Dennis Kucinich

Usually when a presidential candidate drops out, the immediate question is whether he or she will endorse one of the remaining candidates.

But with Dennis Kucinich, who's spent the last five years seeking the presidency with little to show for it and who formally abandoned his second bid this afternoon, there's a more interesting question: Has he ruined his political career?

Kucinich didn't say so, but the real reason he's dropping out now (instead of hanging around through the convention, as he did in '04) is because his Congressional seat is now imperiled. He faces four primary challengers on March 4, but one of them stands out from the rest: Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman, who has some name recognition, lots of money, and some key machine support. Not coincidentally, it was just a week ago that Frank Jackson, the mayor of Cleveland, endorsed Cimperman over Kucinich in the primary.
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According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Dennis Kucinich will announce he's dropping out of the presidential race tomorrow.

On the night of Jan. 7, NBC’s Jay Leno interviewed Republican candidate for president Ron Paul on the Tonight Show. During the course of the interview, Mr. Leno noted that Mr. Paul had recently been “screwed over” by FOX News execs, who had decided not to invite Mr. Paul to participate in the Republican Forum the night before.  read more »

Would-be serial debate crasher Dennis Kucinich is at it again.

"After failing to qualify for a Democratic presidential candidates debate on Monday in South Carolina, Cleveland Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich has filed a Federal Communications Commission complaint against host network CNN," reports the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  read more »

The Nevada State Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of NBC, essentially overturning a lower court’s order requiring MSNBC to include Dennis Kucinich in tonight’s Democratic debate.

“We conclude that the District court manifestly abused its discretion in determining that a contract existed between the parties,” noted the ruling.

As expected, this morning at 8:03 a.m (PST), Judge Charles Thompson of Clark County District Court in Nevada signed an order forcing MSNBC to include Dennis Kuncinich in tonight’s Democratic debate.

Citing the “timing” of Mr. Kucinich’s exclusion, the “importance of the caucuses,” and the “obligations of the media,” Judge Thompson ordered MSNBC to include Mr. Kucinich or face a shutdown of the debate:

“[T]he Court finds that the harm to Plaintiff and the public if this Order is not granted outweighs any conceivable harm to Defendant from granting the Order.”

The judge also ordered NBC Universal to pony up a $1,000 bond.

Follow the jump to view the original document.  read more »

This morning, the Media Mob caught up with William McGaha, who is serving as Dennis Kucinich’s lawyer in his battle to be included in tonight’s MSNBC debate at Cashman Center in Las Vegas.

Mr. McGaha said his client’s case was based, in part, on two e-mails the Kucinich camp had received from Jennifer Backus, a political consultant for NBC Universal. The first e-mail, according to Mr. McGaha, spelled out the criteria by which candidates would quality for the debate.  read more »

A Nevada judge ruled yesterday afternoon that MSBNC will have to include Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich in tonight’s debate—or face a possible injunction halting the televised event from occurring.

“The judge called it a matter of fairness and said Nevada voters will benefit if they hear from more than just Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards,” the AP reported Monday afternoon.  read more »

The actor Viggo Mortensen was so ticked off by the exclusion of Dennis Kucinich from last night's debates that he got on the red eye to New Hampshire. He stood on a table with the Democratic candidate in the storefront headquarters in Concord, N.H., this afternoon, and spoke softly about the debates. "You have four people up there, no disrespect to any of them, who are cherrypicking from what Dennis is talking about."  read more »

I caught up with the tall red-haired Elizabeth Kucinich this morning downtown Manchester. "It was very interesting last night," she said of the New Hampshire Democratic dinner, at which her husband Dennis spoke. "So you saw: standing ovation, whooping, cheering.... Lots of people came up, saying we love you, you're right about everything. And then I see them wearing pins for other candidates. And I said, not being a shy, retiring wife, 'Maybe we can exchange your pin for a Kucinich pin?'"

The obstacle to the Kucinich campaign, as she sees it, is the obsession with "electability."  read more »

What awaits the hordes inbound from Iowa? The sprawl of the Dennis Kucinich headquarters on Elm Street here in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire. (Also lots of snow. And fear.)

Earlier today Dennis Kucinich sort of endorsed Barack Obama by encouraging his supporters to choose Obama as a second-place candidate on caucus night in Iowa, should Kucinich not make the "15 percent threshold."

The Obama campaign just responded with a statement that says in part:

“I have a lot of respect for Congressman Kucinich, and I’m honored that he has done this because we both believe deeply in the need for fundamental change,” said Senator Obama.

