Same old stuff from the religious right

BuzzFlash has an interesting take on the far right's latest project:

The Religious Right's Freedom Federation: Old Wine in New Bottles

...Ken Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State and now a senior fellow for family empowerment at the Family Research Council said that the Freedom Federation “will be a stop sign and say, ‘Let's apply reason and thought and broaden participation.'" Organization spokespersons say that some of their major concerns about health care reform revolves around “taxpayer-supported abortion, rationed health care for the elderly and government control of personal health decisions,” USA Today recently reported....

(Note: There are no plans for “taxpayer-supported abortion, rationed health care for the elderly and government control of personal health decisions" in the health reform bills.)

....While some Religious Right leaders have tried to recalibrate their agendas, long-time Christian Right organizations like Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council, the Rev. Donald Wildmon’s American Family Association, Lou Sheldon’s Traditional Values Coalition, and Phyllis Schlafly’s Eagle Forum, are firmly rooted in the past. Digging in their heels, they are firmly committed to re-building their movement with the same old anti-abortion and anti-gay agenda. That retro agenda was on full display at the Freedom Federation’s inaugural press conference in June....

Wow. The Freedom Federation people must think that we are all stupid people. They think we've forgotten that they have repeated this same mantra over and over again. Same old group. Same old lies. Same old hatreds. Although they call themselves the religious right, they lie, promote hatred, and push the same worn out crap we've heard for years. I still change the channel when I see any of these righties on TV.

What book do these people from the far right use as the basis of their beliefs? The Bible I've read promotes love, understanding, taking care of the poor, healing the sick, welcoming all people, protecting the gifts of the environment, truthfulness,.....

Hmmmmm.

--- Charter schools are still not doing that well, in my humble opinion. If some of these charter schools were public schools, parents would be outraged. The Columbus Dispatch states that some progress was made, but "......more than half of the charter schools in Franklin County and its adjoining counties still were rated as a D or F......"

On top of the failures of some charter schools, some of the local charter schools are closing. According to the Dispatch........."A tougher state law aimed at underperforming charters will force three Columbus charter schools to close by June 30. Ten more statewide will be closed, and three already have shut
down...."

When charter schools close after the school year start, public schools must accept those youngsters but will not get any money to educate those students since the money has already gone to the charter school. Basically, the public school is expected to educate the charter school drop-ins for nothing.


--- Watch out! Republicans will be having a meeting to discuss their solutions to energy problems, as reported by the Dispatch:

House Republicans are holding an "energy summit" in Columbus on Wednesday.

Rep. Bob Latta, R-Bowling Green, is hosting the event, designed to examine the Republican approach to energy policy, which includes a greater emphasis on nuclear energy and new drilling than that taken by congressional Democrats....
....The event will be from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Nationwide/Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Dr., Columbus.

Hmmmmm. I wonder what point of view Latta will bring? The Vote Smart organization reports the following on Bob Latta---

...2007-2008 Representative Latta supported the interests of the League of Conservation Voters 0 percent in the First and Second Sessions of Congress in 2007-2008.

2007-2008 In 2007-2008 Republicans for Environmental Protection gave Representative Latta a rating of 5 percent.

2007 Representative Latta supported the interests of the Republicans for Environmental Protection 0 percent in 2007....

Open Secrets reports that Latta has received campaign money from the follow industries-----
Oil & Gas........$34,250
Electric Utilities......$33,500

Women May Want to Speak Out About This

A case before the Ohio Supreme Court has left a lot of women wondering how this case got this far.

Dispatch:

A Cincinnati-area company didn't discriminate against a new mother when it fired her for taking unauthorized breaks to pump milk from her breasts, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled this morning.

Totes/Isotoner, an outerwear manufacturer in West Chester, did not violate Ohio's pregnancy-discrimination law by firing general laborer LaNisa Allen for taking lactation breaks four hours into her shift.....

...The court, however, said Totes/Isotoner was within its rights to fire Allen for "failure to follow directions.".....

There seems to be something wrong here. Why didn't Totes/Isotoner try to work with the woman first? Wasn't there another way to try to help the woman keep her job? Besides, don't smokers take "unauthorized breaks" repeatedly each day?

Reflections

Which member of the U.S. Senate will take up the causes that Sen. Kennedy fought for over the years? Sen. George Voinovich and Sen. Sherrod Brown reflect on Kennedy's death.

WMFD.com:

...Sen. Kennedy was considered one of the greatest senators of our time. He became known as the "Lion of the Senate" and took part in the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the 1990 American Disabilities Act and the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act....

...Voinovich said on a personal note, Ted was a guiding light for him during his late nephew's treatment for bone cancer. Voinovich said Kennedy's uplifting spirit and thoughtfulness helped steer my family through a very difficult time and I will never forget the words he shared with us: "Even when it's sometimes stormy one day, the sun always seems to shine the next.'

