Lucas County Board of Elections - DeGidio not a county resident?

They're referring to this:

http://www.toledoblade.com/Politics/2013/03/18/Stainbrook-aims-to-oust-GOP-board-member.html

funny - in a not funny way - but not unexpected: DeGidio is thinking about not supporting Stainbrook on keeping the two directors, so now all the dirt is coming out in that DeGidio doesn't live in the county, Stainbrook claims, and Stainbrook is/was having a romantic relationship with Gallagher and takes money from her, DeGidio claims.

I expect to hear more in the future now that the dirt is being exposed....

yikes. this is going to get nasty

They looked pretty chummy here:http://www.toledoblade.com/gallery/On-The-Town-Fourth-of-July-Celebrations

Yeah, I saw the article this morning. Interesting that the Blade dropped hints yesterday but held off until today to give the whole story.

Not unusual for the Stain to attack one of his own when a duck fall out of line. I'm sure DeGidio's living arrangements are nothing new and his attorney discipline issue is not recent. And since DeGidio doesn't serve the BoE in a attorney capacity, I'm not sure what his discipline issues have to due with serving.

No wonder the Blade likes Stainbrook so goddamn much...he apparently does business just the way they do.

Plays nice until you go against him, then he shanks you with the longest, rustiest blade (no pun inten...well, OK, maybe a little intended) possible.

{faux shocked face} Golly gee, I wonder why it's so hard to get a Republican elected in this town with these professionals in charge?

From the March 18, 2013 Blade story

April 2008 NorthwestOhio.com story

April 2008 Blade story on the same thing:

October 2012 - The New Republic - The Campaign to Steal Ohio

LOL, mom2! Maybe it was just a handy, don't assume! lol

re jr's posts:

The Internet: it's forever. Unlike a quickie in a fogged-up car.

"Maybe she figures blowing a dude in the front seat of the car doesn't count as "romantic"."

Probably depends on the definition of "is".....just sayin'

Obviously, if DiGidio doesn't meet the residency requirements, he shouldn't be on the Board. But Stain's assertion that his move has nothing to do with DiGidio's lack of support for Gallagher is laughable at best.

Regarding the discipline issue, the Stain thinks that DiGidio should be bounced for an accusation of impropriety that has nothing to do with his job. DiGidio may have had the local bar association make a recommendation regarding discipline (which should not be public anyway, hmm), but until the Supreme Court says there is a violation, he is clean:

http://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/AttySvcs/AttyReg/Public_AttorneyDetails.asp?ID=0069064

mom2: that was the funniest thing I have heard all day, and this has been a day (on my end) filled with some serious lulz.

The waiting has finally come to the end...

:)

anonymouscoward and Linecrosser, start a new thread in the politics forum.

Mar 20, 2013 - Toledo Blade - Another attempt to fire pair falls short - Director rebuts negative report

I wonder if any other county in Ohio has had the amount of election problems in the past five years as Lucas County?

June 2008 - Toledo Talk - Stainbrook takes control of Lucas County Republican Party

Jr, I've been advocating that the Republicans of this county do a massive reorganization. Mainly to support the party and focus on the county elections but this is a big reason why. Stainbrook has been an abismal failure.

...the Republicans of this county do a massive reorganization.

To re- organize, you first have to be organized.

Show me evidence there is, in fact, any organization to LCRP. Other than organized thievery in the form of salaries to it's "leaders."

I point you to the LCRP website. No features. No biographies. No place to click to find any ideas, substantive or not. Nothing to draw contrasts between Republican and Democrat ideas on how to fix the city/county. And, as of 10:30AM (3/20/13), the only information on the website (aside from the headquarters address) is an invitation to buy tickets to the Lincoln Day Dinner with Gov. Kasich....which happened almost exactly one month ago. During election season, the site featured a text slate of candidates to vote for...and nothing else.

This isn't just apathy...it's borderline criminal. Makes me wonder why the few somewhat prominent Republicans left in town don't go to war to pry the local party away from a man who has destroyed it. D-E-S-T-R-O-Y-E-D it.

I fairness, Stainbrook didn't destroy the local Republican party. He simply filled a void left by the criminal Noe and all his surrogates when his house of cards imploded, tainting most of the prominent Republicans at the time – Thurber, Perz, Owens, Kidd and a score of others. Losing Larry Kaczala also left the local Republican party worse off as well.

Stainbrook didn’t destroy it, but it won’t be rebuilt with him there either.

...tainting most of the prominent Republicans at the time – Thurber, Perz, Owens, Kidd and a score of others.

G--I understand that point of view. But Noe was how many years ago now? 2005? A lifetime when it comes to politics. Someone brought up in another thread Marion Berry--on film for chrissakes smoking crack--who is a sitting D.C. councilman. There are numerous examples of politicians who were in trouble or close to trouble who got elected (many, many Dems included on that list). No excuses.

A politically astute leader figures out how to sail past crises, not remain mired in them or "tainted". That includes electing people not named Tom Noe and recruiting new candidates who had nothing to do with Tom Noe.

The last website update was apparently in February. The last Facebook update was around Election Day. No Twitter account. No contact with voters. Why would anyone write a check or fundraise to support these organizational incompetents?

Compare side-by-side the web presence of LCRP and the Wood County Republican Party and tell me who is doing a better job?

What a circus this thing is becoming. Did anyone catch this part:

At the end of the meeting, an associate of Mr. Stainbrook, Kelly Bensman, berated Mr. DeGidio over his residency and other issues and was ordered to leave the building by an Ohio state police officer assigned to provide security in Government Center.

And how about this: DiGidio can't vote to remove Gallagher because he represented her in a personal injury case and then she filed a grievance against him. WTF?

Joining Mr. Irish in criticism of Ms. Gallagher’s rebuttal was Mr. DeGidio, who accused her of developing the report to defend herself. Ms. Gallagher rejected that charge, saying the Ruvolo-Allison report was aimed at the board, not her, and she was defending the board.

“I’ve been conflicted out,” Mr. DeGidio said.

And how about this: DiGidio can't vote to remove Gallagher because he represented her in a personal injury case and then she filed a grievance against him. WTF?

I wonder when he represented her? Was it while he was on the board and she was an employee? That would have been a conflict too, I would think. Actually, hiring her while he had an attorney/client relationship would have been an issue too. It couldn't have been that long ago if she is filing a grievance now.

The Stain is really good at keep Plan B ready and available against everyone he associates with.

I believe this was the case: filed at the end of 2011. DiGidio only withdrew from representing her two weeks ago.

http://lcapps.co.lucas.oh.us/onlinedockets/Docket.aspx?STYPE=1&PAR=CI201106863-000&STARTDATE=01/01/1900&ENDDATE=01/01/2100&PARTY=0

Tony DiGidio and I were very close back in the early 1980's. We worked together on various projects. He had a Delorean at the time. He owned a local computer store in the 82-84 era.

We lost track of each other and low and behold I see that name mentioned. Yup...same Tony. Nice guy then. Np idea now.

So when the BoE unanimously appointed Gallagher to Director on March 2, 2012, DeGidio had an attorney/client relationship with her?!? A board member had an attorney/client relationship with an employee?!?

I'm no fan of Stainbrook, but DeGidio acted unethically and did not uphold his obligation to the residents of Lucas County because he had a conflict when she was APPOINTED. I don't think he should have been able to take the case to begin with, as that was a conflict between his obligation as a board member and his practice as an attorney.

But again, Stainbrook didn't mention a peep of this when it happened and is only using it to manipulate the situation now.

The law floats on a sea of ethics -- Chief Justice Earl Warren, 1962.

Wasn't sure to post this under the "why no follow up" thread or this BEO is completely F'd up threat.

