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.

Slick Jonny Husted: How the Hell Did I Miss This Gem?

So, I asked a friend tonight, “Whatever happened to Jon Husted’s residency question over there in Montgomery County? Is he still in office?”

“Yeah, he’s still in office, but I don’t know how — the guy doesn’t even show any water usage wherever the hell it is he says he lives,” they answered.

“Huh?” I thought. “How’s that work?”

Roll Tape! Courtesy of Progress Ohio … at least someone in Columbus is watching.

Ohio Sunday Papers – February 1, 2009 – A Lot of Ohio Education Debate

• PNC Bank considered less stable after National City purchase – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: ACT for Ohio – Akron Beacon Journal
• Editorial: Reshaping Ohio’s Schools – Toledo Blade
• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: No Money to Back Up School Plan – Akron Beacon Journal
• Op-Ed, Michael Douglas: Flaws and all, Strickland’s plan good start – Akron Beacon Journal
• All day kindergarten reflects expectations – Dayton Daily News
• Officials: All Day K costly – Dayton Daily News
• Stakes high for Strickland – Dayton Daily News
• Strickland’s plan could help district retain teachers – Dayton Daily News
• Is Education Strickland’s ‘Afghanistan?’ – Dayton Daily News
• Will Strickland’s longer school year fly? – Toledo Blade
• Longer school year worries Ohio’s tourism industry – Associated Press
• LaTourette’s lobbyist wife’s clients – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Closer look at Ohio lobbyists – The Plain Dealer
• Husted takes second job with Dayton Chamber – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Aaron Marshall: Strickland Boxes Himself In – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Boehner can have impact – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: What does it take to grow NCR here? – Dayton Daily News
• More nepotism from Cuyahoga Sherrif – The Plain Dealer
• Non-profit social service groups plight in this economy – Columbus Dispatch
• Property flipping scam bled $30 million from investors – Columbus Dispatch
• Truckers want uniform speed limit in Ohio – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: PD’s goals for Cleveland – 2009 – The Plain Dealer
• 
  

Ohio Sunday Papers | Sunday, January 4, 2009

• Insight: How Bad? 5 Economists Answer Questions About Recession, Ohio Economy – Columbus Dispatch

Editor’s Note: Just when you think the Dispatch editorial staff is still on vacation, they came up with this interesting piece in Sunday’s Insight section.  Let’s hear it for localizing a national story and doing it from a broad perspective.  The economists include a liberal, conservative, a federal reserve staffer, and private sector expertise.  Check it out.

• After the Flames: The Story of the 1969 Cuyahoga River Fire – The Plain Dealer
• Killings rip apart city’s fabric – Cincinnati Enquirer
• Cuyahoga sheriff lays off some, rewards family friends with raises – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Suddes’ Crystal Ball
• Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Brown, Strickland optimistic on economy turning corner – Columbus Dispatch
• Editorial: That Sinking Feeling – Toledo Blade
• Strickland, Governors call for $1 trillion in aid to states – The Plain Dealer
• Measure takes aim at sexual slavery – Toledo Blade
• Plans afoot for coal to liquid fuel plant in Wellsville – Youngstown Vindicator
• New Ohio legislature begins Monday – Dayton Daily News
• Ohio AG’s Washington Office closing – The Plain Dealer
• Columbia Gas, state reach deal on gorge – Columbus Dispatch
• Fewer truckers needed as economy gears down – Columbus Dispatch
• Fighting off the bear market – Columbus Dispatch
• Dick Feagler talks about 45-year career – The Plain Dealer
• Consumer advocates see bright spot in 2009 – The Plain Dealer
• Most important Ohio legislation passed in 2008 – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Husted made his mark – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Husted won’t just warm senate seat – Dayton Daily News
• BGSU to lay off 43 salaried workers – Toledo Blade

Ohio Sunday Papers | December 21, 2008 | NRA Influence, GM Moraine, Taxes, Husted, Strickland, Ohiowood

• A GM town no more – Dayton Daily News
• What doomed Moraine truck plant? – Dayton Daily News
• Op-Ed, Thomas Suddes: Tax cuts and term limits – Hemlock for Ohio – The Plain Dealer
• NRA shows clout at Statehouse - Columbus Dispatch
• When system fails, kids die – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio GOP consultant dies in small plane crash – Associated Press
• Longtime National City stockholders bemoan sale to PNC – The Plain Dealer
• Cleveland-Cuyahoga port poised to be economic engine – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Well Done (Husted) – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Joe Hallett: Dinner in MI underscores U.S.-Japan realationship – Columbus Dispatch
• Op-Ed, Jonathan Riskind: Trust in government at a low – Columbus Dispatch
• Cleveland native to work in Obama White House – The Plain Dealer
• Op-Ed, Connie Schultz: Faith a poor fit for license plate – The Plain Dealer
• Editorial: Election “reform” bill deserves Strickland veto – Youngstown Vindicator
• Op-Ed, Dennis Willard: Incentives for film industry on hold – Akron Beacon Journal

Plain Dealer: Husted Won’t Run for Governor in 2010

Jon Husted has been the penultimate 1990s – 2000s Republican.  Good looking, can make a presentation, idealogue, but not very thoughtful.  As Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, he hasn’t been what one would call a value-add on the whole.  I’m straining, but I can’t think of one meaningful thing that was his from conception which became law and made anyone’s life better or created a job or opportunity for any living thing.  He’s an empty suit.  He’s a Bob Taft waiting for his big chance.

Well, his speakership is wrapping up – and just in time.  The state faces its most serious challenges in a generation due to the breakdown of the national economy and we need people in leadership who are thoughtful and add value.  I have no idea whether this describes his successor, Democrat Armond Budish, but the slate is blank and we can only hope that Governor Ted Strickland will have a worthy partner in the House.  We know Budish can raise money and organize.  We’ll find out real soon if there is substance behind the politics.

