Weapons Inspector Report and TIB Radio Updates

If you haven't yet signed up for the official e-newsletter of Weapons of Mass Discussion (over in the top right of the sidebar), then you want to do it soon because the first issue will be going out soon.

Other things on the horizon... The TIB All Stars Show will be back on TIB Radio one week from today. Next Saturday at 6PM, Tom Blumer, Mark, and I will take to the internet airwaves of the TIB Radio Network and provide some awesomeness. We've been chomping at the bit to get back and we have SO much to talk about.

State Rep. Combs Introduces Legislation to Honor Fairfield Graduate

Release:

COLUMBUS – State Representative Courtney Combs (R- Hamilton) today introduced legislation to name a stretch of highway after Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski. Taylor was killed in May 2005 while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Karmah, Iraq.

“I watched Taylor grow up his whole life and it was a great tragedy when we lost him,” said Combs. “This is but a small token of appreciation we can do to remember Taylor for his service to his community and country.”

House Bill 422 would name a portion of State Route 4 from South Gilmore Road to Symmes Road the Lance Corporal Taylor Prazynski Memorial Highway. Taylor joined the Marines shortly after graduating from Fairfield High School in 2003.

“The only way Taylor’s memory lives on is if we get to tell his story,” said Taylor’s father, John.

“With this bill, Taylor’s story is told by more than just his family and friends. Thank you to Representative Combs and the State of Ohio for recognizing his sacrifice and helping us keep his memory alive.”
This legislation now moves on to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where Combs serves as Ranking Member.

Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds Identifies $2.3 Million Assessment Error

Release:

HAMILTON, Ohio – Butler County taxpayers will benefit a minimum of $200,000 this year following an auditor review of a conservation assessment that has inappropriately collected more than $2.3 million from property owners since 1996.

Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds questioned the legal foundation of a resolution first passed in 1996 by the Butler County Board of Commissioners – and renewed each year thereafter – that levied an assessment on county homeowners to pay a county general fund obligation to the Miami Conservancy District.

The county Prosecutor’s Office concurred with the auditor that the language of commissioners Resolution No. 08-09-1545 has no basis in law and therefore the assessment cannot be collected this year. Refunds from the inappropriate collection of past assessments may also be warranted, Reynolds said. The assessment has collected more than $207,000 each year since 2005 and averaged $161,408 in the years prior to 2005.

“The implementation of more stringent internal controls led us to this discovery,” Reynolds said. “Since taking office in 2008 I have emphasized a heightened review of policies and empowered the staff to question past practices. I must admit that when I found the error, I was stunned that this was assessed so long without review. It is certainly not the way to conduct the people’s business.”

According to the Prosecutor’s Office and a review of Ohio Revised Code Section 6101, when the board of directors of the conservancy district certifies its annual levy, including an assessment against a political subdivision, the governing body of the political subdivision is required to 1) include the amount of the assessment in its tax budget for the ensuing year; and 2) levy a tax (not an assessment) at a uniform rate upon all of the taxable property within the political subdivision to provide sufficient funds to pay the amount of the assessment against the political subdivision.

The Board of Commissioners has the authority to levy a tax to pay its obligation to the conservancy district but no such tax has been enacted, Reynolds said. As such, the commissioners have no right to collect this assessment directly from taxpayers. “Government needs to keep working to find ways to save taxpayer money, instead of ways to spend it,” Reynolds said. “I have requested a legal review from the Prosecutor’s Office regarding refunds of the previous collections and I’m pushing for the maximum refund allowed by law.”

Surveying The Aftermath

This Marty Gottlieb piece gives me another chance to survery the aftermath of the Dave Yost switcheroo business which has dominated headlines here at WMD for the last week or so.

Let's start with Marty gets right:

So Yost is running for auditor.

Hey, it’s a statewide office, too. You take what you can get. You let the bumper stickers take care of themselves.

This is the attitude of our friends in Columbus including the political operative class.  This is NOT the view taken by activists who represent the grassroots rank-and-file folks who Columbus must rely for manpower.  As my good friend phoning it in from Virginia once said: “These are Party leaders, grassroots coordinators, fundraisers and combinations thereof. The very people that need to be inspired to work hard to make sure victory is assured in November. It would be easy to say that these people can be counted on already. There is no need to waste time courting folks that will already help you, just as they help each campaign cycle, right? But as a campaign veteran I can tell you there is a ginormous difference between Party activists who feel obligated to help you and Party activists that WANT to help you.”

A good number of folks have misunderstood my position: I am NOT saying that Dave Yost isn't a good statewide candidate (he is, even for Auditor). The point I have been trying to make is that this switcheroo is an ENORMOUS risk and not just for Dave Yost.  This move threatens the relationship with the very activists that Jon Keeling was talking about.

And let me clear up another thing that is related to this point.  I believe that Kevin DeWine, as Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, had an obligation to secure what his team believes is the strongest statewide ticket.  We can argue about whether or not that is best for Republicans in Ohio or not, but Chairman DeWine is the guy in the position and he will take the hardest hit if we lose the Apportionment Board (as well as it should be) so this is his gamble and while I don't like this move one bit, I respect him for having made a hand out of some crappy cards that were dealt to him by Kasich-Taylor.

More Marty:

Central to switch is state Republican Party Chairman Kevin DeWine, who is apparently not blown away by the candidacy of state Rep. Seth Morgan, of Huber Heights, the first Republican to announce for auditor.

The chairman has successfully finagled things so that his second cousin Mike is unopposed in his bid for the party’s endorsement for attorney general. Pretty fishy, huh?
Not really. Kevin DeWine just did his job. Mike DeWine was obviously the better candidate for AG. And conventional wisdom would hold that Yost is a better bet for auditor.
What would be sleazy would be an attempt to hide Kevin DeWine’s fingerprints, to pretend that the combustion that led to the Yost switch was spontaneous.

I will disagree with Marty when he says that Mike DeWine is the better candidate for AG.  I'm not going to get in to this here (read the Mike DeWine tab if you want that info), but I refute this assertion completely and absolutely.  The rest of Marty's take here is pretty much on the money.  Kevin DeWine was the key player and it was obvious that he doesn't like Seth Morgan.  Kevin DeWine did make it possible for his second cousin, Mike DeWine, to be unopposed in the primary.  But most importantly, it would be sleazy to try to hide Kevin DeWine's actions OR his motivations.  The source of conflict between myself and our friends in Columbus sits squarely on this point.

As usual, our friends in Columbus are trying real hard to have it both ways.  They think we don't undestand Kevin DeWine's motives or his responsibilities to the party.  Some will say that in this case, Kevin's motives and responsibilities line up and on this point, I'll agree to disagree; but I can understand that argument noly if it is based on the Approtionment Board.  Those aren't Kevin's true motivations, but I am willing to suspend disbelief long enough  to allow for it.  The problem that the Ohio GOP now faces is that the activists weren't just pro-Yost, they are anti-Mike.  This move fails to stregthen the ticket from our point of view because now it would appear that we have two candidates on the statewide ticket that we do not like: Mike DeWine and Jon Husted.  Husted is not controversial across all the activist groups, and even I was willing to let that go and put the main effort on eliminating Mike DeWine from the ticket.  With one move, the Ohio GOP has allowed BOTH issues to come back to the surface.

That last point is perfectly illustrated by this point made by Marty:

Actually, what was stranger than this game of musical chairs was what happened last fall. The state party declined to endorse for attorney general, when it endorsed in the other statewide races, including some that were contested.

State Sen. Jon Husted was endorsed for secretary of state, despite a challenge from the right by a former statewide primary winner, Sandra O’Brien. And Rob Portman was endorsed for the U.S. Senate over a well-funded candidate, auto dealer Tom Ganley.
But the man who had served his party as U.S. senator, lieutenant governor, congressman, state legislator and local prosecutor was left to twist slowly in the wind.
That odd development resulted, by all accounts, from the fact that Mike DeWine was opposed, as insufficiently conservative, by some party activists. The Butler County Republican Party organization had taken a vote, and DeWine had lost big to Yost, who had a far lower profile, but was coming at the favorite from the right.

Apparently some people at the state party were leery of ticking off the staunch conservatives — the famously energized Tea Party people — by rejecting their favorites in every race.

My sources always said that Yost had the upper hand in the State Central Committee and that if the vote had been called, Yost would have won it.  So, Marty has the story "mostly right" but he has the conclusion "dead wrong".  The reason why the State Central Committee failed to endorse Mike DeWine for Attorney General is that he didn't have the votes and the "powers that be" didn't want tick off the so-called moderate establishment types who are backing Mike.

Marty also leaves out a critical point: the State Central Committee was so jazzed about getting an early start on this process, that they held a meeting on September 11th.  The very fact that the party engaged in political activity on that particular day had ALREADY enraged a number of "staunch conservatives" around the state.

Let's take a look at what Marty got wrong starting with this bit:

At any rate, there was no point in having an ideologically divisive primary for attorney general, given how strong Mike DeWine looks for the general election.

What is the point of a primary?  I have always thought that the point of a primary was to have a vigorous debate on the issues and positions of the candidates and allow the rank and file an opportunity to elect their choice.  And I can't imagine Mike DeWine looks "good" against Rich Cordray, a Democratic candidate who can come at Mike DeWine FROM THE RIGHT on one of the hottest of hot button activist issues in this state: 2nd Amendment.

