Ohio 2nd Blog

I don’t write about this THING because if I did I would just rant and bring everybody down. So I’ll just give you one little rant. I’ll turn the spiggot on JUUUUUST a little bit for you to get a taste and then turn it off before I flood you all with the bile that eats at my soul.

Here’s what really pisses me off:

Go read this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…

It’s entitled Obama to meet Energy Smart Debbie. Energy smart Debbie. How cool is this? This candidate has positioned herself as the voice of SMART ENERGY. I love it. She’s owning that position.

Guess who’s introducing Barack Obama tomorrow? And is she the “Health Care Smart” candidate? No, she’s the “Not Doing Ethically Questionable Medical Experiments” candidate and the “My Opponent Has Been Called the Worst Person in the World by Keith Olbermann” candidate. Why? Because her campaign is a stagnant pond that exists for no other purpose than to beg for cash. They bring absolutely nothing to the table.

You are running against the candidate that has less going for her than Bernie @ Weekend at Bernie’s and STILL she’s beating you. WHY??? And what’s worst… what makes it that much more of an insult to our collective intelligence as a species… you’re bragging about how she’s beating you in the polls… but only by so much… AND YOU WANT US TO GIVE YOU MONEY TO PAY FOR YOU???

I blame the staffers. I hate them. Sorry guys, but I really really do. Not just for this campaign, but in general. Pick up a bleeping shovel or a broom or something and start making yourself useful. How many times have I gone to a candidate’s event and seen staffers standing around doing nothing but looking too cool for the room. Here I am recording their candidate with my $100 mp3 player and they are just standing there. Not operating a camera so that they can make their stuff viral. Not recording it for a podcast that they can upload. NOTHING. They’re busy texting someone with their DAMNED BLACKBERRIES that I want to throw into the Ohio river. So cool, and SO USELESS. Can’t stand for this because it will piss off the unions. Can’t stand for that because you don’t want to tread on the Party’s toes. LOSERS. Professional Losers. GAHH!!!!!

I’ve begged. I’ve pleaded. I’ve spent a year with passive aggressive posts that tried to push them into something resembling a position on anything. NOTHING. FLATLINE. Why don’t I blog about the district? Because I’m tired of carrying the water for losers.

It’s not like you don’t have anything to work with. Your candidate is an MD. She’s incredibly smart, and she’s saved real lives. She’s made a difference. Who could ask for anything more?

Tomorrow your candidate is going to speak before the possible future President of the United States. No one will notice. No one will care.

You could make headlines. You could blow this race wide open and show your mentor professional losers over @ the DCCC that you are playing to win. You won’t win by kissing Obama’s ass like everyone else. You won’t win by talking about how much Schmidt sucks and how you are going to win.

When Obama gives a speech in front of people he doesn’t kiss their ass. He speaks truth to power knowing that it will piss people off. Why don’t you?

Health care in America is a death spiral of waste. America needs universal health care. We need it now. Barack Obama is wrong on this issue. Tell him. Tell him to his face. Show people that your candidate stands for something… that your candidate means something… that this whole thing isn’t some perverse vanity exercise/time waster.

But you won’t, and that’s why I don’t blog about the 2nd.

Fundraising numbers are in for the two “front-runners” (front-runners?!) in the Ohio 2nd’s Democratic primary. At their current pace both Democrats are on track for beating the primary money records set by Republican Pat DeWine in his losing bid for the 2nd in the 05 special election.

Steve Black

From the start the first bullet point on Steve Black’s resume was his ability to leverage his status as Indian Hill mover and shaker to raise cash. In our interview early this year Mr. Black said that fundraising was something that he is very skilled at. Veteran journalist Bill Sloat spells out the case for Black:

He’s a genuine Indian Hill blue blood whose dad was a judge. The corporate crowd in downtown Cincinnati can feel comfortable with him — he once headed the Harvard Club and was on the board at Seven Hills School, a private prep school. In other words, on paper he’s got the feel of being a Democratic version of Rob Portman, who was undefeatable in OH-02 and gave up the seat to become the Bush administration’s trade rep, then budget director. And, Portman worked at Graydon Head before running for Congress.

And under normal circumstances Black’s numbers are impressive. According to FEC Q2 reports he has raised $209,500.