On his way out, Husted is making the editorial board rounds and answered the question Friday, ‘will he run for Governor in 2010?’ at the Plain Dealer.  He replied:

“I’m looking at lots of things, but running for governor is not one of them.”

Thank goodness.

The Political Pursuit of Bad Legislation for Political Gain: The Ohio Republicans

The best thing that has happened to the Republican-controlled and term-limit-tarded Ohio General Assembly is Ted Strickland.

In 2007, they unanimously passed a budget through both houses, something which had eluded them in recent memory – even with a Republican governor.  Strickland, very often the only adult in the room at the state capitol, dragged them into an energy bill that ended up being good legislation and great public policy – making everyone happy.  He has fostered a sense of comity between the executive and legislative branches – a divide that could have grown deeper under the control of different parties – by meeting regularly with Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Jon Husted.  In short, Strickland has lived up to his promise to work in a bipartisan manner with the leglislators to get the business of the people done.

How do they repay him?  Let’s take two examples from the current lame duck session, also known as the death throes of the blow-dry Jonny Husted Republican House. Read more

Husted’s Residency Fraud Could Remove Him From the Ticket

… Might Jennifer Brunner Get to Cast the Deciding Vote?

This article from the Dayton Daily News which ran nearly a week ago may have started a chain of events that could end with a delicious ironic twist for Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.

Put simply, because it looks like Husted lives in Columbus with his family, the Montgomery County Board of Elections would vote on whether or not Husted is a valid, registered voter of Montgomery County. According to the DDN:

The deadline has passed to challenge a person’s place on the ballot. However, the board can question the validity of a person’s registration, said Steve Harsman, board of elections director.

Ohio law on residency for voting purposes says a person’s residence is the “place where the family of a married person resides.”

A legislator may be forced to forfeit his seat if he is not a legal resident of the district he represents.

Inevitably, the board would tie in any such vote. Who gets to break the tie? Brunner.

Why is this ironic? Ohio is getting attention this presidential election year for all the usual reasons: Ohio has voted for every winning presidential candidate every cycle save two for the past century, the race here is still tight, and the 2004 presidential race between George W. Bush and John Kerry came down to Ohio early in the morning on the first Wednesday in that November.

Ohio is getting even more attention this election year because of the smoke screen the Ohio Republican Party has been laying all over our election process. Bogus court case after bogus court case has come and gone, attacking our Secretary of State for implementing election laws passed by a Republican legislature. They’ve even been embarrassed by the Supreme Court of the United States. Along with the legal challenges has come a low to mid-grade domestic terror campaign which has included cyber attacks and death threats against Brunner and her office. This is fueled by the Republican slime machine here and nationally.

What political insiders in Columbus know is that the campaign against Brunner isn’t about fighting Barack Obama’s Ohio GOTV juggernaut. What we’ve been witnessing is the preparation of the 2010 election battleground. It’s a campaign with Jon Husted at the heart of it all. Husted, knowing he doesn’t have a chance in hell of competing with Governor Ted Strickland in 2010 has his sights set on the Secretary of State’s office. The SoS will hold a seat on the apportionment board, another plum for career politician Husted.

Remember what a nightmare Republican Ken Blackwell was as Secretary of State? That’s how they want to paint Brunner. The problem is where Blackwell disgraced the office with naked partisanship, mismanagement, and by proving to all of us he’s just not that bright – Brunner has cultivated an image as a thoughtful public servant who respects the office. If she’s not Blackwell, the Republican thinking goes, let’s raise so much hell in the election system during this super-charged presidential cycle and leave the impression that Brunner’s bollocksed it all up.

Currently things stand with the Montgomery County Board of Elections attorney conducting a review of residency laws.
The Board is considering a full investigation of Husted which could end in the aforementioned vote.

I hope Brunner gets her chance to have the last laugh in the saga of Slick Jonny.

News – Strickland, DHL, Palin in Lebanon, Obama in Ohio, ODOT, Brunner and ballots, Space, Husted, Kim Jong-Il Revered Glorious Leader, Hurricane Ike, Pakistan-Afghanistan, U.S. Budget Deficit

Ohio News

• Strickland administration says DHL job-cutting plan may be illegal – Columbus Dispatch
• Moonbats wild about Palin in Lebanon – Columbus Dispatch
• Obama wants to double funding for charter schools – Columbus Dispatch

Dear Politicians: Charter Schools are the easy way out. Fix public education.

• ODOT pays $2 million in overtime to workers who aren’t eligible – Columbus Dispatch
• Ohio Lawmakers Reluctantly back Bailout – Columbus Dispatch
• Absentee ballot policy under fire – Columbus Dispatch
• Space-Dailey Race – Columbus Dispatch
• Husted won’t say whether he’s SecState candidate – Cleveland Plain Dealer
• J. Kevin Kelley campaign contributors draw FBI scrutiny – Cleveland Plain Dealer

Hurricane Ike

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Across Haiti a Scene of Devastation – Washington Post
• Billions of damage in Cuba, Ike Sets Sites on Texas – Reuters

World News

• Glorious leader almost certainly ill – BBC
• Russians hail Georgia deal as big win – Christian Science Monitor
• U.S. still weighing stronger action against Russia – Los Angeles Times
• Zadari, Karzai pledge new era of cooperation – Washington Post

Has Zadari told the ISI?

• U.S. federal budget deficit approaches $407 billion – Associated Press

Thanks, Shrub! We’re not only safer because you created terrorists over there in Iraq so you could talk about not having to fight them here … you’ve left us bankrupt! You Jackass.