Back from Assisi

After spending three days in Assisi, Italy, we are now in a more modern city. Assisi was the home of St. Francis of Assisi and looks much like it did hundreds of years ago. Despite the fact that Assisi is high in the hills of Umbria, it is visited by millions of people every year.

While in Assisi, we enjoyed the long walks through the hilly streets. I forced my husband to visit nearly every church and gift shop. The food was wonderful. We ate a few meals at a wonderful family run restaurant called Ristorante Minerva.

The church is absolutely amazing. The art and the structure are incredible. I've never seen so many nuns wearing habits!!!!

Our journey through Italy continues.......

Republicans Are Running on Empty

In case you are interested, the stimulus money is getting spent, despite what the Republicans are saying.

From the right-leaning, Republican-loving, Columbus Dispatch:

....the GAO reported that of $935.7 million in highway infrastructure funding that is supposed to go to Ohio, $384 million has been set aside for various projects and, as of June 25, the state had awarded contracts for 52 projects, totaling $92.1 million.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern blasted Boehner and Republicans yesterday, saying Boehner is wrong on the facts and playing politics with the stimulus package. The Democratic National Committee has attacked Boehner with a Web ad.....

Are the Republicans going to continue to lie about everything? Can they be trusted? Boehner and his Republican pals seem to be working very hard to destroy the confidence the American people have in the Obama administration, while they offer no new ideas or solutions for today's problems. The GOP has nothing to offer the American people except the same old tax cuts for the rich and Wall Street.

***** Michelle Obama is definitely impressing the fashion-loving Italians. Every single day there are updates of what she wore and where she visited. President Obama's whereabouts in Italy have caused Italians to be on the lookout for him when they hear sirens or see police cars. I think many Italians are hoping to catch a glimpse of him or his car as it travels through the city of Rome. All of Rome is tight with security and police.

Ciao!

Notes From Here and There

While we were in the Columbus Airport, we saw Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15). Several people went up to her, and spoke with her. She was very nice to all. We also saw a very heavily-tanned John Boehner and his pal, Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi, with their entourage. Because Boehner, Tiberi, and their group thought they were so important, they got early seating on the commuter plane. Kilroy, on the other hand, waited with the regular people.

Today we visited some museums, and walked, and walked. Here in the "Eternal City" you see history and ruins at every turn. The Italian people are so warm and wonderful.

Rome is waiting for a visit by President Obama. Last minute preparations are underway and the entire city is very excited. Right now President Obama is at the G8 meeting in L'Aquila and the entire media here is focused on the meetings.

Ciao!

Desperate Republicans

The Republicans in Ohio are very, very desperate------ especially those that are out of power. When they lose an election, Republicans are not getting the big contributions, golf invitations, "fact-finding" trips to exotic locations, and those fabulous fundraising parties. The Republicans are not having any fun at all. Boo-hoo!

Have no fear! The "Party of No!" (aka Republican / aka GOP / aka Party for Rich White People) has not given up their desire for power. That is why Republicans like Steve Chabot and Steve Stivers have announced that they will run again for office. I guess it is too hard and no fun being a working stiff like the rest of us.

Despite the fact that the Republicans have no new ideas on how to fix the economy (except give more tax breaks to the wealthy and help banks and Wall Street), the GOP will run negative campaigns attacking Democrats who are working to get our country back on track.

President Obama came into office having to deal with two wars, tension with N. Korea, and bank failures. What did the Republicans do to help? Nothing. Their idea for getting people back to work was a piece of paper with circles, words, and diagrams. The Republican economic recovery plan contained no numbers. The Republicans are pathetic.

Since being elected to the House of Representatives, Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) has made it her priority to help the regular people in the 15th district. She spoke up when Chase was going to outsource jobs and has fought for new jobs in central Ohio. Kilroy and her staff have responded to the needs of the people in her district. We need to keep Kilroy in office because she cares for us, our children, and our future.

Just a reminder----- my postings will be a little light over the next few days as we travel to an "undisclosed location."

