Licking County Pro-Active Citizens
LICOPAC is a Licking County PAC dedicated to improving government through citizen action.
July 3, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NEW AMERICANS TELL THEIR STORIES
The voices - and experiences - of Columbus' new ethnic residents will be heard on Wednesday, July 9, during the New Americans Forum to acquaint officeholders and candidates with the concerns of recent immigrants.
The event, at 6:30 p.m. at the IBEW Local 683 Union Hall, 23 W. 2nd Ave., will bring together members of Columbus' Hispanic and Somali communities with some two-dozen candidates for federal, state and local office.
Since the 1400's, immigrants have come to America to find their dreams or to escape treachery, war and starvation. They have not always been greeted warmly or well.
Columbus, for the most part, has been a welcoming community. Still, many newcomers experience lengthy bureaucratic delays in qualifying for citizenship. They also have to navigate their way through unfamiliar institutions, such as the schools, the courts and local permit and licensing agencies.
And in an election year, new Americans - like all citizens - can get confused by constantly changing voting requirements and procedures.
At the same time, politicians today face many opposing opinions as to how to address immigration and immigrants in the post 9/11 era.
The new Americans are courted by politicians "but there's not much awareness there," said one Somali community leader. "And after the election, they don't come back."
The New Americans Forum is being sponsored by the Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations to encourage dialogue between officeholders, candidates and new ethnic residents. Following panel discussions, a representative of the Ohio Secretary of State's office will clarify voting procedures and information will be shared about the Ohio Democratic Party's Neighborhood Leader Program.
The Coalition is a coordinating group for more than 20 Democratic and independent clubs and PACs in Franklin, Licking, Delaware and Perry counties.
For more information, contact:
Judy Kress, 614-268-2823, or
David Lore, 740-967-5227
Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations
http://coalitiondemscentralohio.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NEW AMERICANS TELL THEIR STORIES
The voices - and experiences - of Columbus' new ethnic residents will be heard on Wednesday, July 9, during the New Americans Forum to acquaint officeholders and candidates with the concerns of recent immigrants.
The event, at 6:30 p.m. at the IBEW Local 683 Union Hall, 23 W. 2nd Ave., will bring together members of Columbus' Hispanic and Somali communities with some two-dozen candidates for federal, state and local office.
Since the 1400's, immigrants have come to America to find their dreams or to escape treachery, war and starvation. They have not always been greeted warmly or well.
Columbus, for the most part, has been a welcoming community. Still, many newcomers experience lengthy bureaucratic delays in qualifying for citizenship. They also have to navigate their way through unfamiliar institutions, such as the schools, the courts and local permit and licensing agencies.
And in an election year, new Americans - like all citizens - can get confused by constantly changing voting requirements and procedures.
At the same time, politicians today face many opposing opinions as to how to address immigration and immigrants in the post 9/11 era.
The new Americans are courted by politicians "but there's not much awareness there," said one Somali community leader. "And after the election, they don't come back."
The New Americans Forum is being sponsored by the Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations to encourage dialogue between officeholders, candidates and new ethnic residents. Following panel discussions, a representative of the Ohio Secretary of State's office will clarify voting procedures and information will be shared about the Ohio Democratic Party's Neighborhood Leader Program.
The Coalition is a coordinating group for more than 20 Democratic and independent clubs and PACs in Franklin, Licking, Delaware and Perry counties.
For more information, contact:
Judy Kress, 614-268-2823, or
David Lore, 740-967-5227
Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations
http://coalitiondemscentralohio.org
I was one of a number of Ohio peace activists who linked up with Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown earlier today via conference call to talk about the war funding bill now approaching a Senate vote.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Iraq (or Iran), the senator didn't have much encouraging news to share.
Brown said he will vote against the $165 billion supplemental funding bill for Iraq and Afghanistan which will soon be on the Senate floor. This is no surprise, since Brown cast a similar vote against a $70 billion supplemental war-funding bill last December.
Once again, however, the war funding bill is expected to pass without significant concessions by the White House.
Brown's position on war funding has hardened since last June when he vowed in e-mail to Ohio Quakers to "continue to fight to fully fund our troops.."
And, in fact, in May 2007 Brown voted in favor of an earlier $120 billion war supplemental bill brought to the Congress by the Bush administration.
Now, however, "I don't trust anything he (Bush) says when he's talking about Iraq," Brown said. In view of the administration's failure earlier in the war to provide adequate body and vehicle armor, Brown said legislators can't be sure the President would recall U.S. troops even if future funding was denied.
Brown said in voting against continued war funding, he is taking a risk that congressional opposition could weaken U.S. forces abroad.
"It's a real hard call," he said. "In an election year, a lot of Democrats flinch from it. (Note: Brown was elected to a 6-year term in 2006 and isn't up for re-election until 2012.)
"But politics aside, it's a hard legitimate question," he said. "Do you cut funding when you have soldiers in the field? It's more than politics."
In his response to Ohio Quakers last June, Brown said, "I voted against the Iraq war and I generally support the principles of the (withdrawal) legislation. I will continue to fight to fully fund our troops, to ensure accountability and oversight, for economic and political changes that benefit all Iraqi citizens and to redeploy our troops as soon as possible."
Brown said he opposes any attempt by the Bush administration to ink a long-term security agreement with Iraqi officials that ties the hands of the next administration. The U.S. reportedly wants to preserve more than 50 U.S. bases in Iraq under such an agreement, and give U.S. soldiers and contractors immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.
Administration officials say they don't need to get congressional approval for such an agreement. Brown said he's not sure Congress could block such a move, although the next President could overturn any Iraqi pact not approved by Congress.
Likewise, if the outgoing administration launched a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear facilities before leaving office in January, its congressional critics might not be able to do much more than complain.
"If there's an attack on Iran, and they (Iran) haven't attacked us,....there will be all sorts of reaction," said Brown. "That would be met with skepticism and rage by a lot of us..."
The bottom line, he said, is that the debate on the war has now shifted from Congress to the Presidential campaigns.
"The party will take the lead from Barack, he said. "In the end, what he says is pretty much what we follow. And we'll just have to fight about it after the election."
It was announced by Cleveland Peace Action during the conference call that an Iran Coordinating Group will meet this Saturday in Cleveland as part of the National Assembly to end the Iraq War and Occupation. For more information, go to www.natassembly.org or call 216-736-4704.
Unfortunately, when it comes to Iraq (or Iran), the senator didn't have much encouraging news to share.
Brown said he will vote against the $165 billion supplemental funding bill for Iraq and Afghanistan which will soon be on the Senate floor. This is no surprise, since Brown cast a similar vote against a $70 billion supplemental war-funding bill last December.
Once again, however, the war funding bill is expected to pass without significant concessions by the White House.
Brown's position on war funding has hardened since last June when he vowed in e-mail to Ohio Quakers to "continue to fight to fully fund our troops.."
And, in fact, in May 2007 Brown voted in favor of an earlier $120 billion war supplemental bill brought to the Congress by the Bush administration.
Now, however, "I don't trust anything he (Bush) says when he's talking about Iraq," Brown said. In view of the administration's failure earlier in the war to provide adequate body and vehicle armor, Brown said legislators can't be sure the President would recall U.S. troops even if future funding was denied.
Brown said in voting against continued war funding, he is taking a risk that congressional opposition could weaken U.S. forces abroad.
"It's a real hard call," he said. "In an election year, a lot of Democrats flinch from it. (Note: Brown was elected to a 6-year term in 2006 and isn't up for re-election until 2012.)
"But politics aside, it's a hard legitimate question," he said. "Do you cut funding when you have soldiers in the field? It's more than politics."
In his response to Ohio Quakers last June, Brown said, "I voted against the Iraq war and I generally support the principles of the (withdrawal) legislation. I will continue to fight to fully fund our troops, to ensure accountability and oversight, for economic and political changes that benefit all Iraqi citizens and to redeploy our troops as soon as possible."
Brown said he opposes any attempt by the Bush administration to ink a long-term security agreement with Iraqi officials that ties the hands of the next administration. The U.S. reportedly wants to preserve more than 50 U.S. bases in Iraq under such an agreement, and give U.S. soldiers and contractors immunity from prosecution under Iraqi law.
Administration officials say they don't need to get congressional approval for such an agreement. Brown said he's not sure Congress could block such a move, although the next President could overturn any Iraqi pact not approved by Congress.
Likewise, if the outgoing administration launched a pre-emptive attack against Iranian nuclear facilities before leaving office in January, its congressional critics might not be able to do much more than complain.
