Wulsin Running?

Howard Wilkinson reports that Victoria Wells Wulsin is taking steps to run for the 2nd congressional district. She was runner up to Paul Hackett in the Dem primary and would be a logical choice. She would stand a good chance of winning the primary, would she have any at beating Schmidt or McEwen?

Monty Out of Gov Race

Betty Montgomery, State Auditor, has withdrawn from the governor's race, leaving Ken Blackwell and Jim Petro in the hunt for the GOP nomination.  This is a big blow to the moderate GOP in Ohio.  Ohio once contained a moderate GOP, in case you forgot.  Taft (though he is disgraced), DeWine, and Voinovich to name a few are not right wing republicans.  I disagree with them, but they are not out to establish a theocracy, and they generally only appease the right wing extremes when they have too.  Monty's poor showing indicates either that the GOP in Ohio are totally run and controlled by the religious fundamentalists, assuming Jim Petro can't pull a comeback and win, or that so many of the party don't give a crap, and are leaving the party for GDI territory. (God Damn Independents for the ignorant).

I don't think Ken Blackwell can win as governor if he keeps up being the theocratic movement's lapdog.  I will qualify this with the fact that a large number of people are really ignorant and even though they would disagree with him on 90% of the issues he is pushing, they will vote for him because of “1” thing.  That “1” thing is something different to various voter types and individuals, but the one thing that I fear that is becoming more of an influence on the voter is peer pressure.  If you don't vote as your neighbor does, you might not be welcome anymore at the neighborhood picnic.  This is just a symptom of the polarization and sectarian nature of politics today.    

Ford Closes Local Plant

Horrible news for the region. This will hurt Clermont County big. So, where's this great economy?

Malone on Trial

This will be an interesting exhibition of law, but Sam Malone's trial on charges of hitting his son will do much for society. Malone will likely not get punished much, if at all. His relationship is likely ruined with his son, and his son is likely scared for life, literally and emotionally. All of this rests on the idiot notion that beating your kids with a belt is right. It is as wrong as wrong can be. I will never understand anyone who thinks what Malone did was anywhere near right. Malone will get support from a few idiotic conservatives and from those seeking to exploit race, but Malone's reputation is now that of a child abuser.

Brinkman to Run?

Is Tom Brinkman going to run against Jean Schmidt for congress? He has a very short window, about 3 more weeks to see if he has enough money and supporters, as opposed to Bob McEwen, who has already announced he will challenge Schmidt. Tom will not run unless he has the edge now. He can't run for two offices.

Brinkman is blowing hot air, and will not run. He wants to run, but few want him to run.

This is a going to be a nice and bloody GOP primary.

It would be nice if an experienced candidate was running for the Dems, but it appears that no well known candidates are running. No David Pepper, unless someone knows something.

No More West Wing?

Will I ever watch network TV again? Is there any reason to watch Network TV? I exclude PBS from my lament, but TV will suck more than ever without the West Wing.

I once considered myself a TV junkie. I knew when every show was on, channel, day, and time. That was 10 years ago, well it was maybe 4 years ago. Now, I don't watch much TV, but West Wing was one of the few shows I would make it a point to watch. When they moved it to Sundays, that sucked rocks. Even with the death of John Spencer, the show still had plenty of value to it, and it surely was far better than the reality crap out there now, that for some reason will just not go away. I don't think there will be much for me to watch anymore. I will likely be a better person for watching less network TV anyway, so I shall give a muffled cheer.

UPDATE: More from the Enqurier.

Taste Does Not Equate to Criminality

It is humorous to see how the conservative editorial page of the Cincinnati Enquirer frets over George Clooney, but seems to not care about the Fraud Abramoff has been accused of committing.

The question they should have been asking is not about George Clooney's father taught George, instead they should be grilling Jack Abramoff's father and ask "Didn't he teach his son not to break the law?"

Clooney's comments are a matter of taste, and don't equate to the crimes Abramoff is accused of committing. The newspaper's trivialize of white color crime is a symptom of the political gutter with which they are willing to stoop to make a weak point.