My weekend is officially ruined

Well, folks, it's official. A quote from Fox News shows why my weekend is ruined.

"Democratic Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has made it official, announcing "I'm in" for the 2008 presidential race on her Web site."

This years officers

I just wanted to take a moment to mention that almost all of this years officers will remain in their 2006 seats. The one exception to this is Amy Sabath who will be taking over the vacated Trustee seat of Steve Patt. That means the roster looks like this:

Morgan McIntosh - President
Ryan Johnson - Vice President
Nina Lucci - Treasurer
Rick Zaleski - Secretary
Trustee - Amy Sabath

We will also be filling some chair seats early in 2007, and as those details become availablee they will be posted. Hope to see you all really soon! Don't forget our next meeting on January 23rd!

Back from the dead... or something

Well, as a new year starts, I realized it's been FOREVER since the last post on this site. Sometime in mid March to be specific, regardless we are still here and trucking away. As many of you know, it was a hell of a year and we were burried knee deep in it. It started all the was back in February and didn't end until the final results were announced. It was bleek, at best, but there were some stars in the otherwise clouded sky. Mary Taylor picked up Auditor, Matt Dolan took the Re-election as State Rep., Carol Schindel took her State Rep. seat, and Congressman Steve LaTourette retained his seat as well. Also retaining their seats were Judge Eugene Lucci and Judge Vince Culotta. A few candidates who did not win their seats worked with all of their hearts and souls, and I would like to mention Greg Schmidt, Paul Brickner, and Mike DeWine and his campaign staff for all of the volunteers who they sent to help. All of our candidates campaigned harder than ANYONE I have ever seen, since the Presidential Race of `04. Personally I have learned much from each of them, as I am sure everyone else did as well, and it was an honor to work with them. Also "Captain" Dan Cano made a return on behalf of the RNC, as well as Ron Servis also on behalf of the RNC. Also, Troy Judy came up from the ORP to manage Carol Schindel's campain. So now I guess the only question becomes, what do you do with twenty or so campaign shirts? Oh well, till next time...
Shooter

2006 State Young Republicans Convention

It was an awesome year for Lake Geauga Young Republicans at this years 2006 State Young Republicans Convention. Representing our club were President Morgan McIntosh, VP Ryan Johnson, Secretary Rick Zaleski, Trustee Steve Patt, and Gina Bartlett (our art director guru). We are proud to announce 2 awards this year. The first goes to Ryan Johnson, he received the John Kasich Award for Outstanding Male YR of the Year. Also the club newsletter "The Great Communicator" picked up the Outstanding Newsletter nod. Heres to all of you who have contributed, you know who you are, and to another wonderful year!

"artists" to not support, based on their views

I just thought I'd throw together a list of "artists" to not support based on their political views. They are very much against Bush and/or very much against the "main stream political view", or at the minimum so liberal it hurts.
Most are from the "Rock Against Bush" albums...
None More Black
Sum 41
Alkaline Trio
Epoxies
Anti-Flag
Against Me!
the Offspring
the Get Up Kids
Rise Against
Ministry
Descendents
Authority Zero
the Soviettes
Jello Biafra with D.O.A.
RX Bandits
Strung Out
Strike Anywhere
Ataris
Pennywise
Denali
the World/Inferno Friendship Society
New Found Glory
the Frisk
NOFX
Social Distortion
Less Than Jake feat. Billy Bragg
Bad Religion
Green Day
Operation Ivy
Cyborg Midnight
the Lawrence Arms
Dropkick Murphys
Flogging Molly
Only Crime
Foo Fighters
Lagwagon
Sugar Cult
Rancid
Sleater-Kinney
the Unseen
Yellowcard
Dillinger Four
Jawbreaker
Bouncing Souls
Mad Caddies
the Dwarves
Sick of It All
No Doubt
Useless ID
Autopilot Off
International Noise Conspiracy
Donots
Hot Water Music
Thought Riot
No Use For A Name
System of a Down
Will Farrell
Greg Proops

CHENEY SHOOTS MAN IN HEAD, NECK AND CHEST!!!!!

Did anyone hear about this?
Does anyone care anymore?
Did anyone care to begin with?
Isn't it funny that a full week after Cheney accidentally hit a hunting buddy with some spray from a shell, we are still hearing about it? It couldn't be some sort of media agenda, could it? Isn't it also funny that this probably happens everyday, but because its the evil conservative VP it's news all of a sudden?

Primary filings as of 02/16/2006 Noon.

Thats right folks! Today is the big day, and as of noon est. Thursday February 16, 2006 here are your candidates for the May Primary!

Governor / Lieutenant Governor (Joint Candidates):
J. Kenneth Blackwell (Cincinnati) and Thomas Raga (Mason) Republican
Jim Petro (Columbus) and Joy Padgett (Coshocton) Republican
Bryan E. Flannery (Strongsville) and Frank M. Stams (Cuyahoga Falls) Democrat
Ted Strickland (Lisbon) and Lee Fisher (Shaker Heights) Democrat

U.S. Senator:
Mike DeWine (Cedarville) Republican
John Mitchel (Beavercreek) Republican
William G. Pierce (Maineville) Republican
David R. Smith (Mason) Republican
Sherrod Brown (Avon) Democrat
Merrill Samual Keiser, Jr. (Fremont) Democrat

Attorney General:
Tim Grendell (Chesterland) Republican
Betty Montgomery (Perrysburg) Republican
Subodh Chandra (Cleveland) Democrat
Marc Dann (Youngstown) Democrat

Auditor of State:
Christopher McNulty (Columbus) Republican
Mary Taylor (Uniontown) Republican
John B. Reardon (Poland) Democrat
Barbara Sykes (Akron) Democrat

Secretary of State:
Greg Hartmann (Cincinnati) Republican
Robert G. Montgomery (Westerville) Republican
Jim Trakas (Independence) Republican
Jennifer L. Brunner (Columbus) Democrat

Treasurer of State:
Jennette B. Bradley (Columbus) Republican
Sandra O'Brien (Rome) Republican
Richard Cordray (Grove City) Democrat
Hugh Quill (Dayton) Democrat

Supreme Court Justice (Term commencing January 1, 2007):
Terrence O'Donnell (Rocky River) Republican
William Michael O'Neill (Chagrin Falls) Democrat
A.J. Wagner (Dayton) Democrat

Supreme Court Justice (Term commencing January 2, 2007):
Robert R. Cupp (Lima) Republican
Ben Espy (Columbus) Democrat
Peter M. Sikora (Cleveland) Democrat

Also candidates as of 02/16/2006 noon...

U.S. Representative 14th Congressional District:
Steve LaTourette Republican
Dale Blanchard Democrat
Lewis Katz Democrat
Palmer Peterson Democrat

Judge 11th District (Court of Appeals [Ford]):
Jeffrey Black Republican
Paul Brickner Republican
Dorothy Lee Republican
Mary Jane Trapp Democrat

Judge 11th District (Court of Appeals [Grendell]):
Diane Grendell Republican

State Representative 62nd District:
Jason Andrzejewski Republican (yeah, really! REPUBLICAN!)
Lorraine Fende Democrat

Judge - General (various terms, commencing listed after party):
Richard Collins Republican (01/01/2007)
Vince Culotta Republican (01/03/2007)
Eugene Lucci Republican (01/06/2007)

Commissioner:
John Murphy Democrat
Dan Troy Democrat

Auditor:
Ed Zupancic Republican

State Central Committee:
Dale Fellows Republican
Dan Troy Democrat

There also currently Questions or Issues on the ballot...

Willoughby-Eastlake: 1.3 Mills Renewal Levy
Kirtland Local: $16,600,000 Bond Issue (est. 3.25 Mills)
Painesville Township: 1.89 Mills Renewal Levy
Eastlake City: 6 Mills Additional
Zoning: "Shall Ordinance No. 2006-016, changing the use of land in the area of Oxford Drive
between 238 Shelton and 248 Shelton Blvd. from S-1 (suburban) to R-60 (Residential)
be approved?"
Kirtland City: .85 Mill Renewal for Senior Citizen and community facilities
Perry Township: .6 Replacement plus a .4 Increase

Its official, Fingerhut is out.

If you're questioning why I care about a Dem., please see yesterdays post. This morning it is official! Fingerhut is out of the governors race this year. He is sighting lack of fundraising and lack of interest in his campaign as the reason, I'll still stick by Strickland and Fisher as his reason for leaving. Fingerhut is also termed out, and I personally couldn't seeing him trying to pull any other race together in this short amount of time. OH!, and a a "by-the-way", Paul Hackett is out for Senate. He released this statement today:
"Today I am announcing that I am withdrawing from the race for United States Senate. I made this decision reluctantly, only after repeated requests by party leaders, as well as behind the scenes machinations, that were intended to hurt my campaign." Apparently thhe party ( yes, the D's ) didn't want him either. Well, two down...

Fingerhut pulling out of gubernatorial race?

OK, I know... He's a Dem. BUT! One still cannot deny that Fingerhut pulling out of the gubernatorial race would be a good thing. As of right now it is not official but it looks like he will be out as soon as tomorrow. Sources are sighting Lee Fisher running on the ticket with Strickland as the main motivation behind bailing on this years race. As a PS... sorry for the delay in posting... *it won't happen again.



*( it probably will )

Ohian Rep. John Boehner elected as new majority leader

House Republicans elected Rep. John Boehner of Ohio as their new majority leader Thursday, replacing Tom DeLay who was indicted in an ethics scandal. Boehner beat out, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, 122-109, after a less than stunning first vote.
The only other candidate, John Shadegg of Arizona, withdrew after a last place finish in a round of voting Thursday. Blunt was thought to be a shoe-in by some with close ties to former majority leader DeLay, and will remain the GOP whip.

Alito Confirmed

Judge Alito was confirmed today by a 52-48 vote! The vote was, more or less, down party lines.

Petro picks running mate

01/30/2006: Jim Petro announces State Senator Joy Padgett as his Lt. Governor running mate. She is the representative for Ohio's 20th Senate District.She also was elected to four consecutive terms in the Ohio House of Representatives. Senator Padgett is a lifetime resident of Coshocton, and has a Bachelor's Degree from Kent State University.

A recent poll Conducted for the Ohio Republican Party, shows that Petro is the favorite for a head to head battle with Strickland. This leaves some interesting questions to be posed. Is Ken Blackwell the favorite Republican candidate that he seems to think he is, and if so will anyone care if it means throwing away a Gubernatorial Race to the Dems? This makes the primary an interesting scenario, if it means losing in the end. The following was taken from a portion of the ORP poll.

General Election Informed Ballot
Jim Petro - 36%
Ted Stickland - 36%
Undecided - 28%

General Election Informed Ballot
Ken Blackwell - 32%
Ted Strickland - 56%
Undecided - 12%

"Ken Blackwell's 24% deficit could easily drag the entire Republican ticket to defeat," said Bob Paduchik, Petro for Governor Chairman.

As reported yesterday... Betty Montgomery is out for Governor

As we broke yesterday, Betty Montgomery has officially dropped out of the gubernatorial races, and announced her bid for Attorney General. The Chairman of the Ohio Republican Party, Bob Bennett, issued the statement regarding Betty Montgomery’s candidacy for Attorney General this afternoon. This leaves Jim Petro and Ken Blackwell as the sole candidates for the Ohio Governors race.

The scoop on Betty Montgomery

All signs are now pointing to Betty Montgomery dropping out of the Gubernatorial race for Ohio in 2006. It is also assumed that she will instead be focusing her attention on running for Attorney General, a position she held 1995-2002, before becoming Auditor of State in 2003.

For any of you who may have missed Hackett's latest

Paul Hackett recently made some rather hateful and incendiary remarks about people of faith.

The Columbus Dispatch published an article where Democrat Paul Hackett accuses the Ohioans of being Anti-American due to the recent vote for a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage. The following is an excerpt from the article...

*“The Republican Party has been hijacked by the religious fanatics that, in my opinion, aren’t a whole lot different than Osama bin Laden and a lot of the other religious nuts around the world," he said. "The challenge is for the rest of us moderate Americans and citizens of the world to put down the fork and spoon, turn off the TV, and participate in the process and try to push back on these radical nuts – and they are nuts.”

Our own Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett stated the following in reference to Paul Hackett’s remarks...

**“Paul Hackett’s attempt to compare Christian conservatives to terrorists is abhorrent and completely inappropriate. These intolerant views have no place in the public debate, and I hope his fellow Democrats reject this divisive hate speech. Hackett has shown repeatedly that he will say or do anything to get attention, and it’s unfortunate that views like his are embraced by the Democratic Party. I think, Mr. Hackett, you’ve once again proven who the real ‘radical nut’ is.”

( quotes taken from *Columbus Dispatch “Candid Candidate: Hackett calls ‘em like he sees ‘em,” 1/15/06 and **Ohio GOP website )

Lake Geauga Young Republican Meetings

This is just to let all interested parties know that Lake and Geauga Counties have their monthly Young Republican meetings every fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm at 1899 Pub. 1899 is located at 38228 Glenn Avenue in Downtown Willoughby. Look forward to seeing you there!
T 440.954.4214
www.young-republican.com

Merry CHRISTmas

Lets not forget the reason we celebrate Christmas this year! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Also ( first time in 45 years the Holidays fall together ) a Happy Hanukkah!

Have you seen www.protectyourvote.org? Stop RON now!

This is posted from the website

http://protectyourvote.org

It is in regards to Reform Ohio Now and the reasons to vote NO on issues 2, 3, 4, &5. Please visit their website and check out the issues!

Also if you are interested in volunteering please contact Don at trivisonno@young-republican.com. We desperately need people to help make phone calls to Lake County Republicans!
Thanks in advance for your support!

<<<<< Begin transcript from protectyourvote.org >>>>>

Why Vote NO?

Argument Against Issue 2
First, the adoption of this amendment is likely to lead to a significant increase in cases of fraudulent voting in Ohio, as experienced in other states that have adopted similar proposals. The proposed amendment does not contain a reliable method to protect the integrity of votes cast early, nor does it provide adequate safeguards to ensure that only eligible and qualified voters would be able to use these procedures.

Second, this amendment is not necessary because Ohio law already contains generous absentee voting provisions. Currently, any Ohio voter with a legitimate reason for being absent on Election Day can obtain an absentee ballot. In fact, there are 16 reasons that allow absentee voting under current Ohio law, including: military service; health and physical disability issues; work related issues; being age 62 or older; or, simply that the voter expects to be absent from the county on Election Day for personal reasons.

Third, the proposed amendment does not ensure that every Ohioan will have the same opportunity to vote early. The amendment does not establish a statewide standard that must be followed for designation of times and locations for early voting. The rules governing early voting could vary widely from county to county, because the amendment gives each county Board of Elections the discretion to designate the times and locations for early voting.

Argument Against Issue 3

The proposed amendment would change how Ohio political campaigns are funded to benefit the wealthy and labor unions, to the disadvantage of all other Ohioans.

The proposed amendment allows labor unions to funnel unlimited amounts of money into the political process through a new type of political organization that is deceptively labeled a “small donor” action committee. In addition, there would be no obligation placed on labor unions to provide full disclosure regarding the source of this money, that could even be given by non-Ohio sources.

