taft releases new list of undisclosed gifts

[bnr65432]

One week after his conviction for failing to disclose gifts -- most of them free golf games -- Gov. Bob Taft announced that his self-described "exhaustive search" failed to turn up eight other items.

The admission quickly shifted the debate from Taft's ethics to his competence, and it came just hours after an unusual alliance debuted a new interactive Web site, MoveOnTaft.org, to try to force the governor from office 16 months before his term expires.

http://www.cleveland.com/taft/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1125048621292520.xml&coll=2

[OhioBlue]

1. why force him from office now?

Anyone that replaces him would be just as bad and could have the incumbent advantage in '06.

[BQueen]

2. Mayhaps I am sporting a silvery chapeau...

but the more I think about this, the more it smells. It's obvious that it's better for the dems if Taft stays in so they can make political hay of it. But, they can't admit that, particularly a non-party-affiliated lefty organization like Citizen Action, which is geared toward protecting the average citizen, who would undoubtedly be harmed by another 16 mos of Taft (ah, but how much harm is there in that devil, that REPUBLICAN devil, that we don't know?)

So, the conservative group approaches a group they *know* cannot refuse to work with them and remain true to their mission statement, and, the liberal lamb heads off to slaughter. Now, they have a truly "bipartisan" effort in place (remember how much they loved using that word about the BOEs, etc., after the election?). The moveontaft.org site is giving away tshirts, bumper stickers, info cards, etc. for the shipping (I didn't click thru to the order part), because they "don't want to make money" on the "tragic circumstances" -- wouldn't they be losing money? I can't imagine that Citizen Action has the scratch for that kind of loss -- what do you want to bet that cash is coming from the conservative group?

Finally, the Plain Dealer story specifically notes that these overlooked items were in the database but somehow missed by everyone, including Taft's attorney. I have a hard time believing that one of the most highly respected criminal defense attorneys in the state missed something like that. (and his reputation is deserved.)

So, why the belated discovery? The way it's timed with the announcement of the campaign for impeachment, seems to me they offer an opportunity for Repugs to push for impeachment and (eventually) for Taft to cave and resign. They know he'll be an albatross for the next elections, but they also know that people might not be that worried about "a few golf games" - or even know about the scandal. But they can't be the ones to publicize it. Now they can go with the "he's not just an unethical hypocrite, he's monumentally stupid" meme, beat his obvious incompetence to death in the media, and easily obtain popular support for impeachment. And, for bonus points, they get to look like the good guys, cleaning up their own party...I also wonder if they think that by getting rid of Taft over the gifts, they can minimize the effect of Coingate, since it won't be about a sitting Gov. anymore.

I don't know much about Bruce Johnson, the Lt. Gov. Although I remember reading somewhere that he wasn't controversial and didn't seem to have skeletons, then again, he really doesn't have much of a record. (Probably part of a Blade article, but a throw away, so I wouldn't take that to the bank. I know he started in a notoriously political "old boys" office and moved right up...and got the impression that he was nasty to the little people along the way)

so, :tinfoilhat:
how does it look?