Republican Hype

Should anyone believe this Republican hype?

CBS News:

So how good could 2010 be for Republicans running for the House of Representatives?

A phenomenal year is now in the cards, which is obviously not the same as saying that it will be a phenomenal year. In any off-year, discussion of the following year's House races usually frames the battle for control of the chamber as a reflection of national mood. But even after elections that brought dramatic swings in the two parties' fortunes - 1994, 2006 - the ascending party wonders if it let winnable seats slip through its fingers. In the end, control of the House comes down to 435 unique races taking place in a national climate favoring one party or the other.....

....As of now, Republicans are high on former congressman Steve Pearce's bid to regain his New Mexico seat, and on Ohio state senator Steve Stivers's rematch against Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy, whom he came within 2,312 votes of beating in 2008....


Since being elected to the House of Representatives for Ohio's 15th District, Mary Jo Kilroy has been working hard to help her constituents, which includes families, individuals, students, and business owners. With her eyes set on improving the job market, she went after Chase Bank to keep jobs in central Ohio. Kilroy has also targeted legislation to help college students. Kilroy's working knowledge of her constituents needs has helped her stay in touch and respond through hard work and legislation.

Just because Republicans think they have a "winner" in a candidate does not mean that voters will support him/her. Considering how Republicans have become the party of "NO!" and the party with no new ideas, the GOP doesn't seem to be offering anything new to voters. Republicans have had their teabaggers, birthers, deathers, and other assorted kooks, which only emphasizes their party's extreme right wing, out of the mainstream beliefs. I don't see a lot of progressives or moderates running to join the Republican sideshows of extremism.

I think all this from the Republicans is hype. They've done nothing to make their party appealing to young people, women, minorities, or working men and women.

Finally some sun.....

* We thoroughly enjoyed the Buckeye football game on Saturday. Needless to say, we were completely soaked by the end of the game. Even though it seemed like a monsoon, it did not force us from the stands.

* The Toledo Blade has the lowdown on the stands of various elected officials about health care reform. As you can guess, Democrats and Republicans are clearly divided along party lines.

* With all the publicity about Republican Jon Husted's residency problems, will he be able to get enough signatures to get himself on the ballot?

* With all the calls about defunding ACORN, why haven't we defunded and fired Blackwater or XE or whatever name they call themselves now?

* Are you looking forward to a vacation for next summer? We hope to plan a trip for next summer but we also plan to stay away from South Carolina. With the likes of Republicans like Joe Wilson and Gov. Sanford lurking about, we won't be visiting Myrtle Beach or any locations in their state.

* Last night I saw an episode of Bobby Flay's Throwdown featuring a company here in central Ohio: Sugardaddy's Sumptuous Sweeties. I didn't know the company existed! I do plan to visit it soon. Check out their fabulous goodies at http://www.sugardaddys.com/ and order some soon.

* Here is a great YouTube video about Ohio Stadium. It is a must see for all Buckeye fans!

Those Ohio Republicans

Republican candidate for Ohio Secretary of State, Jon Husted, could suffer at the polls because of questions about his residency, according to an article at the Dayton Daily News.

State Sen. Jon Husted’s residency dispute will be decided by judges, but analysts say the court of public opinion will determine his political future....

....The impact of the case on Husted’s political future will hinge, in part, on the state high court’s decision, said Nancy Martorano Miller, assistant professor of political science at the University of Dayton. But even if he prevails in court, she said Democrats will make sure lingering questions remain about his residency.

“I would think they’re going to use the tack that he was knowingly being dishonest about his intention to return to Kettering after his term in public service ends,” Martorano Miller said. “So if he’s dishonest about that, then what else has he been dishonest about and would be dishonest about?”

I guess we'll have to see what happens.

>>> Republican John Kasich is a candidate for Ohio governor. Although Kasich plays down his close relationships with former President George W. Bush, and those right wingers at Fox News, it might be important to ask some questions about Kasich's friendships. Kasich was employed by Lehman Brothers and was very close to Chairman and CEO Richard Fuld.


< At left, George W. Bush and John Kasich








For more information on Kasich, Lehman Brothers, and Kasich's plans for Ohio, check out this YouTube video:

Friday

Although some recent polls suggest that Ohioans favor some type of casino gambling for the state, political ads, both for and against, are running continuously. Today's Columbus Dispatch has another story about those facing off in the battle about casinos for Ohio:

Casino opponents called on Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O'Brien yesterday to investigate how one of their television ads landed in the hands of the other side before it aired.....