"If there's an attack on Iran, and they (Iran) haven't attacked us,....there will be all sorts of reaction," said Brown. "That would be met with skepticism and rage by a lot of us..."
The bottom line, he said, is that the debate on the war has now shifted from Congress to the Presidential campaigns.
"The party will take the lead from Barack, he said. "In the end, what he says is pretty much what we follow. And we'll just have to fight about it after the election."
It was announced by Cleveland Peace Action during the conference call that an Iran Coordinating Group will meet this Saturday in Cleveland as part of the National Assembly to end the Iraq War and Occupation. For more information, go to www.natassembly.org or call 216-736-4704.
Outside of the community of Democratic activists and progressives, very few voters in Central Ohio have ever heard of David Robinson, let alone know anything about the 12th District Democratic candidate for Congress.
Yet, come Nov. 4, Robinson is confident he'll be elected to replace four-term Republican incumbent Patrick Tiberi.
Nobody in the media or the Democratic Party power structure is paying any heed to Robinson yet. But since March, this shiny-domed, high-energy first time candidate has been dashing about central Ohio building the network of supporters he expects to carry the day against his better-funded incumbent.
"It's a very winnable race," Robinson told about 40 prospects yesterday during a Granville house party. "And at the end of the day, money doesn't decide elections - people do."
How does Robinson think he can win when, four months out, he's at such a disadvantage in terms of name recognition and money?
In part, Robinson is hoping for a boost from the Democratic tide, which appears to be running strong at the state and national level. "The Obama effort should be very helpful in the 12th District," he said.
But Robinson, a businessman from Columbus, also looks at the numbers when predicting victory.
The 12th District, which includes parts of Licking, Franklin and Delaware counties, "is trending independent, Democrat," he said.
In the March 4 primary, Democratic registration topped Republican in the 12th District, 30 percent to 18 percent. Independents are 52 percent of the district electorate, however, and thus are the deciding factor.
By highlighting his business and environmental background, and labeling his opponent as a loyal foot soldier to the unpopular Bush administration, Robinson thinks he can rally Democrats while attracting independents and cutting into Tiberi's Republican base.
"I even look more Republican than Tiberi," he quipped.
To learn more about David Robinson, check out his web site at www.robinson2008.com
Democratic Party bosses will be watching his 2nd Quarter campaign finance reports to see if Robinson has raised enough money and attracted enough contributors to make the 12th District competitive this year. This could determine whether Robinson gets support from the national party, and in particular the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Supporters are being urged, therefore, to make their contributions to the Robinson campaign before July 1.
Yet, come Nov. 4, Robinson is confident he'll be elected to replace four-term Republican incumbent Patrick Tiberi.
Nobody in the media or the Democratic Party power structure is paying any heed to Robinson yet. But since March, this shiny-domed, high-energy first time candidate has been dashing about central Ohio building the network of supporters he expects to carry the day against his better-funded incumbent.
"It's a very winnable race," Robinson told about 40 prospects yesterday during a Granville house party. "And at the end of the day, money doesn't decide elections - people do."
How does Robinson think he can win when, four months out, he's at such a disadvantage in terms of name recognition and money?
In part, Robinson is hoping for a boost from the Democratic tide, which appears to be running strong at the state and national level. "The Obama effort should be very helpful in the 12th District," he said.
But Robinson, a businessman from Columbus, also looks at the numbers when predicting victory.
The 12th District, which includes parts of Licking, Franklin and Delaware counties, "is trending independent, Democrat," he said.
In the March 4 primary, Democratic registration topped Republican in the 12th District, 30 percent to 18 percent. Independents are 52 percent of the district electorate, however, and thus are the deciding factor.
By highlighting his business and environmental background, and labeling his opponent as a loyal foot soldier to the unpopular Bush administration, Robinson thinks he can rally Democrats while attracting independents and cutting into Tiberi's Republican base.
"I even look more Republican than Tiberi," he quipped.
To learn more about David Robinson, check out his web site at www.robinson2008.com
Democratic Party bosses will be watching his 2nd Quarter campaign finance reports to see if Robinson has raised enough money and attracted enough contributors to make the 12th District competitive this year. This could determine whether Robinson gets support from the national party, and in particular the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Supporters are being urged, therefore, to make their contributions to the Robinson campaign before July 1.
Ohioans, being at the "heart of it all," have learned in recent years to despise robo-calls, but there is an upside to even this most noxious weed in the political garden. Providing you have an answering machine which records your messages.
During 2004, I was able to capture pitches from Bill Clinton, John Kerry and John Glenn. Earlier this year, during the Ohio primary season, my recorder bagged greetings from Hillary Clinton and Governor Strickland.
(Nothing yet from Obama, although an enthusiastic young volunteer called last week from Phoenix, hoping for cash. Didn't record that.)
Now, I really haven't figured out what to do with these sound bites from the stars, but it's nice having them as sort of an oral history of recent campaigns. Don't you wish they had robo-calls and recorders (oh, and telephones) when Lincoln was running for president? Nobody today even knows what the voice that gave us the Gettysburg Address even sounded like!
Of course, back in those days not everybody would have been as thrilled to get a jingle from Honest Abe.
This, for example, was Henry David Thoreau's journal entry for June 18, 1854. Thoreau, who probably wouldn't have had phone service out there at Walden Pond even if he could, had no use for .....:
"Politicians! I have looked into the eyes of two or three of them, but I saw nothing there to satisfy me. They will vote for my man to-morrow if I will vote for theirs to-day. They will whirl round and round, not only horizontally like weathercocks, but vertically also."
http://hdt.typepad.com/henrys_blog/
During 2004, I was able to capture pitches from Bill Clinton, John Kerry and John Glenn. Earlier this year, during the Ohio primary season, my recorder bagged greetings from Hillary Clinton and Governor Strickland.
(Nothing yet from Obama, although an enthusiastic young volunteer called last week from Phoenix, hoping for cash. Didn't record that.)
Now, I really haven't figured out what to do with these sound bites from the stars, but it's nice having them as sort of an oral history of recent campaigns. Don't you wish they had robo-calls and recorders (oh, and telephones) when Lincoln was running for president? Nobody today even knows what the voice that gave us the Gettysburg Address even sounded like!
Of course, back in those days not everybody would have been as thrilled to get a jingle from Honest Abe.
This, for example, was Henry David Thoreau's journal entry for June 18, 1854. Thoreau, who probably wouldn't have had phone service out there at Walden Pond even if he could, had no use for .....:
"Politicians! I have looked into the eyes of two or three of them, but I saw nothing there to satisfy me. They will vote for my man to-morrow if I will vote for theirs to-day. They will whirl round and round, not only horizontally like weathercocks, but vertically also."
http://hdt.typepad.com/henrys_blog/
It's often said that all politics are local, but in a presidential election year, it just doesn't seem to work out that way.
Typically, national campaigns suck up all available resources like a black hole.
Several times each week, I have to explain over the phone to some earnest volunteer for the DCCC, DSCC, DNC, etc., that any loose change in my pocket that the oil companies missed has to go to local candidates for Congress, the state legislature, the county commission or local judiciary.
No doubt, sitting in Washington, they find this notion quaint but not particularly helpful in the coast-to-coast game of dialing-for-dollars.
Which brings me to David Robinson, Democratic candidate in the 12th Congressional District, who is hosting a modest fundraiser this Thursday night in Powell, Ohio.
Robinson is seeking to depose 4-term Republican Pat Tiberi who enters this year's re-election race with huge advantage in terms of funding and name recognition.
(As of March 31, Tiberi reported $757,719 cash-on-hand as compared to $7,611 cash-on-hand for Robinson who -- at that time -- was just getting organized.)
And it's unlikely that Robinson will get much help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) unless he can show significant local support by the end of this month.
Robinson is one of the most interesting new faces in local politics in years. A Columbus businessman, he brings degrees in fields as varied as accounting, psychology and theology to issues such as global warming which he engages as a volunteer speaker in Al Gore's campaign. Since his win in the March primary, Robinson has been working the grassroots 24-7 and has become a frequent visitor to Licking County, which shares the 12th with eastern Franklin County and parts of Delaware County.
You can learn the basics at www.robinson2008.com but you really have to meet Dave Robinson to experience the energy and enthusiasm of the man.
The only prospect as depressing as a Third Bush Term under John McCain would be a Fifth Tiberi Term dedicated to more slavish boosterism for the Bush-McCain-GOP platform of prolonging the war in Iraq, cutting taxes for the rich and jerking back the safety net for everybody else.
I encourage you to attend this week's Robinson event or take the opportunity to support his campaign in the weeks ahead. Remember, without more progressive Democrats in Congress, it may not really make that much difference who takes the presidential oath of office next January.