Sen. Brown said Eward Kennedy was a friend, colleague, mentor and inspiration for millions of Americans and a courageous fighter for working families across the country. Brown said he will continue to honor Sen. Kennedy's legacy by fighting to ensure that all Americans have access to the best health care and educational opportunities available....

Keep hope alive!

>> Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy offered her tribute to Sen. Kennedy on her website:

U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy released the following statement on the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy:

“Senator Edward Kennedy’s life was dedicated to the principles he passionately espoused and the moral obligation of public service that he revered. Today, I mourn the loss of Senator Kennedy along with millions of Americans whose lives were made better because he never backed down from the ‘fight of his life,’ yet also never failed to see the value of compromise and civility. His record of service is unmatched by any Senator during his lifetime and he faced the many challenges throughout his years with courage, compassion and a positive spirit that will be his real legacy. One of the greatest honors of my life will always be to have my name connected to his through the Edward M. Kennedy Service Act as a co-sponsor of this important piece of legislation. I offer my deepest condolences to the people of Massachusetts, the Senator’s staff, my colleague Patrick and the entire Kennedy family.”

* If you are a young woman that participated in school sports, it is because of Sen. Kennedy's work on Title IX. There was a time in our country when sports for girls and women did not exist equally with sports for males.

Sen. Kennedy's work will live on and each of us has a reason to honor and appreciate his legislative work.

Sen. Kennedy

Sen. Edward Kennedy's death leads us to reflect on his accomplishments. Bloomberg has some of the details:

....Kennedy was the dominant congressional figure in shaping U.S. health care, civil rights and education policy for decades, working to raise the minimum wage, overhaul immigration laws and allow 18-year-olds to vote....

....Former Senator Birch Bayh, 81, an Indiana Democrat first elected with Kennedy in 1962, said his colleague’s greatest legacy might have been his successful battles to remove obstacles to blacks who wanted to vote....

....Kennedy wrote more than 2,500 bills throughout his more than 46 years in the Senate, with several hundred becoming law, and cast more than 15,000 votes....

How many others can claim such a long list of legislative successes?

From Sen. Kennedy's official Senate website, there is info on Kennedy's Hispanic Legacy:

...In the absence of a national Hispanic political figure during the 45 years Kennedy has served in the Senate, he is the emotionally committed leader who has guided, mentored and fought for Latinos and immigrants. The affection for Kennedy among the Hispanic community and its political leaders runs deep...
....Kennedy’s first speech on the Senate floor was in support of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In the decades since, he has championed voting rights and fought discrimination against Hispanics, blacks, the disabled, gays and the elderly while also working to improve health care, education and labor standards.
Every immigration bill since 1965 has carried his name....

Sen. Kennedy worked hard to produce workable solutions to everyday problems. He helped minorities, women, and the disabled gain an equal share at the table. The unfinished part of his legacy is his work on health care. In his memory, we must pass health care reform.

Money Revealed

How much are some candidates worth?

Cleveland.com has info from Republican Rob Portman's financial statement:

...Portman's form was about 15 pages and detailed his lucrative salary as a lawyer at Cleveland-based law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, where he earned $800,000 in 2008, and fees from speaking engagements....

...Portman reported having dozens of investments, including 22 worth between $100,001 and $250,000 and one worth between $500,001 and $1 million. He also has real estate holdings, including a rental property in Sea Is land, Ga., worth more than $1 million....

Portman is just a regular guy. Obviously, Portman is part of the elite Republican wing.

>>>> The Ohio Department of Education has released the report cards for schools in the state. The Ohio Department of Education Interactive Local Report Card site is online.

Of Note...

* U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH-Dem) and Rep. Zach Space (OH-18-Dem) have just returned from a fact-finding trip to Afghanistan, according to Cleveland.com.

* Even though "Joe the Plumber" (who is not named "Joe" and is not a licensed plumber) has exceeded his 15 minutes of fame, he continues to be coddled and support by the sheeples on the right.

The Toledo Blade:
Joe the Plumber, a fixture on the 2008 presidential campaign, made his Toledo radio debut last night....

OMG! I'm so glad I missed it.

*** HipHopWired has a report on RNC Chairman Michael Steele's recent visit to a Vincent David Jericho's radio show:

....Jericho moved to dissect the party name by name, starting with House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio. “…Boehner and some of these guys are a joke. And you can't say anything. They are an absolute freaking joke,” a statement to which Steele replied, “I'm 1,000 percent with you.”

The assault continued with Missouri's candidate for the Senate, Roy Blunt, entrenched firmly in Jericho's crosshairs. “I mean, here is a guy that has committed adultery multiple times…Guys like Papa Blunt make us sick to our stomach,” to which Steele feverishly disputed by saying “Look, now don't…I mean, I agree with you."....