Pointing Fingers

The Ohio Republicans are blaming the state's financial problems on the Democrats----- but it ain't necessarily so. Just before Republican Gov. Bob Taft left office, he slashed taxes in the state to record lows. In reality that seemed good, but that also meant that the incoming Democratic governor would have great difficulty managing and balancing the state budget. Now, Gov. Ted Strickland has had to make severe cuts in agencies in order to balance the budget. The Republicans are pointing fingers at Strickland and blaming everything on him.

For years, decades really, the Ohio GOP controlled everything in Ohio. Nothing moved without the approval of the big shots and backroom supporters of the Republican party. They controlled the polling places (Remember the Bush election 2000?), unbid contracts with the state, how money was invested ("coingate"), and which legislation got passed. (This is why the Republicans still refuse to move on correcting the unconstitutional state funding of public schools.) Now, the world's economy is suffering and the Republicans are blaming Democrats and Strickland for everything.

Ted Strickland is an honorable man. He has not created the mess. While the Republicans point fingers, they offer no new solutions. Right now the Ohio Republicans have no ideas on how to get people back to work, other than to give lucrative road contracts to their best buddies. The Republicans in Ohio want their power back. It just isn't fun to not be in control of the governor's office.

With the election for governor almost two years away, anything can happen. My hope is that the economy in the country and the state will come roaring back and the Republicans will see decreasing votes in their future.

Ohio Republicans care only about the rich, the bankers, the insurance companies, and their political contributors. Do we really want to have the ethically-challenged Ohio GOP control the state again? I don't think so.

Happy 4th!

We'll be on the move for a short time and posting will be a little here and there.

I wish you all a happy and safe holiday weekend!!!!!

Wednesday's Stuff, Pt. 2

I saw a snippet of this over at Eschatonblog.com and thought I'd explore the Census Bureau site to see how Columbus, Ohio was doing. Here is some information from the U.S. Census Bureau Press Release:

The City of Columbus, Ohio has seen a 1.1% increase in population from 2007 to 2008, from 746,861 to 754,885 (population estimate), making Columbus the 14th largest city in the U.S.

Awesome!

***** Warning! Warning! Warning!!!! ******

Beware! The Republicans will be running some anti-Democratic ads in the weeks to come. (See RealClearPolitics for details.) That is right. The party of "NO!" which has no new ideas, has decided that they are going to attack the Democrats and President Obama. Even though the self-righteous, holier-than-thou, anti-minority, anti-choice, anti-worker, anti-health care, anti-immigrant, anti-fair wage, anti-clean air, Republicans haven't had a fresh idea since Lincoln, they've decided that they are going to attack Democrats. The GOP will be attacking President Obama and the Democrats because they haven't fixed the economy yet. OMG! President Obama has been in office just over five months and he is still cleaning up the messes left by George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. The Republicans are pathetic. PATHETIC!!!!!

Ohio Republicans Hope for Failue

The state government is deadlocked because the Republicans in the state senate are hoping and praying that the entire state of Ohio goes down the tubes. Instead of working and cooperating with Gov. Ted Strickland to fix things and get people back to work, the elected GOPers are just sitting on their fat behinds waiting for the entire state to implode. While the Ohio Republicans drag their feet and do nothing, the state is almost coming to a stop.

If you'd like to give the Ohio Senate Republicans a piece of your mind, visit this web link for contact information:

http://www.ohiogop.org/elected_officials/ohio_senate

You may also want to give a special hello to Ohio Senate President Bill Harris who has been leading the Republicans in their efforts to destroy the state. Harris, who was for slot machines before he was against it, is doing his part to do nothing to help the Governor and Ohioans. You may contact Bill Harris at the following addresses and numbers:

Ohio Senator Bill Harris
Statehouse
Room #201, Second Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Telephone: 614/466-8086
Email: SD19@senate.state.oh.us


Ask him about his flip flops on the slots (which would bring in millions of dollars to the state).



pic: courtesy of Washington City Paper

Here You Go....

