Ohio, 2004 The Battleground State

“Since Ohio has such a big spotlight on it conserning the 2004 elections, I thought I'd post articles relating to how things are going out here. Naturally, my views are biased since I'm working on; "Take Back Ohio", an AFL-CIO funded campaign to educate union workers throughout the state, the Kerry Campaign and the Fingerhut Campaign (running for senate). But other views or articles would be welcome.

In doing this, hopefully we can get a glimpse of the changes in one state, and see how things are affecting the election in 04'.

Quick Facts
* Ohio has 20 delegates in the 2004 election.
* In the 2000 election, Ohio went to Bush 50% to 46%.
* Ohio has 2 republican senators, a republican gov., has a majority of repubs in the house, has a republican dominated supreme court, house and senate.

Here is a nice article covering both sides of the political gammit in this election from the Washington Post.”

“Geez and I read that Minnie-Soda was a big battleground for the election. I'LL BATTLE YA FOR IT. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!”

“mine, I called it first!”

“I wonder if Kerry has even set up a permanent office in Ohio? NPR did a story about the importance of Ohio this year and mentioned John hadnt even set up shop yet. Yer boy best get on the ball, november isnt far off.”

“He named a co-ordinator yesterday, but volunteers have been working the state (at least Cleveland) since February. The "Take Back Ohio" campaign has been in operation since August of last year, which, I'm told, is unprecedented.”

“Good observation though Joe, do you want me to put you in touch with the Kerry leaders in Michigan?”

“Does it scare anyone else that the president of Diebold, the maker of many electronic voting machines, has sworn to do ANYTHING in his power to deliver Ohio's delegates to bush? And that his company rabidly opposes any type of traceability to his vote counts, like a printout? And that his company maintains an open line to the machine's source code, which they can change at will with no trace left behind of the tampering? And that no one in any election commision gets to review the software changes, before or after implementation? Our very democracy is in grave danger, if neo-con extremeists are put in charge of the voting booth with no oversight! Be afraid, be VERY afraid!”

“BB, thanks for the offer LOL, but I am sure he has already met with our governess.”

“Buddha after November will you start talking about stuff aside from politics again? ;)”

“errrr, i sure hope so.”

“While I'm a conservative and generally hate liberal politions and prefer leaders with values I must say our govener sucks donkey balls. The next govener's race is more important to me than the presidentual race.

How important is Ohio in the race? No republican has ever gained re-election without winning Ohio. Bush is spending a LOT of time here. I do hope Kerry spends a lot of time here also as we Ohioians are a pretty sharp lot and Ohioians should be able to see right through his lies.”

“I do hope Kerry spends a lot of time here also as we Ohioians are a pretty sharp lot and Ohioians should be able to see right through his lies."
Nigal
08:11:37 AM
05/26/04


Nigal, isn't Trafficant from Ohio?”

““Nigal, isn't Trafficant from Ohio?"

No, he’s from Cleveland.”

“Gotcha.”

“"The "Take Back Ohio" campaign has been in operation since August of last year, which, I'm told, is unprecedented."

Who is Ohio being "taken back from"? The voters?”

“how come they don't have air america yet? there are stations in CA, NY, OR, and ? If they could at least laugh at the democrats, at least they would enjoy this circus more.”

“Who says we don't laugh at them already? LOL!”

“We are taking back Ohio from the Companies in this case, imperialists, and conservative right...... ya know, the folks that don't give a rat's a$$ about common folks.”

“I think if some of the anti company folks walked a mile in the others shoes you might see that folks aren't as hard hearted as portrayed. I'm in the small business end of things, which is different.”

“How big a part does the scumbag religious right play in Ohio politics?”

“Mutt, quite a bit. It's not as bad as down South, but I know, through my brother's rapid rise in the party out here, that christian conservativeism is becoming a big influence.”

“The shame of it here is that folks will spend more time telling how good a Christian they are then talking about issues. They know it gets them elected. Personally, if someone is going out of their way to tell me how good a Christian they are then I immediately get on the defensive and don't trust them.

Which side of the fence is your brother on BB?

On a side note, I got a thing in the mail from a guy running for Supreme Court. He touts how much he helped and worked with Fmr Judge Roy Moore. This is the 10 Commandments guy. I'm going to remember this judges name alright, so that I DON'T vote for him. All this chest thumping just rings hollow to me.”

“Funny thing is the chest thumping rang hollow for Jesus too.”

“Excellent point.”

“I find once most politicians are known for being a conservative christian they neglect the conservative Christians voters. I mean, it’s shoe in vote. They don’t have to pander to them because they know they won’t vote for a liberal.

I do tend to like the politicians who are religious to a certain degree even if it’s a christian.”

“I agree, I just don't like the Bible/chest thumpers.”

“The only thing that seperates my brother from John Ashcroft is about 30 years, and he sometimes will attempt to dance.”

“BB - do you know why Baptist won't have sex standing up? People might think they're dancing!”

“"We are taking back Ohio from the Companies in this case, imperialists, and conservative right...... ya know, the folks that don't give a rat's a$$ about common folks"

The companies vote in ohio? In Michigan individuals vote their conscience. Its great how diverse America is, our differences are our greatest strengths. I do prefer Michigans setup though...

I didnt know John Kerry cared about me personally. I mean we havent talked in some time now so I thought we were on the outs. I am glad he likes me though, that helps me to feel better about myself already. GW hasnt called me lately either. I have this sinking feeling that neither side wants more then my vote. I may be jaded though...”

“BB, as a conservative I am glad that you know how little concern I have for others. As a compassionate person with deep concern for the poor and down trodden I am curious as to what you have done personally to help them out (working for the kerry campaign doesnt count since its your job paid for courtesy of union dues, if memory serves me). I would reckon you've done lots,what with the way you rail on and on about lack of comapssion from the right.”

“One thing I don’t like about small town life is the lack of charities to help out with. I used to work on a network at my old evangelical church that linked up charities and people who wanted to give to the less fortunate. After leaving the church I haven’t found much opportunity though. We have one soup kitchen/clothing bank in town that isn’t too active but I have been thinking of biting the bullet and making the 1 hour drive to volunteer at the nearest veteran’s hospital in Dayton. If I lived in a big metro area like Cleveland there would be a LOT more opportunity to give my time.

While I will always remain a conservative I find it important to balance the inherent evil that comes along with being a conservative with trying to help others. Sometimes the evil is just too much and the need to kick dogs and push the elderly down to the ground becomes too much. I’ve got to find my compassion.”

“Nigal, there's lots you can do in small towns. Join a local Kiwanis club. The sole focus of Kiwanis is childrens issues. Another opportunity is Habitat for Humanity. They are a Christian group, as I'm sure you know, but there is absolutely no requirement that volunteers, homeowners, or even board members be Christian. I'm an ex-Pres of our local club and there was never any pressure on anyone about their own personal beliefs.”

“I'm not paid to work on the Kerry Campaign.

I haven't been able to do too much lately, but last year, I helped put a roof on a person's house (Roof's For Blondes). The only thing I've done since is donate money and goods to charities. But to be honest with ya Joe, I do those things because I want to, not to put a band-aide over the fact that the party I support puts those people in that position.

Have a great Memorial Day Weekend.”

““I do those things because I want to, not to put a band-aide over the fact that the party I support puts those people in that position.”


Geewiz, you really DO believe the non-liberals are the source of all the world’s ills, don’t you?”

“Amnesty International gets a significant contribution from me every year. I also do volunteer work for a battered women's shelter here in town.

A good many of the people I volunteer with are Christian conservatives.”

“" I do those things because I want to, not to put a band-aide over the fact that the party I support puts those people in that position." I have never heard of anyone volunteering as a "band aid" for their political views. What a load of nonsense. I know so many people who are involved in charities NOT because of politics but because of a personal corcern for others. If individuals werent they'd fold. Take off the blinders, your losing any sense of balance in your views.

And having been the person who spearheaded "roofs for blondes" i can fairly say that helping a friend out isnt charity, its nice and its what friends do, but its not charity.”

