Noe "Conduits" Maybe Violated Ethics Laws

[Schmajo]

Jan. 7, 2006

http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/01/07/20060107-C1-02.html

“A Lucas County judge named a special prosecutor yesterday to investigate possible ethics charges against a county commissioner and three others related to the probe of former coin dealer Thomas W. Noe.
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Former Scioto County Prosecutor Lynn Grimshaw was named to handle the Lucas County portion at the request of Prosecutor Julia Bates because one of the individuals is Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber, according to court documents.
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Federal authorities have identified Thurber as one of the people they say Noe used as a conduit to illegally funnel $45,400 to President Bush’s re-election campaign.
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Ohio law requires many public employees to report gifts of more than $75 each year and prohibits them from accepting gifts from those doing or seeking business with the officials.
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[geiger]

1. no up side

My sense of this is that it is going to get ugly beyond belief. The really down side, I think though, is that the average public employee already often feels intimidated into not being involved in the democratic processes. If some of them didn't know to report amounts over $75.00, it further alienates citizenry from participating legitimately. Same reason fewer and fewer good people seem to want to run for public office; not worth the risk or trouble.

I keep getting on my soapbox about very quickly putting together a positive Party agenda (even if it is just a working document) for Ohio, and position statements/white papers on all of our major issues, because although it's the Republicans in trouble (at the moment), to me, the scandals and uncovering of the culprits, overall has the effect of denigrating our democratic institutions. It's not a positive thing. Is has to be dealt with, but the lawyers can do that; Party activists should be encouraged and chastened to put their talents and creative energies toward identifying our candidates core beliefs, building platforms based on growing our existing State assets, and creating momentum to win elections.

[OzarkDem]

2. Let's be serious here

Sticking our heads in the sand and pretending R's aren't saying anything bad about Dems is why we're in the place we are.

If our party leadership or elected officials are involved in any quid pro quo or appearance of quid pro quo with anyone involved in the Noe scandal, they need to hit the door running right now.

Good Democratic leaders don't ask their hard working, loyal party members to look the other way and pretend we don't have scandals and problems in our own party. And it would be really appalling if they tried to in some way fault good Democrats for speaking out about it.

While I'm sure this is worrisome to our Ohio Dem leaders who have to fear a cut in pay if the party loses again in 2006, the consequences are one hell of a lot worse for those of us in the real world who actually lose jobs, health care and see our children shipped off to die in Iraq.

We're way past being patient. If you need to clean house in ODP Columbus or anywhere else in Ohio, do it now, or we'll do it for you.

[geiger]

4. Where's the message of hope?

Noone's ever called me patient or less than serious before. That's funny.

I am surprised that you in any way interpret what I have written here as advocating sticking our heads in the sand.

Quite the contrary. Just have to prioritize keeping our "eyes on the prize," that's all I am trying to say, as well as being aware of consequential and potential unintended fallout.

I wish you many days of impatience and serious thinking. Provocative thinking is what will move us forward.

[Earl from Ohio]

3. Why not in Federal court?

One might wonder why these offenses aren't being handled in Federal court-- after all they involve Federal campaign fiance violations.

The federal prosecutor in charge of the case is a recent GOPer Congressional candidate who granted unneeded immunity to these criminals in exchange for their unnecessary testimony against Noe before the Federal grand jury who indicted Noe.

The federal prosecution EASILY could have indicted Noe without the testimony of Thurber, Owens and Schultz-- instead he gave them a "get out of jail free' card.

[geiger]

5. Good point

Pay to play, one way or the other. Dems likewise need to have a multi-tracked strategy.

[geiger]

6. No shame among Republicans

The fact that John Boehner thinks that he can be the next Majority Leader speaks volumes.

[geiger]

7. Delay as Chair of Appropriations?

Scandolous as usual. If they had any integrity at all, they would appoint Ohio's Ralph Regula, who does have integrity and bi-partisan respect.