* There was finally a second ruling from the Montgomery County Board of Elections on the residency of Republican State Sen. Jon Husted. The Dayton Daily News reports that the BOE voted along party lines, just like the last time. Now the case goes back to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

* The state of Ohio has adopted a temporary budget until a final budget can be hammered out by all. Republicans said they are against adding slot machines to racetracks to help fix the state's financial crisis. Even though all of the Republicans are against it now, some were for the slots in the past. What? A flip-flop?

Ohio Dems:

In May 2007, Senate President Bill Harris and Ohio Senate Republicans voted for “video racing terminals” (VRTs) at racetracks across the state. The legislation was S.B. 125. It passed the Senate 25-8, but wasn’t taken up by the House. The bill would have instituted video gambling at Ohio racetacks without a vote of the people.

Now, Senator Harris is citing newfound moral objections to video gambling at Ohio racetracks, even though he voted for it in 2007. He is also now claiming that expanded gambling at Ohio racetracks requires a vote by the people of Ohio, even though he previously voted for racetrack video gambling that did not require a vote of the people.

Governor Strickland’s proposal to allow video lottery terminals (VLTs) at Ohio racetracks has become a sticking point in the Ohio budget negotiations between the Governor and Harris. Harris is using VLTs as an issue to stonewall the budget process, even though he supported video racetrack gambling in the past....

If you see Bill Harris, ask him why he is not wearing flip flops.

******* According to a poster at The-Ozone, there are 67 more days until the Buckeyes start the 2009 football season with an opener against Navy. Go Bucks!

This and That on Monday

> Republican Rep. John Boehner had a few words about the new climate bill.
Business Insider:

John Boehner tells the Hill that he spent over an hour reading excerpts of the massive climate bill during Friday's debate because "people deserve to know what's in this pile of sh*t."


(Note: He said the word, but I've just altered it.)

Isn't it nice to know that Boehner doesn't care about our environment? Boehner and his fat cat Republican friends are not having any fun being out of power. From my point of view, I'm enjoying watching them squirm.


* It happened again. Another abandoned baby was found last week by a mail carrier on his rounds. 10TV:

...Mike Herron said he heard a baby crying in the 12-hundred block of Marble Drive, located near Livingston Avenue and Main Street, around 10 a.m.

Herron said he could see the baby's head sticking out of the trash bag, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

"You could see the umbilical cord," Herron said, "You could see the baby still had blood and vomit and fecal matter and it was just a mess, but you know, a beautiful baby girl."

This is the second such newborn abandonment case in recent weeks. Luckily, both babies were found immediately and taken to the hospital for observation.

* * *Republican "golden boy" and candidate for higher office, Jon Husted, has his hearing today at the Montgomery County Board of Elections, according to WHIO:

...The local board of elections, which tied on the issue of Ohio Sen. Jon Husted's residency, will take another look at the matter after it was bounced back to the board by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Husted faces an inquiry whether he lives at the 148 Sherbrooke Drive home where he is registered to vote. Husted says he stays with his wife and children at her Upper Arlington home, but claims Kettering is his home.

Ohio law requires legislators to live in their districts....

We'll see if anything is decided.

A large group of Ohioans went to Washington DC to push for health care.
Cleveland.com:
Singing "We Want Health Care" to the tune of Queen's "We Will Rock You," hundreds of Ohioans joined a Capitol Hill rally on Thursday to prod Congress toward reform....

Sen. Sherrod Brown added this----
"Let me assure you the special interests and health insurance industry will not hijack this process," Brown told the rally, organized by Health Care for America Now. "We must have a strong public option and we will have a strong public option."

And....
....Afterwards, the Ohio contingent adjourned to the Columbus Club at Union Station, where they heard from speakers, including Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan and Columbus Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy.....

* Speaking of Sen. Sherrod Brown, we have this from the MorningJournal:

If applying for the National School Lunch Program were easier, more than 150,000 additional Ohio school-age children who are eligible could get a nutritious lunch or breakfast, according to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.

Accordingly, Brown announced legislation yesterday to streamline the application process and provide $2 billion for five years to pay for new computer equipment and food for the program....