Wedgewood Fundraiser
David Robinson
Candidate for
Ohio's 12th U.S. Congressional District
Thursday, June 5th, 2008
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wedgewood Golf and Country Club
9600 Wedgewood Blvd.
Powell, Ohio
Cash bar, Light Hors D'Oeuvres
$25 Suggested Donation at the Door
R.S.V.P. to Rob Doersam at: rdoersam@robinson2008.com
- or - 614-294-2900
If unable to attend, donations can be made at www.robinson2008.com
or at Robinson for Congress, PO Box 8246, Columbus, OH 43201.
What's gotten into Pat Tiberi lately?
Our 12th District congressman, R-Delaware Co., is either in a funk or has his House voting button stuck on "No."
So much for the "merry month of May." According to www.Congress.org, which tracks major congressional votes, Tiberi in recent weeks has turned thumbs down on:
---The Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, which provides $15 billion to states and municipalities for the purchase and rehab of foreclosed homes.
---A series of related housing foreclosure rescue bills allowing the FHA to help refinance up to $300 billion in subprime loans and help communities deal with the so-called mortgage meltdown.
---Legislation requiring the Department of Labor to issue occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust.
Now it's understandable that Tiberi, the born-again budget hawk since Republcans lost their majority, would oppose the expensive mortgage rescue measures sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, even while some Republicans (including Deborah Pryce) went along.
Democratic sponsors say they want a bipartisan solution to the housing mess, but the package, now in the Senate, faces another Bush veto. And Tiberi, welded at the hip to the Bush White House, almost always goes along with The Decider.
But why in heaven's name would Tiberi oppose a measure (HR 5522) which appears to improve workplace safety?
The dust bill, now in the Senate, was adopted 247-165 in the House. Details can be found at:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.5522&congress=110
Tiberi (and other Ohio Republicans) may have had good reasons to oppose the dust measure, but it would be nice if he could explain these kind of decisions on his web site (http://tiberi.house.gov).
It's swell to know, as his web site reports, that the congressman has been honored by the Small Business Council of America.
But some of his constituents out here (which include me) are left wondering what justifies what appears to be a YES vote for allowing explosive dust-buildups in factories and mines.
Our 12th District congressman, R-Delaware Co., is either in a funk or has his House voting button stuck on "No."
So much for the "merry month of May." According to www.Congress.org, which tracks major congressional votes, Tiberi in recent weeks has turned thumbs down on:
---The Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, which provides $15 billion to states and municipalities for the purchase and rehab of foreclosed homes.
---A series of related housing foreclosure rescue bills allowing the FHA to help refinance up to $300 billion in subprime loans and help communities deal with the so-called mortgage meltdown.
---Legislation requiring the Department of Labor to issue occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust.
Now it's understandable that Tiberi, the born-again budget hawk since Republcans lost their majority, would oppose the expensive mortgage rescue measures sponsored by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, even while some Republicans (including Deborah Pryce) went along.
Democratic sponsors say they want a bipartisan solution to the housing mess, but the package, now in the Senate, faces another Bush veto. And Tiberi, welded at the hip to the Bush White House, almost always goes along with The Decider.
But why in heaven's name would Tiberi oppose a measure (HR 5522) which appears to improve workplace safety?
The dust bill, now in the Senate, was adopted 247-165 in the House. Details can be found at:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/issues/bills/?billnum=H.R.5522&congress=110
Tiberi (and other Ohio Republicans) may have had good reasons to oppose the dust measure, but it would be nice if he could explain these kind of decisions on his web site (http://tiberi.house.gov).
It's swell to know, as his web site reports, that the congressman has been honored by the Small Business Council of America.
But some of his constituents out here (which include me) are left wondering what justifies what appears to be a YES vote for allowing explosive dust-buildups in factories and mines.
Every time I head out to the car without her, my wife warns me to be careful on the roads -- "there are crazies out there!," she reminds.
So what did I do last week.
Drove 55 mph down I-70 for about 400 miles -- and lived.
We had a very sick little niece at a hospital in Indianapolis, so we decided to drive over and support her and the family. With gas hovering around $3.75 a gallon (and my Passat requires mid-grade), I decided to use that mpg gauge on my control panel and just see what difference it would make to slow down.
So I locked in on the slow lane and set the cruise control at 55 mpg and headed west, only slightly speedier than the wagon trains which once traveled this route. I was being the much-mocked "Sunday Driver," talking to my wife, watching the grass (and bugs) go by on the berm and ignoring the alien bumpers which zoomed up behind me like cats on a mouse.
(Now I could tell by their expressions that these drivers were not happy with me, especially if the passing lane was temporarily blocked. But in 10 hours on the road, nobody honked, raised a finger or otherwise took their criticism to a higher level.)
And at trip's end, I had documented that my Passat Wagon, which normally gets 26-27 mpg on the highway, is capable of 32-33 mpg at the slower speed. That's about a 20 percent saving, or 70-some cents a gallon.
The down side:
It took longer, maybe an hour longer each way, between Columbus and Indianapolis.
That meant my wife got grumpy about an hour earlier, although she didn't seem to worry about "the crazies" since all she saw was the clear lane ahead of us.
Being a guy, it wasn't pleasant being passed by everything on the road, including a few Amish buggies (just kiddin).
Probably lost Dave Robinson (12th District congressional candidate) a few votes, since I had his sticker on my back bumper.
But all in all, it seemed worth it and hopefully as gas prices continue to climb, some of these hot wheelers will decide to start economizing. My advice, however, is don't commit to 55 if you're running late, or driving on a two-lane road (now that would be suicide!).
And slap a (removable) McCain sticker on your rear bumper just for the fun of it.
Seventy-cents less a gallon, and a roadful of drivers pissed at the GOP. What's not to like?
So what did I do last week.
Drove 55 mph down I-70 for about 400 miles -- and lived.
We had a very sick little niece at a hospital in Indianapolis, so we decided to drive over and support her and the family. With gas hovering around $3.75 a gallon (and my Passat requires mid-grade), I decided to use that mpg gauge on my control panel and just see what difference it would make to slow down.
So I locked in on the slow lane and set the cruise control at 55 mpg and headed west, only slightly speedier than the wagon trains which once traveled this route. I was being the much-mocked "Sunday Driver," talking to my wife, watching the grass (and bugs) go by on the berm and ignoring the alien bumpers which zoomed up behind me like cats on a mouse.
(Now I could tell by their expressions that these drivers were not happy with me, especially if the passing lane was temporarily blocked. But in 10 hours on the road, nobody honked, raised a finger or otherwise took their criticism to a higher level.)
And at trip's end, I had documented that my Passat Wagon, which normally gets 26-27 mpg on the highway, is capable of 32-33 mpg at the slower speed. That's about a 20 percent saving, or 70-some cents a gallon.
The down side:
It took longer, maybe an hour longer each way, between Columbus and Indianapolis.
That meant my wife got grumpy about an hour earlier, although she didn't seem to worry about "the crazies" since all she saw was the clear lane ahead of us.
Being a guy, it wasn't pleasant being passed by everything on the road, including a few Amish buggies (just kiddin).
Probably lost Dave Robinson (12th District congressional candidate) a few votes, since I had his sticker on my back bumper.
But all in all, it seemed worth it and hopefully as gas prices continue to climb, some of these hot wheelers will decide to start economizing. My advice, however, is don't commit to 55 if you're running late, or driving on a two-lane road (now that would be suicide!).
And slap a (removable) McCain sticker on your rear bumper just for the fun of it.
Seventy-cents less a gallon, and a roadful of drivers pissed at the GOP. What's not to like?
Marc Dann was out of sight at last night's Licking County JJ Dinner, but certainly not out of mind.
The sexual harassment scandal threatening Dann's job as Ohio attorney general forced his withdrawal as keynote speaker at the annual Jefferson-Jackson bash sponsored by the Licking County Democratic Club. This not only left a gaping hole to be filled in the evening's agenda, but also threatened to roll back the Democratic tide which swept Ohio politics in 2006.
Marc Dann, said State Rep. Dan Dodd, D-Hebron, has managed to overshadow the gains achieved by Gov. Ted Strickland and other Democratic officeholders over the past 16 months.
"What he has been accused of is very serious, and he has cast a dark cloud over everything we've accomplished," said Dodd.
Dodd this week was one of three House Democratic attorneys appointed by Minority Leader Joyce Beatty to investigate possible use of the impeachment process to remove Dann. Dodd left no doubt where he stands in regard to the attorney general's future.
