So Governor Ted Strickland made his second State of the State address yesterday...I caught the last 20 minutes or so on NPR. That meant I got the meat and potatoes of the speech...namely, a primary education chancellor and a $1.7 billion stimulus program to create jobs.
Here's the transcript...
...and a news story with the highlights from the Columbus Dispatch.
There were also some big promises on college...guaranteed quality associate and bachelors degrees available within 30 miles of every Ohioan...a "Seniors to Sophomores" program that will let high school seniors opt into a state college for their last year.
I liked it. I thought Strickland did a nice job, wasn't bashing anyone, was making some nice gestures to the legislature. And he's got his eye on the prize...now to see if we can actually get the education system in this state under control.
Wednesday
Who's in the State House?
Since I now life only about 15 minutes from the State House, I think it's time to look at who represents me now.
My State Senator is Ray Miller, the Minority Leader. Looks pretty solid...BS in Political Science, MA Public Administration. President and CEO of Professional Employment Services of America. I'll look into sponsored bills...later.
My State Representative is Tracy Heard. First term in office, went to the University of Akron...in good company, from all I've heard. Again, I'll check out some of these 48 bills later.
I just have to update some links.
...and Now for Some News...
Clinton and Obama Still Locked in Struggle, from NPR
McCain is Far Ahead the GOP Leader (but Romney and Huckabee Won't Quit), from NPR
Italian Parliament Dissolved to Set Stage for Snap Elections, from BBC
CIA Chief Admits to Waterboarding, from BBC
OSU Tickets to Cost More Next Season, from WCBE
Foster Care Bill Hits Governor's Desk, from WVXU
My State Senator is Ray Miller, the Minority Leader. Looks pretty solid...BS in Political Science, MA Public Administration. President and CEO of Professional Employment Services of America. I'll look into sponsored bills...later.
My State Representative is Tracy Heard. First term in office, went to the University of Akron...in good company, from all I've heard. Again, I'll check out some of these 48 bills later.
I just have to update some links.
...and Now for Some News...
Clinton and Obama Still Locked in Struggle, from NPR
McCain is Far Ahead the GOP Leader (but Romney and Huckabee Won't Quit), from NPR
Italian Parliament Dissolved to Set Stage for Snap Elections, from BBC
CIA Chief Admits to Waterboarding, from BBC
OSU Tickets to Cost More Next Season, from WCBE
Foster Care Bill Hits Governor's Desk, from WVXU
Monday
My Ideal Candidate
Now that we're in the same year as the election, I'm taking a harder look at who could be President. I've made my picks for each party. But really, I feel like they're just compromise positions.
That's partly because they're career politicians. Someone who makes government a living doesn't really know me and my life. I'd be happier with a business man or a doctor or a lawyer or even a machinist taking time out of his life to serve.
It's also partly because they're all chosen by the same old republican system. No, this is not a conspiracy theory...that's Hilary's thing. I mean "as in a republic."
The way the nomination process works thru party delegates allows the party machines (and thus) big money to have a bigger say in things than any number of votes. Let's look at the debates, how only "viable" candidates are allowed to participate (Where was Mike Gravel??). Let's look at a thousand other ways candidates not ahead in the polls get zero media coverage.
My ideal candidate would be elected by me. Or my neighbor. From start to finish. I don't want that candidate to be nominated by Iowa. I don't want them financed by the local party machine. I don't want them chosen by professional political junkies for me.
My candidate would elected, not pre-approved.
...and Now for Some News...
Cuban Migration Spikes, from NPR
Archivist Arrested for Stealing Documents, from NPR (Yet another reminder to NOT DO ILLEGAL STUFF ONLINE).
Columbians Protest the Farc, from BBC
High Heels Equal Better Sex Life?, from BBC
Sherrod Brown Working to Secure Federal Dollars for Utility Upgrades, from WCBE
Parts of Old St. George Church to Come Down, from WVXU
That's partly because they're career politicians. Someone who makes government a living doesn't really know me and my life. I'd be happier with a business man or a doctor or a lawyer or even a machinist taking time out of his life to serve.
It's also partly because they're all chosen by the same old republican system. No, this is not a conspiracy theory...that's Hilary's thing. I mean "as in a republic."
The way the nomination process works thru party delegates allows the party machines (and thus) big money to have a bigger say in things than any number of votes. Let's look at the debates, how only "viable" candidates are allowed to participate (Where was Mike Gravel??). Let's look at a thousand other ways candidates not ahead in the polls get zero media coverage.
My ideal candidate would be elected by me. Or my neighbor. From start to finish. I don't want that candidate to be nominated by Iowa. I don't want them financed by the local party machine. I don't want them chosen by professional political junkies for me.
My candidate would elected, not pre-approved.
...and Now for Some News...
Cuban Migration Spikes, from NPR
Archivist Arrested for Stealing Documents, from NPR (Yet another reminder to NOT DO ILLEGAL STUFF ONLINE).
Columbians Protest the Farc, from BBC
High Heels Equal Better Sex Life?, from BBC
Sherrod Brown Working to Secure Federal Dollars for Utility Upgrades, from WCBE
Parts of Old St. George Church to Come Down, from WVXU
Saturday
40 billion dollars.
A special Saturday post. While I was out getting coffee and donuts this morning, the newspaper had an impressive headline:
EXXON PROFIT $390,600,000
I could be confused on the numbers. I'm not even 100% sure about the newspaper I saw it in. BUT I do know it was $40 billion dollars.
How in the hell do they justify keeping gas prices high with that kind of profit? And why exactly are we still having explosions, pipe leaks, and other problems while they make this sort of money?
And why hasn't Congress investigated this? They investigated steriods in baseball, but not this?
