Start Worrying

>I watched a little bit of Republican Mike Huckabee on Meet The Press. It was enough to scare the hell out of me. The more I watch Huckabee, the more I realize that he does not seem to have a complete grasp of the problems and the issues to become president. He is clearly in over his head.

>According to the New York Times, Republican Rudy Giuliani, was back at his familiar mantra: 9/1, 9/11, 9/11. Giuliani must not fully comprehend all of the responsibilities of the President. Giuliani is like that relative you see only a few times per year, and all he does is talk about one topic. What Giuliani refuses to talk about is that his failure to properly equip the NYPD and NYFD with fully working walkie-talkies, increased their deaths on 9/11.

Ohio News

>>> What does Rep. Zack Space (OH-18-D) have that his Republican opponents don't have? Space has money in his campaign war chest.
Dispatch: Through Sept. 30, Space had $591,905 on hand in campaign cash. He has raised $845,570 total for his campaign.
>> U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH) had a few things to say about his first year in the U.S. Senate.
Morning Journal:
...Brown also pointed to an increased minimum wage, raised fuel economy standards, and more federal assistance for college tuition as Democratic accomplishments last year.
But he said he was frustrated as other efforts were foiled by filibustered, or in the case of an increase in funding for the State Childrens Health Insurance Program, were vetoed by President George W. Bush.
''It broke my heart, and it's just outrageous to me that Bush made those choices,'' Brown said.
While the Senate had enough votes to override the president's veto of an increase in the S-CHIP program, it failed in the House of Representatives....

>>>> Warning! Even though you thought (and hoped!) that Tom DeLay and Ken Blackwell would crawl back under a rock, they are back. DeLay and Blackwell are trying to do their best to get their extreme right wing views into the public arena. If you see them, don't buy any of their hogwash.

More on Husted

I've written before on Ohio Republican Jon Husted and his nasty temper, demanding attitude, and his ability to get work for his political campaign contributors (Ex.: Oberer Construction + campaign $ = Austin Pike interchange (LINK)). I've been told that nothing gets done in the state of Ohio without Husted's okay. Since Husted has no real plans to do too much on the school funding issue in the state, nothing will get done.

Clearly, the only way to get the state away from Husted and the Republican corruption machine, is to elect Democrats. Husted and his cronies are not planning to help Ohio's children get fair and equal education, but they do like to reward their friends with state contracts. Even though Ohioans voted to put a Democrat as governor, the GOP controlled state legislature has done nothing to move forward on issues for real people.

Wake up, Ohio!

Greetings to all!

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Pray for peace and a Democratic New Year!


GO BUCKEYES!

Is Steve Stivers Still Helping His Banking Friends?

A recent proposal in the the state legislature might help clean up cities but it would also get money to banks a lot sooner. According to the Dispatch, some legislators are hoping to help clean up homes that have been abandoned because of the foreclosure problems in the state. While looking for possible sponsors for the legislation, who else but Steve Stivers offered to jump in and help get things going. Steve Stivers, Republican, probably was happy to help his old banking buddies get some of the money they've lost in the empty homes. Once a lobbyist, always a lobbyist?

What has the Republican controlled state legislature done to fix the school funding problem in the state of Ohio? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Work and Money

>>>> After an exhausting day of work, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15), can now return to home to rest. (Check my previous posts on Pryce's hectic non-work schedule.)

+ The Democrats are raising more money for the election next year. Politico has this:

The Democratic Congressional campaign committees ended November with nearly five times as much cash-on-hand as their Republican counterparts. This means Democrats will enter 2008 well-positioned to pick up additional seats due to their continued financial advantage and a slew of GOP retirements, largely in highly-competitive districts.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $4.1 million in November, compared to the $2.7 million brought in by the National Republican Congressional Committee....
....On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ended November with $25.5 million banked, more than double the cash-on-hand of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, with about $10.4 million....

How nice.

Today.....

* Good news! Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15), finally showed up on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday!!!! According to the list of Roll Call Votes, Pryce voted yesterday on several issues.

* Tom Tancredo is going to announce his withdrawal from the presidential campaign, according to the New York Times.

* I don't have any sympathy for domestic automakers because of the new gas mileage requirements. They've refused to adapt to the changing market and climbing oil prices. They'll either work to catch up or collapse.

* It appears that the CIA will turn over some documents to Congress.
Raw Story:
Under a subpoena threat, the CIA is expected to quickly begin turning over to Congress documents related to the destruction of videotapes showing the harsh interrogation of two terror suspects.

The agency could begin producing the material as early as Thursday, according to senior intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because of ongoing investigations into the destruction of the tapes in 2005.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, said Wednesday the CIA had agreed to turn over the documents sometime this week after he prepared subpoenas for former and current CIA officials and attorneys if they don't voluntarily come before the committee to testify about the tapes. The document request includes records related to the 9/11 Commission and to al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui, whose attorneys were seeking interrogation videos.....

* Last night, my husband and I watched a replay of the House Judiciary hearings with the young woman who was raped, and held captive by KBR employees while she was in Iraq. She is definitely a brave young woman. It is amazing that the U.S. Justice Department has done nothing to investigate this case. The Philadelphia Daily News has more on this story.

Deborah Pryce-No Show

Republican member of Congress, Deborah Pryce, is enjoying an early vacation. If you call the office of Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15), her staff will tell you that she is working in her district office. However, Pryce is not where she should be working --------> on the floor of the House of Representatives representing her constituents with her votes. According to the Clerk's website, Pryce has missed all 20 of the votes this week.

* Don't tell me there is another Republican scandal in Ohio? This time it involves Republican James Nimz, the Seneca County Engineer.
Toledo Blade:

....Yesterday, the longtime Seneca County engineer resigned the elected position he's held for 17 years and pleaded no contest to ethics violations for employing his wife, giving her raises, and promoting her to chief deputy engineer. Mr. Nimz, 62, of Tiffin, declined to comment following the brief hearing in Tiffin Municipal Court, but his attorney said his client was unaware he had violated the law when he married Caroline Minges in 1996. She had been employed by the county engineer's office since 1991......
..... Visiting Judge Thomas Osborn of Upper Sandusky Municipal Court accepted Mr. Nimz's no contest pleas and found him guilty of the three first-degree misdemeanors....

It is amazing that while the Republicans held the governorship, this went unnoticed.

Ohio's 15th District Turning Blue?

Charlie Cook provides some insight about Republican chances in 2008. Govexec.com:

....Then there are eight or so open-seat races that the GOP is in real danger of losing: those in Rick Renzi's 1st District in Arizona, Jerry Weller's 11th District in Illinois, Jim Ramstad's 3rd District in Minnesota, Jim Saxton's 3rd District and Michael Ferguson's 7th District in New Jersey, Heather Wilson's 1st District in New Mexico, and Deborah Pryce's 15th and Ralph Regula's 16th districts in Ohio. All of these contests are now in the toss-up category.....

Did you notice that two seats "that the GOP is in real danger of losing" are in Ohio----- Regula's 16th district and Pryce's 15th?????????

With the GOP having difficulty recruiting first tier candidates and an almost empty campaign war chest, you can see why they got so nervous about possibly losing the seat vacated by the death of Republican Rep. Paul Gillmor in Ohio's 5th district. The Republicans had to pour big money into a campaign that should have been a completely safe seat.

Ohio's 15th district is turning blue. Deborah Pryce's decision not to run again may have been slightly influenced by family issues. However, her final decision not to seek re-election was based on polls that showed the Democrats and Progressives gaining power in central Ohio. Things are changing in Ohio.

What?

> Apparently Republican Steve Stivers thinks it is okay for payday lenders to rip off people. In a vote this fall, Stivers was against legislation that would put a cap on the interest rate charged by these payday lenders. Legislators wanted to put a cap on the interest charge at 36%. Stivers was against it. (I guess once a bank lobbyist, always a bank lobbyist!) Here are some excerpts from The Columbus Dispatch:

Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus -- Doesn't favor a 36-percent rate cap. "You can't take away people's ability to screw up their own financial situation by taking away the legal loan products, because they'll move to the illegal loans." Wants to encourage competition and avoid having people caught in a debt spiral.

Shouldn't Stivers be voting to protect the consumer instead of financial institutions/corporations?

> Is M*chigan QB Ryan Mallett planning to transfer because of the new coach? Rotoworld said that rumors say it is possible.

> What has happened to Sen. Joe Lieberman? He plans to endorse Republican presidential candidate, John McCain (CNN).

> Smart Cars will start to be delivered in a few months. Yipeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Preparing for Snow?

*** The TV weather people are predicting a big snow. Since major snowstorm for central Ohio. Citizens are stocking up on snow shovels, food, and other stuff in case they get stuck in their homes.

*** Ohio's Republican lawmakers are concerned about background checks for teachers, nurses, doctors, hairdressers, and others who need licenses/certificates. However, these same Republican lawmakers don't want background checks done on them. What are they trying to hide? Speeding tickets? DUI's? Civil suits? Columnist Ann Fisher of the Columbus Dispatch has the story about the GOP legislators:

State Sen. Jeff Jacobson, a Republican from Vandalia, called it a cheap stunt this week when a Democratic colleague proposed checking lawmakers' backgrounds for criminal offenses.

Stunt or not, the idea isn't implausible.....

...Sen. John Boccieri, a New Middletown Democrat, proposed the amendment to include state lawmakers and also have the results posted on the Internet....

Boccieri's proposal sounds like a great idea!

**** Do you know how many former Ohio State football players are in the NFL? Here is a list that I've compiled (sorry if I missed someone):

Buckeyes in the NFL:

Ravens: Troy Smith
Bengals: (1) Anthony Schlegel, (2) Alex Stepanovich
Browns: Simon Fraser
Steelers: Santonio Holmes

Colts: (1) Anthony Gonzalez, (2) Quinn Pitcock
Titans: (1) Ben Hartsock, (2) Donnie Nickey
Bills: (1) Dustin Fox, (2) Donte Whitner, (3) Ashton Youboty
Dolphins: Ted Ginn, Jr.

Patriots: Mike Vrabel
Jets: (1) Adrien Clark, (2) Nick Mangold, (3) Mike Nugent
Broncos: Kenny Peterson
Raiders: Jay Richardson

Chargers: (1) Shane Olivea, (2) Matt Wilhelm
Packers: (1) A.J. Hawk, (2) Ryan Pickett
Vikings: (1) Mike Doss, (2) Antoine Winfield
Falcons: (1) Tim Anderson, (2) Michael Jenkins

Panthers: (1) Drew Carter, (2) Na’il Diggs, (3) Chris Gamble
Saints: (1) Kevin House, (2) Will Smith
Buccaneers: (1) Joey Galloway, (2) Will Allen

Cowboys: (1) Bobby Carpenter, (2) Terry Glenn
Redskins: Shawn Springs
Cardinals: Rodney Bailey
49ers: Nate Clements

Seahawks: Rob Sims
Rams: Antonio Pittman

Quite a lot of Buckeyes, don't you think? I wonder how many other colleges can meet or exceed this number?

Wednesday's Notes!!!!

> The Ohio State - Michigan game will be different starting in 2009, according to USA Today:

Thanksgiving leftovers and the Ohio State-Michigan game could become a new tradition.

The Big Ten will move to a 13-week schedule beginning in 2009, pushing the rivalry game and the rest of the conference's schedule to the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Big Ten school presidents voted to support a 13-week schedule on Dec. 2, spokesman Scott Chipman said. That will allow teams one week off during the 12-game regular season.....

Awesome!

> Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15th) has extended her long weekends to include Tuesdays. She did not show up for the votes in the House of Representative on Tuesday.

> According to the Ohio Secretary of State's Election web site, Republican Bob Latta has won the election for Ohio's 5th congressional district. Latta won 56% of the vote. Voter turnout was from 12% in Ashland County to 30% in Henry County.

Bankers Love Latta

If you look at the last minute contributions that candidates in Ohio's 5th district receive, you might learn something. Here are lists of recent donations from the FEC, as published in the Toledo Blade:

> Republican candidate Bob Latta's contributors include:
...Henry Gandy ($1,000), a lobbyist/attorney for major blue-chip companies at the Duberstein Group; the Baker and Hostetler Political Action Committee ($1,000); the Franchising Political Action Committee ($1,000); Federal Express PAC ($5,000); TOMPAC, better known as NRCC chairman Tom Reynold's PAC ($5,000); Lafarge Cement PAC ($5,000); Worthington Industries PAC ($1,000); Mortgage Bankers Association PAC ($2,000); Ashland Inc. PAC ($2,000); and the election campaigns of Steve Stivers and Mike Turner ($1,000 each).

Latta himself kicked in another $15,100 on Friday...

Those at the mortgage association want to protect their money, so they donate to a Republican who will speak for them. Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, also threw in some money.

>> Democratic candidate Robin Weirauch's contributors include:
...Jeffrey Boyd ($1,000), executive director of the Ohio Association for Justice; Craig Hall ($2,300), an entrepreneuer and Napa Valley vintner; California congresswoman Barbara Lee's campaign ($1,000); the Congressional Black Caucus PAC ($5,000); Sen. Sherrod Brown's campaign organization ($2,000); Joseph Kanfer of Akron ($2,300), president of GOJO Industries; the Progressive Patriots Fund ($2,500), and the National Education Association Fund for Children and Public Education ($2,000).....

Did you notice that Weirauch doesn't have any bankers' associations listed?

The FEC (Federal Elections Commission) shows that Latta's other PAC friends include BANKPAC, COALPAC, INSURPAC, and various big business PACS. I guess this is an indication of which groups Latta will work for if he is elected.

Latta Did Get Money From Tom Noe

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that Republican Bob Latta did indeed take money from Tom "Coingate" Noe. A quick search at the Ohio Secretary of State's website on campaign finance shows the following:

Tom Noe gave $250 to Citizens for Latta Committee on 10/14/2004.
Tom Noe gave $250 to Citizens for Latta Committee on 11/20/2003.
Tom Noe gave $250 to Latta for Ohio Senate Committee on 8/6/1996.
Tom Noe gave $310.03 to Latta for Ohio Senate Committee on 8/6/1996.

If you don't believe me, check out the Ohio Secretary of State's campaign finance site and search yourself.

Robin Weirauch Is The Best Choice for Ohio's 5th District

Anyone who has ever met Robin Weirauch, Democratic candidate for Ohio's 5th district, is always impressed with her intelligence, warmth, and dedication. Weirauch has, according to the Toledo Blade, campaigned "....on protecting factory jobs, pushing for a troop withdrawal from Iraq, and establishing universal health care...."

Voters in the 5th district have to realize that in order to move the district ahead, they have to vote for someone who has fresh ideas, motivation, and a great work ethic. Robin Weirauch has it all.

On the other hand, Republican Bob Latta has been the perpetual candidate. He'll run for anything and smear everyone in the process. What a guy! Latta just wants a job and he is ready, willing, and able to work just like his friends, Tom Noe and Bob Taft (and we know how well they did!).

If the voters in Ohio's 5th congressional district want a member of Congress to just sit and warm a seat, Latta, is for them. However, if the voters want progress, and a real fighter for the district, Robin Weirauch is the best choice for Ohio's 5th District.

Did you know that...

......Republican candidate for Congress for Ohio's 5th, Bob Latta, took over $1000 from Tom "Coingate" Noe.
See You Tube here.
.....the Daily Kos has even more stuff about Latta here.

