Are Republicans Oblivious to Everything?

*******        *******

>  Republican congressional candidate, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, does not appear to be sure where he stands as far as the unemployment compensation extension bill that has been blocked by Republicans.  According to Plunderbund, Stivers seems a little confused about which side he is on----- for an extension of unemployment benefits (with Democrats) or against an extension of the benefits (with Republicans).  Plunderbund has the dirty details.

Steve Stivers wants to repeal the health care reform law.  He must have health care insurance.  Only when you've gone without, do you understand what it is like to not see a doctor or get the medicine you need. 

>  The Wall Street reform bill has passed the House of Representatives.  The bill was not as tough as many of us would have liked. Then, there are those, like Stivers, Boehner, and other bank-pandering Republicans, who thought it was too tough.  Stivers, Boehner, and their banking buddies just want to continue to let banks, bankers, and financial firms operate with little or no regulations.  Somehow that doesn't sound like a good idea.  Anyone who has lived in Ohio, remembers what happened to the Home State Savings Bank in 1985.  We don't want to relive something like that over and over again.

>  Speaking of Boehner......

It was not a good week for Republican leader, John Boehner.  MSNBC's Joe Scarborough, a former Republican congressman, attacked Boehner's work ethic and his bar-hopping  (see the Huffington Post for details).

John Boehner had an interview with the Tribune-Review:

....Speaking about the financial regulatory overhaul bill, Boehner told the Tribune-Review on Monday: "This is killing an ant with a nuclear weapon. There are faults in our regulatory system, some in terms of transparency, most as a result of ineffective enforcement by the bureaucracy who have no idea what these financial products look like today. That could've been fixed, but that's not what we have here."

Oooooooops!!!!

I agree with what President Obama said about Boehner's remark (also from the Tribune Review):

"He compared the financial crisis to an ant," Obama said. "This is the same financial crisis that led to the loss of nearly 8 million jobs. Same crisis that cost people their homes, their life savings."

Many people in Boehner's district think that Boehner lives in a bubble.  Boehner does not appear to have been hurt by the financial crisis as badly as some of his constituents and many Americans.  As a matter of fact, he almost seems oblivious to the financial problems and recession that the rest of us have witnessed.  Boehner still has a job, travels extensively, stays at fancy hotels, plays golf on private golf courses with lobbyists, and still has time to hit the bars, allegedly.  He doesn't feel your pain!  

Ohio's 8th district has a terrific Democratic opponent with the candidacy of Justin Coussoule!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Young Voters

Both political parties are trying to get the young voter to support their candidates.  While Republicans can claim that their party brought us George W. Bush (238 historians call George W. Bush our worst President - see Raw Story), Democrats have an example of intelligence, youth, and leadership in President Barack Obama.  Do young voters want people like Republican and former oil executive, Rep. Joe Barton, leading the Energy Committee in the House? If Republicans regain control of the House of Representatives, Republican Barton would be the chair in charge of overseeing energy, oil, and the continuing cleanup of the gulf.  That sounds like a nightmare!

Oshkosh Northwestern:

The Democratic National Committee is devoting $50 million to reach first-time voters and get those who voted for the first time in 2008 to return to the polls. This group includes voters 18 to 29 years old, the majority of whom voted for Democrats in the 2008 presidential election as well as the 2006 midterm elections, according to Tufts University’s Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), which studies voting habits of young people....

.....Ohio’s 15th district, which includes most of the Ohio State University in Columbus and its more than 50,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, features a rematch between freshman Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy and former Republican state Sen. Steve Stivers. Kilroy defeated Stivers in 2008 by 2,312 votes. She is the first Columbus-area Democrat in Congress since 1982....

Kilroy has a very huge contingent of young, enthusiastic Democrats on the Ohio State campus.  The student group, College Democrats at The Ohio State University, is one of the largest college Democratic groups in the country.

Visit College Democrats at Ohio State on Facebook.

Join Congresswoman Kilroy

We all love parades!  Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th) will be in the Westland Area Business Association Parade on Saturday, July 3rd, 9:30am, at West Broad and Westwoods Blvd.  If you'd like to walk in the parade with Congresswoman Kilroy, go to the Darby Woods Elementary School (55 Westwoods Blvd) at 8:30am.  Join the big celebration after the parade at Lincoln Village Plaza.  See you there!