If the DeWines weren’t cousins, few people outside political circles would be looking twice at this little behind-the-scenes game.

(I can already hear our friends in Columbus now, "They are SECOND cousins, not cousins.")  If Mike DeWine weren't an issue, a good number of the activists would be energized to defeat Jon Husted.  The people who are ticked about the switcheroo are pretty much the same people who are not pleased with Husted so I don't think it stands to reason that the familial relationship, however distant, is the key ingrediant.  To that end, the Tea Party movement has already enacted their Precinct Project getting "average Joe's" in to the political process.  Why?  Because the rank and file are sick of the political elites making decisions -- like this one -- for everybody else.  I think Marty means that the 527 media wouldn't be interested in it and on THAT point, he would be right.

In the end, Kevin DeWine has a LOT riding on this and in my opinion it was his call to make in asking Dave if he wanted to switch.  (SIDEBAR: Some of those complaining about Kevin's role in this are also folks who support repealing the 17th Amendment [how U.S. Senators are chosen], but their objection is based on opposition to backroom deals which is exactly what would happen if the 17th goes down.)  The sole responsibility for the actual decision rests with Dave Yost and he's the one who has to live with it.  In my time getting to know Dave, he has presented himself as a man of integrity and principle so I know he thinks that this is the right move.  The problem is that what is right for the party is not always the best thing for the conservative movement and that is a lesson that Marty should take from this so that next time he has a better view of what is going on out here.

Boehner for Speaker

I have two items that clearly show that Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- is destined to be the next Speaker of the House.

The first is this piece from The Hill:

"There's not a seat in America held by a Democrat that can't be won. Massachusetts proves that," Boehner said this morning during an interview on Fox News. "My goal is to make sure we've got candidates in every single seat in America -- 435 of them."

Now that is a pretty tall order, but here in Roll Call (subscription required) we learn that Boehner has been doing the work required to make it happen:

Boehner raised $13.7 million in 2009 compared with $23 million in the 2007-08 cycle, according to GOP aides and fundraising information obtained by Roll Call.

The fundraising total combines the efforts of Boehner’s campaign account, his Freedom Project political action committee and other 2009 fundraising activities.
Boehner headlined 127 events around the country last year and raised $6.9 million for Republican candidates and committees.
During the same time period in 2007, he headlined 101 events.
Boehner has recently attended events for Florida Congressional candidates Dennis Ross and Allen West and has also visited candidates in states such as Wyoming , Ohio , Colorado and Louisiana .

The House Republicans have been pretty good at combatting the radical agenda of President Obama and his lapdog Congressional Democrats.  If Boehner can keep the Republican conference disciplined, he may be Speaker sooner than any of us thought possible.

Abusing Reagan's 11th

Right on cue, as if reading from a script, Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Jason Mauk whined on Twitter about how establishment Republicans are tacking fire during a Primary and how that violates Reagan's 11th Commandment.

So-called moderate and liberal Republicans always cite Reagan's 11th when they are being beaten with the facts.  In this case, Mauk and friends are being accused of engineering a situation where conservatives while have to square off against conservatives while clearing the field for nepotism in another race.

Reagan never intended to stifle debate on who the better candidate is in a primary.  Reagan himself had challenged many of his fellow Republicans along the road to greatness.  The purpose behind the 11th Commandment is to discourage smearing a fellow Republican.  It isn't a smear if it is true.  It also isn't a smear if the candidate in question ran a race one way and then takes the easy way out.

Dave Yost has nobody but himself to blame for the arrows being slung his way.  He's the one who went around the state telling everybody that he was a prosecutor, not a politician.  So, he really shouldn't be too surprised to be held accountable when reveals himself to care more about party politics than the principles by which he espoused.

The DeWine Family also shouldn't be complaining.  If Kevin DeWine can't take the heat, he ought to get out of the kitchen.  Mike DeWine couldn't win without Kevin's meddling in both of these races.  Those are the facts.  Party bigwigs and fat cat donors (read "lawyers") ought to be ashamed of themselves for putting up with the threats of pay-to-play action. That Mike DeWine had to resort to that tired Bennett-era tactic ought to tell the electorate all they need to know about the Republican's candidate for Attorney General.



John Kasich and Mary Taylor have their own roles in this fiasco.  Kasich keeps talking about taking the politics out of everything BUT the party and Mary Taylor's exit from the Auditor's race is the catalyst for this whole misadventure. 

Lastly, the rank and file -- myself included -- should have done more to support Dave Yost for Attorney General when it became apparent that the establishment abandoned principle in order to rescue a 60-40 loser to Sherrod Brown.  With the news of Yost winning endorsement after endorsement -- including from two county parties who suspended they bylaws to do so -- one could understand why the rank and file had no idea that the Yost for AG campaign was in any trouble.  But the truth is that insufficient fundraising -- due in part to the DeWine Family's strongarm tactics -- is what ultimately killed the run.  It is in that vein, that I encourage readers NOT to donate to Yost for Auditor, let the DeWine Family foot that bill since they caused this particular mess.

These aren't smears.  This is how I see it.  And if you shot these people up with truth serum and sat them down at a polygraph this is the story that would emerge.  My sources have been right throughout this entire episode and yet I had the Communications Director of the ORP tell me that I needed to vet my sources because the story was "not accurate."  Who's violating Reagan's 11th Commandment?  The Ohio Republican Party is...

HELP WANTED: Libertarian Candidate for Attorney General

The good people of the State of Ohio were just screwed out of an opportunity to get a conservative, liberty-minded candidate on the ballot for Attorney General.

If there was ever a chance for a Libertarian candidate to make it statewide, this JUST might the race...

A Politician, Not a CPA

Dave Yost used to be a Prosecutor, not a Politician; but now he's just a Politician, not a CPA.

He's just now jumping the shark...

UPDATE:

Note the "revamp" of his logo...  Dave Yost has turned BLUE...

It'll Be A Cold Day In Hell When Lori Viars and I Agree...

...so I hope y'all got a heavy coat!

“Tell Chairman Kevin DeWine at Ohio Republican Party that we want conservatives Seth Morgan AND Dave Yost!” Viars said in the e-mail. “We want ‘em both!”

“We need conservative Seth Morgan CPA for State Auditor AND we want conservative Dave Yost for Attorney General.
“Tell Kevin DeWine it’s his liberal cousin Mike DeWine he should be taking out of the Attorney General race! Kevin DeWine should not be trying to pit one conservative against another!”

UPDATE: I just caught this bit at the end:

State GOP spokesman John McClelland could not be reached.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

DeWine Family on AG Race

My Question for Yost for Auditor Fans

Question: If Dave Yost is good enough for an Apportionment Board seat, why isn't he good enough for Attorney General?

I am curious to hear what answer the "establishment" has for this question, but I am sure there will be a ton of Bee-Ess tossed about today starting around 2:30 PM...

UPDATE: Just heard a rumor that the State Central Committee is planning to do a conference call today in which a motion to suspend the rules and endorse Yost for Auditor will be the main item on the agenda. How about that? These cowards couldn't do their jobs and endorse in the Attorney General's race and now they are going to endorse right away here. And I am supposed to believe Kevin DeWine has NOTHING to do with any of this. Clearing the field for Mike DeWine has NOTHING to do with this...

So, State Central Committee, if Dave Yost is good enough for an Apportionment Board seat, why isn't he good enough for Attorney General? We have been told that there is nothing more important than the Apportionment Board, so why wasn't Dave Yost good enough when he was running for Attorney General?

Dayton Commissioners Destroy City Want to Protest Kasich's Plan

I want to pass this message on from en email I got on Facebook:

Nothing gets me more stirred up than people in glass houses throwing stones. The economic geniuses who have killed Dayton and are profiting from its death will be protesting John Kasich's economic plan and tax cuts at a press conference on Monday at 3:30pm at Cooper Park by the Dayton Metro Library downtown.

If you would please alert your friends or leaders in the liberty/tea party movement or fellow Republicans, please do.

This flagrant politicking and economic warfare cannot go unchallenged. Let's protest the press-conference.

Surely all the news will cover the news conference, so what would be better than having a mob of picketing people with homemade signs in the background with slogans like "More liberty, smaller government" or "Lower taxes means more jobs."

The time is short so please organize!

A Dayton Daily News article on this subject is available here.

Having grown up in Dayton, I know that the Democratic rule there has pretty much decimated any chance that city has of recovering. Now that Rhine McLin is out of the mayor's office, there is hope that some real and effective change can happen but leave it to the commissioners to protest something that will actually create jobs, strengthen the economy, and solve a whole lot of problems just because they are too ignorant to learn about Kasich's plan.

As per usual, these clowns are looking for somebody else to blame for the misfortunes of the city and John Kasich hasn't even been elected to the governors mansion yet.

ASK WMD: Another Round of Auditor / AG Questions

Jill asks:

Matt - I appreciate how candid you've been on your feelings about this situation. I am interested in knowing what YOU think the right thing to have happen is.
...
I think his choosing to run for Auditor could really taint him - I get the "for the party" but when The Party is as you've described it, right now at least, doesn't that kind of knock down his "doing it for the party" reason, if that ends up being it?

Thanks, Jill. I have always had a policy that if I am going to do this, I am going to stay true to myself and my principles. To that end, I can't imagine being anything but candid about this situation.

In an ideal world, we would have Kasich-Somebody Else running for Gov/LG; Taylor running for re-election; Anybody Else running for Secretary of State; Dave Yost running for Attorney General; and Josh Mandel running for Treasurer. Since we don't live in an ideal world, I'll take Kasich-Taylor, Husted for SOS, Yost for AG, Mandel for Treas, Seth Morgan for Auditor, and Mike DeWine for Retirement.

I think the State Central Committee ought to have issued an endorsement or at least released some numbers on where that body sits on the issue. They punted. I think Chairman Kevin DeWine should have done more to make sure that the committee discharged the one duty that actually matters: endorsements. The whole purpose behind having an endorsement process is to help the rank and file figure out who has support from where. It is silly to have an endorsement process in uncontested primary situations. The GOP backs Mandel for Treasurer? WOW! What a shock that is!!! I'd have never guessed that the Ohio Republican Party State Central Committee would back the only Republican candidate running. They back Kasich and Husted too? Color me all kinds of amazed...

But seriously, folks...

I do think that if he switches races, Yost risks losing a LOT of credibility with the very folks who made him such a viable statewide candidate. Yost ran with the slogan of being a Prosecutor, not a Politician; but if he switches races, for whatever reason, he is going to have to explain himself and I am not sure that he can do so. I don't think that it is a foregone conclusion that the people who support Yost for AG are automatically Yost for Auditor backers. In fact, I have heard more people saying that they are backing Morgan or Rob Montgomery if Yost jumps in to the race. Does that represent a majority of the likely Republican primary voters? I have no idea, but I do think it represents a significant problem for Kevin DeWine's "grand plan" for world domination this ticket.

It's a hot mess, that is for sure...

As for the "doing it for the party" bit... There is an argument that can be made that a Yost move to Auditor protects the Apportionment Board, but doing so requires ignoring all of the VERY vocal folks who have been saying that Yost needs to stay in the AG race. You also have to think that neither Rob Montgomery or Seth Morgan are both not qualified or capable of raising the funds. As Scott Pullins pointed out previously, the Auditor's race doesn't require a vast war chest. I am reasonably sure that either of these candidates is capable of getting the job done if they are diligent. Of course, the DeWine Family has to knock off their antics in order for that to happen, but that's a whole other story. I don't know much about Rob Montgomery or his credentials, but I know that Seth Morgan is a CPA so at least one of the candidates is MORE qualified than Yost.

I just don't see a way to frame that argument in such a way that it passes the smell test...

But what do I know, I'm JUST a stupid blogger.....

Today's Thoughts on Dave Yost

As Facebook followers will know, I had a phone conversation with Dave Yost early this afternoon. I will not get in to the details and specifics of the discussion, but I will address a few impressions and answer a few questions that have come up along the way...

Dave Yost is a strong conservative thinker and he has worked hard for our cause. He is a principled guy and no matter what he decides to do, I know he will do it because he thinks it is the right thing to do.

Here is the thing: Our team is already gambling the apportionment board on Kasich-Taylor (which is NOT a sure thing) and Jon Husted (which SHOULDN'T be a sure thing but probably is). The AG slot is not an apportionment board seat. I do think that Yost has the better chance of lining up a statewide network of activists and fund raisers in a significantly shorter time. I am not willing to risk a decade of Democrat-gerrymandered districts, if we can avoid it (any chance we could get Taylor to run for it again?).

On the other hand: I don't think the Ohio GOP has done enough to warrant thinking about considerations like this when the best they have to offer for Attorney General (once/if Yost is out) is Mike DeWine. This primary season should be about the Republican Party, not the Democrats or the apportionment board. Are we putting our best people forward? Are we offering the most qualified candidates for the job? These are what should be driving our decision process, not politics as usual.

With that, I will take your questions...

Is Dave Yost going to run for Auditor? My gut says that he will be running for Auditor. He says that he has not made the decision yet, but I have too much other behind-the-scenes information from sources I also trust that I think my instinct is on right on target...and not just about this. Whatever Dave ends up doing, he has his reasons and they are good reasons. Will it be enough? We shall see...I certainly hope not.

@camdenmike asks:

Are you putting all blame on ORP or does Yost have some culpability here?

I blame the ORP for not showing leadership. I blame Dave Yost for giving in. I blame Mike DeWine for being a despicable politician. I blame Kevin DeWine for not showing leadership. I blame the State Central Committee for being cowards. I blame John Kasich for not saying 'NO' to Mary Taylor. I blame Mary Taylor for putting us in this situation in the first place. Lastly, but certainly not least, I blame myself for not doing enough.

NOTE: I wrote this post at about 2:30 PM but forgot to hit the PUBLISH button...

UPDATE: Dave Yost has a post up that covers some important ground. Let me give you the Reader's Digest version here:

Figure out the right thing, and do it. The rest doesn’t matter.

Jason Mauk's Rules of Party Politics

Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Jason Mauk tweeted the following Rules of Party Politics:

First rule of party politics: You get none of the credit & all of the blame.

That's what party leadership is supposed to do...

Second rule of party politics: It's impossible to please everyone.

But is it too much to please the rank and file every now and then?

Third rule of party politics: Your friends can be your worst enemy.

I'll take THAT one as a compliment...

Republicans Haven't Won the Internet in Ohio

Patrick Ruffini and Mindy Finn have a fascinating piece about GOP web efforts, but I really want to point out this bit to our friends in Columbus:

Before the GOP's recent grass-roots revival, top-down thinking was on full display in many campaigns for which we worked. Even after the Obama campaign's initial success online in 2008, Republican staffers responded to our calls for a movement-based approach with a dismissive tone. "We don't care about building a base," said one. "We care about raising money."

Even among the GOP consultants and top strategists who paid lip service to the Internet, it was, to many of them, simply another avenue for executing a dusty playbook, written in a different era. In many campaigns, even today, there's an unspoken assumption that though Facebook, Twitter and a Web site are necessary, they also are not terribly consequential (except as online ATM machines). The "real" work of politics goes on behind closed doors, in fundraisers, where progress is measured in increments of $2,400.

The Ohio GOP is STILL top-down thinking and tolerant only of views that get their stamp of approval.  The political operative class in this state STILL think of the internet as an ATM and not as a tool to organize.
Granted,  the Ohio GOP has been trying a lot of new things on the web.  But I think the key component that makes social networking and new media work has been missing: the people.

Recently, the Kasich-Taylor has made some important baby steps in the right direction.  And I have seen a few moves made by the Ohio House Republicans that show some glimmers of hope.  But for the most part, Ohio Republicans are still playing the same games with the same rules just in a new location.

But don't take my word for it, my friends...I'm just a silly blogger living in my mom's basement while tapping away at my computer in my pajamas.........  (That's sarcasm, by the way.  I have to let some people know these things because they have no sense of humor.)

UPDATE:  Oh, here's another point worth considering...

In the wake of the 2008 election, after four years of aloofness from most of our party's leaders about the role of new media and technology in electoral politics, we took a break from the day to day of campaigns and thought seriously about how to help our party move forward.

We outlined a strategy; it had a lot to do with technology, but it wasn't just about social networking, e-mail list management or YouTube. We talked about decentralizing the GOP and running a candidate in all 435 congressional districts. That got us some bewildered reactions: I thought this was about the Internet -- what's this about running in every district?

Such responses revealed a mind-set that for too long has prevented the party from innovating: wedded to the status quo and out of touch with the American experience. (One could draw parallels to the policy front as well.)

I emphasized the key point...
Empowering the rank and file is what social networking and the new media are all about.  I'll know that our friends in Columbus have finally attended enough seminars on the subject when they start talking about decentralizing the Ohio GOP and start helping the grassroots instead of making things more difficult.

UPDATE 2: And here is a message for and about my good friend (a prosecutor, not a politician...) Dave Yost:

The Internet isn't a line item in a campaign budget anymore. It's not just something you have to pay for, underneath catering and radio ads. It has reorganized the way Americans do everything -- including elect their leaders. Candidates who would have had no chance before the Internet can now overcome huge odds, with the people they energize serving as the backbone of their campaign.

Of course, you can't play musical chairs with these people. I'm just saying...

UPDATE 3: Over on Facebook, my very good friend and fellow Alliance blogger, Maggie Thurber says this:

Matt - Patrick is right (as usual) and you and I know that the ORP could use some of the ideas bloggers have given them in the past. While they're trying, they're missing the point because they're still thinking it has to come from THEM.

I think fear has a lot to do with it. The party structure cannot control the message, the money or the strategy if they empower others. They fear the loss of control.

What they fail to realize is that empowering others is a core philosophical tenet of our Republican Party. If they cannot do it with their supporters, what makes any of us think our their hand-picked candidates will do it with the government offices they seek to run?

Well said, Maggie!

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Coming to a T-Shirt near you...

The Fight for the Very Soul of the ORP

As events continue to unfold, I can not help but be surprised by the level of shock I am seeing on the part of people who should know better.  Certain segments of the Republican establishment seem shocked that people like me are upset over these political maneuvers that actually weaken our party.  This has always been about the fight for the very soul of the Ohio Republican Party.  Those of you who think it makes no difference who our candidates are so long as they can raise fat cash and have an 'R' behind their name need to get with the program.  You simply can not continue to operate in shadows and expect the rank and file to go along with it anymore.  In the Information Age, the top-down control methods of the establishment are no longer effective and actually causes far more damage than ever before.