Great News!

The Plain Dealer has just announced that Ohio State's James Laurinaitis has won the Butkus Award.

Of Concern

> Things are getting bad at central Ohio's food pantries. Even the Mid-Ohio Food Bank is facing shortages. See information additional information at The Dispatch. Visit midohiofoodbank.org or mail checks to Mid-Ohio FoodBank, 1625 W. Mound St., Columbus 43223.

> According to The New York Times, the CIA has destroyed some tapes of their interrogations. How convenient!

> The military families are very upset with President Bush. See the LA Times for the story.

I'll write more later. I have to go move some snow off the driveway......

* President Bush and the Republicans in the Senate are upset that an energy plan that has been approved by the House will cut tax breaks to Exxon Mobil and other big oil companies. President Bush has promised a veto. For more information, see the Bloomberg article. Isn't this just like this administration and the Republicans to protect the oil companies? With gasoline at nearly $3/gal., the oil companies are making enough money ripping off Americans, and now Bush and the Republicans want to protect their tax breaks!!!! Where is that compassionate conservatism?

* I've come to the conclusion that I'd be happy with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or Bill Richardson as the Democratic nominee for president. I like them all and I think they are all extremely well-qualified.

Items of Note

* I'm just wondering why we haven't seen a website for the Republican candidates for Ohio's 15th congressional district. Do they know about the internet?

* President Bush wrote a letter to Kim Jong-il recently. This follows Bush calling the leader of North Korea a "pygmy" and categorizing North Korea as part of the "axis of evil." (See The Guardian.) Now Bush wants to either make 'nice nice' or start a war with North Korea since a war with Iran didn't pan out.

* Democrat Rep. Zack Space is impressing many people in Ohio's 18th congressional district. Space, who won the seat following Republican Bob Ney's Abramoff scandal ties, is doing well. According to CQ Politics, Space has over $800,000 in his campaign war chest. Each of the 3 Republicans who have announced intentions to run against Space, have $50,000 to 76,000 each, according to CQ Politics.

The Ohio Republicans

> You mean the Ohio GOP didn't have ethics and a code of conduct?
Times Reporter:
Angry at inter-party attack ads in a recent congressional primary, the Ohio Republican Party will develop a code of conduct and ethics and a preferred list of vendors and consultants for future primary and general elections, including one next year in Northeast Ohio....
......Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine tried to navigate the difficult primary. He tried to keep it civil, Bennett said. “He tried very hard.”
But to no avail. Now DeWine will develop a code of conduct, which the central committee will discuss at its February meeting. He also will create a list of vendors who will be asked to pledge to abide by that code.....

The Republicans in Ohio have destroyed so much in the state because of their greed. Now they will try to learn some ethics and follow a code of conduct. Interesting.

> Who is to blame for the crumbling of Ohio's cities? If you ask the mayors in Ohio, they'll tell you that former Gov. Taft and the Republican controlled legislature are to blame. Here are some excerpts from the Dispatch:

Much of the blame for Ohio's mortgage-foreclosure crisis goes to the Ohio General Assembly, says Cuyahoga County Treasurer Jim Rokakis.

His county had about 7,000 foreclosures in 2000. Six years later, the number had skyrocketed to 13,000. This year, residents of Cuyahoga County will lose about 17,000 homes.

The shattering of so many dreams didn't have to happen, Rokakis said. Cleveland, like Dayton and Cincinnati, had passed tough ordinances to rein in predatory lenders. But in 2002, the Republican-controlled legislature passed, and GOP Gov. Bob Taft signed, a law wiping out the local ordinances....

Kevin DeWine, Steve Stivers, Jon Husted and the rest of the Ohio Republican legislature have helped create the mess in Ohio's cities. The sad thing is that they really don't care as long as their cronies and campaign contributors get contracts and their help.

Tuesday's News

Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional, Mary Jo Kilroy, will be getting some special help for her campaign.
CQ Politics:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s political action committee has been busily funneling money to House candidates since July, handing out donations that totaled $107,000 as of Nov. 21.
Pelosi’s PAC to the Future ordinarily would not file with the Federal Election Commission until Jan. 31, but a donation it made to Robin Weirauch, the Democratic candidate against Republican state Rep. Robert Latta in a Dec. 11 special election in northwestern Ohio’s 5th District, meant it was required to file early....
...That list includes Mary Jo Kilroy, in Ohio’s 15th District, where GOP Rep. Deborah Pryce is retiring after barely defeating Kilroy last year.....

Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy is running against a career bank lobbyist from the GOP for Ohio's 15th congressional district.

> > >Here is an article about the Bush administration's false drumbeat to war with Iran.

The Sidney Morning Herald:
In an embarrassment for the Bush Administration reminiscent of the weapons of mass destruction saga in Iraq, the National Intelligence Council has reversed its assessment that Iran is intent on developing a nuclear arsenal.

It has declared that the Islamic state halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

"We judge with high confidence that in fall 2003 Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program," said the assessment by the council, comprised of 16 intelligence and security agencies.....

Would we have gone into another war just to fulfill another desire of the Neo-cons in the Bush administration? By the way, check out what Think Progress has on Bush.

We were lied into the war in Iraq. Now they are lying to say they didn't know that Iran's nuclear program was inactive. The President said no one told him!!!!????? Incredible liars!

Monday's Morsels

* GO Buckeyes!!!!

* Ask Ohio Republican leaders their definition of "family values." I think that when someone says that they support "family values" that should mean that they love and respect their spouse, respect the family, and provide a loving, protective home for their children. (There are a few Republicans in the Ohio legislature who have left their first wives for new, younger ones. I'll let you do the research on that.)

* December 11th is the day of the special election to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor. Vying for the seat are Democrat Robin Weirauch and Republican Bob Latta.

* According to the Dayton Daily News, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has a 65% approval rating among Republicans in the state!

* Don't forget to tune into the new liberal talk radio station in Columbus------ WVKO 1580 AM (you can listen live). Stephanie Miller is back (9am-Noon)!!!!!!

Liberal Talk Radio Returning To Columbus!

Yipeeeeeeee!
According to the Columbus Dispatch, WVKO, 1580 on the AM dial, will become a liberal talk radio station effective MONDAY!!!!!! Here are a few tidbit from the Dispatch:

Progressive talk radio will return Monday to the Columbus airwaves.

WVKO (1580 AM), which returned from bankruptcy a few months ago and has been airing Spanish-language content, will switch to a format featuring liberal talkers Bill Press, Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz -- barring last-minute engineering issues.......

......The new WVKO lineup includes Press from 6 to 9 a.m., Miller from 9 to noon and Schultz from noon to 3 p.m......

Hurray!!!

Oops!

> Anderson Cooper asked Giuliani about those expenses he billed to the city when he would visit his then mistress Judith Nathan. See the Huffington Post.

> The Huffington Post is reporting that relatives of Republican Sen. Trent Lott have been indicted for bribery.

> How has your holiday shopping been going? Even in our household we are cutting back on the amount of money we spend.

> Why is Republican Jon Husted dragging his feet on moving legislation through the Ohio House? Is he waiting for more political donations to determine what to work on next? (See Times Gazzette)

> So much for the big Bush Mideast peace talks! President Bush just spent a few hours meeting with world leaders. He'd probably say that he was performing hard work. The entire Bush diplomacy effort can be characterized as being on a short attention span. He can't wait for Iraq to abide by U.N. demands. He can't work on diplomatic solutions to problems because it takes too much effort. However, he can show up for the photo op.