************

************

Volunteers are needed for Mary Jo Kilroy's campaign.  If you'd like to help, call 

(614) 545-4070.

Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan

A Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan is ready.

ProgressOhio:

U.S. Representative Mary Jo Kilroy today announced the establishment of a new Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) which earlier had been referred to as the High Risk Pool program and the launch of HealthCare.gov, a comprehensive website designed to guide consumers through the benefits of health care reform.

For far too long, people with pre-existing conditions had nowhere to turn and this program will help many of them find the coverage they need,” said Kilroy.  “With so much information to process about health care reform the web tool helps people understand their options and how they stand to benefit.  Families and small businesses can now easily seek out insurance options available to them to make informed decisions about their health care with thorough, unbiased information.”

Established by the Affordable Care Act, the PCIP is a transitional program until 2014, when insurers will be banned from discriminating against adults with pre-existing conditions.  The PCIP will provide a new health coverage option for Americans who have been uninsured for at least six months, have been unable to get health coverage because of a pre-existing condition, and are a U.S. citizen or are residing in the United States legally.  29 states including Ohio have chosen to operate their own PCIP program.  The remaining 21 states have elected to have HHS run their program.  Information about the PCIP in Ohio can be found at http://www.healthcare.gov/law/about/states/oh.html......

Yet Republicans are against this health care reform law?  Republican Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, wants to repeal it.


*  The filibustering of the unemployment compensation extension bill by Republicans in the U.S. Senate is causing some unemployed Republicans to question their party affiliation.  See DailyKos for the story.

* Looking to make a counter demonstration when Kasich marches in the Ashville Parade on July 4th?  Bring your Strickland signs, pro-Democratic signs, and your anti-Lehman Brothers signs to bring out when Kasich and his people go by.

Stivers Upset that Kilroy is Not Supporting HIS Constituents = Bankers

In a letter to the editor in today's Dispatch, Republican congressional candidate, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, says that Democratic Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy is not helping her constituents.  Really?

Rep. Kilroy voted to keep banks accountable.  I guess, as a former bank lobbyist, Stivers thinks that is a bad idea.

Republican Steve Stivers has accepted $46,550 from Commercial Banks in campaign contributions (see OpenSecrets). (Note:  In the 2008 campaign, Stivers got $92,150 in contributions from Commercial Banks (see OpenSecrets).)  Stivers is clearly the candidate for bankers, financial groups, and bank lobbyists.

Here is what Emily's List has to say about Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy:

A courageous advocate for Ohioans

Among her first term accomplishments, Kilroy’s constituents have been profoundly affected by the economic downturn -- leading her to pressure a reluctant AIG subsidiary to restructure subprime mortgages and her vote for landmark environmental legislation that will bring clean energy jobs to Ohio.

>  Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy voted for health care reform.  Stivers, obviously is against people having affordable access to health care.  Does Stivers think that if you are poor, you should just go somewhere and die?

>  From Kilroy's congressional website:

...One of Rep. Kilroy’s top accomplishments so far has been co-sponsoring the Credit Cardholder’s Bill of Rights that became law in May. The sweeping bipartisan reform gives safeguards against unfair and predatory practices by credit card companies and will greatly reduce the $20 billion in fees charged to families last year....

Remember that Stivers was in support of those predatory lenders when he was in the State Senate.  

*  Stivers says that Kilroy is not helping her constituents????  I'll let you decide.  Here are a few of Kilroy's sponsored legislation (The Library of Congress):


H.R.3232 : PROFIT Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 7/16/2009)      


H.R.3318 : Investor Advisory Committee Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 7/23/2009)  


H.R.3351 : Proxy Voting Transparency Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 7/27/2009)  


H.R.3421 : Medical Debt Relief Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 7/30/2009)


H.R.4099 : Energy Efficiency Modernization Act of 2009
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 11/18/2009) 

H.R.4772 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the nonbusiness energy property credit to include insulated siding.
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 3/4/2010) 


H.R.5332 : Small Business Intermediary Lending Pilot Program Act of 2010
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 5/18/2010)


H.AMDT.43 to H.R.1388Amendment provides for volunteers to supervise physical education classes at elementary and secondary schools; provide nutrition education to students, and supervise, organize, and manage after school physical activity/education programs; and provides services to elderly people through food deliveries, legal and medical services provided in the home, and transportation.
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 3/18/2009)


