From Openers

The Brady Campaign to Prevent Handgun Violence today endorsed Sen. Mike DeWine for reelection. Let's break this down: DeWine is a Republican, and quite a few Republicans abhor gun control. The Brady Campaign is a leading proponent of gun control. Yet DeWine sought its endorsement, or at least responded to the request to fill out a questionaire and explain why he thought he deserved the nod.

This, in a state where even the Democratic gubernatorial candidate brags of his support for gun rights (and is accused of being insincere and -- gasp -- of not even owning a gun).

DeWine, a former Greene County prosecutor, stood out for supporting laws banning assualt weapons, to close the gun show loophole, and to establish a database linking guns used in crimes to their owners, according to the Brady Campaign. He fought against a liability shield for gun dealers and manufacturers. And, Hamm says, "he doesn't hide from this at all."

Don't know how to feel about this one.

From Openers

Strickland has led Blackwell by about 10 points in other polls. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll, to be released publicly tomorrow, shows Strickland leading Blackwell, 50 percent to 37 percent.

Rasmussen has a good track record.

From CQpolitics.com

It is hard for officials and boosters of many American cities to avoid getting stars in their eyes when the major parties start soliciting potential sites for their next presidential nominating conventions.

The quadrennial gatherings hold out the prospect of revenue streams and days of free publicity — not to mention a chance, perhaps, to share the stage with the current or next president and to hobnob with celebrities from the worlds of politics, media and entertainment.

But then they get a load of the details. There are long lists of logistic requirements demanded by the parties, including a single convention venue that can accommodate thousands of delegates and party officials and many thousands more journalists who will cover the proceedings, and at least 20,000 hotel rooms and 2,000 suites for participants that are located within a reasonable commute to the arena. And this is on top of security measures and costs that have greatly escalated since the onset of the “9/11 era.”

It is not very surprising, therefore, that most cities take a deep breath and decide that it would better to watch the conventions from afar.

Of 66 cities initially considered to host the 2008 Republican and Democratic national conventions, only six are still in the running. New York City and the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolis are lobbying both parties. The Democrats also are considering New Orleans and Denver for their convention, scheduled for Aug. 25-28 in 2008. The Republicans also are considering Cleveland and Tampa-St. Petersburg for their convention the week after, Sept. 1-4.

Something to ponder.

But this is interesting from Rasmussen Reports

Forty-three percent (43%) of Americans approve of the way that George W. Bush is performing his role as President. That’s the highest rating he has received since May 6. This update is based upon nightly telephone interviews and reported on a three-day rolling average basis. With a three-percentage point margin of sampling error, today’s spike may be little more than statistical noise.

This was in the Cincinnati Enquirer a couple of days ago.

On Ken Blackwell:

...Ken Blackwell is definitely not a moderate. He's a devout conservative Christian who pledges to finally give Ohio a Republican governor who is actually a Republican. And that means that from now until Halloween, the media will probably dress Blackwell in a scary Darth Vader "extremist" costume.

But facts are inconvenient things. And the fact is, Blackwell is no more extreme than most of Ohio. He's a Ronald Reagan conservative who believes gay marriage is wrong, Bill Cosby is right, the liberal welfare state has caused more poverty than racism, and abortion has killed more black people than lynchings.

...His book also says: "Statistics show that between 1882 and 1969, 3,446 blacks were lynched in the United States. That number is bypassed by the number of African-American abortions every three days." He calls it "genocide by abortion."

Another chapter says: "The politics of guilt, rage and violence have now had more than four decades of robust expression in America. Yet making white America feel guilty for the racial discrimination suffered by African-Americans has not worked."

That's why he calls himself "Jesse Jackson's worst nightmare."

And that's why a black Republican like Blackwell scares the cheese out of Democrats. A black Republican who peels away black votes threatens the Democratic Party the way the Ice Age threatened mastodons. While most Republicans are lucky to get 5 percent of black votes, Blackwell gets 30 percent in statewide elections - enough to beat Strickland.

The fact is, many black voters are far more conservative than the Democratic Party on social issues such as gay marriage and abortion. And rural voters may prefer a black governor to a white liberal who supports gay rights.

And concerning Ted Strickland:

Ted Strickland is a liberal.

The press makes a lot of his 92 percent National Rifle Association score in 2004. But Project Vote Smart's ratings of Strickland ricochet to the left.

• The abortion lobby NARAL: 100 percent in 2004 (50 percent in 2005 when he began running for governor).
• The nuke-ban group Nuclear Age Peace Foundation: 100 percent.
• The oldest liberal lobbying group, Americans for Democratic Action: 95 percent in 2005.
• People for the American Way: 77 percent. NOW: 86 percent.

...Strickland also voted against a House resolution last week that supported the war on terrorism.

The more Ohio learns about Strickland, the more Ohio will learn to like Blackwell.

