I am afraid I have to disagree. While I believe we need a full spectrum in our leadership. I am not comfortable with a leadership which so antagonizes investors and entrepreneurs that they sit on their wealth - or send it overseas - instead of encouraging them to reinvest it, thus creating jobs. And jobs and economic certainty is something we want, along with freedom.

That is why you don't hear the expropriation (or redistribution) rhetoric out of the Social Democratic and Labour movements in Europe anymore. It does not work.

Sheeesh, just another Democrat who wants to strip the military and spend, spend, spend. Here are SOME of his record (NOTE: As Cleveland Mayor, FIRST CITY TO DEFAULT SINCE DEPRESSION):

• As Cleveland mayor, first city to default since Depression. (Nov 2007)
• Cleveland declaring bankruptcy ok, to save public utility. (Sep 2007)
• Bailing out mortgage lenders just postpones crisis. (Aug 2007)
• Make any corporation with an American name pay taxes here. (Jun 2007)
• FactCheck: military spending less than entitlement programs. (Jun 2007)
• Must cut Pentagon spending (Jan 2004)
• WPA-type program will create jobs and rebuild America. (Jan 2004)
• Social cuts redistribute wealth upwards. (Jan 2004)
• $435B trade deficit is critical to economy (Sep 2003)
• Steel, automotive, and shipping are critical to US economy. (Sep 2003)
• Cut the runaway Pentagon budget to save the economy. (Jun 2003)
• Voted YES on $192B additional anti-recession stimulus spending. (Jul 2009)
• Voted YES on modifying bankruptcy rules to avoid mortgage foreclosures. (Mar 2009)
• Voted YES on additional $825 billion for economic recovery package. (Jan 2009)
• Voted YES on monitoring TARP funds to ensure more mortgage relief. (Jan 2009)
• Voted YES on $15B bailout for GM and Chrysler. (Dec 2008)
• Voted YES on $60B stimulus package for jobs, infrastructure, & energy. (Sep 2008)
• Voted YES on defining "energy emergency" on federal gas prices. (Jun 2008)
• Voted YES on revitalizing severely distressed public housing. (Jan 2008)
• source: http://www.issues2000.org/Dennis_Kucinich.htm

I certainly hope the people of Ohio knows this guys voting record.

Yep, Mr. Kucinich is a MAJOR part of the problem on the beltway.

maybe good news. hey, if santorum can lose a senate race and almost become the presidential nominee of the gop, maybe kucinich can go out across the country and rail against the big money political machine that took him down...then have secret meetings w/r. paul about being his vp on an independent run. if they could come to an agreement on what is and what is not the "welfare state"...primarily welfare for corporations, and less so for poor folk, then perhaps their ticket could be one for the ages, or at least one good for 25percent. things need to spiced up.

Yeah! people who support the constitution are CRAZY! Not getting into wars when we weren't attacked...NUTS! Not turning our free country into an unproductive Fascist state...RIDICULOUS! Not taxing the rich until they move their businesses to more profitable countries.....DOWNRIGHT STUPID! sorry Jwilson...you're the nut.

Turns out that Samuel Wurzelbacher went to an Obama event because the McCain campaign asked him to and gave him talking points. He also identified himself as “Joe” when his name is Samuel, and called himself a plumber, when he is not a licensed or journeyman plumber though Samuel a/k/a Joe works for a plumber. Another republican phony! Liar! This is known as a shill! Way to go...Joe the LIAR!

Says a LOT about the Reps if "Joe" the "Plumber" can actually win a primary. The guy was a shill for Cain, lied about his company, lied about "buying" the company.. and lord knows what else he lied about. Yet, the Reps in the state fell for him. Either his opponent was equally lame, or the Reps are just on crack.. don't know which.. but thank GOODNESS it is a Dem leaning district... Don't you guys just LOVE redistricting???? The only legal manipulation of votes I know of. The party in control, gets to divy it all up. Makes sense huh??

Send in the clowns.

Star and wives, you forgot to mention that Schmo the Plumber was also wanted for back taxes. This guy is a complete fraud. He was nothing more than a jobber working for cash by the day; I wonder why? No plumber's certification of any kind, no business license, no performance bond, NO NOTHING. Worst part is that there are morons out there who would actually vote for a guy who is a documented fraud.

Trying to recycle the phoney Samuel Wurzelbacher aka 'Joe the plumber' again ?

After all, he’s related to Charles Keating… of the Keating Five scandal. They thought they had a real live Joe Six-Pack who’s spurned Barack Obama’s tax plan. But what they forgot to do was check on Joe Wurzelbacher’s background.

Turns out that Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan.

Nice going on backing another fine person into the political arena to represent the interests of other crooks no doubt.

Nothing like being ruled by the way of deception.

This is the funniest story I have read today his name is not joe and he is not a plumber but the GOP/TEA want you to vote for him for US rep what are his qualifications?The man could not pass a plumbers license test yet he is qualified to be a rep? hey Joe I mean sam here's a clue feces and water runs down hill and do not bite your nails after working on sewage pipes.See now you could be a plumber.It is hilarious the people the GOP/tea choose to run I hope he makes lots of speeches I can not wait to hear about his outhouse on the moon plans.

