Weapons of Mass Discussion - TROLLS wll NOT be tolerated. Period.
Better do it quick before alexis tries to run grendel in the AG seat for his payback for the freeby to the Ohio Supreme Court.
I'm all in favor of Portman or Kasich running for anything.
H
I agree with "H," we need them both. Kasich however has made it quite clear that he will run for Governor, nothing else. Rob is an extremely ambitious man w/his eye on the WH.
Question is, does he take the fast track (veep spot that doesn't come by one every day), or does go the Senate route taking out George or Brown, or the AG-unnecessary primary w/Kasich-hope for the best route?
I'm with Matt on his Kasich/Portman assessment in the DeWine for AG post.
Yes.
Kasich for Governor. A great reform-mover and tax cutter.
Portman for VP or statewide office or Senator. An authentic, bright traditionalist.
Portman is not well known in central Ohio although my hope is he is very popular in SW Ohio, enough to help turnout. He's a thoughtful, accomplished man; is he the celebrity that the party needs for a VP role? Is his SW Ohio turnout potential sufficiently large to win the state?
I view him as the John Roberts of elected politicians.
Kasich and McCain would easily win Ohio in normal years. Kasich is the best of Ken Blackwell (on economy) and Ronald Reagan on popular conservatism, which we haven't quite seen in Ohio.
H- great points. You asked:
"...is he the celebrity that the party needs for a VP role? Is his SW Ohio turnout potential sufficiently large to win the state?"
IMHO, absolutely yes to both.
Clermont, Warren & Butler won the state for Bush in 2004 and although there is a "friendly rivalry" b/w Butler (Boehner) & Portman, I have little doubt that Rob still holds near-rock-star status there. Rob consistently enjoyed 76% of the vote in OH-02 alone...and it's clear that they miss voting for him.
I'm not a "politico," but as "Joe voter," I have two scenarios:
1. Go for vote McCain/???? '08 on election day and go home or;
2. Start phone banks, d2d, etc., TOMORROW to GOTV for McCain/Portman '08.
Portman is a traditionalist in his rhetoric, but his record on earmarks and spending is not exactly fiscally conservative...and who was in charge of the budget recently in the Bush admin? You know, that bloated, spending anchored thing? Wasn't that RP? Just checking....
Well, if you need more than "consistently enjoyed 76% of the vote in Oh-02," then how about this...
"The administration has taken some steps to follow up on its earmark demands. In January, Office of Management and Budget Director Rob Portman sent a memo to every department and agency announcing new earmark requirements. From now on, the government will be required to identify and catalog earmarks in most spending bills, including earmarks hidden in committee reports. The memo also provided agencies with a tight definition of just what counts as an earmark, to make it harder for Congress to disguise its pork under another name."
(http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2007/
02/the_secret_new_way_of_earmarks.html)
And that he has inspired comments like this...
"Another possible vice presidential choice popular in conservative circles is fiscal hawk Rob Portman, 52, a former Ohio congressman who served for 14 months as President Bush's director of the Office of Management and Budget.
"Portman probably brings a lot to the table -- congressional experience, executive experience, somebody who has been focusing on the economy [who is] from a swing state," said Jennifer Duffy, senior editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report."
(http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-
veep22mar22,1,7679440,full.story)
Like I said, I'd rather Rob take out Voinovich in 2010 or the other socialist in 2012, but if McCain wants to win Ohio, Rob is the only way he's going to do it. Period, end of report.
Alex is going to try his darndest to raise his new buddy Tim Grendell's profile.
Strickland is going to appoint either Eric Fingerhut or his own Chief Counsel Kent Markus.
Those are "safe" choices for Strickland but ones that wouldn't exactly excite the electorate come November.
For the Republicans, Ron O'Brien (Franklin County prosecutor) and Douglas Cole (former state solicitor general) are also considering runs.
Obviously Portman is the strongest pick for the GOP. Beyond him, I'd also give Deborah Pryce a hard look, if she'd be interested.
Rose, that quote is great...but some of those same people call Voinovich a "deficit hawk"...hardy har har
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