Democrats won in 2006, Dodd said, because they promised to clean up the corruption which piled up during years of Republican rule.
"They brought shame to our state and we ran with a promise to clean that up, and that's what we'll do whether it involves Republicans or Democrats," he said. "If we don't, our clocks will be cleaned in November" when control of the Ohio House is on the line. Read More »
The sexual harassment scandal threatening Dann's job as Ohio attorney general forced his withdrawal as keynote speaker at the annual Jefferson-Jackson bash sponsored by the Licking County Democratic Club. This not only left a gaping hole to be filled in the evening's agenda, but also threatened to roll back the Democratic tide which swept Ohio politics in 2006.
Marc Dann, said State Rep. Dan Dodd, D-Hebron, has managed to overshadow the gains achieved by Gov. Ted Strickland and other Democratic officeholders over the past 16 months.
"What he has been accused of is very serious, and he has cast a dark cloud over everything we've accomplished," said Dodd.
Dodd this week was one of three House Democratic attorneys appointed by Minority Leader Joyce Beatty to investigate possible use of the impeachment process to remove Dann. Dodd left no doubt where he stands in regard to the attorney general's future.
Democrats won in 2006, Dodd said, because they promised to clean up the corruption which piled up during years of Republican rule.
"They brought shame to our state and we ran with a promise to clean that up, and that's what we'll do whether it involves Republicans or Democrats," he said. "If we don't, our clocks will be cleaned in November" when control of the Ohio House is on the line. Read More »
For months, Ohio Republicans have been sniping at newly-elected Democratic Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, hoping to frame her as "too controversial" to be re-elected in 2010.
That would improve the GOP's chances of controlling the State Apportionment Board which begins redrawing the boundaries of state legislative districts after 2010.
The party that controls the apportionment board markedly improves its chances of controlling not only the state legislature but also the Ohio congressional delegation since it's the legislature that maps congressional districts.
To control the board, a party needs to hold two of three state offices: governor, auditor, secretary of state. Unless somebody loses in 2010, this gives Democrats a 2--1 edge.
The GOP is also hopeful of evicting Attorney General Marc Dann, a Democrat, if "PJgate" proves to have legs.
Although Columbus police have declined to pursue sexual harassment charges against Dann aide Anthony Gutierrez, blogs and TV pundits have been speculating for weeks about who might be tapped to replace Dann if the steamy office scandal snares the boss.
Happily, the attorney general isn't a member of the apportionment board.
But the governor is.
So, helpfully, the New York Times yesterday raised once again the prospect that Strickland might be "promoted" out of the Statehouse and into the vice presidency.
The rumor at the time of the Ohio primary was that Stickland would go to work for Hillary if she won. Now it's that the eventual team could be Obama-Strickland.
"Obama advisers have also argued that swing states like Ohio are winnable this fall because they have been increasingly leaning Democratic and have been struggling economically under President Bush. Indeed, some Obama allies hope he will pick Ohio's popular governor, Ted Strickland, as his running mate if he wins the nomination, both to help carry Ohio and to unify the party (Mr. Strickland is supporting Mrs. Clinton)."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/us/politics/24clinton.html?hp
Given the central role gerrymandering plays in politics, Strickland's removal could offset disappointment among Ohio Republicans of seeing Democrats take over the White House next January. Republican gubernatorial hopefuls are already lining up for 2010.
But hear us, Barack and Hillary:
In truth, Ohio Democrats actually can't stand Ted Strickland.
Despite what you hear, he's no Woody Hayes or John Glenn and thus won't get our votes this November. Everybody just punched for him in '06 because he's got a cool wife and all those great stories about growing up in a chicken shack down on Duck Run.
But be warned: If you put our Ted on your ticket, we vow -- with nose pinched and eyes closed -- to vote for John McBush. Even if Rush is his running mate.
So hands off!!
That would improve the GOP's chances of controlling the State Apportionment Board which begins redrawing the boundaries of state legislative districts after 2010.
The party that controls the apportionment board markedly improves its chances of controlling not only the state legislature but also the Ohio congressional delegation since it's the legislature that maps congressional districts.
To control the board, a party needs to hold two of three state offices: governor, auditor, secretary of state. Unless somebody loses in 2010, this gives Democrats a 2--1 edge.
The GOP is also hopeful of evicting Attorney General Marc Dann, a Democrat, if "PJgate" proves to have legs.
Although Columbus police have declined to pursue sexual harassment charges against Dann aide Anthony Gutierrez, blogs and TV pundits have been speculating for weeks about who might be tapped to replace Dann if the steamy office scandal snares the boss.
Happily, the attorney general isn't a member of the apportionment board.
But the governor is.
So, helpfully, the New York Times yesterday raised once again the prospect that Strickland might be "promoted" out of the Statehouse and into the vice presidency.
The rumor at the time of the Ohio primary was that Stickland would go to work for Hillary if she won. Now it's that the eventual team could be Obama-Strickland.
"Obama advisers have also argued that swing states like Ohio are winnable this fall because they have been increasingly leaning Democratic and have been struggling economically under President Bush. Indeed, some Obama allies hope he will pick Ohio's popular governor, Ted Strickland, as his running mate if he wins the nomination, both to help carry Ohio and to unify the party (Mr. Strickland is supporting Mrs. Clinton)."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/us/politics/24clinton.html?hp
Given the central role gerrymandering plays in politics, Strickland's removal could offset disappointment among Ohio Republicans of seeing Democrats take over the White House next January. Republican gubernatorial hopefuls are already lining up for 2010.
But hear us, Barack and Hillary:
In truth, Ohio Democrats actually can't stand Ted Strickland.
Despite what you hear, he's no Woody Hayes or John Glenn and thus won't get our votes this November. Everybody just punched for him in '06 because he's got a cool wife and all those great stories about growing up in a chicken shack down on Duck Run.
But be warned: If you put our Ted on your ticket, we vow -- with nose pinched and eyes closed -- to vote for John McBush. Even if Rush is his running mate.
So hands off!!
What a difference incumbency makes!
By the spring of 2006, Democratic congressional candidate Zach Space had raised $77,194 to win the 18th District primary en route to his successful election that November to the open seat vacated by Republican Bob Ney.
Now, two years later, Rep. Space, seeking to retain that seat, has reported first quarter contributions of nearly $1.5 million, with a net of nearly $1 million cash-on-hand.
That's about as much as Space raised and spent during all of 2006 to initially win the office. His 2006 race gained significant post-primary help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). (By the time he took office, in January 2007, Space's checking account had been drained to less than $28,000 with debts in excess of $56,000, according to the Dispatch.)
Given that Democrats are determined to hold the 18th, and Republicans have vowed to reclaim it (calling Space "an accidental congressman" given Ney's imprisonment on corruption charges), one can only assume the cost of victory in the 18th will rise significantly this year.
Space, knowing he was targeted for extinction in 2008 by the GOP the day he took office, never got the chance to sit back down in Washington and slack off his fund-raising efforts.
"I never thought I'd have a million in the bank," the Dover attorney said last week during a fund-raiser in Newark. "But I think it's necessary."
So-called independent (527) groups raised over $4 million two years ago in an attempt to defeat him, Space said, "and if they did it once, they can do it again."
Incumbents seek to discourage challengers (and their challenger's potential supporters) by flashing a significant bankroll in their early election-year reports to the FEC. Without a significant war chest going into the race, Space said, "it will be like sharks smelling blood in the water--if my fundraising is anemic, they'd be all over me."
This is not to criticize Space, who LICOPAC endorses in his race against Republican challenger Fred Dailey of Mt. Vernon. The freshman congressman is just following the rules of the game as he found them, even though he recognizes the money game seriously erodes public trust in the process as well as the time legislators can actually spend legislating.
In 2006, Space ran on an anti-corruption plank, vowing not to accept campaign contributions from lobbyists.
In his latest filing with the FEC, the congressman reported contributions of $644,428 from individuals and $817,760 from political action committees. All PACs are not lobbyists, but still it's obvious that Zach now needs organized support from unions and other heavy-hitters in the Democratic camp.
"Eventually, I'd like to help take the money out of the process," he said last week.
But with seemingly little support for public financing of elections, that's as likely in the near term as finding a substitute for oil.
When one looks at the FEC first-quarter reports, it's striking how incumbents of different parties have more in common with one another than they do with challengers from their own party.
In the neighboring 12th District, for example, four-term congressman Pat Tiberi, R-Delaware, reported $1.5 million in contributions - again, mostly from PACs - with $757,719 on hand going into the defense of his seat against Democratic challenger David Robinson of Columbus.