Steve Stivers: State Oversight of Mortgages A Bad Idea

Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district, Steve Stivers, worked as as lobbyist for Bank One (now part of Chase). In his capacity as a member of the Ohio Senate, Stivers worked hard to protect banks and lenders. Here is an example from the Dispatch (January 19, 2006):

...Sen. Steve Stivers, a Republican and former lobbyist for Bank One, said Ohio should remain one of only two states that exempts the mortgage industry from the Consumer Sales Practices Act......
....Instead of expanding the consumer-protection law, the attorney general's office should coordinate with local law-enforcement agencies to create "strike forces" that can quickly go after and punish predatory lenders, Stivers said.....
.....But Stivers isn't finding much support in his own caucus, much less among advocates for the poor.Bill Faith, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, said the proposals would not address Ohio's mortgage lending problems.....

Wow! Stivers is against consumer protection laws? Sounds to me that Stivers continues to be a lobbyist!

And......
Stivers also worked to cut asbestos suits in Ohio. (See the Toledo Blade.)

Hard at Work VS. Hardly Working

** Hard at Work: Mayor Mike Coleman

Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman and his administration are working hard to diminish the impact of home foreclosures. With a long list of strategies, Coleman's administration is trying to get things done. The following is an excerpt from the Dispatch:

.....The rise in foreclosures is spreading pain through the city budget for 2008. Mayor Michael B. Coleman calls it a crisis.

"I'm very concerned about developing trends," he said Nov. 15 when he submitted next year's plan to the City Council. "This foreclosure crisis is real. It's hitting us between the eyes."

Coleman will meet Tuesday in Detroit with mayors of six other cities, mortgage-industry executives, two members of Congress and representatives of consumer-counseling groups to talk about ways government and the private sector can get a grip on the problem.....

** Ohio's Republicans: The Hardly Working Group

Looks like the Republicans who control the state legislature in Ohio haven't been working too hard. The Columbus Dispatch, which usually leans to the right, is not very complimentary about the poor work ethic of the Republican controlled Ohio House and Senate. Here are some excerpts from the Dispatch article:

....While legislators frequently gather in Columbus for committee hearings and handle a variety of business in their districts, the House will have convened just 37 times in formal session this year, and the Senate 43 times -- assuming each meets for two scheduled days in December.

Once lawmakers, who are paid a base salary of $58,933 a year, passed the state budget in June, they made themselves especially scarce.

The House will have met only 10 times in the past six months of 2007.

The half-year total for the Senate would reach 12.....

Since John Husted and the rest of the Republicans seem to be allergic to work, it might be time to dump these guys in favor of Democrats who'd actually get something done!

Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) is also playing AWOL this year. According to the Washington Post, Pryce has missed 131 votes in the House since January. Nice work ethic! Not!

Lots of questions!!!!!

> Democrat, Mary Jo Kilroy, has had her campaign web site up and running in the race for Congress (Ohio's 15th congressional district). Unfortunately (or fortunately), there is no site for Republican Steve Stivers, an announced candidate. Has this been done on purpose or does it just show how unorganized and cash poor the Ohio Republicans are at this stage of the campaign?

> Greek-Americans want to know: Why are Ohio Republicans attacking Democrat Rep. Zack Space? Even though Space is paying for his entire trip to Greece, the Ohio GOP is bad-mouthing Space just the same.

> Republican Sen. Trent Lott is rumored to be ready to resign, according to HinesSight. Will this clear the way for Haley Barbour to run for the U.S. Senate? Barbour is the Governor of Mississippi who managed to profit from Hurricane Katrina. Check out what Think Progress has on Haley Barbour. (Barbour is also considered to be a potential GOP Vice Presidential candidate.)

> Drilling in the Ohio River? The Daily Bellwether has some interesting news about oil and gas drilling. Here are some excerpts from The Daily Bellwether:

....Offshore drilling for oil and gas appears headed for the Ohio River, which may have valuable energy pools locked up in the geological strata deep beneath the waterway's channel. Officials in Ashland, Ky., approved two leases last week with a Colorado exploration company that plans to look for natural gas under the river. There has been no discussion about any potential environmental risks from such wells, which apparently will be drilled horizontally by rigs based near the Ohio side of the shoreline in Lawrence County....
.....Adam Stover, an official with Nytis Exploration Company LLC, told Boyd County, Ky., officials last week that the firm would drill straight down several thousand feet, then horizontally to get under the riverbed. He said the drilling will take place in Ohio, but that the money will be paid to Boyd County.....

I'm no expert in property rights, or oil and gas drilling, but does this sound okay with Ohio? What about the environmental risks? Can someone take natural resources from Ohio and give it to Kentucky????

You Can Help!

The Lube Guy at Quaker Steak and Lube is having a special event on Wednesday night, December 5th:

The US Marine Corp's Lima Company and Toys for Tots Need Our Help!

The US Marine Corp's Lima Company has asked The Lube to help them out with their TOYS for TOTS Drive this winter. Since Lima Company has sacrificed so very much for us, we thought the least we could do is help them out as they even try to do more for others. So Wednesday Night December 5th, The Lube has called an Emergency Holiday Bike Nite to support the Toys for Tots drive. Please join us as we come together with family and friends and show our support for Lima company. Please bring a New Unwrapped toy with you. Please pass this on to your friends and family or anyone else in the military that may want to help out. SEE YOU AT THE LUBE!

Quaker Steak and Lube
8500 Lyra Drive (Located near Target across from The Polaris Fashion Mall)
Columbus, OH 43240
(614) 430-0872

Try to help these Marines with their toy drive!

Republicans Going to the Extreme Right????

> According to CBS News, 17 Republicans have announced their retirements. Most of those, including Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15-R), are considered moderates. However, those who are replacing these members and those Republicans left behind are more Conservative. Does the country want more conservative GOP members? I don't think so!

CBS News:
.....On the Senate side, the majority of the retirements come from longtime members who maintained independent credentials. Three of the five retiring Republican senators- John Warner (Va.), Chuck Hagel (Neb.) and Pete V. Domenici (N.M.) - have publicly split with the Bush administration on key issues, most notably the Iraq war.....

> Today I saw another 1.20.09 bumper sticker. They seem to be very popular.

Check the facts!

1. Washington Post: Deborah Pryce has missed 131 votes (11.7%) during the current Congress (since January 2007).

2. According to the Washington Post, Steve Chabot (OH-1st-R) ....was one of the managers appointed by the House of Representatives in 1998 to conduct the impeachment proceedings of President William Jefferson Clinton.

3. Do you remember this: (CBS May 20, 2004)
.....Several members of Congress said Mr. Bush expressed his determination to stick to a June 30 date for handing partial governing authority to Iraqis.

"He talked about 'time to take the training wheels off,'" said Rep. Deborah Pryce. "The Iraqi people have been in training, and now it's time for them to take the bike and go forward."
.....Some in Congress, including Republicans, have criticized the Bush administration for not keeping Congress abreast of the cost of the Iraq war and reconstruction, the abuse of Iraqi detainees and the transfer of power.....

That was 2004!!!!

While the Democrats have proposed timetables and a war budget tied to progress, the Republicans still want to give Bush a blank check like they did in 2004. So while the Republicans do NOTHING but block ending the war and bringing the troops home, Americans continue to die. How can Republicans sleep at night knowing that more Americans have died and will continue to die in Iraq because they won't say "no" to Bush?

Another Buckeye Story

New York Jets won today in overtime. Why? How? Mike Nugent, former Ohio State Buckeye, kicked 4 field goals and an extra point following a touchdown. Jets fans should thank their lucky stars for Nugent because he saved the day.

Let me take a moment to say....

Thank God I'm a Buckeye!

News from around the net:

MSNBC: Wells carries No. 7 Ohio State past Michigan

Jim Tressel got the best of Lloyd Carr again, maybe for the last time.

