Gone Fishing

I am off on my trek to the North. Please be kind to those who are brave enough to fill in for me while I take some RnR. I will likely chime in when the opportunity arises, but other wise I will be taking it easy. Please play fair and be kind. Have fun and talk to you on the other side!!!!!

Moisture

Joe Wessels has the scoop on Clermont County was delayed in reporting half of their votes. It seems that the optical scan ballots are not meant for the summer, since they don't work well if they get moist.

It's Official: Bronson is a Moron

I know I harp on Bronson a lot, but today he is just being stupid First Peter, "OK, Hackett's a veteran - and" you and Jean Schmidt are NOT! If you are going to fight in a war it might be good to have the perspective of someone who has been there. Ask Bob Dole how using War service was a way to win elections. Also, I wonder how many times we say Bush senior and Bush junior in their military uniforms during commercials.

Second, Bronson wrote this:

Many conservative Republicans may have stayed home because they thought Schmidt like another Taft RINO (Republican in Name Only) on taxes and abortion.

What is Bronson smoking? Ok, yes, Schmidt was called a Tax raiser by the boys at COAST, but she freaking runs a local Right to Life Group, who was questioning her stance on abortion! She is a freaking extremist on that and her anti-gay stance with her opposition to Gay Marriage. I think Peter is getting flash backs from his days reading about Woodstock in the newspaper and wishing he was a real hippie, not a fake one.

Why was this column not run before the election? It really offers nothing of value after the election and sounds like pointless drivel. Yes, most of Bronson's columns are pointless drivel, but this is where the editor (Hello David Wells!) should have rejected it.

Finally, when will the Enquirer allow a real response to this idiot in the newspaper? (Note I call him names because. well, he is acting like a child and should therefore be treated like one)

Bronson seems to live in a world where only the real hacks live. Jesus can't help you now Peter, the Democrats are coming, and you can't hold us back. Well, unless you start scaring the bigots again, but you don't have Fearless Leader to mislead anyone into that zone of fear this time.

Damn, this guy's writing is really spiteful. As a blogger, yes I am going to be spiteful, but jeesh, you stop wondering why people send him nasty email. Speaking of email, this is what I sent to him today:

Peter,

Damn, I don't think I have seen such a spiteful article from you. It was actually fairly childish. The only thing missing is a picture of you sticking out your tongue.

You also are wrong, but that is what we come to expect from you.

Have a great day!

Brian Griffin

If I get a response, I will let you know.

Guest blogger #2

Greetings all. My name is Adam Bartel, and I will be one of the guest bloggers while Brian is on vacation. Some of you may know me from my posts on here under the name ‘Adam’ (not as creative as FunnelCake, but it gets the job done). I currently run a blog called Reality Bytes, which covers such important topics as pop culture, reality TV, sports, and the like. It will be a (welcome) change to go from writing about Carrie Underwood and Big Brother to local politics and current events. As Brian had mentioned, he was looking for a leftie, and he’s got one in me (left-handed too, but that’s another story), so hopefully we’ll be able to keep the debates going on both sides.

More on Bush's Creationism Meme

Kevin Drum has a great post on Bush's recent statement in support of teaching ID in public schools and brings up his past comments on teaching Christian Creationism.

Side note: why do supporters of Christian Creationism not label it as Christian Creationism? They could throw in Jews and maybe Muslims somehow, but since when did the religious aspect of the issue get lost on the vernacular?

Gangs

This is an interesting story. I think this is going to get spun by the Boycott 'gangs' (both A and B) to maximum speed. If true this is bad, but not as bad as it will be played.

Post Mortem

What I am most baffled by is how Hackett won all of the East Counties? How did he when bible belt Adams County? I think this shows the breakdown for the GOP. SW Ohio is solid for them, though not as solid as they think, but South Central Ohio is in Play. After all, Strickland used to have much of those counties, so it really should not be that much of a stretch for Hackett to win there.

52 to 48 Schmidt

First off to those fools on the right who thought Schmidt would get 70, let alone 60 percent of the vote, they really were not paying enough attention.