We keep fighting the last election instead of looking ahead.  Sure, there have been some technological advancements made by our team; but we still haven't embraced the message that goes along with social media.  People should be making decisions, not parties.  When politicians have the power to shut out another candidate, that disenfranchises all of us.  When the Party engages in thuggish behavior and condones these tactics, the rank and file loses their right to decide.  These things matter.

The Republican Party is supposed to stand for freedom not tyranny.  We are supposed to stand and fight for our principles, but so many think that the establishment is just too big.  We have them on the ropes.  We need to deliver the knock-out blow.  They have been running scared for quite some time.  Why else would the state Central Committee not take a stand on Yost vs. DeWine; yet within 24 hours, Kevin DeWine is out there stomping on Seth Morgan?  They are afraid of our power.  We need to use it.  We need to save the Republican Party from themselves.

Government is supposed to be of the People, by the People, for the People but the political parties have highjacked the system and are using it for their own purposes.  The parties have done whatever they could to protect their little fiefdoms and have perpetuated an incumbent protection racket to do it.  The whole message behind the Tea Party movement that the Republican Party can't seem to understand is that we are tired of being told what to do and how to think.  Let the People decide.

Portman on Obama's Ohio Visit

Statement:

"On the day when we learned that Ohio's unemployment has risen to 10.9 percent, the President has an opportunity to tell Ohioans his plans for jump-starting our economy and helping create the jobs we desperately need to get us back on track. Unfortunately, instead of bringing new jobs the President is coming to Ohio to promote the budget-busting, job-killing policies that helped elect Scott Brown in Massachusetts. Ohio working families simply can't afford an agenda that will take our economy in the wrong direction."

Boehner on Obama's Ohio Visit

Statement:

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) today issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s visit to Elyria, Ohio to talk about job creation amid news that Ohio’s economy continued to shed jobs in the month of December:

“When he last visited Elyria, candidate Obama promised that as president he would enact a ‘job creation agenda.’ Yet for the past year, Ohioans have watched anxiously as Washington Democrats’, with the approval of President Obama, have pushed a job-killing agenda that includes a ‘stimulus’ that isn’t working, a government takeover of health care that will raise taxes, increase premiums and cut Medicare for seniors, and a ‘cap and trade’national energy tax that will devastate Ohio’s economy and kill jobs at a time we can least afford it.
“Ohio’s unemployment report released this morning marks nine straight months of double-digit unemployment in our state. Tens-of-thousands have lost their jobs since the ‘stimulus’ was enacted. Ohioans fed up with Washington Democrats’ job-killing agenda are asking ‘where are the jobs?’

“A jobless recovery is a far cry from what Ohio’s hard-working families were promised. In Elyria today, Ohioans will be looking for the president to signal he will scrap the job-killing policies that are freezing employers large and small from hiring, and work with Republicans on a true job creation agenda built on common-sense solutions to help small businesses create jobs and put Americans back to work.”

Few Questions on Yost for Auditor

Sorry for the cliche(s), but I question the timing of this...

Since this is apparently a "done deal" merely waiting for the "public confirmation", We the People need a few answers to some questions.

What did he (Yost) know and when did he know it?

Who, specifically, went around to "big donors" and "law firms" and put the squeeze on Yost for AG?

Was this, as some folks now believe, a planned move even before Kasich picked Taylor?

Has ANYBODY seen or heard from Dave Yost?  You can't find that guy with a search warrant all of a sudden...  I think somebody ought to check in and make sure that he's okay.....

Why aren't other bloggers who are hearing these things too NOT writing about it? (Props to Rose over at BizzyBlog for being the only other blogger brave enough to swim in these waters, so far...)

UPDATE:  Forgive me forgetting From the Rustbelt's coverage...

"Hey, Imma letcha finish but..."

The Problem with Yost for Auditor

My good friend phoning it in from Virginia has a piece in which he tries to convince us that having three candidates for the Auditor position is a good thing. That is about what I expect from him.

I can't find fault with his analysis of Morgan or Montgomery, but I simply can't let this bit on Yost go by without comment:

Additionally, he's the only one of these three that has already developed a statewide network of GOP activists working to promote his candidacy.

That network was set up for Yost for Attorney General. The bulk of those activists want to see Mike DeWine for Retirement. How does a switch to Auditor accomplish that goal? Don't get me wrong, Yost is the best candidate for Attorney General as the most qualified and competent man in the race. But if you look in to the motivations of those grassroots activists around the state, you will see a picture that has as much to do about Mike DeWine loathing as anything else.

It does not stand to reason that those grassroots activists would simply go along for the ride, especially since there are other candidates to consider.

This is the classic Ohio Republican Party strategy. When the conservatives here start gaining momentum, they engineer a situation where they can pit conservatives against other conservatives and that just leaves us divided. The liberals win. Again. Yost vs. Morgan for Auditor is nothing more than a way for the Ohio Republican Party to put Tea Partiers aagainst Tea Partiers and the Ohio GOP can sit back and play kingmaker. It is politics as usual.

Something else occurred to me overnight. At the announcement, John Kasich suggested that he and Mary Taylor would be working with Kevin DeWine and company to find Mary's replacement. Where does John Kasich stand on all of this? What does Mary Taylor think?

Space Flip-Flops on Obamacare

Rep. Zack Space has finally gotten with the program and realized that nationalized health care was a political hot potato that he ought not be too firmly grasping and has signalled his intention to be a "no" vote to Speaker Pelosi.

Considering how long Space has been on board with this disaster, it is natural to wonder just what his motivations for changing his position are now.

State Senator Bob Gibbs, who is running to replace Space, released the following statement:

"It's getting harder and harder to know what Zack Space really stands for. His flip flop on Health Care is more of politics-as-usual.

He claimed to care about universal medical coverage, despite its oppressive cost, but now wants to pretend he's against it and hide from his record once he saw the results in Massachusetts.

That's not leadership. I opposed the Obama/Pelosi/Space nationalized Health Care plan from the start. It's too costly at a time when government needs to tighten its belt, and would hurt our district - especially our seniors.

If Zack Space really cared about any of that, he wouldn't have gone along with his troublesome vote in the first place. But, as usual, the only way to get Zack's attention is through polls and shifting of the political winds."

Questions for Space: Is this a political calculation? Is the Senate bill just not liberal enough? He voted for government-run healthcare already. This is a phony flip flop.

Voinovich on Obama's Ohio Visit

Statement:

WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator George V. Voinovich (R-OH), ranking member of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding President Obama’s scheduled visit to Lorain, Ohio tomorrow:

“Last November when it was announced that the president would be hosting a jobs summit and visiting struggling communities across the nation, I wrote a letter to President Obama advocating a way to both create additional jobs for Americans and rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure. Passing a surface transportation reauthorization bill is the best way to create jobs and provide an immediate stimulus for the economy. When the federal government spends money, it is our responsibility to ensure we are getting the biggest job-growth bang for our tax dollars – states have identified 9,500 infrastructure projects valued at more than 69.5 billion that are ready to go. A transportation reauthorization bill would put people to work and create lasting infrastructure projects around the country, including funding shovel-ready projects in Ohio like the Brent Spence Bridge, I-75 and the Innerbelt Bridge.

“I spoke to the president about the importance of passing a surface transportation reauthorization bill earlier this week. I reminded him of the tough decisions President Ronald Reagan made in 1983 when he faced a similar economic crisis, and asked him to use that success as a path towards paying for a robust new highway bill. I am very encouraged the president has recognized that our federal spending is out of control, and following President Reagan’s example would ensure that the new highway bill is paid for.

“Our increasing national debt is one of the biggest challenges facing our country today. It harms our economy, our footing in the international community, and the ability of America to do business and create much-needed jobs. I have asked President Obama to provide his leadership as momentum builds towards the creation of a debt reduction commission with teeth, and publically endorse the passage of the statutory commission currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. I look forward to him doing so, and to seeing long-overdue, truly bipartisan Congressional action on this issue in the coming days.”

Kevin DeWine Meddles In Auditor and AG Races

Just caught this bit in the Dayton Daily News:

Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine of Fairborn has asked Delaware County Prosecutor Dave Yost to consider running for state auditor, setting up a possible primary battle with state Rep. Seth Morgan, R-Huber Heights.

DeWine released this statement on Thursday, Jan. 21, as Morgan was officially launching his auditor campaign:

“Dave Yost is eminently qualified to run for auditor, having served as a county auditor and county prosecutor.

I haven't been working to get Dave Yost elected to Auditor. We need an Attorney General candidate that doesn't suck. Mike DeWine sucks. If Dave Yost goes along with this, I will be seriously disappointed in him, and this party.

I had been hearing rumblings about this all day including rumors that Yost himself had been calling high-level party members across the state regarding their support for the Auditor position. But I didn't believe it. I thought we had a candidate with some integrity and principle. Dare I say a true conservative... I have an email in to Dave Yost asking him about this situation and I have not heard a response. I guess we all know why now...

I am so disgusted I can't stand it.