.....Each side of state Issue 3 - which would authorize casinos in Ohio's four largest cities - accuses the other of skullduggery in making and leaking the ad, which is now on television. The spot shows help-wanted ads in newspapers in New Jersey and Nevada as evidence that the four casinos would employ out-of-state workers.

Those help-wanted ads might be a dirty trick by TruthPAC, the group opposing the casino effort, said Bob Tenenbaum, spokesman for the pro-casino campaign....

Personally, I'm in favor of this new proposal for casinos in Ohio, but I'm just very, very tired of the ads.

>>>> Everyone in central Ohio is talking about the massive drug arrests involving thirteen young people from Worthington, Columbus, and Westerville.

Dispatch:

At least 13 people were arrested in the Worthington area yesterday, charged with trafficking in heroin and other drugs.

Seven others were being sought after an early-morning drug sweep run by a Franklin County sheriff's special investigations unit.

Most of the men and one woman, in their late teens and 20s, were arrested by deputies and Worthington police at their parents' homes.....

It is apparent, according to the article, that heroin has become the drug of choice for some young people. How sad.

Ohio Politics

* Gov. Patrick of Massachusetts has announced that Paul Kirk will be the interim U.S. Senator who will fill the seat of the late Ted Kennedy.

More on Republican Jon Husted and his residency----Kettering Oakwood Times:

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has ruled that State Sen. Jon Husted is not a resident of Kettering, citing the voter registration of his wife, who lives in suburban Columbus.

Brunner's ruling was the result of an Ohio Supreme Court decision on September 14 that she must decide on Husted's residency in seven days....


Dayton Daily News has a story about how Gov. Ted Strickland is facing the state's economic problems:

U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, and others calling for a tax hike to solve Ohio’s budget and economic problems are “flat out wrong,” Gov. Ted Strickland said on Tuesday, Sept. 22....

...Strickland, a Democrat, lashed out at Voinovich, a Republican and former governor, for saying, according to the Columbus Dispatch, “hot dog” when Voinovich learned of the Supreme Court ruling. Voinovich also was quoted as saying state officials needed to raise taxes to be responsible....

Asked if he categorically ruled out a tax hike, Strickland said he would look at “all the options” but repeated his belief that a tax hike could deepen the recession in Ohio.....

I know you are asking yourself why Voinovich would say "hot dog" when Strickland's plan for video slots was turned down by the Ohio Supreme Court. Voinovich and the Ohio GOP want to force Strickland to raise taxes to use it as a strategy to defeat him in a re-election campaign. Voinovich doesn't care about regular people in Ohio which has been proven when he voted against the stimulus plan and supported the financial programs from the Bush administration. Voinovich doesn't put Ohio first. Voinovich puts his Republican Party first.

Husted Doesn't Live There

The continuing saga of Republican Jon Husted's residency goes on.....

Dayton Daily News:

State Senator Jon Husted (HYOO'-sted) has asked the Ohio Supreme Court to allow him to remain a registered voter in the Dayton suburb of Kettering.

The Republican filed his request with the highcourt Tuesday, a day after Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner ruled that Husted is not a legal resident of Kettering, which also is in the district he represents.

Husted says Brunner, a Democrat, has abused her discretion and jeopardized his ability to vote in Ohio and run for elected office. He says she failed to properly consider the evidence.....

What evidence is that????? It could be this that was posted at Progress Ohio on June 12th, 2009:

• The original utility records are available at: http://www.scribd.com/share/upload/12699020/1t38baajx1ytgxc3xf69.
• An annotated video of Husted seemingly caught in misstatements during his testimony before the Board of Elections is available online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O22V0Etbbm0.

Sometimes people get what they deserve. Husted is now appealing to the Ohio Supreme Court which is dominated by Republicans. I wonder how that will turn out. Husted is a rude man. Just ask people within the state who have had to deal with him.

By the way, Husted's house in Kettering (Montgomery Co. Auditor values at $124,000) is 71.3 miles away from his Upper Arlington house he shares with his family (Franklin Co. Auditor values at $402,000). I thought you'd like to know.

Ruling: Husted NOT A Resident of Kettering

The ruling by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner on the residency of Republican Jon Husted, finally came down late last night.

