I miss Ohio.

Ohio Gov. Strickland may have thrown the state economy down the figurative crapper, but at least back home there wasn't much of a threat of getting blown up.

So Rep. Moran, do I look like I want a target painted on my chest?

In this weekend's Washington Post, Democrat Jim Moran became the first Congressman in history to ask terrorists to come to his district when he wrote an editorial welcoming Gitmo terrorists to Alexandria for their trials.

By and large, Alexandrians are civic-minded people and are ready to do their duty if it serves the greater good. They have shown this public spirit time and again. The "20th hijacker," Zacarias Moussaoui, who participated in planning the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon, was held and prosecuted in the Alexandria courthouse. Others who have been brought to justice in the court include the "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh; Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad; and spies Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames.

If it only were that easy. It's one thing to say you want to do it, it's another thing to make it a reality. From the Alexandria Times:

Eisenhower Avenue separates the jail where Moussaoui was housed, and the dense, newly populated Carlyle neighborhood where Moussaoui was tried, creating a frenzy of security details and media coverage.

The 2006 trial created a strain on residents, who lived in a neighborhood then resembling a military zone, with rooftop snipers and street barricades. The city’s public safety departments, too, were taxed with their own added responsibilities.

So the Moussaoui trial created a mess for Alexandria. Now imagine what securing 245 more terrorists would do?

Beyond the logistical issues, Alexandria would move up to a perpetual Redin the Homeland Security Threat Advisory. Imagine how attractive a goal it would be for our enemies to free any or all of those 245 terrorists.

As for me, I'm partial to the way my home-state Ohioans are handling this situation.

As far as Rep. Steve Austria is concerned, the enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay can just forget about an extended stay in Ohio.

Austria, a Republican from Beaverceek, introduced a bill last week that would prohibit any of the detainees from being shipped to jails in Ohio.

Maybe the next Governor can come up with a new state motto. Ohio: We Like Not Being Blown Up

Jake Tapper, you're my only hope.

"There is no media bias."

At least try to say that without bursting out laughing while looking at this link from Newsweek.

h/t: Hotair.com

That explains it.

I figured out what Gov. Strickland was doing instead of telling the Ohio House Dems about the billion dollar shortfall.

Your taxes are getting raised.

Everyday America isn't paying much attention to Obama's efforts to enact a cap and trade program on Americans. Afterall, it's just about making the environment safer, right? Global warming and all that crap. Blah blah blah.

But make no mistake: cap and trade = massive tax increases on everyone.

Republicans need to continue working to reframe this debate as one not of the environment, but of a massively increased financial burden placed upon each and every one of us.

Here's one way to graphically represent the impact. It's a little messy and looks like it was put together by an overly enthusiastic College Republican, but it gets the point across...

(click to enlarge)


h/t: Thanks4yourtaxes

It was Ted's fault. Shocker.

On Wednesday, we here at 3BP asked the important question of 'what did they know, and when did they know it' in reference to Ohio Gov. Strickland, Ohio House Democrats and Ohio's $1 billion tax revenue shortfall.

In short, because of the shortfall, the Ohio budget must be cut another $1 billion in order to ensure the budget is balanced as required by law. We surmised that the Strickland Administration must have known about the shortfall and held off on releasing the information until the Dem-led House passed their version of the budget so that the GOP-led Senate would be responsible for making the necessary cuts.

Turns out we were right. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Gov. Ted Strickland's staff first warned him that April's tax revenues were going to be a "significant problem" one day before House Democrats passed their $56 billion budget...

[...]

"We met with the governor on April 28 with our initial impressions of the tax filing season," [Strickland Budget Chief] Sabety told the lawmakers. "At that point, the governor was aware there was a significant problem..."

[...]

In an interview this week, House Speaker Armond Budish, a Beachwood Democrat, said Strickland never informed him of problems with April revenues before the House passed its budget.

Never informed you?

Strickland knew the budget soon to be passed by the Ohio House was going to fall one BILLION dollars short of what was necessary, and he forgot to tell you?

Please tell me this is some sick joke, because if this is governing then it's no wonder Ohio is in dire economic situation it's in.

Maybe it should have been called something else.

Since the Stimulus Shit Sandwich was passed back in early February, unemployment has increased 24% to 6.35 million. A new record.

h/t: Jim Geraghty

Newtification

Obama has invited Newt Gingrich, among others, to the White House today to discuss education issues.

As some have discussed already elsewhere, this is good for both of them, Newt gets his profile raised as a leader of the opposition and Obama ultimately gets to say the Republicans are bringing back a failed leader of the '90s.