All of this just to save Kevin's second cousin's political career. Not that it matters, because Rich Cordray is going to whip up on Mr. 60-40 Loser to Sherrod Brown and then maybe all of this nonsense will be over.

So much for the best week ever...the Ohio GOP just has to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

UPDATE: Just where does Kevin DeWine get off making this statement anyway? Has the State Central Committee endorsed anybody? As far as I know, they haven't. Based on my reporting yesterday, folks should know that Communications Director John McClelland was at least aware that this was going down and chose not to be completely honest with me when he said that Seth Morgan was on a list of candidates being considered. If that is the case, the consideration sure didn't last long.

I find it absolutely unbelievable that the Ohio GOP would take no position whatsoever on DeWine vs. Yost for AG when Yost has been racking up endorsements (he's 5 - 0 over Mikey) yet Seth Morgan can't even get his announcement out and here's Kevin DeWine publically endorsing a candidate.

Something smells very rotten. And a bridge of trust has just been burned by the Ohio Republican Party. I will NOT forget this...

UPDATE 2: Rose has more over at BizzyBlog.

Seth Morgan is About to Make It Official

As I have been saying all along, "Isn't it About Time We Had Another CPA for Auditor?"

Seth Morgan is in...

"Prominent" Ohio Lefty Blog Took Coakley Fraud Bait

OhioDailyBlog took the bait from the Coakley campaign yesterday.

One problem with that fraud claim is that it was PRE-DATED. That's right...it DIDN'T HAPPEN.

Same old dirty tricks from the "Party of Corruption."

I'm sure we'll see a retraction or an update or something...

Morgan Update

The Dayton Daily News has two stories out (here and here). I want to highlight something from the second one:

Ohio Republican Chairman Kevin DeWine could not be reached.

I am finding it kind of hard to believe that there is something more important going on in Columbus today... I could be wrong about that, but this does fit in to the story that WMD broke last night that perhaps all is not well in Columbus.

In other Morgan news, Seth will be announcing his run for Auditor tomorrow at the statehouse and at Huber Hights City Hall.

ORP Doesn't Want Morgan for Auditor?

THE STORY: A source close to the Ohio Republican Party leadership is claiming that the "powers that be" in the ORP are not at all interested in Seth Morgan running for Auditor of State.

Why aren't they interested? Apparently, Seth Morgan has initiative and didn't kiss the ring first. You read that right, since Seth Morgan decided to get started without consulting Columbus, they are not interested in him as a candidate.

THE FACTS: Seth Morgan is a CPA, so he's another professional face to put on the job after Mary Taylor CPA moves on to bigger and better things.

Seth Morgan is a conservative, so he will be an attractive candidate for the Tea Party crowd.

Seth Morgan is in his early 30's, so he would appeal to the younger demographic as well.

All of the things that we were supposed to be looking for in a candidate to be Leading Ohio.

THE QUOTES: I asked State Central Committeeman John Becker about this and he indicated that the ORP is "simply keeping their options open." Becker also alluded that fund raising may be an issue for Morgan.

Two responses from Ohio Republican Party Communications Director John McClelland. The first: "Not accurate." The second: "Seth is on a list of prospective candidates under consideration."

ANALYSIS: If this story is true, then I have never seen a more pathetic group of children in my life. The Democrats are TRYING their hardest to hand us this election cycle and we keep snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

My source for this information has been impeccable. Perhaps we aren't talking about the Chairman or any of the professional staff at the ORP. What if we're talking about State Central Committee types or County-Level leadership types? I suppose these things are possible.

Or maybe, the response I received from McClelland was a smoke screen. It is hard to tell because those guys tend to be very short with me for some reason and they rarely volunteer anything beyond what they think I already know or should know.

I believe it is possible that the story is true, but the wagons are going to be circled up now and we may never hear the real story... I encourage the reader to take a look at what we know, apply your own filters and personal knowledge, and decide for yourself. At any rate, it is important that we examine the way these decisions are being made so that the process remains fair, open and honest.

8:55 PM UPDATE: As something of a sidebar, I just had a tidbit confirmed that I want to share. Should Morgan run and lose while Husted wins, there is a deal "on the table" where Morgan would take Husted's senate seat. At least then, the senator from that district would ACTUALLY live there... But, I am not a fan of these deals. Let the people decide...if the party wants to make a recommendation or an endorsement, I'm cool with that, but let's chill out with the backroom deals.

1/20 UPDATE: A clarification on Becker's statement regarding fund raising. That assertion did not come from any discussion with the ORP but rather "other sources."

State Rep Adams Takes Steps to Terminate State Income Tax

Release:

House Bill 400: A Long-Term Solution for Ohio’s Future Columbus—House Republican Whip John Adams (R-Sidney) today offered sponsor testimony on House Bill 400, a legislative measure that will phase out the state income tax over a ten-year period. According to the ALEC-Laffer 2009 State Economic Competitiveness Index, Ohio’s income taxes are among the 10 highest in the country and have rendered Ohio the second worst overall economy.

“As a small business owner, I can speak to the effects of Ohio’s poor economic climate and how high taxes hinder investment and growth,” Adams said. “The financial train wreck that is on our heels is avoidable, but Ohio’s Democrats continue to tax jobs right out of our state.”

Nine states currently do not levy an income tax, five of which rank among the top ten economies and four of which are among the top ten for population influx. Conversely, California and New York have the highest income taxes and experienced the most serious revenue deficits in 2009, as tax receipts failed to outweigh the loss of businesses. Ohio is not far behind these high-tax states with the eighth highest income tax in the nation.

“It is my hope that by eliminating job-killing taxes, Ohio will attract new businesses to our state,” Adams said. “We need to convey to the rest of the nation that our doors are open to business growth and investment.”

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, a national organization that educates taxpayers about sound tax policy, Ohio’s burdensome taxes and poor business climate have driven people out of the state for years, which has shrunk the economy and the tax base. At the same time, state government spending has continued to increase, resulting in an oppressive tax burden on the state’s remaining citizens.

“Businesses and families back home are making sacrifices and cutting spending, and leaders in Columbus should not only follow suit but lead by example,” Adams said. “The case has been made, and it is long overdue that the Ohio Legislature finally commits to improving the tax code and aligns it with competitive states.”

George Voinovich Follows My Advice

...at least so far. Wait until the actual vote...

My good friend phoning it in from Virginia is trying real hard to convince me that George Voinovich is a solid vote that we can count on for healthcare. The latest is a statement from an ABC reporter quoting Voinovich as saying:

Sen Voinovich at WH today says "I am not a vote for the health care bill, period."
...
Voinovich says Obama didnt bother with things like h. care "bec he knows [me] & I take a positions on things & that’s just the way it is"

So under Mike DeWine rules, Goerge Voinovich took my advice.

Of course, I can't trust George Voinovich until he actually votes...

Grendell to Run for 98th

Sen. Grendell to seek 98th House District seat. Gongwer seems to think it likely that he will get the appointment to the vacancy. Gongwer may want to remember that Grendell implicitly helped the Democrat running in the [63rd] district in 2008 against Carol Ann Schindel, and the House caucus hasn't forgotten that he's part of the reason why the GOP lost control of the House.

Plus, we already have a candidate for that seat: Matt Lynch.

And the musical chairs -- thanks term limits! -- continues as Grendell will vacate a senate seat, so there will be another fight for that.

4PM UPDATE: This comes in from a source in the 98th:

Grendell won't seek the appointment, and the caucus won't appoint him. If they do, it vacates his senate seat less than halfway through his term, which means the 18th district would be up for re-election in 2010 after being on the ballot in 2008. If Grendell is silly enough to go through with the appointment, it will cost the state Senate caucus at least $500k to re-run the race. So, a place holder will likely be appointed, meaning Grendell and Matt Lynch will be duking it out in the primary.

Grendell seems like the type to only think of himself. I hope the conventional wisdom is wrong and Grendell stays put...

5:30 UPDATE: Over on Facebook, Doug Joseph says: "If Grendell runs and wins in Nov. and then resigns the Senate seat, no special election is required. That is one reason he wants a caetaker Rep. until the end of the year."

Also in this update, is a change to the original post in which the district was misidentified as the 62nd...

Will Voinovich Be the Dems 60th Vote?

It has been rumored that George RINOvich, the Crying Man, will be targeted to be the Democrats 60th vote on nationalized health care if Scott Brown wins the People's Seat in Massachusetts.

The Senior Senator from the Once Great State of Ohio has been pledging to spend what is left of his time in the hallowed halls ranting about the national debt, but I can see him going along with this...for his grandchildren. George, if you do this, your grandchildren's grandchildren are who you will be selling into virtual slavery to the Chinese in order to make one more headline. For goodness sakes, man, don't do it. Don't embarrass Ohio...again...

Just sit on the bench and do what you are told for what is left of your time on the national stage...please! We're all counting on George to do the right thing...

UPDATE: From the Rustbelt has more...

UPDATE 2: You know what to do...

