What? Citizens don't want to elect a former bank lobbyist to Congress?

The Republicans are hurting financially this election cycle. Even so, they are putting their efforts and some money into the campaign of Republican congressional candidate, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist. According to Real Clear Politics, Ohio's 15th district is getting a lot of attention from the Democrats and the Republicans. Stivers appears to be falling behind Democrat, Mary Jo Kilroy, in both support and money.

Mary Jo Kilroy, a Democrat and a Franklin County Commissioner, is a hard worker and very popular in central Ohio. Kilroy has raised a lot of money and has a huge amount of volunteers working for her. These volunteers worked for her in 2006 and they are back again for her in 2008. Kilroy almost beat Deborah Pryce. This time, Kilroy will turn the Ohio's 15th congressional district blue.

I heard on the radio today that 8,000 Americans per day are losing their homes in bank foreclosures. Why would those of us in Ohio's 15th district send someone cozy with banks and lobbyists to work on legislation in Congress? We want someone like Mary Jo Kilroy who will work for the people, not banks.

>>> Republican Sen. Norm Coleman might be investigated for ethics violations.
West Central Tribune:
A Washington watchdog group has asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate whether Senator Norm Coleman's Capitol Hill living arrangement violates the Senate gifts rule...
...Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington wants the Ethics Committee to determine whether the $600 monthly rent Coleman pays is fair market value. The group is also asking the committee to determine whether Coleman would have paid the missing rent checks had the magazine not flagged them....

And there is more......

MNpublius:
Ethics have never been a barrier for Norm Coleman’s unbound ambition, but I have to admit that the National Journal’s article (seriously, read the whole thing, it’s stunning) about Norm Coleman’s extremely close ties to GOP operative Jeff Larson surprised even me. Jeff Larson is a behind the scenes political strategist who runs a political telemarketing group that has “profited handsomely” (according to the article) from his close relationship with Coleman....
...Coleman now lives in Larson’s townhouse when in DC… for free by all accounts. His previous apartment cost him over $1700 a month. Now why would Larson be so generous, well maybe some of these explain the situation:

• The above mentioned $1.6 million since 2001 that Coleman’s PAC and campaigns have given Larson’s company
• Larson’s wife being on Coleman’s payroll (under her maiden name…)
• The $50 million Coleman helped procure for the RNC convention in St. Paul; which Larson is the CEO and chief fundraiser for the local host committee....

Were Norm Coleman's new teeth ever part of an ethics investigation?

Here is even more stuff on the cramped basement that Norm Coleman lives in while he is in DC.
The Rochester Democrat has the goods: (this is an excerpt from the posting)

....Real Estate Website Listed “Simply Divine” 140 North Carolina Ave. S.E. as Having “Huge English Basement.” In February 2007, 140 North Carolina Ave. S.E. was placed on the market and listed on the website of Phyllis Jane Young Realty. Included in the listing is “a huge English basement with a media center, office space, gorgeous custom marble and oak bar plus an airy guest bedroom and bath…Simply Divine!” [Phyllis Jane Young Realty]
... Larson Purchased Property in March 2007 for Slightly Less Than $1 Million....

Sounds like Coleman was really roughing it in the "Huge English Basement" in Larson's house.