Wow! Thought that little gem up all by yourself? Better keep your bicycle helmet on next time you fall.

Now that comment sounds as if it came from a well educated, practical person, who ensures his every comments are based on facts and logic. He is not biased and he does not make generalizations. There is absolutely nothing childish or illogical about this man. Now, can you say sarcasm?

Now that would be the dream team. I really hope it actually happens. With occasional assistance from Bill, I believe they could get things done in spite of the republicans "just say no" policy.

Joe the Plumber representing the GOP ... can't get any more appropriate then that!!!

timetravler100

When people inquire about Obama's dubious background, lack of any real experience, and history of mingling with known communists and other rabid America-haters, the leftist news media attacks them, and sees no point in asking any of these questions. We get it.

ROFL! Like his birth certificate?!?! LOL! Move along birthers!

Studying the Cultural revolution of 1960s China is helpful in understanding the Republican fascination with ineptitude and anti-intellectualism as promoted by Rick Santorum. Save us from ideologues of all Stripes!

hey lefties

do not be so hard on joe the plumber. the reich wing is also anti-education. after all that is one of their gripes about the lefties. bet they are praying that he wins. hey righties, call pat robertosn to help with your prayers.

only in america. here is some-one guilty of lying, and he wins the gop nomination? sorry all the pols lie! guess that is a job requirement!

@Stanley James

And its the wealthy repubs who are shipping our good jobs overseas to slave labor commie countries like red china.

You honestly believe it is only republicans sending jobs overseas? Really? You think Jeffry Immelt is a repub? You know, Obama's good buddy who he appointed, ironically, as the "jobs tsar". How about Steve Jobs, you think he was a repub also? Those two guys alone have created thousands of jobs in China. Do you do ANY thinking for yourself? Do you occasionally pull your head out of your__— to get a breath of fresh air?

Alan Pugh Comment collapsed by the community
Kucinich, along with Bernie Sanders, is one of the best we have. He represents what most Americans really want. It's a shame that the media portrays him how they do and that, apparently, some people fall for it.

Media has nothing to do with it. He impeaches himself every time he opens his mouth on air.

To all of you that think the rich are shipping jobs over seas you are wrong... Next month America will be #1! The only problem is that we will be #1 in corporate tax rate in the world...

I like Marcy Kaptur,

She was all over the 'Foreclosure Fraud' Crisis, which has been going on for years, but no one paid any attention, until this lady came to the floor and spoke her mind!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkpy6Af9jpo

Go get them Marcy.

She's a fighter.. I really like that.

follow, Dennis was on the foreclosure crisis before it happened because he knew. Much like the wars, etc.

Kaptur is a go getter.

I find it very interesting though she claims the commercial market hyper-inflated the mortgages when the commercial market didn't have that much exposure to the RESIDENTIAL loans? Mortgage bonds are not a commercial product.

And hiring 1000 FBI agents just to look at the foreclosure process? Seriously? It's not that difficult... they were robo-signing and not paying attention to the docs. Which has already been found out and settlements to the states agreed to. 1000 FBI agents????? I doubt she could find 10 votes for that in the house and senate combined. That's overkill akin to asking the cops to send out 4 cars and SWAT because you can't find your keys.

The Rethuglicans like plumbers. Remember Watergate?

Elliot,

Romney USED to be a moderate- when he had to be in Massachusets. Now, like John McCain he has become just another right-wing extremist who has lost touch with everyone except his wealthy cronies.

He pushes more war, more and more tax breaks for the wealthy and cuts in Medicare for the rest of us.

He ain't no moderate and he sure ain't getting my vote.

Riiiiight (sarcasm)...the answer is more people who have no philosophy and little understanding of principles? Suuuuure.

In case you didn't notice, neoconservatives ARE moderates...they are half progressive half paleoconservative. They aren't extreme....and either are progressives or who are actually half liberal and half neoconservative.

Moderate = neoconservative.

We need less moderation, more principled people who refuse to compromise. The less the tyrants in Washington get done the free-er we all are.

I'm not left or right, and definately not some mix of both. I'm an individual who thinks for themself. I see wars voted for by nearly everyone (that's moderate), nearly everyone aggreing with failed economics, failed drug laws, etc.

Extreme is questioning those things and not saying "well, torture and indefinite detention are PRACTICAL, PRAGMATIC, and MODERATE".

F the moderates.

And yes, Romney is a moderate loon. So is Santorum, Gingrich, and Obama. All neocon pseudo-fascists.

Millions of people suffering in this country, losing their jobs, homes, health and lives yet all that matters in the news is the GOP circus.. When is the leaders and media going to crawl out from wherever their head is buried and start coming up with real problem solving, by the time another POTUS shows up nothing matters nothing gets done.

If there is a loon in the race, look no further than Ron Paul. Aside from his support for the Constitution, in which I agree, I believe he is using a lot of the drugs he wishes to legalize.

Joe the plumber lied from the start, he isn't a license plumber..he's a plumbers helper.

Another one bites the dust! Been a great couple of years with the loss of Kennedy, Murtha, Dodd, Frank, and now this loser!

