CLEVELAND (TDB) -- Death by butter in Cleveland and guns in Cincinnati. That's how it looks on this chart, which shows deaths from circulatory system diseases in metro Cleveland are higher than 49 other U.S. communities -- only Pittsburgh has more. The heart attack rate helps makes Cleveland No. 2 in stress behind top-ranked Detroit. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is the nation's 13th most stressful place. Its heart attack rate is lower. But the murder rate in Cincy is worse than Cleveland -- way worse. Cleveland has 16.6 murders per 100,000 residents in the city; Cincinnati has 28.8.
Virginia Beach/Norfolk is rated the nation's least stressful metro area.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
John Glenn In TV Ad For Hillary: She'll Fix NAFTA
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Former U.S. Sen. John Glenn, the Ohio icon who was the first American to orbit the Earth, appears in a new ad for Hillary. You can watch the ad here, or read the script:
John Glenn: "Hillary and I both come from middle class families in the middle of America. As long as Annie and I have known her, Hillary's fought for working people. She'll end 55 billion dollars in giveaways to corporate special interests and invest that money to create jobs in research and innovation to rebuild the middle class.
"And Hillary will fight to change trade deals like NAFTA. She's been doing that for years. I'll be proud to call Hillary my president."
John Glenn: "Hillary and I both come from middle class families in the middle of America. As long as Annie and I have known her, Hillary's fought for working people. She'll end 55 billion dollars in giveaways to corporate special interests and invest that money to create jobs in research and innovation to rebuild the middle class.
"And Hillary will fight to change trade deals like NAFTA. She's been doing that for years. I'll be proud to call Hillary my president."
Actor George Clooney With Obama In Cincy? Rumors Are Flying
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Nothing is on the record or confirmed. But rumor control is buzzing wildly -- the Cincinnati area's biggest Hollywood star just might appear on stage with Barack Obama Monday in Ohio. The Obama campaign reportedly has been considering staging its Monday rally in Cincinnati at Fifth Third Arena, the home of the Bearcats basketball team on the University of Cincinnati campus. George Clooney, who grew up in the area where his father was a TV and newspaper journalist, could do the introduction. Clooney has contributed money to the Obama campaign and has described the Illinois senator as a rock star. He has not yet made a formal endorsement. Officials with the Obama camp have been trying to line up a major venue, and the arena seats about 12,500. Xavier University's Cintas Center (10,500) is not under consideration. Time Magazine helped fuel the Clooney rumors:
"He feels passionately about Barack Obama but refuses his pleas to campaign for him -- other than an introduction in late February in Cincinnati, Ohio -- because he doesn't want it to backfire into a Hollywood vs. the heartland attack."
Obama's Cincinnati rally is set for Feb. 25 -- about as late in the month as one can get. In the past, Clooney and Obama have appeared at events aimed at bringing attention to the tragedy in Darfur.
"He feels passionately about Barack Obama but refuses his pleas to campaign for him -- other than an introduction in late February in Cincinnati, Ohio -- because he doesn't want it to backfire into a Hollywood vs. the heartland attack."
Obama's Cincinnati rally is set for Feb. 25 -- about as late in the month as one can get. In the past, Clooney and Obama have appeared at events aimed at bringing attention to the tragedy in Darfur.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Rasmussen Today On Ohio Polling: Hillary's Double-Digit Lead Has Melted Away
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Last week, Hillary Clinton led Barack Obama by 14 points. Today, he's cut her lead to 8 points -- 48% to 40% in Ohio. The firewall could be turning into ashes. Rasmussen Reports said its telephone survey of 902 likely Democratic voters was conducted Feb. 21, and the results demonstrate the Illinois senator's growing momentum. According to the polling firm's latest Ohio data:
"Clinton leads by 20% among women. That's little changed for a week ago. However, in the previous poll, Clinton also held the advantage among men. Now, she trails Obama among male voters. Clinton does better among lower-income voters and older voters. The race, like many others in Election 2008, remains very fluid. In addition to the 12% who are undecided, another 17% of voters say they might change their mind before voting."
On Thursday, an ABC News-Washington Post poll reported Clinton leading Obama 50% to 43% in Ohio. That survey included 611 likely Ohio voters and was conducted Feb. 16-20.
"Clinton leads by 20% among women. That's little changed for a week ago. However, in the previous poll, Clinton also held the advantage among men. Now, she trails Obama among male voters. Clinton does better among lower-income voters and older voters. The race, like many others in Election 2008, remains very fluid. In addition to the 12% who are undecided, another 17% of voters say they might change their mind before voting."
On Thursday, an ABC News-Washington Post poll reported Clinton leading Obama 50% to 43% in Ohio. That survey included 611 likely Ohio voters and was conducted Feb. 16-20.
Obama As The Watermelon Man: Survey Firm Is Less Than Tasteful
COLUMBUS (TDB) -- What were those geeks thinking? RelevantView, which calls itself a "leading technology provider of info-based market research solutions," today published a report (pdf) that puts Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's smiling face on a watermelon.
Maybe the company should have done some research on topics like slurs before publishing Shopping Online for a President. The poll measures and rates the effectiveness of various presidential campaign websites. Obama's picture as a watermelon appears on the report cover. He's in a shopping cart filled with watermelons along with the other four candidates. They, too, are portrayed as melon heads.
