Plain Dealer on Trakas: "No contest: Overwhelmingly superior"

Check out the PD's endorsement of Jim Trakas over Dennis Kucinich.

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. We're also, quite frankly, disappointed that in addition to running in this race, he is doing campaign work for the pro-casino forces behind State Issue 6.

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.

I disagree with Trakas on the casino issue, partly because it's a boondoggle which really won't help the state as advertised, and partly because it's going to increase crime; law enforcement agrees. And I think it's a horrible burden on the poor people who get wiped out by gambling. (Yes, it's their own fault, but I'm a conservative not a libertarian.)

BUT... Kucinich is an absolute disgrace as a congressman. Kudos to Trakas for taking him on. People in both parties have been going up against voter stupidity for years now. I was really hoping Kosar would step up to the plate, but nothing doing.

To help Mr. Trakas kick Dennis out, go here.