Ole Joe found out pretty quickly that it's much easier to become a politician then a plumber!!!!

Taking a plumbing test takes skill ... telling people ''what they want to hear'' is a cup of "Tea" so to speak!!!!

ncietoaleoceooe, the article referring to sluts and prostitutes is over, we're moving on now.

For those that LOVE to call the most honest man in politics a loon, crazy and nuts all I can say is you must be very fond of the status quo. It was my hope that people would see there is little to no difference between most republicans and democrats before the primaries but I guess most are still willing to be feed the media B.S.

To quote Steve Jobs: "Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do."

Good luck to us all as we have to live with other's poor decisions.

Turns out that Samuel Wurzelbacher went to an Obama event because the McCain campaign asked him to and gave him talking points. He also identified himself as “Joe” when his name is Samuel, and called himself a plumber, when he is not a licensed or journeyman plumber though Samuel a/k/a Joe works for a plumber. Joe the Liar/Sammy the Liar...here we go again, more lies from the republicans. Read Newt Gingrich word list to see how he designed propaganda media control over republicans. Too funny.

He isn't a plumber, he isn't a contractor, he isn't an entrpeneur, he doesn't pay his taxes, and his name isn't even Joe.

But he's running for Congress as a Republican.

Sounds about right.

Couldn't be happier to see Kucinich out, it is a small ray of hope this country can break the stranglehold of career politicians with their own best interests at heart. Kucinich has long been part of the problem, and should have been kicked out long ago. But of course he will live the rest of his life in opulence off the backs of taxpayers for having spent his career screwing the American people.

I would like to see more NON-professional politicians run for office. All parties. Term limits would force this. Too many people too comfortable up there, the guy from Hawaii been there i believe over 50 years. It's mostly a playground for lawyers and millionaires.

This Wurzelbache (the fake plumber) could be a stunt double for Rick Harrison on Pawn Stars TV show.

Yeah, if he was a democrat he'd be appointed as a czar on Obama's cabinet. lol Oh wait, he only owed around a thousand. Geithner is probably laughing and calling him an amateur.

I totally agree with IMHO. Kucinich (and his supporters) created division within the Democratic Party, at the national level, to the extent that he (and they) probably cost John Kerry the Presidential election in 2004.

Not only did Kucinich call for an "open convention" after Kerry had secured the nomination. But, his supporters refused to recognize Kerry as the party's nominee until after the Democratic convention that summer.

His supporters were the type who would bolt the party, and get behind an independent or third party candidate if they couldn't influence either the nomination, or the party platform to their own personal taste.

In that sense they also influenced the 2008 nominating process, which allowed for the disenfranchisement of Democratic voters in Michigan and Florida. That act alone probably cost Hillary Clinton the nomination. Because, she won both primaries at a time when such momentum could have swung the nomination in her favor.

Kucincich was also among those who crticized and attacked Hillary during the Democratic debates in 2008.

Kucinich spent more time campaigning for President, and missed more votes than any other candidate between the two election cycles of 2004 and 2008.

Moreover, his reputation as the former Mayor of Cleveland, leaving the town almost bankrupt and firing the police chief on live TV during a news program, has followed him around for years. It's typical of the sort of label that the GOP has been able to hang on Democratic candidates for many years.

His presence was disruptive within the party, and as a lifelong Democrat I couldn't be more happy about his departure.

Good riddence to bad rubbish. Go join the Green Party Dennis. You've helped them trash Democratic candidates repeatedly over the years; and thusly, you actually helped the GOP win at least two Presidential elections of which I am aware.

Riiiiight (sarcasm)...the answer is more people who have no philosophy and little understanding of principles?

The trouble is that too many people's 'philosophies' reflect conditions of 40 or 50 years ago, completely ignore what's gone on since then, and are merely a knee-jerk reaction that substitutes for careful analysis.

And too many people's 'principles' are nothing other than a poor substitute for critical THINKING.

In 1980, when Ronald Reagan told people that lowering the tax rate would increase government revenues (it didn't work), at least there was a theoretical underpinning (illustrated by the Laffer curve) to his argument.

These days nobody remembers Art Laffer, but rich guys like Mitt Romeny still call for government give-aways for rich folk as a means to line their own pockets with millions by shirking their duty as citizens...

and simpering middle class fools like Sam Wurzelbacher the plumber's erstwhile helper go along with it, thinking they'll get rich too, when the truth is, THEY only qualify for a $10 per year tax break, and they end up having to buy $50 worth of Chinese wrapping paper every semester to bail out their kid's school because of it.

Then again, if you run as a right wing candidate, you can find a way to siphon off campaign money into your private accounts. Right, Sam?

Common ......I remember, and still see, Laffer on CNBC. I was looking into the "Laffer curve" i found a chart that had tax rates and federal revenues plotted. The tax rates looked like a roller coaster from i believe 92% top rate in the 50's down to 28% and back up and down. What i found very surprising was that the revenue line from the 50's to 2010 on that same chart was a virtual straight line...as a percentage of GDP. No matter what the tax rate the revenue to GDP is around 18%. 30 year average 18.3% and 50 year average is 18%. It goes a little above and a little below but always seems to come back to that level. I suppose that is because higher rates give more revenue but lower output. And lower rates give less revenue but more output. Thus either way we get to the 18% average.