Maybe the company should have done some research on topics like slurs before publishing Shopping Online for a President. The poll measures and rates the effectiveness of various presidential campaign websites. Obama's picture as a watermelon appears on the report cover. He's in a shopping cart filled with watermelons along with the other four candidates. They, too, are portrayed as melon heads.
OH-02 GOP Jean Schmidt: Turkish PAC Sends Her $1,000 Three Days Before Invasion
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Republican U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt's Federal Election Commission report shows she got a $1,000 contribution from the Turkish American Heritage PAC in Houston, Tex., earlier this week. The PAC has sponsored rallies and published material on its Web site that contends the Iraq-based Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, is a terrorist organization. Schmidt, who faces a GOP primary March 4 in OH-02, accepted the PAC donation three days before Turkish troops crossed the border into Iraq and began ground operations against the Kurds.
Both the U.S. and European Union consider the PKK a terrorist organization. But Washington and Europe also worry that Turkey's incursion could escalate into a wider conflict in northern Iraq. The Kurds operate a stable semi-autonomous region in Iraq that is closely allied with the Americans.
The Associated Press reported today that "it is the first conformed ground operation by the Turkish military into Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It also raised concerns that it would trigger a wider conflict with the U.S.-backed Iraqi Kurds, despite assurances that its only target was the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK."
The Turkish PAC that made the donation to Scmidt says the PKK "has been engaging in terrorist activities for more than 25 years now, and the war between the Turkish Army and the Kurdish terrorists still goes on; thanks to the support the PKK receives from numerous European and Middle Eastern countries; Denmark, Greece and Belgium to name just a few."
Both the U.S. and European Union consider the PKK a terrorist organization. But Washington and Europe also worry that Turkey's incursion could escalate into a wider conflict in northern Iraq. The Kurds operate a stable semi-autonomous region in Iraq that is closely allied with the Americans.
The Associated Press reported today that "it is the first conformed ground operation by the Turkish military into Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. It also raised concerns that it would trigger a wider conflict with the U.S.-backed Iraqi Kurds, despite assurances that its only target was the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK."
The Turkish PAC that made the donation to Scmidt says the PKK "has been engaging in terrorist activities for more than 25 years now, and the war between the Turkish Army and the Kurdish terrorists still goes on; thanks to the support the PKK receives from numerous European and Middle Eastern countries; Denmark, Greece and Belgium to name just a few."
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Ohio Teachers Union Quizzes Obama: Did You Agree To Study Feasibility Of School Voucher Programs?
COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The Ohio Federation of Teachers -- an AFL-CIO union that represents public school classroom instructors in Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo -- is attempting to gin up some pre-primary controversy. The union sent Illinois Sen. Barack Obama a letter demanding to know "whether or not you support using taxpayer dollars to allow students to attend private schools." The Feb. 19 letter was prompted by an off-hand comment Obama made earlier this month during an editorial board meeting at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a comment the teachers interpret as indicating support for the use of vouchers. Over the years, Obama has been a foe of voucher programs that direct state money to cover tuition payments at private and parochial schools. Ohio has a statewide voucher program that started in Cleveland and survived a Supreme Court challenge. Republican lawmakers have supported vouchers, and Democrats have tried to kill the program -- so far without success.
Education Week has pumped the story on its blog, and has a video link to the editorial board meeting. Meanwhile, Obama has sent Education Week a letter explaining he opposes school vouchers. During his 2004 campaign for the Senate, Obama said vouchers "would blow up the public school system" by siphoning off funds to private schools. The Ohio Federation of Teachers is affiliated with the American Federation to Teachers, which has endorsed Hillary Clinton. Sue Taylor, who headed the Cincinnati union before taking over as chief of the OFT, signed the letter, along with Cleveland's David Quolke and Toledo's Kris Schwartzkopf, both political directors of their city units. The letter to Obama says:
"Our question is simple: Which of these is your position on vouchers? Will you, like President Bush, propose a federally funded voucher program? Or will you stand firm against using taxpayers' money to support private schools?"
Education Week has pumped the story on its blog, and has a video link to the editorial board meeting. Meanwhile, Obama has sent Education Week a letter explaining he opposes school vouchers. During his 2004 campaign for the Senate, Obama said vouchers "would blow up the public school system" by siphoning off funds to private schools. The Ohio Federation of Teachers is affiliated with the American Federation to Teachers, which has endorsed Hillary Clinton. Sue Taylor, who headed the Cincinnati union before taking over as chief of the OFT, signed the letter, along with Cleveland's David Quolke and Toledo's Kris Schwartzkopf, both political directors of their city units. The letter to Obama says:
"Our question is simple: Which of these is your position on vouchers? Will you, like President Bush, propose a federally funded voucher program? Or will you stand firm against using taxpayers' money to support private schools?"