Washington, D.C. Office:
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Main: (202) 224-3353

Cleveland, OH Office:
1240 East 9th Street
Room 3061
Cleveland, OH 44199
Main: (216) 522-7095
Fax: (216) 522-7097

Southeast, OH Office:
78 West Washington Street
P.O. Box 57
Nelsonville, OH 45764
Main: (740) 441-6410
Fax: (740) 753-3551

Cincinnati, OH Office:
36 East 7th Street
Room 2615
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Main: (513) 684-3265
Fax: (513) 684-3269

Northeast, OH Office:
1240 East 9th Street
Room 3061
Cleveland, OH 44199
Main: (216) 522-7095
Fax: (216) 522-7097

Toledo, OH Office:
420 Madison Avenue
Room 1210
Toledo, OH 43604
Main: (419) 259-3895
Fax: (419) 259-3899

Dayton, OH Office:
(Based out of Cincinnati)
36 East 7th Street, Room 2615
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Main: (513) 684-3265
Fax: (513) 684-3269

Central, OH Office:
37 West Broad Street
Room 310
Columbus, OH 43215
Main: (614) 469-6697
Fax: (614) 469-7733

UPDATE 2: So why is RINOvich in the Oval Office today? Did the President suddenly get a hankering for grandchildren stories?

OH-12 Update: Dems Target Tiberi

If you hear a lot of laughter in the center-right Ohiosphere today it might have something to do with the Democrats "targetting" Congressman Tiberi in OH-12.

All I can say is that it must be an awfully slow political news day if journalists are actually writing about this...

This "spreading it around" mentality is going to cost the Democrats OH-01, OH-15, OH-18 and possibly OH-16 as well.

Boehner on MLK

Statement:

“Today we honor the life and legacy of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who challenged our nation to live up to the ideals on which it was founded: freedom, opportunity, and justice for all. Rev. King led a movement to end bigotry and oppression at great personal cost, but he dared to imagine a day when such sacrifices would no longer be necessary. His vision of an America free of prejudice is codified in our laws, taught in our textbooks, and carried in our hearts.

"Though Rev. King’s work remains unfinished, his dream is closer to being realized every time someone encounters discrimination and refuses to accept it. Rev. King’s legacy of faith and service is present today in communities working together to overcome tough economic times, and in the helping hand we now extend to the people of Haiti in their hour of need.”

Restoring Dignity to Ohio

One thing that really struck me about John Kasich's remarks at the Announcement last week isn't really being covered. The response to the question about requesting stimulus funds was fantastic, but everybody is reporting the "You don't go crawling with a tin cup..." bit but what he said before that zinger is the meat of why the line works.

Ohio is known for its Midwestern values and we have always been a people who have managed to survive and thrive on our own. Recently, we have gotten on our knees begging for scraps instead of taking proactive and corrective action that would allow us to take care of ourselves.

Nobody really wants to be on welfare. It is embarassing to have to rely on the charity of others in order to make ends meet. And we are better than this. We deserve better from the people who represent us in government.

Ohio has been a great state and wonderful place to live, work, and grow. We can retake our rightful place among the best and brightest of these United States, but we have to have bold leadership to get us back on the right path. We need to get government out of the way so that the good people of this great state can prosper on their own.

There isn't a clearer distinction between Kasich and Strickland than the fact that Kasich talks about restoring dignity while Strickland keeps trying to blame anybody but himself for our problems.

Auditor Update: Morgan Doing Petitions

Sources tell me that CPA and State Rep Seth Morgan is circulating petitions across the state and is seriously considering announcing his candidacy for the position vacated by Mary Taylor. All other "joking" aside, Morgan is the only person I see actively seeking the nomination.

Petitions need to be filed by the middle of February, so a dedicated campaign for signatures is going to consume a lot of time in the next two or three weeks. The big concern, at this point, is the fund raising. David Pepper has his daddy helping him out with the family's deep pockets. No matter who the Republican candidate is (now that Taylor is out) is going to have to win this thing on earned media and professionalism.

If you have been living under a rock, you might have missed the fact that Auditor is one of three seats on the Apportionment Board. As we head in to the Census and the re-districting that follows, this seat is critical.

UPDATE: The Dayton Daily Democrat News has a very interesting article on Morgan and his potential candidacy. Check it out here.

VIDEO: Kasich-Taylor Announcement: Q&A Session Highlights

Click to Play

In this episode, we get to the highlights of the Q&A session.

VIDEO: Kasich-Taylor Announcement: Q&A Session

Click to Play

In this episode, we hear John Kasich and Mary Taylor on a range of fiscal and employment issues.

That Dem Candidate in MA Doesn't Understand Church and State

Here is the comment in context:

Ken Pittman: Right, if you are a Catholic, and believe what the Pope teaches that any form of birth control is a sin. ah you don't want to do that.




Martha Coakley: No we have a separation of church and state Ken, lets be clear.



Ken Pittman: In the emergency room you still have your religious freedom.



Martha Coakley: ( . . . stammering) The law says that people are allowed to have that. You can have religious freedom but you probably shouldn't work in the emergency room.

Since when are HOSPITALS a function of the state?

That's what we'll get if Obamacare gets passed...  That is NOT what we have now.


Oh, wait...I get it.  In Massachusetts health care -- and thus the hospitals -- ARE a function of the state.  thanks Mitt Romney!!!

CHART: Ohio Governor

VIDEO: Kasich-Taylor Announcement

Click to Play

John Kasich announcing Mary Taylor as his pick for LG.

UPDATE:  MUCH MORE TO COME...  The Q&A session was pretty good...  And Chairman DeWine had some interesting things to say as well...

St. Rep. Seth Morgan CPA Plans Run for Auditor of Ohio

Rep. Seth Morgan CPA Plans Possible Run for Ohio Auditor

CHARTS: US Senate - Ohio

These are tracking charts of the numbers from the Rasmussen Reports polls in the US Senate race for Ohio.

Dates of Polls:

1 - 9/25/2009
2 - 12/7/2009
3 - 1/12/2010

Also Ran Pulls Petition Against Boehner

If you need a good laugh, Intrepid Report Josh has the post for you.

Somebody no one has ever heard of pulled a petition to run against John Boehner in the primary.

Seriously, why bother?

1/14 UPDATE: This clown is trying to make us believe he is a Republican, but if you read his blog you will get the real story:

After much discussion in our coffee shop the temperaments of customers quite frequently flared up on both sides. I received many emails from patrons loyal to one political party, or the other, to convince me how to vote. I had never been in this situation, simply because I had no idea who I would vote for until about two month before the election.

But I did decide, and I would like to share why I voted the way I did. “Yes”, I think the Republican Party was fiscally irresponsible in many ways; “Yes”, I am not certain the war in Iraq is justified; and “Yes”, I am not sure the Presidential Team the R.P. elected was exactly what we needed and was able to direct our country based on voting records, etc..

But, there was one agenda item that swayed me to vote for Obama. The issue of healt care! For the life of me I am not able to understand why we as a prosperous nation do not have universal healthcare.

Yeah, this bloke has got a real shot in this district.....

Team Portman on Lee Fisher's Fundraising Numbers

Statement:

COLUMBUS, OH - Portman for Senate Press Secretary Jessica R. Towhey released the following statement today regarding Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher's 4th quarter fundraising numbers:

"Ohio Job Czar Lee Fisher today released fundraising numbers that continue to show his campaign is struggling. While our report is not yet finished, it will show that our campaign once again has very significantly outraised him by improving on our efforts last quarter."

Contract With America II

CQ Politics reports that Republican Leader, my Congressman and a Great American -- John Boehner -- plans to put together a platform of ideas similar to the "cotract with America" that ushered in the Republican Revolution of '94.

If this is done right, this could be very B I G. Of course, the NRCC is going to have to be brought in line...

Other Names to Consider for Auditor

I have been told that Franklin County Recorder Rob Montgomery has been asked to consider a run for statewide office. He currently has over 300k in the bank.

Shannon Jones' name has been tossed about as well...as has Mark Wagoner.

I agree with those who say Matt Dolan is locking himself in to County Executive...

Betty Montgomery's name was dug up by my good friend Kyle Sisk...

...But I still like the idea of Seth Morgan.

Fisher Disses Brunner

CityBeat has a very entertaining story about the Hamilton County Democratic Women’s Caucus and their "debate" in which Lee Fisher plays the part of arrogant tool.

Both Fisher and Brunner were invited, but Fisher insisted on changing the format so that the candidates for the right to lose to Rob Portman wouldn't appear on the stage in front of the audience together.

Officially, the Hamilton Women agreed with Fisher's demands, but now some of them are speaking out anyway. Lesson for Fisher: female Democrats won't keep your secrets.

With Apologies to Kevin DeWine...

"Isn't it about time we had a hot CPA run for...Lieutenant Governor."

Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?

Having had an opportunity to not think about this for a few hours, I can come back with a fresh perspective.

It's still a bad idea.

But I don't believe it was Kevin DeWine's fault.

Mary Taylor lied to all of us when she said she would be running for re-election and now the apportionment board is in peril.

If Kevin and the ORP brain trust were behind this move, they would have had a candidate ready to go. There isn't one.

So, let's take a look in to the crystal ball and see if we can conjure up a few likely suspects...

MATT DOLAN -- He could self-finance, which is a BIG plus; but he is Matt Dolan, which is a BIG minus. Plus, I still hear that he plans to resign his State Rep seat today and run for Cuyhoga County executive.

SETH MORGAN -- He is a CPA. He is a conservative. He is one of the guys I have been keeping an eye on for the future and the future may be now.


DEVELOPING...

Another Theory on Kasich-Taylor

If this scenario turns out to be the truth, I'm going to have to apologize to Chairman DeWine...