Term limits in Washington, now there is a novel idea. As if those that can give themselves raises, increase their own benefits, and write laws that do not apply to them will ever give up the keys to the candy store. People run for office to be bought and paid for by special interest groups. They go to Washington wealthy, and they leave rich. It is a den of thieves, and the very epitome of corruption.

The "commonsense" I use in running my business and my home has a simple name: BUDGET!

Why is it so difficult for Americans to understand that we can't tax our way to prosperity? When you spend more than you make for personal expenses, do you just go to your boss and demand a raise? If you overspend in your business do you simply charge your clients more on the next bill? Unfortunately for Americans, for a decade we have been putting our budget overages on credit cards so when the economy crashed so did a lot of us.

Personally, in business and in government America has been living like drug addicts or immature children when it comes to finances. We think there is some "Big Daddy Warbucks" gonna come to fix our spoiled little spend-a-holic mindset and it ain't gonna happen.

Grow up, set a budget at home, work and government and stick to it. Then, stop demanding that someone else pay for your lack of self-discipline or immaturity. A song from the 60's said this: "Tax the rich, feed the poor 'till there are no rich no more."

Cut taxes, cut spending, cut entitlements, cut regulations and get off this "progressive (aka: socialism-communism) train" that is destroying the fabric of our society. GROW UP!

Pro says....."We need less moderation, more principled people who refuse to compromise. The less the tyrants in Washington get done the free-er we all are."....

Yeah riiiight - LESS moderation? People who refuse to compromise?? That's what got us into this fine mess. Isn't refusing to compromise the trait of a true tyrant?? Good grief, what a lousy premise.

"On the Republican side of the race, Wurzelbacher defeated real estate agent Steve Kraus by about 400 votes."

Joe the Plumber who wasn't even a licensed plumber... smile :-)

Commonsense (2.21)

The reduction of taxes during the Reagan administration did increase revenues to the federal government. At the same time spending shot up the net result was an increase in the deficit. Reagan had a supposed deal with Tip O'Neil about cutting spending that was not honored by the Speaker of the House the afore mentioned O'Neil. That is what happened.

Hey Skeeter, the U.S. Government is not the equivalent of any household in America!

I for the life of me cannot understand why some Americans always make such a false comparison? There may be aspects of government that equate to an average household but just consider these two things alone and tell us where there is an equivalence in a household budget?

Military Spending, Tax Breaks!

Governments are designed to run deficits. Now, the question is not whether we have a deficit but rather how big is the deficit and what measure's are we willing to take in order to control the expansion of the deficit. For those who advocate for balancing the federal budget so as to eliminate deficit spending, please tell me how you would deal with War Spending and Disaster Relief since both of these two items are not events you normally plan for?

Skeeter ....the concept of spending within ones means on a national level seems to be some arcaic theory to the people that spend it. Everyone has their pet spending project from defense to entitlements that just can't be touched no matter what.

They run off of baseline budgeting, which means all programs are projected to go up a certain amount. Without looking at efficiency or need. It is funny to watch someone propose to have a certain program increase say 3%, when the baseline budget had it going up 8% (for no rational reason) and people scream "draconian cuts". When its actually increasing. But thats Washington for you.

Only way i could see getting around everyone's pet spending (they all have them) is to either put a spending freeze on everything or say an across the board cut, say2%, on EVERYTHING. The only exception i would put would be veterans benefits.

SayItAintSo ....... spending within your means is just that. Whether you are a household, a business, a non-profit, a city, state or federal govts. Balanced budget ammendmants previously proposed have exceptions for things like war and disaster. Including setting up a bigger fund for disaster.

Kucinich conceded defeat shortly after midnight, accusing Kaptur of running "a campaign lacking integrity, filled with false truths."

Missing from Kucinich's campaign strategy: A duplicate of Mr. Obama's "Truth Squad" tactics (counter campaign issues with false truths).

One down, many more to go. Maybe then we will see some National economic growth and our military staying strong.

Time for Mr. Kucinich to find his lawn chair in the back yard of his home (if he can).

IMHO-2730490.......RE: RE-POSTING.......Post #2.

Re-posting is an act of desperation to get noticed, or does the Re-post look better the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time ?

Hilarious comment in the article..."The map is redrawn every 10 years based on new population figures;" What utter nonsense. The map was redrawn in secret and not based on population figures at all but what the dominant Republican party wanted. The whole process is totally broken. We should have a non-partisan commission or at least a balance of both sides of the aisle redrawing districts and completely out in the open with lots of room to discuss and debate (and change).

Cassandra, who knew?

Pro says....."We need less moderation, more principled people who refuse to compromise. The less the tyrants in Washington get done the free-er we all are."....

Yeah riiiight - LESS moderation? People who refuse to compromise?? That's what got us into this fine mess. Isn't refusing to compromise the trait of a true tyrant?? Good grief, what a lousy premise.

Actually Cassandra, it depends entirely upon what you're compromising on.