H.AMDT.156 to H.R.915 Amendment requires the GAO to study, within one year of enactment, the effectiveness of FAA oversight activities related to preventing or mitigating the effects of dense continuous smoke in the cockpit of commercial aircraft. Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 5/21/2009)   


H.AMDT.439 to H.R.3221 Amendment as modified gives priority to dislocated workers for community college and state grants.
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 9/17/2009) 


H.AMDT.537 to H.R.4173 Amendment clarifies that financing for the Systemic Dissolution Fund would come exclusively from assessments on industry, not the American taxpayer.
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 12/11/2009)


H.AMDT.564 to H.R.4061 Amendment changes the Federal Cyber Scholarship for Service program to include support for outreach activities that will improve the recruitment of high school and community college students into cybersecurity-related fields.
Sponsor: Rep Kilroy, Mary Jo [OH-15] (introduced 2/3/2010)  


As I've noted, this is a partial list of legislation sponsored by Rep. Kilroy.  She is obviously working to make things better for the people of central Ohio----- not the bankers and bank lobbyists.


Should I take it that Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, is against all of this sponsored legislation?


The following is from the 2008 election:

Update!

The Financial Regulation Bill has passed the House of Representatives.

Clerk of the House:


      H R 4173      YEA-AND-NAY      30-Jun-2010      6:54 PM
      QUESTION:  On Agreeing to the Conference Report
      BILL TITLE: Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009

Democrats......234 Yeas
Republicans........3 Yeas
Total...............237 Yeas

Ohio Representatives:
Yeas:  Boccieri, Driehaus, Fudge, Kilroy, Kucinich, Ryan, Space, Sutton, Wilson
Nays:  Austria, Boehner, Jordan, Kaptur, LaTourette, Latta, Schmidt, Tiberi, Turner

 

Kasich: Repeal State Income Tax

Kasich says he'll repeal the state income tax:
(video)



Who said he didn't say it?

Who supports clean energy and the environment?

*  Politicians should be careful when they speak about the environment, green energy, and conservation.  Younger voters (18-30) are very concerned about details surrounding these issues.  Those politicians without a clean energy policy will find themselves unable to gain the support of younger voters.

*  Speaking of the environment.....

BP stockholder and Republican congressional candidate, Steve Stivers, has yet to address the deaths and damage caused by the BP oil spill in the gulf.  Stivers, who is also a former bank lobbyist, has probably decided not to address the issue because he doesn't want to seem anti- business.  If you recall, Stivers has voiced his desires to eliminate certain departments in the federal government.

On 2/11/10, I quoted from the 912 survey that Steve Stivers filled out for the group.  Here is what I posted on 2/11/10 from the Steve Stivers survey-----

Page 2
4) Name one or more federal departments or programs that you would introduce legislation to phase out or eliminate. Explain your position.


Stivers' response:
This is a hard question, because only four Departments perform Constitutional roles. (State, Defense, Justice & Treasury), so you could eliminate the Departments of Agriculture, Education, Interior, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy and other to return to a constitutionally pure government....

Stivers then went on and "disagreed" with the following statement-----

Page 3 4) Man-made global warming is a scientific fact and immediate action to lower CO2 emissions is necessary to prevent an environmental catastrophe.

With Stivers trying to eliminate various departments that safeguard the environment and his laissez-faire attitude about the massive oil disaster in the gulf, he appears to be against protecting our environment.


*  According to publishers, Simon & Schuster, Republican candidate, John Kasich, is continuing his book tour.  Is Kasich more interested in selling books than his own political campaign?

New Poll

A new poll out this morning will certainly get people talking.

CQPolitics:

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland (D) continues to have a re-election edge over challenger John Kasich (R), according to a survey conducted June 22-17 by Quinnipiac University.

The poll , which sampled the opinions of 1,107 registered voters, found Strickland leading 43 percent to 38 percent.

Most telling, though, was the measurement of the candidates' favorability. Ohioans just don't know Kasich well enough to have an opinion; he got thumbs up from 28 percent of those surveyed, thumbs down from 19 percent and 52 percent said they were unable to make a judgment.......

That is definitely good news for Strickland.  For those who say they don't know much about Kasich, we can give them this -----

http://www.kasichfacts.com

Why Attack Justice Thurgood Marshall?