Under the surface a few things stand out: $58,320 of it is a loan to himself, and a significant portion comes from family and coworkers at Graydon Head & Ritchey. Still… these are wells that Black can go to many times over the course the campaign.

Dr. Victoria Wulsin

One bit of insider gossip that I heard from people close to the Wulsin campaign was that one of the main areas of tension between the Doctor and her once campaign manager Mary Huttlinger was over resistance, common with newbie candidates, to the constant demands of fundraising. It’s certainly why Paul Hackett has such disdain for the political process. This election Ms. Huttlinger and Dr Wulsin have parted ways and she is working for Attorney Steve Black.

That’s why I was surprised to find out today that Wulsin for Congress is reporting Q2 numbers of $213,000, outraising Black with or without his personal borrowing. BSB was also impressed.

The Wulsin for Congress campaign crows:

Wulsin’s strong showing in her first quarter as a candidate for 2008 continues to demonstrate the strength of her campaign and her growing base of support, with more than 99 percent of her funds raised coming from individual donations. [This contrasts with 41% of Schmidt’s funds coming from individuals, in the 2006 race, the last year for which data is available.] Having come within one percentage point of defeating Schmidt in 2006 and winning more votes in Ohio’s Second District than any previous Democratic candidate, Wulsin has proven her self well-positioned to defeat the incumbent Congresswoman.

“I am starting earlier and I am starting stronger,” Wulsin said. “I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received from the people of the Second District. This early outpouring of support indicates the strength of my campaign and desire for grassroots change in our district.”

Wulsin’s impressive fundraising strengthens her position as the candidate best suited to unseat the widely unpopular Schmidt, whose vulnerability is acknowledged by Republicans and Democrats alike. After scraping through the last election with only a one point lead, Schmidt has already received a spot on Karl Rove’s list of the most vulnerable members of Congress. Her highly publicized mistakes, such as repetitive lying (one leading to a reprimand by the Ohio Electoral Commission); impugning the valor of a fellow Congressman; downplaying hazardous and unsafe conditions where veterans are hospitalized; and marching in lock-step with the president’s escalation of the war – demonstrate her failing to effectively represent the district, reflect poorly on her constituents, and hurt her chances of re-election.

It’s our opinion that Steve Black is going to have to out raise and out hustle Dr. Wulsin if he’s going to have a chance of beating her in the primary. Wulsin is an experienced campaigner with a devoted base. Add to that the fact that primaries generally lean left, playing to Vic’s strengths.

So far it’s 0-1 Wulsin.

Well, sports fans… this is going to be one hell of a barn burner. Like it ever isn’t here in the OH02

Today at 4pm at his Indian Hill home attorney Steve Black will officially declare his candidacy to run for Congress in the 2nd District. Mr. Black is an attorney with the Cincinnati law firm of Graydon, Head & Ritchey.

Several days ago he was kind enough to let me interview him on the positions. I found him to be very a personable and sincere person. Only by reminding myself of how carefully guarded some of his answers were did the 30 years of legal experience come through.

While he made a point of telling me that he wasn’t experienced at running for Congress, he came off to me as someone who could get up to speed quickly. While he’s not a barnstormer, his opinions are refreshingly unboilerplate. We talked openly about abortion, health care, defense spending, guns , Iraq, and global warming. The fact that he veered right into a passionate advocacy of nuclear power was interesting in light of the issues here in the district. This will probably be the last chance to hear unvarnished answers from the candidate before he gets put through the standard wash cycle of campaign staffers, so enjoy.

I listen back at the interview and kick myself over how unprepared and rambling my questions were. Hopefully you won’t find them too annoying. I do love to hear myself yammer on.

steve_black_interview_5-15-07.mp3

The thing that struck many people right off that fact is that Black’s campaign manager used to be Vic Wulsin’s. If there’s a story there and you know there’s a story there, Mary Huttlinger isn’t spilling the beans. I’m sorry but Steve’s the complete candidate package just isn’t going to cut it. I’m sure that the weeks ahead will bring out lots of juicy gossip to wile away the months as we suffer through this God forsakenly too long campaign season. (Personally, I’m not sure how many more action items, urgent appeals, and heartfelt yet empty orations I can stand. Doesn’t anyone have a job anymore? Surely being a Senator takes time, doesn’t it?)

