Irony: Cleveland Jewish News Smears Rob Portman

UPDATE: Cleveland Jewish News has changed the headline. It now reads: “State reps urge Portman to sever ties over group’s “Nazi” posting” See? That is the kind of power this blog wields …

I wasn’t planning on writing on this issue (I have little time to write as it is) but when a friend pointed out this headline I felt compelled to post:

State reps urge Portman to sever ties over “Nazi” past

When you read that headline what do you think?  You think Rob Portman has some sort of connection to Nazi’s in his past, right? It clearly implies a connection between Portman and Nazi’s; a skeleton in the closet that requires he come clean.

Now those who follow Ohio politics more closely might know that this is not the case.  They might actually know that this issue is a trumped up red hearing put together by desperate Democrats hoping to distract voters from real issues.

You see, an organization known as COAST (Coalition Opposed to Additional Spending & Taxes) used a bit of hyperbole on their web page. Here is the outrageous hate speech in question:

COAST started with just two people, and virtually no funds, yet has had a profound effect upon politics in southwest Ohio. The Nazis in the State Legislature have created draconian campaign finance reporting laws that make criminals of those who fail to complete their paperwork correctly, but COAST refuses to be cowed by this intimidation and we encourage you to jump through their hoops and attempt to comply with their silly forms. It is important. You activism is needed. The Ohio Secretary of State has the rules for establishing and running a PAC.

Now would I have used that kind of terminology? No. Is it effective or appropriate? No.

But does it rise to the level of outrage that public office holders must sever any and all ties with the group and denounce them in public? Um, no.

Read more..

Ted Strickland encounters journalism – isn’t pleased

Behold Gov. Ted Strickland struggle – and fail – to remain calm and upbeat as he is faced with the facts surrounding incompetence and scandal at the mansion:

Talking CPAC on 610 WTVN

Ever wondered what I sound like with a nasty head cold?

Well, it is your lucky day as I was on 610 WTVN this morning talking about CPAC and the audio reveals just how badly I sound with a cold. But if you are still interested feel free to listen below

If I get a chance I hope to write a bit more about CPAC and what it means for conservatives.

But first, more NyQuil …

Tiberi opposes earmarks; Kilroy still queen of pork

Good for Congressmen Pat Tiberi and Steve Austria:

Tiberi, elected in 2000, hasn’t gone after taxpayer dollars for central Ohio projects since 2007. Austria says he is not pursuing earmarks in his first year in office “due to the out-of-control spending that is taking place in Congress that is not focused enough on the economy and creating jobs.”

That leaves Kilroy as the main central Ohio lawmaker left to go after earmarks for projects such as Ohio State University research initiatives and local road improvements.

Tiberi in particular seems to “get it”:

Tiberi, referring to former Republican Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham of California, said “we have a congressman in jail because of the earmarking process.”

And although House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was attacking earmarks in the 2006 election campaign, dozens of members are being investigated, in part related to earmarks, Tiberi added.

“We have a system that is broken,” Tiberi said. “I’m not opposed to earmarks. … But you can’t change a system if you participate in it.”

Illuminating attitudes don’t you think?  Tiberi and Austria are concerned about runaway spending and corruption while Kilroy is trying to bring as much pork home as she can.

And no matter what Kilroy says, this pork rewards political supporters a great deal more than it creates jobs.

How’s that stimulus working out, Governor Strickland?

Yet another example of the twisted and ineffectual nature of the stimulus:

Yes, so-called shovel-ready projects deserved consideration for federal stimulus money, but those that serve relatively few people at tiny airports shouldn’t have been given priority over spending that would benefit travelers to and from large metropolitan areas.

Port Columbus was among airports that lost out in the competition for a share of $1.1 billion in federal stimulus funding, while two tiny airports in Alaska, one averaging 57 flights a week and the other 42 flights per month, received a total of $28.6 million to replace landing areas. One airport is in Akiachak, which has a population of about 660; the other is in Ouzinkie, with a population of about 170.

And to top it all off, unemployment just keeps going up.

Cap and Trade: a job killer for Ohio

You don’t have to be an economist to understand the situation in Ohio.  Unemployment has hit double digits  and is growing (340,000 jobs lost since Ted Strickland and Lee Fisher took office) and everyone is paying the price.    The stimulus has accomplished nothing (In the neighborhood of 100,000 jobs lost since its passage) and yet the Democrats in Congress are intent on making a bad situation worse by passing legislation that would cripple American businesses and devastate families.