If one wanted to destroy the American economy, for example, to push an all-powerful, tyrannical global government upon an otherwise free people who are opposed to it, would you still say compromise is good and necessary? Only if you're a fool.

Refusing to compromise on laws that will ruin our economy and national security is the act of a patriot, and it's what the PEOPLE elected the republican majority into the house in 2010 to do!

A "TRUE TYRANT" will twist, distort and lie to the population to make people (like you) believe that not compromising with THEIR PLAN is the tyranny, rather than the one they plan to unleash upon you.

But fools buy into the idea that the party of "compassion" is all benevolent.

This is some real news and they hide this away in a corner?

Good, no more Kucinich!

I don't have to worry about him. He will be sucking up a few million a year as a lobbyist in D.C.

@Lusitania

Millions of people suffering in this country, losing their jobs, homes, health and lives yet all that matters in the news is the GOP circus.. When is the leaders and media going to crawl out from wherever their head is buried and start coming up with real problem solving, by the time another POTUS shows up nothing matters nothing gets done.

You'll start hearing about these things in the media again as soon as we have another republican President. The media doesn't like to give too much bad news when there is a probability that the people will blame it on a dem President like Obama. Doubt it? When the price of gas was going up under Bush the media reported on it 4 times as often as they have with it going up under Obama. In addition the stories were very different, basically they blamed Bush for the increase when he was in office whereas now they blame everyone BUT Obama.

Reporting on the "GOP circus" allows them to focus the negative attention on the GOP while the dem President gets a pass on all of the problems he's utterly failed to solve or has actually made worse.

Marie485962- Hilarious comment in the article..."The map is redrawn every 10 years based on new population figures;" What utter nonsense. The map was redrawn in secret and not based on population figures at all but what the dominant Republican party wanted.

You think only Republicans redistrict to their benefit?? WOW!

The Democrats just did this in Arizona. It was unfair and they essentially rewrote the rules to suit themselves, but when the Republicans voted to impeach the commissioner, the Democrats cried, whined and sued over it. Big surprise. They scream when someone else does what they do as the norm. Now THAT'S hilarious!

Anyone please name the Great Moderates of history.

She will face Samuel Wurzelbacher, who became known as "Joe the Plumber" for expressing working-class concerns about taxes to then-candidate Barack Obama during a stop in the region in 2008.

Isn't "Joe the Plumber" the one who admitted to not paying taxes????

Always been a media bias backcountry, probably always will be biased towards dems.

It is funny to see something repeat under a dem president that happened under a rep president and see the media act and report totally different. In Bush's first term there were bunches of dems saying "we need to make Bush a on term prez". Which every party always says when the opposite party takes the office. McConnel said that was the rep goal and the media lost its mind reporting how awful that was. When the dems said the exact same thing in the early 2000's and the same media hardly said a peep. Same thing probably been said for almost as long as we have had elections.

Well, Machinehead - Pro did not specify that "intent", did he? He issued a broad brush, when in fact, "moderation" is what is sorely lacking in the GOP to date. This is obvious to everyone, including Romney, who was "for" a lot of current moderate issues before he did not know he was "against" them.

So, you can call names all you want - but while I was a registered Repub for OVER 30 years, I will NOT be voting for those candidates like Santorum, who are bat-sh!t crazy, nor a "say whatever it takes to win" Romney. I liked Romney when he was a moderate, even tho' mormonism is a cult. (google the angel moroni)

I wonder--all of the people in this post who mentioned "term limits", "career politicians" and all matter of deragotory things--how many incumbents did you support yesterday?

More to the point--Joe the Psuedo Plumber will get 15 more minutes of fame, and be whipped from Toledo to Westlake and back again like an egg-sucking dog by Kaptur. I'm putting 4-1 odds on him Not getting even 40% of the vote.

and who noticed that nearly 300,000 GOPers in Ohio voted for somebody other than Santorum or Romney? Does not bode well for November.

Whats a false truths?

.

True pioneers of change are trying to win popularity contests.

Since electoral politics is nothing if not "popularity contests", doesn't this suggest that they are wasting their time trying to compete in this field, then?

It's possible to win popularity contests and still implement constructive or at least dramatic change (eg., JFK, Reagan).

One of the problems we have today is that the "change" has become a list of platitudes and demands without any specific content. The contribution of "popularity" the chances of a successful election has grown disproportionately. It's become "Survivor" or "American Idol." You no longer have to be a real politician, just a good performance artist. Extra points go to those who are sexy, handsome, crack good jokes, and convey a sense of righteous anger -- however unfocused that anger is.

Policy proposals ("change") have become automatic and are either empty of real content, too complicated to understand, or so ridiculous that they're ignored. Everybody wants "lower taxes" and "cuts in government spending" in order to "eliminate fraud and waste in government." It's boilerplate.

Incidentally, comparing the federal budget to a household budget is a real big mistake. It's a logical fallacy called "argument by analogy." Here's another example. Time is like a river. And since I can get in a boat and travel against the current, I can travel into the future and see what's coming.