Ouch.

Just asking....

The party of "No" continues to say "No" to health care reform.
Dispatch:
Republican Reps. Pat Tiberi of Genoa Township and Steve Austria of Beavercreek oppose the proposed government-run health plan option, charging it would crowd out private insurers and take away consumer choices....

According to OpenSecrets, Republicans have received more contributions from the insurance industry. Overall, for the past ten years, Republicans have received 63% of the insurance contributions, and Democrats, 37%. These Republicans just don't want to stop the gravy train of money from insurance PACs and individuals. Will Ohio Republicans ever say "Yes" to anything from the Obama administration??

*** The Senate Guru has some worthwhile comments about Republican Rob Portman (I especially like the title.)-----

OH-Sen: Rob Portman = George W. Bush

It is said that the 2008 Presidential election between Barack Obama and John McCain was as much a referendum on George W. Bush's administration, policies, and failures as it was a referendum on either of the major Party nominees. In 2010, for most midterm races, George W. Bush will be a distant memory. However, the race in which George W. Bush and the harmful effects of his agenda will be most front-and-center will be the U.S. Senate race in Ohio.

The Republican nominee is expected to be Rob Portman, who spent twelve years representing Ohio's 2nd Congressional district, in the Cincinnati suburbs. More important on his resume, though, are his two roles in George W. Bush's administration: U.S. Trade Representative and Director of the Office of Management and Budget. In short, Portman was George W. Bush's trade chief and budget boss; and, perhaps no state has been hurt more by Bush's trade and budget policies than Ohio. In Bush's final year in office, only a small minority of Ohioans (just 26%) approved of Bush's handling of the economy. Rob Portman was one of the chief architects of the Bush economy of which Ohioans so overwhelmingly disapproved, and Ohio voters will have the opportunity to thank Portman for his role....

How nice. How often does Portman mention his close association with President George W. Bush and his economic policies? Just asking.

I'd like to see the Senate Guru's bumper sticker on cars in Ohio. Can someone get it printed asap?

ROB PORTMAN = GEORGE W. BUSH

Here is another one I'd suggest---

JON HUSTED = KEN BLACKWELL

Losing the Luster

* An opinion piece in the Newark Advocate is questioning Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi's (OH-12) record. According to the entry in the Newark Advocate, Tiberi recently picked up the theme used by The Ohio State University when he said, "Do something great." The writer then goes to describe Tiberi's record:

...After eight years of voting for nearly every plank in the Bush-Cheney platform, Tiberi since December has voted "no" on dozens of major pieces of legislation, including:

...A bill to modernize crumbling public schools.....

...But how did his vote last January against the so-called "Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act" make anybody's life better? Ledbetter, you may recall, sought relief from the courts -- and Congress -- after her employer for 19 years paid her less than males in the same job but kept it secret....

(Note: There are plenty more of votes that indicate Tiberi's less than stellar voting record.) The writer goes on to suggest that one way for Tiberi to "do something great" would be for Tiberi to retire.

I agree. For far too long, Tiberi has flown under the radar. Although he has aspirations to be a leader in the Republican Party, Tiberi has been a Republican robot----doing as he was told by his leadership. It might be time for Tiberi to retire because he has done little to bring anything new to the country. The only thing Tiberi has done recently is to just say "NO!" That is not contributing to improving our lives.

* A tidbit from the Dayton Daily News comment section:

Speak Up

Re “Husted sues to end residency challenge,” Aug. 13: Jon Husted is right when he says, “This has been a political charade from the very beginning.” He hasn’t lived in Kettering for years.

HA!

Ohio Politics

*** Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15-Democrat) had a tele-town hall meeting last night.
Dispatch:

U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy last night insisted that congressional Democrats are not considering "socialized medicine'" in their efforts to approve a sweeping overhaul of the nation's health-care system.

In a town-hall meeting she conducted last night by telephone, Kilroy said any reform of the health system will result in private insurance companies still covering two-thirds of Americans. "We want to be sure at the end of the day we will be lowering the costs of health care," she said. "Nothing to be afraid of there."

....During the one-hour conference call, Kilroy answered questions from 17 people. Aides to Kilroy said about 2,800 people were on the call....

Kilroy knows her constituents are depending on her.

*** It looks like the Ohio GOP is still trying to unseat one of Ohio's most popular members of Congress----- Rep. Zach Space (OH-18th-Democrat). According to an article in the Dispatch, the Ohio Republicans think Space is vulnerable. However, the Dispatch has this:

....Amy Walter, editor of the nonpartisan politics news service The Hotline, said if Republicans hope to have a big year, Space is a candidate they must beat -- so they will have to consider giving major support to any credible GOP candidate.