Tressel became the first Ohio State coach to beat Michigan six times in seven years, and the seventh-ranked Buckeyes’ 14-3 victory Saturday over their archrival gave them consecutive outright Big Ten titles for the first time in a half-century.

Chris Wells ran for a career-high 222 yards and two touchdowns and Vernon Gholston and the Buckeyes’ defense dominated Michigan’s banged-up offense....

Detroit News:

Buckeyes shut down Wolverines in what could be Carr's final home game

This was not the way Michigan's seniors wanted to leave, and it certainly could not have been the way the Wolverines wanted to send off Lloyd Carr, who may have coached his final game at Michigan Stadium.

Carr, Michigan's head coach the last 13 seasons, has scheduled a 10 a.m. news conference Monday at which he will discuss his future, sources told The News.

Michigan lost its fourth straight to Ohio State, which claimed the Big Ten title outright with a 14-3 victory before the second-largest crowd at Michigan Stadium on Saturday. Michigan has not lost four in a row in this series since 1960-1963....

Sports Network:

Buckeyes dominate at the Big House to capture Big Ten crown

Chris Wells ran for a career-high 222 yards and a pair of touchdowns, leading seventh-ranked Ohio State to a 14-3 victory over No. 23 Michigan in the latest edition of the storied rivalry between the Big Ten powers.

Wells scored on a one-yard run in the second quarter and added a 62-yard jaunt for a touchdown in the third. He carried 39 times and eclipsed the 200-yard mark for the second time this season.....

Congratulations, Coach Tressel and the Buckeye football team!

Let Me Explain....

* Why won't the House Republicans vote to override the President's veto? Are they more interested in saving the President from embarrassment or serving the people of their district? Obviously, they love Bush more than they respect their constituents and the nation! Here are the totals from the vote to override Bush's veto of the appropriations bill for the Depts. of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, etc.: (Office of the Clerk)

Yeas 277

Nays 141 (all Republicans!)

The Republicans in the House appear to be more interested in satisfying their own needs and those of their party leader than helping the American people.

* It appears that some, but not all, of the members of the Ohio Republican Party have become aware of their party's reputation and dismal prospects for the future. Did they just wake up?

The Mansfield News Journal:
...Republicans lost all but one of five contested Nov. 6 races in Mansfield, including a bid to retake the mayor's office. Democrat Don Culliver defeated Republican Doug Versaw and independent candidate William Anliker....

....(Ed) Meehan said his party has suffered major losses across the country because of dissatisfaction with President Bush, the war, the national debt and, in Ohio, political scandals related to the Taft administration.

He also said the party in Richland County has suffered from the formation of factions which are acting independently to accomplish their own goals....

As long as Ohio Republicans continue to act in the same corrupt and self-serving manner that brought scandals to former Governor Bob Taft's entire administration and the state, they will lose elections. To solve problems in the state, Republicans have to start thinking about all the people in Ohio, not just their Republican contributors.

>>>> Last, but not least, let me say---

GO BUCKEYES!

Make It Short and Simple

How about a little political action today? Call your Senator and leave a simple message:

Stop funding the war!

For the telephone number of your Senators, check out the Senate Directory.

Here are some Senators that might need extra telephone calls:

Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN) (202) 224-4944

Brownback, Sam- (R - KS) (202) 224-6521

Bunning, Jim- (R - KY) (202) 224-4343

Chambliss, Saxby- (R - GA) (202) 224-3521

Coburn, Tom- (R - OK) (202) 224-5754

Collins, Susan M.- (R - ME) (202) 224-2523

DeMint, Jim- (R - SC) (202) 224-6121

Graham, Lindsey- (R - SC) (202) 224-5972

Hatch, Orrin G.- (R - UT) (202) 224-5251

Hutchison, Kay Bailey- (R - TX) (202) 224-5922

Kyl, Jon- (R - AZ) (202) 224-4521

Lieberman, Joseph I.- (ID - CT) (202) 224-4041

Martinez, Mel- (R - FL) (202) 224-3041

McConnell, Mitch- (R - KY) (202) 224-2541

Snowe, Olympia J.- (R - ME) (202) 224-5344

Voinovich, George V.- (R - OH) (202) 224-3353

If you can, make one or two phone calls. You'll feel like you did something to stop the war.

Recent Votes

** You'd think that some members of Congress would jump at the chance to bring more accountability and an exit strategy to Bush's Iraq war. However, accountability and strategies aren't things that some Republicans are interested in supporting. To see more about the vote, visit the NY Times article.

Office of the Clerk: HR 4156/Roll Call Vote 1108 (on passage)

No (They voted against the bill.)

Boehner Chabot Hobson LaTourette Pryce Regula Schmidt Tiberi

(To see where the rest of the Yeas and Nays, visit here.)

>> Who would vote against Head Start? I'm so glad you asked! In a recent vote for HR 1429/Roll Call 1090, some members of Congress voted against the Improving Head Start Act. Here is the list of members of Congress who voted against helping young children:

Akin Barrett (SC) Broun (GA) Burton (IN) Campbell (CA) Coble Culberson Doolittle Duncan Flake Foxx Franks (AZ)

Garrett (NJ) Hensarling Inglis (SC) Johnson, Sam Jordan Lamborn Mack Marchant McHenry Miller (FL) Miller, Gary Neugebauer

Pence Poe Price (GA) Rohrabacher Royce Sali Shadegg Stearns Tancredo Walberg Weldon (FL) Westmoreland

The Ohio Republicans Aren't Having Fun

> Because of the observation of Veterans' Day on Monday, the House of Representatives and the Senate were not in session. However, Tuesday everyone was back to work---- almost everyone.

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15), who doesn't work on Mondays, decided to extend her her weekend an extra day by not showing up on Tuesday. According to the Washington Post, Pryce did not vote on Tuesday 11/13/07 on measures before the House. This brings Pryce's total of missed votes to 130 (12.1%) just since January 2007. Way to go!

> CQ Politics has some insight about how the Ohio Republicans have lost power. Here are some excerpts:

Just a few years ago, Ohio Republicans flexed outsized political muscle on Capitol Hill.....
....But power shifts in the blink of an eye in the political world. The once-mighty Buckeye Republicans have suffered defeat, retirement, the death of veteran Paul E. Gillmor and Ney’s incarceration for taking bribes.

The decline of the party within the large swing state — and the concomitant upswing for Democrats — mirrors the national change in partisan fortunes and the challenges faced by moderates within an increasingly conservative Republican caucus....

Without the power, the Ohio Republicans are just not having fun--- no more trips/vacations with lobbyists, fundraising ski trips just don't attract the big bucks, no more pet projects for the hometown, etc. Also, the political climate in Ohio has shifted. Ohioans associate scandal, dirty politics, and governmental failures with the Ohio Republicans and the mess they left when they vacated the governorship.

> Did you catch the article in USA Today about the Smart Car? The Smart Car is due to make its big premiere in about two months and there is a lot of excitement about it.

Room for One More?

It looks like there will be another Republican on the ballot for the primary for Ohio's 15th congressional district. According to the Dispatch, an Ohio State professor is trying to fill the seat of retiring member of Congress, Deborah Pryce. Here is an excerpt from the Dispatch:

An Ohio State University economics professor with plenty of ideas about changing the nation's system of taxes and social services says he'll make sure Republicans in the 15th Congressional District have a choice in the March 4 primary....
....The 42-year-old West Side resident, who spends most of his time as a portfolio manager, said he will file his petitions Thursday to run against state Sen. Steve Stivers, a Columbus Republican and former bank lobbyist who announced his candidacy last week...

Very interesting.

Did you notice how the article mentioned that Stivers was a former bank lobbyist?