"The more children who receive this food, the better their educations will be," he said. "A hungry child cannot learn and grow."

Exactly. If a child is hungry, learning will not take place. Ask a teacher and he/she will agree. If we really want a better life for our children, we've got to get these children a good start.

* One of the star attractions at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is Colo. Colo has been have some problems and needs some tests.
Dispatch:

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium community will have a knot in its collective stomach Saturday morning as a team of doctors gathers to examine its most famous resident.

Colo, the first gorilla born in captivity and now the oldest gorilla in captivity at 52, is having a heart work-up.

In "people years," Colo is elderly, the equivalent of an 80- or 90-year-old, and she's been ailing off and on in recent months, said Dr. Joseph Donovan, the Columbus anesthesiologist who has treated her for at least a decade.....

Despite her age, Colo still has a lot of spunk, as this UPI article (May 27,2009) notes:

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio said a 52-year-old gorilla walked through an unsecured door and wandered through a building.

Zoo officials said Colo the gorilla, who is believed to be the oldest gorilla in captivity, left her room in the indoor gorilla enclosure through an unsecured door at about 9:35 a.m. Tuesday and wandered the halls before she was lured back to her exhibit by keepers bearing yogurt and Coca-Cola, The Columbus Dispatch reported Wednesday....

I'm sure that all of Colo's fans will be thinking happy thoughts for her speedy recovery.

* Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy has been working hard in Congress to help our Vets. Kilroy's website:

U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy joined a bipartisan majority in the House to pass several pieces of legislation to increase funding for health care and the standards of living for veterans and their families, while providing them with easier access to scholarship programs in votes yesterday. Kilroy said that these critical pieces of legislation are part of Congress’s commitment to the military family.

“Veteran’s care is a bipartisan issue and Democrats and Republicans worked together to pass legislation that will significantly benefit the lives of veterans and their families. These bills will increase resources to provide the finest care and sufficient compensation to our veterans, increase access to health care specialty services for women, and make scholarship programs more accessible to vets and their families,” said Kilroy. “As the daughter and niece of two World War II veterans, it is a priority for me to work to secure benefits for veterans in central Ohio.”


Kilroy is keeping her promises to help our vets.

* It looks like Shaq is going to the Cleveland Cavaliers. ESPN has the info.


* Republican Rep. Mike Turner (OH-3) has been called on the carpet for his legislative pork project. According to the Dayton Daily News, the Citizens Against Government Waste ".....tagged Turner for a $4 million earmark he sought in the House version of the Defense Authorizations Act. The earmark is for “Open Source Research Centers” for Radiance Technologies in Fairborn....."

* The Armenian Weekly is pushing their readers to support Democrat David Krikorian for Ohio's 2nd congressional district:

...1) David is a great Armenian American.
David’s a proud son of the Armenian American community. He’s the past chairman of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Ohio, a devoted family man, and a self-made business owner who’s given back to his community.

2) Jean Schmidt has got to go.
Jean Schmidt is a tireless enemy of Armenian issues and an equally energetic apologist for Turkey’s sins (see her lay a wreath at Ataturk’s tomb). She’s even filed an official complaint against David for speaking honestly about how she’s taken tens of thousands of dollars from Armenian Genocide deniers....

Lots of people in Ohio are not proud of Jean Schmidt and her shenanigans.

Ready or Not!

The Ohio State University Athletics Hall of Fame will be adding a few more people, according to the Dispatch. The Dispatch list includes Michael Redd, Andy Katzenmoyer, the late Neal Colzie, Dick LeBeau, Robert Gary, Bob Hopper, Pandel Savic, Kaja Fiserova, Allison Hanna, Vanessa Immordino, Emma Laaksonen, and Jim Montrella.
Dispatch:
....The inductions will take place Sept. 25, and the new class will be introduced at halftime of the football game against Illinois on Sept. 26.