Robinson and Dailey both face tremendous odds in their bids to dislodge the incumbents.
Dailey, a former state agriculture director, reported first-quarter contributions of $113,000, but that includes $40,000 of his own money.
"... unless Dailey comes up with a lot more campaign cash pretty soon, it's difficult to see how he can compete against the well-funded Space in the 16-county, multiple-media market district," the Dispatch said on April 16.
Robinson, a newcomer to politics, reported first-quarter contributions of $27,382 (most of that from individuals) but only $7,611 cash-on-hand.
"Following our primary win, we've been strategically getting our campaign structure in place," said Robinson in a prepared statement.
"I'm not a career politician, so we're creating our campaign from scratch. But we're right on plan. We are confident that we will have the resources to put our ideas and plans before every voter for the general election," Robinson said.
By the spring of 2006, Democratic congressional candidate Zach Space had raised $77,194 to win the 18th District primary en route to his successful election that November to the open seat vacated by Republican Bob Ney.
Now, two years later, Rep. Space, seeking to retain that seat, has reported first quarter contributions of nearly $1.5 million, with a net of nearly $1 million cash-on-hand.
That's about as much as Space raised and spent during all of 2006 to initially win the office. His 2006 race gained significant post-primary help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). (By the time he took office, in January 2007, Space's checking account had been drained to less than $28,000 with debts in excess of $56,000, according to the Dispatch.)
Given that Democrats are determined to hold the 18th, and Republicans have vowed to reclaim it (calling Space "an accidental congressman" given Ney's imprisonment on corruption charges), one can only assume the cost of victory in the 18th will rise significantly this year.
Space, knowing he was targeted for extinction in 2008 by the GOP the day he took office, never got the chance to sit back down in Washington and slack off his fund-raising efforts.
"I never thought I'd have a million in the bank," the Dover attorney said last week during a fund-raiser in Newark. "But I think it's necessary."
So-called independent (527) groups raised over $4 million two years ago in an attempt to defeat him, Space said, "and if they did it once, they can do it again."
Incumbents seek to discourage challengers (and their challenger's potential supporters) by flashing a significant bankroll in their early election-year reports to the FEC. Without a significant war chest going into the race, Space said, "it will be like sharks smelling blood in the water--if my fundraising is anemic, they'd be all over me."
This is not to criticize Space, who LICOPAC endorses in his race against Republican challenger Fred Dailey of Mt. Vernon. The freshman congressman is just following the rules of the game as he found them, even though he recognizes the money game seriously erodes public trust in the process as well as the time legislators can actually spend legislating.
In 2006, Space ran on an anti-corruption plank, vowing not to accept campaign contributions from lobbyists.
In his latest filing with the FEC, the congressman reported contributions of $644,428 from individuals and $817,760 from political action committees. All PACs are not lobbyists, but still it's obvious that Zach now needs organized support from unions and other heavy-hitters in the Democratic camp.
"Eventually, I'd like to help take the money out of the process," he said last week.
But with seemingly little support for public financing of elections, that's as likely in the near term as finding a substitute for oil.
When one looks at the FEC first-quarter reports, it's striking how incumbents of different parties have more in common with one another than they do with challengers from their own party.
In the neighboring 12th District, for example, four-term congressman Pat Tiberi, R-Delaware, reported $1.5 million in contributions - again, mostly from PACs - with $757,719 on hand going into the defense of his seat against Democratic challenger David Robinson of Columbus.
Robinson and Dailey both face tremendous odds in their bids to dislodge the incumbents.
Dailey, a former state agriculture director, reported first-quarter contributions of $113,000, but that includes $40,000 of his own money.
"... unless Dailey comes up with a lot more campaign cash pretty soon, it's difficult to see how he can compete against the well-funded Space in the 16-county, multiple-media market district," the Dispatch said on April 16.
Robinson, a newcomer to politics, reported first-quarter contributions of $27,382 (most of that from individuals) but only $7,611 cash-on-hand.
"Following our primary win, we've been strategically getting our campaign structure in place," said Robinson in a prepared statement.
"I'm not a career politician, so we're creating our campaign from scratch. But we're right on plan. We are confident that we will have the resources to put our ideas and plans before every voter for the general election," Robinson said.
(from WWW.LICOPAC.ORG)
"Columbus, Ohio: Did Hillary Clinton's come-from-behind win in the March 4 Ohio Democratic Primary signal a seismic shift in the presidential campaign or the erosion of Ohio's standing as the "heart of it all" in national politics?
Is it still true, in other words, that "as Ohio goes, so goes the nation?"
A panel of distinguished central Ohio journalists and political observers will take up this question during an April 9 forum sponsored by the Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations. Speakers are:
Darrel Rowland, public affairs editor of the Columbus Dispatch.
Bill Cohen, veteran Statehouse reporter for WOSU-Radio.
Sandy Theis, media consultant and former Cleveland Plain Dealer bureau chief.
Brian Rothenberg, founder and executive director, ProgressOhio.org
Moderator Bob Ruth, retired investigative reporter for the Dispatch.
The program beings at 7 p.m. at the IBEW 683 Hall, 23 W. Second Ave. Attending will be representatives from Coalition grassroots clubs, PACs and organizations as well as a number of federal, state and local candidates.
For more information, see http://coalitiondemscentralohio.org
"Columbus, Ohio: Did Hillary Clinton's come-from-behind win in the March 4 Ohio Democratic Primary signal a seismic shift in the presidential campaign or the erosion of Ohio's standing as the "heart of it all" in national politics?
Is it still true, in other words, that "as Ohio goes, so goes the nation?"
A panel of distinguished central Ohio journalists and political observers will take up this question during an April 9 forum sponsored by the Central Ohio Coalition of Democratic and Progressive Organizations. Speakers are:
Darrel Rowland, public affairs editor of the Columbus Dispatch.
Bill Cohen, veteran Statehouse reporter for WOSU-Radio.
Sandy Theis, media consultant and former Cleveland Plain Dealer bureau chief.
Brian Rothenberg, founder and executive director, ProgressOhio.org
Moderator Bob Ruth, retired investigative reporter for the Dispatch.
The program beings at 7 p.m. at the IBEW 683 Hall, 23 W. Second Ave. Attending will be representatives from Coalition grassroots clubs, PACs and organizations as well as a number of federal, state and local candidates.
For more information, see http://coalitiondemscentralohio.org
If you're already tired of hearing about David Robinson (at least on this site), get used to it: the game plan for this upstart Congressional candidate is to make the Robinson name almost as well known in the 12th District as it once was at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn.
When some 50 first-wave volunteers showed up Sunday afternoon for the campaign kick-off in Westerville, for example, they were greeted by a large table overflowing with professional-looking literature, a huge swarm of campaign pins, stacks of candidate postcards, bumper stickers and yard signs, altogether an amazing array of get-out-the-vote tools ready to go less than a month after Robinson's surprise win in the March 4 Democratic primary.
(Two years ago, when first-timer Democrat Zack Space ran for Congress in the neighboring 18th District, we didn't see these kind of campaign-financed goodies until late summer!)
Also on board at the Westerville launch was Robinson's old friend and campaign manager, Chris Holgate, and at least a half-dozen volunteer staff coordinators already designated for things like finance, media, web site development, and grassroots recruitment.
Within 90 minutes, the new recruits got their pep talk, a slice of kick-off cake and assignments to one or another of the action teams being organized to carry forth the fight against Republican incumbent Pat Tiberi.
The challenger is hoping that a fast start will overcome Tiberi's advantages in terms of name recognition and money.
Robinson is unlikely to bring to this battle the kind of multi-million dollar, lobbyist-fueled, war chest that Tiberi has amassed over the last 8 years in Congress to conduct what will likely be a television and direct-mail blitzkrieg after Labor Day.
What the challenger does have going for him, however, is seemingly boundless energy and a drive to organize derived from his business and environmental background. Also going for him is the sour taste in the mouths of most 12th District voters about the war, the economy and all things Bush.
At a Saturday morning breakfast sponsored by LICOPAC in Newark, Robinson vowed before an audience of about 40 Licking County activists to run a "positive" campaign, one avoiding personal attacks while still going after Tiberi's record of supporting the Bush agenda.
"Pat Tiberi is not the moderate Republican he portrays himself as," said Robinson. "On Iraq, for example, he says the same things Bush has been saying for five years...and he advocates extension of all the Bush tax cuts which are completely immoral in terms of the debt we're heaping on our young people."
Anybody interested in learning more and/or getting engaged in the Robinson campaign should check out his web site, www.robinson2008.com , although it's currently under reconstruction.
