This is Why Kucinich Has Dropped Out...

[OhioChick]

Kucinich asks federal authorities to investigate Cimperman stunt

Thursday, January 17, 2008Mark NaymikPlain Dealer Politics Writer

Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman hoped to get noticed by showing up with a camera-toting campaign worker two weeks ago at the Lakewood congressional office of his rival, Rep. Dennis Kucinich.

Instead, Cimperman got the unwanted attention of federal authorities, who questioned him this week about the visit.

Kucinich, who is trying to defend his seat against Cimperman and three other Democrats in the March 4 primary, asked a federal agency to investigate the camera stunt, saying it broke federal law.

Kucinich made the request after Cimperman delivered a "missing" poster to his office on Jan. 3. Cimperman was mocking Kucinich for campaigning for president around the country.

He tacked posters featuring pictures of Kucinich to poles near his Detroit Avenue office. They said: "Last seen: Iowa and New Hampshire - anywhere but Northeast Ohio."

Cimperman entered Kucinich's office while a campaign worker taped him dropping off one of the posters at the front desk.

"I walked in, asked for Dennis, dropped off the poster and walked out, all in one big motion," Cimperman said. "I was polite and in there 20 seconds."


http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1200562414156060.xml&coll=2

Dennis has been catching hell here from Cimperman, whom Mayor Jackson of Cleveland has already endorsed.

[Ian David]

1. I'm going to donate to Dennis' campaign to defeat Cimperman. n/t

[Pastiche423]

5. I am doing the same

[stevedeshazer]

2. I don't get it

DK dropped out because Cimperman put up some posters?

[OhioChick]

3. ...

"Kucinich, who is trying to defend his seat against Cimperman"

[OlderButWiser]

6. The Chimpman...

...is running against Dennis?

[stevedeshazer]

7. I still don't get it.

Okay, Kucinich is trying to get re-elected vs. Cimperman.

Forgive my ignorance of Ohio and Cleveland politics, but WHY?

If you can't articulate it, can you st least provide a link that can?

[OhioChick]

13. Sorry...In a Rush

"Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman, a Democrat, is challenging Kucinich's congressional seat this year. Last week, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson announced that he is endorsing Cimperman in the race.

Kucinich said he wants to continue to serve in Congress. He also said he won't endorse another Democrat in the primary."

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/15130404/detail.html

Dennis doesn't want to lose his congressional seat.

[stevedeshazer]

15. Thanks

That makes perfect sense.

[OzarkDem]

27. Big GOP corporate donations going to Cimperman

Cimperman is city councilman representing downtown Cleveland. He allows the corporate welfare queens downtown to do as they wish, which is partly why downtown Cleveland is becoming a wasteland. Now they've asked him to run against Dennis and giving him big bucks to do it (I think he's raised nearly half a mil so far, highly unusual). Corporate Cleveland's mentor is Sen. George Voinovich and their lackeys are the editors at the Plain Dealer. Pee Dee also takes its orders direct from the Bush WH.

My guess is they're becoming very uncomfortable with Kucinich's impeachment pressure and they're calling in their favors w/Cimperman to get Dennis out of office. The GOP/Plain Dealer cabal has been trying to win this seat for a long time. Dennis will keep it, but he's going to have to spend a lot more money this time around.

[slipslidingaway]

33. Thanks for your posts on this issue. n/t

[OzarkDem]

36. Happy to help

Just a member of our local Dem party family here. In some ways its like DU during primary season - disagreements, taking sides but no permanent enemies; when its done and there are bigger races and campaigns, everyone works together again. Dems in Ohio have been through some very hard times. I try not to take sides and help every candidate I can who needs help.

Some are in it just for themselves, but they don't last long.

[slipslidingaway]

37. And it is appreciated :) n/t

[annabanana]

4. He apparently has a LOT of competition for his seat this year.. . . n/t

[stimbox]

9. Yep, the party is punishing him for being too progressive.

The Democratic Party can find 4 candidates to run against him but not one to run against Pelosi.
That says a lot about the priorities of the Democratic Party.

[Eric J in MN]

20. As far as I know, the primary challengers to Kucinich aren't funded by the DNC

... or the DCCC.

[stimbox]

23. The DLC perhaps?

[OzarkDem]

29. Cimperman is funded by corporate bigwigs in Cleveland

Cimperman is city councilman for downtown Cleveland. He's been their waterboy for years.

[OzarkDem]

28. No, its not the Dem party doing it

Dennis has support of the local and regional party leaders. Cimperman is taking his orders from Cleveland corporate leaders. The mayor of Cleveland is also a corporate employee who doesn't work with the local Dem party.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Eric J in MN]

17. In 2004, he didn't have a chance of winning the nomination, but he stayed in....

...the race until Kerry officially won.

This time, he needs to defend his Congressional seat.

[OhioChick]

14. He Sure Does

and this "Joe Cimperman" is giving Dennis hell. From what I've heard, putting up "missing posters" and all sorts of shit. Also says that Dennis is neglecting his duties in the 10th District due to his presidential run.

[Cleita]

8. Yes, better he do this than run for President IMHO.

I will try to donate as well to his campaign when I am able to.

[KoKo]

11. He's being gone after as vulnerable because of Cheney/Bush Impeachment and he needs some money...

For standing up to them ...reading Articles of Impeachment against Cheney on House Floor which must have really had Nancy doing "hissy fits" in her office.

The Dem Establishment can be as cruel as the Repugs ...as we've learned. Dennis has already lost a brother...and with stunts like Cimperman (is that a Dickens name? :eyes:) he is very vulnerable and needs some attention from us..

[Bunkie0913]

12. I heard a rumor

That AIPAC has donated $2 million to the campaigns of his competitors. We are sending him $100 for his congressional campaign because if he loses that we have no voice.

