Happy Birthday President Lincoln

Two hundred years ago today, February 12, 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born in a small Kentucky town. One of the great Presidents of all time, we should all pause for just a minute today to celebrate this great man's birth.

I recently heard President Lincoln described as an "American secular saint." I think that summarizes it effectively.

President Lincoln's quiet and sturdy leadership was exactly what our country needed during a period of tremendous growth and transition.

Take a minute to read about President Lincoln by clicking here.

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Sunday Spotlight: Jim Sumner

Today's Sunday Spotlight shines on Blue Ash city council member and longtime GOP activist, Jim Sumner.

Jim has been a member of the Blue Ash city council since 1991 and has served the citizens of Blue Ash with great distinction. He served as Mayor from 1997 - 2001 and now represents Ward 1 on the Blue Ash city council.

I am proud to say that Blue Ash, a community governed by a majority of great Republicans like Jim, is one of the finest communities in all of Hamilton County. Jim Sumner is a great community leader and the citizens of Blue Ash benefit from his public service.

Selfishly, the Hamilton County GOP also values Jim's service to the "downtown" party through his efforts on our TCV committee and his chairmanship of our non-judicial nominating committee. Jim is a valued voice in the affairs of the party and his chairmanship of our non-judicial nominating committee is critical to our work to select candidates for office.

To learn more about Jim Sumner, click here.

Amy Searcy Named Deputy Director of the Board of Elections

*PRESS RELEASE*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On February 6, 2009, the Hamilton County Board of Elections selected Magistrate Amy Searcy as the new Deputy Director. The position formerly held by John Williams will be filled by Ms. Searcy effective February 23, 2009. The position of Deputy Director is of significant importance to the Board of Elections and to all the citizens of Hamilton County as the Deputy Director has an integral role in the daily operations of the Board of Elections. The Hamilton County Board of Elections has a long history of working in a bi-partisan fashion to promote fair and efficient elections in the county.

STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN ALEX M. TRIANTAFILOU

"Magistrate Amy Searcy has served the citizens of Hamilton County with great distinction as a Magistrate of the Hamilton County Municipal Court. As a Magistrate, Ms. Searcy has presided over thousand of cases. Furthermore, she has been involved in the elections process for most of her adult career having assisted candidates and worked in her community on causes that are important to her. Her legal background and her experience will make her a fantastic addition to the Board of Elections. We are pleased that Ms. Searcy has taken on this new challenge."

We Need a Change on the School Board!

The Democrats control the Cincinnati Public School Board of Education. The Board consists of seven people who all endorsed President Obama in 2008. What they must not have endorsed is his call for transparency in government.

The School Board has devised a scam whereby applicants for the highly paid position of superintendent will send their resume and application to a P.O. Box instead of to the Board. Then, the P.O. Box will go unchecked (or so they allege) until mid-March when a panel will quickly review all the candidates at once and then pick a candidate within a week. The School Board has devised this scam to keep the public from seeing who the applicants are and to avoid a public records request from local media. The scam is ridiculous and illegal.

When asked about this situation, Democrat Board President Eileen Cooper Reed said, "If we don't have them, then nobody has them." President Reed is an attorney and ought to know better. You have them when you have control of that P.O. Box and this game violates the spirit of the Ohio Open Records law and denies the public its rightful access to this information.

Ohio law says, very plainly, that the citizens have a right to see employment applications and resumes for public positions. The Ohio Sunshine Law Handbook states: "Resumes submitted for public employment are unquestionably available for public disclosure. (click here to see the law, p. 88)

I understand the School Board will ultimately release this information, but this scheme they are proposing has another surprise. The public may ultimately have to pay the attorney's fees for the attorney who sues to force the School Board to comply with the law. That's right, the taxpayers will be made to pay the legal fees of the lawyers who sue the Board if the Board is not complying with the law.

The Ohio Sunshine Law Handbook also says, "If the court issues an injunction (i.e., if the public body loses), the court shall order the public body to pay all court costs. In addition, the court shall also order the public body to pay the filing party its reasonable attorney fees." The word "shall" is unambiguous and, when the School Board loses, your tax dollars shall be used to pay the winning lawyer.

We need a change on our School Board and I look forward to supporting smart, common sense, candidates to improve the quality of education in this great city and to be better stewards of our precious tax dollars.

Experience Matters

Dare we say it? Experience in executive office matters and President Obama went to Washington with scant experience to lead.

The media will not say it this bluntly, but it needs to be said: the first few weeks of this administration have been marred by missteps and silly errors that prove that Barack Obama was simply not ready to be the CEO of the greatest nation on earth.

The tax problems of four of his top picks to work in the Executive branch is a problem when you consider how the President established vetting procedures for his most important appointments. His team has regularly asked for waivers from the very ethics reforms that he established in the White House. He has bumbled the so-called "stimulus" package by not standing up to Speaker Pelosi and her special interests to rid the package of silly things like contraception and other spending that has little to do with stimulating job growth in this economy. When you combine these things, you see a series of errors that could have easily been avoided with some experienced leadership.

Even if you agree with the spending in the so-called stimulus package, can we really see a "change" in how Washington operates with that bill? No objective observer can say "yes" to that. The bill is simply loaded down with the pet projects the Democrats want instead of being what the Republicans want. That is not what the American people wanted. They wanted to see a fundamental shift in how things work. Speaker Pelosi bowled over the Obama team with that so-called stimulus package and, thankfully, the Senate is likely to clean it up.

For the country's sake, let's hope this group gets it together. They still have a great chance because they have a remarkably charismatic president and a nation starving for something good to happen.

But, up to this point, they've fumbled and shown their inexperience at the Washington, D.C. game.

FedEx CEO Fred Smith

The Democrats in Washington are helping all of us see, once again, why we are Republicans. The ridiculous pork-laden, welfare, spending bill they are trying to pass as "stimulus" is a reminder of what we ought to be about as a party.

But, I was reminded about why I am a Republican over the weekend as I watched "This Week with George Stephanapolous." Guests on the show that day included Rep. Barney Frank and a CEO named Frederick Smith, the founder and head of FedEx.

I have always been relatively amused by Barney Frank. Frank is a witty, highly intelligent, radical liberal from Massachusetts. He is considered one of Washington's smartest men and he is quietly respected among many Republicans in Washington because of his intellect. I do not cringe at the sight of the liberal Barney Frank like many of my GOP colleagues. He is part of what makes politics interesting and even though I abhor 99% of what he supports, I'll admit to not hating him. There is a famous news clip of Rep. Barney Frank where he says "there are plenty of rich people to tax." See that clip by clicking here. That attitude was obvious on Sunday during "This Week."

