Ohio Republicans Reeling With Governor's Conviction, Rare Coins Scandal

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBPZHGWKCE.html

GROVE CITY, Ohio (AP) - In November, Ohio was at the center of the national political stage, delivering the White House to President Bush.

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

The troubles play out as the casualty rate climbs from the war in Iraq 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 President 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."

[bluestateguy]

1. Why do these things always have to happen in non-election years?

They unfortunately have plenty of time to recover. I'm not promising that they will, but they have time to recover, especially when you have an opponent like the Ohio Democratic Party.

[wli]

8. impending elections gives extra motivation for coverups

Not too hard to figure out.

[Carla in Ca]

17. Not to mention keeping a lid on it

before the last one.

[Richardo]

2. Note to Diane McCune: "YA THINK??"

"I think we maybe made a mistake putting him in there." :nopity:

I'm very patient and nurturing to Republicans who are seeing the light, but Dems who voted for the idiot TWICE should be branded on their foreheads.

[LiberalVoice]

3. McCune

Congratulations...it only took you 5 years to realise that you are a complete fucking moron.

[davidinalameda]

32. better late than never

these are the voters that we need to get in 2006 and 2008 to get control away from the Repukes and put some sanity back in Washington and around the country

[LiberalinNC]

4. You get what you deserve! As the saying goes!

[wake.up.america]

9. A lot of innocent people are getting screwed. The truck driver in Texas...

who ran over the crosses deserves no sympathy. But, I'm telling ya people have to wake up. You knew what he was like and ya still voted for him a second time. Good grief!!!

[wake.up.america]

5. Maybe??? What does it take? A few thousand more causalities?

I am no Einstein.

I don't even live there, but I saw this coming back in 2000.

What does it take lady?

[EST]

11. Be glad she's not your mother.

You'd never have survived chirdhood.

[jackster]

13. same here....

I said then - it's the beginning of the end.

I was losing hope during the Raygun years, but felt a little better during the Clinton years, although I disagreed ALOT (!!) and am still pissed at him for the whole Monica thing and allowing himself to get stung like that. But I love the guy anyway - as Maher says - he's a man of the people and an intellectual - a very rare thing!

I laughed at those who predicted GWB would be elected in 2000 - I couldn't IMAGINE that that bozo would even come close!

Of course, he wasn't REALLY elected and I was so sure our Supreme Court would make sure that the right thing was done. When the ruling came down I was devastated. I knew then that we were in for a world of hurt!

[Amonester]

36. Just the skills to differentiate a pathetic liar from an honest

individual...

Some have them (like 99.99% of all DU'ers here). Others have to suffer the consequences of lacking them before they can realize they've been had.

Also, perhaps these people don't know much about the Internet (Latest Breaking News in particular). Go figure. Now everyone have to suffer the same bad consequences, and that's the saddest part...

[lisa58]

6. NOW!!! n/t

[wli]

7. even the "narrow win" is highly dubious

Rethug corruption knows no bounds.

[indepat]

10. No shit, Diane

[MissMarple]

12. Just business as usual? So Taft has $4000 tax write off?

Typical upper class republican thinking, this is just business as usual, not corruption fed by greed and hubris. And, oh yea, those soldiers and Iraqis getting killed is really, really terrible, don't cha know.

"Lifelong Republican Tim Massaro said he's not ready to change his political allegiance, saying Taft's problems reflect a reality of political behavior. But he acknowledges that support for the war probably has waned.

"Just so many people getting killed, and not finding any weapons of mass destruction," Massaro said."

How about the lying about the WMD you idiot! What about the graft, the theft of taxpayers money, what about the stealing of an election! What a bunch of morans.

:spank:

[xchrom]

14. as inflation climbs and energy costs spikes

and conyers reveals more ohio republican perfidy -- diane's comment will seem like the punch line to a bad joke.

[mondo joe]

15. Thanks Ms McCune for waking up to smell the 5 year old coffee!

I guess better late than never. :eyes:

[Solly Mack]

16. I've a hard time believing republicans "reel" from scandal

It's not like scandal isn't the norm for them...

