on the AP: Two Former Aides to Ohio Governor Charged

[Drum]

from the electoral "bellwether" state itself...

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Ohio-Scandal.html

from the article:

"Filed at 7:22 p.m. ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio's corruption scandal widened Friday as two former aides to Gov. Bob Taft were charged with failing to report loans and other favors from a coin dealer at the center of the case.

"Douglas Talbott and Doug Moormann became the third and fourth former Taft aides charged with ethics violations over their relationship with Tom Noe.

"Noe is a coin dealer and top Republican fundraiser who is under investigation over his handling of an ill-fated $50 million state investment in rare coins. Up to $13 million of the money is unaccounted for, and investigators suspect Noe stole some of it."

[Botany]

1. God, my State is dirty.

While our hearts rebounding thrill
With joy which death alone can still
Summer's heat or winter's cold
The seasons pass the years will roll
Time and change will surely (truly) show
How firm thy friendship ... OHIO!

"Oh no they could have been cheating in '04."

[Peace Patriot]

2. Just think of Michelle Batchelet, tortured by Pincochet, her family

tortured and killed by him.

Batchelet just elected the first woman president of Chile.

Or Nelson Mandela, 30 years in prison--finally freed, and elected the first black president of South Africa.

Sometimes it's a long road. One step at a time.

[zbdent]

3. As seen by the piss dealer, er, the Plain Dealer

Top aide to 2 governors hid donations, panel says

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1139564576314050.xml&coll=2

A former top aide to two Ohio governors illegally concealed campaign donations to three Ohio Supreme Court justices, a unanimous Ohio Elections Commission ruled Thursday.

<snip>

Talbott, a lobbyist, is a former aide to Republican Govs. Bob Taft and George Voinovich.

<snip>

Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles, who filed the complaint against Talbott with the commission, asked that it be sent to O'Brien if a violation was found. Talbott told investigators that Noe gave him nearly $2,000 just days before he wrote three $1,000 personal checks to Chief Justice Thomas Moyer and Justices Terrence O'Donnell and Judith Lanzinger, all Republicans.


---------------------

You know, if they think that a client of Abramoff dealing with Dems is just as dirty, then Voin & Daft should go down, too (and in jail, n'est-ce pas?)

[Erika]

4. The Republican corrupt culture and cronyism

Ohio does appear very dirty.

[maseman]

5. Ohio is the worst

I am 31 and have lived in Ohio for all but about 4 years. I gotta tell you it is so right-wing and corrupt it is nauseating. We are just as bad as Alabama without the twang. The politicians in this state don't give two craps about us. It pretty much ended when John Glenn and Howard Metzenbaum retired. We also lost to re-districting long-time Dem Tom Swayer as a rep a few years ago.

I don't have any hope for this fall in Ohio. Forget the voting machines, the Jesus Christers will still vote against gays, abortion, gambling and common sense. We have this complete nut-job Parsley in Columbus at a mega-church putting together a vote for Christ crusade for Ohio. The loonies in this state will follow along and do as he says. It is pathetic.

[Erika]

6. Christ did not teach cutting aid to the poor and ill

I think the Christian fundies need to hear loud and clear that the GOP is NOT doing Christ's work.

Any chance?

[zann725]

15. Mustn't forget Noe's stolen money was primarily Worker's Comp Fund money

That makes it even worse. Though no one seems to focus of WHERE he stole the money form...only that it was stolen.

The victims here, all the injured Ohio workers whose funds are NOT there anymore.

[Laelth]

7. I'll never forget passing this guy ...

... on 75 north of Cincinnati.



Made me wonder if I had accidentally traveled all the way around the globe and landed back in my home state of Georgia. It was a surreal experience.

-Laelth

[prolesunited]

14. Has he been reported to IRS

Churches who involve themselves in partisan politics shouldn't lose their tax-exempt status.

[intheflow]

8. Bwaahaahaa!!

Chickens coming home to roost! :evilgrin:

[DeadManInc]

9. All the pukes here in Ohio are fucking crooks

[lovuian]

10. WOw Ohio is a den of thieves!!!

Thou shalt not get caught

the mortal sin of Republicans...

but they did!!!

[maseman]

16. You nailed it! So to speak...

Ohio is full of thieves...

I'd love to win the Senate seat from Mike Dewine but I really think it is more important to win the Governorship. The shit trickles down from there in this state and needs to be stopped. If Blackwell wins the Gov. Ohio is fucked for the 2008 election. Hand's down. But if a democrat wins and either has tremendous oversight of Diebold or no Diebold at all, there is a good chance Ohio will go bnlue in 2008 no matter who runs.

This state is in such bad economic shape. Cleveland and Cincy are both a mess.

[farmbo]

11. And guess who gets to count the votes in his own primary...Ken Blackwell!?

We need help!!!


:grr:

[Erika]

12. Still so dirty n/t

[UrbScotty]

13. Too late to nominate - but here's a Kick

:kick: