Saturday, March 31, 2007

The War in Iraq

In the latest issue of St. Anthony Messenger, an editorial called An Endless War, supports the idea that it is indeed patriotic to ask for the safe return of our men and women in uniform. The entire editorial can be read at the April 2007 Issue of St. Anthony Messenger Magazine Online. Here are a few excerpts:

...This has never been a popular war. From the beginning, one of its most vocal critics was Pope John Paul II. Always mindful of Christian-Muslim relations, the pope urged the president to forgo an invasion.

The president and his administration didn’t listen. So the pope spoke a little louder....

....Many in this country and abroad felt a deepening unease. The Iraq Study Group, also known as the Baker-Hamilton Commission, was a bipartisan panel of 10 former judges, politicians and executives. This group was appointed by Congress on March 15, 2006, to assess the problems in Iraq. Their 79 recommendations were published online in December of 2006.

The report asserts: “Sustained increases in U.S. troop levels would not solve the fundamental cause of violence in Iraq. A senior American general told us that adding U.S. troops might temporarily help limit violence in a highly localized area. However, the violence would simply rekindle as soon as U.S. forces are moved to another area.

“As another American general told us, if the Iraqi government does not make political progress, ‘all the troops in the world will not provide security.’”

The president, yet again, ignored advice and pressed on. With this move, our country’s stock with the rest of the world plunged lower than his stateside approval ratings...

...to be an armchair critic is a freedom that we enjoy, not from the declarations of a president, but from the labors of our soldiers.

And nowhere is the tragedy of war felt more urgently than by the brave and battered men and women who are embedded in a fight they did not start, waging a war for reasons no longer apparent, battling an enemy with no clear face.

To insist upon their safe return is a commendable—and, yes, patriotic— outcry. What better way to support our troops than to speak the words that are so richly deserved and painfully long-overdue: “Welcome home.”

That is a very powerful message coming from a highly respected Catholic publication.

Meanwhile, an update from Iraq Coalition Casualties:

U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3244
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 2
Total 3246

Also, the following news story is from Iraq Coalition Casualties from the AP and Yahoo News:
The U.S. military death toll in March, the first full month of the security crackdown, was nearly twice that of the Iraqi army, which American and Iraqi officials say is taking the leading role in the latest attempt to curb violence in the capital, surrounding cities and Anbar province, according to figures compiled on Saturday.

The Associated Press count of U.S. military deaths for the month was 81, including a soldier who died from non-combat causes Saturday. Figures compiled from officials in the Iraqi ministries of Defense, Health and Interior showed the Iraqi military toll was 44. The Iraqi figures showed that 165 Iraqi police were killed in March. Many of the police serve in paramilitary units....


Friday, March 30, 2007

Oh, no! Not more election fraud!

Our local newspaper, the Columbus Dispatch, revealed something in a trade magazine that most people in central Ohio did not know-----they laid off their local staff to send their work overseas. This is from an opinion piece in the Lake Sun Leader:

...A few months ago, the Columbus, Ohio Dispatch announced in a newspaper trade magazine that it had entered into a relationship with a company in India to produce the local ads that it publishes. The Dispatch faxes advertising copy to the Indian firm each evening and the Indians e-mail finished ads back by morning. The Dispatch said it was able to lay off 90 ad design staffers as a result.

I'm sure this involved a considerable savings, but I can't see the overall good of it. The Columbus newspaper's ad sales are predicated on a healthy local retail market. It's hard to see how throwing 90 Columbus residents out of work improves the local market....

Isn't that a real kick in the pants? The local newspaper has cut local jobs, reduced the taxes they paid to state and local government, and improved their profit by sending work overseas. Why didn't we hear about it? How can they claim be be a "local" newspaper? Perhaps the newspaper should be renamed to The Columbus-India Dispatch.

*Meanwhile, up in Cuyahoga County, Franklin County resident and head of the Ohio Republican Party, Robert Bennett, has still refused to resign his appointed post on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections.

*Oh, no! Not more election fraud in Ohio!!!! Yes. Columbus Free Press:
...Meanwhile, another GOP county election official is also under intensifying fire. Lisa Schwartze, executive director of the Hocking County BOE, has been charged with allowing an unmonitored manipulation of electronic memory drives before the 2004 recount could be completed. A memo purportedly written by Schwartze also directs poll workers to recount a precinct chosen deliberately by Schwartze, rather than at random, as the law demands. Two Cuyahoga County poll workers have been convicted of felonies for similar behavior, and have each been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Schwartze's offenses, however, may not stop there. According to sworn affidavits from Sherole Eaton, former Hocking County DOE assistant director, Schwartze publicly bragged of having held Republican Party fundraisers in her executive director's office, a clear illegality. Schwartze may also have organized the fundraisers while being paid by the county to do her allegedly non-partisan job as executive director.

Schwartze may also have supervised the shredding of voter registration rolls leading up to the 2004 election. Eaton's under-oath testimony strongly indicates this destruction of vital public records may also have been illegal.

Like Bennett, Schwartze has long been a high-profile associate of Blackwell's, and apparently played a key role in delivering Ohio's electoral votes to George W. Bush in 2004. Whether she did so illegally remains to be seen.

But the fire Jennifer Brunner has set in Cleveland now seems very likely to spread to the rest of Ohio's 88 counties. Hocking's Schwartze is almost certain to join Bob Bennett among those feeling the heat.

It may take awhile to clean out the Republican corruption in Ohio, but Jennifer Brunner is doing a great job to protect the integrity of our votes.



Thursday, March 29, 2007

Ohio's Republicans

* Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) is skipping less votes. Although she still has missed votes (33 votes: 15.9%), it looks like she is at least attending more voting sessions. However, her voting record shows that she continues to go by the beat of the Republican leadership and the White House.

* It appears that Sen. George Voinovich continues to support President Bush's war without end policy in Iraq. Voinovich plans to vote against anything that promotes a timeline for withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Citizens should continue to put pressure on Voinovich to change his mind: (202) 224-3353 or http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm

* The Toledo Blade has an interesting editorial that points fingers at Taft and Voinovich for the problems at the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation.

***The Brad Blog has a fantastic piece on Ohio GOP chair and Cuyahoga County Board of Elections member, Robert Bennett. Here are some excerpts:
One more of the Cuyahoga County (Cleveland), Ohio, Board of Elections directors, Republican Sally Florkiewicz, has stepped down this afternoon. Her resignation leaves just one member, the board's chairman, Bob Bennett, left to fight the demand by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner that all board members resign in the wake of a years-long string of elections disasters, two criminal convictions related to the recount of the 2004 Presidential Election, and a new criminal investigation which was launched last week into newly-revealed administrative election improprieties and irregularities in the county.

The resignation of Florkiewicz from the board of Ohio's most Democratic county leaves only Bennett --- who is the chair of both the Election Board and the state's Republican party --- to fight the order by Brunner. A hearing will be held next Monday concerning the complaint filed along with the SoS's resignation demands, after which Brunner is free to fire Bennett directly, according to state law. As ever, the members of Ohio's supposedly "bi-partisan" boards of election have always served at the pleasure of the SoS, who, for years, was the highly partisan right-winger and co-chair of Ohio's Bush/Cheney 2004 committee, J. Kenneth Blackwell.

Brunner replaced Blackwell last November after the former SoS was thoroughly rejected by Ohio voters in his bid for Governor.

"Regrettably, the lone board member who has refused to resign will face removal," Brunner said in a statement posted to the SoS website late this afternoon.....
.....Brunner's statement today also calls for applicants to the newly vacated board. She notes that "applicants must be a qualified elector (voter) of Cuyahoga County."
Given that Bennett, as chair of the board, was nonetheless a resident of Columbus --- at least an hour's drive from Cuyahoga's Cleveland --- one wonders just why he would have been appointed to such a post, heading the state's most Democratic area, in the first place. We suppose only Blackwell and the state's Republican party would be able to answer that one. We'll leave you instead to speculate to your heart's content.....


In case you are interested, Bennett's drive to Cuyahoga County's Board of Elections from Columbus would take him just a little over 2 hours to drive. It is obvious to me that Bennett was "placed" at the BOE to "handle" the vote count. He must have done a good job because the Republican candidate for President won and the GOP and Bennett celebrated. Now Bennett refuses to give up his position. Here are some ideas for Brunner: 1. Empty Bennett's desk at the BOE and put his belongings in boxes. 2. Change the lock to his office.

Bennett needs to wake up and smell the coffee. Either Bennett can leave with dignity and resign on his own, or he can be thrown out with the trash.





Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Why vote against this security?

Why did Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) vote against a bill to improve transportation security? According to the Washington Post, Pryce voted against HR 1401-Vote 201 (Title: To improve the security of railroads, public transportation, and over-the-road buses in the United States and for other purposes.) Is she against extra security or is she just following the orders of Republican leaders like Boehner, Hastert, Blunt, and other big machers in the GOP?

**The scandal-plagued Cuyahoga County Board of Elections keeps churning up more news stories. From the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Cuyahoga County elections board member Sally Florkiewicz resigned Tuesday, leaving only the board chairman to fight removal by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner....

...Board Chairman Bob Bennett said Tuesday that he has no intention of resigning. Instead, he requested that the county prosecutor's office defend him against charges leveled by Brunner that board members violated state election laws and failed to properly administer elections....

Bennett, who also serves as head of the Ohio GOP, does not appear to be ashamed of the fact that he and his fellow board members thoroughly screwed up the elections. With 2 election workers already going to jail for rigging the 2004 election, the board offices need to be purified to get the stench of scandal out of the air. However, Robert Bennett would rather stay in power than restore public trust to the voting process in Cuyahoga County. It appears that Bennett thinks its all about him and not the good people of Cuyahoga County.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Yo! People in Connecticut!

