Coleman to give nominating speech for Kerry

[realisticphish]

I heard him speak at Ohio State, and he is really an excellent orator


COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Mayor Michael Coleman has been invited to give one of the nominating speeches for John Kerry at the Democratic National Convention.

sorry about the link, you have to enter your zip code and age to see the article

http://www.cleveland.com/newsflash/cleveland/index.ssf?/base/politics-0/1090534846183240.xml&storylist=cleveland



:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I Thought You Meant Gary Coleman...

NT

[BQueen]

2. Mike Coleman

Coleman's a great guy. He became mayor while I worked for Columbus and it was definitely a step up from Greg Lashutka (his public speaking skills were on a par with Bush's - the local media called it "Greg-Speak." But that doesn't matter if you played OSU Football.)

Mike sort of led the "Democratization" of Columbus, Ohio government. The City had always leaned Dem, the County Rep. Coleman (IIRC) was one of the primary people who took control of City Council. Then he ran for Mayor, taking that away from the R's after Lashutka left. Then the Republican City Attorney (O'Brien, you may have seen the guy we called 'Lurch' getting his phiz all over the 'freeway shooter' coverage) called in all his political favor chips to move to County Prosecutor, leaving Dems to appoint his successor.

I have no idea why the Repugs caved to O'Brien on that one. I had seen plenty of evil moves by Franklin County Repugs in my time, but that was probably the first truly idiotic one, at least from a political standpoint. But having a crony-type in the County Prosecutor's position (as opposed to the stridently independent Judge Mike Close who wanted it as well) was probably more strategically important than the "patronage" jobs.

O'Brien's replacement (Janet Jackson, no kidding) was great as well, but left politics for charity work because of the nastiness of Franklin County politics -- read "Republicans" (I think Columbus was a test market for more than crappy chain restaurants). Just as a *funny* aside, I knew one member of the Republican Central Committee in Franklin County who kept their membership quiet because they were embarrassed to admit to it publicly. I know I gave him hell for it when he told me.