“"A good many of the people I volunteer with are Christian conservatives."
Phaedrus
10:24:51 AM
05/28/04

Please stop lying Phaedrus. Conservative Christians hate the poor. We make them poor, ask BB.”

“Come on Buddha, those tax cuts were really worth it!”

“"If voters pass the tax in August, the district will eventually reinstate programs, said board President Kevin Kelley. "

We face the same stuff. It up to the locals (as said above) to decide their funding priorities. I remember when we lost busing in the rural district I grew up in. Some parents had to drive 12miles each way. Thats the downer of a farming community.”

“Joe, that is the problem. Here in Ohio, we have different funding laws compared to Michigan. A place like Parma, a middle class community, has a hard time passing local operating levies every year, especially when the schools didn't plan on being beholden to NCLB, lack of funding for the program, 30% yearly increases in healthcare, and lack of support from the state and loss of business tax revenue (to companies like accenture who move to Bermuda to avoid taxes). As a result, rich communities can afford the increases (because they have much more money in the form of a tax cut), pass the local levies, and keep band programs, busing, and 25 students per teacher, while middle class and poor communities can't, and suffer for it.

It's the result of Republican economic policy..... trickle down economics. The federal tax cuts that middle class folks recieved don't cover all the increases that have come in local and state tax increases. So, those folks never really got a tax cut, and in many cases, are actually losing community services! In wealthier communities, they got big fat tax cuts, and can retain or enhance community services.”

“It looks to still be a stastical tie in Ohio.

Close race in Ohio”

“It's all about class warfare with the liberals, isn't it?”

“Yeah, we figure that if we stir the poor up enough, they'll come burn us out of our houses. We secretly hate each other and want to kill ourselves through revolution, rather than some quicker, easier method.”

“I long for the days of local funding and local levies (we call em millages, same deal). We now have all funding based on sales tax instead of property taxes which sux for us. We live in one of the most desirable communities (in terms of schools) and we are now a donor community. We get to foot the bill for others while we take hits on our programs. I never thought of blaming republicans but I will look into it.”

“Now that I think about it it was our former gov (a republican) who restructured state school funding. It used to be 80% local 20% state, now its the opposite. It sucks too. Of course we had a state wide vote and the vast majority of voters liked the plan so what can ya do. Thats that cursed "will of the people" thing popping up its ugly head again.”

“Yeah, that sales tax must suck because it spreads the dollars evenly among the schools. You are right Joe (and mind you, I'd rather be discussing this holed up in a shelter on a rainy day in Isle Royal over an nice Enertia Meal), Republicans don't want that to happen. they want those who do well financially to secure a better education for thier offspring. (I guess it's human nature), or selfish greed. Pick your poison.”

“Yes Nigal....it's always been about class warfare...with the Republicans. Divide and conquer.

Class warfare? You're a sucker pal.”

“Regardless of who is in office, kerry bush or uncle fester, schools will always have trouble for a variety of reasons. One is mismanagement. I have worked for my district for 10 years and have 8 former and current teachers in my family. We see it all the time. There is no accountablity financially (especially with personal utility use in rooms) its amazing how quickly those costs add up. Wasted copy paper and laminator film. These things sound small but when spread over 2000 teachers its amazing.Windows propped open in winter. Air Conditioned rooms proped open to cool larger areas prematurely burning up equipment, I could make a list a mile long. Schools (rightly or wrongly) cry poverty no matter what. Its the way business is done. We are facing a 10million dollar deficit this year. But we have managed to hire someone to install 2.5 million dollars worth of artificial turf on our football fields and yes we are laying people off. The year Sass lost her job they paved numerous parking lots. Kerry isnt gonna fix it, Bush didnt break it. Its a something far more insidious than them. Its us.”

“True. It’s a long term institutional failure. Who’d of guessed that the government (on any level) would fail at efficiently operating something? The sad fact is that we just keep throwing money at the educational system and it does nothing to improve the situation. It’s a money pit that should be gutted and restructured with accountability. I blame the NEA more than any politician.”