I don't live in Connecticut but I wonder how the citizens of that state feel about Sen. Joe Lieberman. Lieberman voted with Republicans in the U.S. Senate and voted against a timetable to withdraw troops from Iraq. Do you think that Lieberman really represents you? Don't you think he is playing a game with all of you? As an observer from Ohio, I am extremely disappointed in Lieberman's turncoat behavior. I offer the citizens of Connecticut my sympathy.

Fixing Things

Ohioans have had enough of the Republican scandals. In a recent audit of the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (the Tom Noe "coingate" scandal), the facts have been revealed about the misuse of power. Here is an excerpt from the Port Clinton News Herald:

A state audit has confirmed the key elements of a scandal that tore through the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation over the past two years, including abuse of power by its chief financial officer, and a lack of proper oversight and internal checks and balances.

State auditors also found during the routine review of operations for 2005 and 2006 that some key financial documents had been destroyed. State Auditor Mary Taylor is asking the bureau to review the situation.

The audit was released today by Taylor, a Republican whose party was toppled from power amid the scandal at the bureau over lost investments....

The audit found:

• Former chief financial officer Terrence Gasper entered into inappropriate relationships with financial managers by accepting cash and other benefits in exchange for business with the bureau, which provides benefits to injured workers. Gasper pleaded guilty in June to accepting bribes in exchange for doling out agency business, and awaits action as he cooperates with authorities.

• Bureau private equity investments were not properly monitored by management, allowing external investment managers to make improper investments. The review found the ability to accurately track investment activity and determine its value was seriously compromised.

• Rate-setting policies for employers seeking injured workers’ insurance were inadequate and lacked oversight. An override policy at the bureau that allowed staff members to change the rates of employers at the behest of some lawmakers is under investigation.

• Communication was lacking between the bureau’s legal and financial staffs, allowing omissions in financial reporting requirements....

Ohioans are outraged by the actions of the Republicans under the Taft administration. Our elected officials owe us honesty. It is time to clean things up in every single Ohio government office. Gov. Strickland and his team have had a great beginning and they need our continued support.

Monday, March 26, 2007

The Story Continues

>Ohio GOP chairman, Robert Bennett, who is on the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, still has not resigned despite demands from the Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, and concerned citizens. You should visit the Bennett's Ohio GOP website to see how Democrats are portrayed. How can anyone expect Bennett to be objective in his post on the Board of Elections?

>Have you noticed the audiences that go out to see Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain? They appear to be mostly white and in their 70's. McCain's supporters do not appear to be very enthusiastic. If you look at a typical rally for Sen. Obama, you see enthusiastic people from all different groups. I think the McCain bandwagon is slowly running out of gas and funding.

>It appears that members of the Republican Party are feeling the heat from the public over their continuing support of Bush's war in Iraq. According to the New York Times:
Senator John E. Sununu knows that his political future could hinge on the war in Iraq, try as he might to change the subject.

For weeks, Mr. Sununu and Republican colleagues who face re-election next year have trudged through an on-again, off-again Iraq debate in Congress. So the annual Lincoln Day Dinner that he attended here Saturday evening, with its friendly audience, might have been expected to offer a respite from the realities of Washington.

But even among the ladies and gentlemen of the Carroll County Republican Committee, more than a few of whom wore elephant neckties and broaches to celebrate the symbol of their party, the vexing issue of Iraq was the real elephant in the room....

...Senator Gordon H. Smith of Oregon, who is also up for re-election in 2008, is the only Republican who has supported setting a date to bring troops home. Senator Norm Coleman, a Minnesota Republican who is up for a second term next year, opposes a deadline but said Congress must reach consensus on a policy to change course in Iraq....

Even though a large majority of Americans want troops home now, Bush and his Republican lapdogs continue to ignore the will of the people. The Republicans may find out how much Americans hate this war at the next election. Ohio Republican Sen. George Voinovich should also be feeling the pressure from Ohio voters because anti-war sentiment is growing in the state.




Saturday, March 24, 2007

Still Haven't Gotten the Message

Re: House Vote 186. HR 1591
The following members of the House of Representatives voted against this bill which could bring the troops home sooner.
From OHIO..
John Boehner, Steve Chabot, Paul Gillmor, David Hobson, Jim Jordan, Dennis Kucinich, Steven LaTourette, Deborah Pryce, Ralph Regula, Jean Schmidt, Pat Tiberi, Michael Turner
The number of U.S. Casualties from Ohio who have died in Iraq: 142

From Florida:
Gus Bilirakis, Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Ander Crenshaw, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart, Tom Feeney, Ric Keller, Connie Mack, John Mica, Jeff Miller, Adam Putnam, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Cliff Stearns, Dave Weldon, Bill Young
Number of U.S. casualties from Florida: 131

From Texas:
Joe Barton, Kevin Brady, Michael Burgess, John Carter, Michael Conaway, John Culberson, Louie Gohmert, Kay Granger, Ralph Hall, Jeb Hensarling, Sam Johnson, Kenny Marchant, Michael McCaul, Randy Neugebauer, Ron Paul, Ted Poe, Pete Sessions, Lamar Smith, Mac Thornberry
The number of U.S. casualties from Texas who have died in Iraq: 292

From Virginia:
Eric Cantor, Tom Davis, Thelma Drake, Randy Forbes, Virgil Goode, Bob Goodlatte, Frank Wolf
The number of U.S. casualties from Virginia who have died in Iraq: 91

This is just a sampling of some of the representatives who voted against the bill to start bringing troops home. These people still haven't gotten the message that Americans want the troops home. If your representative is listed above, call them. If you don't see you state listed above check this Washington Post link. To see the names of those who have lost their lives in Iraq, listed by state, visit ICASUALTIES.ORG.



Friday, March 23, 2007

We Want the Troops Home!

We want the troops home. Unfortunately, some people don't get it. If your congress member voted against HR 1591, call his/her office and tell them you are disappointed in their vote. It is time to do something to end our country's involvement in Iraq's civil war.

H.R. 1591: (excerpts from Library of Congress):

U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007 - Makes emergency supplemental FY2007 appropriations for specified activities related to the global war on terror to the Departments of Agriculture (including food aid to Africa and Afghanistan), of Justice, of Defense (Military, including funds for Iraqi and Afghan security forces), of Defense (military construction and base closure), of Energy, of Homeland Security, of Veterans Affairs (particularly veterans' health programs), and of State (including international peacekeeping operations), and related agencies as well as the House of Representatives.

Provides funds to enable military commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan to respond to urgent humanitarian relief and reconstruction requirements.

Specifies conditions for assistance to Lebanon.

Prohibits the use of funds under this Act to deploy any unit of the Armed Forces to Iraq unless the chief of the military department concerned has certified to the congressional appropriations committees in advance that the unit is fully mission capable. Sets a maximum number of days for deployment in Iraq for military units. Authorizes the President to waive such prohibition and deployment limits on a unit-by-unit basis for reasons of national security.

Directs the President to transmit to Congress by specified dates certain determinations and certifications with respect to conditions to be met by the Government of Iraq. Requires redeployment of the armed forces from Iraq if any of such conditions is not met.

Directs the President to appoint a Coordinator for Iraq Assistance, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Declares that Congress will fully support the needs of members of the Armed Forces who the Commander in Chief has deployed in harm's way in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and their families....

Who voted against this bill? I'm glad you asked! Washington Post:

Republicans:

Robert Aderholt, Todd Akin, Rodney Alexander, Michele Bachmann, Spencer Bachus, Richard Baker, J. Barrett, Roscoe Bartlett, Joe Barton, Judith Biggert, Brian Bilbray, Gus Bilirakis, Rob Bishop, Marsha Blackburn, Roy Blunt, John Boehner, Jo Bonner, Mary Bono, John Boozman, Charles Boustany, Kevin Brady, Henry Brown, Ginny Brown-Waite, Vern Buchanan, Michael Burgess, Dan Burton, Steve Buyer, Ken Calvert, Dave Camp, John Campbell, Chris Cannon, Eric Cantor, Shelley Moore Capito, John Carter, Michael Castle, Steve Chabot, Howard Coble, Tom Cole, Michael Conaway, Ander Crenshaw, Barbara Cubin, John Culberson, Geoff Davis, David Davis, Tom Davis, Nathan Deal, Charles Dent, Mario Diaz-Balart, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, John Doolittle, Thelma Drake, David Dreier, John 'Jimmy' Duncan, Vernon Ehlers, Jo Ann Emerson, Philip English, Terry Everett, Mary Fallin, Tom Feeney, Mike Ferguson, Jeff Flake, Randy Forbes, Jeff Fortenberry, Vito Fossella, Virginia Foxx, Trent Franks, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Elton Gallegly, Scott Garrett, Jim Gerlach, Paul Gillmor, Phil Gingrey, Louie Gohmert, Virgil Goode, Bob Goodlatte, Kay Granger, Sam Graves, Ralph Hall, J. Dennis Hastert, Doc Hastings, Robin Hayes, Dean Heller, Jeb Hensarling, Wally Herger, David Hobson, Peter Hoekstra, Kenny Hulshof, Duncan Hunter, Bob Inglis, Darrell Issa, Bobby Jindal, Tim Johnson, Sam Johnson, Jim Jordan, Ric Keller, Steve King, Peter King, Jack Kingston, Mark Kirk, John Kline, Joe Knollenberg, Randy Kuhl, Ray LaHood, Steven LaTourette, Doug Lamborn, Tom Latham, Jerry Lewis, Ron Lewis, John Linder, Frank LoBiondo, Frank Lucas, Daniel Lungren, Connie Mack, Donald Manzullo, Kenny Marchant, Kevin McCarthy, Michael McCaul, Thad McCotter, Jim McCrery, Patrick McHenry, John McHugh, Buck McKeon, John Mica, Jeff Miller, Candice Miller, Gary Miller, Jerry Moran, Tim Murphy, Marilyn Musgrave, Sue Myrick, Randy Neugebauer, Devin Nunes, Ron Paul, Stevan Pearce, Mike Pence, John Peterson, Thomas Petri, Chip Pickering, Joe Pitts, Todd Platts, Ted Poe, Jon Porter, Tom Price, Deborah Pryce, Adam Putnam, George Radanovich, Jim Ramstad, Ralph Regula, Dennis Rehberg, David Reichert, Rick Renzi, Thomas Reynolds, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Mike Rogers, Hal Rogers, Mike Rogers, Dana Rohrabacher, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Peter Roskam, Edward Royce, Paul Ryan, Bill Sali, Jim Saxton, Jean Schmidt, Jim Sensenbrenner, Pete Sessions, John Shadegg, Christopher Shays, John Shimkus, Bill Shuster, Michael Simpson, Adrian Smith, Christopher Smith, Lamar Smith, Mark Souder, Cliff Stearns, John Sullivan, Tom Tancredo, Lee Terry, Mac Thornberry, Todd Tiahrt, Pat Tiberi, Michael Turner, Fred Upton, Timothy Walberg, Greg Walden, James Walsh, Zachary Wamp, Dave Weldon, Jerry Weller, Lynn Westmoreland, Ed Whitfield, Roger Wicker, Heather Wilson, Joe Wilson, Frank Wolf, Bill Young, Don YoungJo Ann Davis

Democrats: (Washington Post)
John Barrow, Dan Boren, Lincoln Davis, Dennis Kucinich, Barbara Lee, John Lewis, Jim Marshall, Jim Matheson, Michael McNulty, Michael Michaud, Gene Taylor, Maxine Waters, Diane Watson, Lynn Woolsey

Voting Rights

Why doesn't Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) want to give the right to vote to those living in Washington, DC? Pryce, according to the Washington Post, voted against legislation that would grant voting rights to residents of the District of Columbia.

The drama continues at the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. With 2 elections workers already convicted and being sent to prison for rigging the counts in Cuyahoga County, the scandals continue. Ohio GOP Chair, Robert Bennett, refuses to resign his post on the election board. He still doesn't get the fact that his post is a conflict of interest. According to the Zanesville Times Recorder, Robert Bennett and Sally Florkiewicz still refuse to resign. Here is an excerpt from the Times Recorder article:


Complaints against Cuyahoga County election board members

The following five complaints have been made against elections board members in Cuyahoga County by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Complaints 1-4: Misfeasance and nonfeasance regarding the 2004 recount; financial management; voting problems in 2004, 2005 and 2006; and voting-machine performance oversight.

Complaint 5: "Good and sufficient cause for removal" over lack of public confidence.

SOURCE: Ohio secretary of state




Don't you think it is time for Bennett and Florkiewicz to resign? Call the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections (216) 443-3200 or e-mail them ( ElectionInfo@cuyahogacounty.us) and tell them to resign IMMEDIATELY!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Ohio Politics and Cuyahoga County Board of Elections

Does anyone else think it a little suspicious that the most heavily Democratic area of Ohio, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County, had voting problems AND that the head of the Ohio GOP (Robert Bennett) serves on the Board of Elections for that area? I know what you are thinking. How could such a coincidence happen? Bennett has a real conflict of interest and it is shameful that he continues to serve on the board. The Republicans in Ohio are disgusting, corrupt, buffoons who will do/say anything to retain power even while they screw the citizens of the entire state.

Now we have word that even though they have been told to resign, 3 people on the Cuyahoga Board of Elections have refused to resign
(2 GOPers and 1 Dem). Fort Wayne Journal Gazette:
Three of four elections board members in Ohio’s most populous county defied a demand by Ohio’s chief elections officer to resign by Wednesday.

Only Edward C. Coaxum Jr., a Democrat, resigned from the Cuyahoga County board in compliance with Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner’s demand that they step down. The county has been troubled by recount rigging charges and voting machine problems.

Republicans Robert Bennett, the board chairman and head of the GOP in Ohio, and Sally Florkiewicz said at a board meeting that they wouldn’t resign.

Democrat Loree K. Soggs said after the meeting that he also would stay on the board.

Brunner said her office was prepared to begin removal hearings against those who refused to resign....

I hope that Brunner changes the locks on the doors! It is time for the people of Ohio to get these people out. Call the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections at (216) 443-3200 and demand that Robert Bennett, Sally Florkiewicz, and Loree Soggs, resign. The people of Cuyahoga County deserve a better board than these fools: (216) 443-3200.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Big Events Today?

We are all still recovering from the "decider's" announcement yesterday. Somehow Bush hasn't gotten the news that the Democrats hold majorities in the House and the Senate.

