To be honest, I'm not very impressed with any of the candidates I've seen for the Senate. I feel the Senate is a weighty, important position that's supposed to rise above (most of) the politics and find the right path. What I saw from the candidates was either carefully modulated political messages (from Portman and Fisher) or extreme, not very helpful positions designed to overhaul the American way of life overnight (La Botz and Deaton).
It seemed almost impossible for a candidate to address current issues in a way that was effective and practical--and by practical, I mean something we could implement in a matter of weeks. While I believe both Deaton and La Botz make very good points on fundamental flaws with our system, the changes they want to implement would require changing the public's way of thinking 180 degrees. That won't happen in time to solve the urgent problems in our nation. Neither the "main stream" nor the "independent" party candidates give me the feeling they'd be a constructive force in Washington, and that makes me sad.
But I still have a vote to cast. I might not use it. But, if I HAD to vote...
It wouldn't be for Portman. Portman has a long history of service to Ohio and the nation, and no one can say he hasn't done it with honor. But anyone who did that much work for and supported the Bush Administration that much does not share my beliefs, and would not represent me. This is held up by the statements on his campaign website...point after point, I found myself disagreeing almost 100% with his positions. We're ideological opposites on every issues I find important.
It wouldn't be for Deaton. I do agree with most of his "Stick to the Constitution" vision for the government, as impractical as I think it is in the short term. However, he has a very conservative view on social issues that I find completely out of line with my own. I don't see him representing me on civil rights at all, for instance.
It wouldn't be for La Botz. His liberal view on civil rights and other social issues is in line with my own. However, I have the same problem with his vision for the government as I do with Deaton's: it is too far removed from our current way of life, and would face too much opposition by the public, to do us any good now.
I'd vote for Fisher. Again, this is only if I had to use the vote. Fisher's record as the Attorney General, in the State Legislature, and as Lieutenant Governor shows to me he's at least consistent with my values and my views. I'm not convinced he's able to be part of the solution in the partisan, strangled knot of Capitol Hill, but I can at least feel he'd represent me.
Showing posts with label Rob Portman. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rob Portman. Show all posts
Tuesday
Sunday
US Senate Race: Rob Portman
Rob Portman is a Cincinnati native running for the US Senate on the GOP ticket. Portman is a veteran of the Federal government having served as Representative for the 2nd Congressional District from 1993-2005. He then spent a year as Trade Representative for the Bush Administration, and another year as the Administration's Director of the Office of Budget and Management.
Growing up, Portman's father started Portman Equipment as a small forklift dealer, and grew it to considerable size. Portman worked for the company, and later represented them as part of his law practice. You can read more about the life and times of Rob Portman on his website.
As for issues he's campaigning on, Portman has them broken down into 13 points.
Growing up, Portman's father started Portman Equipment as a small forklift dealer, and grew it to considerable size. Portman worked for the company, and later represented them as part of his law practice. You can read more about the life and times of Rob Portman on his website.
As for issues he's campaigning on, Portman has them broken down into 13 points.
- Jobs for Ohio: Portman has laid out a plan based on six key elements to improve the recovery of the Ohio economy. This stretches from increasing Federal aid for job programs to helping provide a more hospitable environment for small businessness. I didn't see anything new and exciting, just a repeat of what everyone is saying about the Ohio job market.
- Energy: The energy plan laid out is almost standard Republican boiler plate: "Cap and trade will destroy the economy," "We need to expand on petroleum and natural gas in Ohio," "Nuclear power is clean energy." His stance is to not increase regulation to choke fossil fuel power, but to use it in the short term while developing alternatives.
- Budget: There's a statement about the importance of a balanced Federal budget to improve the nation's long term fiscal health.
- Taxes: This page reads a list of achievements on the issue of tax reform. As you would expect from a Republican candidate, the goal is lower taxes, simpler tax code, and fiscal responsibility.
- Healthcare: I find two points on this page: Portman believes health care is broken and needs to be fixed (just like all of us), and he feels the worst thing we could have done about it was pass the recent reform bill.
- Defense: Three main points: Protecting the benefits for those who serve our country, maintaining a strong defense program, and keeping Wright Patterson Airforce Base near Dayton, OH functional.
- Veterans: This page reads a list of accomplishments in support of veterans, from votes in Congress to budget decisions with the OMB.
- Pro-Life Record: Portman lists his Right to Life score cards, 100% from 1997-2005.
- 2nd Ammendment Rights: The NRA approves of Portman, who has voted against gun regulation regularly.
- Community: A list of efforts to improve community life by eliminating the effects of illegal drugs. Bills included at the Drug Demand Reduction Act, the Second Chance Act, the Drug Free Workplace Act, and several others. He also founded the Coalition for a Drug Free Greater Cincinnati.
- A Strong and Independent Israel: That says it all. Portman also lists his legislative record in regards to Israel, and touches on his dedication to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
- Immigration: Portman appears to be a strong enforcement advocate. He mentions in some depth how he'd like to see the rules tightened and enforced, from the border to the hiring line. He also states his support of legal immigration.
- Agriculture: A declaration of support for American farmers, including a list of farm-friendly bills he's voted for. He's in favor of less regulation, more protection for farmers and their markets.
I encourage you to check out his voting record from Congress. That's all I have for now (I think that's more than enough, don't you?). Tune in next time for another candidate for the junior Senate seat in Ohio!
Friday
Mid Term Elections (National Elections)
First things first: It's about to become mid-term election season. This is typically where we have a backlash against the President's party.
People will go to the voting booth, mostly with their minds made up as to how they're going to vote...and very little of that mind will consider the why's.
My goal is to consider the candidates, not the party.
If they're up for reelection, have they represented me over the previous term? Am I comfortable with that person voting for me on such key issues as immigration, energy, and financial reform?
If they're challenging the incumbent, what are they going to do different? Do they have plans? Positions? Or are they just in opposition? Are they really a better fit for the job, or are they change for change's sake?
In any event, we need to know what offices are up being contested, and by whom. Here's Part 1 of that list!
People will go to the voting booth, mostly with their minds made up as to how they're going to vote...and very little of that mind will consider the why's.
My goal is to consider the candidates, not the party.
If they're up for reelection, have they represented me over the previous term? Am I comfortable with that person voting for me on such key issues as immigration, energy, and financial reform?
If they're challenging the incumbent, what are they going to do different? Do they have plans? Positions? Or are they just in opposition? Are they really a better fit for the job, or are they change for change's sake?
In any event, we need to know what offices are up being contested, and by whom. Here's Part 1 of that list!
The Races:
United States Senate
United States House of Representives
12th District
It's the first real set of elections since "third parties" were required to be allowed on the ballot, so the landscape of the ballot is wonderfully diverse.
I'll do a post on this later, but a quick run down is:
S = Socialist Party
G = Green Party
D = Democratic Party
R = Republican Party
Tune in Tuesday for some of the State offices up for grabs and their contenders!
Tuesday
US Senate Primary Election 5/4/10: the GOP Candidates
Unless some other candidates file in the next nine days the competitors for the US Senate seat being vacated by George Voinovich are set.
For the GOP nomination it's a fight between a newbie from Cleveland named Tom Ganley--who has a large fortune from his auto dealing companies--and veteran Congressman/US Trade Rep/Director of Office of Management and Budget Rob Portman from Cincinnati. While Portman enjoys the backing the Republican Party leadership and all the perks and advantages that entails, Ganley is tapping into the anti-government feelings popularized by the "Tea Party" movement.
In a lot of ways, this primary is the epitome of the struggle going on in the GOP and the rest of our political structure. Across the board, issues are being increasingly polarized over bigger government vs no government, with no one considering the idea of a middle ground.
Incumbents are being pooh-poohed simply because they're a part of government--regardless of their actual accomplishments or lack thereof. Compromise candidates like the "Blue Dog" Democrats are getting caught in the middle: too liberal for their constituents, too conservative for party leadership. GOP incumbents such as Arlen Specter are finding it necessary to change parties just to have a chance of staying in office--because they've become too "establishment" and "liberal" for the GOP base.
The Portman/Ganley showdown is another sign of this. Government veteran, or government outsider? Political operator or commercial giant? Seasoned legislator or successful executive? Those are some of the choices GOP voters will have to decide in May, and the results could be quite interesting for the future of this country.
Thursday
United States Senate Race 2010
So Senator George Voinovich is retiring at the end of his current term, after two terms serving in the Senate. While I haven't always agreed with how he's represented my state, one cannot argue the Senator has dedicated his life to working for the people of Ohio with integrity...something of a rarity in today's day and age, or even any age.
Rest assured, I'll be watching for developments and doing some looking around!
That said, now we need to pick a new United States Senator from Ohio to join Sherrod Brown. Neither party has a clear candidate yet...and I haven't heard about any third party candidates throwing their hats in the ring yet. Here's what we have on the platter so far.
Democrats:
Lee Fisher, currently the Lieutenant Governor.
Jennifer Brunner, currently the Secretary of State.
Republicans:
Rob Portman, not currently holding a government position but well experienced at the federal level
Tom Ganley, President and CEO of the Ganley Automotive Group and has never held public office.
I'm not personally seeing any clear leaders...Rob Portman has more experience, but it was all with the Bush Adminstration...and that may very well hurt him if the party is trying to distance itself from those philosophies. Brunner has a higher profile than Fisher, but I'm not sure if that's a help or a hindrance just yet. The primary races should be quite interesting :-)
Rest assured, I'll be watching for developments and doing some looking around!
Senator George Voinovich Set to Retire
The news is about a week and a half old (or maybe older...which shows you how well I'm paying attention) by now, but the senior Senator from Ohio is not seeking reelection in 2010.
Why? Officially because Voinovich doesn't want reelection to distract him from his work in the next two years. And also so he can spend more time with his family. I mean, the guy has spent the last 40-odd years in public service. He's been the Governor, the mayor of Cleveland, and two rounds as a US Senator. You could say that's a good enough to retire on.
Another school of thought is that the political tide is changing, and a man who spent so much of the last 8 years as a firm Bush supporter has quite an uphill struggle. I mean, there's no way in hell I'd put my vote behind Voinovich. And since Ohio actually went blue this past Presidential election, I don't think I'm alone.
Of course, I'm not much more fond of Rob Portman...but that's another discussion for another day.
This is what the Statehouse News Bureau had to say about successors, from the 12th of January...have we heard anything since then?
Why? Officially because Voinovich doesn't want reelection to distract him from his work in the next two years. And also so he can spend more time with his family. I mean, the guy has spent the last 40-odd years in public service. He's been the Governor, the mayor of Cleveland, and two rounds as a US Senator. You could say that's a good enough to retire on.
Another school of thought is that the political tide is changing, and a man who spent so much of the last 8 years as a firm Bush supporter has quite an uphill struggle. I mean, there's no way in hell I'd put my vote behind Voinovich. And since Ohio actually went blue this past Presidential election, I don't think I'm alone.
Of course, I'm not much more fond of Rob Portman...but that's another discussion for another day.
This is what the Statehouse News Bureau had to say about successors, from the 12th of January...have we heard anything since then?
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