Gallup Sees Most States As "Blue"

Gallup has an interesting poll up showing that the Democratic Party has a marked advantage in party identification on a state by state basis. You can read about this poll by clicking here. The map below is from the article:

"Dems Suck"-Insightful Political Comment from a Republican

This morning a person who is apparently a Republican from the Columbus area left a comment on our post about the Ohio House Republicans wanting to cut taxes on rich people. His insightful comment was "Dems suck." Now, you have to realize that this passes for learned political commentary among Republicans. They believe that calling names is the same as actually making arguments. They believe that insulting your political opponents is the same as actually advancing policies that help America.

This attitude is why they have, since 2006, lost control of the Ohio Governor's office, a U.S. Senator from Ohio, the Ohio House of Representatives, and four congressional seats. Not to mention, of course, the Ohio Attorney General's office, the Ohio Treasurer's office, and the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

So, to our GOP commentator, keep bringing that good old Republican attitude to Ohio. It works for us.

Kasich, House Republicans Want to "Recharge Ohio" by Cutting Taxes on Rich People

Here is an interesting quote from a Cleveland Plain Dealer article:

Proposals to offer cuts to the state's estate tax as well as capital gains tax are being hashed out behind the scenes by Republican state lawmakers, House Minority Leader Bill Batchelder, a Medina Republican, acknowledged this week. 

Ohio is now in a situation where there is a huge shortfall in the state's revenues at a time when ordinary Ohioans are needing more and more government assistance. A large reason for the state's budgetary problems was the reckless tax cuts that the Republicans passed in 2005. Those tax cuts were targeted toward the rich. Now, with Ohio facing a multi-billion dollar shortfall, Republicans want even more tax cuts for the wealthy. 

The Republican rationale for the tax cuts is that supposedly rich people are fleeing the state. Well here are some questions for the House Republicans:

1. How many rich people are fleeing the state because of the state's estate and capital gains taxes as opposed to fleeing the state for other reasons? 

2. How many of those that are "fleeing the state" will stay if these tax cuts are passed" 

3. What is the effect on the state's revenues if this proposal passes? 

4. How will the Republicans make up any revenue loss? 

How much do you want to bet that the House Republicans won't be able to provide answers to those questions?

Examples of Republican Incompetence at Three Levels of Government

Examples of Republican incompetence at the national level: the Iraq War based on false premises, response to Hurricane Katrina, federal deficits, and lack of oversight of the banking industry.

Example of Republican incompetence at the state level: cutting income tax rates by 21% over four years jeopardizing the state's finances.

Examples of Republican incompetence at the local level in Medina County : building a new courthouse while threatening the laying off county employees resulting in a Republican judge issuing a court order against an all Republican Board of County Commissioners.

Medina Rep Becomes House Minority Leader

Medina County Representative Bill Batchelder became the House Minority Leader on a vote in the House Republican caucus. Batchelder was battling with Representative Matt Dolan for the House Speakership during the 2008 campaign. Once the Republicans lost the majority in the House, Dolan withdrew his name from consideration as House Minority Leader.

Ohio's John Boehner Says U.S. Is Paying a "Small Price" in Iraq

So here we have an incredible remark by Congressman John Boehner, who is the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. Here is the question from Wolf Blitzer of CNN and Boehner's answer:

BLITZER: How much longer will U.S. taxpayers have to shell out $2 billion a week or $3 billion a week as some now are suggesting the cost is going to endure? The loss in blood, the Americans who are killed every month, how much longer do you think this commitment, this military commitment is going to require?

BOEHNER: I think General Petraeus outlined it pretty clearly. We’re making success. We need to firm up those successes. We need to continue our effort here because, Wolf, long term, the investment that we’re making today will be a small price if we’re able to stop al Qaeda here, if we’re able to stabilize the Middle East, it’s not only going to be a small price for the near future, but think about the future for our kids and their kids.

Only a politician who doesn't have a family member serving in Iraq, who doesn't have to worry every day and night whether his loved one is safe in Iraq, could make that kind of statement. Frankly it is obscene and a hell of a lot more insulting to American soldiers than some ad run by Moveon.org.

LaTourette Joins Dems on Employee Free Choice Act

An examination of House Roll Call 118 for the 110th Congress shows that Steve LaTourette, (R-OH), was the only Ohio Republican to vote with the Ohio Dems for the Employee Free Choice Act. As far as we can tell, all the other Republicans voted against this bill, which was being pushed by organized labor to restore equality in the battle for union representation. This is the second time that LaTourette has sided with Dems in an important vote while all other Ohio Republicans voted with the Republican leadership, the first being on the Iraq War Resolution opposing the surge ordered by President Bush.