Bottom line, at this point Black’s candidacy is more significant because of what he is than what he believes in. As a man highly connected to some of the richest political donors in the country, his entry radically shifts the Democratic primary landscape. The question is how much? Many underestimate Vic Wulsin’s substantial backing from the liberal base in the district. Vic’s core is very loyal. This is a primary. Money doesn’t have nearly the edge that it does in the general. Candidates are rallying the base. Right off the bat I’d give her a 35% to 40% head start. Anyone (except one person) who runs against her will have to shatter a significant portion of that margin in order to have a chance. However, when you talk to anyone thinking of heading her off, including Black, the last thing they want to say is that they are running “against” Vic Wulsin. I’m running FOR mom, apple pie, and the right to drive around in oversized SUVs, not against Vic. Get an internal poll 30 days before the primary that has you down 20 points and see what sort of sucker punches your war room will be coming up with. As Reese Bobby always says, if you’re not first, you’re last.

Right now this pundit would have to say that with the name recognition, strong core, momentum from 2006, and battle experience Vic Wulsin still has to be considered the odds on favorite in the 2nd.

Politics is a deceptively difficult craft. Much like poker and Jackass, it’s easy for someone to look at it and think that they can be good at it. Steve Black will have to prove to people quickly that he’s got the right stuff to play this ugliest of blood sports. He says he does… right before he tells you that he’s never really done this before.

Well… welcome to the game, Mr. Black. The Ohio 2nd is the most talked about, action packed Congressional District in the country. Thus it is the nastiest. I do hope you’ve brought a helmet.

• BSB > OH-02: Add Steve Black to the List
• Daily Kos > OH-02: Steve Black To Run
• Politics Extra > A challenger for Wulsin?

From the Clermont County Democratic Party email list. I was hoping that we could make it to the dinner tonight, but family stuff is clashing.

LOG ON AT 2 PM TODAY

for VIC WULSIN’S on-line interview at firedoglake blog

Text From firedoglake Blog: This Saturday, April 21st at 2:00 pm ET/11:00 am PT, Howie’s guest for Blue America will be the fantastic Victoria Wulsin. You guys will no doubt remember that Vic Wulsin very nearly unseated Mean Jean Schmidt in the last election cycle in a very, very red district — the OH-2. And I hereby pledge to move heaven and earth to make that Mean Jean defeat happen in 2008. Please make some time to stop by and let Vic Wulsin know we’ll all be working with her for victory in the next election. If you missed the Blue America chat that we had with her during the election, please do read it — it isn’t just unseating Mean Jean, because Doc Wulsin is an amazing person who would be a wonderful voice in the House.

LINK TO: http://firedoglake.com/

http://www.firedoglake.com/category/2008-election/

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THEN GET READY FOR THE Clermont County Democratic Party Golden Donkey Dinner (Formerly the “Kennedy-Truman” Dinner)

5:00 - 6:00 pm Social Hour 6:00 pm Dinner

LINK FOR DETAILS: http://www.clermontdems.org/ht/display/EventDetails/i/1008933/pid/276805

Where Campbell Country Recreation Center,1836 Ohio Pike, Amelia, Ohio 45102

Map

Paid for by the Clermont County Democratic Party Visit Us: www.clermontdems.org

From the rumor mill…

Word is that Wulsin already has some DCCC muscle working with her: one for message, and one for finance. It seems that she’s already working the phones hard locking up the prized early bird cash.

Also, many are giving Vic props for the early declaration move stifling primary competition. That hasn’t stopped several potential players from considering a stab at it. Personally, your humble editor feels that the state house races offer greater potential gains than a single term Dem in the House and wonders if some of the talent couldn’t be distributed all along the ticket. Ted could definitely use some help out there in Columbus.

The big question has to be about what the landscape will look like in a Presidential year. Turnout is going to be high… that means Republican turnout is going to be very high. Will the person the Dems serve up be able to draw away straight thinking Republicans? Will Republicans be thinking that the Schmidt they know is better than the…?

Finally, on the Schmidt front, word has it that a dark horse local blue blood is considering a run in an attempt to restore dignity to the house that Rob built. With Brinkman chumming up the waters it’s difficult to see how anyone can take the Congresswoman in the primary. Nevertheless, many Dems are concerned that their beloved foe won’t be available to kick around come November. One can only hope.

p.s. it’s good to see that Barry Bennett reads our humble little publication.