But Space, Walter added, remains the favorite, bolstered by his 60 percent winning margin in 2008 and a campaign bankroll of nearly $820,000 as of the end of June.

"Space still has the advantage, " Walter said.

The Ohio GOP continues to talk big, but they remain the party of "NO"---NO new ideas. Even Republican candidate for Ohio Governor, John Kasich, is offering the same old, tired, warn-out, platform offered by the likes of former Republican Governors Taft and Voinovich. Speaking of Kasich--people want to know when he'll release his tax returns.

>>> People are asking why Republican Jon Husted wants to continue to reward charter schools when so many of them fail at educating children.

The Vindicator:

...In the state’s 2008 report card, of 17 charter schools in Mahoning and Trumbull counties, one was unrated, one showed continuous improvement and the other 15 were in academic watch or academic emergency. That means 94 percent of the schools here are functioning at the two lowest levels of performance.

And against numbers such as those, State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, wants to lift the moratorium on new charter schools, claiming such a move would make Ohio more competitive in its bids for federal Race to the Top education grants....

Husted's cheerleading for charter schools might be tied to his large contributors from David Brennan and the entire Brennan family. David Brennan owns and operates the largest collection of charter schools in Ohio (White Hat) and is a faithful, generous contributor to Husted and the Ohio GOP.

Check out the Secretary of State's Political Contribution Page and type 'Brennan' in the Contributor Last Name Space and scroll down the page and type in 'Husted' on the Candidate Last Name Space. Hit "Run Report" to get the info. You'll be amazed.

Wednesday's Notes

> Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy's (OH-15-D) fundraiser this week will have a special guest--- Kathleen Sebelius, according to the Dispatch:

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will be in Columbus on Friday to help raise campaign cash for Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus - and also will appear at an official health care policy event....

> Channel 4 is reporting that Kilroy will hold a "Tele-Town" meeting this week. For more information, see the NBC4i website.

*** Rep. Barney Frank tells it like it is----- and I love it!!!! Rep. Frank had a town meeting and had some very interesting comments.

LA Times:

Rep. Barney Frank lashed out at protester who held a poster depicting President Barack Obama with a Hitler-style mustache during a heated town hall meeting on federal health care reform.

"On what planet do you spend most of your time?" Frank asked the woman, who had stepped up to the podium at a southeastern Massachusetts senior center to ask why Frank supports what she called a Nazi policy.

"Ma'am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table. I have no interest in doing it," Frank replied.....

Love it!!!!! I think we should send Barney Frank out to every town meeting because he can cut through the b.s. and lies that the Dick Armey's and insurance companies are promoting.

Thank you, Barney Frank!!!!!

***** As I sit here at my computer in my family room, I am watching the Today Show where they are talking about whether it is appropriate for First Lady Michelle Obama to wear shorts. Pleeeeaaaase! Michelle Obama is a real person and a modern woman. She can wear whatever she pleases. Apparently, some uptight people (probably Republicans) are upset that Michelle Obama would wear shorts in public. Michelle Obama was on vacation when she was wearing shorts. So what????!!!!!! Would these critics have her wear a burka instead?

Here and Now

* Looks like we won't be getting the AT&T White Pages delivered. NBC4i:

AT&T will no longer automatically deliver white page directories in the Central Ohio area.

It began delivering its Yellow Pages Tuesday, and a flier inside the phone book explains how customers can order white pages....

I'm surprised they still print them. The Yellow Pages sometimes get thrown away as soon as they are delivered. In an effort to save money and printing costs, the printing is so small you almost need a microscope to read the names and numbers. If I'm looking for someone or a service, I use the internet or references from my neighbors.

* Have Republicans put forth their own plan for fixing health care in this country? I'm not sure but I think that the Republican "plan" is nonexistent. The only "plan" I've heard is GOP propaganda and criticism of President Obama's plan.

* A new Marist poll is out and published in the NY Daily News:

If the 2012 presidential election were held today, and Palin was the GOP candidate, she’d get wiped out by President Obama, a new Marist poll showed Tuesday....

....Whites favored Obama 50% to 40%, African-Americans by 99% to 1%, and Latinos 62% to 27%.

The only region where Palin held Obama under 50% was the South -- where Obama had 49% to 38% margin.

The South is also the only region that has a high number of "birthers."

There are rumors that indicate that former GOP Senator and extreme right wing nut job, Rick Santorum, might make a Presidential run. (Stop laughing.) Even Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann might consider running for President, if she gets a message from God.

Minnesota Post:

Is Michele Bachmann considering running for president? At the end of a long profile that can perhaps best be described as a gooshy love letter to the congresswoman, Drew Zahn from WorldNetDaily.com asked her outright. Bachmann's answer: "If I felt that's what the Lord was calling me to do, I would do it," she answered. "When I have sensed that the Lord is calling me to do something, I've said yes to it. But I will not seek a higher office if God is not calling me to do it. That's really my standard." Perhaps feeling that she hadn't been clear enough, she continued: "If I am called to serve in that realm, I would serve, but if I am not called, I wouldn't do it."

Does she have a direct line to God?

***** Last night on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow talked about a recent article in World Magazine which seems to question those self-described "elite Christians" who live on C Street. Those "elite Christians" include Republican lawmakers who appear to believe that they are above other Christians and do not need to subscribe to the same standards as other Christians. Now some Christian leaders are questioning the funding and ties of the Republican lawmakers who use the C Street townhouse as their base. It is a very interesting read.

Monday

* The whisper campaign against State Auditor Mary Taylor, Ohio Republican, has started, according to Ohio.com. The Ohio Republicans are continuing their efforts to dump Taylor because her fundraising efforts are below their expectations. Ohio.com has the story which leads us to believe that the GOP may pull Taylor out of her run for re-election. The Ohio GOP seems to be able to demonstrate that they only want white men in leadership positions in the state. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

* Some good news for Ohio---- Bloomberg:

Aug. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Honda Motor Co., Japan’s second- largest automaker, plans to boost production at factories in Alabama and Ohio helped by the U.S. government’s stimulus measures aimed at reviving the country’s worst vehicle market in three decades.

The carmaker will also start production on Saturdays in some areas, Honda spokesman Hiroyuki Horiuchi said in a telephone interview today. He didn’t say by how much output will be increased.....

Looks like the "Cash for Clunkers" will get more people working again.

>>>>Rachel Maddow has more on anti-health care reform bigshot, Dick Armey:

MSBNC.com

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Rachel Maddow was on NBC's Meet the Press yesterday. She did a great job exposing the truth about Dick Armey. Politico has more on Dick Armey:

While seniors across the country are worried about cuts to Medicare under health care reform, Dick Armey thinks that the popular program is "tyranny."

The former House Republican majority leader and current chairman of conservative group Freedom Works characterized Medicare as such on NBC's "Meet the Press" because seniors are forced to participate....

"This is important...The anti-health care reform lobby thinks that Medicare is tyranny," said an incredulous Rachel Maddow, the NBC weekday host who was seated next to Armey on the panel.

Dick Armey's true intentions are revealed.

My Two Cents

* While Republican leader John Boehner tours Mongolia, China, and Asia, other elected officials are having town halls. If you are interest, Boehner has a twitter account (http://twitter.com/johnboehner) where he quotes right wing, anti-health care reform "research" from right wing think tanks.

* What? GOPers voted for a death panel in 2003?????? OMG! OMG!

Americablog has it:

GOP officials John Boehner, Thaddeus McCotter, Johnny Isakson, and Chuck Grassley all voted in 2003 for a measure very similar to the one in the current House health care bill they now suggest in various ways could lead to government-encouraged euthanasia.

As Time’s Amy Sullivan reported late last night, Grassley voted for the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill, which — ready? — provided coverage for “counseling the beneficiary with respect to end-of-life issues and care options, and advising the beneficiary regarding advanced care planning.”

The only difference between the 2003 bill and the House Dem one that’s inspired the “euthanasia” talk, Sullivan reports, is that the earlier one “applied only to terminally ill patients.”

The Republicans were for counseling for end of life decisions before they were against it??????

---- Where did all these lies about "death panels" originate? There is nothing in the legislation. The right wing media created the "death panel" idea. The Republicans and their lies about "death panels" are now like a runaway train. Check out the New York Times article, "False 'Death Panel' Rumor Has Some Familiar Roots" .

Americans need to stop believing the Republican lies. The GOP brought you the Iraq invasion, which was built on lies. Now Republican lies are stopping health care reform.

Huh?

Surprise. Surprise. Surprise. Huntington Park in Columbus has been picked as the Ballpark of the Year. An article in the Dispatch, notes that Huntington Park beat out all the fancy schmancy ballparks:

BaseballParks.com cast the latest vote that dream matched reality in Huntington Park.

The Web site announced yesterday that it had chosen the home of the Clippers as its Ballpark of the Year over 11 other new or renovated facilities.

Size and expense apparently didn't matter because the list included two new major-league ballparks -- Yankee Stadium and Citi Field in New York -- and the renovated Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City....

Woooo!

* Is the Ohio GOP thinking of dumping State Auditor Mary Taylor who is running for re-election? Dispatch:
...Republicans are wondering what to do about Mary Taylor. As the GOP's only statewide officeholder, the auditor should have a boatload of cash for her re-election campaign next year.

But she raised only $107,900 last quarter and has only $144,281 in the bank, about half as much as her Democratic opponent, Hamilton County Commissioner David Pepper....

