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2010: Strickland - Kasich Showdown?
- Filed under: Ohio Government, Strickland
- Date: Mar 28,2008
The news came out yesterday that former U.S. Representative John Kasich is laying the groundwork to run for Ohio Governor in 2010. The news was not entirely unexpected. Kyle and I each have a take on a possible Strickland - Kasich showdown in 2010.
Ben: Kasich said Ohio is in an economic "death spiral." It is. Bob Taft left a mess for Ted Strickland to clean up, but Strickland hasn't done anything except make things worse. He is also making things worse for himself by so closely aligning himself with Hillary Clinton. The Ohio economy is still in shambles - 5th worst tax burden and 2nd worst state business climate. The "education governor" hasn't come up with his plan yet. He wants to install Keno machines against the will of the state's voters. But again, he did move the location of the governors desk - one of his major achievements so far.
In the article, Kasich is quoted as saying: "Frankly, I believe the (state) income tax has to be phased out." Obviously if he wants to do that, he better have another good way of bringing in money, since the income tax currently accounts for 34% of Ohio's operating budget. Florida and Tennessee also have no income tax and are doing just fine. It is this kind of thinking that Ohio needs. Otherwise we are going to end up just raising taxes and we might as well just merge with Michigan.
The only problem with this is that it leaves Rob Portman out, unless there is a primary, which we don't need. I think Portman wants to be governor, and not a senator, so we shall see how this shakes out. We will still need a strong candidate to take on Sherrod Brown in 2012. Things can change, but as of right now Kasich and Portman would be the best two Republican candidates statewide. Brown gaining senority scares me - he could end up like Howard Metzenbaum.
Mike DeWine is also going to take a hard look at this race. Keep looking, Mike. Everyone else will be looking to the Republican nominee to get us out of the bigger hole Ted Strickland put us in. John Kasich would be a very formidable candidate - and Ted Strickland, Roger Strickland, and Ohio Democrats know it.
Ohio righty blog Nix Guy also weighs in.
Kyle: John Kasich's name comes up every time there is a major statewide race where the Republicans need to field a candidate and every time he sits on the sidelines while another race is lost. He will be a formidable opponent if he decides to run and will be able to use his Fox News star power to raise the profile of his candidacy. It was probably smart for him to sit out in 2006 because it would have been near impossible to overcome the damage done to the Republican Party by the Taft Administration. I do think Strickland is going to pay a political price in 2010 for his excessive support of Senator Clinton in 2008. It would be a political consultants dream to go through the hours of footage of Governor Strickland and Senator Clinton to cut 30 second spots. However, as a one term incumbent, Strickland will be able to go to the people with his list of accomplishments and ask for a second term. I know he will have a compelling case to make. I also hope that President Obama will come to Ohio and campaign vigorously for Governor Strickland's re-election.
Jill at Writes Like She Talks discusses a possible Cordray / Fisher Democrat Primary in 2010 if Ted Strickland becomes our country's next Vice-President.
17 Responses for "2010: Strickland - Kasich Showdown?"
The picture in Ben's part of our post is linked to the Ohio Department of Taxation. Take a look at the images they use in the banner on their website: a bird, children, a greenhouse, a lady playing tennis, and some bridge. It really makes paying taxes look fun.
I doubt that Strickland will pay much of a price for his support of Clinton. By the time 2010 rolls around, most of the voting public will have forgotten that fact and move forward with a
look at the record and accomplishments.
The voting public is a fickle constituency, hardly likely to have long term memory.
Ben I am shocked that you don't think Kasich should step aside for Kevin Coughlin.
Good call on the taxes website….if only it was that fun when I opened my paycheck and saw all the money gone.
Strickland might not pay a major price for supporting Clinton, but he will pay a price for doing nothing as Governor. You cant always be in the right place at the right time, Ted.
Agree that Strickland won't pay much of a price for Clinton support, and it may even help him if she wins the nomination. Don't count her out yet. He has much bigger things to worry about for the next couple of years, including the state deficit, education and the effects of the mortgage crisis.
We live in a state that depended on manufacturing as the economic engine and the engine is old and rusty. I dont believe any governor could turn this state around in the short term. Why would anyone want to move to Ohio other than the lovely weather. As far as business moving here the climate for business is not appealing. On top of having little to offer we have a large % of poor and elderly which are very expensive for the nanny state to provide for. Ohio may come back and be reflective of the rest of the country but if it does it will be a long gradual struggle. Mich and Ohio didnt become basket cases overnight and we wont recover quickly. Also dont count on the Federal government for real assistance. Our clout has diminished and as the % of population continues to fall we will become less and less significant.
AC's comments were spot-on. Ohio's economy for most the 20th century was built on medium and heavy-industry like auto manufacturing, coal mining, tires, and steel/iron works. To think any one governor of any party could reverse the overall change in the economic scene in Ohio is as foolish for any governor to claim he/she can do it.
For Ben to raise the no income tax = prosperity is sort of disingenuous since every state, barring Alaska who leans on those evil oil companies, will tax the residents one way or another. Some states have higher gas taxes, or sales taxes, or property taxes, or whatever. Also, Florida has a much stronger economy and does not need to stick it to Floridians at every chance.
Hello beacon readers……how can anyone disagree that Strickland is not dong a 'decent' job as governor? You can say that he needs to do more……but it's hard to be critical of what he's already done.
Hello beacon readers……how can anyone disagree that Strickland is not dong a 'decent' job as governor? You can say that he needs to do more……but it's hard to be critical of what he's already done.
John: Stirckland hasn't done anything…
Education? Nothing…
Jobs? Nothing…
Economy? Nothing…
Taxes? Nothing…
What has he done? Nothing…
I want to see the real education and economic reforms that Strickland campaigned about as well. We should give Strickland his first term before saying he has done nothing.
Also, he should not have spent so much time and energy supporting Hillary. Ohio problems should take up all his time.
I agree with Matt…what can Strickland really point to? Something small here, something small there. That is it.
Correct me if I'm wrong here….doesn't the GOP control the majority in the Ohio legislature?
And wasn't there a GOP majority in the legislature when Taft and his band of buffoons were selling coins and stuff?
The question is not how successful Strickland has been after two years of having to deal with a majority GOP legislature.
The question is why would Ohio ever want another GOP governor working with a majority GOP legislature…..ever again?
And Ben: I can point to something huge here and something huge there….from Taft's reign of asininity…you? I know you're anxious to place more corrupt supply siders back in office….be patient, it's only been 2 years.
Florida and Tennessee? When supply siders, who only have concerns about the wealthy and business interests, control states…predictably, working folks suffer. Calls to cut taxes even more after all of Bush's stupidity and failure are the same old calls cheerleading for the top 5%.
For Ohio to have a resurgence (not likely) the theo-cons and the privatizers must be kicked to the curb. The best venture potential for Ohio would be to bring wi-fi broadband coverage to the entire state. But because of Time/Warner monopolies, free market hysterical cult dogma, etc. GOP'ers would never even consider such a move.
Instead they talk about ending the state income tax. Jesus.
All hail Wi-Fi!
All hail Wi-Fi!
Yay! Wi-Fi!
This is not a plan to Turn Around Ohio. Please tell me that Strickland has an actual plan…
1. Wi-Fi
2. ???
3. A prosperous Ohio
1. Keno
2. Nothing.
I really do believe that some do want that red banner with a hammer an sickle on it to proudly be waving above this countries land.
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