Amen, Gawker: On McCain Story, The New York Times Let Everyone Down
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Big Apple blog Gawker says the Times sat on the story about John McCain and the lady lobbyist for two months. The wait cheated primary voters who may have wanted to hear more and dig deeper before McCain won the GOP championship. And the story was weak when it appeared -- hardly worth a long delay. Says Gawker:
"There is nothing noble or redeeming about this morning's New York Times story on John McCain's alleged improprieties with a young female lobbyist, nothing remotely cunning, nothing but tragedy. The story is too late for Republican primary voters, too weak to be remembered in the general election, and worst of all, a sad illustration of how the Times regularly squanders its money and reputation dilly-dallying on its biggest stories."
"There is nothing noble or redeeming about this morning's New York Times story on John McCain's alleged improprieties with a young female lobbyist, nothing remotely cunning, nothing but tragedy. The story is too late for Republican primary voters, too weak to be remembered in the general election, and worst of all, a sad illustration of how the Times regularly squanders its money and reputation dilly-dallying on its biggest stories."
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Anti-Semitism Lawsuit Entangles Carmaker Chrysler: Ohio Parts Supplier Wants Jurors Asked About Hitler, Holocaust
MARION, Ohio (TDB) -- A Jewish-owned Ohio company that supplied parts for a Chrysler LLC die-casting plant contends in a federal civil-rights lawsuit that it lost the automaker's business because of "anti-Jewish racial animus.'' The case between Semco Inc. in Marion and the Detroit car manufacturer -- which was under German control until last year -- is set for a jury trial March 3 in Columbus. Court records show U.S. District Judge Gregory L. Frost rejected Chrysler's attempts to have the lawsuit dismissed last December. Now, The Daily Bellwether has learned, a pre-trial dispute has erupted over jury questionnaires mentioning the Holocaust and Hitler.
Chrysler, founded in 1925, formerly was known as DaimlerChrysler Corp. and is now owned by Cerebrus Capital Management LP and Daimler AG, the German manufacturer of Mercedes Benz automobiles. Chrysler's lawyers are trying to block prospective jurors from being asked to fill out written questionnaires that ask their opinions about the Holocaust, Israel and prejudice against Jews. The automaker says the questions on the forms "could influence and inflame the passions of prospective jurors" against Chrysler. Here is some of what the company's lawyers have written in a court filing:
"The following questions best illustrate the point that Semco is inapproprately attempting to use a Court-administered document to influence the prospective jurors for the singular goal of seeking insight into how receptive the jurors will be to Semco's theories in this case:
Chrysler, founded in 1925, formerly was known as DaimlerChrysler Corp. and is now owned by Cerebrus Capital Management LP and Daimler AG, the German manufacturer of Mercedes Benz automobiles. Chrysler's lawyers are trying to block prospective jurors from being asked to fill out written questionnaires that ask their opinions about the Holocaust, Israel and prejudice against Jews. The automaker says the questions on the forms "could influence and inflame the passions of prospective jurors" against Chrysler. Here is some of what the company's lawyers have written in a court filing:
"The following questions best illustrate the point that Semco is inapproprately attempting to use a Court-administered document to influence the prospective jurors for the singular goal of seeking insight into how receptive the jurors will be to Semco's theories in this case:
- Question 13: There has been some controversy over the Holocaust recently. What are your feelings about how the Holocaust has been portrayed in history?
- Question 14: How have events in Israel and the Middle East over the years affected your feelings about the Jewish people?
- Question 16: Some people blieve that Jewish people have way too much power in government, the banking system, and other areas of US life. What do you think about this?
- Question 17: What are your feelings about the Jewish faith?
- Question 19: Do you think harassment of or prejudice against Jewish people in the US is a serious problem today?
- Question 20: How significant a problem do you think prejudice against Jewish people is in this part of Ohio?"
Chrysler's lawyer, Heidi N. Eischen of Toledo, seemed particularly disturbed about the Holocaust question. She called it "designed to evoke an intellectual, emotional, or ethical response in the prospective jurors and to conjure mental images of Nazi Germany, Hitler, and mass murder. The only conceivable purpose of submitting this question and questions like it to prospective jurors is to cause them to associate Chrysler with those negative mental images and to stimulate feelings of sympathy for Jewish people and the plaintiff. Including such a grossly inflamatory and prejudicial topic in a Court-administered document is inappropriate."
The lawsuit is Semco Inc. vs. Chrysler LLC, Case No. 2:06-CV-0784 in the Southern District of Ohio. Semco landed the contract with Chrysler's Kokomo, Ind., die-casting plant in 1993. It lost the business in 2005. Chrysler contends discrimination had nothing to do with its decision. The contract was valuable -- court records show Semco sold $709,628.15 worth of parts to the Kokomo Casting Plant in 2003.
Hillary Goes REALLY Negative: On Foreclosures, Calls Obama To The 'Right' Of Bush
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Barack Obama as a right winger? The Clinton campaign now contends the Illinois senator's plan to deal with the foreclosure crisis is worse than the White House effort:
"Sen. Obama is positioning himself to the right of President Bush. The Bush administration recently reached an agreeement with the mortgage industry to implement a limited foreclosure moratorium and a loan modification program that could result in rate freezes for at-risk borrowers. In December, the administration announced another plan that also called for a rate freeze for qualified at-risk borrowers. While this plan is not sufficient, it goes farther than Sen. Obama."