There are several things that might happen today----
THE HILL: Dissatisfied by the White House’s offer to grant congressmen private interviews with administration officials, conducted with neither oaths nor transcripts, Democrats yesterday vowed to move forward on subpoenas of Karl Rove and other senior aides linked to the firings of eight U.S. attorneys.....
....The House Judiciary subcommittee with jurisdiction over U.S. attorneys is slated to vote today on whether to subpoena Rove, former White House counsel Harriet Miers and two of their deputies, while the Senate Judiciary panel has scheduled its vote for tomorrow. Subpoena authorizations allow the Judiciary chairmen, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), to hold off on issuing the summonses until their standoff with the White House reaches a point of no return....

“There is absolutely no reason or precedent I’ve ever heard of that the persons we’ve asked for could not be interviewed [freely],” Conyers said, adding that calling Democrats disappointed by the offer “may be an understatement.”

Beacon News: Republicans and Democrats alike sternly warned the FBI Tuesday that it risks losing its broad power to collect telephone, e-mail and financial records to hunt terrorists because of rampant abuses of the authority.

The threats were the latest blow to the embattled Justice Department and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who is already on the defensive and fighting to keep his job over the firings of federal prosecutors.

The warnings came as the department's chief watchdog, inspector general Glenn A. Fine, told the House Judiciary Committee that the FBI engaged in widespread and serious misuse of its authority to issue national security letters, which resulted in illegally collecting data from Americans and foreigners......

San Francisco Chronicle:

Al Gore wowed moviegoers and Hollywood elites with his Oscar-winning documentary on global warming. Today, he faces a far tougher audience in Congress.

The 2000 Democratic Party presidential nominee will testify about the urgency of addressing climate change in two appearances on Capitol Hill before panels that include skeptics of the sort that Gore probably hasn't encountered on the red carpet.

For instance, Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, senior Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, once called global warming "the greatest hoax ever perpetuated on the American people." The other witness scheduled to appear at the House Energy and Commerce Committee is Bjorn Lomborg of the Copenhagen Business School, who asserts that global warming is real but argues, "The trouble is that the climate models show we can do very little" about it.

Gore's appearance is part of an ambitious Democratic effort to elevate energy as a top-tier domestic policy cause, alongside health care. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco created a special Select Committee on Climate Change when Democrats took over in January. Several bills related to climate change have been introduced in the Senate in the past two months.....

This might be a good day to watch C-SPAN and MSNBC News.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Pryce's Attendance Record

According to the Washington Post, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) missed 3 votes on Monday, March 19, 2007. She also missed 3 votes on Monday, March 12, 2007. Does Pryce have something better to do than work for the people of Ohio's 15th district? If Pryce would rather not work, she should resign now so that we can get a true representative who will go to work for us.
Washington Post:
Deborah Pryce (OH-R)

Votes: 33 votes missed (20.9 percent of 158 total votes)

Monday, March 19, 2007

Pryce: Blah, Blah, Blah.

Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce (OH-15) who survived re-election by only 1,000 votes is trying to be very careful. She won't say anything that could be used against her in a future election. Here is Pryce's quote about how the world views the U.S. after the Iraq War (Columbus Dispatch):
"We have damaged ourselves to some degree," said Rep. Deborah Pryce, R-Upper Arlington. "The extent of that can never be known until we know the future of Iraq. Minds can change and be unchanged depending on where we end up."

Why won't Pryce say the war was a mistake and it continues to be a mistake? Why won't Pryce say that it is time to end the war? She will not utter a word that has not been approved by the White House, Karl Rove, and the Republican Party. While her cons
tituents call and e-mail her to vote to end the war, Pryce speaks and votes as a puppet of the GOP.

According to http://icasualties.org/oif/:
U.S. Deaths Confirmed By The DoD: 3204
Reported U.S. Deaths Pending DoD Confirmation: 14
Total 3218

It is time to let the Iraqi create their own future. It is time to bring our troops home. Four years later, and Ohio has lost 142 (http://icasualties.org/oif/Statecity.aspx) of our best and brightest:

AkronBrownfield, Andrew D.Corporal18-Mar-2004

AllianceMcVicker, Daniel M.Lance Corporal06-Oct-2005

AshlandEllis, Joseph J.Sergeant Major07-Feb-2007

AtwaterMurray, Jeremy E.Sergeant16-Nov-2005

AustintownKuhns Jr., Larry R.Sergeant13-Jun-2005

BeavercreekBiggers, Ethan J.Specialist24-Feb-2007

BellaireBates, Todd M.Sergeant10-Dec-2003

Bolivar/NewcomerstownHardy, Richard AllenSpecialist15-Oct-2005

Broadview HeightsWorster, James R.Sergeant18-Sep-2006

BrooklynKnight, Timothy A.Corporal26-Jan-2005

Canal FultonBarkey, Michael C.Sergeant07-Jul-2004

CantonRamey, Richard P.Staff Sergeant08-Feb-2004

CantonCrabtree, DanielSergeant 1st Class08-Jun-2006

CantonBuryj, Jesse R.Private 1st Class05-May-2004

CantonWarner, HeathPrivate 1st Class22-Nov-2006

Chagrin FallsKashkoush, Michael M.Sergeant23-Jan-2007

Cherry ForkHawkins II, Omer T.Staff Sergeant14-Oct-2004

ChillicotheReed, Aaron H.Lance Corporal03-Aug-2005

ChillicotheClemmons, Brad A.Master Sergeant21-Aug-2006

CincinnatiMiller IV, James H.Private 1st Class30-Jan-2005

CincinnatiKreuter, David Kenneth J.Corporal03-Aug-2005

CincinnatiDyer, Christopher JenkinsLance Corporal03-Aug-2005

CincinnatiPummill, Richard T.Staff Sergeant20-Oct-2005

CincinnatiSwisher, Tyler B.Captain21-Oct-2005

CincinnatiRogers, Gregory S.Sergeant 1st Class09-Apr-2006

ClaytonJohnson, Adam R. "A.J."Private31-Oct-2005

ClevelandBowen, Samuel R.Private 1st Class07-Jul-2004

ClevelandGarmback Jr., Joseph M.Specialist08-Jul-2004

ClevelandDowdy, Robert JohnMaster Sergeant23-Mar-2003

ClevelandSloan, Brandon UlyssesPrivate23-Mar-2003

ClevelandEckfield Jr., Robert F.Lance Corporal27-Oct-2005

ClevelandMendez Ruiz, David A.Lance Corporal12-Nov-2005

ClevelandWiggins, Michael J.Staff Sergeant23-Jan-2007

ColumbusZimmer, Nicholaus E.Private 1st Class30-May-2004

ColumbusDixon, Christopher R.Private 1st Class11-May-2005

ColumbusWilkins III, Charles L.1st Lieutenant20-Aug-2004

ColumbusSchroeder II, Edward AugustLance Corporal03-Aug-2005

ColumbusMendoza Jr., Ramon J.Major14-Nov-2005

ColumbusOtt, Kevin C.Private 1st Class25-Jun-2003

ColumbusVan Dusen, Brian K.Chief Warrant Officer09-May-2003

ColumbusDerga, Dustin A.Corporal08-May-2005

ColumbusKnox, Adam L.Sergeant17-Sep-2006

Columbus/WestervilleSpann, Jacob D. "Jake"Private 1st Class06-Feb-2006

Cuyahoga FallsLarge, Bryan W.Sergeant03-Oct-2005

Cuyahoga FallsWalsh, Justin T.Sergeant11-Oct-2006

Dayton/MontgomeryGilbert Jr., Richard A.Corporal26-Jan-2005

Deer Park/FairfieldHines Jr., Timothy J.Private 1st Class14-Jul-2005

DefianceRamsey, Joshua A.Private 1st Class12-Dec-2004

DelawareHoffman, Justin F.Sergeant03-Aug-2005

DelhiRoos, Timothy D.Corporal27-Jul-2006

DresdenHarper, Bradley J.Sergeant03-Aug-2005

DublinDavids, Wesley G.Lance Corporal11-May-2005

East LiverpoolButler, TylerPrivate 1st Class01-Feb-2007

ElyriaShepherd, Daniel MichaelSergeant15-Aug-2004

ElyriaWest, Robert H.Master Sergeant14-May-2006

EuclidSchamberg, Kurt D.Sergeant20-May-2005

FairbornSolomon, Gordon GeorgeStaff Sergeant24-Aug-2006

FairfieldPrazynski, Taylor B.Lance Corporal09-May-2005

FairfieldCifuentes, Michael J.Lance Corporal03-Aug-2005

FrankfortColburn, Gavin J.Private 1st Class22-Apr-2005

GahannaMiller, Ryan EdwinPrivate03-Sep-2006

Gahanna/FranklinMessmer, Nicolas E.Private 1st Class08-May-2005

Galion/CrawfordIvy II, Kendall H.Staff Sergeant11-May-2005

GallowayWilliams, Andre L.Corporal28-Jul-2005

Grove CityBernholtz, Eric J.Lance Corporal03-Aug-2005

HamiltonRockhold, Marlin T.Private 1st Class08-May-2003

HamiltonWebb, Charles JosephSergeant03-Nov-2004

HamiltonMcGinnis, Ricky L.1st Sergeant26-Oct-2006

HowardAnderson, Nathan R.Corporal12-Nov-2004

Huber HeightsFitzgerald, Dustin R.Lance Corporal18-Aug-2004

Huber HeightsBrown, Nicholas P.Specialist22-Jan-2007

IrontonFord IV, David H.Specialist16-Sep-2005