Setting the Record Straight

Here is an interesting quote from Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce as posted in the Ventura
County Star:

"I don't think anything will change until Americans revolt and get it into their heads that they need to be informed voters instead of just listening to the paid political ads," announced Deborah Pryce, the U.S. representative from Ohio, who became so fed up with the nasty partisan politics being practiced these days under the Capitol dome that she resigned....

True. If all the citizens in her district had actually read all Pryce's votes for big oil, big business, Bush's war, and other anti-worker legislation, she would not have received any votes.

How about the "nasty partisan politics"? Pryce is also guilty of dirty campaign ads. (By the way, Pryce has NOT resigned. She is not seeking re-election. We still have to put up with her poor work ethics until the end of next year.)

According to the Washington Post, Pryce has missed 126 votes (11.7%) in the House of Representatives just since January.

> Here is a little hint of what the future looks like in Ohio:
(Akron Beacon Journal)

...based on Tuesday's local elections, the victories that came in 2006, when Democrats took four state offices, including governor, and picked up seven seats in the Ohio House, were a trend and not a fluke.

Democrats now control the mayor's office in the 22 largest cities in Ohio. And despite Bennett's refrain, Democrats won in areas that have been in Republican hands, including Canton where the GOP has controlled the mayor's office for 16 years....

Ohioans are tired of the Republican scandals and ethics violations. Because of that, Democrats will get more money and more votes.

Does this poll predict the future of the GOP in Ohio?

The latest Ohio Poll has some strong opinions about the job performance of President Bush and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. Here are some excerpts from the Dispatch about the Ohio Poll:
...Only 31 percent of Ohioans say the president is doing a good job. He peaked at 89 percent two months after the 9/11 attack. Voters' assessment of Gov. Ted Strickland remains positive; his 69 percent approval rating is essentially unchanged from the 70 percent he registered in May...

...Among the state's largest media markets, Bush's support is lowest in the Columbus area, at 24 percent. However, of Ohio's five regions, Bush's nadir is in southeastern Ohio, where his rating is a mere 18 percent.

Strickland has strong support throughout the state, peaking at 75 percent in central Ohio and 74 percent in the Columbus media market.....

According to this poll, Bush's approval rating in central Ohio is only 24%. How will this play in next year's election in Ohio's 15th congressional district? Does this give an edge to Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy?

Governor Strickland has brought hope and confidence back to the state government. Will all this good stuff carry into next November and give Democrats a big win in Ohio? We can only hope.

We Need Someone That Speaks for the People

> With the announcement of a Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district, people are learning a lot about Steve Stivers. The Other Paper has a few tidbits:

...“Career lobbyist,” is a term you’re likely to hear used repeatedly over the next year as a negative reference to Stivers’s pre-legislature job with Bank One.

Team Kilroy is also focusing on Stivers’s vote against the 2006 law intended to curb predatory-lending practices in Ohio. Championed by advocates for the poor, the law was passed with bipartisan support by the GOP-controlled legislature and signed into law by a Republican governor, Bob Taft.

One Democratic operative described Stivers this week as a “shill for the mortgage industry as a lobbyist” who followed the same path as a lawmaker by opposing the predatory-lending bill. With the housing crisis expected to be an issue in 2008, the operative said that vote could come back to haunt Stivers.....

Just what Ohio needs----someone a little too friendly with the banking industry! With Ohio one of the leaders in the country for home foreclosures, it would not be good to put someone in the House who prefers helping banks rather than people.

Mary Jo Kilroy represents change. We need someone in the House of Representatives who will represent the people in the 15th district ---- not the banks.

Questions for Ohio Republicans

> Do Republicans really have a platform other than attacking other presidential candidates?

> Don't you wonder how religious right wing Republicans really feel about Rudy Giuliani and his wife, Queen Judith, and his new alliance with Pat Robertson?

> Has the Republican candidate for Ohio's 5th congressional district, Bob Latta, ruined his chances for a win because of the messy Republican primary? How does Bob Latta feel about being public reprimanded by the Ohio Elections Commission?

>

Can't Do It

I'd love to report to you how Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) voted the last few days on important legislation before the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, Pryce's votes in the House cannot be reviewed because Pryce has not voted this week at all.

This is from the Washington Post:

Deborah Pryce has missed 126 votes (12.1%) during the current Congress. (That is just since January!)

Pryce has missed 17 votes this week. Is this what we can expect until her term is over?

> Looks like there are problems within the NRCC. They have little money, lots of debt, and they can't decide on a strategy for their campaign. Here are a few excerpts from the fine people at The Carpetbagger Report:

....The GOP’s House committee has $1.6 million in the bank, but is $4 million in debt. The polls look one-sided in the Dems’ favor. Yesterday’s election results offered very little good news. The party has struggled to stop retirements and recruit favored candidates. The Republican leadership has been so discouraged with the National Republican Congressional Committee that House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) threatened to fire its chief strategists, and NRCC Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) considered resigning....

This sounds fascinating!!!! Here is more about how the Republicans wanted to focus their agenda:

....Among Republican lawmakers elected since 2002, 78% want the party to pursue an aggressive, far-right agenda.

Among those elected between 1996 and 2000, that support dropped to 58%.

Among those elected in 1994 or earlier, 47% favored the conservative strategy....

I guess the more they fight, the better it is for progressives and Democrats.

Republican Candidate for Pryce's Seat Has Friends in Petroleum Too!

Do not fear! The new Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district has some of the same friends in insurance and petroleum corporations that Deborah Pryce has. You can do a search for the campaign contributors for Steve Stivers previous campaigns. If you enjoyed how Deborah Pryce worked to protect insurance companies, health insurance firms, energy companies, lawyers, gas and petroleum firms (instead of Ohio citizens), you'll love Steve Stivers.

To do your own search visit: HERE and type in Stivers in the box for candidate last name. Hit the button "Run Report" and you'll see what I mean.

Reality in Ohio's 15th District

The Ohio Republicans are congratulating themselves because they now have a candidate to run against Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy for Ohio's 15th congressional district. Even though the Republicans might be happy they finally have a candidate, Ohioans are still stinging from the Republican scandals of the Taft administration.

1. Ohioans have not forgotten that Republicans gave control of the funds in the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation to political cronies and friends (the Coingate scandal) and in the process lost over $200 MILLION.

2. Ohioans have not forgotten that there have been 20 convictions from the Ohio Republican scandals.
3. Ohioans have not forgotten that while the Republicans rewarded their friends with lucrative state jobs, the Republican administration did nothing to find jobs for regular Ohioans.

If voters in the 15th district want real change for our state and our nation, they'll support Kilroy instead of someone who has close ties with banks and insurance companies. The new Republican candidate has the same ties that Republican Rep. Pryce has and we know how that did not bring us jobs and economic growth.

The climate in Ohio is not very good for Republicans because people have had enough.

Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy Has An Opponent

According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Republicans have a candidate to run for Ohio's 15th district: Republican Steve Stivers. Stivers is in the Ohio Senate and has always followed the party line.

Stivers, who had refused to be the GOP candidate, has decided to be the candidate for the 15th. (Is this his first flip flop?) Stivers would obviously not be the candidate for change since he follows the Republican party line to the letter. He'd be just the kind of guy John Boehner wants.

What did the Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th district, Mary Jo Kilroy, have to say about this development? Dispatch:

....Kilroy said last night that she always expected to have an opponent and was "surprised it took as long as it did" for the GOP to find one.

"My heart is in this race, because the country is ready for change ...and I represent that change," Kilroy said. "I'm very confident about the outcome of this race."

If the people in the 15th want real change, they'll support Kilroy in her campaign and the ballot box.

Fred Barnes Doesn't Know Much About Ohio

Fred Barnes, the arrogant guy who spends a lot of time on Faux News attacking Democrats and liberals, is not very knowledgeable about politics in Ohio. Although Barnes attempts to speak from first hand experience with Ohio, his article in the Weekly Standard shows his ignorance. Here are some excerpts from the Weekly Standard that are bothersome:

.....The Republicans have slightly less than a 50 percent chance in Ohio next year.