This one has some odd logic to it, but bear with me for a minute...

One of Team Kasich's more well known staffers is Doug Preisse. Doug is connected -- as is Mary Taylor -- to Alex Arshinkoff.

Is it possible that Alex is -- once again -- behind the scenes pulling strings? If so, this would be a disaster of biblical proportions because the very last guy we need John Kasich owing favors to is Alex Arshinkoff.

As much as I despised Bob Bennett, Alex Arshinkoff is every bit as bad (if not actually worse) and the party really needs to rid itself of these shady characters rather than embracing them.

More food for thought...

UPDATE: Scott Pullins is hearing that kasich-Taylor is the fault of...Kasich-Taylor. Specifically, that Taylor felt as if the ORP wasn't supporting her sufficiently and took the easy way out. Once again, if this is true, my opinion of Taylor just sank another notch.

Dolan Resigning Tomorrow

I am hearing that Matt Dolan has already sent out a press release dated and embargoed until tomorrow announcing his resignation after the vote on the Third Frontier program also scheduled for tomorrow. What's interesting is that he's resigning before the bill actually gets passed, since there is obviously going to be a discrepancy between the House and Senate bills on the amount of the reauthorization. He's just going to vote for the initial House bill and then scram.

Isn't that...interesting?

UPDATE: Just throwing this out there at 7:18PM... Dolan for Auditor???

Dave Yost is Running for AG NOT Auditor

Here is a memo to Kevin DeWine...

Dear Kev,

Dave Yost is running for Attorney General. And you had better hope that he beats your second cousing Mikey like a bongo drum or there are going to be an awful lot of ticked off grassroots activists.

I can't imagine Dave Yost wanting to be Auditor. I can't imagine Dave Yost giving in to your pressure just to save your second cousin Mikey.

What does "restore conservative credibility" mean to you, Chairman? I'll tell you it doesn't mean "throw conservatives under the bus" but I think you think that is what it means.

Why won't you call the vote for the State Central Committee, Kev? Is it because you know that your second cousin Mikey will LOSE the endorsement?

I had such high hopes for you Kev. And the failures just keep mounting...please do better. For all of us. Do it for Ohio. Do it for the party. Please stop sucking.

Sincerely,
MATT

OH-16: Renacci Advances in Young Guns Program

Release:

Ohio Republican Becomes One of Fourteen ‘Contenders’ Nationwide

Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced today that Republican Jim Renacci (OH-16) has reached ‘Contender’ status as part of its Young Guns recruitment program. ‘Contender’ status is the second step in the three-level program, with Renacci now facing a new set of benchmarks to reach ‘Young Gun’ status in his bid to unseat freshman Democrat John Boccieri.

Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. By achieving ‘Contender’ status, Renacci has already proven his ability to build a successful campaign structure and achieve important fundraising goals.

“Jim Renacci has already proven that he will be a formidable candidate by meeting the Young Guns program’s rigorous goals and is well on his way to building a winning campaign and putting this seat back in the Republican column,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “Jim is part of a strong and growing candidate pool of everyday Americans who are frustrated with the majority’s big-government ways and aren’t willing to stand idly by any longer. His campaign has put Democrats on notice that Ohioans are ready to turn the page on the failed experiment known as the Obama-Pelosi agenda, and the best way to do that is by making John Boccieri a one-term Congressman.”

Jim Renacci has demonstrated leadership abilities throughout his life and career. A Certified Public Accountant and financial advisor, he served as the Mayor of Wadsworth from 2004 to 2008. Renacci is an avid businessman who owned and served as general manager of the Columbus Destroyers arena football team. He also formed LTC Management Service, which owned and operated nursing homes until 2000. Renacci’s priority is creating jobs, providing a strong voice for Northeastern Ohio families, and inciting change in Washington.

While already having completed certain steps to place him on the road to victory, Renacci now faces a new set of rigorous benchmarks that will elevate him to the top level of the Young Guns program and help him build an effective, winning campaign.

Is Kevin DeWine Behind the Taylor for LG Rumors?

I am hearing that Chairman Kevin DeWine is the guy who thinks we should gamble the apportionment board seat of Auditor Mary Taylor.

The way this story goes, Kevin has been applying "pressure" on Taylor to give up the Auditor run in favor of being Kasich's LG candidate.

If this is the case, let's play out the other likely scenarios...

MIKE DEWINE FOR AUDITOR: As I have said before, I think Mike thinks Auditor is beneath him. Mike couldn't be bothered to take on the special election for Attorney General and now that he's in it I don't see him being "persuaded" to run for Auditor instead. Although, doing so might make it possible for actual conservatives like me to vote FOR him rather than AGAINST someone else.

JOSH MANDEL FOR AUDITOR: If Josh can be convinced that it is worth his time to make the switch, this one might work. The question then becomes who do you run for Treasurer?

JON HUSTED FOR AUDITOR / TREASURER / RECEPTIONIST: Sorry...I couldn't help myself...

I can't say that I am all that surprised that Kevin DeWine has returned to the policies of Bob Bennett and trying to force people to play musical chairs in order to get the ticket that he wants regardless of what is actually best for the state and the party.

But I also have to say that I am less impressed with Mary Taylor if she actually succumbs to this "pressure" and goes back on her word. Why she lacks the nerve to say, "Kevin, I promised the good people of Ohio that I would stand for re-election and that is what I am going to do." is something of a mystery to me.

What do y'all think?

Citizens for Mary Taylor
211 South Fifth Street
Columbus Ohio 43215

Contact us by Phone:
614-456-1229

Contact us by Email:
info@citizensformarytaylor.com

Another Business Packs Up to Leave Ohio

Jon over at ThirdBasePolitics focuses on American Greeting Cards, but I want to focus on another giant from my hometown of Dayton: Mead.

Mead is a paper company that has a big building in the heart of downtown Dayton. They have merged with Westvaco out of Connecticut. Mead owns 50.2% of the new company. Westvaco gets 49.8%. The headquarters for the new company will be in CT.

Anybody care to hazard a guess as to why that is???

SIDEBAR: Like NCR, isn't Mead also in State Senator Husted's district?

Lt. Gov Mary Taylor?

Seems this is the story that will not die, so I might as well put my two cents in too...

Mary Taylor will be able to do whatever she wants to do...in 2014, maybe 2012 if she plays her cards right. Mary Taylor committed to running for re-election to the office of Auditor. As far as I am concerned, she loses credibility if she backs out. For the same reason I can't take Sarah Palin seriously, you NEVER abandon your post. If Taylor jumps ship on an apportionment board seat that she has zero chance of losing in order to "further her political career" as John Kasich's shadow, I think it would be her biggest mistake.

Raise your hand if you've heard a Republican Party official say anything along the lines of "The apportionment board is the single most important thing we have to win this year." My hand is up...and if you've been around any GOP meetings or events, I am sure that your hand is raised too.

But let's say that the Ohio GOP has no brains and wants to go All In with a draw to the River and go along with this charade. Who do they get to replace Taylor for Auditor? One theory is Mike DeWine, which is so laughable I can barely contain myself to write it. DeWine thinks he's "above" the Auditor's gig. Heck, Mikey thought he was too big for Attorney General during the special election. Josh Mandel? No. I don't think so. What's with the musical chairs theory anyway? Oh, yeah, that's how the Ohio GOP operates.

Furthermore, I think it is silly to think that John Kasich "needs" Mary Taylor on the ticket. Have you seen the polling on Strickland lately? Has Team Strickland got anything that they can hang their hat on? Has Strickland solved the economic woes that have plagued our great state? Has unemployment suddenly become a non-factor? Are business no longer fleeing this state like rats off a sinking ship?

So let's stop the fantasy that Kasich "needs" Mary Taylor on the ticket.

Having said all of that, do I think it is possible that Kasich / Taylor will be the ticket? Yup. Likely? Meh...not so sure. I certainly hope not. Not because I think less of Taylor or Kasich, but rather I think we need the right people at the right places at the right time and somebody is going to have to convince me that Taylor joining the ticket actually accomplishes something significant to warrant the risk.

UPDATE:

Citizens for Mary Taylor
211 South Fifth Street
Columbus Ohio 43215

Contact us by Phone:
614-456-1229

Contact us by Email:
info@citizensformarytaylor.com

Geauga County Update

With Matt Dolan running for county exec, his seat will open up. Bainbridge township trustee Matt Lynch is running for State Representative in the 98th district.

The website is a little light on content, but it's a start. I certainly like the look of it and the content will come.

For a safe seat, the 98th is involving a lot of drama. Tim Grendell pulled petitions to run for it (and a couple other gigs too), even though he still has two years left on his state senate seat. Now, normally a township trustee wouldn't stand a chance against an incumbent state senator. But the Grendell's have been treating Geauga county as their personal fief for many years and a lot of people are tired of it.

Also, Tim implicitly helped the Democrat running in the 62nd district in 2008 against Carol Ann Schindel, and the House caucus hasn't forgotten that he's part of the reason why the GOP lost control of the House.

In addition to that drama, Matt Dolan may actually resign from the seat rather than campaign full time while collecting a state paycheck. The latest news is that he's waiting to cost a vote in favor of the Third Frontier renewal, and will resign shortly thereafter. If Dolan steps down, then the Ohio House Republicans would appoint someone to fill out the term. If that happens, you can expect that they will remember what happened with Schindel if Grendell applies for it. Since the Third Frontier renewal vote could come as early as this week, look for that to be pretty interesting...