"Sen. Obama is positioning himself to the right of President Bush. The Bush administration recently reached an agreeement with the mortgage industry to implement a limited foreclosure moratorium and a loan modification program that could result in rate freezes for at-risk borrowers. In December, the administration announced another plan that also called for a rate freeze for qualified at-risk borrowers. While this plan is not sufficient, it goes farther than Sen. Obama."
Former Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken: Registers As City Hall Lobbyist
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The Democratic mayor left office in 2005. He's been a politician, a lawyer, the TV anchorman on Channel 5 who replaced Jerry Springer, and now a lobbyist. There's a quip going around -- often attributed to Luken -- that if he ever sold used cars he'd have worked in all of the bottom five. Luken filed his registration forms in the council clerk's office. He's representing Humana Inc., the health benefits firm based in Louisville, and KeyCorp, the big regional bank from Cleveland.
Last year, he became a Statehouse lobbyist whose portfolio in Columbus includes Case Western Reserve University, the Distilled Spirits Council, AT&T and the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers. In Cincinnati, Humana is the biggie. The company has thousands of employees and a huge slice of the health insurance benefits business in the Cincinnati area, including government-sponsored plans. Luken had two stints as mayor. They were interrupted by a term representing Ohio's 1st Congressional District, a House seat he gave up to become a local news TV anchor. He is in the record books for serving as mayor longer than any person in Cincinnati's history.
Last year, he became a Statehouse lobbyist whose portfolio in Columbus includes Case Western Reserve University, the Distilled Spirits Council, AT&T and the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers. In Cincinnati, Humana is the biggie. The company has thousands of employees and a huge slice of the health insurance benefits business in the Cincinnati area, including government-sponsored plans. Luken had two stints as mayor. They were interrupted by a term representing Ohio's 1st Congressional District, a House seat he gave up to become a local news TV anchor. He is in the record books for serving as mayor longer than any person in Cincinnati's history.
Cleveland Fed's 1992 NAFTA Prediction: 'Its Impact Should Be Minimal'
CLEVELAND (TDB) -- Sixteen years later, the Cleveland Fed's prediction looks wrong. In the political realm, NAFTA in 2008 is turning into a deciding force in the presidential race, with Obama using his long-standing skepticism of the trade agreement as a tool to hammer Hillary Clinton. A Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank "economic commentary" published on the eve of the 1992 presidential contest gives a peek back into the era of NAFTA's birth, the era when blue-collar concerns were minimized. The Cleveland Fed's Oct. 15, 1992 report is called "NAFTA and the Midwest," and is available online here.
The Fed said its Economists' Roundtable concluded the trade agreement wouldn't lead to any significant impact on the region:
"Participants were asked to assess how they see the agreement affecting their businesses, with particular emphasis on autos, steel, and electronics/telecommunications -- three industries of great importance to the Midwest econony. In addition, several outside experts were invited to present their insights on the economywide and industry-specific effects of the pact. The group generally agreed that NAFTA would have only a minimal impact on worker displacement."
One thing that hasn't changed. Blue collar workers were suspicious that trade agreements could end up costing their paychecks.
"In the United States, and particularly the Midwest, many workers are concerned that NAFTA may be their ticket to the unemployment line. Participants at the latest meeting of the Fourth Federal Reserve District Roundtable see it another way. While they recognize that reducing trade barriers displaces workers, they generally agree that NAFTA's impact on both job loss and overall benefits would be modest. In their view, the agreement is primarily a means of solidifying rather than inititating the process of opening national borders to trade and investment. The fortunes of particular workers will depend on both the competitiveness of their industries and the skill requirements of the new jobs that will be created."
The big question in 2008: Where are all those new jobs in Ohio that were supposed to be created?
The Fed said its Economists' Roundtable concluded the trade agreement wouldn't lead to any significant impact on the region:
"Participants were asked to assess how they see the agreement affecting their businesses, with particular emphasis on autos, steel, and electronics/telecommunications -- three industries of great importance to the Midwest econony. In addition, several outside experts were invited to present their insights on the economywide and industry-specific effects of the pact. The group generally agreed that NAFTA would have only a minimal impact on worker displacement."
One thing that hasn't changed. Blue collar workers were suspicious that trade agreements could end up costing their paychecks.
"In the United States, and particularly the Midwest, many workers are concerned that NAFTA may be their ticket to the unemployment line. Participants at the latest meeting of the Fourth Federal Reserve District Roundtable see it another way. While they recognize that reducing trade barriers displaces workers, they generally agree that NAFTA's impact on both job loss and overall benefits would be modest. In their view, the agreement is primarily a means of solidifying rather than inititating the process of opening national borders to trade and investment. The fortunes of particular workers will depend on both the competitiveness of their industries and the skill requirements of the new jobs that will be created."
The big question in 2008: Where are all those new jobs in Ohio that were supposed to be created?
OH-02 GOP Jean Schmidt: Dayton Daily News Says Dump Her For Brinkman (R) Or Wulsin (D)
DAYTON (TDB) -- Republican U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt's reelection bid was sneered at today by the Dayton Daily News, which endorsed her GOP primary opponent, State Rep. Tom Brinkman. In rejecting Schmidt, the newspaper said she has a history of "bush league mistakes" in Washington. The newspaper contends Schmidt's antics have turned the once solidly Republican 2nd Congressional District into a battleground that can be taken by a Democrat this November. The Dayton Daily News editorial said:
"Rep. Brinkman could represent the district better than the incumbent and probably be a better candidate in November."