....Here's a solution being discussed in GOP circles: Make Taylor the running mate for probable gubernatorial nominee John R. Kasich of Westerville. Taylor would attract female voters and, hailing from the Akron area, she could help Kasich in voter-rich northeastern Ohio....

The Ohio GOP wants to dump their most visible female statewide office holder so she can stand behind their candidate for governor, John Kasich????!!!! How demeaning! No wonder Republicans can't get female voters when they treat their female office holders/candidates with such little respect. If the Ohio GOP has their way, they'll find one of their old white guys to replace Mary Taylor.

Husted Throws a Tantrum

Ohio GOP's "golden boy" (aka Jon Husted) filed suit today:
Dayton Daily News:

State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Kettering, sued Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in the Ohio Supreme Court, saying the residency challenge against him should be dismissed.

Husted also argued that Brunner had no right to base a decision on documents she subpoenaed in her investigation of complaints that he does not reside at his 148 Sherbrooke Ave., home and instead lives with his wife and kids in Upper Arlington....

.... Brunner spokesman Patrick Gallaway said Brunner had been close to a decision, which could have been issued today or tomorrow but she will wait for the Supreme Court to act....

The most interesting part of the article includes the comments on the article. The comments don't seem friendly toward Husted, who lives in Upper Arlington, but represents Kettering. Husted doesn't have a very high name recognition in the state, and he might be doing this for publicity. While his campaign coffers are filling up fast with donations from right wing groups, PACs, and pro-charter school supporters, people in many parts of the state have never heard of him.

Meetings and Conferences

This congressional recess has some members of Congress taking a different approach to meeting constituents. An article in the Dispatch has some tidbits about Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi (OH-12), Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15), and Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown:

...For nearly an hour yesterday as he sat in his Columbus district office, Tiberi fielded questions from dozens of callers who asked him why he opposed the health-care reform bill championed by House Democrats, where they can find a copy of the bill, and whether the government can reduce the escalating costs of health care....

....Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Columbus, has held three and has scheduled another next week. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who holds roundtable discussions rather than town-hall meetings, plans an electronic town hall this month. And Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, held one last week and plans another next week.

Unlike traditional town-hall meetings, which can be attended by as few as a half-dozen people, the tele-town-hall meetings generate hundreds of calls over an hour. This past spring, Space said he had 30,000 people on three tele-town-hall meetings in a span of a couple of weeks.....

*** The Ohio GOP is very worried about Democratic candidate for Ohio's 12th congressional district, Paula Brooks. Brooks is immensely popular and the 12th district has been moving more into the Democratic column.

News to Use....

* Our hearts go out to the family of Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Mrs. Shriver was the founder of the Special Olympics.

* Someone from the Republican Party finally got it right!!!
Raw Story:

Georgia’s junior Republican senator has something to say about Sarah Palin’s interpretation of US healthcare reform.

It’s “nuts.”

The Republican lawmaker, Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), made the comments in an interview with Washington Post columnist Ezra Klein Monday. His remarks may underscore how far Palin has strayed from the Republican base....

Exactly.

>>>> Will Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi (OH-12) face a close re-election this time? He will have a tough opponent in Democrat Paula Brooks. The DCCC is turning up the heat on Tiberi.

*** The Ohio State University has received a large bequest, according to the Toledo Blade:

Dr. Richard Veler's very first donation to Ohio State University's College of Dentistry came more than 60 years ago in the small sum of $10. But college leaders announced Friday that their largest, single gift in history - $3 million - was given by the estate of the late Dr. Veler, a retired Toledo dentist. The bequest on behalf of Dr. Veler and his wife, Betty, will be used for scholarships, according to OSU officials....

...how firm thy friendship, O-HI-O.

* A small little item in today's Dispatch may look innocent, but is there more behind it?
Dispatch:

Professional Education Corp. of Hamilton, Ohio, has been stripped of its authority to conduct pre-licensing and continuing-education classes for Ohio insurance applicants and agents, according to the Ohio Department of Insurance.

Because of a Departmental Enforcement investigation, company owner George Armstrong has agreed to the revocation of his education-provider contract and agreed to surrender his Ohio insurance licenses, the agency said last week.

The department said its investigation showed that from 2006 to 2008, Anderson provided agents with bogus educational credits and certificates of completion for classes not taken.

Wouldn't you like to know exactly who these bogus agents were? Will their names be released? Will they lose their licenses?

