OHIO DUers: Check In !! RECALL TAFT !!!!

[slor]

I just saw a Channel 5 report on the Coingate issue. It was just a minimal blurb, following the announcement regarding the chimp's visit to Columbus today. It had a very ineffective statement by a local Dem official (name escapes me), however, it also said that there is a movement beginning, to recall Taft! We need to help this effort, so lets do this! YEEHAAAA! Does anyone know who is spearheading this? Or shall we create our own movement? Between the coins, and the 200+ million loss in the other investment, we can make OHIO Deep Blue.

On Edit: I added the "Recall Taft" part, to increase the incentive for a response. We can change the political landscape of Ohio, and return it to the proud Democratic traditions it once held. We can do it, the scandals that are beginning to shake the rethugs are too large to ignore. And we can be rid of the Diebold theft. So lets do this!

[LaurenG]

1. Off topic but I have a weird question about Ohio and the US

Why oh why are we so apathetic? If this had happened earlier in 1990's we would have had an outraged populace. I've noticed that no one cares much what republicans or ***hco are doing.

I heard a news story yesterday from the media stating that they (the media)only do stories the public is interested in; that the public will push a story by the energy behind the interest in it.

Why is everyone so numb and disinterested?

I have one theory, remember when the navy was testing sonar and all the whales were beaching themselves and dying and their "ears" were bleeding from the sonar? Does anyone think that the technology has some sort of effect on humans, subtle hypnotic sound waves? Something is going on, and it ain't good. either that or we have a TOTALLY spoiled rotten who cares attitude in the majority of the country. I'm thinking mass hypnosis or something.

[liberal N proud]

2. People are outraged but the GOP has such tight control over the

media that nothing gets reported.
We now live in a fascist state.

[LaurenG]

3. We are outraged but many people could care less including

the dems here in Cincinnati. What is so hard about setting boundries with our officials, they are like bad children, without any limits they go insane and become their worst selves. People know this yet sit back and say yeah, what can you do? Apathetic friggin nation. It makes NO SENSE.

[slor]

4. People are apathetic...

because they feel like they can not change anything, and because they are just trying to lead their lives and get by. We can show them that in fact, they can change things, beginning with the removal of Taft!

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Also, because we have a major failure of leadership

When Kerry walked away from the 2004 election, that left a vacuum in the Democratic Party and many people who put their heart and soul into the campaign, just gave up. Without leadership that can command national attention like a US Senator or Rep, it is much more difficult to get anyone to pay attention.

[Ikonoklast]

13. Right on target

especially here in the Buckeye. The Dems in my state are scared of their own shadow and put up no resistance to the hypocrisy of the right. We let the right define us; when will that stop? We need to call them on everything at every turn, that's why Howard Dean can say anything more outrageous than the last as far as I am concerned. Never, ever explain what you mean, let THEM figure it out.

[slor]

5. Shameless kick n/t

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

7. Don't Do It!

Taft is a lame duck who's out of office in 2006 anyway. The earliest you could get him out of office would be early next year. The Ohio Democratic Party's resources are thin enough without engaging in what would amount to two statewide campaigns that would run almost concurrently. Better to leave Taft in office screwing up on a daily basis. It helps to provide focus for all statewide and General Assembly candidates in 2006.

[slor]

8. "Better to leave Taft in office screwing up..."

Leave him to continue consolidating Diebold's hold over the Ohio electorate? I do not think so. We need to change this NOW, because no matter how much they "screw up", if we allow a group of people, that can steal elections, to stay in power, even the best candidate we can muster, will be unsuccessful.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

14. But you won't get change now...

You'll get it six or seven months from now (if you get it at all) and you'll bankrupt the Democratic Party in the process. Depending on Ohio Law, a recall would either stick you with the Lt. Gov. or you would have to run an alternative candidate. It would take a profoundly foolish Democrat to run in a recall election, knowing that if he lost, he would have no resources available to run in the 2006 campaign.

[mod mom]

9. Taft and Petro, check out The Blade's story below:

OH Dem says BWC scandal ilegalities put PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN QUESTION
Thursday, June 9, 2005
Kaptur alerts colleagues of unfolding scandal
Brown says illegalities put presidential election in question
The $215 million loss - coupled with a failed $50 million rare-coin investment with Tom Noe, a prominent Republican campaign contributor - have given Democrats political ammunition against the GOP, which has dominated state government for years.
Democrats such as Miss Kaptur and U.S. Rep. Sherrod Brown of Lorain say the latest scandals mirror problems in Washington and even call into question the results of the 2004 presidential election.
"Shame on the governor of Ohio," said Miss Kaptur, who put The Blade's Tuesday online story breaking the news of the $215 million loss into the Congressional record. "Shame on the state officials of the State of Ohio. What a tragedy they have perpetrated on the people of our state."
www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609...
OHIO INVESTMENT SCANDAL
Taft's office told in October about $225 million loss; e-mail from Conrad said firm overleveraged account
Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, located in Columbus.
( THE BLADE/ALLAN DETRICH )
Zoom
By JAMES DREW
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS — Gov. Bob Taft’s office learned seven months ago — not this week — that the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation had lost $225 million in a high-risk investment.
In an Oct. 26, 2004, e-mail to Taft aide James Samuel, the bureau’s administrator-CEO, James Conrad, wrote that the “entire value” of the portfolio managed by MDL Capital Management was down about $225 million.
Mr. Conrad also alerted the governor’s office that the bureau had rejected MDL’s request for another $25 million and the firm was in danger of collapsing, which he said would be “likely to make national news.”
www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050609...
TAFT and PETRO (OH Attorney General) knew of this huge loss in October '04 put failed to notify public. Hmmmh....Do you think it might have been politically motivated? Kudos to the Toledo Blade, THE premier investigative paper in the country! Is a Pullitizer in their future?

[OnionPatch]

10. Just put up a good candidate

I don't live in Ohio anymore but I grew up there. I think the key to relating to the populace is JOBS JOBS JOBS!!!! (In fact, the only reason I don't live there anymore is because there AREN'T ANY.)
Labor friendly candidate with some good ol' boy (or girl) personality.

[mod mom]

12. Jobs were bad shape during the '04 election but when Thugs have

the ability to steal elections, issues don't really matter!

[berni_mccoy]

11. Yowza!

Kick! :kick: