Mmmmm....traffic.

I'm off to Columbus for Thanksgiving.

If you see my Jeep heading west on 70, give me a honk.

I'll be the one pondering how to fix this sign.


Posting will be sparse, but I'll do my best to check-in now and then. Follow me on twitter for more regular updates.

In the meantime, everyone have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

R.I.P. Martha Moore

From this morning's Dispatch:

Martha C. Moore, a Republican icon in Ohio and 35-year member of the GOP National Committee, has died at the age of 91.

She died yesterday morning -- 11 days after her birthday -- at an assisted-living facility in Columbus and will be buried in her hometown of Cambridge, the state party said.

Moore was active in state and national Republican Party politics for 50 years and her advice was sought by politicians from City Hall to the White House, Ohio GOP Chairman Kevin DeWine said.

"Martha provided unparalleled leadership and counsel to our party . . ." he said. "She was a role model for women in politics and, at a time when women were fighting for equality, she led our state committee to create county Republican Party chair positions for women in all 88 counties.

Thanks for all you did in order to make Ohio a better place to live.

Can't please them all.

Months ago, Ted Strickland got into some trouble when it was learned that up to 47,000 illegal aliens potentially obtained vehicle registrations.

Well, now that the Governor wants to take away those registrations, he's learning that doing so is going to tick off one normally friendly constituency.

A group representing Hispanic citizens is suing Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland to stop the state from canceling vehicle registrations for thousands of people who cannot provide proof of legal U.S. residency.

The League of United Latin American Citizens said Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit against Strickland and other state officials. The state sent notices in October to owners of some 47,000 motor vehicles that their vehicle registrations will be canceled if they do not provide proof of residency by Dec. 8.

The group says many of its members are hardworking people who rely on their cars to get to work and could lose their jobs if the policy is enforced.

It's alright, Governor. Only 72% of Latinos voted for Obama. You can afford to lose them, right? [/sarcasm font off]

Jindal gives Ted a hint.

Want to fix Ohio's economy?

Bobby Jindal clearly and eloquently gives a few pointers.

Governor Game Changer

This is Dennis Spisak.

He's a member of the Green Party.

He's running for Governor.

And he just may hand the Governor's race to John Kasich.

Ohio Democrats, this is what happens when your nominee is an incumbent with a massively disappointing record in an election year that is harshly anti-incumbent.

Since the first Quinnipiac poll on the Governor's race was released I've talked about how amazed I was with the lack of enthusiasm among Democrats for their Governor.

And the most recent poll from Quinnipiac reenforced that perception. As I said earlier this month in my analysis:

This is a big one. Strickland's approval among Democrats has ticked down, and disapproval has ticked up. Only 62% of Democrat voters approve of the job he has done. Why is that important? In New Jersey, where voter turnout was key and Democrats failed to show up, Corzine's approval in the last poll before the election was 70% among Democrats. Eight points higher than Strickland. The Governor's approval among Democrats has now shown to be consistently and substantively worse. Additionally, Corzine and Strickland are even when it comes to the number of Democrats disapproving of the respective incumbent Governors.

If Strickland is doing worse among his base than Corzine, in a state where the Ohio Democrat base is a smaller percentage of the electorate than New Jersey, then that's extremely bad news for Ohio's incumbent Governor. Provided this keeps, without question Ted Strickland will lose. It's impossible to win if your base in a purple state stays away.

What happens when the base isn't enthused? (Well, other than them not showing up to the polls.)

What happens is that alternative candidates start showing up.

And that's what Spisak is...a medium for the left wing to voice their displeasure with their Party.

His platform?

Spisak plans on running a progressive green campaign based on better funding of education, single-payer health care, and a blue-green jobs program to make Ohio the new energy center of the United States.

Anyone else recognize those three themes? They are exactly the themes Strickland has been advocating the past year - Education. Green jobs. And most recently in a youtubomercial, health care.

And Spisak seems serious about running. Right on the front page of his campaign website he highlights his strategy for raising money. Will he raise much? Of course not. But if he can get on the ballot he will at least have a voice in the media.

And can he get on the ballot? Ohio's requirements are minimal. Spisak will only need to obtain 500 valid signatures by Feburary 18th. [DJ Note: Mr. Spisak, if you're reading this, make sure you obtain at least 5000 so you can ensure that you've reached your minimum of 500 valid signatures. You're welcome.]

As I highlighted on Friday, from a jobs perspective, Strickland's absolute best case scenario is for unemployment, the number one issue of this campaign, to shrink to 7.8% by the time campaigns and commercials go into full gear. That's still 44% higher than when he came into office and an incredibly difficult challenge to overcome.

Now subtract Spisak's 2-4% from his vote total.

It may not seem like much, but in the scheme of things, it's a game changer.

In addition, if Spisak is able to make some noise early, it will be interesting to see what it does to Ted Strickland's fundraising. By just showing a marginal effect on the race, Spisak will show the Governor's potential contributors that Strickland is facing a near impossible challenge.

And that would be devastating.

Welcome to the race, Dennis.

The last story Amanda Wurst wants to read.

As Ted Strickland's press secretary, Amanda Wurst, read an article in yesterday's Columbus Dispatch, she had to know it did more to damage her boss than any editorial or column could.

It told a story.

A story about just how bad things have gotten in Ohio.


The article told tale after tale about the woes Ohioans are suffering throughout the state due to the massive shortfall of state services.

In this case, forget pinning blame for this situation on this person or that. It doesn't matter.

As highlighted by William Hershey last week in the Dayton Daily News:

When times are good, incumbents get credit, whether they helped the economy boom or just went along for the ride.

When times are bad?

They get blamed, even if they’re mayors and governors and the economic collapse is national and global.

And why does this matter?

We go to Peter Brown of Quinnipiac:

Voters are much less complex than many of us think. They like things. They don't like things. Most of them don't focus on specifics. [In 2008,] Barack Obama was the antidote to George W. Bush. In Ohio, John Kasich is the antidote to Ted Strickland.

In yesterday's article in the Dispatch, Ted Strickland's name was mentioned only once. For it to damage Ted Strickland, it didn't have to even do that.

Newt to the rescue?

Newt Gingrich is doing what Ted Strickland won't.

He's hosting a Jobs Summit in Ohio.

"Beginning in Cincinnati, we will be travelling the country talking to small business owners and entrepreneurs - the engines of growth in our economy - to get their ideas on how to create jobs and grow the economy. With unemployment at 10.2 percent nationally and 10.5 percent in Ohio, Congress can't afford to wait any longer to pass real reforms that will create jobs and prosperity for America."

Here are the deets...

WHO: American Solutions General Chairman Newt Gingrich

WHERE: Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza Hotel
35 West Fifth Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202

WHEN: Wednesday, December 2, 2009
6:30 to 8:00 pm (doors open at 5:45 pm)

I honestly hope Gingrich invites Ted Strickland to the event. Maybe the Governor can learn a few things about addressing the biggest crisis facing the state.

Obama's Stimulus is Dumb. Harvard Says So.

From Harvard's Alberto Alesina and Silvia Ardagna:

Large changes in fiscal policy: taxes versus spending

We examine the evidence on episodes of large stances in fiscal policy, both in cases of fiscal stimuli and in that of fiscal adjustments in OECD countries from 1970 to 2007. Fiscal stimuli based upon tax cuts are more likely to increase growth than those based upon spending increases. As for fiscal adjustments, those based upon spending cuts and no tax increases are more likely to reduce deficits and debt over GDP ratios than those based upon tax increases. In addition, adjustments on the spending side rather than on the tax side are less likely to create recessions.

Fellas, it doesn't get anymore clear than that.

Cancel the failed stimulus now.


h/t: Greg Mankiw

Whilst working nonstop on the budget during this impasse, the gov takes time to stop and smell the rosé…..

Apparently the Ballad of Jello Ted couldn't have been more prophetic.

Not one day after our latest youtube calling out the Governor for not living up to his own promises the last time he demanded the legislature join him in focusing on the budget, yesterday Jello Ted was busy doing this....

At the state capitol Claudio Salvador, president of Sandusky’s Specialty Wine Company, (SWC), importers of fine wine, www.specialtywineco.com, captivates Ohio Governor Ted Strickland with his ambitious, week long, five-city trade tour with three of Italy’s leading wine producers.

Governor, you're really bad at this.

And for his staff, you have got to be kidding me. Don't you know any better? You don't have to let everyone in the front door of the Governor's office. Images do matter. And so do perceptions. Clearly, Ted Strickland doesn't want to be taken seriously.

Job crisis? What job crisis?

We all know the numbers by now. It's nothing new to any Ohioan.

• 10.5% unemployment rate.
• Number of unemployed up 209,000 just in the past year.
• And a staggering 94% increase in the number of unemployed since Ted Strickland came into power.

Ohioans are wondering what their government is doing to solve the job crisis. Is the man they put in charge to Turnaround Ohio working to find a solution? Does he even care?

Unfortunately, the answer to all these questions is no.

