From the hotline

Today: the GOP threw a wrench into the Democrats' calculations. The RNC site selection committee wasn't supposed to choose its city until -- at the earliest -- December. But Republicans said the strength of the Twin Cities' courtship, combined with a desire to prevent the Democrats from choosing a blue-trending battleground state, necessitated the surgical action. Cleveland, another finalist, simply couldn't provide the RNC with assurance that it had enough hotel rooms. Tampa had hurricanes. And a well-timed convention announcement might help Gov. Tim Pawlenty survive a tough re-election challenge this cycle.

From the Plain Dealer

In a victory for news-gathering organizations, a federal judge has ruled that members of the media may conduct exit polls within 100 feet of Ohio polling places.

The American Broadcasting Co., and other media, sued Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell two years ago after he limited access to the area within 100 feet of polling areas.

The ruling, handed down Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Michael H. Watson, ends the battle between Blackwell and news organization over exit polls.

From the cantonrep

Rove, a White House adviser, had kept an eye on the Canton election. Not just because Creighton was vying to become the first woman mayor in the city. Not just because most large cities in Ohio have Democratic mayors. And not simply because Creighton is a staunch Republican who campaigned for President Bush.

Creighton’s race was one of several trial runs around the country that the Republican National Committee used to gauge how effectively it could get out the vote in anticipation of the 2004 presidential election, according to the book, “The Architect: Karl Rove and The Master Plan for Absolute Power,” released earlier this month.

What a shame

Ohio's abortion pill law rejected

Judge: Legislation restricting RU-486 unconstitutional

BY DAN HORN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER

An Ohio law restricting the use of an abortion-inducing pill is unconstitutional because it is vague and could jeopardize the health of women, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

The decision is a victory for Planned Parenthood, which argued that limiting the use of the drug, RU-486, could put women at risk.

The law would make it illegal for doctors to prescribe the drug after the seventh week of pregnancy, a restriction recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration six years ago.

Planned Parenthood - joined by a national doctors' group - complained that the FDA rules are subject to change and include caveats that would allow the use of RU-486 after the seventh week of pregnancy.

They said the law could put doctors at risk of criminal prosecution even if they provided proper care to their patients.

The law also included no exception for women to use RU-486 after seven weeks, even if they faced a greater health risk from surgical abortion.

"This is another piece of legislation that is intended to scare doctors away from providing reproductive health care," said Al Gerhardstein, Planned Parenthood's attorney.

Two points:

1) Who knew that a right to the abortion pill was in the constitution? I don't remember that Amendment.

2) I never knew "reproductive health care" was the same as giving women access to a human pesticide.

The PeeDee reported this would be in Cleveland and Toledo starting today

And Aaron Marshall is a DUMBASS. Taft is a member of the RGA, just for being a Governor. Gov. Mitt Romney and Gov. Sonny Perdue run the RGA.

Since Victoria Wulsin and BSB have been slamming Jean Schmidt for "plagiarism," they may find this interesting. From a Wulsin release that BSB calls tenacious.

Asked by a Community Press editor on Tuesday about her use of a canned op-ed, the Honorable Congresswoman used the timeless middle school excuse – "they told me to do it."

"We have a communications department in Congress…it's not plagiarism if they tell you to use it," said Schmidt, proving, once again, that this US Representative is a fantastic role model for our children and youth. She has refused to retract her statement or apologize for misleading the public for issuing a press release authored by the House Republican Caucus and circulating it under her name.

Those are the first words Schmidt has uttered to a reporter in a long time. On Monday, Schmidt campaign manager Barry Bennett justified Schmidt's dishonesty by telling the Enquirer that "everybody does it." He was unable to point to any other member of Congress who does it.

Well, today the Schmidt Campaign has pointed to another member of Congress who does it: Ted Strickland.

Compare this to this or this or this.

Or compare this one to anything on this page.

Are we seeing a pattern yet? The exact same press releases issued by different Democratic Representatives. But when a Republican does it, Wulsin and the liberal blogosphere cry foul.

I expect BSB and the Wulsin Campaign to either voice their disgust with Ted Strickland, or admit that their attacks against Schmidt have been petty and hypocritical.

I'm waiting.

has more nice things to say about Sherrod Brown and Ted Strickland.