JeffersonSmith Jr., Michael J.Lance Corporal17-Apr-2004

KentEmch, LukeHospitalman02-Mar-2007

LimaPintor, Dennis L.Captain12-Oct-2004

MaltaMitchell, Curtis A.Staff Sergeant12-Dec-2005

MansfieldVandayburg, Allen Jeffrey "A.J."Specialist09-Apr-2004

MansfieldSouslin, Kenneth C.Private 1st Class15-Dec-2003

MansfieldStover, Michael D.Major03-Jun-2006

Mansfield/ShelbyLyons, Christopher P.Lance Corporal28-Jul-2005

MariettaNolan, AllenSpecialist30-Sep-2004

MassillonSeesan, Aaron N.1st Lieutenant22-May-2005

Maynard/St. ClairsvilleMorgan Jr., Richard L.Staff Sergeant05-Oct-2004

MedinaGrella, Devin J.Private 1st Class06-Sep-2004

MentorSmykowski, Mark T.Sergeant06-Jun-2006

Middleburg HeightsSquires, Brad D.Corporal09-Jun-2005

MilfordTaylor, Bryan N.Lance Corporal06-Apr-2006

Mineral CityBarnett, Jeremy D.Sergeant24-Feb-2007

MogadoreConte, Matthew G.Hospitalman01-Feb-2007

MonroevilleSparks, Jason L.Private 1st Class08-Sep-2004

Mount VernonMartin, Ryan A.Private 1st Class20-Aug-2004

Mount VernonLaymon, Benjamin J.Sergeant24-Jun-2006

Muskingum CountyGodwin, Todd J.Corporal20-Jul-2004

NankinKingman, Jonathan P. C.Sergeant20-Jan-2007

NilesBaragona, Dominic RoccoLieutenant Colonel19-May-2003

North RoyaltonChristian, Brett T.Sergeant23-Jul-2003

Ohio CityGurtner, Christian DanielPrivate 1st Class02-Apr-2003

OttawaWobler, Zachary RyanStaff Sergeant06-Feb-2005

Plain CityPrince, Kevin WilliamCorporal23-Apr-2005

PomeroyJones, Joshua D.Corporal27-Aug-2006

ReynoldsburgReese, Aaron T.Staff Sergeant10-Dec-2003

ReynoldsburgMattingly, Matthew C. Captain13-Sep-2006

RidgewayHodge, Jeremy M.Sergeant10-Oct-2005

RossfordChristoff Jr., DavidSergeant22-May-2006

SabinaWightman, William BrettLance Corporal03-Aug-2005

SanduskyOdums II, Charles E.Specialist30-May-2004

Seven HillsBoskovitch, Jeffrey A.Corporal01-Aug-2005

Seven HillsAndres Jr., Joseph J.Master Sergeant24-Dec-2005

SomersetNeighbor, Gavin L.Private 1st Class10-Jun-2003

SomervilleShepherd, Adam R.Private 1st Class17-Jan-2006

South EuclidNowacki, Andrew W.Lance Corporal26-Feb-2005

SpringfieldSmith, Kevin S.Lance Corporal21-Mar-2005

St. LouisvilleSeymour, Devon PaulLance Corporal09-Jun-2005

StowTomci, Joseph A.Corporal02-Aug-2006

StrongsvilleKeeling, Thomas O.Lance Corporal09-Jun-2005

SylvaniaEckert Jr., Gary A. "Andy"Sergeant08-May-2005

TallmadgeDeyarmin Jr., Daniel NathanLance Corporal01-Aug-2005

ThompsonLandrus, Sean G.Staff Sergeant29-Jan-2004

TiffinShock, Jeremy S.Lance Corporal19-Nov-2006

ToledoBenford, Jason A.Staff Sergeant27-Sep-2005

TorontoRock, Nathaniel S.Sergeant01-Aug-2005

UnionScott, David A.Master Sergeant20-Jul-2003

Wadsworth/HuronFinke Jr., Michael W.Sergeant26-Jan-2005

WarrenCarr, Robert M.Sergeant13-Mar-2007

West ChesterBell Jr., Timothy MichaelLance Corporal03-Aug-2005

West JeffersonSwaney, Robert A.Private 1st Class30-Jul-2005

Western HillsWeber, RobertCorporal30-Sep-2006

WestervilleKinslow, Anthony D.Specialist13-Jun-2005

WestervilleEnglish, Shawn L.Captain03-Dec-2006

WestervillePomante III, Vincent J.Specialist06-Dec-2006

WheelersburgEtterling, Jonathan EdwardLance Corporal26-Jan-2005

WilliamsburgErdy, Nicholas B.Lance Corporal11-May-2005

WilliamsfieldGordon, David W.Sergeant08-Sep-2006

WilloughbyMontgomery, Brian P.Lance Corporal01-Aug-2005

WillowickKnop, Allen J.Specialist23-Nov-2005

WilmingtonConover, Steven DanielSpecialist02-Nov-2003

WorthingtonOberleitner, Branden F.Private 1st Class05-Jun-2003

WorthingtonMeyer, Harrison J.Private 1st Class26-Nov-2004

YoungstownBourdon, ElvisStaff Sergeant06-Sep-2004

YoungstownPratt, Daniel J.Sergeant 1st Class03-Nov-2005

ZanesvilleKinney II, Lester O.Staff Sergeant27-Jan-2004

ZanesvilleArmstrong, David C.Private 1st Class01-Feb-2007

Call Pryce at (614) 469-5614 or (202) 225-2015 and tell her ENOUGH!