At least that's the easiest deduction to make when you look at the Governor's press shop.

A Governor's media operation is the driving force behind the message a Governor wants to send to his constituency. It communicates to the mainstream media each new idea, program, policy shift, and solution coming from the man in charge.

So, after looking at all 151 press releases distributed in 2009, how many address specific state-sponsored policy initiatives, ideas, or programs directly intended to solve Ohio's job crisis?

Nine.

Just 6% of the Governor's press releases discuss ways Ohio's Governor is working to get his state back to work.

The list:


11,004 jobs potentially created or retained by these efforts. Of course, that's assuming Ted Strickland's shop does a much better job of accounting for jobs than the federal government.

Now, are there other press releases that address jobs? Yes, but those others focus only on federally funded grants and other federal programs - none of which can Ted Strickland claim credit for.

Nine press releases. Out of 151.

That's only 8 more than the number of press releases that welcomed Shaquille O'Neal to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Really.

Ohio, your Governor is totally and completely out of touch with what plagues the state he governs.

Does Obama want Reagan/Clinton popularity levels? Probably not.

Upon hearing that Obama's approval rating had dropped below 50 in nearly every major poll, I've read many Democrats deflect the plummeting rating by highlighting that Reagan went below even faster than Obama. Rich Galen does his part to make sure those same Democrats have something else to think about:

The Gallup folks announced that Obama's approval rating has dropped below 50 percent for the first time in his Presidency (49-44). The track which was available last night measured the three-day period between November 17-19. From the Gallup website:

"Among post-World War II presidents, only Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, and Ronald Reagan dropped below the symbolic majority approval level faster than Obama."

Putting aside President Ford, let us remember what happened in the first mid-term elections of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.

In 1982 - two years after Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter - Republicans lost 26 seats in the house (starting from a relatively weak minority, much as they have now). In 1994 - two years after Clinton defeated George H.W. Bush - the Democrats lost 52 seats and control of the House.

Clinton forced Democrats off the plank for a health care bill. Reagan oversaw unemployment numbers which touched 10.7 percent before it started back down.

Obama's Democrats are facing both.

So, when Gallup points out that Obama is in about the same political position as Reagan and Clinton, don't think 2012. Think 2010.

Indiana whoops Ohio's butt, Part 47

Yet again, Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana has shown up Governor Ted Strickland and shown Ohioans what it's like to have a Governor who cares about bringing jobs to his state:

Gov. Mitch Daniels' trade mission to China and Japan is starting to pay dividends.

A dozen executives from Japan-based ITOCHU Corp., a general trading firm, signed a memorandum of understanding with Indiana Commerce Secretary Mitch Roob Thursday, agreeing to work collaboratively for economic growth.

The governor met personally with ITOCHU Chief Executive Officer Eizo Kobayashi on his September trip to Japan.

[...]

"Formalizing Indiana's relationship with this highly regarded firm will open doors for the state to increase its profile of Japanese investment and will also provide opportunities for Indiana ventures," said Roob, who also is CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., a state agency.

More than 42,000 Indiana residents currently are employed by 220 Japanese companies with in-state investments of $9.8 billion.

Meanwhile, Ted Strickland is busy doing "Party Building" in New York to raise money for his own doomed campaign.

Awesome.

The Ballad of Jello Ted

Ted Strickland's audacity to attack Senate Republicans this past week made me think of the last time he promised to stick around 'til a budget deal was done.

In fact, it inspired the first 3BP video in quite awhile.

Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you.....The Ballad of Jello Ted:

Do I look like Mrs. Obama?

The blanket with sleeves!

Senate candidate Jennifer Brunner really knows how to entertain me on Twitter.

Yesterday's tweet was of particular enjoyment:

@JenniferBrunner Got my OSU snuggie & in my recliner; watching OSU beat Michigan. Life is good.

Snuggie? Seriously?

I couldn't help but think of this:

It's very simple.

Brunner throws bang-snap at Fisher

I noticed a tweet from Jennifer Brunner posted earlier today.

@jenniferbrunner New unemployment figure for OH in Oct: 10.5%. In Oct. 2008 it was 6.9%. ODJFS shows 618,000 jobless, up from 594,000 last month. Not good.

Not good, indeed.

But why oh why would Jennifer Brunner want to highlight the number one negative facing Governor Strickland and his......Lt. Governor....and former Director of Development.....Lee...Fisher.

Ok, now I get it.

Unfortunately for Brunner and thanks to her total and complete lack of fundraising, she'll have to rely on her 922 followers on twitter in order to get this message out.

But we supporters of Rob Portman do appreciate the effort.