On the Dem side, the newpaper picked Dr. Victoria Wulsin, a physician who was the party's 2006 nominee. Wulsin was barely beaten by Schmidt. It said Wulsin's opponent, Steve Black, is a lawyer and his candidacy "devolves" into a single issue; that Congress needs another lawyer. It prefers Wulsin because she is fresh and from another profession.
"Dr. Wulsin has a remarkable resume of medical work, both here and abroad. She had devoted years to humanitarian causes. She had not been a politician . . . Dr. Wulsin would bring unusual experiences, sensibilities and ability to Washington. In a primary race in which the Democrats do not differ profoundly on the issues, she is the right choice."
Brinkman, a hardcore conservative, seems to be finding traction in an uphill contest against Schmidt by citing her House vote last year against President Bush's push to increase access for college loans. Bush said the federal grants and loans would increase U.S. competiveness in the global economy and help better schooled workers land jobs. Brinkman agrees. The Dayton Daily News noted: "He says when he ran for the legislature eight years ago, the main thing he wanted to do was cut taxes. He says he has since learned that there's a more important consideration in building an economy: Improving the quality of education."
"Rep. Brinkman could represent the district better than the incumbent and probably be a better candidate in November."
On the Dem side, the newpaper picked Dr. Victoria Wulsin, a physician who was the party's 2006 nominee. Wulsin was barely beaten by Schmidt. It said Wulsin's opponent, Steve Black, is a lawyer and his candidacy "devolves" into a single issue; that Congress needs another lawyer. It prefers Wulsin because she is fresh and from another profession.
"Dr. Wulsin has a remarkable resume of medical work, both here and abroad. She had devoted years to humanitarian causes. She had not been a politician . . . Dr. Wulsin would bring unusual experiences, sensibilities and ability to Washington. In a primary race in which the Democrats do not differ profoundly on the issues, she is the right choice."
Brinkman, a hardcore conservative, seems to be finding traction in an uphill contest against Schmidt by citing her House vote last year against President Bush's push to increase access for college loans. Bush said the federal grants and loans would increase U.S. competiveness in the global economy and help better schooled workers land jobs. Brinkman agrees. The Dayton Daily News noted: "He says when he ran for the legislature eight years ago, the main thing he wanted to do was cut taxes. He says he has since learned that there's a more important consideration in building an economy: Improving the quality of education."
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Pollster Scott Rasmussen: Ohio Leaning Dem, Florida GOP And Missouri Is Toss-up
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Rasmussen Reports says its analysis of polling and other data from all 50 states shows the Democrats now with an advantage in the Electoral College. The polling firm contends crucial swing state Ohio is likely to leave the GOP column for the first time this century. Ohio has 20 electoral votes. Rasmussen rates six other Great Lakes states safely Democratic -- Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota and Illinois. He says the only Republican bastion in the region this year is Indiana. Says the pollster:
"If the presidential election were held today, the Democratic candidate would be poised to win 284 Electoral Votes. That's 14 more that the minimum needed to capture the White House. The Republican candidate could expect to win 216 Electoral Votes while 38 more would be in the tossup category."
It takes 270 electoral votes to win the election. Of the states bordering Ohio, the pollster has Indiana and Kentucky rated "safely Republican." Rasmussen says West Virginia's five electoral are likely to go to the GOP. He made his assumptions based on either Obama or Hillary atop the Dem ticket versus Sen. John McCain, who is close to having his party's nomination sewn up.
"If the presidential election were held today, the Democratic candidate would be poised to win 284 Electoral Votes. That's 14 more that the minimum needed to capture the White House. The Republican candidate could expect to win 216 Electoral Votes while 38 more would be in the tossup category."
It takes 270 electoral votes to win the election. Of the states bordering Ohio, the pollster has Indiana and Kentucky rated "safely Republican." Rasmussen says West Virginia's five electoral are likely to go to the GOP. He made his assumptions based on either Obama or Hillary atop the Dem ticket versus Sen. John McCain, who is close to having his party's nomination sewn up.
Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland: Sees Bill Clinton As Future 'First Laddie' In White House
MARIETTA, Ohio (TDB) -- If a female wins the U.S. presidency, what the heck will be the courtesy term for her spouse? Ohio's governor seems to have an idea. He barnstormed around the state with Bill Clinton as the two tried to drum up support for Hillary ahead of the March 4 primary. And Ted Strickland is here on YouTUBE introducing the former president under a new title -- "First Laddie." It's a punster's play on words, of course. But it does raise a matter of linguistic uncertainty. For obvious reasons, First Lady wouldn't do the job. And phrases such as First Gentleman, First Hubby, First Spouse, First Old Man or First One just don't seem to have the right feel -- indeed "first one" opens the door to all kinds of problems. And gentleman has a double meaning in the English language. One is a person of good breeding; the other is a valet or butler or personal servant, as in "gentleman's gentleman."