***** Have you looked at the power rankings? Although the rankings were published in 2008, you can get an idea of which elected officials wield clout. Congress.org has the rankings from 2008 (the research was done by Knowlegis): This is an excerpt about Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi----

Rep. Patrick Tiberi (R-OH 12th)
Bio & Contact Info
	Power Rank Standings Power Score The cumulative weighted score derived from 20 factors for 2008 that contributed to a member’s power and effectiveness. Formula based on position in Congress, actions taken to influence legislative agenda, and legislative successes. Important Note: Members who have similar scores (within 1-2 points) have similar power.', ABOVE);" onmouseout="return nd();">Power Score: 12.69 Rank in Chamber: 281 Rank in State: 14 Rank in Party: 82 Rank in Class of 2000: 16 Past Power Rankings Earmarks 2005 Rankings: 156 2006 Rankings: 58 Total: $913,000 Earmark Count: 3

I guess you can conclude that Tiberi was not very powerful then, and probably is even less powerful now. With his party in the minority, he is less likely to be heard by those in control.

Remembering Lima Company.....

Washington Post (published August 4, 2005):

A Marine Reserve company that was known as "Lucky Lima" before suffering heavy casualties in May was hit Wednesday by the deadliest roadside bombing of the Iraq war, a massive explosion that killed 14 Marines and the unit's Iraqi interpreter, according to witnesses and military spokesmen.

The Marines were part of a convoy that was attacked on a desert road outside the western town of Haditha, one witness said. Rolling in armored vehicle after armored vehicle, the patrol was nearing the entrance to the town when a brilliant flash erupted in the middle of the convoy.....

For additional information, check the following websites:

http://www.limacompanymemorial.org/

Channel 10 YouTube

Money, Money, Money

Republican Rep. John Boehner's activities against health care reform are paying off for his campaign. Is Boehner working for his constituents or for his contributors???? I'm just asking. According to Open Secrets (Center for Responsive Politics), Boehner's leadership PAC is getting money from:

Top 5 contributors, 2009-2010, Leadership PAC

Contributor	Total	Indivs	PACs
Altria Group	$15,000	$10,000	$5,000
Reynolds American	$10,000	$5,000	$5,000
Abbott Laboratories	$5,000	$0	$5,000
AFLAC Inc	$5,000	$0	$5,000
America's Health Insurance Plans	$5,000	$0	$5,000

and....

Top 5 Industries, 2009-2010, Leadership PAC

Industry	Total	Indivs	PACs
Insurance	$55,650	$10,150	$45,500
Pharmaceuticals/Health Products	$40,000	$0	$40,000
Lobbyists	$27,950	$27,950	$0
Tobacco	$25,000	$15,000	$10,000
Commercial Banks	$20,000	$0	$20,000

OpenSecrets also has Boehner's candidate committee contributions:

Top 5 Industries, 2009-2010, Campaign Committee

Industry	Total	Indivs	PACs
Electric Utilities	$58,000	$12,500	$45,500
Insurance	$56,650	$29,150	$27,500
Retired	$40,127	$40,127	$0
TV/Movies/Music	$36,450	$12,050	$24,400
Securities & Investment	$28,000	$12,000	$16,000

Looks like those insurance firms are getting a good return on their contributions. As long as Boehner and others work to defeat health reform, the money will keep pouring into their campaign committees/PACs. Those insurance executives who are denying your medical claims get big bonuses at the end of the year and, they'll continue to contribute to Boehner, the GOP, and their supporting forces.

Trouble for the Ohio GOP?????

* The Ohio GOP is getting a little nervous as Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Tiberi has a tough Democratic challenger toss her hat into the ring. CQ Politics:

...Democrat Paula Brooks, an elected commissioner in the county that includes Columbus, said Wednesday that she will challenge Tiberi, who’s serving his fifth term.

Brooks’ challenge has prompted CQ Politics to change the initial rating of the 2010 race in Ohio’s 12th to the more competitive “Republican Favored” from “Safe Republican.”

Brooks told The Columbus Dispatch newspaper that “people in the district say they are disappointed in the current member and they want a fresh approach to tackling these tough problems.”

Tiberi has been against programs for the environment and has voted against the stimulus plan. Tiberi was always a reliable supporter of the Bush programs. According to Open Secrets, Tiberi has received over $600,000 in political contributions from the insurance industry, which explains his opposition to health care reform. According to the FEC.gov for 2007-2008 (Federal Elections Commission), Tiberi's list of contributors includes ExxonMobilPAC, Duke Energy, Ashland, Marathon, American Gas PAC, FirstEnergy PAC, and a huge list of insurance and bank PACs.

Looks like Tiberi will have a very tough campaign.

*** Ohio Republicans have even more to worry about with another race. There have been several news and opinion items about Republican candidate Rob Portman. With a recent piece at Huffington Post on Portman, "Rob Portman = George W. Bush," and now a Republican challenger for Portman. According to the Dispatch, Tom Ganley, a wealthy conservative Republican will challenge Portman in the primary. Here is an excerpt from the Dispatch:

...Portman, 53, is from Cincinnati and served in the U.S. House for 12 years before becoming President George W. Bush's trade representative and then his budget director. Portman has locked up support from virtually everybody who is anybody in Ohio GOP circles and is slated to be endorsed by the state party next month.

