Ohio 2nd Blog

Beltway publication The Hill has the insider scoop that Sherrod Brown has secured the support of Ohio Congressional powerhouse Dennis Kucinich.

They also report that bankruptcy “reformer” Ted Strickland is the diabolical mastermind behind Congressman Brown’s reversal on running for Senate. Strickland sees his run for Governor and Brown’s for Senate as complimentary given the contrasting regional strengths.

The publication states that support by Ohio’s Democratic Congressional deligation appears to be coalescing around Brown’s candidacy. It will be inspiring to finally see them rallying together to vigorously fight for something they believe in: defeating Paul Hackett.

AP is reporting that Democrats are questioning if Americans for a Republican Majority, one of the political action committees created by Tom Delay, is involved with the scheme to jam phone lines 2002 New Hampshire Senate race.

Rep. Tom DeLay’s political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority, gave $5,000 to the state Republican Party on Nov. 1, 2002, four days before the election in which Republican John Sununu won his Senate seat by defeating former Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.

Four days earlier, the state party received $5,000 each from two Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist with close ties to DeLay. Together, the three donations nearly equal the $15,600 Republicans paid a telemarketing firm to make repeated hang-up calls to the Democratic phone banks.

ARMPAC donated the maximum amount, $10,000, to Congresswoman Jean Schmidt for her successful House bid. She has refused calls to return the money and is a strong defender of the scandal plagued former House Majority Leader.

(via Elwood Dowd @ DKos)

ADDED: Basie! has a round up of The Hammer’s escalating legal troubles.

And BTW, in case you are wondering, Tom Delay still has plenting of power on the Hill despite the loss of his title.

• OH-Sen: The Case For Sherrod Brown
• Swing State Project notes that someone just purchased BobMcEwenForSenate.com. They’re using DreamWeaver to create the page, which is a clue to an old web hack like me. McEwen for Senate helps clear things up for Brinkman in the House. Not good news for the Congresswoman or Senator.

UDPATE: ProjectLogic thinks that this helps Schmidt. If you think that Brinkman is a non-entity, than that would be correct. Bob McEwen is a powerhouse for sure, but I saw Brinkman sucking up enough fiscal conservative votes to eliminate any chance that either could overtake Schmidt as an incumbant.

UPDATE 2: From tomorrow’s Whistleblower…

Actually, “Beechmont Bob” is denying to the EP that he authorized that website showing him running for US Senate. However, numerous sources are confirming he is going to run against the Sniveling Senator, but wanted to wait for poll numbers showing DeWhine losing to both Hackett and Sherrod Brown. The website address was reserved and set-up, but McEwen is denying it so far… we hear the press is skeptical and pressing him for a commitment.

Lance Mannion:

Just called my senator’s office. Aide I talked to told me it’s true, Schumer is asking Hackett to stay out of the Senate race in Ohio.

I am not a happy Democrat.

UPDATE: Lance Mannion has more details. Schumer’s office is denying it.

This is all speculation. I know nothing. No one has told me a thing cause they think I’d blab it all over the internet.

With this story I’m raising the odds of Paul Hackett’s political career being over to %75. I don’t see him taking on the Democratic Leadership, and I don’t see him putting up with their B.S.

My hope is that he becomes a powerful activist voice on getting our troops home. Neither Party has the guts to lead on this issue, and we need leadership fast. The cameras love Paul Hackett. He can make a real difference, maybe more than if he’s running for office. What’s the Democratic Party’s loss could well be America’s gain.

From what I’ve heard, Senator DeWine will be pleased.

UPDATE: Basie! is now reporting that the DSCC is denying the story. From what I understand Schumer is against contested primaries. Not sure what’s going on here.

Brown’s in…. now everyone’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.

• MyDD > Tim Tagaris > Getting Fired Up About Ohio?
• Swing State Project > DavidNYC > OH-Sen: The Story So Far
• Grow Ohio > Sherrod Brown > I’m On Your Side
• Democracy Guy > A Fine Mess Kos Got Us Into
• Daily Kos > Pounder > Sherrod Brown – The History of a Political Coward
• Liberal Common Sense > I don’t mean to be a trouble maker…
• Grow Ohio > Tim Tagaris > And So It Begins
• MyDD > Ann Driscoll > Hackett vs. Brown [NEW]

People are charging that Brown is removing hostile posts over on his site. That’s the problem with politicians running political web portals.

By what they are indicating over @ Grow Ohio the site will be a campaign tool for Sherrod Brown. Sherrod Brown has the best online earner in the business on the payroll. Expect good things. Online politics wonks would do well to watch this race.

Yow! Can’t a Congresswoman get a moments peace to funnel billions in Katrina and Rita relief money to White House croneys?