But if you come, be prepared to work. This guy seems serious about winning.
He doesn't seem to have gotten the memo that says you can't beat an entrenched incumbent in a gerrymandered district.
When some 50 first-wave volunteers showed up Sunday afternoon for the campaign kick-off in Westerville, for example, they were greeted by a large table overflowing with professional-looking literature, a huge swarm of campaign pins, stacks of candidate postcards, bumper stickers and yard signs, altogether an amazing array of get-out-the-vote tools ready to go less than a month after Robinson's surprise win in the March 4 Democratic primary.
(Two years ago, when first-timer Democrat Zack Space ran for Congress in the neighboring 18th District, we didn't see these kind of campaign-financed goodies until late summer!)
Also on board at the Westerville launch was Robinson's old friend and campaign manager, Chris Holgate, and at least a half-dozen volunteer staff coordinators already designated for things like finance, media, web site development, and grassroots recruitment.
Within 90 minutes, the new recruits got their pep talk, a slice of kick-off cake and assignments to one or another of the action teams being organized to carry forth the fight against Republican incumbent Pat Tiberi.
The challenger is hoping that a fast start will overcome Tiberi's advantages in terms of name recognition and money.
Robinson is unlikely to bring to this battle the kind of multi-million dollar, lobbyist-fueled, war chest that Tiberi has amassed over the last 8 years in Congress to conduct what will likely be a television and direct-mail blitzkrieg after Labor Day.
What the challenger does have going for him, however, is seemingly boundless energy and a drive to organize derived from his business and environmental background. Also going for him is the sour taste in the mouths of most 12th District voters about the war, the economy and all things Bush.
At a Saturday morning breakfast sponsored by LICOPAC in Newark, Robinson vowed before an audience of about 40 Licking County activists to run a "positive" campaign, one avoiding personal attacks while still going after Tiberi's record of supporting the Bush agenda.
"Pat Tiberi is not the moderate Republican he portrays himself as," said Robinson. "On Iraq, for example, he says the same things Bush has been saying for five years...and he advocates extension of all the Bush tax cuts which are completely immoral in terms of the debt we're heaping on our young people."
Anybody interested in learning more and/or getting engaged in the Robinson campaign should check out his web site, www.robinson2008.com , although it's currently under reconstruction.
But if you come, be prepared to work. This guy seems serious about winning.
He doesn't seem to have gotten the memo that says you can't beat an entrenched incumbent in a gerrymandered district.
(The following guest column was published today in the Newark Advocate, urging voters to learn more about both candidates in the 12th District Congressional Race. It was written by David Lore, a Licking County resident and co-founder of LICOPAC.)
"Licking County will be critical in the 12th District congressional race this year, but it seems we know little about either candidate -- even though one is an incumbent.
David Robinson of Columbus emerged from the March 4 primary as the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Patrick Tiberi, a Delaware County resident serving his fourth term.
It's understandable we don't know much about Robinson who, at age 46, is running for public office for the first time.
Robinson's resume is impressive: three degrees including a Ph.D, vice president of a small manufacturing firm, a public advocate for Alzheimer's research in his youth, and more recently for Al Gore's Climate Project initiative.
But in terms of the policies he'd pursue as a congressman, Robinson now needs to go beyond generalities.
What's strange is why don't we know more about Tiberi who, for many Licking County residents, remains after 8 years as just a name on a yard sign?
Tiberi, a former state legislator, went to Washington in 2000, succeeding Congressman John Kasich, his former boss.
In Washington, Tiberi nearly always was a Republican loyalist, unlike Kasich who at times took an independent line on budget matters.
In central Ohio, Tiberi was known for his cherub smile, his attentiveness to local business and his office's focus on constituent services, that is, helping local residents resolve their personal problems with the federal government.
Central Ohio residents are likely to know a lot more about the congressional representatives in neighboring districts. Rep. Bob Ney in the 18th got national attention, admittedly negative, for his entanglement in the Abramoff lobbying scandal. Meanwhile, retiring Republican Debra Pryce in the 15th District was widely seen in a positive light because of her House leadership position and her high-stakes re-election win in 2006.
So maybe this year it's time for 12th District voters to take a closer look at their incumbent congressman and his record as well as at the credentials of the newcomer who hopes to replace him.
Has Tiberi, for example, been consistent in opposing runaway federal spending, or did he just take up that crusade, as his critics charge, only after Democrats took over Congress?
Since coming to Washington in 2001 with President Bush, has Tiberi served the needs of his constituents or just those of his party leader?
And as for Robinson, what in his past has prepared him to speak for this community and help set policy for the nation?
And are his proposals those of a independent thinker or just those espoused by the Democratic Party?
Voters are encouraged to check out the candidates' web sites: Tiberi at http://tiberi.house.gov , and Robinson at www.robinson2008.com
The public also will have many opportunities to seek the candidates at the campaign events, fairs, and other events during the next seven months.
For example, Robinson will be answering questions at a meet-and-greet breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bake-n-Brew restaurant, 1821 W. Main St., Newark.
Bottom Line: Let's not just watch them run. Let's make them run."
"Licking County will be critical in the 12th District congressional race this year, but it seems we know little about either candidate -- even though one is an incumbent.
David Robinson of Columbus emerged from the March 4 primary as the Democratic challenger to Republican incumbent Patrick Tiberi, a Delaware County resident serving his fourth term.
It's understandable we don't know much about Robinson who, at age 46, is running for public office for the first time.
Robinson's resume is impressive: three degrees including a Ph.D, vice president of a small manufacturing firm, a public advocate for Alzheimer's research in his youth, and more recently for Al Gore's Climate Project initiative.
But in terms of the policies he'd pursue as a congressman, Robinson now needs to go beyond generalities.
What's strange is why don't we know more about Tiberi who, for many Licking County residents, remains after 8 years as just a name on a yard sign?
Tiberi, a former state legislator, went to Washington in 2000, succeeding Congressman John Kasich, his former boss.
In Washington, Tiberi nearly always was a Republican loyalist, unlike Kasich who at times took an independent line on budget matters.
In central Ohio, Tiberi was known for his cherub smile, his attentiveness to local business and his office's focus on constituent services, that is, helping local residents resolve their personal problems with the federal government.
Central Ohio residents are likely to know a lot more about the congressional representatives in neighboring districts. Rep. Bob Ney in the 18th got national attention, admittedly negative, for his entanglement in the Abramoff lobbying scandal. Meanwhile, retiring Republican Debra Pryce in the 15th District was widely seen in a positive light because of her House leadership position and her high-stakes re-election win in 2006.
So maybe this year it's time for 12th District voters to take a closer look at their incumbent congressman and his record as well as at the credentials of the newcomer who hopes to replace him.
Has Tiberi, for example, been consistent in opposing runaway federal spending, or did he just take up that crusade, as his critics charge, only after Democrats took over Congress?
Since coming to Washington in 2001 with President Bush, has Tiberi served the needs of his constituents or just those of his party leader?
And as for Robinson, what in his past has prepared him to speak for this community and help set policy for the nation?
And are his proposals those of a independent thinker or just those espoused by the Democratic Party?
Voters are encouraged to check out the candidates' web sites: Tiberi at http://tiberi.house.gov , and Robinson at www.robinson2008.com
The public also will have many opportunities to seek the candidates at the campaign events, fairs, and other events during the next seven months.
For example, Robinson will be answering questions at a meet-and-greet breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Bake-n-Brew restaurant, 1821 W. Main St., Newark.
Bottom Line: Let's not just watch them run. Let's make them run."
Pat Tiberi and George Bush came to Washington together eight years ago.
Let's make sure they leave Washington together next January.
Bush is term-limited, but Congressman Tiberi, who represents parts of Licking, Franklin and Delaware counties, can hold down his House seat for many more years, faithfully voting the Bush agenda of more war and more tax cuts for the rich long after his patron saint has gone back to Texas.
That is, unless 12th District voters get serious about change.
Change in this case means Democratic challenger David Robinson, one of the brightest new faces on the central Ohio political scene. Robinson wasn't endorsed in the primary but Zach Manifold, director of the Franklin County Democratic Party, said last week that he'll have the party's full support in his contest with Tiberi.
"Robinson is a quick learner," Manifold said during a March 12 meeting with members of central Ohio progressive grassroots organizations. "He ran a good race."
Learn more about Robinson, his positions and his plans, at www.robinson2008.com
And check out the candidate yourself next weekend:
1/ Breakfast with David Robinson, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, March 29, at Bake-n-Brew restaurant, 1821 W. Main St., Newark. Meet-and-Greet sponsored by LICOPAC, order off the menu.
