The Cuyahoga Rough Writers Blog

Jim Trakas Endorsed By The Plain Dealer

Dennis J. Kucinich,

62, was elected to Congress in 1996. The former Cleveland mayor also served in the Ohio Senate and on Cleveland City Council. Kucinich unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004 and 2008. He has bachelor's and master's degrees from Case Western Reserve University.

Jim Trakas,

43, was term-limited out of the Ohio House in 2006. He has since worked as a public relations and political consultant. Before going to the legislature, he was an Independence city councilman. He was the Cuyahoga County Republican Party chairman from 1996 to 2005. He has a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University.

The edge: TRAKAS

Kucinich brought a three-inch binder detailing his work in the 110th Congress to our endorsement interview. The first page said it all: Kucinich "won passage of two bills signed into law." One was an innocuous measure to support education related to the Underground Railroad. The second renamed a post office. Bottom line: After a decade in Congress and with his party finally in control of the House, Kucinich remains a sandlot-league legislator, with little ability to make things happen for his struggling district or the myriad causes that consume his time and attention.

Perhaps the story would be different if Kucinich had not spent more than half his term pursuing a second, doomed run for the White House. Or if he had not devoted so much time to an impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney that the House leadership has no interest in pursuing. Of course, Kucinich considers not being a team player a badge of honor. He stood almost alone in opposing the critical Great Lakes Compact on specious grounds. He already is hinting that he will oppose the kind of health care reforms Barack Obama favors - for Kucinich, only single-payer is pure enough.

Independence is an admirable quality in a politician. Being so contrary that you cannot get things done is not. And you can be sure Kucinich's attitude gets noticed: When Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Cleveland this month to learn about alternative energy efforts, her guide was freshman Democrat Betty Sutton of Copley.

Republican Trakas was a middling legislator in Columbus, marginalized by the far-right members of his own party.

The people of the 10th District deserve an advocate focused on their needs. This is a tough call, but we think Trakas can be that advocate. He is conscientious, pragmatic and unlikely to be diverted by the bright lights of national politics. His roots on a city council suggest that he'd deliver strong constituent services, as Kucinich has.

Kucinich seems unfazed that his politics have strayed so far from reality that half the Democrats in his district voted against him in the March 4 primary. Perhaps that's because he is virtually certain to win re-election. What Kucinich should understand is that his uncompromising, unrealistic brand of politics is hurting the community he professes to love.

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See Full Plain Dealer Endorsement

Learn More About Jim Trakas

 

Wake Up Cleveland, Demand More!

 

Debate! Jim Trakas vs. Kucinich, City Club on Oct. 17th

For the first time since he was elected to the U.S. House of  Representatives in 1996, Dennis Kucinich has accepted the invitation of The City Club of Cleveland to attend the general election debate.  Jim Trakas could not be more pleased, and he needs your help to make sure we fully leverage this rare opportunity to see the Congressman here in northeast Ohio.

Join us at The City Club of Cleveland to show your support for former State Representative Jim Trakas and to show Congressman Kucinich that Greater Clevelanders have taken notice of his abysmal 12 years of self-promotion and service as a spokesman for Hollywood elitists, terrorist organizations, and other anti-American, leftist groups.

For the first time since he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, Dennis Kucinich has accepted the invitation of The City Club of Cleveland to attend the general election debate.  Jim Trakas could not be more pleased, and he needs your help to make sure we fully leverage this rare opportunity to see the Congressman here in northeast Ohio.

Join us at The City Club of Cleveland to show your support for former State Representative Jim Trakas and to show Congressman Kucinich that Greater Clevelanders have taken notice of his abysmal 12 years of self-promotion and service as a spokesman for Hollywood elitists, terrorist organizations, and other anti-American, leftist groups.

WHAT:  Debate: U.S. Representative, District 10

WHEN: Friday, October 17, 2008, 12:00 p.m.

WHERE:            The City Club of Cleveland,

850 Euclid Avenue, 2^nd Floor, Cleveland

                        Note: Venue could change if attendance exceeds capacity of The City Club

To order tickets, call The City Club today at 216-621-0082 or 888-223-6786.  Ticket prices are as follows:

Corporate Table of 8 - $360

Non Profit Table of 8 - $280

Member - $18   Non Member - $30

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                               Learn More About Jim Trakas

Kucinich now a Tehran Times correspondent

I am just so proud of my Congressman: over the weekend he got one of his press releases published in that bastion of free speech, The Tehran Times.

Actually I don't consider Dennis Kucinich "my Congressman" - he is the representative of two constituencies, the "hate America first" Hollywood elites who fund him and the foreign enemies of the US whose interests he serves.

The article isn't long, so what follows is the complete text, not an excerpt.  When you're done reading, click on over to www.jimtrakas.org and make a contribution to Jim's effort for the sake of Greater Cleveland and the sake of our nation. Elect Jim Trakas - A Congressman You Can Be Proud Of! 

Tehran Times

September 14, 2008

U.S. is ‘playing with fire’: Kucinich

WASHINGTON (APP) -- Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich has denounced a reported U.S. move to conduct raids into Pakistani territory, saying such incursions from across the Afghan border flout international law and endanger world security.
   

Instead, the former presidential candidate advocated the “situation requires intense diplomacy,” and urged Congress to intervene legislatively to block pursuance of the dangerous path.

“The President is once again violating international law by invading yet another nation which has not attacked the United States. Once again, he places our troops and our reputation at risk. Once again, he creates more enemies for America,” Kucinich said in a statement.

“Pakistan’s objections to the illegal U.S. Predator strikes inside the country’s border should be a clear indication of how Pakistan would respond to another illegal attack upon their sovereign nation,” he added.

The lawmaker added by resorting to such moves in the nuclearized region, the U.S. is “playing with fire, creating more instability, killing innocent Pakistanis and imperiling our troops in the region.”

The congressman from Ohio said the U.S. Administration “not only ignores the will of an ally, but risks expanding the failed war in Afghanistan into Pakistan. This is unnecessary and it is illegal. Congress must intervene legislatively and legally to block (President) Bush from continuing down this dangerous path,” he stated.

Pakistan has reacted strongly to the reported suggestions, saying only Pakistani forces have the right to take anti-terror actions on its soil. The White House on Friday refused to comment on reports claiming President Bush had authorized raids into Pakistan by U.S. troops deployed in Afghanistan on anti-terrorism mission.

Jim Trakas Outlines Comprehensive Energy Plan

CLEVELAND, OHIO

– Former State Representative  Jim Trakas today unveiled his comprehensive plan to address America’s energy crisis.  The 10^th District Congressional candidate visited with local residents at a local Rapid Transit Authority rail station to discuss his proposal to lower gas and food costs while pointing out that federal investment in Greater Cleveland’s infrastructure, including quality public transportation that could serve as a less expensive alternative for getting to and from work, has continually declined during Kucinich’s nearly 12 years in Congress.

“Greater Clevelanders need real solutions to rising energy prices.  It should surprise no one that Congressman Kucinich and his colleagues have earned a single-digit approval rating, given their failure to address the high costs of putting gas in our cars and food on our families’ tables,” said Trakas.  “While Congress has departed on a five-week vacation without providing relief to America’s energy challenges, I have outlined a substantive plan to address these issues and to help get the northeast Ohio economy moving again.”

The 10-point Trakas Energy Plan provides Americans near-term relief to pain at the pump and in the grocery store – and offers long-term solutions to move our country in the direction of energy independence:

• Increase Domestic Oil Production
• Expand Refinery Capacity
• Develop Fuel Cell Technology
• Invest in Solar and Wind
• Expand Clean Coal Technology
• Reconsider and Utilize Nuclear Power
• Partner with Automobile Manufacturers
• Expand Natural Gas Use
• End the Ethanol Subsidy
• Develop a National Policy on Energy

Conversely, Congressman Kucinich recently mailed a “Community Update” to 10^th District residents revealing his “5 Tips for Reducing Gas Costs,” which included driving the speed limit and accelerating gently.  He also introduced the Gas Price Spike Act of 2008, a bill that would impose a windfall profit tax on oil companies and, if enacted, would result in higher gas prices as these new levies would be passed along to consumers.

“Altering our driving styles and raising our taxes are not real solutions  America’s energy challenges,” stated Trakas.  “It is well past time for our nation to take charge of this issue and get on the road toward energy independence, using the classic strengths of American manufacturing, technology, and innovation.”

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