Dispatch:

Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner ruled last night that state Sen. Jon Husted no longer is a resident of Kettering in Montgomery County, and thus is not eligible to vote there.....

....In a 12-page ruling, Brunner cited testimony and records, including that Husted stays at a home in Upper Arlington with his wife and children, has mail forwarded to him in Columbus and had no water consumption at the Kettering home during a period in 2008.....

....But the decision issued at 10:30 p.m. yesterday would prevent him from voting using the Kettering address this fall, and Democrats already have been using the issue against him in his bid to be elected secretary of state next year....

Many in Kettering would probably agree with the ruling citing Husted's screw up with the NCR move out of the Dayton area and Husted's lack of knowledge about what was happening.

For people who have dealt with Husted's anger and arrogance, this ruling is a good thing. Husted cannot rightfully serve a district and vote there if he legally does not live within the district. It is time for the people of Kettering to throw this bum out of office.

Boehner: Obama Not a Socialist

Republican leader, John Boehner, the sun-tanned, golf-loving, tobacco smoking, Ohio Representative, admitted the truth when he said that President Obama is NOT a socialist.

ChattaBox has Boehner even trying to deny that he called Obama a socialist:

John Boehner (R-Ohio), the House Minority Leader, appeared on Meet The Press with David Gregory on Sunday, where he not only admitted that President Obama was not a Socialist, after much prodding, but then falsely claimed that he never called the President a Socialist.

It seems Rep. Boehner forget about a little search engine tool, called Google. Rep. Boehner has suggested that President Obama is a Socialist on at least two occasions.

During his appearance on Meet The Press, David Gregory brought up RNC Chairman Michael Steel’s recent fundraising appeal, which said that President Obama and the Democrats are attempting a “socialist power grab.” Gregory asked Boehner if the use of that language was appropriate and Boehner, at first avoided the question and answered by accusing Obama of “scaring the American public.”

Boehner is a pompous fool.

College Students Won't Like Ohio GOPers for This Vote

College students should rejoice at this news---- Dispatch:

The House voted yesterday in favor of the biggest overhaul of college-aid programs since their creation in the 1960s -- a bill to oust private lenders from the student-loan business and put the government in charge.

The vote was 253-171 in favor of a bill that fulfills nearly all of President Barack Obama's campaign promises for higher education: The measure ends subsidies for private lenders, boosts Pell Grants for needy students and creates grant programs to improve community colleges and graduation rates, among other things.....

The bill now goes to the Senate. I guess that some people (Republicans) do not understand what it means to have college loans looming over your head when you graduate. Even President and Mrs. Obama had large college loans that they paid back after their educations were completed.

I'm sure you are curious as to which Ohio U.S. Representatives would vote against a bill that helps college students. Here are the names of those that said "NO!" to those in college-----

Roll Call Vote 719- Office of the Clerk:

Ohio Republicans------ Austria, Boehner, Jordan, LaTourette, Latta, Schmidt, Tiberi.

The Republicans just can't understand why young people are turning and running away from the Republican Party.

Tired of Republican Hysteria??? Me Too

* Daily Kos referred to this post about the "czars" in the White House. Here is the original post from John Cole's Balloon Juice:

From wikipedia:

OMG! President Obama has less czars than George W. Bush!!!

Here is more from the DNC as posted at YouTube:



I am soooooooooo sick of the Republican outrage about nothing. The Republicans are wasting time and energy on trivial things. Very soon the Republicans will accuse the Obama administration of using too much water and oxygen in the White House. The Republicans have N-O-T-H-I-N-G to offer the American people except lies, exaggerations, and the same old crap. We should just let the GOP continue on their own path of self-destruction. While Democrats offer new ideas, the Republicans have birthers, 10thers, deathers, and elected GOPers who have morals which are shocking (Enzi, Vitter, Sanford, etc., etc.).


* On MSNBC right now, Sen. Charles Grassley said that it was the White House's fault that Grassley and Baucus did not have enough time to work out a health care plan. What a bunch of baloney (substitute your own crude word here)!!!! How much more time would Grassley like? 2 years?
5 years? 1,000 years? Grassley and the rest of his party are just trying to delay, delay, delay.

