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.

Look, if Jennifer Brunner wants to be a U.S. Senator she’s got to make her move now.  Sen. Sherrod Brown isn’t going anywhere and it’s likely that whoever takes over Voinovich’s seat will retire from there.  Senate opportunities don’t come up that often.  If she’s got the fire in the belly, who can blame her for giving it a shot.  I won’t hold it against her for the most part.

That other part that isn’t in the most part is that she’s made it more difficult for our beloved Democratic Party to hold on to the even more beloved Secy of State’s seat on the apportionment board.  I can’t imagine Ohio Republicans running another complete douchebag like Ken Blackwell at the top of their ticket in Ohio in 2010.  Whoever they run, I feel confident Ted Strickland will whip ‘em, but will he be able to bring along nearly the whole rest of the ticket?  It sure would’ve been easier on the Party if Brunner were running as SoS.

As for Fisher, if you look to the right hand side of the screen, it’s obvious I’m supportive.  I heard his announcement speech and he said one thing that let me know he gets it.  He didn’t talk about the U.S. and Ohio being at the bottom of an economic “cycle.”  He said we’re in the midst of an economic structural change.  Lee Fisher gets it at the big picture level – that’s what I’m looking for in a Senator.

At any rate, I hope Modern and the rest of the fellas at BSB work it out.  His commentary is often insightful and researched and I enjoy reading him.  If he’s not going to post over there, he can post here.  I don’t give a shit who he’s supporting in the Democratic primary.

• 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.

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.

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.

“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.”

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.