*  Why would Republicans on the Senate Judicial committee trash one of the finest Supreme Court Justices, Thurgood Marshall?  Are Republicans trying to disrespect, disparage, and smear Justice Marshall because he was the first Black American on the Court?  Are Republicans trying to besmirch Justice Marshall because he helped further equality?

Clearly, Republicans on the Judicial Committee are stuck somewhere in the year 1785 in American history--- they seem uncomfortable with the rights of minorities and women.

Here is part of a piece from The Nation:

.....Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, who even by southern Republican standards will win no "Mr. Congeniality" awards, dismissed Justice Marshall - who as chief counsel for the NAACP was one of the epic figures in the history ofd the civil rights struggle and during his judicial tenure emerged as a stalwart defender of the First Amendment rights of dissenters on the right and the left -- as a “well-known liberal activist judge.”

Sessions made his comments to a hearing room where the late justice's son, Thurgood Marshall Jr.,  was seated behind Kagan, who clerked for the elder Marshall as a young lawyer.

Texas Senator John Cornyn complianed the hearing about Justice Marshall's "judicial philosophy" and argued that "it is clear he considered himself a judicial activist and was unapologetic about it," while Utah Senator Orrin Hatch opined to reporters during a break in the proceedings that much of Justice Marshall's record "really didn't make sense as an obedient student of the practice of law."

Those Republicans are idiots.


****  MS. Magazine has an interesting article in their current issue about how women will benefit with Obama's new health care plan. Women must have  maternity coverage and pre-existing conditions will be a thing of the past. Check out MS. Magazine for more of the benefits that will help women.

**** Another day has passed and we have not heard Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist and current BP stockholder, speak about the disastrous BP oil spill in the gulf.  Stivers, a Republican congressional candidate, remains quiet about the deaths and environmental disaster.  Does he even care?

>  John Kasich, a former investment banker with Lehman Brothers, has not released the rest of his tax returns from the time he worked with Lehman.  Should we assume that Kasich made millions and millions of dollars while people saw their retirement funds plummet?

Examine His Votes

John Kasich, Republican candidate for Governor and former investment banker with Lehman Brothers, seems to be trying to get a lot of people angry with him.  (See Tim Russo's column over at Plunderbund.)  As Russo explains, whether you are a LeBron fan or you come from a rural life, Kasich has done a good job at dismissing your concerns.

Kasich's Congressional voting record should be examined.  Here are only two votes  from Govtrack.us---

House Roll #536 Oct 19, 2000 2:13 PM

Nay

On the Conference Report - House - H.R. 4635 Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations for FY 2001 Passed 386-24, 22 not voting (Note: Kasich and Steve Chabot voted against it.)

House Roll #45 Mar 9, 2000 9:50 PM

No

On Passage - House - H.R. 3846 To Amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to Increase the Minimum Wage, and for other purposes Passed 282-143, 9 not voting (Kasich, Chabot, Portman, Oxley, Boehner, and Pryce voted against it.)

I will have plenty of time to look at Kasich's other votes from his days in Congress.

More Politics

Lots of people are starting to ask about Republican Mary Taylor's political ploy.

An editorial from the Plain Dealer posted at Cleveland.com:


....there's something fishy -- election-year fishy -- about a partisan clash over a lottery "performance audit" by State Auditor Mary Taylor, a suburban Akron Republican.
A performance audit isn't the same as periodic financial audits. The lottery's most recent financial audit -- for the year ending June 30, 2009 -- showed its books met usual accounting standards....

....Also pushing the smell-o-meter: This is the only performance audit Taylor's launched without an agency request. And Taylor is running mate to the GOP candidate for governor, former U.S. Rep. John R. Kasich -- while the lottery answers to Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland, whom Kasich wants to unseat....

I know it. You know it.  Taylor is playing politics with an audit that wasn't even necessary.  How much time and money was wasted by Taylor?


***  The anti-women's reproductive group (AKA Ohio Right to Life) are being criticized by David Ryon.  While Republican Steve Stivers was endorsed by the anti- reproductive group, Stivers does believe that women have the right to choose in certain situations.  David Ryon is the Constitution Party nominee and he is against abortions for any reason.  I'm sure that they'll be lots of discussion on this endorsement.

News, news, news...

 * Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (Oh-15th-Democrat) has had a successful week in Congress with her working on the Senate House special committee.  Kilroy has worked to protect the average person, especially during these difficult financial times.  In her capacity on the FinReg committee, according to the Dispatch, Kilroy got two of her amendments passed:

...One would allow the federal government to provide grants to legal-aid organizations, which could offer legal advice and help to homeowners facing either foreclosure or eviction.
The second amendment, which Kilroy drafted, would toughen federal regulations of credit-rating agencies by holding them liable for providing false information to investors....

Thank you, Mary Jo Kilroy! 

(I wonder if we had a bank lobbyist in Congress, if he would push forward such pro-consumer legislation.   Hmmmmm.  I don't think so.  Stive Stivers, Republican and former bank lobbyist, is not interested in helping and protecting consumers.  We know that because he worked to put caps on liability claims and he was against consumer protection.  Steve Stivers.  What a great bank lobbyist!)


*  Mary Taylor, Auditor for the State of Ohio, is Republican John Kasich's running mate for the upcoming general election.  Kasich, a former investment banker with the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers, is running for governor on a promise to eliminate the state income tax.  Unfortunately, the voters in Ohio have yet to see a plan on how he'd do that, what departments he'd cut, if he will cut 11,000 state employees, what state assets (parks, forests, highways, buildings, and schools) he'll sell off, etc.  Right now, with no platform to run on, Kasich and Taylor are doing nothing but playing with the element of time.  Kasich is selling books, having talks with other defeated Republicans, and talking on, and on, and on, and on,........

Republican Mary Taylor, who is still the State Auditor, is now playing politics.  She has  just discovered (Really? Just a few months before the elections? Really?) embezzlement in the Stark County's Treasurer's office, even though, according to CantonRep, it has been going on since 2003 (when Betty Montgomery, Republican, was State Auditor).  The article goes on and to state that the "total theft committed" was $2,464,989.

Earlier this year, it was discovered that Mary Taylor often works out of an office in Canton, which is closer to her home (see Dispatch 2/14/10).  All of the state offices are located in  Columbus, but Taylor is rarely there.  By the way, Canton is located in Stark County.

Republican Mary Taylor is asking us to believe that this embezzlement has been going on in Canton, Stark County since 2003, the location of her satellite office, but she just noticed it?????????  How is that possible?  Taylor audits the Stark County Treasurer's office every year.  Did she just release the embezzlement charge now because it was better to use the information just before the election?  If Taylor knew that embezzlement was going on earlier, why didn't she stop it then?


>   Mary Taylor is in the news again--------

Now Mary Taylor is playing politics again.  She said that she would not release the findings of the audit of the Ohio Lottery.  Cleveland:

Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland said Auditor Mary Taylor needs to set a date for the release of her performance audit of the Ohio Lottery to eliminate the perception that she is playing politics with her office....

....Strickland was reacting to a Plain Dealer story about Taylor's recent decision to delay the release of the lottery audit begun in January.


The story cited a letter by Lottery Director Kathleen Burke that says she was told by the auditor's office that the audit was delayed because Taylor's executive staff wanted auditors to "dig deeper" into some recommendations outlined in the executive summary of a draft.....

I think that someone who knows what is really going on in that lottery audit, should use their own cell phone and on their lunch hour, call the Governor's office or the Attorney General's office, to let them know if Taylor is playing some shenanigans with the numbers. 

*  Kasich and Taylor met with Mitt "I tied my dog to the roof of my car" Romney, according to WMFD.  Big deal.  I don't vote for anyone associated with dog abusers.

Legislation

*** Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15th-Democrat) kept her word to protect consumers. Kilroy's work on the joint committee for financial reform has produced results.

HousingWire:

A conference of House Representatives and Senators agreed early this morning on a sweeping financial regulatory reform bill after weeks of reconciliation between separate House and Senate versions.
The reconciled bill establishes the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau, ends taxpayer-funded bailouts, brings greater regulation to the derivatives market and provides grants through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help mortgage borrowers facing foreclosure.....

....."I worked from day one to clean up the mess that Wall Street and special interests caused with their greed, bringing our economy to the brink of collapse," said Rep Mary Jo Kilroy (D-OH) in a statement. "Wall Street failed Ohioans and Americans when they took bets on no-win investments that led the economy off a cliff. Taxpayers shouldn't ever foot the bill of foolish risk takers who think they can rely on the government bailing them out when they mess up."