The nation is not much like the kind of family we visualize when we make the comparison. There aren't one or two breadwinners and two children whose credit card debt is too high because they keep buying new cars and are eating filet mignon every night with a bottle of Chateau-Lafitte Rothchild from 1939.

It's more like a family that has a working father and probably a mother, the latter stuck in some low-paying job at McDonald's. Both are afraid to ask for raises because they feel lucky to have the jobs they already do. And they're too old to start over. They're not necessarily living high on the hog. They eat a lot of macaroni. They have a sick kid in the nursery whose medical treatments are draining their bank account. They have a high school dropout with an IQ of 80 in the basement who steals from the family kitty, and they have a millionaire occupying the second floor who is contributing nothing to the payment of household expenses.

Excellent point, ben. If the folks of Ohio are stupid enough not to vote for her and put Joe the Plumber in office, they'll get what they deserve. By the way, what was that about him being a tax cheat years ago? I suppose that makes him qualified, as least for some folks. What a travesty!

@ben-

Its dumb for us in ohio to get rid of marcy kaptur when she stands to take control of the appropriations committee, I think she should retire as much as the next person, but having a rep with that much power from your area is a plus.

Agreed, why on Earth would the people of Ohio put the nation ahead of their own neighborhood when they have the opportunity to get a bunch of free stuff from their rep. "To hell with the national debt lets "appropriate" some stuff for our district so we won't feel the pain like the rest of the country." <end sarcasm>

ben, you have stated very well what the problem with DC and our national situation is...vote in an incumbent so he/she can benefit "me". Like Byrd from West Virginia who was proud of bringing in over one Billion dollars of pork spending to his state, sorry earmarks, to his state including freeways between two hick towns while the country was slowly going bankrupt. I'm glad you care about your community but to do so more than you care about the country as a whole is narrowminded. I support voting out all incumbents BECAUSE THEY CREATED THE MESS WE'RE IN while people like you want everyone else to vote out their incumbents so you can personally benefit. Which is being financed by China.

This is exactly what is wrong with Washington,all they are concerned with is being there long enough to take control of a committee,They have no intentions of helping America as a Country,just themselves. Pork barreling Alabama Porkus Shelby,may be good for Alabama,but then he has to vote to give pork to all the BS porkus crap in all the other senators states that supported his pork barrel,The bridge to nowhere for example or the replacement of sand on beaches in 3 states that wash away every year,or the study of Pig Farm Odor,or a treadmill for Shrimp,Or the study of Alaskan Grandparents to a University in Oklahoma. All need to be replaced in congress and the Senate after 2 terms.

wwwww,

It's funny when people call it "pork" only when it goes to another state besides the one they live in.

vwterry

I call anything attached to a bill that does not directly pertain to the bill pork, regardless of who is benefitting. It has always amazed me that a defense spending bill can contain millions of dollars of "earmarks" that have nothing to do with defense. Maybe we should pass a bill stating only issues directly related to a bill can be addressed in said bill?

The percentage of the federal budget that can be considered "pork" is roughly 1%. The problem with your solution is the number of appropriations bills would overwhelm Congress and even less would get done in a time where little is being done already.

If that were to happen- just liike it did in 2000 when Nader ran- it would hand our country back to the Repubs. We know what they do and we don't like it.

I'm working for the Dems.

Eddie: Romney is counting on you to help an independent progressive ticket. That way you can do for him just what Nader did for GWB.

Wait, so you're knocking a guy for saying he saw something in the sky he could not identify, but people that believe in immaculate conception, turning water into wine, resurrection of the dead, a guy living in a giant fish, and that god spoke to them personally and told them to run for political office are perfectly acceptable???

The irony is FAR too rich there.....smh...

Yeah, when you look at the great job all of the 'experienced' people are doing, how could we not want more of that?

Joe the plumber Barrack Obama is just an opportunist trying to continue to bankroll a bad situation!...Ignore him people. He has no experience and no original thoughts!

a quote from joe the plumber: “i asked the question, but i still got a tap dance. [obama] was almost as good as sammy davis jr.”

uugghhh...

Don't discount Joe/Samuel's chances of winning. Remember the rethuglicans elected Bachmann, Palin and Perry. Mental giants all.

lilfish, maybe you're too young to understand the reference? Sammy Davis Jr. was one of the best performers of his generation, and incredibly talented at tap dancing as well as singing, impersonations and acting. In today's lexicon one who tap dances around a question is one who speaks at length but does not answer the question. Nice try at trying to suggest it was a racial thing though.

When will you be tired of the educated idoits we have running the country now? Does not even know all dogs have allegens,so keeps his kids from having a pet till he is President? Does not listen to his Preacher and has been going to church for 20 years at the same place? Maybe we need some people like Harry Truman a Hat sales man,and Farmer. He was not over educated but made some of the best and hardest decision ever made by a President. Some common sense would be refreshing to politics. Just look up the "DC rat law "if you want to see how stupid politicans can be.

All the Democrats that ever voted for him are his aliens.

Hey larry,

Kinda like "God" told me to run for POTUS. LOL!

Kucinich's Democrat aliens would be so unlike all the terrestrial Republican lemmings that voted for Kasich.