From the Wulsin for Congress gmail account:

Democrat Victoria Wulsin Will Challenge Schmidt in ‘08
Pledges to Bring Integrity Back to Ohio’s Second Congressional District

(Cincinnati, OH) – Citing the need for responsible and honest leadership, Dr. Victoria Wulsin announced today that she would challenge Jean Schmidt again in 2008 to represent the people of Ohio’s Second Congressional District in the United States Congress.

“When Americans are fighting in Iraq, going without affordable health care, and struggling to support their families, we need an independent voice in Congress, not a rubber stamp for special interests and the Bush Administration ,” Dr. Wulsin said, adding, “The people of the Second District deserve a Congresswoman who will be honest with her constituents.”

A life-long Ohioan, Dr. Wulsin is a public health doctor who has dedicated her career to public service, serving as an Epidemiologist for the city of Cincinnati and starting a non-profit AIDS prevention organization. She came within one percent of beating Schmidt in 2006, receiving more votes than any Democrat in the history of Ohio’s Second District.

Schmidt has already been placed on Karl Rove’s list of the most vulnerable Republicans in 2008 because of her low approval ratings and controversial record.

“The people of Ohio’s Second District deserve a congresswoman like Vic who will stand up for them and represent their values in Washington and won’t let politics get in the way of serving her constituents,” said Todd Portune, President of the Board of the Hamilton County Commissioners.

Victoria lives with her husband, Dr. Lawson Wulsin, Professor of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at the University of Cincinnati . They have raised their four sons in the 2nd District.

Wulsin’s in… Jim Parker’s in… Russ Aery seems to be in… not so sure what’s going to happen with this place.

It’s been a while, but I couldn’t really sit on this one:

Word has it that Russ Arey, Democratic State Central Member for the 14th District, and Vice-Chair of the Clermont County Democratic Party has been indicating to local playas that he’s intending to run in the 2nd. Supposedly it’s with the encouragement of Governor Ted Strickland and ODP Chair Chris “Talk To Me” Redfern. Certainly two good friends to have in your corner. Russ is a one of the most dynamic figures in Southern Ohio politics. It will be fun to see him on the stump.

As for Dr. Vic Wulsin, whose razor thin loss embarrassed the local and national Democratic power brokers, she has been sited in the Beltway since being rejected for a cabinet position in the Strickland administration. Many think she deserves another match against the Congresswoman. Personally, I wonder what she can bring to the table to match the perfect storm that was 2006.

On the Republican side Phil Heimlich, Tom Brinkman, and Joe “I like handing Republican seats to Democrats on a silver platter” Deters are rumored to be considering taking Congresswoman Schmidt on. At this point I don’t see any of them as being serious threats against her. Heimlich is damaged goods… Brinkman’s already blown his play… and Dieters, well nuff said. Besides, Schmidt’s survived two of the most grueling, back to back, elections one could imagine. Her minority status actually gives her a nice buffer since she can no longer be blamed for not accomplishing anything. Keep her head down and she’ll be almost impossible to beat. That is, unless…

The big question on everyone’s lips is what about Paul. Certainly, Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters all but made the seat a lock for Major Hackett. However, these days the I just want to serve my county fresh from Iraq political neophyte has been ground into dust and replaced with a weary, battle scarred, cynical veteran thanks to the criminal conspiracy known as American politics. Talk to him about Congress and he’s got much worst things to say about the Democrats and their non binding resolutions than either Jean Schmidt or George “son of a bitch” Bush. As for his legacy: Hell, I got to call the President of the United States a chicken hawk on the cover of the New York Times. I’m happy with that. Legacy indeed.

You do have to ask yourself how serious Ted Strickland, Chris Redfern and the DCCC are about winning the 2nd when they haven’t even spoken to Paul Hackett about running again. Word is from many circles that the Governor simply doesn’t like the man who raised so much money for him in the past. What politics and like have to do with each other is beyond me. You couldn’t kill for the press Hackett’s been getting, and his hash criticism of both sides on such issues as immigration and the Iraq war would make sure that he’ll move a conservative lock like the 2nd straight into the top tier for the Democrats. Not that he wants the job, but it does make you wonder how strong the Democrats will to win really is.

