... Lolz

Benen's gutless attack on Dennis K makes me pine for the days when Kevin Drumm was using this very same platform to shill for the Iraq War.

the more things change...

Dear John: That's when the Senate Republicans fired the parliamentarian and got one who'd go along with the tax cuts, back in 2001.

PS: I'd love to see the House Democrats (who have more at stake in November) include their version of the public option--the one they've already passed--in the reconciliation bill. If the Senate Dems are bluffing, they'll eventually have to run having voted against the most popular aspect of HCR. The thing might just become law, despite Pelosi's opinion (and Obama's for that matter). I can't see Obama refusing to sign it.

It doesn't "hurt" for Kucinich to put up the Bills just to show what sorts of legislation we should see in this nation. He can still vote on the timid stuff other people put up. Really, the true other side is too dangerous for us to get tangled up ragging over somebody who means well, however "effective" or not he is. Steve B means well too, just often kind of a "dork."

Kucinichistas...Paulbots...why is it that they always sound so much alike? Answer: They both insist on building the house from the roof down....

Old school above: haha that's quite tongue in cheek clever if I may say so myself :)

To Steve Benen, who bogusly wrote:

It appears Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) isn't especially effective as a lawmaker -- of the 97 bills Kucinich has sponsored since taking office over a decade ago, only three have become law, while 93 "didn't even make it out of committee."

And to the unbelievably arrogant, self important KOS, I say this:

Any journalist who is unable to see the importance and value that a man like Dennis Kucinich, a true Statesman, Patriot, and an honest Representative of the People, brings to the debate and how his views shape the debate, than I don't know why the hell I read your blogs.

Someone's been feeding the troll that tainted Chinese puppy chow again. Woof....

"it isn't just because Congressional Democrats are impure corportist DINO poopy-heads."

not just but that is about 75% of it.

really? Where'd you get that number? Oh right, just pulled it out of your worthless ass, when you aren't shitting gold like your worthless hero Kucinich, or when you two aren't shitting on millions of Americans who are literally dying while your scumbag holier-than-thou hero is giving them the middle finger.
Politics is called the art of the possible for a reason, apparently some of you purist jackoffs have forgotten that.
Benen simply posted a link to a factual statistic, which proves that your oh-so-wonderful purist doesn't actually accomplish squat, and you all throw a hissy fit. Just like Kucinich when he doesn't get ALL the cookies. What worthless fuckwit. But hey, I guess his constituents like a congressman that doesn't accomplish anything and is willing to let them die for his "principles". Maybe his fans on this board should all move there.

It doesn't "hurt" for Kucinich to put up the Bills just to show what sorts of legislation we should see in this nation. He can still vote on the timid stuff other people put up.

But that's not what he's doing wrt HCR--he's insisting on all or nothing, which puts him in the same category as Stupak and the GOP. IOW, willing to let millions die for his purist "principles".

As I just said, it's called the art of the possible, not "give me everything I want or I'll cry and go home."

"Clinton has some stern words for Israel"

Yeah, because that's worked SO well in the past.

neill: who's effective for you lynchers? lieberman? hahahahahahahahaha... pathetic...

It says a great deal that you think our only choice lies between egotistical, self-absorbed Democrats of the far left (or, more accurately, as far left as an American politician is likely to go) and egotistical, self-absorbed, egotistical Democrats of the way right. Unfortunately, none of it is a recommendation for your political or policy acumen.

zeitgeis: Let me put it in terms any good progressive shouold understand: as a "leader" and representative of the viewpoint, he's no Paul Wellstone. He's not even a Russ Feingold.

Nor is he an Anthony Weiner, a reliable progressive who, unlike Kucinich, understands that ideas are worthless unless you can figure out how to get a few of them enacted in a voting body.

The rest of your post rocks, too.

i'm a big fan of kucinich, and i didn't like steve's cheap shot either, but there are tons of constituents in the working class distrct dennis represents that really need some health care help.

This is a really tough job for one person to handle.

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