I'm more than a little outraged.
EXXON PROFIT $390,600,000
I could be confused on the numbers. I'm not even 100% sure about the newspaper I saw it in. BUT I do know it was $40 billion dollars.
How in the hell do they justify keeping gas prices high with that kind of profit? And why exactly are we still having explosions, pipe leaks, and other problems while they make this sort of money?
And why hasn't Congress investigated this? They investigated steriods in baseball, but not this?
I'm more than a little outraged.
Friday
My Take on the Candidates
Sorry 'bout the late, LATE post. We got a cat yesterday, and I forgot to put this up in all the excitement.
Things have solidified quite a bit since the start of the Primary hoopla. We've really narrowed it down to a few solid candidates ahead of Super Tuesday. Here are my picks for both major Parties:
John McCain, an Arizona Congressman from 1982-1986 and a Senator from 1986-present, is a former naval aviator and POW. He's been consistently for the war in Iraq, and staying there, and was one of the 12 Senators who staged a "revolt" over Bush's bill on detainees in 2006, because it did not provide protections against torture. Senate Page
Barack Obama, a 1st term Senator from Illinois who also spent 8 years as a state Senator. He's been a civil rights attorney and a community organizer. His time in the Senate hasn't been glorious, per se, but you do see his name around an awful lot of bipartisan efforts. I'd love to put more in here, but to be honest he hasn't been too much in the public eye until the primary race started up. Senate Page.
And why...
John McCain may be old. And he may be Republican. And he may have spent much of the last 8 years pandering to the far right wing. But on the whole, his efforts on campaign finance reform, the way his campaign in 2000 was run, his personal history, and how he has stuck to his guns on the Iraq issue when EVERYONE was jumping ship all impress me. I feel he is a straight talker, and while I disagree with some of the positions he has (like Iraq), I agree with others (like immigration, which he's also taken fire for and stuck to). I could definitely see myself voting for John McCain in a general election.
Things have solidified quite a bit since the start of the Primary hoopla. We've really narrowed it down to a few solid candidates ahead of Super Tuesday. Here are my picks for both major Parties:
John McCain, an Arizona Congressman from 1982-1986 and a Senator from 1986-present, is a former naval aviator and POW. He's been consistently for the war in Iraq, and staying there, and was one of the 12 Senators who staged a "revolt" over Bush's bill on detainees in 2006, because it did not provide protections against torture. Senate Page
Barack Obama, a 1st term Senator from Illinois who also spent 8 years as a state Senator. He's been a civil rights attorney and a community organizer. His time in the Senate hasn't been glorious, per se, but you do see his name around an awful lot of bipartisan efforts. I'd love to put more in here, but to be honest he hasn't been too much in the public eye until the primary race started up. Senate Page.
And why...
John McCain may be old. And he may be Republican. And he may have spent much of the last 8 years pandering to the far right wing. But on the whole, his efforts on campaign finance reform, the way his campaign in 2000 was run, his personal history, and how he has stuck to his guns on the Iraq issue when EVERYONE was jumping ship all impress me. I feel he is a straight talker, and while I disagree with some of the positions he has (like Iraq), I agree with others (like immigration, which he's also taken fire for and stuck to). I could definitely see myself voting for John McCain in a general election.
Barack Obama is young. He's fresh. He has a back ground in the grass roots and in civil rights. He's spent time in the state legislature, where the real business of the country happens. I don't get a vibe that it will be business as usual with Obama, and I like the way people react to him. The vibrancy around his campaign is something I haven't noticed in politics in my lifetime (short, granted, but I campaigned for Clinton in 1996 at school, fool. I've been watching these things). He also has a lot of the liberal ideas I like, without some of the dumber ones that Rush Limbagh likes to mock. I can see an Obama presidency being a good thing, and thus I can definitely see myself voting for him.
Let's see who survives Super Tuesday, hm?
...And Now for Some News...
No news today...I'm running late as it is.
Wednesday
Columbus Government
Since I've moved, it's time to get acquainted with a new set of government officials. Let's start with the Mayor of Columbus and the City Council.
The city's website is pretty simple: http://www.columbus.gov/. I love it when it's that simple. The main page here has all kinds of links that are just pretty spiffy. The central features have some interesting news bites...hrm. Have to look into that.
The Mayor's Page has a lot of the same information as the main city page, but also has contact info for the Mayor.
The City Council has a main page, that branches off into all sorts of information about the council and it's individual members.
City Attorney has his own page.
As does the City Auditor.
Clerk of Courts has her own webspace.
And a list of Judges.
I think that covers it all. Now to update my sidebar links...
...and Now for Some News....
McCain, Clinton Win in Florida, from NPR
Army Balks at VA Help for Soldiers, from NPR
Afghan MPs Back Death for Blasphemy, from BBC
EU Leaders Call for Transparency, from BBC
Organizations Worried Over State Budget Troubles, from WVXU
The city's website is pretty simple: http://www.columbus.gov/. I love it when it's that simple. The main page here has all kinds of links that are just pretty spiffy. The central features have some interesting news bites...hrm. Have to look into that.
The Mayor's Page has a lot of the same information as the main city page, but also has contact info for the Mayor.
The City Council has a main page, that branches off into all sorts of information about the council and it's individual members.
City Attorney has his own page.
As does the City Auditor.
Clerk of Courts has her own webspace.
And a list of Judges.
I think that covers it all. Now to update my sidebar links...
...and Now for Some News....
McCain, Clinton Win in Florida, from NPR
Army Balks at VA Help for Soldiers, from NPR
Afghan MPs Back Death for Blasphemy, from BBC
EU Leaders Call for Transparency, from BBC
Organizations Worried Over State Budget Troubles, from WVXU
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