The good news is that Ohio Republicans are prepared to fight. "The negativity against Republicans isn't anything like it was in 2006," Ohio Republican congressman Pat Teaberry says. Unpopular governor Bob Taft III is gone, as is the corruption issue. Ohio Republicans have a solid voter turnout infrastructure that saved House members Steve Chabot and Deborah Pryce last year. They'll need it in 2008.

Ohio Republicans relish the idea of running against Hillary Clinton. But what if she chose Ted Strickland, Ohio's likable Democratic governor, as her running mate? He's a bit of a lightweight, but he's also begun rebuilding the Democratic party in the state. "I don't know what [Strickland] brings you except Ohio," says Teaberry. Ohio is enough.....

Mr. Barnes must not do much research before he writes his articles.

(1) Republican Rep. Pat 'Teaberry' is actually Pat "Tiberi". Barnes should verify the spelling of those he interviews.

(2) Republican Rep. Steve Chabot is being heavily criticized for his unwavering support of Bush's unending war in Iraq and his support to uphold Bush's veto of S-CHIP. Chabot apparently is a GOP robot who has adopted Bush's agenda as his own.

(3) Deborah Pryce's win over Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy was by 1066 votes. This time, the Ohio GOP cannot even find a candidate to run for Pryce's empty seat! Scores of well-known Republicans have turned down the opportunity to run as as a Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district.

(4) The scandals from the Republican administration of Bob Taft are still being dealt with in Ohio. As a matter of fact, just this week, there was the 20th conviction from the Ohio Republican scandal known as "Coingate." (See Cincinnati Post) The previous Republican administration in Ohio lost over $200 million from the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation with their corrupt handling of state money. Does Barnes think Ohioans have forgotten about it? Not a chance!

(5) Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, a Democrat, is NOT a lightweight. Strickland is winning friends even among the state's Republicans. People like Strickland because he is honest, straightforward, and he is getting things done by working with Republicans. Most importantly, Ohioans love Strickland.

My dog knows more about Ohio politics than Barnes.

Think About It

* Columbus is preparing for the upcoming election. Current Mayor Mike Coleman, a Democrat, is being challenged by Bill Todd, a Republican. Mayor Coleman is a very, very popular person in Columbus. Several months ago I was at an event for the ribbon cutting of a new facility and Mayor Coleman was there. Everyone was very excited to see him and hear him speak. I think that Columbus voters will re-elect Coleman to another term.

* Don't you think that Republican Rep. John Boehner should put as much effort providing healthcare for 10,000,000 American children as he does in his golf game?

* Here is something quite amazing: (Cincinnati Post) 'Coingate' has 20th conviction:
Two years after "Coingate" began, Ohio's wide-reaching corruption scandal has netted its 20th conviction.
Although there are no pending cases following Tuesday's conviction of investment adviser Mark Lay, prosecutors say they're not through investigating.
They've won two out of three trials and have accepted numerous pleas - including former Gov. Bob Taft's no-contest plea to ethics violations - in the scandal that helped end 12 years of GOP power in the state.....

20 CONVICTIONS!!!!!

Wow. The Ohio GOP can't understand why voters are turning away from their party!

What a mess!

> Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce missed three votes in the House of Representatives on Monday, October 29th: HRES 3224, HRES 573, and HRES 747 (Clerk of House of Representatives).

> The video showing Ohio State fans being harassed by Penn State fans (throwing beer bottles, yelling obscenities) has been removed at You Tube. However, the local Columbus TV stations have used the video again and again. {UPDATE: The video has been posted here. Warning: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.} It just adds to the recent behavior that PSU students have been doing toward out of town fans. When the Ohio State Marching Band (TBDBITL) appeared in Happy Valley in 2005, they were attacked by PSU fans with plastic bags filled with urine and mud. As a result, the OSU Marching Band did not perform this year at State College. Someone at PSU needs to discuss proper behavior for sports fans.

> Why is Republican Rep. John Boehner against healtcare for 10million poor American children?

> Just when you though we'd heard everything there is to hear about Republican corruption in Ohio from the Taft administration, another news story hits the wire:
UPI: A Pittsburgh hedge-fund manager faces up to 20 years in prison after being convicted of defrauding Ohio's workers compensation system of $216 million.

MDL Capital Management Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Lay was found guilty by a federal jury of investment advisory fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and two counts of mail fraud....
.....The fraud involved the loss of $216 million of $250 million the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation invested in a highly leveraged Bermuda hedge fund Lay managed....

How much longer will we have to continue to clean up after these Republican messes?

Others Notice: GOP Trouble in OH-15

The word has gone out-----Republicans still don't have a candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district.

Real Clear Politics:

....In Ohio's 15th District, where Rep. Deborah Pryce announced her retirement in August, Republicans face an even more basic challenge: Finding a candidate to begin with. The GOP has thus far failed to recruit any serious candidate, though the NRCC maintains it is a top priority. "We will have an A-list candidate sooner rather than later," NRCC press secretary Ken Spain told the Columbus Dispatch more than a month ago.

Strong candidates including former Attorney General Jim Petro, former Columbus Mayor Greg Lashutka, state Rep. Jim Hughes and State Sen. Steve Stivers have all passed on the opportunity. Only Aaron Wheeler, a pastor at Mountaintop Missionary Baptist Church, has declared on the GOP side.

Democrats will again back Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, who lost to Pryce by less than one half of one percent -- just over 1000 votes -- in 2006. Kilroy has already raised more than $425,000 this year, and maintains $380,000 cash on hand, albeit with $62,000 in debt. This morning, she got more good news when EMILY's List, a powerful Washington-based group dedicated to electing pro-choice women to Congress, announced they would back her campaign.....

The deadline for filing for candidacy is approaching fast. Don't you wonder why Republicans just haven't found a candidate? Is no one interested in running as a candidate for a party associated with so many scandals? Is no one interested in running as a candidate for a party that supports an unending war?

Ohio Political Update

Update: Republican Rep. Deborah "I don't vote in Congress on Mondays" Pryce (Oh-15) has now missed 108 votes since the current session of Congress started in January (Washington Post).

Last night, President Bush was in Cincinnati to raise funds for Republican Rep. Steve Chabot. Besides hanging out with his supporters and Chabot, Bush managed to stop by Johnny Bench's birthday party, according to the Cincinnati Post. The picture below is from the Post by Melvin Grier.

(Notice Chabot on the far left, Johnny Bench center with Bush, and Republican Sen. George Voinovich on the far right.)


It is important to know that Bush doesn't seem to have time to attend one military funeral, but he has time to visit the birthday party of a washed up baseball player. Guess we know his priorities.

Pryce and Chabot

Lobbyists are saddened by the recent announcements of retirement for so many Republicans.
The Hill:
....Rep. Deborah Pryce, another Ohio Republican who is retiring after surviving a close election in 2006, is a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, which handles a variety of critical business issues, from trade to monetary policy to insurance.

After the Dubai Ports World controversy, when Congress considered toughening rules for foreign companies to buy U.S. firms that performed critical tasks, Pryce led an effort to craft a compromise that would not crimp foreign investment in the U.S., said Nancy McLernon, senior vice president of the Organization for International Investment (OFII).

“She is definitely a member of Congress who gets it in terms of in-sourcing,” McLernon said, using the word that foreign companies use to counter complaints regarding the outsourcing of U.S. jobs overseas......

Pryce and others in the Republican Party were willing to cater to the demands of big business and industries. As a result, the American worker suffered.