Ohio Politics

The Hill has some political updates about Ohio's upcoming elections:

The new Quinnipiac poll in Ohio shows Democrats’ situation improving. Yesterday, Gov. Ted Strickland (D) started looking better in partial results of the poll, and now former Rep. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) is shown to be losing ground in the general election. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) leads him 42-31, while Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) leads 39-34. Fisher, the establishment choice for Democrats, has also created some separation between himself and Brunner, and he leads the primary 26-17.....

Could it be that Ohioans still associate Portman with the failed economic policies of President George W. Bush?

>>>> Here is a tidbit from Ohiodailyblog from 5/26/09:

Two-time George W. Bush appointee Rob Portman made an ass of himself over Memorial Day Weekend:

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Portman stopped at the Dayton Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Sunday, May 24, to "meet and greet" veterans at the Patriot Freedom Festival, but was quickly informed by VA officials that campaigning on federal property is illegal. ...

Several veterans told Portman that they were concerned about cuts to the VA budget during the Bush administration when Portman was head of the White House Office of Management and Budget.....

Portman just doesn't seem to get it. Do we really want someone who has shown such callousness toward our injured and sick veterans?

*** Dispatch:

After years of collecting dust in legislative committees, a bill that would prohibit employment or housing discrimination based on sexual orientation passed a divided Ohio House yesterday.

"This is not special rights. These are rights all Ohioans are afforded," said Rep. Dan Stewart, D-Columbus, a joint-sponsor of the bill. Five Republicans joined all Democrats in the 53-39 vote....

...But the bill could hit a wall in the GOP-controlled Senate, where President Bill M. Harris, R-Ashland, has said repeatedly that although it will get a hearing, he doesn't see a need for the legislation.....

In the article, Harris explains that he has talked to business leaders and they've indicated that there is no need for this bill. Harris is definitely talking to the wrong people. He should be talking to people who have experienced discrimination in employment and housing because of their sexual orientation. It always seems like the Ohio GOP has the wrong point of view. Instead of trying to protect people, the Ohio GOP works to protect business profits.

One Week for a Decision... (Updated)

>>>>>UPDATED!!!!!

The Dispatch has a picture from Jim Witmer Dayton Daily News:
(Note: The sign reads, "Jon Husted, if you can READ this sign you'd be HOME by now."

An Ohio Democratic Party staff member paces outside state Sen. Jon Husted's home in Kettering, near Dayton, amid a dispute about whether Husted qualifies as a registered voter in Kettering or Upper Arlington, where his wife owns a home.

>>>> Progress Ohio ran this piece on January 8, 2009, with a great headline:

Husted Continues To Claim He Lives In Kettering: Apparently Doesn't
Shower Or Flush The Toilet Much There

Dayton Daily News:

.....Water usage records released by Montgomery County late Wednesday show that usage at Husted's Kettering home since 2002 was far below the 1,600 cubic foot quarterly average for his Castle Hills residential neighborhood.

Average quarterly usage at his property was 500 cubic feet between 2002 and October, and county records show no water usage for the quarterly bills dated August 2007, April 2008 and July 2008. Greg Merrill, director of water services, said the zero usage figure means that less than 750 gallons of water was used during the quarter.

Husted declined comment on the water data.

I can prove where I live. My neighbors see me every single day. I have garbage cans I put outside and return to the garage after pick up. I pick up my mail and I answer the doorbell. The newspapers I receive are retrieved from my porch and driveway. I can provide utility bills that indicate that we use an appropriate amount of water and electricity for a home of this size. However, Husted is unable to do the same. He seems unwilling and unable to prove "residency" in his Kettering house other than to declare it. However, being Husted, he is considered the "golden boy" of the Ohio GOP and he doesn't have to submit to rules that apply to regular people. Husted believes that he cannot and should not be questioned to prove something as simple as where he resides. However, if he is elected as Ohio's Secretary of State, he would have the ability to question your residency.


* The Dispatch has the latest on the Jon Husted residency controversy:

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled today that Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner has a week to decide a residency dispute involving state Sen. Jon Husted.

The court issued its unanimous decision without comment, giving Brunner seven days to break a tie vote by the Montgomery County Board of Elections about Husted's status as a registered voter at his address in Kettering near Dayton.....

....Brunner has pointed to a third section that says "the place where the family of a married person resides shall be considered to be the person's place of residence."