So what ever happen about investigating the last directory of the BEO?

http://www.toledofreepress.com/2012/02/17/boe-yet-to-investigate-questionable-office-hours/

^^^^

best line from that article:

The meetings typically escalate to heated altercations and eye-rolling among board members and sighs or hushed laughter from the public attending.

This whole thing is some sort of a joke, right? I mean how are these people allowed to be in charge of any election? Everyone should be fired, regardless of the letter after their name. I'm serious, just clean house, every last worker in that office.

The SoS should just fire the whole board and reappoint new ones until a new election can be conducted.

Sounds like Stainbrook operates in a mafia type style environment - acts like your friend, keeps any potentially ugly information private, but uses the information as a weapon when you cross him, or to advance himself. Nice guy.

The funny thing is how pointless it is. All this backstabbing and subterfuge for what? To run an impotent party that had no credibility with the voters? Who would want that?

Have to be getting something somewhere. They don't do it for the fun of it. Well maybe some do, sick twisted freaks.

As far as firing the staff, that would be counter-productive. Those are the folks who do the day-to-day work, who know how elections get done -- and who have to work around the shenanigans of the board members and in the top offices.

Those are the folks who do the day-to-day work, who know how elections get done -- and who have to work around the shenanigans of the board members and in the top offices.

Maybe. But a board this divided has probably divided the staff as well...and "us vs. them" is an awfully hard thing to stamp out with only new leadership.

When a new boss (or board) takes over a failing organization and starts removing/replacing people, it isn't simply about bringing in their "own" people--it's about getting rid of past gripes, problems, and resentments that hurt the core purpose of the entity.

Some people can leave the past in the past and demonstrate it. Others--especially "staff" in positions of power--probably have to go to give a true fresh start.

I think they all should be canned and replaced.

I hear Satan woke up to six inches of snow today, as I agree with you.

Although Stainbrook has certainly added nearly fatal and serious problems to the BEO, it was dysfunctional BEFORE Stainbrook. I went down early to vote at the BOE, with my husband several years ago. We vote in Springfield precinct 1, which is actually the Village of Holland. Apparently we were the very first to vote that ballot. I knew that a local bar, located within the Village of Holland, was supposed to have a Sunday liquor option on the ballot. This bar hired a company out of Columbus to collect the necessary signatures on petitions to get the issue on the ballot. The signature petitions were valid and qualified. The company in Columbus collected signatures in precincts based on information given to them from the BEO.

When I voted I was puzzled because the issue wasn't on my ballot. I asked my husband and he said it wasn't on his ballot either. So, I immediately inquired being right there in their offices. After some heated denials they acknowledged that the liquor option issue should have been there, but had been erroneously placed on the ballot in another Springfield Township precinct.

So how do those clowns propose to fix it? By printing new ballots for each district. Sound's OK, right? Well, its not. When I heard this I had to call the BEO again and explain they couldn't legally put the issue on a ballot if they didn't have valid signature petitions from the correct precincts. They fumed and I threatened to call the Blade. Which, after I hung up from the BEO I did anyway.

The bar was forced to collect new signatures from the correct precincts and wait until the next election to get the issues on the ballot.

I lost all respect for and confidence in the BEO as a result. Major incompetence. Now with Satinbrook at the helm, in my opinion, its a sewer that should be flushed.

I lost all respect for and confidence in the BEO as a result. Major incompetence. Now with Satinbrook at the helm, in my opinion, its a sewer that should be flushed.

Maybe the U.N. can send some international observers in November. Is Jimmy Carter also available?

Dennis Rodman

just got an email about this: http://www.toledocitizen.com
wonder how many people will sign!

I might - if the folks behind that website weren't keeping their identity "secret" and I knew what their agenda is and if I thought it would actually make it to Husted.

I quick lookup in the "whois" database shows that the registrant has chosen the domain privacy option.

That photo of Meghan looks like a mugshot.

it is! :)

It is. I think she was stealing medication from a hospital or something?

Google gave me this: http://swampbubbles.com/bubble/stealing-medicine-sick-patient-toledo-hospital-lucas-county-gop-central-committee-chair

Interesting to see the name of the detective that investigated the stolen percocets from the patient in the Hospital on the thread posted above.

