Voinovich never won Cleveland as a Republican…he won because he was George. At one time the GOP at least held a respectable showing in Ohio cities but not even the 'burbs are for sure these days; no more in Canton, anyone remember when Columbus was a GOP lock and Cincinnati was a spot of blue in a sea of red? Ohio's big 8 is now solid blue…even in an environment such as Cuyahoga County, where the locals couldn't have paid for more negative publicity for the home party as FBI agents hauling stuff out of houses bigger than salaries should pay for did the GOP make any inroads.

This is what the desert looks like when you're on the outs, my Republican friends. If there would be any chance of a real recall (and I personally don't think there is; when push comes to shove Akron won't shove Plusquellic out just because they don't like his occasional outbursts) it certainly won't be a Republican to fill those shoes. Those days have long come and gone, fled to the suburbs where even now Democrats have no trouble lining up organizations to help work on behalf of their candidates.

Start from scratch: learn from Axelrod, pick the good out of Rovian strategy, listen to what Carville and Begala say and for goodness sake avoid candidates who think they don't have to work hard or can simply talk their way to the win. This is the opportunity the NSR-types should be working for: a chance to prove they can do it differently and still win. It just won't be in a major city for a long time…

Ohio Democrat unopposed in special House election
Published on Tuesday Nov 18, 2008

An Ohio Democrat elected earlier this month to succeed the late U.S. Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones has also won a special congressional election in Cleveland to fill the final weeks of Tubbs Jones' unexpired term.

Warrensville Heights Mayor Marcia Fudge, a former aide to Tubbs Jones, was unopposed in Tuesday's election. She had won the full term on Nov. 4.

Entering the House early will give Fudge a seniority edge over the other newly elected members taking office in January. Fudge expects to take the oath of office at 1 p.m. Wednesday on the House floor.

The 58-year-old Tubbs Jones died Aug. 20 after suffering a brain hemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm.

id call $800 million in debt with little to show for it malfeasance.

We have established:

1) you are an idiot, failure, and useful idiot to the Democrats.

2) If you hadnt been under the Democrats' control, Joe Finley could have won if you had strategically sent out a letter urging Akron's miniscule Republicans to vote for Finley, thus helping to eliminate Plusquellic for good.

3) No legitimate Republican Party exists in Summit County. The empty shell here cant raise money, doesnt elect candidates, and has no ideology–what is the purpose of this rump?

Big Al is no longer my Pal! Im joining the NSRs.

Besides Keeler and True Republicandouche, WHAT REPUBLICAN ARE YOU GOING TO GET TO RUN IN A 70% DEMOCRATIC INDEX CITY?????????????

ALL THIS TALK IS MEANINGLESS UNLESS YOU GET A REPUBLICAN TO RUN!!!!!!!

I mean to me that is much more morally decrepit then to oppose some misguided "scholarship" scheme…..

But alas, Arshinkoff couldn't, or wouldn't, find a good candidate.

"Arshinkoff was criticized for striking a deal that would leave the county offices unchallenged. Greg Bachman would still be engineer if not for the NSR exposing the deal, but I guess they got what they want"

Bachman lost by 10%. He lost because it was a bad year, he didnt think he could lose, and he didnt really campaign until it was too late. You cant just throw up a bunch of green "Keep Bachman" signs around the county and expect it will be enough. Bachman was forced to buy ads on cable TV at the end – with his own money.

My life wont be affected because a Democrat is the engineer. Nor will most people. I do feel bad for the people who are losing good jobs there….I know a couple of them. I voted for Bachman. But I dont think there should be any "deals" where people go unopposed in either party.

Remember George Voinovich? he was a Republican and mayor of Cleveland.