* Republican Rep. John Boehner doesn't feel your pain. While you struggle to pay your mortgage, feed the kids, and put gas in the car, Boehner is out golfing. Boehner is spending mega bucks on fancy golf courses, according to the Washington Post. (I guess he doesn't meet too many unemployed people out there on the greens.) Washington Post:

....Last month, the Ohio Republican's political action committee, Freedom Project, revealed it spent $10,657.46 on greens fees and food and beverages at the swanky Ritz Carlton of Naples, Fla., in April.

And now, his PAC's newly filed campaign report with the Federal Election Commission for May shows Boehner's PAC spent twice that much -- $20,816.65 -- on golf at the Ritz.

Which means Boehner spent a total of $31,474.11 on a golf fundraiser for friends, lobbyists and anyone else who wanted intimate tee time with the House's top Republican.....

I'm sure we'd like to know which lobbyists Boehner has been hanging with on those courses.

* Ready or not, the Naked Cowboy will be singing in his hometown, Greenhills, Ohio, according to the Dispatch. However, not everyone is happy about it. Dispatch:

....The Naked Cowboy, whose real name is Robert Burck, has traveled across the country for more than a decade, donning a guitar and singing in his underwear.

His scheduled performance Friday, however, has sparked resentment from Greenhills mayoral candidate Pat Andwan....

.....Calling Andwan a "lunatic," Burck dismissed her comments and said he plans to perform at the festival for those who have been proud of his accomplishments. "I've been in my underwear for 10 years, going from city to city, so I'm aware there are people out there who are not underwear-friendly."

I'm sure the people of Greenhills will enjoy a little excitement.

Ohio News

* Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15-Dem) has updated her official website to help her constituents. You can view Kilroy's website here.

* Ohio will get some needed stimulus money for road projects, according to the Dispatch:

Ohio passed a stimulus mile marker Friday when it received word that transportation projects totaling more than $336 million had been approved by the Federal Highway Administration.......

This will help get people back to work.

* Gov. Ted Strickland wants to increase the food safety in the state of Ohio.
Business First:

Ohio legislators are moving forward with the backing of Gov. Ted Strickland and major agricultural groups to create a new state board that governs livestock and poultry practices.

Legislators from the Democrat-controlled Ohio House of Representatives and Republican-controlled state Senate on Monday unveiled details of joint resolutions moving through both chambers that would create the 13-member Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board. Pending approval in the legislature, plans for the board would go before voters in November as a proposed constitutional amendment.....

This sounds like a perfect idea that is needed ASAP. With food recalls in recent news, anything we can do to improve food safety should be taken seriously.

News Round Up

* Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) has been seen in her district connecting with her constituents.

* People are talking about Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland's move to bring slots to the state in order to bring in much needed cash and create jobs. Many people see it as a necessary move.

* A young man's anti-tobacco campaign will land him in Washington, DC, according to the
Oxford Press:

Kyle Peavley’s trip to Washington D.C. this week isn’t his first one, but he said it will be his most memorable.

Peavley, 18, an anti-tobacco activist for seven years, will stand next to President Obama on Monday, June 22, as he signs a law giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over the tobacco industry.....

...Peavley has lobbied for the new law for three years. In 2006, he met with members of the Ohio Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., about legislation to grant the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco products. He also organized a protest at the district office of U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-West Chester Twp.), an opponent the FDA legislation....

Congrats to Kyle Peavley.

*** Will LeBron James go up against President Obama? It looks like a strong possibility that President Obama will face LeBron James on the White House basketball court, according to Bloomberg:

It’s not much of a contest; on paper, at least. A 6-foot, 2-inch, 180-pound, 47-year-old amateur against a 6-foot, 8-inch, 250-pound, 24-year-old pro who won the National Basketball Association’s Most-Valuable Player award this year.

Except the amateur will have home-court advantage: the South Lawn of the White House.

In an interview with Bloomberg News this week, President Barack Obama said he would soon invoke executive privilege to summon the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James and possibly other NBA stars to the White House to shoot some hoops.....

The Bloomberg article notes a website devoted to President Obama's basketball playing:

http://baller-in-chief.com/

Friday is Here....