The man that caught my attention on the show was the very unassuming, almost boring-looking, grey haired, soft spoken CEO of FedEx, Fred Smith. I was surprised that this man--boring as he looked--was a CEO. I was impressed by how ordinary the man looked, but how extraordinary his thoughts were. So, I started doing some digging.

Frederick Smith lost his father when he was only 4 years old. Mr. Smith graduated high school in Memphis, TN and went on to Yale. At Yale, he wrote a paper for an economics class outlining overnight delivery service in the computer age--in 1966. Upon graduation, he served two tours in Vietnam as a Marine. He returned to the United States and in June of 1971, using a small inheritance, founded a small company called "Federal Express." By 1973, his company was providing overnight delivery service of small packages and documents to 25 U.S. cities using 14 small jets. Mr. Smith used the innovative idea of a "ground clearing system" whereby packages were shipped using a central clearing location. This system was never used before and it transformed the shipping business and is now used by every major shipping business in the world. Mr. Smith is a visionary business pioneer.

Today, 38 years after the founding of Federal Express, Mr. Smith's small upstart company is called FedEx and its many units and subsidiaries are household names. FedEx employs over 250,000 people worldwide and the company is valued at more than $25 billion! All of this from a man who wrote a paper at Yale and built his American dream.

On that Sunday morning show, I watched the contrast between two very smart men--Rep. Barney Frank and CEO Frederick Smith. Rep. Frank was respectful of Mr. Smith and it was not a "fight" between the two. But, watching Barney Frank lecture viewers using the phrase "corporate elite" and then listening to his view of America (one we all know well) reminded me about why I am a Republican. We are the party that supports private enterprise and rewards success in the free market. They are the party that taxes success. The contrast between CEO Fred Smith (creator of 250,000 jobs) and Rep. Barney Frank (tax the successful who create jobs) could not have been more clear.

Critics will say, "Sure, you are the party that supports CEO fat cats?" Not even close. And, that oversimplification misses the point entirely. We should be the party that supports business growth and development as a method of lifting up all people and giving them a chance at the American dream. America ought to be a place where Mr. Smith's success is celebrated and encouraged--not scorned. FedEx operates in 220 nations and employs a quarter-of-a-million people. Mr. Smith's intelligence, vision, hard-work, and entrepreneurial spirit helped employ thousands and ultimately helped countless families raise their kids and live a better life.

President Obama campaigned on the notion that "those that make $250,000 per year or more will have their taxes raised." That is exactly the wrong message despite the results on Election Day. America ought to be a place where every single person strives to make that much money every year. Instead, Democrats tell us that if we do, we'll be punished by the government when they keep more of our money. That kind of class warfare kills innovation, discourages hard work, and hurts job growth in the economy.

We are the party that celebrates and lifts up success. They tax it.

Saturday Night...

I just like the image...

And...

The Republican National Committee met yesterday and selected a new Chairman, Michael S. Steele of Maryland. Chairman Steele is the former Lt. Governor of Maryland and a former candidate for the U.S. Senate. Mr. Steele is well known to most political junkies as an articulate and intelligent voice for the GOP. He is also a former county party chairman. I am thrilled by his selection and I hope he can lead us into the future with a more positive and hopeful vision. To learn more about Chairman Steele, click here.

And...

Our non-judicial nominating committee is set to meet in mid-February to endorse our city council candidates and a mayoral candidate. Stay tuned.

And...

Our early 2009 fundraising push is coming along nicely. If you haven't made a donation, consider doing so by contacting Maggie Nafziger at maggien@hc-gop.org. Thanks to the many contributors who have already participated.

And...

Don't forget about our annual Lincoln/Reagan Day Dinner set for Friday, February 13, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. at the Duke Energy Center. Tickets are $90/person and our keynote speaker will be new Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine. Chairman DeWine will be making his first Lincoln/Reagan day speech as Chairman in Hamilton County and his remarks should be informative. Chairman DeWine just returned from Washington where he participated in the selection of new RNC Chairman Michael Steele.

And...

I followed the election of the new RNC Chairman on Twitter yesterday. The "tweets" were coming from many places and helped me keep tabs on the whole thing as it unfolded. Get active with Twitter if you aren't already. Check out my Twitter page at http://twitter.com/ChairmanAlex.

And...

Snow removal in the city of Cincinnati was woeful this past week. City government must serve our most basic needs before spending money on other wasteful things.

And...

The momentum for Rob Portman continues. He is building a great team to win Ohio for 2010. Who will the D's run? We're all watching.

And...

Want to follow the goings-on in Columbus and in statewide politics? The Columbus Dispatch's "Daily Briefing" can be found here and it contains daily updates on the political happenings in state government. Check it out.

And...

For my regular readers (both of you), I am going to pick the Super Bowl winner on this blog. You'll recall the success I did not have in doing that previously here. But, here goes: Arizona in an upset, 27-24.

And...

Have a great weekend.

A Slide to the Left

Sometime just before Election Day last year, a close friend and Republican privately asked me, "Will Obama be THAT bad?" "Really, aren't the parties just the same?" "He is just one man and he seems smart and has new ideas." Many Americans (about 60 million) felt that way and elected President Obama.

In that private moment, I agreed with my friend on a few key things: (1) Obama is smart, (2) He has some fresh and interesting ideas that sound good when he says them, and (3) We need to do something because the country is sliding downward.

But, I then explained to him that voting for one man for President means much more than just a new face at the White House. When you vote for President, you vote for a political party and for a set of ideals and principles that the President's party promotes. The principles of his party are ultimately bad for America and begin a slide to the left that will be bad for the American dream well into the future.

I went on to explain that the Obama administration will empower and embolden a very left-of-center Nancy Pelosi. I explained that Obama will likely appoint federal judges that are soft on crime, against logical tort reform, and pro-abortion. I explained that the Obama team will bring in 6,000 new appointees across the government and a large majority of those people will possess the same values as Nancy Pelosi and her very liberal friends. I further predicted that the Democrats will do what they always do: tax and spend.

In the end, it is a slippery slope of liberalism that will slide this nation to the left in a way that hurts the country. The Obama legacy throughout government will be to appoint activist judges and to spend our great-great grandchildren's money on liberal pet projects.

Yesterday, we saw the biggest lurch to the left that we could ever imagine with this ridiculous, pork-laden, non-job-creating, wasteful stimulus package passed by Speaker Pelosi. I am proud of John Boehner and our Republicans and of 11 sensible Democrats who opposed the insanity. Our future as a party will be defined for us by the Democrats if they continue with this drunken spending of our money. George Will called the bill "an exercise in wretched excess." He could not be more right.

This country is taking a gigantic step to the political left at this moment in history. This is not the "change" America wanted. In America, the private sector creates jobs and people should keep more of their own money to spend for themselves. We should incentivize job creation and small business growth by cutting taxes. We should curb spending and limit the size of government. None of that thinking prevails in Washington or Columbus or Cincinnati City Hall these days.

It is a slippery slope that slides left.

A Kerfuffle

Some people are not fit for public office...

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=blog02&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3aec38bb2b-982e-46ba-819a-da01a547e8eaPost%3aafc9c231-888c-424e-b526-9926c1b23c2b&s.

Have a great snow day!

Sunday Spotlight: Patricia Clancy

Our Sunday Spotlight shines on the first female Clerk of Courts in the history of Hamilton County, Patti Clancy.

A fellow west-sider, Patti was raised in Colerain Township and dedicated her early political career to serving the citizens of Colerain Township as a Trustee. She went on to serve as a State Representative then a State Senator and was elected as our Clerk of Courts in 2008.

Patti Clancy worked as hard as any candidate I have ever seen and the Republican Party was pleased to strongly support her bid to replace Greg Hartmann in that office. Patti is a common-sense conservative who twice received the coveted "Watchdog of the Treasury Award" from the United Conservatives of Ohio. Patti's keen eye toward spending will serve her well in this large county office during these difficult budget times.

Personally, I have known Patti for many years and I know her to be a person of the highest character and integrity.

Tomorrow, Patti will celebrate her election with a formal investiture ceremony and I look forward to participating.

To learn more about Patti Clancy and the Clerk of Courts office, click here to visit the official site.

Tough to be positive about this mess...

The bloom is off of President Obama's rose in only 3 days. Not sure I'm so surprised. His arrogance came through today when he said "I won" to congressional Republicans that dared to question the expenditure of $865 billion of our tax dollars. Message to President Obama: 60 MILLION people voted for the other guy and we're watching. The Democrats will do what they do best: tax and spend and tax and spend and tax and spend....

Lincoln/Reagan Dinner 2009

Our program is set!

Lincoln Reagan Dinner 2009

Keynote Speaker:

Ohio's New GOP Chairman
Kevin DeWine

February 13, 2009
5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Duke Energy Center
Downtown Cincinnati

$90 per person

RSVP: dflammer@hc-gop.org or 513-381-5454

"Come hear our new Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine address his first Lincoln/Reagan dinner as Chairman where he will discuss the future of the GOP and his vision for our party in the great state of Ohio"

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, our country honors a great American civil rights leader with a national holiday. Martin Luther King, Jr. changed America with his charismatic leadership and strong convictions. He is properly remembered on this day.

I set out to write this blog entry hoping to repeat an assertion that I've heard time and again: Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Republican. I wish I could have found evidence to support this, but I cannot. There is no strong evidence that this great man was a partisan of either party.

The assertion that he was a Republican comes from those that know the racist history of many in the Democratic Party in the middle of the 20th century including the "Dixiecrats" in the south. But, none of this proves that MLK was a Republican. I wish we could prove it. I am afraid we cannot. I urge anyone with greater information to post it here.

For an article arguing he was a Republican, click here. For an article challenging the notion, click here.

That debate may be interesting, but it should not take away from this special day. The Republican Party stands for equal opportunity and freedom for everyone. I think Dr. King would have approved.

Enjoy the day!

Sunday Spotlight: President-elect Barack Obama

Surprised I have this man on our GOP blog? You shouldn't be.

We may strongly disagree with his policies and I know that I will find myself wincing in pain as he implements a big government, deficit-spending, liberal agenda that I believe is not right for the country. But, I can separate the man from his policies.

As Republicans, we can learn much about how this man rose through the ranks of the Democratic Party and will become the next President of the United States.

President-elect Obama is intelligent, articulate, and positive in his vision for America. Misguided as this vision might be, the American electorate bought it. He won the election by offering hope for the future and by inspiring people from every walk of life.

As a Party, we need to return to a vision of hope and to project a positive view of what we can offer the citizens when we govern. We have defined ourselves in the last several years as against things. That is not how Ronald Reagan defined our conservative party.

I remain confident that conservative Republican principles are right for government and, when packaged in a positive way, will help us win elections. In the meantime, we'll have to suffer the consequences of a liberal federal government that will change America in a way that we don't like. Let us learn from this experience and come out stronger.

A reporter called me and asked if I would be watching the Inauguration. Of course, I will. What political junkie wouldn't? I'll watch it with pride, too. Our system worked--even if we do not like the result. Our job is to convince more Americans that we are right and watching that moment will only serve to motivate all of us to find the right man or woman to carry our message in a way that allows us to celebrate four years from now the way we did four years ago.

Finally, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that America will have an African American President. We can celebrate that. Anything is possible in America and that message is one our Party has preached for a long time.

I am confident in the future and positive about that future. I hope you are, too.

Chairman Kevin DeWine

Congratulations to newly elected Ohio Republican Party Chairman, Kevin DeWine!

Yesterday, the State Central Committee unanimously elected DeWine to be our Chairman. He is only the 8th GOP Chairman in the last 80 years of the party's history. To read the Columbus Dispatch's story about Kevin's election, click here.

Personally, I am pleased that Kevin has accepted this challenge during a difficult period for the Party. I know a little about that. Kevin has the right personality and temperament to deal with these challenges and I look forward to working with him to turn-around the GOP in Ohio and everywhere else.

Thursday...

Join us at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse for Rob Portman's Cincinnati campaign rally tonight at 6:00 p.m.

And...

The energy is returning to the GOP and Rob Portman's campaign is a positive for the GOP, the state, and the country. Rob works across the aisle but never compromises his conservative values. Rob is a rare commodity in politics: I have never found a single person to say anything bad about him. I am personally committed to his campaign and was happy to publicly endorse him. He will be a superb candidate and, more importantly, an outstanding United States Senator.

And...

I watched President Bush's 47-minute press conference and his appearance on Larry King Live. President Bush should be respected for his fundamental decency as a man and for his respect for the presidency. Instead of playing the name-calling, tit-for-tat, small-ball politics that his opponents played, he always respected the presidency. I respect him a great deal. Ray Cooklis wrote a very fair editorial yesterday in the Enquirer. Read it here.

And...

The Mayor named Laketa Cole to chair the Finance Committee of the Cincinnati City Council. Is the fox watching the hen house?

And...

I'm going to watch the inaugural on Tuesday. It will be historic. Swearing-in a new President is not a partisan event.

And...

Our new website is close to launch. I'm excited about it.

And...

Our Early Bird fundraising program is in high gear. Help us out with a donation. E-mail Maggie at maggien@hc-gop.org to participate in the Early Bird program.

And...

Congratulations to my friend Don Robinson for his ascension to the presidency of the Green Township Republican Club. Donnie will do a great job because he is highly intelligent, organized, and motivated. I oughta know...he was my bailiff for three and a half years.

And...

Our city council slate is coming together and we continue to have talks with candidates for Mayor. I can't wait to roll-out our slate and to offer the fine citizens of Cincinnati an alternative to the party in power in the city of Cincinnati.

And...

Are you on Facebook, yet?

And...

I'm proud of Republican governance during these tough economic times in Hamilton County. The balanced budget that was passed at the county commission was largely the work of Republican elected officials who worked within their county agencies to cut spending. This was painful and involved layoffs and other difficult austerity measures. Many Republicans exhibited real leadership at a time where it was necessary. I think even the two Democrats on the county commission would agree.

And...

The year 2010 is already heating up as an interesting political year statewide. We have some powerful names and great candidates lining up. I'm ready for a comeback.

And...

Have a great Thursday.

Rob Portman for United States Senate

Rob Portman will finish his statewide U.S. Senate campaign kick-off tour in Cincinnati on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse.

Join us in a rally to support Rob!

***Press Statement Regarding Board of Elections***

***Press Statement Regarding the Board of Elections***

Alex M. Triantafilou and Charles H. Gerhardt, III, the two Republican members of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, have announced that they are seeking applicants for the position of Deputy Director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections.

John Williams, the former Deputy Director of the Hamilton County Board of Elections, has accepted a position as Chief Deputy/Administrator of the Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Office under Patricia Clancy.

The salary of the Deputy Director will be determined based on the skills and experience of the successful applicant. The pay range is between $85,000.00 and $105,000.00 per year. A job description and other information about the job can be obtained at the Hamilton County Board of Elections website at www.votehamiltoncounty.org. Applications must be submitted to Mr. Alex M. Triantafilou, Chairman, Attn: Sherry Poland, 824 Broadway, Second Floor, Cincinnati, OH 45202. Applications must be submitted to Mr. Triantafilou no later than January 20, 2009 by 4:00 p.m.

Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 3501.09, “The Director and Deputy Director shall be of opposite political parties …”. Because the current Director of the Board of Elections is a member of the Democratic Party, the successful applicant shall be, pursuant to law, a member of the Republican Party. Therefore, the successful applicant must be a Republican.

STATEMENT OF CHAIRMAN ALEX M. TRIANTAFILOU

“John Williams has served the Hamilton County Board of Elections and the citizens of Hamilton County with great professionalism and distinction. During his years on the Board of Elections, he led the Board as Director and also as Deputy Director during a major transition from an old punch card balloting system to the new optical scan voting system. Through this transition, John has served the citizens of Hamilton County very well. John has chosen to take on a new challenge in a different county office and he will be missed at the Board of Elections. The elections process is of tremendous importance to every citizen of Hamilton County and the nation. A fair, open, and efficient election is the goal of every Board of Elections everywhere.”

“The successful applicant will be part of the leadership team that will assure a fair election in Hamilton County. Hamilton County has a long history of administrating elections on a bipartisan basis and we look forward to selecting a Deputy Director that can work in a bipartisan fashion with every member of the Board of Elections to assure a fair election for our citizenry. I urge all qualified applicants to apply.”

Sen. Voinovich Rumor

The rumor mill is running wild tonight about Sen. Voinovich's possible retirement from the Senate after his term ends at the end of 2010. The Columbus Dispatch, Politico.com, and even Fox News are all reporting that an announcement is coming tomorrow.

Sen. Voinovich is a wise, humble, and sensible political figure that works very hard to solve people's problems. He has been a tremendous force for good for Ohio and for the Republican Party. If he announces his intention to not seek re-election, he will end an illustrious career in Ohio politics when his term ends.

Democrat(ic) Money Burn: Obama Style?

I put a "?" on the title to this blog posting because President-elect Obama has not yet spent an ungodly and ridiculous amount of our great-great-grandchildren's money--but it sure looks like he is about to. And, probably with the consent of lots of Republicans.

What will occur in the next 6 months in Washington is scary. How many times have you heard political leaders say words like these: "Liberal and conservative economists all agree that we need a major stimulus?" I've heard that about 10 times. I guess it's true. Who knows.

The current discussion in Washington to spend over $800 billion that we borrow from China ought to scare the hell out of every American. Is it the right thing to do to "bring back this economy"? I'm not the guy to make that call. But, I am a citizen that is about to watch liberal Democrats do what they love to do: spend lavishly and explode the size of government. I just can't believe that is what the American people meant when they voted for "change." It looks a whole lot like more-of-the-same.

It is hard to watch. Elections have consequences. Let's hope for the best...

Check out our new poll ---->

Party for Steve Chabot

A Celebration of Steve Chabot's 14 Years of Service!

Price Hill Chili
Monday, January 12, 2009
5:00 p.m. -- 9:00 p.m.

Presented by:
Westwood Concern
Price Hill Civic Club
Independent Electrical Contractors of Greater Cincinnati PAC

Back to Work...

It's back to the grind today for most of us...and I couldn't be happier. If you love what you do, it's not work.

And...

I will emcee the swearing-in ceremony of my good friend Greg Hartmann today. The Enquirer did a nice story on Hartmann and his background today. Read that story, here.

And...

Patti Clancy begins her first day as Clerk of Courts today. Patti Clancy is the first female Clerk of Courts in Hamilton County history and I'm proud that she is a Republican. She will do a great job. Congratulations to Patti!

And...

I am excited about 2009 locally. We have many great township, city, and village candidates running in our suburbs this year. I have at least one person interested in running for Mayor. I welcome suggestions on this. We also should have a strong slate of council candidates. We'll score some nice wins there this year.

And...

Our Early Bird fundraising drive begins this week. The Early Bird program is critical to what we are as a Party and I urge all of our Early Birds to renew membership. We need you more than ever!

And...

I feel sorry for the Palestinian people in Gaza. They are victims of Hamas--not of the Israeli response to Hamas' terrorism. Hamas has not served the poor citizens of Gaza well. The Palestinians in Gaza should make a change.There ought to be a solution to the Palestinian issue, but the terrorists have made it impossible to negotiate a lasting peace. Did you know that the Hamilton County GOP Chairman speaks out on these issues? Me, neither.

And...

The Enquirer story on our 2010 candidate against Steve Driehaus mentioned the name of Nick Vehr as a "contender." Nick Vehr is categorically NOT interested in running for the Congress and he will not be running for office. His name should not have been mentioned as Nick is now running a successful business and is out of politics for good. Check out Nick's company here.

And...

Will Roland Burris (Sen. Obama's replacement) go to Washington and be denied at the Capitol today? Wow.

And...

My New Year's resolution, politically, is to be more positive about our Party and the future. Frankly, I think I've been better than most and I'm certainly more positive than the people who regularly comment negatively on this blog (and I'm talking about fellow Republicans). I urge you to do the same. If we only talk about what is wrong with Democrats and never talk about our positive vision for government, we'll be doing that from the minority for a long, long time. If we spend the next few years trying to convince the world why Democrats are bad, I'm afraid we'll go nowhere. Sure, we should fairly criticize when appropriate and the opposition party bears that responsibility. But, we should do so in a way that brings a focus back on why what we want as a party is better for America. We'll get there in time. I'm just going to get there by speaking positively about our message, our candidates, and our principles.

And...

Have a great 2009!

Mission Accomplished?

The United States handed over sovereignty of the Iraqi "Green Zone" to the Iraqi government yesterday. To read a story about this, click here.

Although largely symbolic at this point, the symbolism is great and the accomplishment is even greater. President Bush's leadership made the difference in Iraq and history will prove him right. Although Iraq still has many growing pains, the nation-state is moving forward and is beginning to take its first baby steps.

A confession: I thought the "surge" strategy was political suicide and I privately believed it wouldn't work. I saw it through a purely political lens and believed that moving more troops into a war that most Americans thought was lost would prove to be a major catastrophe. I was wrong and so were the President's critics. The surge worked to significantly reduce violence in Iraq and it is giving democracy a chance. Even Bush's harshest critics must agree that an Iraq that is democratic and free is a significant step toward transforming that part of the world. It is President Bush's vision and one that, if accomplished, will be his legacy.

The Status of Forces Agreement with Iraq was a major milestone in that it is a framework for withdrawal from Iraq. The agreement was quietly negotiated by the Bush administration because of the successes of the surge and the military strategy.

President-elect Obama surged in his primary and received tremendous support from the left of his party because of his position on the war. A year ago, this dominated his agenda and his campaign. Today, I will bet that President-elect Obama will do very little differently than the Bush Administration has done. Just watch. His Secretary of Defense will be the same. So will his strategy. It is the right strategy.

It is still likely too soon to say: Mission Accomplished. But, Iraq is changing for the better and that is because of the vision and fortitude of President Bush.

Happy New Year

Governor Blagojevich

How about this guy? Guts--he has.

Yesterday, Governor Blagojevich shocked everyone and did what he is legally entitled to do: he named a replacement to the United States Senate seat formerly held by President-elect Obama. He called a press conference and named former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris to fill the seat. The Governor was flip, arrogant, and bold. He looked bad at the press conference, though. He rocked back and forth while he was talking. He has that phony politician look about him. He just could not look more crooked and corrupt.

And, he has created a legitimate constitutional crisis. The Governor has not been formally indicted and the charges against him are only allegations made by a prosecutor. He was arrested on these allegations, but he is out on bail. No grand jury has yet to return formal charges. He is innocent until proven guilty. Legally, he has the authority to appoint the replacement for Sen. Obama and there is no actual, real, legal impediment to him doing so. He retains the powers of the Governor regardless of the evidence against him. Now, the Democrats are talking about not seating his choice.

Blagojevich also played the race card. With the departure of Sen. Obama, the Senate is without an African American member. Roland Burris is African American. Governor Blagojevich had longtime African American representative and former black panther, Bobby Rush, at the press conference to highlight the importance of seating an African American to that seat.

The Democrats in the Senate reacted negatively to the Governor's action and indicated that they are unlikely to seat him. Their authority to do so is unclear and it is very rare for Senators to block such an appointment. President-elect Obama also sided with the leadership of the Senate and called on Blagojevich to resign.

In making this choice in the way that he did and with a cloud over everything he does, Blagojevich has put the nation and the Democratic party in a real pinch. Do the Democrats who oppose him reject the presumption of innocence? Will they reject this choice leaving the Senate of the United States without an African American member?

Let's applaud the Democrats for trying to rid themselves of this scourge. And, let's not forget that the last Governor of Illinois is in federal prison and he was a Republican. Neither party is above scandal.

But, it is a little fun to watch Blagojevich stir-it-up in the way that he has...

Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve.

Another Sen. Kennedy?

We spent the entire fall campaign watching Sarah Palin get destroyed by the national media and by the skeptics who said she wasn't ready for the national stage. Now, the Democrats want to give us Caroline Kennedy as a U.S. Senator. That---is a joke.

Sarah Palin needs more work before she can succeed on the national stage. Caroline Kennedy needs to do SOME work before she does anything in politics.

Sarah Palin is the Governor of a large state, has held public office, and is totally self-made. Caroline Kennedy seems to be a very nice person, but she has NO experience to make the critical decisions that face the country.

Will Katie Couric interview Caroline Kennedy in the same way that she interviewed Sarah Palin? Will Charlie Gibson stare down his nose at Ms. Kennedy in the same condescending way that he spoke to Gov. Palin? Doubtful.

Sunday Spotlight: Steve Chabot

I'll resume blogging today by shining the Sunday Spotlight on Steve Chabot. Steve Chabot has a long history of public service to the city of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and the nation.

Is there a more decent, honorable, committed and hard-working public servant anywhere? I doubt it. I can not say enough good things about what Steve Chabot has meant to my beloved west side community. Although his votes sometimes went astray of the "party line", they never swayed from his true conservative principles. Steve stood against tax increases and against spending--even when our party went hog-wild with spending. Steve stood with working people when he opposed corporate welfare just as he opposed government hand-outs to individuals. Steve stood for traditional American values and for life. Every person in politics ought to strive to be as honorable and decent as Steve Chabot. We should all be grateful for his service.

Steve was featured in a nice article in the Enquirer today. Read it by clicking here.

It is my greatest hope that Steve Chabot's career in public service is not over. I will work with Steve Chabot to further his goals in public service wherever he feels he can do the most good.
As I said in the article, if I have anything to do with it, Steve's work in public service is not finished.

Merry Christmas

I'll be taking a short break from this blog and from politics to celebrate this Christmas season. I'm sure I won't stay away from the blog for long, but I expect to be back next week. To all of you who read and comment and participate: THANK YOU.

Merry Christmas!

Sunday Spotlight: The Volunteers

Our Sunday Spotlight shines on the thousands of volunteers that make up the fabric of the Hamilton County Republican Party.

The Hamilton County GOP does not just consist of me, Maggie, and Debbie camped out at 700 Walnut Street. It is much, much more. It is a network of ward chairs, precinct executives, central committee members, and our Republican clubs. This group of people act as volunteers and rarely ask for or expect anything from our party. These volunteers show up to support candidates and to support our great Republican cause.

In today's Cincinnati Enquirer, I was asked about something "good" that came out of 2008. After careful thought, it was clear: the volunteers are as enthusiastic and supportive of our efforts as ever before. Check out the small blurb by clicking here.

To every volunteer that has given their time for a cause we all believe in so dearly, I say a very heart-felt THANK YOU!

This and That on Saturday...

This serious economic downturn hit home for many people working for the Hamilton County Clerk of Court's office yesterday. This is an office lead by great Republican Greg Hartmann and a place where I worked for over 2 years. The county's budget woes hit hard yesterday with layoffs and office closings. Our thoughts are with the people in that office who will suffer the real-life effects of this budget mess. Greg Hartmann gets credit for leading a cut in government in these difficult times--but the decision to lay people off is real and gut-wrenching. On this Saturday, my thoughts are with those people.

And...

California voters approved Proposition 8 in the November election. Proposition 8 was a somewhat controversial proposal that sought to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The voters approved the measure by a strong majority of the vote. Apparently, the liberals don't like democracy. California Attorney General Jerry Brown is now suing to overturn the voters (click here to read the story). Do the voters matter here? Or, are the liberal-elite smarter and more sensitive than regular, ordinary people that went to the polls. For anyone confused, I'm not talking about gay rights or even about the merits of Proposition 8 in this paragraph. I'm talking about democracy and freedom and respecting the will of the people. I'm talking about liberals seeking to overturn the will of the people because they believe they are more enlightened, more sensitive, and have a better sense of fairness than an overwhelming number of voters in California. "Marriage" is a legal status created in state legislation and the people of California can define marriage any way that they please. The people chose to define it one way in California and the liberals are not happy. So what. Would I have the same position if Proposition 8 had failed? Yes. The people decide in America. This is not about gay rights, it is about freedom and democracy. The voters spoke. Let it stand.

And...

I am still amazed at the negativity that exists in the blogosphere (not to be confused with the negativity surrounding Blogojevich). I posted a very nice, warm, sensitive YouTube video about Cincinnati yesterday only to have it criticized for not having enough African Americans represented. First, I didn't make the video. Second, I don't see race in something like that. Third, there is at least one African American in the piece because I know him and he's a great guy. The negativity doesn't just come from the left, it comes from my side, too. I am more worried about the negativity on our side because being against everything never won an election. As conservatives, we need a positive vision for our county and our nation. I will call-out the Democrats and big spenders when necessary, but we also need a positive vision for how to solve problems. Stop the negativity.

And...

I met with three great potential candidates this week: one for Mayor, one for City Council, and one for Cincinnati School Board. This is the best part of my job. Meeting great new faces with a passion for public service who are Republican makes all the negativity worthwhile. I hope to be unveiling some of these candidates as the calendar turns to 2009.

And...

Other than the initial story from the Enquirer, not a single news entity or editorial said a word about the scandalous last-minute budget passed at city hall this week. That is disappointing. What the five Democrats on council did this week was wrong and not for partisan reasons. They shut down debate, spent unwisely, and refused to allow transparency in a budget that spends over $1 billion of your dollars. Can you imagine if five Republicans had shut-down debate on a party-line vote and passed out money to their cronies? Mayhem.

And...

Are you on Facebook, yet? If not, you should be.

And...

Xavier in an upset today against Duke, 78-77. Go Muskies!

And...

Have a nice weekend.

Cincinnati is Great!

Cincinnati is a great place to live, raise a family, and work.

Have a great weekend.

Democrat(ic) Money Burn: City Council Style

There they go again...

The Democrats that control the city budget "bamboozled" the sensible members of Cincinnati City Council and voted on a budget that ultimately wastes your hard earned tax dollars. The beleaguered taxpayers of Cincinnati should have enough of these tax-and-spenders and make a change this November.

Who did this? First, credit to Democrat Jeff Berding for not acting like the rest of his tax-and-spend party brethren. But, Democrats John Cranley, Laketa Cole, David Crowley, Cecil Thomas, and Roxanne Qualls wasted your money yesterday!

How did they do this? While cops get laid off in the County, workers everywhere suffer, and the economy is in the dumper, these five Democrats spent your money on this:

1. Raises for their own personal staffs: $5,300 for each council office and $18,000 for the mayor's office, all for cost-of-living increases that had been cut.

2. Wasteful, unnecessary environmental programs: $161,900 for environmental programming, including a climate protection coordinator to implement ways to reduce the city's carbon dioxide emissions.

3. Paying for trash collection by inmates: $140,000 to pay the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office for inmates to clean up trash.

4. Raises that were not part of the originally negotiated budget: $434,500 to restore half of non-union employees' 4 percent cost-of-living adjustments.
$75,000 for poison control.

5. My personal favorite, neighborhood gardens: $40,000 for neighborhood gardens, a topic that drew a lot of supporters to Tuesday's budget public hearing. Supporters said the 27-year-old program is one of the oldest in the country.
(Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer, click here for the full story)

Special credit goes to our two great Republicans, Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel for standing up for the beleagured taxpayers of Cincinnati and fighting this nonsense. They need help at City Hall!