2/ Robinson for Congress Campaign Kick-Off, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Real Living Training Center, 773 Brooksedge Plaza Dr. in Westerville. Contact is CHolgate@Robinson2008.com or call 614-226-6948.
Let's make sure they leave Washington together next January.
Bush is term-limited, but Congressman Tiberi, who represents parts of Licking, Franklin and Delaware counties, can hold down his House seat for many more years, faithfully voting the Bush agenda of more war and more tax cuts for the rich long after his patron saint has gone back to Texas.
That is, unless 12th District voters get serious about change.
Change in this case means Democratic challenger David Robinson, one of the brightest new faces on the central Ohio political scene. Robinson wasn't endorsed in the primary but Zach Manifold, director of the Franklin County Democratic Party, said last week that he'll have the party's full support in his contest with Tiberi.
"Robinson is a quick learner," Manifold said during a March 12 meeting with members of central Ohio progressive grassroots organizations. "He ran a good race."
Learn more about Robinson, his positions and his plans, at www.robinson2008.com
And check out the candidate yourself next weekend:
1/ Breakfast with David Robinson, 9:30 a.m., Saturday, March 29, at Bake-n-Brew restaurant, 1821 W. Main St., Newark. Meet-and-Greet sponsored by LICOPAC, order off the menu.
2/ Robinson for Congress Campaign Kick-Off, 2 p.m. Sunday, March 30, at Real Living Training Center, 773 Brooksedge Plaza Dr. in Westerville. Contact is CHolgate@Robinson2008.com or call 614-226-6948.
Robinson, 46, is one of the most interesting new faces on the central Ohio political scene, the surprise winner in the 12th congressional district Democratic primary on March 4. He is now organizing to unseat four-term Republican incumbent Pat Tiberi this November.
Twenty years ago, in 1988, Robinson undertook a 4,700-mile cross-country bicycle tour called "Ride for Reason" to raise public awareness about Alzheimer's disease, the disease which killed his mother.
Today, Robinson, www.robinson2008.com, is hitting the road again, this time across central Ohio to raise public awareness about the fiscal, social and moral damage afflicted upon our country by a Congress too long hobbled by Tiberi-style surrender to the excesses of the Bush administration.
"Our campaign is rooted in the conviction that when our nation is divided, we are all diminished - but when united around good and worthy goals, we are ennobled and unstoppable," says Robinson.
Tiberi has accomplished little during his eight years in Congress, but has used that time to amass a huge campaign war chest from lobbyists.
To win, Robinson will need a strong showing by campaign investors and volunteers, especially in Licking County.
Join us Saturday March 29th, 9:30 a.m. at the Bake-n-Brew restaurant, 1821 W. Main St. in Newark to meet our next 12th District congressman, David W. Robinson.
http://bake-n-brew.com/ Order off the menu
Twenty years ago, in 1988, Robinson undertook a 4,700-mile cross-country bicycle tour called "Ride for Reason" to raise public awareness about Alzheimer's disease, the disease which killed his mother.
Today, Robinson, www.robinson2008.com, is hitting the road again, this time across central Ohio to raise public awareness about the fiscal, social and moral damage afflicted upon our country by a Congress too long hobbled by Tiberi-style surrender to the excesses of the Bush administration.
"Our campaign is rooted in the conviction that when our nation is divided, we are all diminished - but when united around good and worthy goals, we are ennobled and unstoppable," says Robinson.
Tiberi has accomplished little during his eight years in Congress, but has used that time to amass a huge campaign war chest from lobbyists.
To win, Robinson will need a strong showing by campaign investors and volunteers, especially in Licking County.
Join us Saturday March 29th, 9:30 a.m. at the Bake-n-Brew restaurant, 1821 W. Main St. in Newark to meet our next 12th District congressman, David W. Robinson.
http://bake-n-brew.com/ Order off the menu
Republicans may have a hard time painting 18th District congressman Zack Space as a liberal zealot, given a new ranking of members by the conservative National Journal.
In a Friday news release, Space boasts of his placement smack dab in the middle of the ideological pack.
"WASHINGTON, DC - Reaffirming his position as one of the most moderate and independent Members of Congress, National Journal today published rankings that place Congressman Zack Space's (OH-18) voting record almost dead-center. Of the 435 Members of Congress, there are 212 more "liberal" and 218 more "conservative," placing him squarely in the middle of the ideological spectrum.
"My constituents do not need statistics to prove what they already know - I am their independent voice in Congress," Space said. "I pride myself in working for the best interests of my district - not a political party - and I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish this Congress."
"In the 18th Congressional District, people are not looking for a Democrat or a Republican, and they are not looking for an ideologue. They want a moderate, independent, Ohioan who will fight for them every day. I am proud to do that, and I am proud of this ranking," Space continued.
See the release at:
http://space.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=20&parentid=8§iontree=8,20&itemid=398
As a Zack supporter, this leaves me with mixed emotions. While I'm always happy to deny the GOP a talking point, it's kind of difficult to keep cheering on the guy sticking to the safe middle.
With all due respect, Zack, I'm not looking for a moderate independent in the 18th -- I want a Democrat!
In a Friday news release, Space boasts of his placement smack dab in the middle of the ideological pack.
"WASHINGTON, DC - Reaffirming his position as one of the most moderate and independent Members of Congress, National Journal today published rankings that place Congressman Zack Space's (OH-18) voting record almost dead-center. Of the 435 Members of Congress, there are 212 more "liberal" and 218 more "conservative," placing him squarely in the middle of the ideological spectrum.
"My constituents do not need statistics to prove what they already know - I am their independent voice in Congress," Space said. "I pride myself in working for the best interests of my district - not a political party - and I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish this Congress."
"In the 18th Congressional District, people are not looking for a Democrat or a Republican, and they are not looking for an ideologue. They want a moderate, independent, Ohioan who will fight for them every day. I am proud to do that, and I am proud of this ranking," Space continued.
See the release at:
http://space.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=20&parentid=8§iontree=8,20&itemid=398
As a Zack supporter, this leaves me with mixed emotions. While I'm always happy to deny the GOP a talking point, it's kind of difficult to keep cheering on the guy sticking to the safe middle.
With all due respect, Zack, I'm not looking for a moderate independent in the 18th -- I want a Democrat!
It's always interesting to see Ohio described by the out-of-state reporters who parachute in every time the ballot boxes open. What you usually get are snapshots of particular towns or regions, generalized to explain the whole state despite the diversity between lake and river counties, industrial and rural.
This month, most of the reportage focused on northeast Ohio because that's where the population (and the problems and unemployment) is greatest.
An exception was this WP piece on Darke County, a traditional Republican stronghold in southwest Ohio.
See: "In Rural Ohio, It's No Country for Democrats" (3/5/08 - Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030403197.html
According to this article, Democrats and progressives are as rare in Darke County as polar bears and passenger pigeons.
Yet, looking at Tuesday's vote totals, 6,539 Darke County residents picked up Democratic ballots as compared to 6,188 Republican ballots.
So either the Darke County GOP is turned off on Bush/McCain, lots of Republicans voted in the Democratic primary or there's a large group of hidden-up-until-now independent voters hiding out there in the "darke."
In another piece, the WP dared conclude in its day-after election analysis that Ohio, because of its sinking economy (and morale?), is no longer a "representative" state. So much for the old bromide, "As Ohio Goes, So Goes the Nation."
Does this mean no more journalistic junkets to Chillicothe in search of the nation's soul?
See: "How to Read the Buckeye Vote (3/5/08 - Washington Post)"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503297.html
Ok, that's our 10 minutes in the national spotlight until November.
This month, most of the reportage focused on northeast Ohio because that's where the population (and the problems and unemployment) is greatest.
An exception was this WP piece on Darke County, a traditional Republican stronghold in southwest Ohio.
See: "In Rural Ohio, It's No Country for Democrats" (3/5/08 - Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030403197.html
According to this article, Democrats and progressives are as rare in Darke County as polar bears and passenger pigeons.
Yet, looking at Tuesday's vote totals, 6,539 Darke County residents picked up Democratic ballots as compared to 6,188 Republican ballots.
So either the Darke County GOP is turned off on Bush/McCain, lots of Republicans voted in the Democratic primary or there's a large group of hidden-up-until-now independent voters hiding out there in the "darke."
In another piece, the WP dared conclude in its day-after election analysis that Ohio, because of its sinking economy (and morale?), is no longer a "representative" state. So much for the old bromide, "As Ohio Goes, So Goes the Nation."