>>> Republican Rep. Steve Chabot and his best pal, George W. Bush, had a little get-together that raised over $500,000 for Chabot's re-election campaign, according to WCPO. Here is more from WCPO:

....People attending Monday's fund-raiser donated $1,500 to Chabot for the right to attend the event.

A photo with Mr. Bush meant a $10,000 donation.....

......The fund-raiser comes after the President vetoed the S-CHIP, Children's Health Insurance Bill.

Chabot voted with Bush to uphold the veto......

Don't you wonder how many people paid $10,000 to have a picture with President Bush?

Bush Helps His Friend Steve Chabot

(Pic from Wash. Post)
President Bush is headed to the Cincinnati area for a fundraiser for his cheerleader, Republican Rep. Steve Chabot (OH-1st). Here are a few excerpts from the Cincinnati Enquirer:
...The fundraiser comes a little more than a week after Chabot voted to uphold the president's veto of the children's health insurance program...

"Apparently, loyalty to Bush beats loyalty to children and Chabot is getting his payoff for dutifully playing Bush's puppet," Chairman Chris Redfern said.

In fact, Driehaus has a rally scheduled for this afternoon to highlight Bush's ties to Chabot - and, with a backdrop of children, highlight Chabot's vote on the children's health insurance program....

Democratic challenger, Steve Driehaus, is right to focus on Chabot's undying obedience to the Bush agenda. How many children will have to lose healthcare because Chabot must march in lockstep with President Bush's demands?

Chabot, who has voted with his party and Bush 88.8% of the time, will have a tough campaign ahead of him with Democrat Steve Driehaus as his opponent.

A Possible Republican Candidate for OH-15th???

Is there a possible Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th congressional district? Dayton Daily News:

Former state Rep. Don Mottley won't challenge Kettering City Council Member Peggy Lehner in a Republican primary race for the 37th Ohio House seat.

He's leaving Montgomery County, after living here for a half-century, but is not ruling out running for office — perhaps even the congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Ohio — from his new home in Columbus......

......Mottley said no one is endorsed for Pryce's 15th Congressional District seat.

"No one in authority has asked me to consider that," he said.

Do you think many people in the district have ever heard of this guy? Besides, is that how it works--- you move into a district and then you run for office even though you know nothing about the people, assets, and problems of the district?

Time Ticking Away for GOP for Ohio's 15th District

There is still no Republican candidate to run for the 15th congressional district. This is from the Daily Briefing from the Columbus Dispatch:

Since the Rep. Deborah Pryce’s August retirement announcement, Republicans seem to be having a wee bit of trouble coming up with a GOP candidate to take on Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, and Kilroy’s increasingly substantial campaign coffer, next year.

But the swing central Ohio district, in which Pryce, R-Upper Arlington, barely beat Kilroy in 2006, is one Republicans will “never give up on,” says Tom Cole, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Campaign. Cole, a House member from Oklahoma, spoke to reporters today in a conference call where he gave his views on how the GOP was doing in the run up to the 2008 House elections.

Still, Cole acknowledged that unlike other retirement decisions by House Republicans that were anticipated ahead of time, GOP campaign architects were “caught a little bit by surprise” when Pryce announced she too was stepping aside. The search for a credible candidate is a “work in progress,” Cole said.....

According to Dave at Wide Open, Republicans have until January 4th to file for the primary. With just a little over 2 months to go, Republicans must be making lots of phone calls looking for a candidate.

Gov. Strickland

Stateline:

Gov. Ted Strickland, a once-obscure congressman from Appalachia, cruised to victory in a Democratic sweep of Ohio in 2006. With Republicans tarnished by a statehouse financial scandal known as “Coingate,” the Democrats won every statewide office except for state auditor and supreme court justice, including the U.S. Senate seat held by incumbent Mike DeWine (R).

Today, with his first legislative session under his belt, Strickland is riding high in popularity and poised to be an asset in a state destined to be pivotal – again – in the presidential race.

Facing a GOP-controlled Legislature, Strickland won nearly unanimous passage of a two-year, $52.3 billion package in what many called the smoothest budget process in years. It ended with a spontaneous hug between the governor and Republican Speaker Jon Husted......

The article goes on to say that the Democratic Party has been able to get some highly qualified candidates to run for office.

**** In the meantime, there is still no Republican candidate for Ohio's 15th district to run for Deborah Pryce's seat. Don't you wonder how many Republicans have turned down the offer to run?

The Responsiblity of School Districts

Columbus Dispatch:
Worthington Christian Schools will no longer hire sex offenders, and officials at the private school say they will dig into employees' backgrounds to look for any skeletons in their closets.

On Friday, a high-school teacher resigned after The Dispatch reported that he had been rehired after allegations that he fondled a girl. And Monday, a teacher was arrested on charges that he sexually abused a student while working at a school in Wisconsin.....

Did I read that correctly---'Worthington Christian Schools will no longer hire sex offenders'? It is sad that they seem to be admitting that they haven't been investigating the background of their teachers and staff.

There have been more news stories about teachers having sex with students. I am sure it is not an epidemic. I think that more has been published and the media just keep feeding on those stories.

Many decades ago when I first started to teach, I attended a workshop for all the teachers in my building about teacher behavior. Here are some of the things that were discussed:

1. A teacher should never be alone with a student.

2. A teacher should never touch/hug a student.

3. A teacher should never provide a ride to a student.

4. A teacher should have the principal/assistant principal/counselor/team leader sit in on all parent teacher conferences.

As a former teacher, I am saddened by these recent scandals. However, I think that the schools/districts have not been doing their jobs investigating their applicants for their jobs. It is the responsibility of the school districts to confirm the fitness, skills, previous employment, documentation, and police record of all their potential employees. School districts who have not been doing this are opening themselves to litigation.

Poll Workers Needed ASAP

If you live in Franklin County, Ohio and are a Democrat, your help is needed ASAP.
Dispatch:

County elections officials across Ohio are scrambling to find Democrats willing to serve as presiding judges just two weeks from Election Day......
........board needs 135 additional Democratic presiding judges to run the election. That is because Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, won all but 22 of Franklin County's 854 precincts last year. State law requires a presiding judge to be of the same political party as the gubernatorial candidate who last won that precinct.....
....Poll workers earn $110; presiding judges in Franklin County get $160. Those interested in working can register online at http://vote.franklincountyohio.gov or call the Board of Elections at (614) 462-3100.

Delaware County also needs Democratic poll workers. Call the Delaware County Board of Elections at
(740) 833-2080.

If you live in Ohio and are interested in helping to insure fair elections, call your local board of elections and volunteer to work the polls.

>> I bet you are wondering if Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) showed up for the Monday session of the House of Representatives! Keeping with her aversion to working on Mondays, Pryce once again missed votes. According to the Washington Post---- .....Deborah Pryce has missed 107 votes (10.9%) during the current Congress.

Musgrave

According to Raw Story, Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4th) wants to put religion into the Capitol Visitor Center.
Raw Story:

...Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) has introduced a bill that would place on permanent display the Pledge of Allegiance -- with its mention of "one nation under God" -- and the motto "In God We Trust." The bill also would prohibit the Architect of the Capitol from excluding exhibits and materials that contain "a religious reference or Judeo-Christian content."

The bill was introduced last week in the wake of a flap over the Capitol architect's refusal to include a reference to God on a certificate accompanying a flag flown over the Capitol. That decision was reversed as lawmakers seek to prevent future censorship of religious messages on flag certificates.....

Marilyn Musgrave must need to get her right wing base fired up to get herself money for her re-election campaign. Musgrave voted against overriding President Bush's veto of S-CHIP for America's poor children (Washington Post), but she has been right up there supporting President Bush's never ending war in Iraq.

Musgrave must not get out very often. She probably hasn't noticed that this country is made up of many different nationalities and religions. Musgrave should also be told that we do have separation of church and state.