The Interview That’s Breaking Up the Band: Modern Esquire Quits BSB

Friends, if you haven’t figured it out, political and news blogging is a deadly serious business.  I’m not talking about the age old question – “Are bloggers journalists?” (They’re not, journalists are journalists and some of them blog.)

I’m talking about the gnashing of teeth going on over at the Buckeye State Blog between the forces of our fair maiden Secretary of State Brunner and the Deadly Machine Politics of Lt. Gov. Fisher.

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Jennnifer Brunner: “… all you will see is my dust.”

Wow, great line.  Watch Secretary of State Brunner’s 14 minute interview on her U.S. Senate campaign with WKYC’s Tom Beres:

Ohio Sunday Papers – Waiting to be Stimulated

• Experienced lobbyists have advantage due to changes in Ohio legislature – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Lt. Gov. Fisher could get chance to keep pledge – Youngstown Vindicator
• Editorial: Assault on Education (Charter Schools) – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Brunner should sidestep the conflict – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: Triage for a sick economy – Toledo Blade
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: The bumps in Strickland’s road – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Legislators need some backbone – Akron Beacon Journal
• Donations v. Impartiality on docket – Columbus Dispatch
• School funding formula criticized – Associated Press
• Strickland plan would slash online school funding – Columbus Dispatch
• Stimulus requests rolling in to state government – Dayton Daily News
• How Clevelanders would spend stimulus – The Plain Dealer
• Path to stimulus money hazy – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohioans tuned into state’s history – Columbus Dispatch
• Hospitals object to fees for Medicaid – Columbus Dispatch

Candisky Predicts Brunner Will Be Nominee, Butland Says She May Pull a Mary Ellen Withrow

Notes from Columbus On the Record:

• Dale Butland, during the conversation about the Dem Senate primary race said Brunner benefits right now being the only woman in a field with several men.  He said she could do what Mary Ellen Withrow did and take in the bulk of female voters while the guys divide the male vote.
• Cathy Candisky of the Columbus Dispatch predicted a Brunner win in the “Off the Record” segment.
• Butland, in the same segment, seemed to discount his previous comment and said there will only be three viable candidates and it will come down to who can raise $10-12 million.  (This is actually what everyone says, he should have stuck with first theory.
• Republican talking head predicted that state pols are up shit creek come May — there won’t be many capital gains reported in this year’s tax haul.

Jon Husted’s Profile in Public Fraud May End Up A Chance for A Jennifer Brunner Profile In Courage

The Dayton Daily News is reporting tonight that the Montgomery County Board of Elections cast a tie vote along party lines, punting to Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner to make the final determination on how big a fraud State Sen. Jon Husted, R-Upper Arlington, really is.

Progress Ohio, a public interest group based in Columbus, filed the original complaint in Montgomery County against Husted.  By Ohio law, state representatives and state senators must live in their districts.  Husted claims to be “R-Kettering,” but is actually “R-Upper Arlington.”  He was elected to be “R-Kettering,” but since he has been “R-Upper Arlington” for so long he is illegitimate.  Some have even speculated that he is “A-Upper Arlington.” (“A” is for asshole, party of one – him.)

In a bit of drama tonight, Progress Ohio beseeched Brunner to live up to her Profile in Courage Award by officially declaring Slick Jonny irrelevant.  At any rate, it’s the stated editorial opinion of this blog that Jon Husted should be banned in 38 states and all the provinces of Canada.

What follows is real, from the Dayton Daily News:

Husted testified at his hearing that he is at his Kettering home weekly, but declined to say how often he or his family sleep there. He and his family are rarely seen in Kettering, according to neighbors and Dayton Daily News spot checks. A review of water records show very low water usage at the house, with bills for three quarters in 2007 and 2008 showing less than 750 gallons used.

Twenty-two spots checks of his home since Jan. 5 showed no sign of Husted or a vehicle at various times through the day and night. Newspapers stayed on the driveway for days and sometimes there were no tire tracks in snow on his driveway or indication that it had been shoveled. At night there is usually the same light and television on in the house.

On Jan. 17 at 6 p.m. there was no sign of lights or TV but a package blocked the front door. Two hours later, the same package blocked the door, but the television could be seen flickering through the blinds. The next morning at 10 a.m., the same package was still blocking the door.

Husted denies using a timer to control the television and he refused to say where he parks when he is home. He declined to answer further questions.

