More than 5,000 flock to Strickland inauguration (Ohio Gov)

[theHandpuppet]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070114/NEWS01/701140341
It's time for Strickland
More than 5,000 attend to witness start of new era
BY HOWARD WILKINSON AND JON CRAIG | [e-mail], [e-mail]

COLUMBUS - As Ted Strickland celebrated his inauguration Saturday as Ohio's new governor, he called on some unlikely sources in his inaugural speech - Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, and George W. Bush. He even used a variation of "Toy Story" character Buzz Lightyear's rally cry: "To infinity and beyond."

"If we trust our future to the hopes and dreams of the average Ohioan, the dividend we'll see will be the return of Ohio greatness," Strickland said.

"Some might think this is just a dream. But look where the dreams of Ohioans have taken us before - Senator John Glenn knows - to the horizon and beyond."

<snipping>

Despite rain, wind, cold and mud up to the ankles, more than 5,000 Ohio Democrats flocked to the state's capital to witness the beginning of Strickland's term. It was a day for Democrats to cast away the bonds of nearly two decades as the lowly whipping boys of Ohio politics, condemned to carry on under the iron-grip of Republican rule.

No more....

(But there is MUCH MORE of the article! And pics, too)

[theHandpuppet]

1. And a reminder...

... to those people who want to paint all of Southern Ohio with a broad brush dripping with red -- the vote of Appalachian Ohio is quite different than that of SW Ohio, home to Jean("Wicked Witch of Ohio's SW") Schmidt, Ken Blackwell, Bob Taft, John Boehner, etc. Strickland himself is a District 2 boy, but he' from the Appalachian counties of D2. Remember that the next time you hear someone blame the election of a Jean Schmidt on a bunch of "Southern Ohio rednecks." It's not the hillbillies and rednecks that are the problem -- its the fundie corporate fascists in Cincinnati and their whackjob candidates. There just aren't enough votes in the rural Appalchian part of the district to overcome their stranglehold on district power.

From the Portsmouth Daily Times:
http://www.portsmouth-dailytimes.com/articles/2007/01/14/news/local_news/1news_strickland.txt

Hometown Hero Inaugurated
Saturday, January 13, 2007 11:18 PM EST

Strickland becomes 68th Ohio governor

“I am convinced that the road to renewal - the road to a new, vibrant growing Ohio, begins with building a system of education ...”

“I want you to know that I have heard your anxieties and I will seek to calm them. I want you to know that I heard your advice and found wisdom in it. ...”

“And what are the dividends of hope? Life. Light. Laughter. An expanding future, filled with opportunity. ...”

- Excerpts from Gov. Ted Strickland's Inaugural speech

[tanyev]

2. "To the horizon and beyond"?

Not very inspiring.

[theHandpuppet]

4. It was a tribute to John Glenn

Who was master of ceremonies for the day. Once upon a time those words meant something. Why so cynical?

[tanyev]

5. Sorry. You are right.

The phrasing does strike me as awkward, but I did not need to go there. It is too late for me to delete it now, so all I can do is apologize.

:blush:

[theHandpuppet]

6. No prob....

I'm a bit cynical m'self these days. I actually had an apocalyptic nightmare the other night, thanks to GWB's Armageddon plan for the world. Very unusual for me. My dreams are usually very colorful, fanciful and joyous.

Here, have a little java and a doughnut on the house. :donut:

-- the HP :hi:

[snowbear]

7. I don't think it sounded awkward at all....

Maybe he's a Buzz Lightyear fan? ;)

Kudos to Ohio for voting in Governor Strickland instead of that dirtball.. what's his name?.. Blackwell..

Thread kicked.. .. and given it's one and only recommendation!

[blue neen]

3. Very nice article.

Ted Strickland seems like a breath of fresh air for Ohio. I've lived in PA for most of my life, but am a native Ohioan.