This means you lost.

The final nail in the coffin has gone into Gov. Stricktaft's press conference from a couple days ago. In the presser, billed as the Governor's most aggressive yet, Ted attacked the Senate GOP for playing politics(oh, sweet irony) and mocked them for not having an alternative plan. Well, it turns out Sen. Bill Harris has a plan. And one of the biggest newspapers in the state likes it A LOT better.

Resorting to casino-style slot machines is a bad way for the state to deal with its profound budget problem. But of the two competing proposals, that of Senate President Bill M. Harris correctly defers to the wisdom of voters, while Gov. Ted Strickland's plan is a hasty effort that Ohioans might come to regret.

[...]

Unfortunately, the governor rejected Harris' proposal out of hand, claiming that Ohio is required to balance its budget on revenue sources it can count on now, not ones that might become available months from now. But Strickland's rationale simply underlines that his is a plan driven by haste above all. He seeks to rush Ohio into a move that ought to be considered at length.

Stricktaft's tactic of encouraging his rivals to come up with something better has been his default message since the 2008 election. In other words, since Ohioans started paying attention to what his inaction was doing to the state of Ohio. First he attacked Mary Taylor, then Kasich, and now the Senate GOP.

What has it gotten him? Plunging numbers.

Ohioans can recognize when someone isn't getting the job done. And Stricktaft's refusal to consider other viable options and play politics is yet another example.

This editorial by the Columbus Dispatch means the Gov's efforts at his press conference were all for naught, and a political loss for him. If Stricktaft wants to turn things around, he needs to show he can lead, negotiate, and compromise in order to do what's best for Ohio. Until then he'll find Ohio's opinion makers won't let up.