Bill Clinton suggested "first laddie" last September when he was on Oprah's show. The former president was punning when he quipped:
"My Scottish friends say I should be called first laddie because it's the closest thing to first lady."
A lad is a boy or youth in England, and a laddie is a young man in Scotland. A lady is a woman of good standng or social position. In Great Britain, however, it is the proper title of a female whose husband is higher in rank than a knight or baronet, or a woman who has proprietary rights over a manor. Oliver Goldsmith, an English poet and dramatist who died in 1774, had this to say on the knack of being a gentleman:
"To make a fine gentleman, several trades are required, but chiefly a barber."
Bill Clinton suggested "first laddie" last September when he was on Oprah's show. The former president was punning when he quipped:
"My Scottish friends say I should be called first laddie because it's the closest thing to first lady."
A lad is a boy or youth in England, and a laddie is a young man in Scotland. A lady is a woman of good standng or social position. In Great Britain, however, it is the proper title of a female whose husband is higher in rank than a knight or baronet, or a woman who has proprietary rights over a manor. Oliver Goldsmith, an English poet and dramatist who died in 1774, had this to say on the knack of being a gentleman:
"To make a fine gentleman, several trades are required, but chiefly a barber."
Monday, February 18, 2008
OH-02 Dem Primary: Steve Black Posts Video Of 80-Minute Debate With Vic Wulsin
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The four-part video of a Feb. 6 debate in Warren County is available online here. The complete program is about 80 minutes long and appears to be unedited. It was posted on Steve Black's campaign Web site today. Now you have an opportunity to see the candidates for Ohio's 2nd Congressional District side-by-side taking questions from a Democratic audience.
University of Cincinnati's Student Newspaper: A Big Media Takeover Target?
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- An e-mailer passed along a link to a business story in today's New York Times about media giant Gannett Co. Inc.'s interest in acquiring college newspapers. Gannett owns the Cincinnati Enquirer, and its president and publisher, Margaret Buchanan, is a member of the University of Cincinnati board of trustees. That has led to speculation there may be some behind-the-scenes maneuvering under way by Gannett to purchase control of the News-Record, the campus paper owned by the University of Cincinnati.
U.C. is a state school, and its newspaper is already printed at a Gannett plant in Richmond, Ind. So there is a pre-existing relationship. The e-mailer wrote, "Gannett is moving in on college newspapers. It raises troubling issues of corporate editorial control, using free student labor, and their attempt to gain access to a demographic that spends a lot of money."
The Daily Bellwether phoned Len Penix, a lawyer and former Cincinnati Post reporter who now serves as faculty advisor at the News-Record. Penix says the campus paper circulates about 7,350 copies each of the three days a week it is printed. He said he has heard nothing about a potential sale to Gannett. He said the university owns the newspaper's name and gives it space to operate on campus. He said the paper self-funds through advertising revenue -- about $250,000 for the 90 issues that appear yearly. He said it has a board of overseers that includes a dean, the provost, students and faculty members. Penix predicted any move by the state school to sell the newspaper would trigger a backlash of campus opposition.
"I think the reaction would really be negative. The faculty wouldn't stand for it. The students wouldn't stand for it -- they'd probably all quit. We do have a relationship with Gannett, but it's not the Enquirer. All they do is print us. We self-fund, we pay for salaries and distributors. We're editorially independent of the school, they passed a rule several years ago that the News-Record will be editorially independent. I have been here for 18 months, and I haven't heard anything about the paper being sold."
U.C. is a state school, and its newspaper is already printed at a Gannett plant in Richmond, Ind. So there is a pre-existing relationship. The e-mailer wrote, "Gannett is moving in on college newspapers. It raises troubling issues of corporate editorial control, using free student labor, and their attempt to gain access to a demographic that spends a lot of money."
The Daily Bellwether phoned Len Penix, a lawyer and former Cincinnati Post reporter who now serves as faculty advisor at the News-Record. Penix says the campus paper circulates about 7,350 copies each of the three days a week it is printed. He said he has heard nothing about a potential sale to Gannett. He said the university owns the newspaper's name and gives it space to operate on campus. He said the paper self-funds through advertising revenue -- about $250,000 for the 90 issues that appear yearly. He said it has a board of overseers that includes a dean, the provost, students and faculty members. Penix predicted any move by the state school to sell the newspaper would trigger a backlash of campus opposition.
"I think the reaction would really be negative. The faculty wouldn't stand for it. The students wouldn't stand for it -- they'd probably all quit. We do have a relationship with Gannett, but it's not the Enquirer. All they do is print us. We self-fund, we pay for salaries and distributors. We're editorially independent of the school, they passed a rule several years ago that the News-Record will be editorially independent. I have been here for 18 months, and I haven't heard anything about the paper being sold."
(From The Archives)OH-02 GOP Jean Schmidt: Pooh-Poohs Poop As Pollutant
This originally was posted last July. It's been updated and reappears today because it seems timely with the House primaries nearing.
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt has stepped into a long-running battle between health officials, environmentalists and farmers about poop. Specifically, the debate is over how animal manure should be regulated by the government -- either as a hazardous substance or not.