The one thing that I really hate about Democratic politics in Ohio is that it resembles more a high school clique than a political machine. Say what you will about Karl Rove, but he never let his feelings distract him from the score board.

UPDATE: Ironic that this was happening in Hackett’s neighborhood last night.

Vic Wulsin sent out the following to the Democratic County Chairs of the 2nd Congressional District:

Dear Virginia, Randy, Linda, Harold, Dave, Tim, and Chris,

Having communicated with my family, the WFC team, and Jean Schmidt, I want you to know that the numbers are “in” and I have conceded the 2006 Election for the U.S. House of Representatives from Ohio’s Second District to Congresswoman Schmidt.

Your help, as well as the huge support from your counties, has been the foundation of this incredible and successful campaign. Thank you for guiding me, an inexperienced politician, to a world-changing outcome. You have made me a true patriot and a true enthusiast for southern Ohio.

I look forward to the next chapter of my service to our District, Ohio, and the USA. I look forward to building on our ‘06 successes for even greater Democratic and democratic victories in the future. I look forward to the further evolution of my ability, working shoulder-to-shoulder with you, to effectively work for social and economic justice. And I look forward to continuing my friendship with each of you.

With warmest regards,
Vic

Vic made a truly amazing run.

This has been a tough one. To be told for the second time over and over again by every pundit around that you never had a chance and again come up just short waiting for the calvary to come… We never heard a good explanation from the DCCC as to why they stood silent as Schmidt and the NRCC framed the race in terms of homophobia, and racism. Maybe they like having a loose cannon like Mean Jean in the minority. Her mouth certainly launched the Democrats takeover of the house.

In the end everything hinged on Hamilton County, and the Party’s decision to focus on Cranley in the 1st ended up crippling the turnout for Vic. Gerrymandering killed Vic not so much because of the splitting of Republican votes, as because of the splitting of Democratic resources.

One hopes that this time the Hamilton County Democratic Party will review the tapes and make some serious adjustments to their methods and leadership. 2008 is going to be a big year for the Democratic Party in Ohio and Hamilton County needs to step up their game big time. (I’m feeling like a broken record on this point.)

UPDATE: Wulsin has called a noon press conference.

Enquirer:

Hamilton County completed its count of nearly 4,200 provisional ballots Monday night. While Victoria Wulsin had a net gain of 641 votes in her race against U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt — she would have to pick up 78 percent of all uncounted ballots in Clermont County to trigger a recount.

Schmidt now leads 119,201 votes to Wulsin’s 116,735.

There are around 2,300 provisional ballots in Clermont County yet to be counted.

The Enquirer’s got the latest, what little of it there is.

Meanwhile, this story has got me steaming:

NYT > As Power Shifts in New Congress, Pork May Linger

Meet the new cardinals, as the chairmen of the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees are known on Capitol Hill. Many have a lot in common with the Republicans they will succeed.

All have worked for years to climb to their posts, where the authority to grant earmarks puts them among the most powerful lawmakers in Congress. Like Mr. Inouye and Mr. Stevens, many have developed unusual bipartisan camaraderie while divvying up projects. By longstanding, informal agreement, the majority typically doles out about 60 percent of the money for earmarks and lets the minority pass out the rest. And they form a united front against limitations on the earmark process.

“What is good for the goose is good for the gander,” Senator Patty Murray, the Washington Democrat who is set to become chairwoman of the transportation subcommittee, said last fall in a speech defending an Alaska Republican’s allocation of more than $200 million in federal money for a bridge to remote Gravina, Alaska, with a population of 50. It became notorious as the “Bridge to Nowhere.”

Thousands of people on the ground didn’t bust their humps so that these pigs could get their turn at the national trough. The Federal Reserve is not their petty cash drawer. Oversight, transparency, and accountability need to be the new watchwords in the corridors of American power and any politician who thinks otherwise should feel Uncle Sam’s boot kicking their fat asses to the curb.

It takes one Democrat to pull a Duke Cunningham before the right wing harpies collectively string up the Democratic Party and use it as a giant pinata. Democrats won the majority not on how well they distribute pork but on how corrupt and incompetent the Republicans were. Any Democrat who doesn’t realize this needs to retire now while the Party is still in the majority.

BTW, it looks like Emanuel gets it. I sure hope so.