Secondly, I am perplexed by why half of Clermont county was the last to report in the entire district.

After all six other counties in the district had completed their ballot counts in what was a low-turnout election, Schmidt’s home county, Clermont, had reported a little more than half of its precincts.
“I have no idea what is going on over there,’’ said Hamilton County Board of Elections chairman Tim Burke. “I don’t know what their problem is.’’

They have electronic optical scan machines, which means they should have been done the fastest. Why were they later than Hamilton County? I am not look for conspiracies here, just like to point out things that look like incompetence. I hope they double check how they vote. What makes this look bad, is that before the rest of Clermont county finally submitted their votes, the race was a dead heat, 50/50. It just looks bad. It would be nice, especially since the newspaper is reporting it, that the Clermont county officials come out and say why they were delayed. That can put to rest, assuming they have a valid and plausible excuse, and fears of hanky panky.

Democrats should hold their heads high. This was a long shot race and in the end, the bigot vote and nutty anti-women (anti-abortion) vote won out. There are still people who can't get past those issues. They can disagree on everything else, but those, and they still will give their vote to the extremist. Well, the same kind of fools voted for Bush, and in America fools do grow on trees.

The House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi has this to say in press release:

"Paul Hackett is a war hero who campaigned with the same dignity and honor that he served our country. Paul ran an excellent campaign and made what should have been an easy Republican win a tough contested race.



"The issues, political, and ethics environment are good for Democrats and Paul Hackett's campaign in a Republican district proves it.



"Republicans are on notice -- Americans are demanding a change. Americans will no longer tolerate the Republicans' continued abuses of power and catering to corporate special interests at the expense of the public interest.



"Democrats are committed to expanding opportunity, growing prosperity, and increasing security for every American."

She is right; Hackett proved that Democrats are alive and kicking in this city. We are not rolling over and this should be making some statewide GOP folks mighty nervous right now.

Hackett Party

I made my way downtown to the Paul Hackett party at the Aronoff Center. Very nice event, spirited crowd. I think everyone felt good. I could not stay late and missed Paul addressing the crowd. The media was there fairly heavily, including a couple of national outlets, like Mother Jones.

Elections Results

The polls closed over an hour ago and things appear tight in the early returns.

Check WCPO for Results

The Enquirer's site is running slow and overloaded. They are to have results here.

Predictions Thread

So who will win and what will be the percentages. I myself don't know who will win. If Schmidt wins she will get 56 to 44 for Hackett. If Hackett wins, he will get 52 to 48 for Schmidt. Either way the story will read that the Dems gained ground in OH-2.

FOXNews is Even Playing Up the Election

Could this election be a bellwether for the 2006 Congressional elections?


Also on FOX this headline "Bush: Schools Should Teach 'Intelligent Design' Alongside Evolution". So Bush is a Theocrat after all! Go figure that he wants to get religion into schools through the back door. Well, Bush seems to think he can run for office again, because this is the stupidest thing I have heard him say to the press in a long time. He doesn't need to stroke the religious right any more than he has.

August 2nd - Get Out The Vote for Hackett

Canvass:

Adams County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, 1 Courthouse Square at Roy Gabbert's Law Office
Brown County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, 707 Mt. Orab Pike, Bail Bonds Office (Cut-N-Up Barber Shop)
Clermont County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, Clermont County Democratic Party North 2nd Street, Batavia OH (next to Hackett's HQ)
Hamilton County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, Old Kerry Headquarters Park ing Lot, 1523 Madison Rd., 45206
Pike County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, Boilermakers Hall on US 23 in Piketon, OH and parking lot of Waverly Police Dept., 202 S. Market St.
Scioto County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, New Boston Community Center, 3980 Rhodes Ave., New Boston 45662
Warren County
Tues. 7am - 8pm, 6775 Park Lake Dr, Mason 45040, in Village Lakes subdivision AND 228 S. Mechanic St, Lebanon, 45036

Phone Bank:

Hamilton County Democratic Party HQ
615 Main St., Downtown Cincinnati, Tues, 9-7
Hackett HQ
27 N. Second St., Batavia, Tues, 9-7
Crowley HQ
1523 Madison Rd., East Walnut Hills, Tues, 9-7
Warren County Democratic Party HQ
8 East 5th St., Franklin, Tues, 9-7
Zimmeran CPA, 1080 Nimitzview Dr.
Suite 400, Anderson, Tues 9-7

Please get this information out however possible throughout the district, thanks.