Site Maintenance: Comments Functionality Restored

I have found the piece of Blogger code that I had removed in order to use the Haloscan system and restored it; so, comments section is open for business again.

I am going to try to see if there is a way to restore the comments that I downloaded from Haloscan, but that might not even be possible.

More Politics As Usual

This has been bugging me all week and now that it has played out exactly as I knew it would, I figure I might as well get it out of my system by writing about it...

Political operatives think they are the smartest guys in any room, but when you get them in to a "war room" environment that arrogance gets ramped up big time. I don't know which political operative was responsible for this particular play, but it is one of the most tiresome "politics as usual" gambits in the book.

It goes like this: Something happens on the national stage. Office Holder A doesn't do or say anything about it right away. Candidate B's team decides to issue a "recommendation" to Office Holder A in which Candidate B takes the only logical position. When Office Holder A takes that same position, the Team Candidate B says, "Aha! Office Holder A took our advice! Candidate B is a good guy and deserves attention." It's what political operatives call a "win-win" because if the Office Holder doesn't do the right thing, Candidate B can make an even bigger issue out if it.

Mike DeWine "hit" Dick Cordray "hard" on the Nebraska exemption in the Government Take-Over Health Care bill and issued a "recommendation" that Cordray join a lawsuit on the matter. The statement made its rounds on Twitter and Facebook through all the usual suspects. There was much chest bumping and high-fiving when Cordray actually did his job and joined the suit.

That's right, sports fans, Team DeWine was thrilled that Dick Cordray did his job.

Is this still looking like a win-win?

More politics as usual from the guy that brought us Senator Sherrod Brown.....

UPDATE: Don't Blame Me, I Voted for PIERCE.

The Whole Dang Round Up 1/9/2010

Well, folks, it has been a long time since I have posted, except for my book review below, so I will put together some thoughts about some recent events.

Nice Job, Brownie Redux?

Janet Naopolitano, the current Homeland Security Secretary, is a walking disaster. In the wake of the Christmas Day Bomb plot, she goes out on national TV and says, "the system worked". Um, excuse me? The terrorist not only gets on a plane to America with a bomb, he begins to activate it, all despite being on watch lists and no fly lists. Oh yeah, and his own family turned him in to us and told us he was an islamic extremist. And this moronic hairhelmet dunce has the audacity to say the system worked? and while I am on this, where in the hell was the US President? Oh yeah, he was in bed. His aides didn't think he needed to be informed until six hours or so after he event took place. Yet, for an award he did nothing deserving to win, they woke him up immediately. Kind of let's you know the priorities of the Obama White House. And the best that Team Obama could come up with in the immediate wake of this mess? No potty breaks in the last hour or something of a flight, and no blankies allowed either. Well, considering the condition of most airline blankets, I don't mind that at all. Naopolitano's ignorance and arrogance is hardly surprising considering her background. She helped prosecute Tim McVeigh in the OK City bombing. She thinks the only terrorists are those who love the country, the military, and the Christian God. She even put out a report attacking our brave men and women coming home from the war on terror. Is it any surprise she is totally clueless about this situation? Yet, there is ol Obama, keeping this senile dumbarse around. Could this be his "Katrina" moment? I mean, the best he can do is come out and finally (a day or so ago) declare war on al qaeda anew? Do you think they are going to think you are serious, captain Apology? Come on now.

Maybe He is Getting Tough After All

The one good thing to come out of this is that the administration has now put out a list of about 12 nations, I believe, whose citizens must face more serious scrutiny at airports before boarding planes. Of course, the CAIR folks and the other aiders and abettors of criminals (the ACLU) are already getting their attack dog lawyers ready, but this really is something WE SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN DOING. Little old Jewish Grandma was never a suspect. The ones who want to kill us are radical ISLAMIC extremists, typically from Islamic dominated countries. It is not profiling, morons, it is using your resources most efficiently. I wonder how long this newfound vigilance by the Obama team will last, considering how much he apologizes to every other nation and bows to every foreign leader he comes across.

And While We Are on Counter Terrorism and Intelligence

Do you know why in part this underwear bomber was able to get through all the warnings and watchlists and such? It is because the morons in Congress on both sides of the aisle decided after 9/11 that it was better to create MORE bureaucracy in the intelligence system and the counterterrorism area. Yes, the efficiency of the Post Office or the DMV is at work getting the latest intel to the proper people. Give me a break. We need less bureaucracy and less agencies to jump through. Could we please buy a clue before AQ really does succeed and blow something up?

But don't worry, I am not just going to pick on my liberal friends....

Wanted: A GOP Chair with Some Stones

Mike Steele has been trying to say the right things. He was out there talking about the dangers of stimulus and the like. He has spoken out on healthcare. But when it comes to motivation and a plan for true victory: HE SUCKS. Recently in interviews he doubted that the GOP could take back the House or the Senate. Wow, Mike, way to motivate the troops. If you would have been at Valley Forge, we would be sending our tax dollars to England instead of China today. If you had been the leader in the Argonnes forest, you wouldn't have been able to hold out for Patton. Whatever happened to victory, and whatever happened to being optimistic and motivating our forces and grass roots?

And then there is the OH GOP

In Ohio, we have leaders who are too chicken#### to take a stand on much of anything. Despite overwhelming disdain for former US Senator and Gang of 14 member and hater of 2nd Amendment rights Mike DeWine, the ORP State Central Committee has chosen not to endorse his more conservative and more directly experienced primary opponent, Dave Yost. And, instead of castigating five senators who crossed over and voted to raise party taxes, people tell me the party helped pick out the designated lambs to slaughter because most or all of them are either term limited or aren't running again. Yet at the same time, the ORP tries to claim the mantle of fiscal responsiblity and lowering budgets, all the while less than four years removed from the idiocy of the Taft Administration. And then, as my friend Tom Blumer wrote a few days ago, you have the pet of Party Chair Kevin DeWine, Jon Husted, running for secretary of state. This guy skirts over the integrity of Ohio election law, not even really living in the district he represents. Then, he castigates those who voted to increase taxes in the Senate (he is currently a state senator). What Kevin and Jonny won't tell you is Jon didn't mind raising your taxes when he was Speaker of the Ohio house, in fact he voted for damn near every tax incrase that came his way while he was in the House.

And this detritus and garbage are supposed to inspire us to vote for them? Meanwhile, true dedicated public servants who don't have super huge donors and do massive fundraising like Mary Taylor remain disrespected and overlooked. Mary Taylor has done a hell of a job as Auditor of State. Mostly because SHE'S BEEN DOING HER JOB MORE THAN CAMPAIGNING.

And sitting on this pile of poo is one Kevin DeWine, a guy who comes in with a fancy website talking about taking back ohio with some core principles, but the website and principles disappear when Kevin is called on the fact he hasn't followed most of what he laid out, epsecially when it comes to matters of integrity and being who we claim to be. Of course, he and his ilk are only about dollars and not about the principle. And with such visionary and motivational leaders as Mike "well, we might win a few, maybe" Steele at the head of the party, can you expect any more from a guy who is related to Mike DeWine? I mean, really, what did we expect?

On the plus side

Spent time with the family this Christmas season and saw two good films. Sherlock Holmes is an excellent movie, but only if you check images of Basil Rathbone at the door. It is a more modern take on the character, but the essence of the deductive genius is still there. Also, for crazy family fun, check out the Chipmunk Squeakuel. It is quite humorous and it has Zach Levi from Chuck in it. And, while you are at it, go read Vince Flynn's Pursuit of Honor. It is fantastic.

And finally....

Roll Tide, Roll! Alabama was able to outlast and outplay Texas in the national championship game last night. Heisman trophy winner Mike Ingram was able to break the jinx of Heisman winners in championship games by leading Alabama to the win and being named offensive player of the game. Sadly, Texas QB Colt McCoy got hurt in the first quarter and never returned. However, Texas rallied and made a game out of it. And thankfully, there was no Thom Brennaman to do the game. Yes, that Thom Brennaman, son of Marty, the hall of famer. Thom Brennaman lost all respect this season for his rather lusty and ridiculous praise of Florida's Tim Tebow. During the debacle of the Sugar Bowl, Thom couldn't help drooling all over Tim Tebow and singing his praises. Earlier in the season, Thom became a national laughingstock with his drooling quote of: "if you spend just a minute or two with Tim Tebow, your life is changed and you are a different person because of him." Um, I didn't see Tim walk on water yet. It was quite disgusting and embarrassing. If Thom wants to prostitute himself out like that, then please take the last name of Grande and quit claiming any relation to Marty, who has never ever gushed over someone like that. I mean, it bordered on a bromance. It was pathetic and I will change the channel when Thom is doing games for the Reds. Oh yeah, and the guy who thinks Jim Tressel walks on water took many shots at the University of Cincinnati. Thom, this is your hometown team, could you at least be fair to them? How about some perspective from a Cincy resident? Nope, he just sucked up to Tim Tebow and the Gators and Troy Aikman. It was sad and a disgrace to his father. If I were Tebow, I think I would see about a restraining order, because Thom might want to take this to the next level.

Adios, farewell, and see you next time.....