Wait, so you're knocking a guy for saying he saw something in the sky he could not identify, but people that believe in immaculate conception, turning water into wine, resurrection of the dead, a guy living in a giant fish, and that god spoke to them personally and told them to run for political office are perfectly acceptable???

The irony is FAR too rich there.....smh...

Hasn't Ohio gotten a good idea of how the GOP governs yet?? Elect jtp and you get what you deserve..

Yes, this is SO unlike back when the Democrats drew up districts in TOTAL FAIRNESS (lol)!

If you really want to see a herd of crooks running a state come visit the capitol in Sacramento, California! We're going down the tubes faster than the country is. We even give financial aid to illegal alien college students who are impoverished, which of course they all qualify for as they can't legally report any income. Oh, and the liberals have had a stranglehold on the Legislature here for decades.

Yep, these Morons are the biggest FREE LOADERS there is ............ They are just as bad as the people that can work but collect Welfare!

No, Congress does NOT get FREE medical, any more than any other federal employee, including members of the military.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0809/25829.html

Are you saying that they are paying for their treatment out at Water Reed/Bethesda? I realize that aside from military facilities, Members of Congress can enroll, if they choose, in the Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan. And why would they not? It's better insurance than 85-90% of what's out there, better than almost any private-employer group plan, let alone individual plans.

Concerned VET, I'm with you.The benies our politicians get are ridiculous and dem or republican ought to be out raged.

Concerned Vet, Dog Patch,

If that was all the congress took it wouldn't be too bad but this is just a morsel of what they (congress) does. How about the exemption form the laws they pass for us? I find this much more egregious not that I am in favor of their preferential treatment in the matter of health care and retirement benefits.

U get free medical if it's service connected. But U can still get benifits if U been in service. Your co-pay is not much and U get much more from them then private insurance. Politices don't want Obama care but they want all the free medical help without lots of out of pocket money. Think abut it people. My other half is being treated by the VA and beleive me I wish I could get their help. Plus they help with your kids who want to go to college. Stop complainting and go to your VA stop center.

There goes Rickypoo again.....blaming a few people who lost their jobs , homes, lives because the repubs crashed the economy. He whines about welfare for families starving yet votes for repubs who keep big oil subsidies, vote against giving American companies who keep jobs in U.S. a tax break. Votes to allow companies their offshore offices to cheat on paying their fair share of taxes, votws for repubs who gave no bid contracts to the war profiteers in Iraq and Afgan. Welfare for families is not a drop in the bucket when compared to the tax breaks for the rich Rickypoo votes to give the billionaires and millionaires. YOU BIG BABY! Blame the poor for what you repubs did to them.

Wasn't a plumber because he never had a card from the plumber's union? Yeah, right.

Wasn't a plumber because he was never CERTIFIED, has nothing to do with unions.....but keep dreaming...

You people are really serious about this idiot, and you wonder why our senate and house is so dysfunctional? Look in the mirror. There is a segment of republicans who have concluded that intellect is not a prerequisite in politics. Where in hell did that ideology come from?

Carefull, the Stupid Train is coming and it is going to roll over a few people before we can get it stopped. These people actually think they are doing what is right, but electing people with the IQ of a fence post to office is not a solution to our problems.

Gee Amused, careful, Santorum's group may call you a "snob". (Nevermind that he has 3 degrees - Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Business Administration, and a law degree - not that he's made good use of it all.)

Plunger Man couldn't fix a neutered dog.

Very well spoken. But the problem is that there are people out there who could care less that this guy is a walking pack of lies. For some stupid reason, they think someone like Plunger Man is what this country needs. In a way, he is what this country needs; he's what this country needs if you want to see this country go on the fast-track to being a fourth-world country.

Rather people like or not that is the path We are on and there is no one willing to stop it, its all about reality if we have a deficit of 1.2 trillion a year and We save 600 Billion over 10 years does anyone really think We are going to some how recover?, If they really want to fix the problem they need to start cutting the Government down Personnel, wages, medical, retirement as a start get all the FREE LOADERS of Welfare including the Corporations, I'm sure those Welfare people can pickup rubbish along the highways as a start, and what ever services We would lose by reducing the Government workforce could then be filled with these Welfare collecting people, We need to cut off the all these ridiculous spending that has NO returns you want money We want something for that money .....

I guess punctuation is a frivolity to you.

Rick, maybe we could tax the greedy wealthy a little more to make up for the breaks Reagan, George and George gave them. The outcome would be, they would remain extremely wealthy, and the problem would be resolved. Second thought, we can't do that. It is practical, so there is no way the American people would go for that. They simply don't like to be bothered with things like logic and intelligent solutions. I see that your idea is to make the middle class and poor pay for the mess that the rich created. very smart.

Mymomdidnotraiseafool

I guess punctuation is a frivolity to you.