Schmidt, a Republican who represents Ohio's 2nd Congressional district that begins in Cincinnati and heads east up the Ohio River to Portsmouth, has decided poop isn't hazardous. She is one of 131 co-sponsors of H.R. 1398 a measure that declares "manure shall not be considered to be a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant."
The bill legally defines manure as "digestive emissions, feces, urine and other excrement from livestock." It is entitled the Agricultural Protection and Prosperity Act of 2007, which is a good way to hide its true purpose -- to legalize piles of crap from big factory farms.
[UPDATE: 2/18/08; 8:23 AM -- Schmidt's opponent in the OH-02 March 4 primary, State Rep. Tom Brinkman, has environmental cred. He's been endorsed by by the League of Conservation Voters for his solid record as a lawmaker who favors clean air and water in Ohio. The manure issue has a potential to raise a stink for Schmidt because Ohio has about 1.5 million pigs on 4,000 farms. They produce a lot of manure and urine that can contaminate drinking water sources and streams. Nationally, the swine farms use 1.4 billion bushels of corn and 283 million bushels of soybeans as feed. What goes in, must come out.]
Agribusiness interests have been seeking such a measure from Congress for years. They are worried about environmental lawsuits that accuse large factory farms raising hogs and cattle of contaminating surface and groundwater. These huge operations produce massive amounts to manure, which stink up the countryside and can pose health risks. In 2004, Waco, Tex., officials sued in federal court saying big farms were ruining the city's municipal water supply, and the case was a landmark leading to efforts to overturn any attempts to find that animal poop is an environmental contaminant.
Congress' interest in declaring manure not to be a pollutant hasn't gone far yet. Three other Ohioans have signed on as co-sponsors -- Republicans John Boehner and Jim Jordan; and Democrat Zack Space, who sees the issue as critical to helping farmers in his district.
Take a detailed look at the running dispute. Schmidt, whose 2nd district is populated by mostly by urban and suburban residents, probably should have stayed out of this fight. She will face opposition in the Republican primary next year, and she has opened herself to being portrayed as a politician who thinks poop isn't a pollutant. That's a stinky spot to be in. Just imagine the attack ads with people holding their noses.
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Ohio Congresswoman Jean Schmidt has stepped into a long-running battle between health officials, environmentalists and farmers about poop. Specifically, the debate is over how animal manure should be regulated by the government -- either as a hazardous substance or not.
Schmidt, a Republican who represents Ohio's 2nd Congressional district that begins in Cincinnati and heads east up the Ohio River to Portsmouth, has decided poop isn't hazardous. She is one of 131 co-sponsors of H.R. 1398 a measure that declares "manure shall not be considered to be a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant."
The bill legally defines manure as "digestive emissions, feces, urine and other excrement from livestock." It is entitled the Agricultural Protection and Prosperity Act of 2007, which is a good way to hide its true purpose -- to legalize piles of crap from big factory farms.
[UPDATE: 2/18/08; 8:23 AM -- Schmidt's opponent in the OH-02 March 4 primary, State Rep. Tom Brinkman, has environmental cred. He's been endorsed by by the League of Conservation Voters for his solid record as a lawmaker who favors clean air and water in Ohio. The manure issue has a potential to raise a stink for Schmidt because Ohio has about 1.5 million pigs on 4,000 farms. They produce a lot of manure and urine that can contaminate drinking water sources and streams. Nationally, the swine farms use 1.4 billion bushels of corn and 283 million bushels of soybeans as feed. What goes in, must come out.]
Agribusiness interests have been seeking such a measure from Congress for years. They are worried about environmental lawsuits that accuse large factory farms raising hogs and cattle of contaminating surface and groundwater. These huge operations produce massive amounts to manure, which stink up the countryside and can pose health risks. In 2004, Waco, Tex., officials sued in federal court saying big farms were ruining the city's municipal water supply, and the case was a landmark leading to efforts to overturn any attempts to find that animal poop is an environmental contaminant.
Congress' interest in declaring manure not to be a pollutant hasn't gone far yet. Three other Ohioans have signed on as co-sponsors -- Republicans John Boehner and Jim Jordan; and Democrat Zack Space, who sees the issue as critical to helping farmers in his district.
Take a detailed look at the running dispute. Schmidt, whose 2nd district is populated by mostly by urban and suburban residents, probably should have stayed out of this fight. She will face opposition in the Republican primary next year, and she has opened herself to being portrayed as a politician who thinks poop isn't a pollutant. That's a stinky spot to be in. Just imagine the attack ads with people holding their noses.
U.S. State Dept. Obama Bio: Boils His Campaign Platform Down To A Single Sentence
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- And it doesn't describe anything that has been central to the Illinois Democrat's run for the White House. Here's the entire passage: "Obama has proposed legislation that would create a new employment eligibility system for companies to verify if their employees are legal residents." That summary of what Obama stands for comes from the U.S. Elections Guide that the State Department is circulating around the world. It appears on the government Web site created to promote American life and culture, a shop that Bush pr master Karen Hughes once headed. Somehow, the State Department seems to completely miss the point of Obama's campaign -- his call to change the political culture of Washington. Instead, he's minimized as a lowly immigration reformer targeting a side issue in the overall immigration debate.
