McCain - Panic 2008

• Author: Kyle Kutuchief
• Filed under: McCain, National Landscape 2008, Ohio
• Date: Sep 25,2008

The McCain campaign has gone into panic mode. We have seen John McCain go from saying the fundamentals of our economy are strong one week ago to asking for a timeout so he can fly to Washington to start paying attention to the economy. Oh, and he needs the presidential campaign to stop and the debate to be postponed with less than 40 days left. Please? Pretty please? This week has proven to be too much for John McCain and his campaign. Jon Stewart nails it.

Last night President Bush spoke to the nation and repeated the same vague description of the financial bail out plan that we have heard all week. It was a reminder to the nation of who has been there for the past 8 years. Bush announced that he is convening a special meeting today and invited Obama and McCain to participate. Today, both candidates will be flying into Washington for a photo-op with President Bush, the man John McCain has been trying desperately to distance himself from. Hopefully SEC Chairman Chris Cox, the man John McCain hastily called for to be fired, will be there for pictures also. It is good to see President Bush back in the headlines. We Democrats have missed him.

In the midst of all this, Barack Obama has shown why he is ready to be president. He hasn't completely changed his positions, hidden from reporters, or needed a timeout. What I liked most was that Obama said that the American people deserve to hear from the candidates seeking the highest office in the land now more than ever. I completely agree and look forward to Friday's debate. Hopefully John McCain will be able to make it.

Bonus: If you missed Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric, you need to press play. It is obvious why they don't want her doing interviews.

Weekend Daily Part X

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Congress, Democrats '08, Ohio, Weekend Daily
• Date: Sep 20,2008

Rally. Wall Street ends down only 40 for the week. Tough end to a promising week for the Democrats. Turning on CNBC and seeing all those green arrows pointing up has to hurt. Sorry.

The Senate Gang of 20, originally known as the Gang of 10 and then the Gang of 16 disbanded. They will not offer their terrible energy bill - the one that would have "opened up" some of the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling. The entire bill was a CYA and was a sham. This also means that the off-shore drilling ban will expire October 1st, throwing the issue back in the news. It only helps one candidate. Not the one who just wants you to inflate your tires and shut up. And wants his supporters to get in your face.

Unhinged. Charlie Rangel says Sarah Palin is "disabled." Rangel should be worrying about paying his taxes instead of hurling insults. If this guy was a Republican he would have been run out of town long ago. But as is usually the case, if you are a Democrat it doesn't matter. Tom at Bizzy Blog says this is another example of democrats showing PDS, "Palin Derangement Syndrome."

Turning Around. Ohio's August unemployment figures are in. 7.4%. I wonder if Ohio and Michigan are going to just merge. Obviously all the fault of George W. Bush and Bob Taft. It just keeps going up and up. Is there any end in sight?

Potential game at Lambert Field: Joe Biden says the University of Delaware (1-AA) would "kick Ohio State's ass" in football. As bad as Ohio State looked against USC, I somehow I doubt that. Via Taxman Blog. I feel like this blog has mentioned Joe Biden more than we should have over the last week. Those rumors he will be dropped off the ticket still aren't going away, though I don't know who starts these things. For better or worse (depending on your point of view) he isn't going anywhere.

Lastly, a state of the race update by Jay Cost of Real Clear Politics. A good read for supporters of both sides.

Weekend Daily: The Mostly Sarah Palin Edition

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: McCain, Ohio, Presidential, Weekend Daily
• Date: Sep 6,2008

So Oprah won't have Sarah Palin on, if this is to be believed. Whatever…this probably helps our side (more on the media below). Oprah is free to do whatever she wants, she obviously has a side in this election. I don't see why so many people care or are surprised over this. She is under no obligation to have anyone on her show if she doesn’t want to. She is a successful billionaire and will do what she wants. No need to get worked up about it. If you are mad at her, then just don't watch. Same with Us Weekly. Just cancel your subscription if you are upset.

Running Behind: Keno, the Ohio Lottery's newest game, finished up its first month of operation this week. As of Sunday, Keno brought in $7.2 million and awarded $4.6 million in prizes, Ohio Lottery officials said. $292 million in yearly sales was the projection.

Flags rescued from the garbage at Invesco Field used today at a McCain event in Colorado Springs.

"Jobs Americans Wont Do": Bizzy Blog on the raid in Mississippi that took place last week.

Ohio State sure looked impressive today! On to USC!

Now some more thoughts on Palin (of course):

1. Overlooked by many is the fact that this race is now essentially a 2 on 1 (at least in terms of candidates). No one cares what Joe Biden says. People will go see him speak because he is a VP nominee, but the only news he is going to make is when he messes up. Obama will still get his big crowds, McCain will still draw his below average size crowds. Palin will draw huge. What was there, about 15,000 in Michigan yesterday to see the two of them together? Same thing in Wisconsin. Think McCain would have got even a third of that on his own?

