300 Million is a Lot of People

Oh, that wacky Dennis Kucinich, thinking that he can plop down in some other state's House district if he doesn't like what redistricting will do to the one he currently represents:

"After people found out that Congressman Kucinich's district could be eliminated or substantially altered in congressional redistricting by the Ohio Legislature's Republican majority, Congressman Kucinich received requests from people in twenty states, including Washington State, encouraging him to move and run in their area," a spokesman, Nathan White said in a statement.

I have no idea whether Kucinich believes that nonsense or not; for all I know, he thinks of himself as the much-beloved crusading avenger of the left, and not some guy who couldn't break 5% in any 2008 primary (to be fair, he did manage a bit better results in 2004). Or maybe this is how he thinks you audition for a spot on MSNBC.

But bragging about "requests from people in twenty states"? C'mon -- I'm relatively certain that if I put in a little effort, I could generate requests from people in twenty states to "move and run in their area." One of the very first things to know about politics in the United States is how unfathomably big the nation is, and how having enough people agree with you to pack a room doesn't actually mean much, as far as political impact is concerned.

By the way, I'm no Sherman: if nominated, I'd have a good laugh, but if elected, I certainly would serve. That should be a good enough warning, no?

Nicely Played

I have nothing to really say about Dennis Kucinich voting yes...it's one vote, which means that it's one more vote that Pelosi won't have to get from a marginal district, and that's about it.  But I am impressed that all three cable networks took his statement live.  Plus he apparently got four meetings with the president, and a rally in his district with the president...all in all, Kucinich managed to use this to really move himself up, at least in the press's eyes, as a major figure on the loony left -- despite the truth, which is that he appears to be totally isolated.  After all, he didn't bring a single vote with him, nor did he (as far as I know) even bring any support with him outside Congress; MoveOn was already strongly supportive of the bill while Kucinich was still claiming to be a no, and I very much doubt if any leftist individuals or groups out there still opposed to the bill will switch as a result of Kucinich's switch.  In other words, he is in no sense an actual leader of the loony left, but he got treated by the cable nets as if he was.  So, nicely played, Dennis Kucinich.