- This post was made by guest blogger Josh Nelson of Cincinnati News

Home Stretch

It is down to the last full day before the election for the 2nd District. Paul Hackett has run a wonderful campaign. I have been fairly out of touch this weekend, so I have no concept of how the campaigns are going, other than the reminder by the RNC that Paul Hackett is not anti-gay, since he doesn't support the Gay Marriage ban that I guess is now a nation GOP policy. Good to know the GOP is in full anti-gay mode now.

Today will be ruff on both candidates with the temperature expected to be in the low 90's. The staffs did well and now it is about turnout. In case people didn't know, you should be getting out and vote for Paul Hackett. Since this is my personal congressional seat, I have to say I don't want an extremist like Schmidt who will be a failure in office and likely will not get the GOP nomination next year. Her failure will be her lame duck before she begins status. That is something the Enquirer failed to see. She would have lost big in the primary if the field did not have 3 other well known candidates.

I don't know who will win, but it has shown to me that the Liberals/Progressives/Moderates are not dead in this town and can stand up to extreme right wing when they need too.

Enquirer Endorses Schmidt

Not a big shocker, but their rationale looks rather shallow to me. For all of their bashing of Hackett, Schmidt will not be able to do a damn thing any faster than Hackett would, and Hackett would get huge national attention for the city and area if he did win. His Iraqi veteran status is a very important issue that the media has hit upon, finally, and that would I think outweigh any advantage Schmidt might have for being part of the majority party in getting money for the area. Portman's projects were mostly nickel and dime stuff anyway. He was known for national issues, not local service.

I have no doubt now that the editorial board of the Enquirer is just as conservative without Peter Bronson as they were with him.

Jean's Shocked, Shocked She Tells Us

It is funny when you get outed for lobbying for gambling, but don't remember doing it.

Do the Social Conservative voters in the 2nd district know Jean supports Gambling?

Guest Bloggers

Don't be alarmed if you see a couple of fellow bloggers chiming in this weekend. I will have two (still open for more) guest bloggers during my vacation.

I will allow them to do their own introductions if they wish. Both have their own local blog and do great jobs. Please give a warm and pleasant welcome.

Keep Old Time Radio

The New WVXU really needs to keep old time radio. I really hope the new owners can work on a deal to keep history alive in Cincinnati and keep it alive in the minds of today's young citizens. If you have never heard these programs, you must listen this weekend. They are something you can't understand until you listen. It is a mind expanding experience to understand how these radio programs set the ground work for TV and entertainment as we know it today.

Big Mo for Hackett

Paul Hackett still has the momentum and yesterday's news was a big boost.

This weekend will be the test. The ground team appears in place. I hope to see a bunch of Hackett T-shirts walking around the East side of the city this weekend.

What I really was wondering now is how the parents of POW/MIA solider Matt Maupin felt when Paul Hackett was being attacked for his service in Iraq. Matt Maupin after all was taken prisoner while he was working in a truck convoy. Paul Hackett was attacked for commanding truck convoys. I wonder if the Maupin’s are supporting Schmidt now.

Ring Master Wingburn

I agree with Mark Mallory, Winburn is turning the Mayor's race into a circus with his PR stunts. That is all Winburn has, stunts. If Winburn wants to prove something to the public, then instead of a drug screening, why does Winburn take a lie detector test to gets his real views on gays and those not 'born-again' Christians. His bigotry is in my opinion openly known. If you are going to be an anti-gay bigot, like Jean Schmidt, come out and make it known Charlie. (Yea, he will not take the test, but it would be funny as hell if he did and every got to know his real views, not the PR spin.)