Thank you, Mary Jo Kilroy for your persistence in working toward Wall Street reform.

It is important to note that bankers and bank lobbyists are not happy with the legislation.  Of course, that means it must be good!

 ------------

***  Thinking about voting in November?  Check out the new website,
Raise Your Vote, to get information about your particular state's deadlines and requirements. You can get details about what to do if you are a college student away from home, in the military, out of the country, or interested in finding out about early voting. 


****  Republican candidate for Ohio governor, John Kasich, has made it no secret that he'd rather be in New York than Ohio. (Although some people think Kasich still wants to run for the White House.)  How much does Kasich love New York?  I'm so glad you asked!  From Ohiodems.org and posted on YouTube:

*************** 

As Ed Schulz just said on MSNBC-TV, the Senate Republicans rubber stamped trillions of dollars for tax cuts for the rich and two wars under President George W. Bush.  Now the Republicans just discovered the national debt.  (Did they just wake up?)  

Last night the Senate Republicans voted to stop legislation for jobs, extend unemployment benefits for millions of people, and tax breaks for small businesses. Once again the Republicans have demonstrated that they just don't care about average, hard-working Americans, or Hispanics, college students, senior citizens, the poor, etc., etc.  Here in Ohio we have the Bush family's best friend--- Rob Portman, as a candidate for U.S. Senate. Portman wants to bring back Bush's policies to Washington, DC. Really?

Latta and Stivers

***  People in Republican Rep. Bob Latta's district are starting to notice that Latta's attitude and behavior at his town hall meetings create an unsafe mob atmosphere.

Commentary from the Sandusky Register:

...Shouts at the recent town hall meeting sponsored by U.S. Rep. Bob Latta to "treat Democrats as enemies," "kill them" and "shoot him in the face." (referring to the President) are unruly mob behavior. Most Republican leaders I respect and worked with, including Latta's father, would have rejected such suggestions as extremist, out-of-place and inappropriate at any public forum.

By his earlier silence, Bob Latta encouraged the more outrageous remarks and behavior. The "win-at-all costs" attitude expressed at the meeting is patently anti-American and threatens the stability of our country and economic recovery. Unfortunately the same attitude prevails among most minority congresspersons who have vowed to use every means possible to "bring down" a lawfully elected president.

Under this strategy what happens to constituents with real problems? They are overlooked because of political expedience and appeals for the votes of the ill-informed. Rehashing the personal, partisan and self-serving rhetoric of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh and deliberate lies presented as "news" on Fox do nothing to address issues.....

Latta, who spends most of his day updating his Twitter account (http://twitter.com/boblatta and  http://twitter.com/latta4congress  and yet another one, http://latta.amplify.com/category/new-media/) and his other social network accounts, needs to stop trying to fire up the right wing nuts.  I'm sure that Latta's constituents would like to see some actual legislation written by Latta.  They are waiting for him to deliver something for them instead of spending so much time on his Blackberry.  (Visit Latta's Twitter accounts.  You'll be shocked at his disrespect for President Obama and Democrats.)

Note:  You may also want to check out some of Latta's comments at Republican county meetings (see stevemaloneygop).



***  With the press shy Republican candidate for Congress, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, it might be time for some TV/newspaper/internet reporters to ask Stivers some questions.  The OCTA (Ohio Cable Telecommunications Association) is sponsoring a fundraising event at the Columbus Club, 181 E. Broad Street, at 5:30pm on Monday, June 28th.  The press and anti-bank lobbyist individuals might want to try to ask questions of Stivers about:

-----  his reluctance to discuss the BP oil spill.
-----  how he feels as a BP stockholder when BP has caused deaths and the largest environmental disaster in our country's history.  Does he feel comfortable to continue to take profits on his stock?
-----  if he feels that BP or any corporation should pay liability claims.
-----  why, as a member of the Ohio Senate, he voted against a bill that would have provided scholarships for people with disabilities.
-----  why he continues to get large donations from bankers and bank PACs (political action committees).
-----  why he is against voters being able to vote for their own U.S. Senators.
-----  why he wants to eliminate so many departments in the federal government (Interior, Education, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Energy).
-----  why he favors banks over consumers.

These are only suggestions.

Republicans Still Hate the Unemployed

The Republicans in the Senate have shown their disdain for the unemployed.

USA Today:

For the third time, Senate Republicans have blocked legislation to extend unemployment benefits through November and renew dozens of individual and business tax breaks.
The vote was 57-41, with 60 votes needed to end debate and advance the bill. All 40 Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska, objected because the bill would have added $33 billion to the deficit....

"We just can't keep kicking the can down the street and say, 'Oh, we'll take care of it later on. It'll be offset later,'" Sen. George Voinovich, a centrist Republican from Ohio who is retiring, told The Hill. "That's all we've been doing these last couple of years, and I'm fed up with it."

George Voinovich is a heartless idiot.  Thank goodness he is retiring because I'm tired of journalists calling him a moderate.  He is not.  If you'd like to call one of Voinovich's office, here are some telephone numbers:  DC- Main: (202) 224-3353;
 Cleveland: (216) 522-7095; Nelsonville: (740) 441-6410;
Cincinnati:  (513) 684-3265; Toledo: (419) 259-3895; Dayton: (513) 684-3265;
Columbus: (614) 469-6697.


Sharron Angle, the Tea Party candidate in Nevada, seems to think that the unemployed are "spoiled."  For more on Angle, see Crooks and Liars.
Crooks and Liars also found this Youtube video on Angle's views:

Elitists in the Ohio GOP

We have a problem in Ohio with elitist Republicans, especially John Kasich, former Lehman Brothers investment banker.

The Washington Post has documented the latest attack by the Ohio Republicans:

Former Ohio Republican Rep. John Kasich's gubernatorial campaign hit a rough patch Wednesday as a press aide's comments on Gov. Ted Strickland's (D) humble upbringing became a national news story.


In a statement Tuesday, Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols made reference to Strickland's childhood, suggesting the governor doesn't know about urban issues because he grew up "in a chicken shack on Duck Run."

....During an appearance on Fox Radio last week, host Alan Colmes broached Kasich's absence from a music video, which featured many politicos, begging James to stay. "I'm not singing in any chorus for LeBron James," Kasich said. Whoops.....

I think that Kasich's elitist, champagne-sipping, Wall Street-loving, private jet-flying  lifestyle might make him think he can make fun of people's humble beginnings, but it won't win him any votes.

I do have a suggestion----  I think that LeBron James should make a two part announcement:  (Are you listening, LeBron?)

(1)  He will stay in Cleveland.
(2)  He will endorse and vote for Gov. Strickland.

That would swat Kasich's hubris.


>>>>>  Speaking of elitism---- Another day has passed and Republican candidate for Congress, Steve Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, still has not released a statement about the BP oil spill in the gulf.  Is he trying to avoid being asked about his BP stock?

According to Open Secrets, Stivers has been pulling in those contributions from bank employees and bank PACs. (This is just a sampling.)



Huntington Bancshares...$16,750
JPMorgan Chase & Co...$11,250
Huntington National Bank...$7,800
Stonehenge Financial...$5,750
etc.


Those bankers are contributing to Stivers because they know he'll have their backs.

New Trouble For Kasich

Republican candidate for Ohio governor, John Kasich, a former investment banker with Lehman Brothers, has made several mistakes in the last few days.

Blunder #1, as reported by Politico:

Kasich Mocks Strickland's Upbringing 

...former Rep. John Kasich’s campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland took direct aim at the governor’s modest origins, when spokesman Rob Nichols accused Strickland of mismanaging Ohio’s cities because he grew up “in a chicken shack on Duck Run.”

The comments came in response to a speech on urban policy by Strickland’s running mate, Yvette Brown, who recalled: “When Ted Strickland led a congregation in his small Methodist church, he put up a sign. It read, ‘Whoever you are, wherever you live, whatever color you are, you are welcome here.’” 

..."Only the congressman from Wall Street would be so out of touch as to insult Ted's humble upbringing. While Congressman Kasich may have spent a lot of time in boardrooms at Lehman Brothers and rubbing elbows with lobbyists at cocktail parties in Washington, Ohioans are looking for a Governor who will represent their values-and clearly that is not John Kasich,” she shot back....



Also,the Washington Monthly  questioned the wisdom of the Kasich campaign to joke about someone's humble beginnings: 

....As if that weren't enough, the Kasich campaign also mocked Strickland's modest upbringing the day before, saying the governor doesn't care about urban areas because he was raised "in a chicken shack on Duck Run."
Is this really where the Republican campaign wants to go? After John Kasich left Congress, he split time between Fox News and Lehman Brothers ... and now his campaign wants to insult the governor based on his modest upbringing?
DNC Chairman Tim Kaine appeared in Cleveland today, and defended Strickland: "I noticed that the other campaign yesterday ridiculed him for 'growing up in a chicken shack on Duck Run Ohio.' I don't know why they thought that's a bad thing, but maybe that's how it looks from the perspective of a Lehman Brothers consultant."
In the 21st century, it's rare, even for wealthy Republicans, to go out of their way to run a pro-elitist statewide campaign. It's curious move for a candidate whose polls seem to be moving in the wrong direction, and we'll see if this strategy works out well for Kasich...

< Blunder #2, as reported by NBC Sports has to do with Kasich's refusal to join with  Ohioans to keep LeBron James in Cleveland.

Hint: ---the picture below is from NBC Sports: 

 


Here is the video put up by the Strickland campaign (from Youtube):



Is this how Kasich is trying to win votes by "dissing" LeBron James and his Ohio fans?

Where are they?

Another day has passed and we still haven't heard Republican candidate for Congress Steve Stivers, talk about the largest environmental disaster in our country's history.  Stivers, a former bank lobbyist and current BP stockholder, appears to be trying to ignore the deaths, environmental damage, and safety problems BP experienced with the drill rig on the gulf.  Is this the way that Stivers would proceed in Congress----- ignore the obvious, but to continue to work to protect banker profits and corporate liability?

Is this how Republican control of Congress would work?  (see the video below)

YouTube by the DNC:



Will Stivers respond or is he too busy rubbing elbows with bankers, bank lobbyists, and other BP stockholders?

*  Do you remember the book "Where's Waldo?" I think Ohioans want to see a new book called "Where's Kasich?" because we just haven't seen or heard from Kasich for a long time.  John Kasich, former investment banker for the now bankrupt Lehman Brothers, has been on his book tour.  At this time, he seems to have abandoned his campaign for governor to promote his new book.  (Rumors are flying  that Kasich plans to use a win as governor to help him run for the White House.)

By the way, has Kasich released his tax returns yet?

****  Where is Jon Husted?  The Republican candidate for Ohio Secretary of State seems to be out of sight.  With the recess in the state legislature, is Husted spending more time in his abandoned home in Kettering?

Democrat Justin Coussoule

 Justin Coussoule, an attorney, a West Point graduate and former Army officer, is the Democratic candidate running against Republican John Boehner for Ohio's 8th congressional district.  I had the honor of interviewing Justin Coussoule.


Justin Coussoule feels that our men and women who serve and have served in the military, are precious natural resources.  We should honor our vets and make sure that they receive the proper medical, psychological, and emotional support they need in a timely manner.

 Coussoule has called the oil spill in the gulf "an environmental nightmare."  As a nation, he said, we should move toward clean energy and put our people to work to create clean sustainable energy.  With unemployment at 12% in Boehner's district, Coussoule believes future jobs will be in the area of manufacturing products that promote clean energy.  With empty businesses, storefronts, and unemployed citizens in the 8th district, Coussoule feels that Boehner has ignored the needs of his own constituents.

Coussoule pointed out that Ohio's 8th district has more Independent voters than Republicans, and more Democrats than Republicans.  Boehner may lose some of his usual base because of candidates representing the Libertarian Party and the Constitutional Party.

People outside of the 8th district may think that John Boehner is beloved by all his constituents.  This is false.  Boehner lives in a gated golf community and he spends many weekends out of his district golfing and raising campaign funds.  Boehner  actually has very little contact with his constituents and many are resentful that Boehner has done very little to bring jobs, and economic growth to his district.  During his twenty years in Congress, Boehner has supported the earmarks of others in Congress, but he has not delivered to his own constituents.  Many people in the 8th district want to know why they never see Boehner in his own district.  They feel that Boehner lives in a "bubble" and is uninterested in their daily lives.  As Coussoule said, "We expect our public servants to be in the district to hear the concerns of the people."

Justin and his wife, Amanda, have been married for ten years and have two children. Justin Coussoule is the Democratic candidate for Ohio's 8th district. Visit his website and his Facebook page to learn more about the issues and offer him your support.