Does this mean no more journalistic junkets to Chillicothe in search of the nation's soul?
See: "How to Read the Buckeye Vote (3/5/08 - Washington Post)"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/05/AR2008030503297.html
Ok, that's our 10 minutes in the national spotlight until November.
A noisy primary day in Ohio was a "quiet day" in Iraq, according to today's Dispatch.
Back on page A-9, it's reported that only one American died (plus a bunch of Iraqis, of course) as the 5th anniversary of the war approaches on March 19. U.S. dead since March 19, 2003 stands at 3,974. Not to mention the tens of thousands of young men and women whose lives have been shattered by traumatic injuries.
So, congratulations to Hillary for a spirited win but it's dispiriting to hear that fewer than one in five Ohio voters, in exit polling, cited the war as their major concern. Out of sight, out of mind.
"It's the economy, stupid," was the catch phrase during Bill Clinton's administration. Which is true, unless you happen to be one of the unlucky Ohio or American families who drew the short straw and has a loved one in Iraq. Or have already lost a loved one to this senseless war.
The March 19 anniversary will be marked by the usual scattered protests, on the streets and in Congress. But nobody expects anything to change until the Bush administration leaves office next January. What a mess the next president, Democrat or Republican, will inherit.
But before we care about Iraq, or Afghanistan, we need to know at least as much about our bookend wars as we do about Hillary and Barack, John and Mike. Here's a start, in a short quiz provided by the American Friends Service Committee (http://afsc.org / Read More »
Back on page A-9, it's reported that only one American died (plus a bunch of Iraqis, of course) as the 5th anniversary of the war approaches on March 19. U.S. dead since March 19, 2003 stands at 3,974. Not to mention the tens of thousands of young men and women whose lives have been shattered by traumatic injuries.
So, congratulations to Hillary for a spirited win but it's dispiriting to hear that fewer than one in five Ohio voters, in exit polling, cited the war as their major concern. Out of sight, out of mind.
"It's the economy, stupid," was the catch phrase during Bill Clinton's administration. Which is true, unless you happen to be one of the unlucky Ohio or American families who drew the short straw and has a loved one in Iraq. Or have already lost a loved one to this senseless war.
The March 19 anniversary will be marked by the usual scattered protests, on the streets and in Congress. But nobody expects anything to change until the Bush administration leaves office next January. What a mess the next president, Democrat or Republican, will inherit.
But before we care about Iraq, or Afghanistan, we need to know at least as much about our bookend wars as we do about Hillary and Barack, John and Mike. Here's a start, in a short quiz provided by the American Friends Service Committee (http://afsc.org / Read More »
Just as Ohioans get all puffed up today about their influence in the raging Democratic primary, along comes Congress.Org with their annual congressional power rankings -- rankings which explain why Licking County (and Ohio, for that matter) doesn't command much influence at the Capitol.
The rankings are at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/index.tt
Legislators' scores depend on things like their committee assignments and other official positions, their tenure and whether they're in the majority or minority party in the House or Senate.
The envelopes, please.
Four-term Republican Pat Tiberi in the 12th District gets points for his tenure and committee assignments but ranks only 281st out of 435 House members because he's now in the minority and has little to show for 2007 in terms of legislative accomplishments or earmarks (ie, pork).
In the 18th District, freshman Democrat Zack Space does slightly better, 241st out of 435, because of his committee assignments and because he's a Democrat. He also gets slightly more credit than Tiberi in terms of winning earmarks but likewise gets little boost in these power rankings in terms of legislation since he's still the new kid in town.
Likewise, Ohio's two U.S. senators are well back in the pack in the senatorial power game, according to this survey. Sen. George Voinovich, Republican, ranks 95th out of 99 senators and freshman Sen. Sherrod Brown, Democrat, ranks 73rd.
If sports statistics are your thing, and you consider politics a sport, check out this site.
The rankings are at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/power_rankings/index.tt
Legislators' scores depend on things like their committee assignments and other official positions, their tenure and whether they're in the majority or minority party in the House or Senate.
The envelopes, please.
Four-term Republican Pat Tiberi in the 12th District gets points for his tenure and committee assignments but ranks only 281st out of 435 House members because he's now in the minority and has little to show for 2007 in terms of legislative accomplishments or earmarks (ie, pork).
In the 18th District, freshman Democrat Zack Space does slightly better, 241st out of 435, because of his committee assignments and because he's a Democrat. He also gets slightly more credit than Tiberi in terms of winning earmarks but likewise gets little boost in these power rankings in terms of legislation since he's still the new kid in town.
Likewise, Ohio's two U.S. senators are well back in the pack in the senatorial power game, according to this survey. Sen. George Voinovich, Republican, ranks 95th out of 99 senators and freshman Sen. Sherrod Brown, Democrat, ranks 73rd.
If sports statistics are your thing, and you consider politics a sport, check out this site.
Hear about the big ethics scandal involving Zack Space?
If not,it shows you don't read the Newark Advocate.
(http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/NEWS03/802210342/1002/NEWS17
In an otherwise forgettable Thursday article about three Republican congressional hopefuls pitching the Licking County Republican Women's Club, candidate Jeanette Moll from Zanesville made this remarkable statement:
"Moll, a former magistrate judge for the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, said her concerns about ethical issues tied to current 18th District Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, are part of what prompted her to seek office to ensure transparency and strong conservative leadership." (emphasis added)
This remark, buried in a page 3 story, should be a bombshell since Space was elected on his promise to clean up the ethics stain left behind by his predecessor, Republican Bob Ney.
But nowhere in the Advocate article does Moll document her charge against Space, other than to say, "many members of Congress are more concerned about re-election than anything else."
A check of Moll's campaign website doesn't turn up anything scandalous about Zack either, unless you count her discomfort with the congressman accepting $170,000 in campaign contributions from the liberal MoveOn.Org during the 2006 campaign. (See http://jeanettemoll.wordpress.com/category/op-ed )
Given that the MoveOn contribution went towards replacing Ney, a Delay era poster boy for corruption, with a scandal-free Democrat, that would seem to be money ethically spent. Moll, who boasts her affiliations with Right to Life and the National Rifle Association, finds MoveOn unacceptable because of its opposition to the Iraq occupation.
One would expect more precision from Moll, an attorney and former magistrate.
Nothing in the article indicates that she -- or the other 18th District Republican hopefuls at the GOP club meeting -- had anything to say, ethically or otherwise, about the news that their fellow 18th District Republican Bob Ney is being sprung from a federal prison after serving a year of his 30-month sentence for corrupt acts in the Abramoff lobbying affair.
That, even though the article about Ney's release ran right next to the article about the club meeting and Space's alleged ethical lapses.
Kudos to the Advocate copy editor who laid out that page!
If not,it shows you don't read the Newark Advocate.
(http://www.newarkadvocate.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/NEWS03/802210342/1002/NEWS17
In an otherwise forgettable Thursday article about three Republican congressional hopefuls pitching the Licking County Republican Women's Club, candidate Jeanette Moll from Zanesville made this remarkable statement:
"Moll, a former magistrate judge for the Guernsey County Court of Common Pleas, said her concerns about ethical issues tied to current 18th District Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, are part of what prompted her to seek office to ensure transparency and strong conservative leadership." (emphasis added)
This remark, buried in a page 3 story, should be a bombshell since Space was elected on his promise to clean up the ethics stain left behind by his predecessor, Republican Bob Ney.
But nowhere in the Advocate article does Moll document her charge against Space, other than to say, "many members of Congress are more concerned about re-election than anything else."
A check of Moll's campaign website doesn't turn up anything scandalous about Zack either, unless you count her discomfort with the congressman accepting $170,000 in campaign contributions from the liberal MoveOn.Org during the 2006 campaign. (See http://jeanettemoll.wordpress.com/category/op-ed )
Given that the MoveOn contribution went towards replacing Ney, a Delay era poster boy for corruption, with a scandal-free Democrat, that would seem to be money ethically spent. Moll, who boasts her affiliations with Right to Life and the National Rifle Association, finds MoveOn unacceptable because of its opposition to the Iraq occupation.
One would expect more precision from Moll, an attorney and former magistrate.
Nothing in the article indicates that she -- or the other 18th District Republican hopefuls at the GOP club meeting -- had anything to say, ethically or otherwise, about the news that their fellow 18th District Republican Bob Ney is being sprung from a federal prison after serving a year of his 30-month sentence for corrupt acts in the Abramoff lobbying affair.
That, even though the article about Ney's release ran right next to the article about the club meeting and Space's alleged ethical lapses.
Kudos to the Advocate copy editor who laid out that page!
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