This is from the email bag:


Ohio Republican Party
News Release
For Immediate Release Contact: John McClelland
Thursday, June 22, 2006

(Columbus) – Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ted Strickland did another about-face this week, backtracking on his support for government-funded domestic partner benefits.

When asked by the Cincinnati Enquirer if live-in partners of state employees should receive the same health and pension benefits as married state employees, Strickland said “No.” (see attached .pdf)

Strickland’s new position contradicts his earlier support of government-funded benefits for gay couples. In 2001, he voted against a resolution banning government-funded domestic partner benefits for public employees in the District of Columbia. (Vote 352 9/25/01)

His new position also conflicts with a previous comment that gay couples should have “the same legal rights and privileges” as heterosexual couples:

“I absolutely believe that adults should be able to enter into legal relationships which give them the legal rights and privileges that are usually associated with the marriage relationship.” (Paul M. Krawzak, Copley News Service, 7/14/04)

Strickland’s doublespeak on support for gay rights comes on the heels of a major fundraiser “sponsored by the Stonewall Democrats of Central Ohio and several other gay advocacy groups,” according to the Plain Dealer.

“Ted Strickland can’t even go a week without contradicting himself,” said Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett. “He says one thing to one group of people, and he says something totally different to another group. He’s for gun rights, but he doesn’t like guns. He’s a minister, but he doesn’t belong to a church. He’s a moderate, but the liberals call him one of their own. He wants to debate any time, any place, but he won’t commit. Ohio needs a leader in the governor’s office, not a political opportunist.”

A friend ended up on this email... It looks like Ted's campaign can't get their act together in Summit County.

From: "Michael Dalton" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:23:42 -0400
Subject: WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT THIS WEEKEND!!!

Summit County Strickland Supporters,

I am disappointed to say that I only received ONE e-mail from a group of over 250 that were sent this message. Once again, Ted need’s your help this weekend! The events are as follows:

* First off, this Saturday we have the LeBron James “King for Kids Bike-a-Thon.” The deadline has passed for registration but I still want a presence at the event, specifically at Lock 3 where James will address the crowd. The bike-a-thon begins at 11. I would like a team of 4 people to show up at 11:30 and remain until 2:30 or whenever the crowd has dissipated. If interested, please contact me at 330-338-1657 or e-mail me back.

* Second, from 9am until noon this Saturday, Stow will be having their Community Clean Up Day. I would like nothing more than to have a group of 6-10 people there to help out at this event sporting Ted t-shirts, stickers, and/or buttons helping out in the community. Breakfast and lunch are provided! Once again get back to me and let me know of your availability.

* Stow is also having their Joshua Stow Fest from 11 until 4 both Saturday and Sunday. This will occur at Heritage Lake at Silver Springs off of Young Rd. I would like a team of 3 volunteers for both days from 12:30 until 3 to hit, what I guess would be, the peak times. Let me know of your interest.

* Another event, albeit a very important one, that should just be a good time to hang out and provide a visible Ted Strickland presence is the Firestone Park Festival, Parade, and Fireworks. It is this Saturday. We are most likely teaming up with Tina Merlitti. I would like to have a presence at the festival which begins at 2pm and goes until the fireworks show at 9:45. I would like to have teams of 3-4 working from 2:30 until 5:00, another from 5:00 until 7:30, and another from 7:30 until 10:00. The team from 2:30 until 5:00 will be helping out with the parade and will need 4 people.

As you can see it’s going to be a busy but fun-filled weekend. And don’t forget, we are having our annual FDR dinner on Sunday at Todaro’s party center. Lee Fisher and Ben Espy are the featured speakers.

Remember, we need your help to turn around Ohio and it begins with helping at events like this. I look forward to hearing from you.

Michael Dalton

Summit County Coordinator
Ted Strickland for Governor, ODP Coordinated Campaign

Regardless of what some may say, I truly do care about others. So if you live in Summit County, call Mike Dalton at 330-338-1657. There must be a few young socialists out there who can help!

From a Blackwell press release:

Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell continues to lead Congressman and former psychologist Ted Strickland in the battle for solutions to important issues facing Ohioans. Today, Strickland embraced Blackwell's veterans' services reform platform. Blackwell introduced the reforms over two months ago.

"Since leadership is not Strickland's forte, he is welcome to follow Ken Blackwell's lead on all of the important issues of the day," said Blackwell spokesman Carlo LoParo. "Unfortunately for Ted, Ohioans expect their next governor to lead."

Among other things, Blackwell's plan will create a cabinet level Ohio Department of Veterans' Affairs (which is to be headed by a veteran) and exempt military personnel from Ohio income taxes on income earned from active duty service in the United States military.

So not only has Blackwell already managed to get a version of the TEL signed into law, but he's now guarenteed that his veteran's package will have support from the governor's mansion. Can you imagine what this guy will accomplish once he's actually elected?