The WhistleBlower is reporting rumors that “Beechmont Bob” McEwen (that’s a nickname I haven’t heard) is going to run against Congresswoman Schmidt in the primary. If I was on Team Schmidt I would be working double time to get “Tax Cutter” Tom to run as well so that they can once more split the better heads vote. Maybe some fat donations to COAST might do the trick. Wouldn’t that be ironic… donating money to the very group that gave you the shiv just a few months ago.

Personally, I think that the Go Brinkman for Congress ship has sailed with his behind the scenes efforts during the previous special election, but who knows… The Big Question is is Brinkman’s ego bigger than his dislike for Congresswoman Schmidt? The smart way to play it is to wait for the RON district reshuffle and see what turns up. One thing is for sure… if both Brinkman and McEwen run, Schmidt will easily win. Maybe Brinkman’s anti-tax jihadists could use some of that James Dobson mojo rubbing off during these troubled times. There’s a new dawn in the Ohio GOP and if you are going to sign up now is the time to do it.

While I don’t consider Brinkman a significant threat, McEwen is formidable. McEwen made an impressive showing during the last primary, bringing in the largest amount of supporters during the candidate forums. All he has to do is invest some of that money he raised during his day job in some 21st century geek power and we’d have an exciting round two of the local vs. national anti-abortion turf wars. I just hope that I don’t have to dust off the McEwen blog death watch

Project Logic reports that a group calling itself “We The People” is robocalling local voters to inform them of Ms. Schmidt’s acceptance of the Toxic Texan‘s infamous PAC money. They are asking people to call the Congresswoman and demand that she return the money and ask for Delay to step down. Project Logic also gets into some of the details about the money that might have been misleading. Yes, she didn’t receive over $10,000… just $10,000. True, it wasn’t from TRMPAC, Delay’s PAC tied to the current Indictments, but instead from ARMPAC, which has its own so far lesser soft-money issues.

Both Project Logic and Malia Rulon over @ The Enquirer report that the Congresswoman has no plans to return any of the money.

Interesting speculation by Walt Starr over @ DKos.

I’ve gotten my hand justifiably slapped for speculating that Congressman Ney may be for regulating blogs. I’m told that he’s actually against regulating online political speech. Great! That takes a lot of guts these days from sitting members of the establishment.

Our apologies for falling for our natural prejudices against Republicans. It’s a weakness that we are working on every day. It is a difficult one to master with all the temptations out there in these trying times

We stand by our prediction on the outcome.

ADDED: Redstate.org’s statement before the committee is live.

From our mailbox:

Contact: Brian Walsh September 20, 2005
Phone: 202-225-6265
Fax: 202-225-3394
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

***ADVISORY***

House Administration to Examine Regulation of Political Speech on the Internet at Thursday Hearing

WASHINGTON D.C. — The Committee on House Administration, led by Chairman Bob Ney, will hold a hearing entitled, “Political Speech on the Internet: Should it be Regulated?” at 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2005, in the Committee’s Hearing Room, 1310 Longworth House Office Building.

The hearing will focus on whether the Federal Election Commission (FEC) should regulate political speech on the Internet and examine the different options currently being considered in Congress and at the FEC to regulate or deregulate political speech on the Internet and the potential effects of these options. Currently, H.R. 1316, the Pence-Wynn 527 Fairness Act, is the only bill in the House being considered that would amend FECA to exclude Internet communications from being considered “public communications,” thus exempting web sites, blogs, and online advertisements from regulation under the federal campaign finance laws.

Witnesses
Three current FEC Commissioners will be testifying at the hearing. Chairman Scott Thomas (D), Vice Chairman Michael Toner (R), and Commissioner Ellen Weintraub (D). Also testifying will be former FEC Chairman Bradley Smith, who left the Commission last month to teach at Capital University Law School in Ohio; former FEC Commissioner Karl Sandstrom; and campaign finance reform advocate Lawrence Noble, executive director of the Center for Responsive Politics.

The Committee will also hear from two political “bloggers” from opposite sides of the political spectrum: conservative blogger Michael Krempasky of RedState.org and liberal blogger Duncan Black of Eschaton (www.atrios.blogspot.com). The bloggers will testify about the effect regulation of Internet political speech would have on their on-line operations and the operations of their peers.

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The big question is: Is it worth it to the GOP to turn the entire blogosphere against them in order to try to stifle one of the biggest threats to their hegemony? I’m betting that the answer they give will be yes. With the exception of Richard Nixon and Microsoft those in power generally only have the tactical awareness to answer threats by trying to destroy them head on. The idea of embrace and extend is too advanced.

Good luck closing Pandora’s Box.

ASIDE: Perhaps stories like this and this explain Congressman Ney’s interest in regulating the blogosphere. (via Atrios) (see correction)