UPDATE!!!!! Breaking News!!!
WKRC-TV:
After years of opposition to the expansion of gambling, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland has announced a plan for slots machines at seven horse racing tracks as a way to help balance the budget.

Strickland, a Democrat, said Friday that the move would provide $765 million for the two-year budget that starts July 1.

Lawmakers have struggled to fill a gap of roughly $3.2 billion in the spending plan.
The slots proposal would not go before state voters, who have rejected gambling proposals four times in the past 20 years.....

We'll see what happens!

...and it is pouring in central Ohio. We've had lots of thunder, lightning, and periods of heavy rain. Yuck.

> It is no secret that Ohio needs some cash now. What if the state allowed slot machines for a period of one year? Wouldn't the extra money brought into the state's treasury help cover a few expenses? At the end of that year, it could be decided to renew or not renew the contract for the slots. Anyone???

> Have you noticed how the Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives just don't get it? I guess the GOPers don't remember when they would lock the House committee rooms and not allow certain hearings when they were the majority.

> Here we go again! Looks like another person has witnessed the anger of Upper Arlington's...., Oops! I mean Kettering's State Sen. Jon Husted. Dayton Daily News has the story.

> John Kasich, Republican candidate for Ohio governor, had an interesting person help him out at a recent event. The Other Paper has the story:

Matt Borges is not exactly a household name. Most likely, John Kasich is hoping he doesn’t become one.

The 37-year-old consultant is perhaps better known as former state treasurer Joe Deters’s chief of staff; the same Joe Deters who resigned amid a pay-to-play scandal in 2004.

Borges pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of restrictions on a public official in 2004 in conjunction with that hot mess....

Will Kasich make Borges part of his campaign staff?

O-H-

Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) is a co-sponsor of a bill that will help those with cancer and the oncologists treating them. Prnewswire.com:

U.S. Representatives Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL), Steve Israel (D-NY) and Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH) have introduced H.R. 2872, the Medicare Quality Cancer Care Demonstration Act of 2009. H.R. 2872 is a bill that will authorize Congress to direct the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the Quality Cancer Care Demonstration (QCCD) project.

The Community Oncology Alliance (COA), a nonprofit group of medical practitioners who deliver cancer care across the country, has been working with the 111th Congress for the QCCD project, described as the "architecture of a solution" to today's cancer care crisis. Health care reform is President Barack Obama's top domestic issue, and when it comes to cancer care, it is overwhelmingly critical....

**** Did you know that Ohio Democrat Rep. John Boccieri (OH- 16) is a terrific baseball player? Boccieri helped the Democrats beat the Republicans 15 to 10 in the annual congressional baseball game. The Washington Examiner has some of the details:

...The 48th Annual Roll Call Congressional baseball game had a something of a surprise ending at Nationals Park last night, with the Democrats beating the Republicans for the first time in eight years, 15-10.

Youth was served by the Dems, who were also the beneficiaries of a larger talent pool than in recent years, thanks to two consecutive romps at the ballot box. For evidence, look no further than Rep. John Boccieri, D-Ohio, who just wouldn’t stop stealing bases and sliding on his stomach....

....The game is a standing bipartisan tradition, though fans at the stadium last night made it apparent that party competition was the name of the night. Democratic fans stood and quoted their favorite election slogan “Yes we can!” for the entire last inning until the Democrats struck out the last batter to close the deal.....

Nice job!

** I noticed that Germain at Easton has a number of Smart Cars on their lot. Check them out at (614) 383-4184. I love my Smart Car!!!

* There is a lot of excitement about a plan put forth by Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH-D).

Toledo Blade:

The Obama Administration has rejected additional aid for the automotive components sector, but U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown yesterday proposed a plan for helping them and some other manufacturers from careening off course.

Mr. Brown said he will introduce legislation to establish a $30 billion revolving loan fund that small and medium-size manufacturers could use to become more energy-efficient or switch to production of components for the solar, wind, and other industries involved in so called "clean energy."

...Wendy Patton of Policy Matters Ohio said during the conference call that the program could benefit more than 3,000 Ohio manufacturers employing 250,000 people.....

Sen. Brown is always thinking about how to get people back to work. This plan shows that he is thinking of creative ways to get businesses and people moving again.

Ohio Bankers Are Joyful

Here we go again! It appears that Republican Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, is leaning toward a run against U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15-D). Steve Stivers probably has the Ohio banking lobby and the insurance industry wetting their pants with excitement at the prospect of their golden boy running again.

Details are from The Hill:

.....Stivers has set a July 4 deadline for himself to make a final decision on the 2010 race, but local and national Republicans expect him to make a second straight run at the seat, and he’s made no secret of his desire to try again....
....Gabby Adler, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), said Republican leaders are making Stivers “their pet project.”

“They simply don’t understand that Central Ohio voters have already rejected Steve Stivers once and continue to have no interest in supporting a bank lobbyist whose priority is fighting for Washington special interests above the needs of hardworking Ohio families,” Adler said.

I'm sure that the good people of Union County will welcome Stivers, now that the 6,000,000 chicken factory farm is closer to reality. On August 8, 2008, I wrote extensively about how Stivers sponsored a bill that stops communities/neighbors from preventing a factory farm from sprouting up in their neighborhood. Here is my link.

What has Stivers been doing recently?

**** Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy has received a 100% from the Middleclass.org website for her support of issues and legislation that helps the middle class. Here is some of the legislation Kilroy supported, according to the Middleclass.org:

Voting Record

2009	Bill	Vote	Supportive of the Middle Class?
	H.R. 1728 Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2009 TOPICS: Consumers, Debt & Bankruptcy, Housing, Mortgage lending	YEA
	H.R. 1664 Pay for Performance Act of 2009 TOPICS: Corporate Accountability, Executive compensation	YEA
	H.R. 1586 A Bill To Impose An Additional Tax On Bonuses Received From TARP Recipients of 2009 TOPICS: Corporate Accountability, Executive compensation, Tax Fairness	YEA
	H.R. 1106 Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 TOPICS: Consumers, Debt & Bankruptcy, Housing, Mortgage lending, Personal bankruptcy	YEA

Don't you wonder how Stivers would have voted on these same issues????

Ohio Politics

The good people over at Progress Ohio have a very extensive analysis of Republican State Sen. Jon Husted's utility bills. Husted, who was elected to represent Kettering, spends 99% of his time living with his family in Upper Arlington, a suburb of Columbus. Several inquiries have examined his utility bills to question his residency with regard to his voting. Here are some excerpts from Progress Ohio:

Records supoenaed by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner show that Jon Husted's utility bills have declined significantly over the past 8 years at what he claims is his primary residence in Kettering.

Husted's utility records are a key part of an on-going investigation at the Montgomery County Board of Elections as to whether Secretary of State candidate Husted is actually voting illegally. Husted claims his residence is at a modest ranch in Kettering where his utility bills are almost non-existent during warmer weather months, as opposed to his home in Columbus where his wife and their child live.....

...One major exception to the utility drop is during the period between 2/6 - 3/7/08, during which Husted's consumption of electricity was twice as high 2000. The primary for the State Senate seat which Husted now holds took place on March 4th. After the primary his usage immediately drops off and from April 9th to May 7th his electricity bill is only 1/20th what it during election season. This continues during the summer and fall, even during months when the Statehouse wasn't in session. This is most starkly illustrated by Husted's water usage which registered a zero during multiple readings....

Progress Ohio has links to Husted's utility bills and other information under the resources section. Husted has stated that he lives in Upper Arlington so that he can attend to state business. Why aren't other elected state reps and state senators living full time in Columbus like Husted? Is he more important than anyone else? Do people look the other way because Husted is Republican???

***** Get out your tissues because this is a real tear jerker. Dayton Daily News is reporting that some area politicians lost money because of the stock market losses. Most notable of these was John Boehner.

Dayton Daily News:

....House Minority Leader John Boehner, who watched his net worth drop by at least $400,000 from last year to this year.