For me, what will be most interesting to watch from this meeting is how Newt comes out of it. Will he come out complimenting the President on his willingness to discuss new ideas, or will he use the platform to call Obama out on such important issues as school choice?

Wait and see.

Well, that was subtle.

In a move that reeks of desperation similar to hovering by the hot girl's locker in middle school in hopes she'll notice you, Mitt Romney has moved to New Hampshire.

This is just getting sad.

Not enough.

President Obama will seek to extend the controversial D.C. school voucher program until all 1,716 participants have graduated from high school, although no new students will be accepted, according to an administration official who has reviewed budget details scheduled for release tomorrow.

Once again, it seems the Washington Post is the only piece of the mainstream media that will cover this story.

While I'm glad the President isn't leaving these students out to dry, it just isn't enough. On the campaign trail he promised he would fund 'what works'.

Without question, DC school choice has worked.

We should not be phasing it out.

The good news - we'll gain more data about the program so that we can continue to apply political pressure to keep this program going.

The bad news - this is a shrewd political move by the White House that will prevent the phase out of school choice to gain any traction in the media. Obama has killed the issue, at least for a couple years.

What did they know and when did they know it?

With the announcement yesterday by the Strickland Administration that Ohio fell one billion short in tax revenue, we find the Buckeye state in an interesting predicament.

Where in the hell do we get the cash?

But let's back up so it's easy to follow.

1. A couple months ago when devising their biennial budget and against all logic, the Strickland Administration used the more optimistic tax revenue estimates from Ohio Legislative Service Commission rather than their own more pessimistic State budget office.

1. Upon completion, the Governor's budget was sent to the Dem-led Ohio House of Representatives for passage. After adding $664 million, the House passed the budget a little less than a week ago.


2. After being sent to the GOP-led Senate, we conveniently now learn that tax revenues fell almost $1 billion short. This means the Republicans are forced to find cuts equal to that shortfall before sending it back through the process. In other words, when election season comes around next year, Democrats will be able to charge in 30-second commercials that their Republican rival cut $20 million in Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches from the local homeless shelter.

Now, there are two major problems with this.

First, as previously discussed on 3BP, Strickland was acting completely irresponsibly by not using the more realistic numbers to devise his budget.

Second, we are to believe that the Governor and Ohio House had no idea that Ohio tax revenue would be 1 billion less than expected until more than two weeks after tax filing day on April 15th.

Really?

As you were devising your budgets you never received any updates whatsoever from the Ohio Department of Taxation that revenue was coming it at a lower rate? We are supposed to believe that the first time you hear about how much money came in from taxpayers was two weeks after April 15th?

Now, I know a good chunk of people wait until the deadline to send in their taxes, but to tell me that no one in State government had any idea that we would bring in a full $1 billion less than expected is beyond belief.

It is my hope that Republicans will subpoena the Ohio Department of Taxation for any and all communication between them and the Ohio House and Governor's office that includes any information about the rate of tax revenue being brought into the state coffers.

Does that seem petty? After all, this is just smart politics for Democrats. It gets them out of a jam, forces Republicans to make the hard decisions, and enables them to use these decisions against the Republicans next November. A win-win-win for the Dems.

But we have to put our foot down somewhere. We can't accept politics over principle. Political gamesmanship is one thing, but to take it to this level where it damages the long-term economic viability of Ohio is beyond the pale.

Let's hope the Ohio Dems and Ted Strickland get called out on it.

I'd like my wealth spread medium well.

There are some things we here at 3BP have forbid to be sullied by the touch of The One. Today, the President crossed that line, and 3BP contributor Union Station has something to say about it.

Today our President had lunch at one of the best burger places in the world, Ray’s Hell Burger. If you are ever in DC, make sure you check it out or go to their steakhouse, Ray’s the Steaks, which is also the best in the area.

Ray’s has four different types of burgers, 12 different artisan cheeses and 8 toppings that vary from mushrooms sautéed in sherry to applewood smoked bacon, which allows for you to get creative with your burger. So what did our nuanced leader end up ordering...?

A basic cheddar cheese burger cooked medium well.

Manchurian Candidate, anyone? We don’t need any more proof that this guy is painted red inside and out when he goes to the best burger joint in the world, a place that grinds their meat hourly from steakhouse quality cuts of meat - and orders a burger medium well. On top of that, he ordered fries. Every Washingtonian knows Ray’s doesn’t serve fries! What a freakin’ n00b.

Khrushchev is smiling down in hell right now at the thought of an American President eating overcooked USDA beef.

Amateur.

Delaware is interesting.

I wonder if anyone has really uttered that sentence before.

But I digress.

Real Clear Politics had up an intriguing poll result from Delaware this morning.

In the upcoming Senate bid for Vice President Biden's former seat:

Rep. Mike Castle (R) 55
AG Beau Biden (D) 34
Undecided 8

What's particularly interesting is the same poll has Obama with a 62% approval rating in the state.

Castle and Beau have both run and won statewide, though Castle has served much longer than Beau.

Goes to show you what having a good candidate will do.

Whoops.

I think the folks at the pro-choice organization, Emily's List, really need to try reading this blog a little more closely.

I keep wondering if it can get worse.

I should stop that.

From a report published late last night by the Columbus Dispatch:

State officials are expected to announce Tuesday that the current state budget is falling significantly short of income, causing some legislators to fear that some or all of the state rainy-day fund will be needed to keep the budget in balance.

That is the same $948million rainy-day fund that Gov. Ted Strickland and House Democrats already have planned to use to balance the next two-year, $54 billion budget, which begins July 1.

In other words, the Republican Senate is being left with the responsibility to find $1 billion more in cuts for the next budget since the Democrats misjudged this year's tax revenue.

And to put it even simpler: We're screwed.

Could this have been avoided? Yes, if they had only listened to their own budget office.

Democrats gave themselves some help in part by choosing rosier revenue and Medicaid caseload estimates from the Legislative Service Commission rather than ones projected by the state budget office.

I may do things different than you, but when I'm budgeting for a big purchase, I consider the absolute worst case scenario and work my spending around that.

Democratic State Senator Dale Miller was quoted as saying:

"I know that people are starting to say maybe the economy is starting to turn around, and the stock market is going up 33 percent, but so far in Ohio, we're just not seeing any improvement yet."

So things are getting better nationally, but not in Ohio?

Wow. What a mystery that is.

:cough: 4th worst business tax climate in the nation :cough:

:cough: 7th worst state/tax burden in the nation :cough:

Oh, excuse me. Had something in my throat. Could have been the hopes and dreams of Ohio or something. I dunno.

But don't worry, everyone. Things are going to get better. After all, the stimulus dollars Governor Strickland begged for from the federal government will save us.

Orrrrrr not.

Consequently, the costs of accepting federal dollars from the ARRA will be a long-term drain on the private sector. The ARRA will increase the government expenditure wedge from 49.16% to 52.41% for an overall 3.25% increase. This increase will reduce the growth in real net business output by 2.5%, which translates to a reduction of 1.7 million jobs nationally - of which between 66,400 and 91,200 jobs will be lost in Ohio.

Check out the link - it's a bit more nuanced then a bumper sticker and it will scare the bejeezus out of you, but it will make you smarter. Promise.

If only we had someone running for Governor whose entire career in government focused on balancing a budget...

That's right, we do.

Using Twitter for the power of good

I've been pushing for an increased focus on the Obama Administration's decision not to fund DC School Choice since back in February. Afterall, with a budget of $3.6 trillion and billions going to failed companies, there has to be some way to find the $18 million to save this successful, proven and efficient program.

Unfortunately, the only place I've seen much fuss over this tragedy has been on conservative blogs and a couple minor articles in the Washington Post.

Nothing substantial from the mainstream media.

Well, with Reason TV putting some money behind this effort with the below embedded video, I think it's about time conservatives take this question directly to the MSM in asking them to confront the Obama Administration on this important issue.

There are three ways to misuse twitter. Two of them are bad.

• Tell your friends what you're doing every five seconds.
• Annoy public officials and media with immature or harmful comments.
• Connect with the media and politicians using civil discourse on substantive issues.

I've had the pleasure to go back and forth with ABC News White House Correspondent Jake Tapper a few times via Twitter. Provided you're respectful and substantive(well, as substantive as you can be in 140 characters), he, and others, just may respond to you.

Well, it's my belief that DC School Choice is important enough an issue that an effective, respectful, and substantive Twitter Campaign aimed at the media may be enough to bring this issue to the fore.

As soon as I publish this post, I am going to tweet the following to @jaketapper from @djtablesauce:

@jaketapper The WH must answer for dismantling DC School Choice. Please ask Gibbs at next briefing. http://is.gd/wG7z #dcchoice

If you use twitter, I ask you to do the same.

Jake Tapper has been one of the few in the MSM that has had the courage to critique the Administration. It is my hope that he can take the lead in bringing this important education issue under national scrutiny.

Below please find the fantastic video put together by the folks at Reason TV that is highlighted in the link tweeted above.



h/t: Hotair.com

The Tale of Two Specters

3BP is out with its latest video creation.

Stay classy, Mitt.

I've never been a big fan of Mitt Romney. Call me crazy, but it's hard for me to support flip-flopping opportunists. On top of it, the guy had every advantage in the world in 2008 - the most money, the best strategists money could buy, weak primary opponents - and he still found a way to not connect with the voters.

And now, on top of it all, he takes the opportunity to show what a d-bag he really is.

In the latest instance of a high-profile GOP member taking a passing swipe at the party's 2008 vice-presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney jokingly dismissed Sarah Palin’s inclusion on Time’s list of influential people in an interview broadcast Sunday.

He asked, was “the issue on the most beautiful people or the most influential people?”

Romney, appearing on CNN’s “State of the Union,” was replying to a question from moderator John King on whether Time’s inclusion of Palin and talk show host Rush Limbaugh on their list of “The World’s Most Influential People” was good or bad for the Republican Party.

Romney, who has not ruled out another White House bid, said he wanted more influential Republicans on the list before adding pointedly: “I think there are a lot more influential Republicans than that would suggest.”

“But was that the issue on the most beautiful people or the most influential people?” he continued. “I'm not sure. If it's the most beautiful, I understand. We're not real cute.”

Asked about Romney’s comment, Palin didn’t respond to the reference to her appearance.

"I think there are 100 influential Republicans alone who have tremendous ideas and I hope that we can all work together to accomplish what we believe is best for America,” Palin said through a spokeswoman.

That, my friends, is the wrong and right way to answer that question.

Mitt, you insufferable bag of wind, shut up and quit trying to damage the Party.

Sarah, you have my number. Call me. :wink:

If you regularly read this blog...

...chances are you support conservative candidates.

Well, here's your chance to throw your support behind one of the best.

Sign up at Kasich for Ohio and donate what you can today.

And I'm glad the Kasich folks ran with "Kasich for Ohio". That means I don't have to re-do the crappy bumper sticker I made a couple months back. Ha.

A politic in transition...

The latest Ohio Poll, released on April 29th, gave Gov. Ted Strickland a 56% approval rating. Ted is above 50. He should be happy. He's in the driver's seat.

Unfortunately for Ted, and Ohio, he's driving with his eyes closed.

While the numbers look good on the surface, there is a sense that key swing voters in Ohio are starting to recognize the utter and complete failures of the Strickland Administration when it comes to the number one issue facing the Buckeye State: The economy. As every pollster knows, voter frustration on major issues is the first step towards overall disapproval of a candidate, and this will be no different.

Let's look at the numbers...

Right now, Ohio residents feel exactly the same way about the economic conditions nationally as they do in Ohio. In other words, everyone thinks things are just as shitty nationwide as they are in Ohio. As we've gone over again and again here on 3BP, this isn't the case. From jobs to GDP, Ohio is doing much worse than the nation as a whole. Whose fault can this be? Ted Strickland. This can and should be exploited by the Kasich campaign. Provide the voters a comparison. Help them understand that while things may be bad nationally, under Governor Strickland's watch they've gotten that much worse.

Will that help? Well, since 54% of independents disapprove of the way Strickland is handling Ohio's economy, I'm guessing yes.

But what about their outlook? A good barometer of confidence in a leader is whether they feel that person can make their own life better. Well, things aren't looking good for Strickland there either. There is major pessimism about whether things are improving, especially relative to the rest of the country. Independents think by a 47-20 margin that things are going to improve nationally from an economic standpoint. But when it comes to Ohio's chances for improvement, that margin inverses to 23-66.

Ouch.

Finally, geographically speaking, Strickland's highest approval ratings came from central Ohio. What else is central Ohio known for? Being John Kasich's base. Without question, Strickland will lose a lot of support from the center of the state once the campaigns start picking up steam next year.

Ted Strickland is no Barack Obama. He isn't going to stir anyone's passions and semantically deflect the debate to his own benefit. On top of that, there is simply too much data depicting Strickland's failures. To put it simply, Kasich has a helluva lot of ammo to throw the Governor's way.

And it looks like the media isn't going to let up on Strickland anytime soon. Just in today's Columbus Dispatch the editors called the Governor's budget "unrealistic to the point of irresponsibility."

Keep it coming, Mr. Wolfe. Keep it coming.

It's on.

While 3BP has known about this for a bit, we did our part and kept our collective mouth shut 'til the Kasich team wanted to make it official.

Well, the story has broke.

John Kasich has officially filed papers to run for Governor of Ohio in 2010.

This means he can start raising money and officially organizing his campaign organization.

Don't look for any major official campaign events for about a month or so, but stay tuned to 3BP for all your Ohio Guv rumor, innuendo and analysis.

This is gonna be fun.