2. A hallmark of GOP campaigns as of late is the charge that the media are a bunch of biased liberal leaning fake independents who distort stories and go against the Republicans to try and influence the election. The last week was gift wrapped perfectly to bring that issue back to the front. Some people are of the opinion that the GOP/McCain attacks will backfire, that they will need them down the stretch. Wrong. They weren't going to be on our side in any event, and it is more important to have the base enraged at them (rightfully so).

3. By Obama right away going after the "small town mayor" and then Palin using that Scranton / San Francisco line in her speech, it did re-ignite the culture wars and the small town America vs. the urban areas and the elites. She didn't even have to mention any hot button issues to do it. That is not Democratic turf, not where they want to fight. (I actually read this one somewhere and am using it, but I forget where, so if someone else remembers seeing this point somewhere let me know where it was. I would like to attribute it properly, since it was such a great point).

4. Democrats won't take my advice here, but they should. Every personal attack on Palin will be beaten back by our side - I think it is now clear that the base and a lot of others have her back and it will keep blowing up in their face. It is such a waste of energy. Every attack on her is one less lobbed against McCain, who they should really be targeting. But they won't be able to stop from doing it.

You know, I keep hearing how this won't matter at the end, historically VP's have no effect, blah blah blah. We shall see, but I couldn't disagree more with those who are saying that. I guess looking at historical trends Obama would be up by 15% too. The barely above water economy still may pull Obama to victory, but for anyone to deny the race has now shifted is either in denial or delusional.

Weekend Daily Part VI

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Arshinkoff / Coughlin, National Landscape 2008, Ohio, Weekend Daily
• Date: Aug 16,2008

The comments from the previous post illustrate the dislike between the Romney and Huckabee camps. It is all about the potential 2012 GOP (sorry, the "white party") nomination fight. Off to an early start, considering we are about 80 days away from this year's vote. To me at least, Romney seems focused on helping the party this year. Huckabee seems focused on helping himself. Anyhow…..

John Kerry for VP? I don't think it is that unrealistic. Kerry would love - love - to be out there and go on the attack. I am sure he would relish going after McCain after he rejected his overtures in 2004 to be his VP. He is obviously still bitter he lost last time around and would do it in a heartbeat.

This was a good week for McCain in the polls. State wise we had him +1 in CO, closed to within 4 in MN, +1 and even in VA, +3 in NV. Talked to a candidate running for local office this week who told me that while he has been going door to door he has noticed a real upswing in Republican enthusiasm for McCain in the last couple of weeks. In April he told me there was none.

Who is the biggest jackass in Greater Cleveland politics? Political Science 216 kicks off a contest to find out. From the post: To be eligible, the political jackass must live in Greater Cleveland, which is defined as Cuyahoga County and every county that touches it (Lorain, Medina, Summit, Portage, Geauga and Lake). A politician must be an elected official, a party chair (the Alex Arshinkoff rule), a recent elected official or a current candidate. My vote is pretty clear.

PD: Ohio's ad warning of flu pandemic overdone? Yes. They have run about 9,081 commercials about it during the Olympics, at least the parts I have been able to see. Michael Phelps last night - amazing. How did he win that race?

McCain has his best fund raising month yet, though of course he was out raised by Obama. Too much being made of how he will have "only $84 million" for public financing when it kicks in after his convention. He will have what he needs with that money coupled with RNC help, which will be sizable. Contributions will just go straight to party headquarters and they can then put up ads that don't have to be approved by McCain at the end of the spot. It might end up being a blessing.

Ohio, continuing to TurnAround: 7.2% unemployment. Highest in 16 years. That mandatory sick leave law that is being tossed around will only make things worse. That is worthy of it's own post next week.

Wonder if anything will come out of that church forum tonight in California.

Weekend Daily Part IV

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Boccieri / Schuring, Congress, Energy, Ohio, Weekend Daily
• Date: Aug 3,2008

48 hours after telling us peasants to fill up our tires and suck it up, Obama reverses course on off-shore drilling. There is nothing he won't change his position on - and then tell us that we are wrong, that his position never actually changed, we just didn't understand it the first time. No wonder he won't agree to any townhall debates with McCain before the real debates. He doesn't want to be exposed.

CNN: Obama says offshore drilling stance nothing new. Key excerpt: But on Saturday morning, Obama said this "wasn't really a new position."

Obama did reverse course, but his fellow Democratic senator, Ken Salazar from Colorado sure didn't. Salazar said $10 gallon gas won't make him change his mind………………….

Great scene yesterday on the House floor where Republicans kept talking about energy even after Speaker Pelosi shut off the lights and turned off the microphones and TV cameras. One Democrat did stay and watch for a little while - Dennis Kucinich. Regardless, it was the most attention garnered by the Republicans since the 2006 loss of control. For a great write up on this, check out what Da King wrote about it.

Late last week, we did interviews with both Kirk Schuring (me) and John Boccieri (Kyle). Expect to see them here early this week.

Stevens Sinks: A new Ivan Moore Research poll in Alaska shows Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) leading Sen. Ted Stevens, 56% to 35%. However, even though Stevens faces six opponents in the Aug. 26 Republican primary, he still holds a huge lead over chief rival Dave Cuddy (R), 59% to 19%. Meanwhile, a new Rasmussen Reports poll shows Begich leading Stevens, 50% to 37%. Alaska Republican primary voters need to wake up. Now.

OH-3: Jane Mitakides, Democratic challenger to Mike Turner, puts out a release saying that 70% of her funds raised have come from inside the district. Interesting, because around 45% of her total contributions have come from her own household. Over 43% of the total amount raised to date was contributed by the candidate to herself - $140,789.45. Seems a little dishonest and deceptive if you ask me. Turner has over 4x the cash on hand than does Mitakides. The quarterly filing of Mitakides here.

Jesse Jackson Jr. would be interested in Obama's junior senator of Illinois slot if it becomes available. I wonder if he is appointed if he would be fortunate enough to see his primary opponent and general election opponent self destruct and then get to face Alan Keyes in his first defense of the seat. Probably not.

Kyle beat me to the punch putting up the newest McCain ad two posts below. I love it. I like both of the new ones. Democrats do not. They are starting their typical crying about the GOP running smears and negative campaigns. These are smears? Kyle tried to use some sarcasm but he knows it hits right to the core of Obama. McCain is getting more aggressive and putting out better ads right now than is Obama.

Buckeye Punditeers said it this way: Obama may still go ahead and win this election. However, the seeds have been planted for a 100 day assault on him that his campaign may not be able to survive. August is the time to start the assault on Obama's record and past statements.

I would be nervous too if I was them………

Wipe Away Your Tears

• Author: Ben Keeler
• Filed under: Ohio
• Date: Jul 19,2008

I assume many of you already saw this, but just in case ill put it up anyways; I think everybody deserves the chance to read it.

NPR, in a campaign mode story titled "For Some Ohioans, Even Meat is Out of Reach":

Things have changed considerably for this Ohio family….Nunez and most of her siblings and their spouses are unemployed and rely on government assistance and food stamps. Some have part-time jobs, but working is made more difficult with no car or public transportation…

Nunez, 40, has never worked and has no high school degree. She says a car accident 17 years ago left her depressed and disabled, incapable of getting a job. Instead, she and her daughter, Angelica Hernandez, survive on a $637 Social Security check and $102 in food stamps.

Hernandez received her high school diploma and has had several jobs in recent years. But now, because fewer restaurants and stores are hiring, she says she finds it hard to find a job. Even if she could, she says it's particularly hard to imagine how she'll keep it. She says she needs someone to give her a lift just to get to an interview. And with gas prices so high, she's not sure she could afford to pay someone to drive her to work every day.

People tell Nunez her daughter could get more money in public assistance if she had a child.

Let me wipe away the tears that fell on to my keyboard. Get them some Obama t-shirts, stat! These women live the way they do because they choose to do so, every day, likely complaining about how it is so unfair along the way.

Of course, NPR meant the story as one to aid Democrats and Barack Obama and make it look like Ohio is in sort of great depression and can never afford to vote Republican ever again in a kind of "Obama would care about these people and not let this ever happen again" way. I don't think the story did it's job.

No savings. No high school diploma. Never worked. Lived off government her whole life. Yet I am supposed to feel bad because now she can't buy meat. Guess what, I don't. Get a job if you can't afford groceries. There is always someone out there hiring for some job. It might not be a great job, but even at age 40, you can start somewhere. But the way our government doles out money, there isn't incentive for a whole lot of people to do so sometimes.

The backbone of the Democratic voting machine is right here in this story. If Democrats had their way, I would live like that. We all would - having to rely on government to get us through every day. They would pay for my housing, food, and whatever else I needed - making sure I knew I was able to do it all because of their glorious political party. Then they would drive me to the polls every election and tell me if they lose power some evil folks might come into office and make me get a job or something like that. These two reside in Fostoria, part of Ohio's 5th Congressional District, meaning blame can be shifted to the Republicans since their district is represented by Bob Latta.

NPR used our tax dollars to produce this story. I would guess that NPR put some effort into locating a family that had this exact situation with these precise problems.

NaugBlog, Taxman, and Invincible Armor hit on this story as well.