[Eric J in MN]

19. I just donated $125 to Kucinich's Congressional campaign.

http://kucinich.us/

[OhioChick]

16. Also:

CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Rep. Dennis Kucinich didn't like that one of his Democratic primary opponents filmed a recent visit to his Lakewood congressional office.

So, Kucinich asked the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to question Cleveland Councilman Joe Cimperman, who delivered a mock "missing" poster to Kucinich's office on Jan. 3.

The poster made fun of Kucinich for being away from his constituents and on the road so much during his ongoing campaign for president.

A federal agent interviewed Cimperman and told him yesterday that the use of the video camera inside the government office was at issue and possibly illegal.

Cimperman said the agent spent about 10 minutes with him.

The councilman calls the questioning a waste of taxpayer money.

http://www.newsnet5.com/politics/15072053/detail.html

[upi402]

18. "A waste of taxpayer money" but Ken Starr's pursuit of Clinton was OK fine?

The hypocrisy of Republicans and corporate Dems is disgusting.
Dennis has a bunch of my donations already. Maybe after Jim McDermott gets his legal bills some attention I can gut up for Dennis again.

We may be screwn here in the land of the brave. Or is that the land of the trivial, lethargic, and distracted.

[Alexander]

21. I hope he keeps his seat, he's one of the best Democrats in Congress.

Anyone willing to push for impeachment of Bush & Cheney is okay in my book.

[OhioChick]

24. He Will.

He's Well Liked Here.

[Algorem]

22. wondering how many jobs Cimperman's campaign manager has

,after seeing this post on Cleveland Leader(holding down a Cleveland city job + 2 others?)-



Plain Dealer says- "...Khaled Salehi, Cimperman's campaign manager,..."

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/01/tv_ad_bashes_kucinich.html

Is he the Port of Cleveland guy or the Burges&Burgess guy?Or does he hold a city job and his Burges&Burges job plus is Cimperman's campaign manager?That's one busy guy.Or something.

http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=1197973125#ref1197973125

Khaled M. Salehi
Assistant Vice President - Strategic Development

Port of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH

http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/PersonDetail.aspx?PersonID=58822320
Khaled M. Salehi
Vice President

Burges & Burges
Cleveland, OH

Khaled Salehi, message development, voter targeting, fundraising, coalition building, grassroots organizing and advocacy. Khaled provides strategic and political advice for many Burges & Burges clients. His expertise includes message development, voter targeting, fundraising, coalition building, grassroots organizing and advocacy.

He has crafted strategies and has guided a wide array of clients, including municipal, county and statewide elected officials and candidates, governmental and quasi-governmental entities, school districts, libraries, developers, and issue oriented campaigns.

Born in Kabul, Afghanistan, Khaled speaks the Dari (Persian) language fluently....

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/4376

[OzarkDem]

30. Its a small, inbred community controlling downtown Cleveland

They live off the taxpayer dollar and corporate money. Cleveland's downtown business community has its tentacles in every pot of public money, they get rich off taxpayers - selling crappy land and buildings to local government for high prices, then buying it back later at inflated prices. Its a scam. They place their lackeys on all the boards and commissions and at places like Burges & Burges (who manage PR and designing schemes to rob taxpayers).

Cimperman is just one of their employees.

[Algorem]

38. What a revolting situation

Time for revolting.

[Algorem]

40. related article

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/4450

Critic Bashes Roldo, Supports Dick Jacobs

Submitted by Roldo Bartimole on January 30, 2008 - 9:31am.



I’ve been whacked again by my critic, known as Banshee (on LakewoodBuzz.com's Community Forum). Banshee finds my censure of Dick Jacobs off base. Again.

“All your grousing about ill gotten wealth? Nobody’s listening,” wrote Banshee.

Apparently, however, somebody’s reading.

Banshee, I’ll have to say, was also a bit complimentary to me....

[The Stranger]

25. I'm trying to find out who is funding Cimperman.

[The Stranger]

26. Found this:

Joe Cimperman is lead fund-raiser among candidates for Kucinich's seat

Friday, January 04, 2008
Mark Naymik and Stephen Koff
Plain Dealer Reporters

In the short sprint to become the next Cleveland congressman, Joe Cimperman has banked $226,000 for his campaign, which he launched one month ago.

Cimperman, one of four Democrats seeking the 10th Congressional District seat held by fellow Democrat Dennis Kucinich, raised far more money than any other primary candidate in the race.

The four announced candidates voluntarily shared their fund-raising totals, which can be verified when they file finance reports at the end of the month.

http://www.cleveland.com/open/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/isope/1199439003321570.xml&coll=2

[OzarkDem]

31. Check Sam Miller

Dick Jacobs, also some of the big law firms downtown like Squire Sanders, Jones Day.

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=snnkx&txtState=(all%20states)&txtZip=44113&txtCand=voinovich&txt2008=Y&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&Order=N

http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?key=snnkx&txtState=(all%20states)&txtZip=44114&txtCand=voinovich&txt2008=Y&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&Order=N

[slipslidingaway]

32. Kick n/t

[southerncrone]

34. Cleveland, you've already sent your best. Ignore all the rest!

Cleveland, PLEASE, send DK back to Congress FOR ALL OF US! :thumbsup:

[JackBeck]

35. Could be a reason.

I was working it out in my mind during the evening commute. Concluded that it may have to do with announcing reasons for Impeachment before Bush's State of the Union. And how Kucinich doesn't want it to be dismissed as an attempt at getting attention "for his failing Presidential bid". A primary "stunt", just like they characterized Dodd's FISA filibuster threat.

[Norrin Radd]

39. k