The Democrat(ic) Money Burn continues with your valuable tax dollars...

Election Reform

Despite his quiet, introverted, and shy personality, State Senator Bill Seitz is quite the legislator in Columbus. Yesterday, the Ohio House passed a measure largely lead by Sen. Seitz to make some much needed election reforms including a measure that would eliminate the "golden week" that is in Ohio law that allows same day registration and voting for a week-long period in late September and early October. The Seitz-lead bill will now go to the Governor. Read the Enquirer story here.

Sen. Seitz is considered by many to be the "smartest man in Columbus" and--kidding aside--he very likely is that person. Sen. Seitz is a smart, tough, and results-oriented politician and has served western Hamilton County in both the House and the Senate. His leadership and wisdom are critical to leading the Republican cause in the state capital (and it's not "capitol"--check here).

During my few months as Chairman, I have frequently called upon Sen. Seitz to gather his insights on events in Columbus. Bashful and reserved, he is sometimes shy about sharing what he thinks.

Joking aside...Bill Seitz is a force in Cincinnati and Columbus and we are glad to have him serving us.

To read more about Sen. Seitz, visit his official website here.

Vote in Our New Poll

Did you notice our new poll to the right of this posting? Check it out.

In an effort to improve this blog, I welcome your input and any comments about what we can do to better communicate our message and to reach beyond our normal constituency.

Thanks for participating.

The Yost Post

Want to read more about what is happening in Columbus and the political scene there? My friend Dave Yost writes a blog called the "Yost Post" at http://www.daveyostpost.blogspot.com/. Dave writes about Columbus and about Republican politics everywhere.

I have blogged about Dave Yost before (click here to read that). Dave is the Prosecuting Attorney of Delaware County, Ohio and a great guy. To read Dave's bio, click here.

Dave's blog is insightful, witty, and well-written. Since you're not getting that here, you ought to check out Dave's blog.

Have a great Monday!

Sunday Spotlight: Tom Weidman

Our Sunday Spotlight shines on my friend Sycamore Township Trustee Tom Weidman (pronounced WEED-men).

Tom is a successful business owner, proud father, and a strong common-sense conservative township trustee that has a bright future in Republican politics.

Tom was elected as a Trustee in 2006, but is not new to public service having served the Township voluntarily on the Township Land Use Plan Commission and the Planning and Zoning Commission. As a Trustee, Tom has set himself apart with his business sense and leadership ability.

Tom is also active with the Hamilton County Republican Party's Township, Cities, and Villages Committee. He also serves on the Executive Committee and is an active volunteer for all candidates.

To learn more about Tom and his background, click here.

My Friday Rant...

The level of activity has picked up a little bit on this blog. It is kinda fun! I try to maintain some good humor and never make it personal. I appreciate the Democrats (Nathan Wissman, Greg Harris, etc.) that do the same. I'll keep posting your comments and hope that eventually you will see the light! Unfortunately, the same is not true for everyone who posts. I have been called names, told to "shove it up my a**", and lots of other not-so-nice things. The anonymity of the Internet has made people angry, but mostly cowardly. I will post comments that challenge our ideas, but I'm not going to post comments that hurt our candidates. This is, after all, a Republican blog designed to help Republicans. Thanks to those that participate respectfully.

And...

There is a certain gloom in the mood of the country. I feel it everywhere I go. It feels like the period just after 9/11. The seriously slumping economy and the many job losses have really depressed America. Let's hope it turns around soon.

And...

Speaking of gloom and doom....1-11-1.

And...

I've become addicted to Facebook. If you haven't tried it, do it today. I started out wanting to use it as a youth outreach/networking effort for the GOP, but it has now turned into a hobby. It can be a little voyeuristic and dorky, but overall it is fun.

And...

We have a few people interested in running for Mayor of Cincinnati. We're open to input on this point and urge you to e-mail Maggie directly about ideas: maggien@hc-gop.org.

And...

I have spent the month after the election meeting and talking with a wide array of people who have good ideas about the GOP and its future. That dialogue will continue.

And...

Our Lincoln/Reagan dinner is scheduled for February 13, 2009. For more information or to attend, contact HQ at 513-381-5454 or e-mail Debbie Flammer at dflammer@hc-gop.org.

And...

I am particularly excited about or city council slate of candidates this year. We have two great incumbents, Leslie Ghiz and Chris Monzel. They will be joined by several other great Republican candidates.

And...

I will recommend a great book: "Words That Work: It's Not What You Say, It's What People Hear" by Frank Luntz.

And...

I have to comment on Sheriff Rick Jones' and his intention to possibly refuse following court orders in Butler County. Read the story here. Sheriff Leis is spot-on. It is not the Sheriff's responsibility to determine the validity of the order or to evaluate its effect. That is the job of the Judge issuing the order. There are legal remedies that do not involve the Sheriff's failure to follow a properly issued court order. I hope Sheriff Jones changes his mind and avoids a legal conflict that should not exist when the law is so clear.

And...

Bearcats in an upset over that little progr'm on Victory Parkway tomorrow night, 74-71.

And...

Have a great weekend.

The First Lie?

Did we hear the first big lie from the Obama team today?

These are facts:

On 11/23/08, President-elect Obama's top advisor and spokesman, David Axelrod, stated that the President-elect talked with Governor Blagojevich about his replacement. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxW3C_-Vpys)

On 12/9/08, President-elect Obama claimed he had NO conversations with the Governor. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioro_yzZ8vw)

The second statement is very likely a lie.

If it is not a lie, then it is highly irresponsible for President-elect Obama to have NOT had a conversation about his successor. That's right, Obama should have had a talk with the Governor about his successor and if he failed to have a conversation with him that tells us alot about him. It would be irresponsible for a man recently elected President to not offer his insights to the decision-maker on his replacement.

Personally, I have changed jobs often in the last few years. Although the decision about my successor was not always mine, I always had discussions with the decision-maker about my successor. Who better to make a fair recommendation and to exert political pressure than the President-elect about this important appointment? It would be irresponsible for that not to occur.

Let's be fair, though. If President-elect Obama discussed this with Gov. Blagojevich it would be entirely appropriate so long as there was no discussion of the type that the Governor was taped having. There is no evidence that the President-elect did anything wrong and I certainly wouldn't say that here. The President-elect would be wise to discuss his successor with the Governor and to offer his thoughts. The Governor should not make that critical decision in a vacuum. The President-elect spoke with the Governor!