Both statements in full after the jump.  read more »

The communications director for freshman state Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Westchester is leaving his job for a position on Dennis Kucinich’s presidential campaign.

Tom Staudter, who formerly wrote about music, just sent out an email announcement:

Serving three remarkable political leaders like John Hall, Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Dennis Kucinich in one year means this fortuitous vagabondage has given me an opportunity to work and acquaint myself with many new individuals. Thank you, all, for the help and kindnesses you’ve afforded me along the way.

Best wishes for the New Year.

Tom Staudter

Sean Penn had hardly ventured into the wild when he delivered his recent speech at San Francisco State University, but the local elements were fierce nonetheless. Just before he had made his sentiments completely clear for the audience, a member of the school’s student Republican organization stood up, faced the rest of the crowd and held up protest signs. Then, a supporter of presidential hopeful Dennis Kucinich confronted the protester mano-y-mano. (Gusty on both counts!)

Mr. Penn’s diatribe, which can be read in-full here, addresses all manner of political topics—from President George W. Bush’s “great enemy in Venezuela, Hugo Chavez,” to Hillary Clinton. Near the end of the 2,000-word speech, around the time he was interrupted, he asks his listeners to approach the senator from New York warily. “Let's remind our friends in the social circles of New York and the highbrow winner-friendly and monied major cities that support Mrs. Clinton, that this is not Bill Clinton,” the actor says, moments later adding: “[D]on't underestimate personal agendas, those that initiated NAFTA, betrayed Haitian refugees and gay rights in the military within a minute of his own election. Don't underestimate that part of him when he gives his wife the face of his talent.”

Giuliani puts out another campaign ad (right after everyone else.) [Jonathan Martin]

Robert Novak sort of defends the column that started the war between Obama and Clinton this weekend. [Ben Smith]
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Meet Larry Petkov, 59. He's the Pennsylvania State Coordinator for Dennis Kucinich, who last night acknowledged that yes, he had seen a U.F.O. ("I saw something," he said.)

Petkov's sign, by the way, read "If Dems Pick Hillary Vote Independent."

Chances are no one will remember anything from the lead-off Democratic debate.  read more »

Not that anyone's going to notice, but anti-war Representative and Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is deeply unimpressed with Hillary Clinton's health care plan.

Kucinich, who just wrapped up a press conference on the City Hall steps alongside Charles Barron, Gale Brewer and some activists, told me he thinks that Hillary's plan isn't sufficiently tough on for-profit companies in the health industry.

"What I'm saying is Hillary Clinton's plan is the same old same old. It keeps the insurance companies in control of our health care system and it means people will be tied to higher premiums, co-pays and deductibles. That's what it's all about."

Kucinich says that she's not the only one whose health care scheme is overly reliant on for-profit entities, mentioning John Edwards as another candidate who is failing to provide "leadership" on the issue.

Some of Hillary's health care positions are here.The Edwards plan is here.

-- Azi Paybarah

Hevesi recriminations continue. Albany DA's office denies leaking sensitive memo: "The last place in the world we would call was the New York Post."

One Jersey mayor has an interesting strategy for closing his revenue gap.

John McCain's 18-year-old son has enlisted in the Marine Corps. We should be hearing more about him.

Welcome to the day after Christmas, the only day of the year you're likely to read a feature about Dennis Kucinich and Duncan Hunter's presidential campaigns.

This story is what people were worried about when it came to John Murtha.

James Brown is dead.

Saddam Hussein may follow him soon.

C'mon folks--there must be more than this going on today! Please keep me posted.

South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson is recovering.

The New Jersey legislature voted for civil unions.

Hillary Clinton had an expensive lunch with Al D'Amato and Ed Koch.

On Monday, Hillary will go on the Today show, and on Wednesday she'll be on The View.

Howard Kurtz is intrigued with the thought of Dennis Kucinich running for president again.

"So Kucinich's presence on stage at those cattle-call debates could put pressure on her, especially with Democratic primary voters being more anti-Iraq war than the population as a whole."

John McCain said 15,000 to 30,000 more troops should be sent to Iraq.

George Pataki has his final days in Albany ruined by Sheldon Silver.

Eliot Spitzer may name his top transportation adviser to head the MTA.

And Rep. Sue Kelly, who lost her re-election to John Hall, spent $25.75 per vote.

-- Azi Paybarah

Howard Dean won the online Democratic primary of the progressive activist group MoveOn.org with almo  read more »

The Nevada Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of NBC, essentially overturning a lower court's ruling requiring MSNBC to include Dennis Kucinich in tonight's debate.

"We conclude that the district manifestly abused its discretion in determining that a contract existed between the two parties," noted the ruling.