Here is a video from YouTube about Jon Husted's residency:

If Husted spends 99% of his non-working time in Upper Arlington with his family, how can he claim residency. His utility bills don't back up his claim of his residency in Kettering. Somehow, the Republican Supreme Court will let their GOP golden boy off the hook, because rules don't apply to Husted.

I'll Always Love My Buckeyes

* The Ohio State USC game was very exciting. Even though the Buckeyes did not win, it was pure insanity in the stadium. Besides an incredible crowd of over 106,000 people, celebrities like former Buckeyes Chris Carter, Michael Redd, Santonio Holmes, as well as stars like Will Farrell and Vince Vaughn, were on the sidelines. Win or lose, I'll always support my Buckeyes! Go Bucks!

* There have been some hotly contested issues that have seen some ads on TV. Ads for and against casino gambling in Ohio have been seen and heard over and over again on television and radio. I sincerely hope that we get casino gambling in Ohio because it is a sensible way to bring additional revenue and jobs to the state.

* Everyone has been talking about the disrespectful outburst made by the Republican Congressman from South Carolina. Many of us have been recognizing the ugly head of racism coming from Republicans and the right.

* Some people from the religious right and the Ohio GOP are trying to stop slot machines from appearing at Ohio racing tracks. These Republican righties keep filing lawsuits like the one described in the Springfield News. I think what the Ohio Republicans are trying to do is stop any chance for Gov. Ted Strickland from actually bringing back an economic recovery for Ohio. The GOP will do anything to stop any progress in the state so that if Ohio heads into the abyss, they can blame it on Strickland. Meanwhile, the Republicans are doing absolutely nothing.

* Meanwhile, it appears that Republican candidate for Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, who lives in Upper Arlington, Ohio, but represents Kettering, has been spending lots of his spare time touring all 88 Ohio counties for his campaign. Exactly how much time does he spend in Kettering?

More Losses in Iraq

Two soldiers from central Ohio were killed in Iraq, according to the Dispatch:

They were in Iraq, and the two soldiers who served with the 545th Military Police Company marveled at how they ended up together when both were from central Ohio.

Army Staff Sgt. Shannon M. Smith, 31, of Marion, was the supervisor of Pfc. Zachary T. Myers, 21, of Delaware.

Both were killed Tuesday as they rode in the same armored vehicle that was hit by an explosive in Baji, Iraq. A third soldier, Thomas F. Lyons, 20, of Fernley, Nev., also was killed.....

Please keep their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Shame on Rep. Joe Wilson

Obviously Republican Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina is a disrespectful person. He is the person that yelled, "You lie," during the President's address last night. Wilson must be very busy today because Wilson's official U.S. House website is "...down for maintenance."

CNN has a follow up to Wilson's comment. Apparently, Americans have responded quite loudly against Wilson's heckling. You can contact Wilson at---- FAX: 202-225-2455, (803) 939-0041, (843)521-2530, (202) 225-2452) Wilson should be called out because he was grossly disrespectful to the President. By the way, I've tried several times to call Wilson's listed phone numbers, but they are all busy and the mailboxes are full. Even his campaign office telephone number (803) 926-1413 has a full mail box.

Shame on Rep. Joe Wilson. Shame on South Carolina. What is wrong with South Carolina that they have people like Joe Wilson and their Gov. Sanford? What ever happened to the Southern gentlemen of the past?

<<<<<<>>>>>
Raw Story:

...Wilson is a major recipient of contributions from the health care industry.

In fact, over his entire congressional career, health professionals represent Wilson’s top industry contributors, donating a total of $244,196 to his campaign, according to the Center for Responsive Politics OpenSecrets.org database. He received another $86,150 from pharmaceutical companies, $73,050 from insurance companies and $68,000 from hospitals and nursing homes....

Wow! Looks like Wilson likes that money from the opponents of health care reform.

* The following is from Joe Wilson campaign website concerning a recent fundraiser:

Wednesday, August 19th
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.....

Paid for by Joe Wilson for Congress Committee

...Sponsored by
South Carolina Medical Equipment Services Association
P.O. Box 3284, West Columbia, SC 29171 Phone 803-926-1772...

Looks like Republican Rep. Joe Wilson has been raking in the big, big money from the anti-health care reform companies, associations, and lobbyists.

Jean Schmidt is a "Birther"?????

