Republican grip on Ohio weakens with state’s woes

[norml]

Republican grip on Ohio weakens with state’s woes
Iraq death toll also has effect on GOP.

Published Sunday, August 21, 2005
GROVE CITY, Ohio (AP) - In November, Ohio was at the center of the national political stage, delivering the White House to President George W. Bush.

Eight months later, the state’s Republican Party is reeling: its leader convicted of ethics violations, a narrow win in a gimme congressional district, an investment scandal that won’t go away.

The troubles play out as the casualty rate from the war in Iraq climbs and the state economy remains stuck in a slump. The war could hurt Bush’s standing in Ohio, mirroring a decline in his popularity nationally. His overall job approval was at 42 percent in a recent poll, with just 38 percent approving of his handling of Iraq.

Diane McCune, who lives in this solidly GOP Columbus suburb, bucked her Democratic roots twice and voted for Bush, but now she’s having second thoughts.

"I’m not feeling so good," McCune said. "I think we maybe made a mistake putting him in there."


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http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/Aug/20050821News022.asp

[MichiganVote]

1. Hey Ohio? You broke it, you buy it.

[charlyvi]

2. Ya think?

Idiots.

[Kolesar]

3. Coleman has a son in the Ohio-based unit that lost 14 Marines in 2 days

"Coleman, who has a son in the Ohio-based unit that lost 14 Marines in two days, suggested the war is a ripe issue for Democrats."

Is Ohio ready for an antiwar gubernatorial candidate? Is Mayor Coleman ready? What is Coleman's position on the war, I wonder.

[rexcat]

4. I will put my money on Ted Strickland...

Coleman does not impress me.

[Kolesar]

5. I read Strickland's website yesterday after getting his email blast

The site could use a little more meat. It had a bio, and the usual condemnation of the one-party rule in Ohio, but there was nothing about: the budget, global warming, law enforcement, higher education, etc, as I recall. Many candidates make that mistake.

[rexcat]

6. I live in Mason, OH and Ted...

was our Congressman until the repukians re-did the 2nd OH Congressional district. We had Portman for too long and now we are stuck with the bitch, Schmidt.

Ted is a moderate to slightly left of center (whatever that means in Ohio, Attila the Hun looks like a moderate compared to the repukians in this state), pro-choice Democrat. When I had occasion to write him as my Congressman he was detailed in his views and thoughtful.

[Kolesar]

7. Strickland ought to put those views on his website

My impression right now is that Coleman's gubernatorial campaign is staggering and that makes Strickland the man. Maybe I ought to write him and tell him how to beef up his website.

Love your sig line, Rexcat. It's me.

[Steele]

8. Hate to disagree,

But I don't believe Ted is pro-choice.
http://www.issues2000.org/OH/Ted_Strickland.htm

He's got a 30% voting record from NARAL, and I think Planned Parenthood holds a similar view of him, though they may see him as someone who could be brought to their side.

[Steele]

10. So I've been corrected....

My friends in the pro-choice fight tell me that the good Congressman has seen the error of his ways and is now embraced. He has a 100% record with Planned Parenthood and an 80% voting record with NARAL.

[Steele]

9. Front Page

of today's Dispatch - http://www.dispatch.com/topstory.php?story=dispatch/2005/08/23/20050823-A1-04.html

While he hasn't, and doesn't, say the war is wrong, his words make the paper. More of a, "Our troops deserve answers."