But Ganley's pledge to "spend what is necessary," including as much as $7 million out-of-pocket, compels Portman to take him seriously.

Ganley's money also could force Portman to spend money in the primary that he had hoped to husband for the general-election campaign against Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher or Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner. Those two Democrats are vying for their party's nomination to replace retiring Republican Sen. George V. Voinovich.....

Ouch!

>>> With Ohio Republicans seemingly out of touch with the everyday challenges of regular Ohioans, it is clear that the GOP may have a rough political season.

Is Husted paying back charter school supporters?

Looks like Republican candidate for the Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted, is pandering to the charter school contributors. Instead of offering a bill to fix the inequality of funding public education in the state, Husted wants to take more money away from public schools.

News-herald:

...State Sen. Jon Husted wants the Legislature to lift a 2007 ban on opening more charter schools so the state can compete for money from President Barack Obama's Race to the Top grants. The grants, totaling $4.35 billion, are considered the largest amount of discretionary funding for K-12 education in the nation's history....

I think this is a completely worthless proposal. Instead of using the money to fund charter schools, many of which are below standards, this money should be used to help public school children with reading and math tutors, more classroom teachers to reduce class size, adding more computers to prepare youngsters for the future, and purchasing books. Every dollar that goes to a charter school robs public schools of needed funds.

Husted has received thousands and thousands of dollars from David Brennan and his family. Brennan is the person who runs the largest charter school group in the state and supports the Republican Party. Is Husted just trying to pay back charter school contributors by putting forth this idea to rob public school children of education funding? Here is an excerpt from the Dispatch about David Brennan:

...A Dispatch analysis of recent state audits for 17 of Brennan's 34 schools shows White Hat made $15.4 million in combined profits and management fees last year.

That means that nearly a third of the state funding received by each school was pocketed by Brennan's operation. The rest was spent on teacher salaries, books and other expenses.....

....Under management agreements, each school gives White Hat 97 percent of its state aid. Last year, White Hat received $109 million in tax dollars....

A search of political contributions by Brennan and his family at the Ohio Secretary of State's web page, shows that Husted has received mega bucks from the the Charter School owner.

Now Husted is running for Ohio Secretary of State. I don't think we should go down that road!

NRCC's Ambitious Plans

The NRCC (National Republican Congress Committee) has some very ambitious plans. They are targeting 70 Congressional seats currently held by Democrats. At first glance, anyone would notice that the large list (see Politico) contains well-known Democrats and other Democrats who've been recently elected.

The NRCC may have this list of targets, but what are the Republicans offering? So far, we've seen the Republicans vote against nearly everything that President Obama has offered to fix the economy. The Republicans have become the 'Party of No' by:
- voting "NO" on the stimulus package (see NY Times),

- having 95 Republicans vote against extending the "Cars for Clunkers" bill.

- not supporting health reform.

- having 122 Republicans vote against the Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009.

- having 90 Republicans vote against appropriations for water and energy development.

- not supporting ... H.R.1018 Title: To amend the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act to improve the management and long-term health of wild free-roaming horses and burros, and for other purposes... (House Clerk) by having 138 Republicans vote against it.

- having 97 Republicans vote against funding for the State Dept....

- having 150 Republicans vote against funding for farmers, agriculture, and rural development...

- having 168 Republicans vote against the Clean Energy Act....

Etc. Etc. Etc. Basically, the Republicans have voted against everything. What do the Congressional Republicans want? Tax cuts for billionaires seems to be the only thing the GOP supports.

So what if the NRCC has 70 Congressional Democrats as their targets. Unless the Republicans in Congress actually offer alternatives to health reform, stimulus packages, and proposals to get people back to work, people will ignore their negative stance.

Since the Republicans can offer nothing new, the GOP and the insurance company lobbyists have started to organize and bus people to town hall meetings to shout down elected officials. The Republicans and their insurance lobbyist friends would rather support and incite shouting matches, disruptive behavior, and bully tactics, than take part in intelligent discussions about health care reform.

The NRCC's ambitious plans will ring hollow if they are unable to offer something other than tax cuts for the rich.

Kilroy's New Legislation

Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) has introduced new legislation that would definitely help consumers with medical debt.

Dallas News:

...U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy, D-Ohio, who introduced legislation that would keep medical debt from haunting your credit record after it's paid off.

Her bill would require medical debt that has been paid off or settled to be removed from credit records within 30 days of resolution....

....Medical debt was a factor in 62 percent of personal bankruptcies nationally, and 75 percent of those filers had health insurance, according to a study released in June in The American Journal of Medicine....

Kilroy has studied the problem associated with medical debt. This bill clearly offers a new approach to help people protect their all important credit records.