Columbus Dispatch Endorses Dem Ted Strickland!
Just got back to Columbus in the wee hours from Denver, so slept late. I stumbled down the stairs, fired up the coffee maker and picked up the Sunday paper from the driveway. What a great start to a beautiful clear Fall day to open up the paper to the editorial section and see that the Columbus Disptach had endorsed Democrat Ted Strickland for Governor. After nearly 16 years (exactly my entire career working in environmental protection) with a pro-business Repug in the Gov's mansion (Voinovich and Taft), I am on the edge of getting to work under a pro-environment administration. I can't wait to walk outside the evening of Tuesday November 7th and yell out, "Free at last, Free at last, oh lawdy, I'm free at last!"
More on the endorsement, a bonus section on Noe and Coin-gate, and a poll, after the break:
Here are the high points (in quotes) from the Columbus Dispatch endorsement:
"Ohio is falling behind in jobs, education and optimism. It has been riven by bitter and closely decided presidential elections... The Dispatch urges voters to elect Democrat Ted Strickland on Nov. 7. Though Ohio government has been dominated by Republicans for 12 years, the narrow 100,000-vote margin between George Bush and Democratic opponent Sen. John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election illustrated that Ohio is neither a red state nor a blue one. It is purple." Ohio is a purple state, huh? OK, I'll take that...baby steps.
"Blackwell has proclaimed that he is the candidate of bold ideas. That's true. But his ideas alarm a significant portion of the electorate, including many in his own party. Boldness is not the test of leadership; sound judgment is... Strickland acknowledges that his ideas lack the flash of Blackwell's. But they are more carefully conceived." Finally, some common sense from the Columbus Dispatch!
"Blackwell is a polarizing figure, even within his own party, and his bull-in-the-china-shop approach to politics is as likely to alienate the legislature as win it over. Strickland's moderation and consensus-building style are more likely to be effective regardless of the legislature's political makeup." Where was this common sense when Bush was running in 2004? WTF?
"Ohio's future will be built one brick at a time and will require all hands. Strickland is best equipped to lead the state forward."
OK, it's not an "I love you, man" type of endorsement, but it is an endorsement none the less. It's been so wearying to watch this paper consistently endorse Repugs for the past forever it seems. Endorsing a Dem, ahh so refreshing!
And now, on to Coin-gate. This also comes from the Sunday Columbus Dispatch:
Jury selection starts Tuesday in Lucas County (Toledo) Common Pleas Court. Opening statements are scheduled for October 16th and the trial is expected to last 6 weeks. Noe's prosectors are trying to prove that Noe (a Bush Pioneer), who invested over $50 million in rare coins for Ohio's Bureau of Workers Compensation, stole millions of dollars from the Bureau.
Noe''s already been sentenced to over 2 years in prison for illegally funneling money to W's re-election campaign. Also convicted with Noe last year was Timothy LaPointe, Noe's former business partner. As LaPointe is scheduled to testify for an entire day, it looks like LaPointe is singing to the prosecution. Hope LaPointe hits the stand before November 7th. One oddity is the listing of current Auditor (and former AG) Betty Montgomery as a defense witness. Wonder if a little cross-exam on her during the trial could come into play in the election? Betty is running for AG again this go-round. Curious why the Dems haven't brought this into play in their commercials for the AG spot.
Cheers(!) to hoping the Noe and LaPointe take the stand and start pointing at other Repugs in Ohio as we head into the home stretch in Ohio...a purple state.