Happy Ken Blackwell

After the rulings today from two Federal Judges (Dlott and Adams), Ken Blackwell must be pleased. I even think Jim Petro, Ohio AG, is pleased. He is so pleased that he is putting off appealing the state law allowing poll challengers until after the election.

I think this issue will not be much of a post election talking point for the GOP, at least not if Tacitus is right when "Von" reported that Judge Adams was appointed by Bush. Dlott is the much reviled Democrat appointee that every local Republican seems to hate.

I think Blackwell saw the challengers as losing issue, but the Bush campaign and the state wide GOP wants to claw at any issue they can. Blackwell wants to be governor and he can't have presided over the messiest Ohio election in history and win in a harsh GOP primary.

I think the County BOEs are going to be the real mess now.

The issue that is going to be at issue in Ohio is the exit polling. Will it be worth anything? I mean I know it never is and this year all polling is whacked, but with Blackwell's order to keep the media out of the precincts, will they be able to get as accurate results?

Voter Information

In case anyone is search for last minute information on the election for Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH: Smart Voter is the place to go for all needed info.

In case you wonder how I am voting, well here are the highlights:

President/Vice President of the United States
John F. Kerry/John Edwards, Democratic

US House; District 2: Charles W. Sanders, Democratic

US Senate: Eric D. Fingerhut, Democratic

State Representative; District 34: Glen Miller, Democratic

Judge; Supreme Court; starting 1/1/05: Nancy A. Fuerst

Judge; Supreme Court; Unexpired Term: William O'Neill

Commissioner; starting 1/2/05: Todd Portune, Democratic

Commissioner; starting 1/3/05: Eve Bolton, Democratic

Clerk of Courts; County of Hamilton: Martha Good, Democratic

Prosecuting Attorney; County of Hamilton: Fanon Rucker (write-in)

Sheriff; County of Hamilton: None of the Above or Mickey Mouse as a write in

Recorder; County of Hamilton: Steve Brinker, Democratic

Treasurer; County of Hamilton: Bob M. Drake, Democratic

Coroner; County of Hamilton: O'dell M. Owens, Democratic

Issue 1 Proposed Constitutional Amendment Banning Gay Marriage: Fuck No!

Issue 3 Proposed Charter Amendment Repeal of Article XII: Hell YES!

Issue 4 Proposed Charter Amendment Property Tax Repeal: No!!!

Issue 32 Tax Levy-- Cincinnati City School District: Yes

Issue 43 Tax Levy --Drake: Yes

Issue 44 Proposed Tax Levy Hamilton County: Yes

Others I am rooting for:
US House; District 1: Greg Harris, Democratic
State Representative; District 33: Tyrone K. Yates, Democratic
State Senate; District 8: Jeannette Harrison, Democratic
US House; District 4 KY: Nick Clooney Democratic
US Senate - KY: Daniel Mongiardo

Video Vote Vigil

Covington Jim points out a site collecting video and images of disturbances or other irregularities at or around the polls.

No Exit Polls in Ohio?

What is Ken Blackwell doing when he unexpectedly banned all media exit polls from within 100 feet of any polling station? I guess he fears they would challenge voters too or is this just another liberal bias charge against the media? FOX is part of the lawsuit trying to allow exit polling, so the right-wing media is at least in the fray with the rest of the mainstream press.

GOP Challengers From Outside County

Mean Jean Galvin of Make Ohio Blue has seen and reviewed the list of GOP challengers for Hamilton County. His review indicates that white suburbanites are being sent into most black neighborhoods. Also he indicates that the GOP is not sending any challengers to all-white suburbs.

Challengers Being Sworn in at BOE

A source indicates that 5 men were sworn in by Director of Elections John Williams today as Challengers. This took place at the Hamilton County BOE and the men were reported to have a list of individual voters to challenge. The number of voters on the list or the identity of the voters are unknown.

My guess would be that even with the court rulings, Challengers would be permitted at the BOE to challenge voter's eligibility to vote.

Panera WiFi

I think someone in comments said that Panera did not have very good WiFi. I am using it here on Beechmont right not to post this, and it actually works quite well. It might get worse if there were more users, which is likely true for all WiFi connections.

This post has unfortunately not been brought to you by the fine folks at Panera Bread. I eat there all the time and all I ever got out of it, beside good food/drink, was a free coffee mug at the grand opening of a location up in Mason.