MSNBC: The scandal surrounding disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff has claimed its first victim: The Capitol Hill free lunch....
...Sean Spicer, a spokesman for conference chairwoman Rep. Deborah Pryce, R–Ohio, says, "We are not accepting Institute money because of media perception." She said the Republican lawmakers usually pay for their own travel and lodging costs at the gathering...
(My opinion: If they've usually paid for their own travel, then I am the Queen of Sheba!)
Sun Times:
...Last year Hastert's KOMPAC hosted a Sunday-Thursday retreat for donors at a resort in Kapalua on the Hawaiian island of Maui. In 2005, the program included two top members of his leadership team, Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) and Rep. Tom Reynolds, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOP House political operation.
In August of 2003, some of Hastert's best donors flew to a fishing camp in Alaska for a $5,000-per-person fund-raising event.
Hastert called off his fund-raisers as Republicans are confronted with GOP ethics and lobbying scandals threatening their control of the House and Senate in the November elections.
Earlier this month, Hastert called for an ethics crackdown, taking action in the wake of scandals involving two Republicans who pleaded guilty to criminal activity -- GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff and former Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.). Hastert faces further headaches because the Abramoff affair may implicate people close to former Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who is facing charges in Texas for laundering campaign donations....
John Cranley -Democratic Candidate for the 1st District
Looks like Cranley has a real chance to take the district!
Enquirer: The first district will get a lot of attention from the National Democratic Party to defeat the current Republican.
Post: ...But analysts note that the demographics are still ripe for Democrats. The district went for Democrat John Kerry in the 2004 presidential race.
Democrats on the national level are also banking on voter dissatisfaction with the double-whammy of scandals in the GOP-controlled Congress and Gov. Bob Taft's trouble. The Cincinnati Republican pleaded no contest in August to failing to report golf outings and other gifts he received.
"The problems they've seen in their capital they've also seen in the national capital," Emanuel said of Ohioans. "That's why Ohio is going to lead the country in calling for change...."
TODAY I SAW THE FIRST STRICKLAND BUMPER STICKER ON A CAR HERE IN CENTRAL OHIO. I'VE GOT TO GET ME ONE OF THOSE.