Ohio Sunday Papers – It’s the Economy and Education with a smattering of Fisher, Brunner

• Editorial: Lawmakers must stop Strickland from killing charter schools – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Governor needs to tweek how he pays for education reform – Akron Beacon Journal
• Editorial: No Stimulus for Teardown – Toledo Blade
• Op-Ed, William Hershey: Ohio Dems Face Likely ‘Family Fued’ – Dayton Daily News
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Will Ohio House Dems Hold Together on Budget? – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Governor Sinned a Bit in Securing Manna from Washington – Columbus Dispatch
• Welfare rolls soaring in Ohio – Columbus Dispatch
• Toledo aid agencies fear what’s over horizon – Toledo Blade
• Late bill payments cost state – Columbus Dispatch
• Big repairs needed for U.S. automakers – Toledo Blade
• How would you spend $500 million taxpayer dollars? – The Plain Dealer
• Dems’ fight a cost of success – Cincinnati Enquirer
• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Race crucial for Fisher, Brunner – Akron Beacon Journal
• Brunner: Senate bid not a conflict – Columubus Dispatch
• Ohio tries to clean up payday lending one more time – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Obama’s economic plans leave some edgy, angry – Columbus Dispatch
• Development board’s City Center planning only quasi-public – Columbus Dispatch
• Farmland disappearing – Columbus Dispatch
• Preservationists hope to see some stimulus – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio businesses must file sales taxes electronically for first time this year – The Plain Dealer
• Ohio officials OK new workers compensation program – Dayton Daily News\
• KELLY PAVLIK COVERAGE – The Youngstown Vindicator

First Coverage: Brunner, Fisher Race – Tonight’s Clips

• Brunner, Fisher announce candidacies – Columbus Dispatch
• 2 top Ohio Dems running for U.S. Senate – Associated Press
• Secy of State Jennifer Brunner, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher to run for U.S. Senate – The Plain Dealer
• Democrats line up for U.S. Senate seat – Dayton Daily News
• Ohio U.S. Senate Race Taking Shape – Politics Nation

Fisher’s Rush to Announce – Oops, No Website

As posted earlier, I don’t begrudge Lee Fisher for coming out of the blocks just because Jennifer Brunner announced today.  Brunner now has to share the media cycle.

What is fairly pathetic is that Brunner has a good looking start of a website with a tasty little campaign video featuring old people, young people, people of color and they’re all for Jennifer!

The fact is, Fisher is notoriously thoughtful and, let’s just say, deliberative.  Today, he talked about the fire in his belly.  Well, I think what Fisher agonized over for the past 4 to 6 weeks was not so much whether to run but how.  He should have had a website up, even if it was just a blog ready to go live on a moment’s notice.

Who’s running his communications?

Brunner wins this initial battle.

Didn’t Look Like an Ohio Democratic Party Divided at Fisher’s Presser

Governor Strickland Didn’t Feed the Notion Either

“My support for Lee does not mean I do not respect Secretary Brunner,” said Gov. Ted Strickland.

That was how Strickland answered a reporter’s question tonight regarding his early support for one statewide elected official – Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher – over another – Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner – in an early start to a U.S. Senate primary campaign.

Strickland was also asked whether or not Brunner’s entry into the race leaves a hole in Democratic ranks for retaining the Secretary of State’s office and its seat on Ohio’s Apportionment Board.

Strickland said, “life rolls on” and that the job of political leaders is to be prepared for any eventuality and make wise decisions at the right time.

Strickland said it should be no surprise that he would support Fisher, who has been his partner since 2006.  He said that when it became apparent that there would be a real race for Senate in 2010 he encouraged Fisher and made a commitment to support him out of the gates.

In a room filled with many members of the House and Senate Democratic Caucuses, Strickland said, “There is no (party) split.”

Lee Fisher’s — Masterstroke

Look, I know everyone is thinking Lee looks a little weak hopping on to the whole announcement thing on Jennifer Brunner’s terms, but guess what?  Sometimes the only move is the best move.

Brunner’s media cycle is now the Brunner-Fisher media cycle.  We’ll see how long it takes for the statehouse press corps to develop these storylines:

1. Brunner’s been on the statewide scene for three years — Fisher — for like 20.
2. Fisher’s got Ted.
3. Fisher has the inside track on the money and that’s where this primary race will be won.
4. Peter Lawson Jones is not running for Senate and will support Lee – no problems with the microbase – Sorry, Blogger Interrupted.
5. Lee’s got a boatload of Mayors, County Commissioners, etc.
6. I’ve even heard the supposed Golden Boy Tim Ryan is in the tank for Fisher.

Under the Radar Slime Tactics Used Against SoS Brunner

One commenter from a single IP address in the early hours of Sunday a.m. forced me to do something I haven’t yet done in the this blog’s short history – I deleted their comments.

Commenting as “Melissa,” “Janice,” and “Tom,” someone surfing from 65.24.113.218 posted nasty things about Ohio Secy of State Jennifer Brunner and her family.  You have to have one comment approved here before you can comment without your statement going to moderation.

The rules for comments are pretty simple here, you can exercise your right to free speech.  I’ve never deleted a comment because I don’t agree with someone’s view that may differ from my own.  What you can’t do is use this blog to get personal, especially if you’re anonymous and do not make a case for why someone’s personal life has a bearing on their public duties or aspirations.

Jennifer Brunner for U.S. Senate?

Tonight on Columbus on the Record, Joe Hallet’s “Off the Record” comment was that there’s a good chance Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner will run against U.S. Sen. George Voinovich in 2010.

She’s a capable public servant who has had a big target painted on her back because her position as chief elections official leaves every decision she makes open to cries of partisanship.  During the 2008 election cycle there were so many spurrious legal actions taken against her office (none of them stuck) they created a smoke screen of doubt around her oversight of the elections process.  It’s been pointed out in many quarters – both Democratic and in the non-partisan media — that this cloud of smoke laid over the 2008 elections was little more than Republicans trying to create doubt and prep the Secretary of State race battlefield for 2010.  Everyone knows that what’s at stake is not the office so much as the Secretary of State’s seat on the next Apportionment Board.

Well, think about it.  Jennifer Brunner would be a great candidate for Senate.  If there is still smoke on the field of the battle in the Secretary of State race, it clears with fresh Democratic candidate for that office.  Brunner as U.S. Senator and hanging on to the Secretary of State’s office with another Democratic up and comer is a win-win … for everyone but Lee Fisher : )

Act II: Marc Dann Faked Campaign Reports Says Ohio IG, Secy of State

Complaint Against Dann Filed with Ohio Elections Commission

From the Columbus Dispatch:

Former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann falsified his campaign finance records to disguise tens of thousands of dollars spent to benefit himself, his wife, children and top campaign staffers, a complaint filed today says.

Statements of receipts and expenditures that Dann’s campaign filed with the secretary of state “contain incomplete, inaccurate and false information concerning expenditures from the fund for travel, food, beverages, cell phones and other expenditures,” Inspector General Thomas P. Charles said in a sworn statement filed with the complaint before the Ohio Elections Commission.

Go to the Dispatch for the rest of the story.

Ohio Newsbreak – End of the Week

Strickland, Stivers, Kilroy, Keno, Provisional Ballots, Unemployment, and more …

• Bill readied to prevent ‘Joe the Plumber’ snoops - Dayton Daily News
• Election results pointing to new religious coalition - Toledo Blade
• Strickland prods Congress for help - Toledo Blade
• Next casino effort will be multi-city - The Plain Dealer
• Brunner orders statewide election audit - Associated Press
• Chunk of Strickland’s Year Spent on Elections – Columbus Dispatch
• 27,000 ballots on hold - Columbus Dispatch
• Stivers leading Kilroy by less than 400 votes (Friday) - Associated Press

• Provisional ballot use increasing - Columbus Dispatch
• Lottery vendor not disclosed at Keno hearing - Associated Press
• Unemployment fund likely broke by end of year - Columbus Dispatch
• Cafaro to lead Ohio Senate Dems - The Plain Dealer
• Batchelder will lead Ohio House Republicans - Columbus Dispatch
• More workers accused of politicking on state time - Columbus Dispatch
• No state records show database checks before ‘Joe’ - Columbus Dispatch

Ohio Agency Director Put on Leave & Other News from the Buckeye State

Helen Jones-Kelley Coverage

• Emails get state leader in trouble – Columbus Dispatch
• Jones-Kelley on paid leave pending investigation - The Plain Dealer
• Stivers event among topics of emails under investigation - Dayton Daily News
• Governor places family services director on leave – Dayton Daily News
• Agency chief put on leave -Toledo Blade
  

Politics & Elections News

• GOP’s grip on County’s suburbs slipping – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: GOP must make honest appraisal of its defeat – The Plain Dealer
• Obama’s victory in Cuyahoga was overwhelming – The Plain Dealer
• Obama won – so did shirt sellers – Columbus Dispatch
• Maureen O’Connor’s huge totals may lead to something else – The Plain Dealer
• Brunner calls summit on vote –Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio GOP to work on ‘identity crisis’ – Columbus Dispatch
• Dolan out of Minority Leader race – The Plain Dealer
• The new Ohio Senate and House – Columbus Dispatch
• Timing of Cordray’s start as AG uncertain – Columbus Dispatch
• Total state approach aided Obama – Columbus Dispatch
• No Treasurer replacement yet – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: House Democrats in charge – Akron Beacon Journal

Other News

• Jobless rate highest in 14 years – Columbus Dispatch
• Hard recovery seen for Ohio – Associated Press
• Wilmington worried about pending DHL announcement – Dayton Daily News
• Glowing review earns Gee possibly $2 million – Columbus Dispatch

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