Boehner’s minimum net worth dropped from $2.1 million in 2007 to $1.7 million in 2008, according to financial disclosure forms filed in Congress.....

Boehner was not the richest lawmaker in the state. Ohio Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt (OH-2) had a reported net worth of between $2.7 million to $9 million, according to the Dayton Daily News (information from Schmidt's financial disclosure statement).

Don't Get ME Started!!!!

There are some interesting facts from yesterday spring quarter graduation at Ohio State, as published in the Columbus Dispatch:

8,162: graduates (surpassing 2006 record of 7,643)

1,897: graduating with honors

87: foreign countries represented

50: states represented

5,681: undergraduate degrees

1,409: master's degrees

858: professional degrees

211: Ph.D.s

Not bad. Now if we can get them all jobs!!!!

>>>> Bizjournals has this:

American Electric Power Company Inc. has signed on to buy the solar energy output from an in-the-works northwest Ohio facility as it continues a push to boost its renewable energy portfolio.

The Columbus-based utility on Monday said its AEP Ohio subsidiary signed a 20-year agreement with Wyandot Solar LLC, a subsidiary of Boulder, Colo.-based developer juwi solar inc.. The company plans to begin building a 10 megawatt solar facility in Wyandot County in November that could be up and running a year from now....

This is part of the green revolution we've heard so much about recently.

>>>>>> It looks like Michelle Malkin and the right wingers are not regular viewers of the the David Letterman program on CBS. (They probably think that Stephen Colbert is a conservative comedian.) If they were regulars viewers, they'd know that Letterman in the past has done jokes about Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and a host of others. They'd also know that Letterman has already apologized for his joke which was about Sarah Palin's older daughter. Malkin and others are receiving little attention these days as Americans turn away from the conservative agenda and the failure of the Bush administration here and abroad. If you can stomach it, you can read Malkin's latest trash HERE.

I am the mother of two grown daughters. If I had been running for public office, and if one of my daughters had been a teenage unwed mother like Palin's daughter, I would not have paraded her around with her loser boyfriend in every corner of this country. I would have let my daughter stay at home. Most mothers would have done that.

How is it that Palin supports abstinence education, but apparently her own daughter did not follow it? Doesn't it show how ineffective abstinence education has been? Doesn't it also show that Palin's political ambitions are more important than the welfare of her own children?

Now Malkin and some other right wingers want Letterman fired. Pleeeeeeeeeeease stop the insanity, Malkin and Palin, and leave Letterman and the rest of us alone.

Ohio GOP: No New Ideas

If Ohioans are looking for something new from the Ohio GOP, their right wing officials, and candidates, they can forget about it. Here is an example of the old fashioned, backward-thinking, mindset of the Ohio GOP----

Dispatch:

Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine was quick to heap scorn on the so-called "cash for clunkers" bill passed by the U.S. House last week -- but among those voting for the legislation were 59 GOP lawmakers, including four from Ohio. The overall bill passed easily, 298-119.

The legislation was written by Rep. Betty Sutton, D-Barberton, and gives people up to $4,500 worth of vouchers for trading in used cars with low miles-per-gallon ratings for new, more fuel-efficient cars. Proponents say it will stimulate auto sales and help the environment.

But DeWine called the bill "insanity" in a fundraising appeal. He said the legislation "allows the federal government to spend $4 billion to buy used cars." The cash sought by DeWine would help the Ohio GOP recruit "strong, conservative candidates who have the resources to be competitive in next year's elections."

Although Kevin DeWine might not like the plan, it is used in Germany, with great results, according to the New York Times:

...A concept embraced by President Obama on Monday as part his effort to save General Motors and Chrysler from collapse would provide cash to buyers of new fuel-efficient cars — if they traded in a clunker.

Similar incentive programs overseas have lifted automobile sales despite the awful economy. In Germany, an offer of about $3,290 for trade-ins helped to increase February car sales there by 21.5 percent from a year earlier, a 10-year high, according to the German Association of the Automotive Industry....

I have a feeling that the word "innovation" is not even in the Republican dictionary.