Really

So old Ricky poo thinks people on welfare are causing the national debt huh? Why did republicans hold the country hostage to give billionaires and millionaires another tax break. Why did republicans vote against giving businesses in America tax breaks and voted to keep tax breaks for companies who took their business offshore while hiding their profits in offshore accounts. Why did republicans start two wars and not pay for them? Oh that's right, the oil from Saddam was going to pay for them...toofunny. Why did republicans vote against removing the Billions of subsidies for big oil while they rake in record profits...the list goes on and on. Party of greed that destroyed the middle class. Oh those pesky people on welfare and food stamps because republicans caused this economy to crash. Yeah that $200 a month to have food, how dare they eat after serving in the armed forces dying for our country. Republicans say "corporations are people" Well I don't see corporations bleed and die like our soldiers. How much more GREED! Whine about people on welfare...what a small person...real....small.

Goju1 stated, "Joe the plumber began his political career with a lie by stating that he was an owner of a small business." That in itself is a lie. First, he stated that he was THINKING about buying a business. THAT is exactly what he said to then-candidate Obama. Second, that wasn't the beginning of his "political career." That was when he was in his own front yard playing football with his kids and Obama approached HIM. PLEASE research things before making a fool of yourself in public again!

Always stood on the "principles" of Marxist socialism, that's for sure. If so many Democrats loved him, why did he get beaten like a drum like a fellow Democrat? And can't even be gracious about it! Pretty much the same marital history as Newt, too, which is certainly fair game to use against one if it is the other. What part of "Guy's a p*ick!" do you not get?

Rl - The article says he carried his old district/area as expected....looks to be a smaller area of voters than hers.

Come on, righties. Calling anyone who disagrees with the Neo-Conservative ideology, "SOCIALIST" OR "COMMUNIST" comes right out the Republican play-book of the 1950's.

Should we start Congressional hearings again, dragging people in to accuse them of being, "Anit-American" Give it a break.

Most of you don't have a rats ass knowledge about what socialism or facism actually is, you just keep parroting the bullsh** taught to you by FAUX News and Rush.

FAUX News has brainwashed you so much into fearing "Obamacare" that you are clueless about a real threat to you and your family: BECOMING BANKRUPT FROM THE RETURING TO THE CORRUPT PRACTICES OF THE HEALTH CORPORATIONS. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have gone bankrupt due to ONE serious illness or accident.

OBAMA CARES- The Repubs don't give a rats ass about you.

Right on Sara! We need a single payer system. We need to do away with health insurance companies. The problem is that their lobby is too strong, and the average Joe doesn't realize that they don't care about health, only care about profit. Your employer should never control your healthcare. Your Boss is not your Doctor. Americans are starting to go overseas for medical treatment to SAVE money. That is a sad indictment of our broken health care system. We are #1 in cost, and #20 in quality.

I agree, John. The bottom line of every corporation is profit. Corporations are designed to provide a public service -- and make a profit while doing it. If they don't make a profit, they go out of business. Of course, sometimes the service can be done more cheaply through a non-profit enterprise. Instead of student loans being administered by the banks (which must make a profit on the business) they're now handled directly by the government, which makes the administration cheaper by eliminating the banks' unnecessary fees.

Putting aside the primitive belief that's held by so many of us -- that all private-sector jobs are superior to all public-sector jobs -- the same applies to health care, which ought to be handled by a single payer for maximum effectiveness. Or -- at the very LEAST -- a government option.

The Veterans Administration is a good example of a single government payer. They've been my primary health care provider for more than ten years. They're effective and any co-payments are low. This is partly because they have no incentive to overcharge or cheat, they can negotiate for the lowest prices of meds, they filter patients through perfectly competent physicians assistants and nurse practitioners, paid less than docs, who send problematic cases to specialists. They take every effort to keep expenses low. They use generics when advisable and they order and dispsense meds in bulk, which is cheaper. (Sometimes you have break a pill in half.) I've been treated by the same PA for years and she knows my medical history, so the "sacred relationship" between doc and patient continues.

I don't know of any vets who are anything but grateful and satisfied with the care they receive through the VA. I don't make that claim lightly. It's literally true.

And -- please -- no anecdotes about some poor Canadian who had to wait ten years for his rectal replacement. You can always find flaws in any system because perfection is unattainable. It's a question of statistical tendencies, not personal stories. The last time the World Health Organization ranked countries in terms of overall health care, the US ranked 37th -- behind Canada, behind BOLIVIA, and number one was socialist France. Yet we spend more than any other country on earth for health care.

http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

Incidentally, I live half an hour from the border and most of my neighbors, those able to travel, go to Mexico for their dental work and sometimes their medical care. The dentists and docs manage to charge less, though most were educated in the US and commute across the border from their homes in the US. They're doing quite well too.

Mr.Maxwell/I lived in Canada for a few years,many years ago and all people that I met where very pleased with their national health program and never heard of people having to wait for medical procedures. I also lived in England too and all,except the very rich loved the health care program. When the Conservative government told the general public that it was not a good program and that they planed to eliminate it they were voted out of office and yet the Insurance cos. and right wing media still tried to convince the people that the program was no good,but to no avail. We have probably the worst Medical ,Private Insurance , coverage of any in the Industrial Nations and I stilll see that the Insurance/MedicalProfessionals still give us this usual ,dont have it ,you won't like it. Our Poloticians have that kind of program and they seem to love it. Can't we have the same?

You're right, he belongs in the Socialist Workers Party.