The proposed amendment would give an unfair advantage to wealthy candidates because they would be permitted to use unlimited amounts of personal money in their campaigns. However, unlike Ohio’s current law, the proposed amendment would not permit an individual running against a wealthy opponent to raise additional campaign dollars to make the election competitive.

The proposed amendment would also place drastic restrictions on the ability of all other Ohioans to raise money to combat the undue influence of the wealthy and labor unions in Ohio elections. These restrictions are designed to silence the voices of ordinary Ohioans in the elections process.

Argument Against Issue 4

First, the amendment would remove from the control of Ohio voters the power to establish districts for the Ohio General Assembly and the U.S. Congress, by abolishing the role of elected public officials in these important tasks. The proposed amendment would place this power in the hands of a new commission that is made up of 5 political appointees. Two of the commission members would be selected by judges and the others may be chosen by lot. The members of the commission would not be required to meet any minimum level of qualifications. Once appointed, the commissioners would serve for an indefinite period of time, and would never be accountable to Ohio voters.

Second, the proposed amendment would grant the commission virtually unlimited power to spend Ohio tax dollars, with essentially no control by Ohio voters or other state leaders. No other state commission has this extraordinary spending power.

Third, the proposed amendment would remove the current protection in the Ohio constitution that prevents the dilution of your vote. The proposed amendment would also delete from the Ohio Constitution the provisions designed to prevent “gerrymandering,” and would permit the creation of legislative districts that break up communities and neighborhoods.

Finally, the proposed amendment would remove from the Ohio Constitution the authority of Ohio’s courts to review the commission’s activities. Therefore, unlike all other Ohio public officials, political subdivisions, boards, commissions, and agencies, Ohio citizens would have virtually no ability to challenge the actions of this elected commission in Ohio’s courts. The commission should not be uniquely unaccountable and placed above the law.

Argument Against Issue 5

First, the proposed amendment would effectively end the local control over Ohio elections that is currently exercised by our bipartisan county elections boards.

Second, the proposed amendment would create a new statewide elections board that would consist of members who are politically appointed for 9-year terms, and would never be accountable to Ohio voters.

Third, the proposed amendment would eliminate the role of Ohio’s Secretary of State in Ohio’s election system. The new statewide board of political appointees would replace our elected Secretary of State. The proponents of this amendment clearly distrust the ability of Ohio voters to choose a public official to be in charge of Ohio’s election system.

Fourth, the proposed amendment would essentially give the appointed elections board a “blank check” to spend any and all tax dollars that it desires. The proposed amendment does not explain why it is necessary to give this group of political appointees the power to spend unlimited amounts of tax dollars, without being accountable to Ohio voters or elected Ohio public officials.



Paid for by Ohio First Voter Education Fund. J. Matthew Yuskewich, Treasurer. 88 East Broad, Suite 1320 . Columbus , OH 43215 .

"Pop" culture and the libs on the left...

Well, here goes. Certain unnamed people have trusted me to writing a story, and best I can tell they're either NUTS or I don't that bad of a job. I’ve decided to jump on my proverbial soapbox. For those of you who know me, you know that one thing I love to do is complain, and vent… A LOT! Recently a friend and I had a fairly long dialog resulting from the following lyrics from System Of A Down, and their latest song “B.Y.O.B.” The refrain of the song repeats the following:

Why don’t Presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?

Next to the obvious statement “Last I checked people are signing up to fight for our rights”, I pointed out that those same “ poor who are going off to fight the war” are the reason these buffoons can spew their idiotic rhetoric in the first place. A few days had passed, and another situation was brought to my attention. This time Indra Nooyi, the CFO of Pepsico (yes, the makers of Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Quaker, and GatorAide) decided to take the following un-grateful stab at the country and it’s citizens, which last I checked included Indra. The following is an excerpt from one of her speeches.