[deadparrot]

18. Thanks, Diane.

For, you know, bothering to pay attention after the election.

[Judi Lynn]

19. Great article to post at the end of a week! Woohooooo!

From the article:

Earlier this month, Republican Jean Schmidt barely kept the 2nd Congressional seat - long a GOP freebie - in Republican hands. Democrat Paul Hackett combined his credentials as an Iraqi war vet with a campaign that repeatedly attacked Bush and labeled his opponent as a "Bob Taft Republican."

Now Taft's problems have given Democrats more fodder than they could possibly have wished for.

A scandal that began with a prominent GOP contributor's investment of state money in rare coins has ballooned to include 15 state and federal agencies investigating allegations of risky investments and illegal campaign contributions to Bush.
(snip)

We could use a lot more of these. I think we're going to get'em, too. Don't you?



Makes you feel like dancin'!

[Moochy]

28. Tangent

:rofl:
Who the hell made the president dance like a freak? They should get him on the staff. When was this taken??

"Arms akimbo Mr President, now give us your best Mrs. Doubtfire face!"

[anotherdrew]

20. "rare coins" indeed. Bush is just a bad penny...

he just keeps commin' 'round

Well, now maybe they could 'vestigate improper election tactics in 2004?
Mister Blackwell! Your future is calling!

[The_Casual_Observer]

21. OK then, who/what is going to deliver the knock-out punch?

Somebody smart in Ohio needs to be working on this right now.

[converted_democrat]

22. This is why we need to run Hackett against DeWine for Senate.

Hackett would cream him. The district that Hackett ran in is oh so painfully red, and he still almost won. Put Hackett in a race where he can carry some metro areas and he will beat the pants off of anyone they put up. I grew up in Ohio and all of my family still lives there, I feel I have a pretty good pulse. The fact that the man is a soldier, lawyer, has a concealed weapons permit, and just an all around bad ass would serve him well in Ohio. He would stand up for us. He obviously has the balls to call the president out on national T.V., so no one can say the man is lacking a spine. He is exactly what we need, a Dem with a spine.

On edit- Republicans have screwed Ohio so badly it isn't even believable on some levels. We should show this as an example to all states of what can happen if the Pubs are allowed to have run of a state.

[struggle4progress]

23. This is so sad, it brings tears to my old rheumy eyes

:evilgrin:

[leesa]

24. Ya think, ya bloody twit!

[Algorem]

25. Those poor Republicans.Oh,Why?!Why?!

[AlCzervik]

26. "Reeling" i love that, it gives me some hope.

[zanne]

27. Has any of this been reported on cable news?

I haven't been watching much of it lately, but I still want to know what condition it's in. I'm grateful for online news, but it occurred to me the other day that I shouldn't have to be--I should be able to get the news from the mainstream media.

[bnr65432]

29. finnally good news

democrats now have a chance
to show how much republicans
suck and from my state

akron mayor don plusquelic shouuld run for senate

[TankLV]

30. But he's still IN OFFICE! They should DEMAND that he resign IMMEDIATELY!

Where is the drumbeat of ever increasing Democratic leaders calling for his ouster?

A criminal still allowed to hold office?

Unfuckingbelievable!

[bnr65432]

31. if he stays in office it will get more attention

so it is a good thing

[cmd]

33. We want to keep him in office

He's harmless, and the Republicans cannot say the case is closed. Believe me, the Pubbies want him out more than we do.

[RSchewe]

34. I am glad he did not resign. He is like a burning tire for the Ohio...

Republican Party. The longer he stays the worse it is going to look and this is only going to get worse. Besides, I don't think that investigation is over concerning the coin investment scheme.

It would be better for him to be tainted and still around for when the rest of the rats start jumping ship.

[lovuian]

35. Diane but you voted for Pro Life for Religion and are just

noticing they are thieves!!!

They violated the Ten Commandments
Thou shalt not steal from fello Republicans!!!

Diane Diane feel the pain of your decision No wonder you don't feel good!!!

Its going to get worse Diane when you realize this country is a Dictatorship!!!