The primary win by Christine O'Donnell in Delaware prompted phone calls to our Hamilton County (Ohio!) Republican HQ yesterday. Several of those calls were aimed at the "Republican Establishment." I suppose if you don't understand how things work, you would target our local HQ for these silly calls. A few were profane including a particularly fun voicemail that I saved. Let me make a few things clear to our friends here in Hamilton County: Your local GOP had NOTHING to do with the race in Delaware. We've got our hands full trying to elect our ticket in Hamilton County and in Ohio. The primary in Ohio ended in May (where the Hamilton County GOP did NOT endorse any candidate) and we're on to the business of trying to elect our GOP ticket against liberal Democrats.And...
Christine O'Donnell seems to be a fine candidate. It is interesting to see the "moderate" wing of the party go after her--just as the "conservative" wing of the party has gone after some candidates who are perceived as moderates. One thing that ought to be clear to anyone claiming a conspiracy: THE VOTERS DECIDE. John McCain was the nominee of the Party in 2008 after the voters made that choice. Christine O'Donnell is our Senate nominee in Delaware after the voters made that choice. There is no secret, backroom, smoke-filled-room deciding our nominees in these high profile races. Our GOP voters make these choices in the primary. From where I sit, we should support O'Donnell just as strongly as we supported McCain for President. These are the nominees of the Party. The Party has to be big enough for both McCain and O'Donnell. On that point, some might disagree. But that is why we have primaries. We have our ticket and now we go to battle.
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I am concerned about a Senator from Delaware who exaggerates, plagiarizes, and misleads potential voters. He was selected by the President to be the Vice-President! Do you see the phony outrage about Christine O'Donnell? Compare it to the outrage at Vice President Biden's history of plagiarism and exaggeration in all of his public statements. It seems it's a problem when a conservative does it. But, when a liberal like Biden does it, you become Vice President.
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Jim Tarbell supports the streetcar proposal. He can't be county commissioner.
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Maggie and I attended the Gubernatorial debate in Columbus on Tuesday night. Kasich very plainly dominated the debate. I have one observation I want to share here. Gov. Strickland played the typical political games that politicians play in debates. He kept calling John Kasich "Congressman" (clearly to link him to the unpopular congress where Strickland himself served--even though John hasn't been there in 10 years and when John left, he left a balanced budget!). Strickland had a canned one-liner attacking John as being anti-Ohio by questioning whether John supported the Buckeyes in their recent game against the Miami (Florida) Hurricanes. All of this is nonsense. It is classic political gamesmanship that I HOPE the voters can see right through. John Kasich stayed above that silliness and didn't go for the "zing" that seems to be such a part of political debates. Isn't John right? Our state is in peril. Our way of life and the American dream is under assault from a political culture that breeds politicians without the courage to make difficult decisions. If these silly "zings" still score points--shame on us as political consumers. John Kasich has a clear vision for making Ohio a business-friendly state where businesses want to set-up-shop and create jobs. He articulated that very effectively in the debate. In the end, that's what it has to be about. Gov. Strickland played the typical political games that have become old and tired in a state that has collapsed under his watch. John Kasich is up in the polls and deserves to be Governor. Strickland and his old style brand of politics have failed.
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Dave Yost will beat David Pepper. Pepper will spend a fortune to stop that from happening. But, even David Pepper can't push back this wave. And David Yost is a fantastic guy and a fantastic candidate.
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The Reds are headed for the playoffs. Nobody is more excited about that than I am.
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I watch MSNBC for Morning Joe. I hear things I disagree with and that's politically healthy.
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It is fun to watch John Boehner get all this attention from the President. John is clearly a threat to the elite, left-wing power structure.
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I've railed on this before. Isn't it funny how politicians use the words "pay for tax cuts?" Republicans should explain the folly of that language. Letting people keep more of the money they have earned is the default position--the normal state of affairs. Government doesn't "pay" for you to keep more of your own money. When the government cuts taxes, it lets you keep more of what you've earned. Government is not "paying" for anything. Government is keeping less of what already belongs to YOU. Liberals also use the word "investment" when they're spending your money and they use the word "revenue" when they're keeping more of your money or raising your taxes.
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I went to the Indian Hill Tea Party this week. I go to Tea Party meetings regularly. The image some have of the Tea Party (and perpetrated by the media) is flawed. The Tea Party meetings are some of the most thoughtful, respectful, and well organized dialogues anywhere in politics. I think that liberals should go and listen to the message. The Indian Hill Tea Party talks of a return to the basic principles that made America a great country. They talk about the Constitution, freedom, and capitalism. Since when is that "fringe?" Don't be fooled by the naysayers. There is a reason these meetings fill-up the room.
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Have a good Thursday.