Hillary gets two sentences, and they do get straight to the heart of her top issue: "Hillary Clinton, in 1993, headed a task force that developed proposed legislation to provide universal health care to all Americans. That legislation ultimately was not passed, but she continues to make universal health care one of her top political goals."
What about John McCain, the likely Republican nominee? The Arizona senator gets a quote and even more about some of his platform: "McCain was also a presidential candidate in 2000. He has called for a 'greater military commitment to Iraq, saying that more troops are necessary to rebuild the nation and prevent sectarian violence. McCain supports immigration reform legislation that would provide ilegal immigrants a path of citizenship and establish a temporary guest worker program."
The Web site is produced by the department's Bureau of International Information. Besides short-shrifting Obama, The Daily Bellwether found one factual error in a candidate bio on the government Web site. It said Mitt Romney -- who has withdrawn and is now backing McCain -- was born in Michigan in 1947 when his dad was the governor of that state. George Romney, however, became Michigan's governor in the 1960s. Kim Sigler was the governor of Michigan when Mitt was born.
Hillary gets two sentences, and they do get straight to the heart of her top issue: "Hillary Clinton, in 1993, headed a task force that developed proposed legislation to provide universal health care to all Americans. That legislation ultimately was not passed, but she continues to make universal health care one of her top political goals."
What about John McCain, the likely Republican nominee? The Arizona senator gets a quote and even more about some of his platform: "McCain was also a presidential candidate in 2000. He has called for a 'greater military commitment to Iraq, saying that more troops are necessary to rebuild the nation and prevent sectarian violence. McCain supports immigration reform legislation that would provide ilegal immigrants a path of citizenship and establish a temporary guest worker program."
The Web site is produced by the department's Bureau of International Information. Besides short-shrifting Obama, The Daily Bellwether found one factual error in a candidate bio on the government Web site. It said Mitt Romney -- who has withdrawn and is now backing McCain -- was born in Michigan in 1947 when his dad was the governor of that state. George Romney, however, became Michigan's governor in the 1960s. Kim Sigler was the governor of Michigan when Mitt was born.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Note To Taxman: Chinese Flags Flew At Bush's White House
Taxman is upset that a Cuban flag was posted on the wall in an office staffed by Obama volunteers. The right-leaning Republican blogger says in a comment:
"You are not going to see a flag from some dictatorship in a GOP office."
Well, that's a Chinese flag at the executive mansion in April 2006. The scene was snapped for an official White House photo by Eric Draper, the official White House photographer. It was paid for by American taxpayers. China is a dictatorship. And the American president standing under the dictatorship's flag is a Republican.
"You are not going to see a flag from some dictatorship in a GOP office."
Well, that's a Chinese flag at the executive mansion in April 2006. The scene was snapped for an official White House photo by Eric Draper, the official White House photographer. It was paid for by American taxpayers. China is a dictatorship. And the American president standing under the dictatorship's flag is a Republican.
Ohio On The Blogs: Football Season Tops Political Season
COLUMBUS (TDB) -- Ohio is the heart of it all, right? Or maybe only when the state's sports teams are on the field. Technorati tracks blog posts using key words. And Ohio was on the scope in a major way during the football season -- with the Browns having a rare good year, the Bengals another lousy year, and the Ohio State Buckeyes a great year until Jan. 7. That's the day they lost the NCAA national championship game. Within a few days, mentions of the state in the blogosphere took a bigger tumble than Janet Jackson's breast. The March 4 match between Hillary and Obama has Ohio on a bit of an uptick. But politics ain't football.
Hamilton County's Pat DeWine: Put Ten Commandments In Courtrooms
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- The former senator's son -- whose broken marriage became an issue when he ran unsuccessfully for the OH-02 House seat in 2005 -- now finds himself in a contested Republican primary for a Common Pleas Court judgeship. This time, Pat DeWine seems to be making a play for the socially conservative GOP vote. The Daily Bellwether has learned DeWine is listed replying "Yes" on a Citizens for Community Values questionnaire that asks if the Ten Commandments should be displayed in Ohio's courtrooms. Specifically, the question reads:"Do you believe that a judge has the right to display the Ten Commandments in his or her courtroom?"
A link to the questionnaire is available here. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Evelyn Stratton filled out the form but refused to reveal her views about hanging the Commandments in a courtroom. She wrote: "Decline to answer on this: Issue may come before the Supreme Court."
DeWine, whose father, Mike, lost the Senate seat in November 2006 to Sherrod Brown, is a Hamilton County commissioner. He also may be opening himself up to charges he's a hypocrite. To some, his interest in the Ten Commandments may appear disingenuous considering that he had a reputation for flouting the Sixth Commandment: "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery." He was dogged throughout the 2005 congressional campaign about reports he left his pregnant wife for another woman. National Public Radio's political junkie Ken Rudin noted that Pat DeWine's personal life played a role in the loss to Jean Schmidt in the '05 House race:
"But what really doomed him -- and doomed he was, going from clear frontrunner to fourth-place finisher -- was his personal life. Several years ago, he left his wife, who was pregnant with their third child, for Betty Hull, a Republican lobbyist. The marriage ended in divorce, and Hull accompanied DeWine in his bid for Congress."
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