The Obama team, with the help of the media and a large sum of money, ran a nearly flawless campaign. On this one, though, they are rookies. It is nearly impossible for anyone involved in politics at any advanced level to believe that the President-elect wouldn't have had a conversation with the Governor about his potential successor over the last month. His successor would possess a key vote in the U.S. Senate for the Obama Administration's policies. A U.S. Senator is very important to the President and Obama surely has an interest in who takes that seat.

David Axelrod's statement on 11/23/08 was true. The 12/9/08 statement is likely a lie.

Democrat Money Burn: County Personnel

As the Democrat county budget mess continues, the Democrats who control the county continue to force cuts on public safety while spending increases in their own operation.

In reviewing the proposed budget for 2009, I found this item: "[t]he 2009 recommended budget for County Personnel is $2.9 million, a slight increase over the 2008 budget." (click here and go to p. 29 (7 of 38 on the .pdf)). "County Personnel" is the line item in the budget for spending under the direct control of these commissioners in their operation. This increase in spending for county personnel is justified by the Democrats alleging a need for more staff to handle HR responsibilities during staff reductions. Really? We need to spend more on HR staff so that the county can more effectively fire police officers? Are these our priorities?

What else are they proposing spending your money on? Consultants. The final sentence used to justify an increase in spending on county personnel says, "[a]lso included in the 2009 recommended budget is funding for a consultant study of employee benefits." (Again, (click here and go to p. 29 (7 of 38 on the .pdf)). Should the county really be hiring consultants right now? Is that a responsible use of the scarce tax dollars we have? Should cops be fired why the county hires consultants to study anything?

These are budget realities with the supporting documentation available to any citizen. You can click here to read the proposed budget yourself. They are the sad reality of a Democrat budget nightmare.

Sunday Spotlight: Tracy Winkler

Our Sunday spotlight shines on Green Township Trustee Tracy Winkler today.

As Chairman of the Green Township Trustees, Tracy Winkler is a Republican leader in one of the most important townships in the state of Ohio. Tracy continues and amplifies the tradition of fine public service exuded by the Winkler family.

Time and again, Tracy has governed in a manner consistent with our core principles and has worked hard to make Green Township one of the best places to live and work in Hamilton County.

To learn more about Tracy and her background, click here.

Thank you to Tracy Winkler for her dedication to her community, her church, and to her party.

Democrat Money Burn: Mayor Mark Mallory

Starting today, I will occasionally use this space to highlight the wasteful spending of the Democrats. I'm afraid I will have plenty to write about.

Today's culprit: Mayor Mark Mallory.

In a story entitled "Deficit? Mayor wants more staff," the Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Mayor Mark Mallory is asking for an additional staff person in his already bloated Mayor's office. His quote: "There is an absolute need for additional staff in my office."

While Americans everywhere are losing their jobs, America tumbles toward recession and the city tries to cut $14.5 million from its budget, the Mayor wants to add a staffer to an already bloated city bureaucracy.

The Democrat Mayor needs to do with less. Almost every American is. The beleaguered taxpayers of Cincinnati have had enough.

For Sale: The Presidency?

Here is a story the mainstream national media will not write...

Barack Obama and his campaign spent so much money that it made it nearly impossible for John McCain to compete in the 2008 presidential election. President-elect Obama outspent McCain by the biggest margin in the history of politics.

Can you imagine if the Republican candidate had so outspent the Democrat? The "fat cat" Republicans would be vilified as having "bought" the election. In this year's election, not a peep from anyone. Where is the outrage at the possibility that money has so perverted the political process so as to make the playing field unfair for the Republicans? Can you imagine that story ever being written?

Time and again in this election cycle, we saw the differences on the ground in Hamilton County. Obama had more offices, paid staff, signs, buttons, t-shirts, and more of everything else. More importantly, we saw the Obama message on TV, the Internet, video games, radio, and everywhere else. That is what happens when you are outspent 2 to 1 in Ohio.

I am stealing much of the information for this blog post from Karl Rove's recent article in the Wall Street Journal. Read it here.

Why do I write this today? Sour grapes? No.

There are a few lessons here. First, we should never be at a disadvantage financially in the most crucial election for the biggest political job in the universe. Second, I believe it demonstrates one more way that Obama "got a pass" from the mainstream media. This story was covered, but not nearly as negatively as it would have been had McCain outspent Obama by a quarter-of-a-billion dollars and McCain had broken a pledge to take federal funding for his campaign. Third, we can't underestimate the importance of money in politics and we do so at our own peril.

None of this should stop us from looking carefully at what we stand for as a party. None of this should be viewed as Republicans shifting blame for what we have done as a party when we controlled government.

It should be seen as a reality check on what actually happened in this last election cycle. Obama's "post-partisan" rhetoric and new wave campaigning deserves some credit. But, he did it the old fashioned way: he raised and spent the most money ever spent by a politician in the history of the United States. The rock star marketing campaign he waged costs lots of money. He had money to spare.

Rove said it best in his article: "Rather than showing the success of a new style of post-partisan politics, Mr. Obama's victory may show the enduring truth of the old Chicago Golden Rule: He who has the gold rules."

The Democrat County Budget Mess

It seems the two Democrat county commissionners have managed the public's funds and managed our county operations in such a way as to deliver a "Get Out of Jail Free" card to several hundred dangerous criminals.

When the Democrats took control of county operations two years ago, I knew it would be bad. It is far worse. Public safety is not a Democrat priority because so much of their liberal base is hostile to those who provide it. We're seeing the results of that now.

Check out our new poll -->

Air Force One

Want to see a great inside look at Air Force One? Click here to watch the story on Fox News.

Online Networking and Youth Outreach

Time and again, I have heard the young and old alike in our Party talk about the Internet and what it meant to the Obama campaign. I have received quite a bit of advice in the last few weeks and youth outreach using the Internet seems to be a consistent thread among every well-meaning advisor. This blog was a move in that direction when it was started in March of 2008.

The Hamilton County Republican Party now has an official group on Facebook. Facebook is the hottest social networking site on the web today. I have found it addicting and very worthwhile. Check it out.

Did you also know that we are on Twitter? I'll be updating on Twitter from Washington, D.C. later this week. To read a great article about Twitter and politics, click here.

Have a great Monday.