Think Progress has a clip of Republican Rep. Jean Schmidt (OH-2) which indicates that she is a "birther":

Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-OH) spoke at the Voice of America tea party this Labor Day weekend outside of Cincinnati, OH. Following a tense Q&A session — during which, the congresswoman was booed for acknowledging that the Constitution is a living document — Schmidt engaged in a heated conversation with a birther off-stage. At the conclusion of their exchange, Schmidt whispered to the birther, “I agree with you, but the courts don’t.”

Think Progress attended the event and captured exclusive video of the exchange. Watch it:

(also posted on You Tube)

Truth

>>>> An overblown story by WTTE, fails to explain the truth about the recent Republican "energy summit" held in Columbus, Ohio. What is the truth? The panel of elected Republicans almost outnumbered the audience members. With less than 30 in the audience (most of which were members of media outlets), it appeared as if no one wanted to listen to the lies from the Republicans. The only people in attendance were those forced to be there to cover the event. (Note: WTTE is owned by the right wing media company, Sinclair Broadcast Group.)

**** Why have so many Ohio Republicans accepted campaign contributions from David L. Brennan of Akron, Ohio? Is this the reason the Ohio GOP refuses to work on fixing the school funding for Ohio's schools?

David L. Brennan, of White Hat Management, owns and operates charter schools in Ohio, and is a generous contributor to Republicans. I invite you to visit the FEC.gov site and do a search for individual contributor, David L. Brennan.

President Obama's Message of Staying in School Upsets Some Parents in Central Ohio

Every so often you think that some of your neighbors are just off their rockers. Some parents in central Ohio are objecting to President Obama's back to school message. Obviously, the President's suggestions of studying hard, setting goals, and staying in school, are controversial to some parents. (Those objecting parents must want their children to drop out of school after the third grade.)

Which school districts will not show the President?

The Columbus Dispatch has Hilliard, Columbus Public, showing the speech, but others in the area will record it for future viewing.

1865

It is fairly clear that the Republicans haven't had a fresh idea since Abraham Lincoln, and, if they had their way, they'd like to move backwards with rights and privileges that we enjoy today. The GOP is against any progress for women, minorities, students, the elderly, immigrants, working people, diversity, etc., etc., etc.

A large majority of Republicans have ---
- voted against raising the minimum wage.
- voted against approval of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
- voted against SCHIP.
- voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 (see Govtrack.us).
- stated their opposition to health care reform.
- stated their belief that global warming and climate change are fictional.
- voted against stem cell research.
- voted against a woman controlling her own reproductive decisions.

I really don't need to go on. If you'd liked the way the country was in 1865 (yes, 1865!), vote Republican, because that is exactly where the Republican brains are----- back in 1865. They have no new plans, ideas, or solutions to modern problems. The Republicans continue to go back to their old political idea book that was probably put together in the late 1800's. They appear to be a party of racists and Neanderthals who only welcome other narrow thinking people to their party.

We need to make progress for all Americans.


* John Harwood of the New York Times just said on MSNBC that those parents who are objecting to President Obama's back to school message ("Stay In School") are probably too stupid to raise their kids.

Ohio Republican Energy Summit = Failure

Ohio's Republican elected members of Congress just don't understand climate change.

Dispatch:
U.S. House Minority Leader John Boehner and other GOP House members pressed their case in Columbus yesterday against climate-change legislation, charging that it would drive more jobs out of ailing Ohio.....
.....Greenpeace USA spokeswoman Deborah Steele called the summit "another attempt by dirty-energy companies to stall meaningful action on global warming."

She said that Ohio, which relies on coal for 86 percent of its electricity, is the fourth-largest producer of greenhouse emissions in the U.S. If Ohio were a country, it would be the 14th-largest emissions generator in the world, Steele said.

According to many sources (including Earth-Stream), there were far more protesters than attendees. The picture below is from Bret Thompson at ProgressOhio and shows the audience at yesterday's Republican energy summit held in Columbus, Ohio. It looks like Ohioans are NOT buying this baloney from the Ohio Republicans.

Pretty hilarious, isn't it?

Even More...

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH-Democrat) had some touching words about the passing of Sen. Edward Kennedy. Dayton Daily News:

...Brown considered the liberal lion of the Senate a mentor and friend, and he felt the loss....

...The elder senator took the younger senator under his wing. He’d invite him to his hideaway — an office he had in the Capitol — and Brown, Kennedy and others would shoot the breeze until the wee hours of the night on nights when the Senate was stuck in session. Brown would study the pictures of the Kennedy family on the wall, pictures of iconic people that had never been released to the public.

“I would pinch myself when I got to sit with Ted Kennedy,” he said. “He was always bigger than life to all of us, particularly those who didn’t know him as long.”

It is clear the Sen. Kennedy's work touched those in the Senate and will have a lasting effect on all our lives.

*** 10TV.com reports that a large pro-health care reform rally was held last night in Columbus:

The debate over health care reform took center stage in central Ohio Tuesday night.

The pro-reform rally at the Ohio Expo Center had all the sights and sounds of a presidential campaign rally, including music, signage and even a bus emblazoned with President Barack Obama's logo, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.

Sen. Sherrod Brown said the stakes are just as high as they were in November.....

I think that those of us who have experienced loved ones with health problems understand why health care reform is a priority.

>>>> LOL----Marion Star:

...With a handful of successful meetings that have recruited about 30 members, the Harding Area Young Republicans group is up and running and ready to help get their conservative candidates elected....

....While there was bowling, pizza and pop for all attendees at Tuesday’s meeting at bluefusion entertainment, state officials Sen. Karen Gillmor, Rep. Jeff McClain and Rep. Dave Burke all attended, as did Ohio Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine and Sen. Jon Husted, a sixth district representative from Kettering who is running for Ohio Secretary of State.

About 30 people of all ages attended, socializing and pausing to hear Osborne, DeWine and Husted address the crowd, all championing for a new, energetic Republican party to take back Ohio in 2010....

Did you read that-----"....have recruited about 30 members...." OMG! LOL! Do you know what that "about 30 members" means? It means that it is not quite 30. Seriously, what young person wants to join a Republican Party that is so anti-everything?

It sounds to me that the young voters of Ohio are rejecting the old politics of the Republican Party.

Ignorance on the Right

Cleveland.com:
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency on Monday said it would soon formally declare carbon dioxide a dangerous pollutant -- a move that could help propel slow-moving climate change legislation on Capitol Hill....

and this----

....House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, earlier this year called the idea of labeling carbon dioxide a carcinogen "comical" because humans exhale the gas with every breath they take.

Boehner's lack of knowledge on this subject is sad. Yet, Boehner uses his ignorance to try to shape a policy. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.

>>> An anti-President Obama ad has caused a lot of problems.

Gainesville.com:

A newspaper advertisement blaming President Barack Obama and Democrats for wrecking the economy is receiving complaints from some area readers and raising questions about the organization behind it....
....The ad, a membership plea from the U.S. Citizens Association, alleges that high-profile Democrats caused the subprime mortgage crisis and consequently the recession. It also makes a variety of claims about health care reform, global warming legislation and other liberal policies.....


The article mentions those associated with this right wing group----

...The list included Executive Director Lance Davis, a former InfoCision marketing director; Benjamin Suarez, founder of a direct marketing company; and Herschel Gammill and Wayne Maddy, pastors of Ohio churches. A story on the Huffington Post Web site said Ed Rollins, a longtime Republican political consultant who chaired Mike Huckabee's 2008 presidential campaign, also was affiliated with the group.....

The article goes also explains that subscribers have called into the offending paper, the Gainesville Sun, to complain, and cancel subscriptions.

I am absolutely amazed at the ignorance of the U.S. Citizens Association. Well, not really. There is a lot of ignorance within some right wing groups. Are they trying to revise everything to fit their political agenda? You bet.

You might want to contact this offensive, lying, right wing group, and let them know how you feel: http://www.uscitizensassociation.com/

The U.S. Citizens Association
1655 W. Market Street | Suite 200
Akron, Ohio 44313

By Phone: 1-800-778-2158

>>>> By the way, CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) had this:

Today, CREW sent a letter to MSNBC President Phil Griffin asking that MSNBC stop airing an ad sponsored by the U.S. Citizens Association. The ad, which ran at least once on August 27, 2009, during Morning Joe, violates Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations and NBC’s advertising policy. (The letter can be seen here.)

According to its website, the U.S. Citizens Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to, among other things, informing “the public on the fallacies of the information being spread by the liberal socialist organizations and the facts on capitalism versus socialism.” The ad, which can be viewed on the organization’s website opposes healthcare reform....

Sounds like this U.S. Citizens Association is to the right--- the far, far, far right.