The focus lately has been on health care, and for good reason, but energy is an issue that should not be lost in the debate about the economy.  Because Cap and Trade (H.R. 2454, the Waxman- Markey bill) is a dagger aimed at the heart of our economy.

More below. Read more..

Strickland Administration continues to unravel

Ted Strickland seems to be having trouble just keeping his cabinet organized and functioning:

Gov. Ted Strickland this morning ousted the battling heads of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the State Highway Patrol.

Public Safety Director Henry Guzman and Col. Richard H. Collins, the patrol superintendent, were both dismissed. Guzman will stay on until a replacement is named, and Collins will remain until Guzman’s successor chooses a new superintendent …

Technically, both men resigned.

“Technically.”

Strickland has some work to do:

The moves gives Strickland more key vacancies to fill.

Strickland still is seeking a successor to Michael Dolan, who quit as state lottery director.

Strickland also still is searching for a replacement for Lee Fisher as head of the Department of Development. Fisher, also lieutenant governor, stepped down early this year when he launched his U.S. Senate campaign.

He previously had to replace Helen Jones Kelly atop the state Department of Job and Family Services when she quit late last year after her involvement in digging up information on “Joe the Plumber” during the 2008 presidential campaign.

The phrase “Turn Around Ohio” has become a cruel joke and mere competence seems like an unrealistic expectation these days.

Perhaps Strickland should stop traveling around the country raising money for his re-election campaign and concentrate on doing his job.

Ohio Celebrates 10 Years of Export Growth

Remember me?  I am the guy who used to post regular content on this site.  Sorry about the radio silence of late.  I have been busy with other projects and haven’t had much time to write here.  Hope to get back to a post a day or so soon.

Free trade sure is killing Ohio jobs, just listen to Governor Strickland:

“Ohio is the only state in the nation to see export growth every year since 1998,” Strickland said. “An important part of our strategy to create economic opportunity at home is to expand Ohio’s global economic presence. Ohio’s export partners like Gormann-Rupp of Mansfield and Ludlow Composites of Fremont are leading the way.”

Strickland recognized two Ohio companies as Exporter of the Year: Mansfield pump manufacturer Gorman-Rupp Pumps in the Large Business category and Fremont industrial matting and foam manufacturer Ludlow Composites Corporation of Fremont.

Ohio’s trade and export industry grew by nearly 7 percent in 2008, to $45.5 billion. Global trade supports nearly 300,000 jobs in the state – and more than 11,000 Ohio companies distribute goods to well over 200 countries around the world.

Yes, despite the tactics and arguments of his union supporters, Ted Strickland knows that trade helps Ohio and that Ohio can compete in the international economy.

There are plenty of people who would like to convince voters that free trade has hurt Ohio and use it to bash candidates like Rob Portman.  But this emotional argument simply doesn’t match the facts.

Government funding conundrum

The Dispatch offers yet another story about how the stimulus is affecting local communities.  The angle is clearly aimed at making the funding distribution controversial:

With budget cuts already forcing layoffs this year, Union County Sheriff Rocky Nelson was certain that he could qualify for federal stimulus money to hire and retain deputies.

So were sheriffs in Marion, Morrow, Logan and Clark, other counties that have endured layoffs or cutbacks since January.

But the sheriffs were wrong. The crime rates in those counties are too low and the sheriffs’ community-policing efforts too good, according to federal criteria for distributing the money. That was part of the reason they didn’t get any of the $79.3 million awarded three weeks ago to 47 Ohio law-enforcement agencies.

But what leaps out to me is 1) that the stimulus is clearly about keeping state and local governments afloat not economic stimulus and 2) that this is just another example of an age old government funding conundrum.  Do you reward those entities that succeed or do you give more money to those who are failing and thus need the most help?

Read more..

Despite budget crisis Strickland gives $2M to AFL-CIO

First is was turning to labor unions to fix the auto industry, now Ted Strickland is looking to his labor union cronies supporters to help job seekers find government help.

You read that right.  Strickland is sending two million dollars to the AFL-CIO so they can help those out of work connect with government programs:

The state is spending $2 million to hire the AFL-CIO’s United Labor Agency to reach out to workers losing their jobs statewide.

[...]

The money does not pay for retraining or provide front-line services. Instead, the union trains peer-to-peer counselors to tell workers how to access dislocated worker services, such as training, resume writing, and job hunting. The union also sets up labor management teams to plan for layoffs.

I am sure all this labor union activity has nothing to do with the fact that Strickland is up for re-election; and is worried about about his support after budget cuts impacted state workers.

Read more..

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