"To begin, I’d like you to consider your hand. That’s right ... your hand. Other than the fact that mine desperately needs a manicure, it’s a pretty typical hand. But, what I want you to notice, in particular, is that the five fingers are not the same. One is short and thick, one tiny, and the other three are different as well. And yet, as in perhaps no other part of our bodies, the fingers work in harmony without us even thinking about them individually. Whether we attempt to grasp a dime on a slick, marble surface, a child’s arm as we cross the street, or a financial report, we don’t consciously say, “OK, move these fingers here, raise this one, turn this one under, now clamp together. Got it!” We just think about what we want to do and it happens. Our fingers – as different as they are – coexist to create a critically important whole. This unique way of looking at my hand was just one result of hot, summer evenings in my childhood home in Madras, India. My mother, sister, and I would sit at our kitchen table and – for lack of a better phrase – think big thoughts. One of those thoughts was this difference in our fingers and how, despite their differences, they worked together to create a wonderful tool.
As I grew up and started to study geography, I remember being told that the five fingers can be thought of as the five major continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America. Now, let me issue a profound apology to both Australia and Antarctica. I bear neither of these continents any ill will. It’s just that we humans have only five fingers on each hand, so my analogy doesn’t work with seven continents. Clearly, the point of my story is more important that geographical accuracy!
First, let’s consider our little finger. Think of this finger as Africa. Africa is the little finger not because of Africa’s size, but because of its place on the world’s stage. From an economic standpoint, Africa has yet to catch up with her sister continents. And yet, when our little finger hurts, it affects the whole hand.
Our thumb is Asia: strong, powerful, and ready to assert herself as a major player on the world’s economic stage.
Our index, or pointer finger, is Europe. Europe is the cradle of democracy and pointed the way for western civilization and the laws we use in conducting global business.
The ring finger is South America, including Latin America. Is this appropriate, or what? The ring finger symbolizes love and commitment to another person. Both Latin and South America are hot, passionate, and filled with the sensuous beats of the mambo, samba, and tango: three dances that – if done right – can almost guarantee you and your partner will be buying furniture together.
This analogy of the five fingers as the five major continents leaves the long, middle finger for North America, and, in particular, The United States. As the longest of the fingers, it really stands out. The middle finger anchors every function that the hand performs and is the key to all of the fingers working together efficiently and effectively. This is a really good thing, and has given the U.S. a leg-up in global business since the end of World War I.
However, if used inappropriately –just like the U.S. itself -- the middle finger can convey a negative message and get us in trouble. You know what I’m talking about. In fact, I suspect you’re hoping that I’ll demonstrate what I mean. And trust me, I’m not looking for volunteers to model.
Discretion being the better part of valor ... I think I’ll pass.
What is most crucial to my analogy of the five fingers as the five major continents is that each of us in the U.S. – the long middle finger – must be careful that when we extend our arm in either a business or political sense, we take pains to assure we are giving a hand ... not the finger. Sometimes this is very difficult. Because the U.S. – the middle finger – sticks out so much, we can send the wrong message unintentionally.
Unfortunately, I think this is how the rest of the world looks at the U.S. right now. Not as part of the hand – giving strength and purpose to the rest of the fingers – but, instead, scratching our nose and sending a far different signal."

With these things being said, here is my question. Where, in the freest land in the world, do you get off making such statements, and then not leaving the country? Is it just me or does it seem like these people are coming to the Land Of The Free And The Home Of The Brave JUST to make a quick buck? What would happen to these people if they were to try similar in their home countries. Finally why are we, as Americans, supporting people like this, by supporting what they do, and the companies that they work for? My hope is that in reading this article you understand that we need to look at ourselves, and what we support. We need to be accountable for whose pockets we are putting money into, and the organizations that those people support. I welcome any and all ideas or comments on this article, and encourage you to look at what you support on a daily basis.