Det. Keith Dressel #2127

"They fumed and I threatened to call the Blade. Which, after I hung up from the BEO I did anyway."

Your mistake was thinking that the Bland had any journalistic credibility in this area. They don't.

Actually, and perhaps surprisingly, in this particular case the Blade did give it good and accurate coverage.

Looks like DeGidio's staying put.

yikes. only 33 people have signed that petition!

Considering the time, energy and money Take Back Toledo (WSPD) put into their failed Carty Recall, you’d think this cause would be a no brainer.

Latest blade articale stated about 100 pages of evidence were produced inlcuding health insurance claims and canceled checks. Not sure where one leagally obtains such documents on another. I doubt an attorney would just leave those around, then again you never know with this circus. (do they wear t-shirts?).

I love this hypocrisy:

Attorney James Perlman, who represented Mr. DeGidio at the hearing, tried to cross-examine Mr. Marshall and the legitimacy of the documents several times, but Mr. Marshall refused to answer any of the attorney’s questions. ... “I’m not going to talk to you anymore,” Mr. Marshall said when asked how he obtained such things as Mr. DeGidio’s insurance records. Side note - sounds like a little kid.

When Mr. Rothenbuhler explained that cross-examination is part of the hearing process, Mr. Marshall told him, “I’m not going to answer his questions.”

Compared to:

Mr. Stainbrook expressed frustration with the board’s decision. He said Mr. DeGidio’s absence from the hearing undermined the proceedings because Mr. Marshall couldn’t question him.

So the person bringing the protest and providing the 'evidence' doesn't answer questions, but DeGidio not being there is 'undermining the process'.

Unfortunately, this doesn't resolve the issue of Gallegher because DeGidio has already said he's conflicted out of voting on decisions which involve her.

time to put three rings around this CIRCUS

The BOE folks would even give carnies bad names.

Marshall sounds like he fits right in with Stainbrook and his crew.

Why don't we just call off elections for the next decade and save the money. We mostly know who is going to win elections around here anyway (legacy names and/or union Democrats + almost every new/replacement levy "for the children").

Just scrap the fucker and be done with it....

The latest:

“Mr. DeGidio swears he doesn’t have the money to move to Lucas County, yet he had the money to fly to the Philippines three times. Mr. DeGidio pledged $10,000 to the University of Youngstown’s English Language Institute to sponsor a 21-year old Filipino student and lists 1940 Highlawn, Youngstown, Ohio, as his address,” Mr. Stainbrook said. “Mr. DeGidio, 58, who is engaged to a 21-year-old Filipino girl, yet my morals are in question?”

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/03/29/Elections-hearing-data-spur-questions.html

Mr. Stainbrook said. “Mr. DeGidio, 58, who is engaged to a 21-year-old Filipino girl, yet my morals are in question?”

Sooooooo........we have to make the call between a near 60 year old "engaged" with a 21 year old--or furtive, fogged-up BJs in the car?

IMO--game, set, match Mr. DeGidio.

When I was 21...it was a veerrrrrryyyyyy gooood year......

Why did Mr. DeGidio have to go to the Philippines to pick up his 21 year old bride? I thought they came through the mail. BTW – chances are she isn’t 21 years old…just saying.

http://www.filipinocupid.com/?ovchn=GGL&ovcpn=English+USA+Filipino+Wife&ovcrn=filipino+wives&ovtac=PPC&New&gclid=CMytoIXVrLYCFcdAMgod12EASQ

http://www.orient-match.net/?afid=17927

http://www.filipinawives.com.au/

There's a big "market" in the Asian wife business. I question the judgment of a man who has to resort to this. I don't think of it as a moral failure, just a "Why can't he find someone more age appropriate." Or does some sort of a yuck factor turnoff any of the single females he is sure to have met with his wide geographical ( Youngstown - Toledo) stomping grounds.

If he cant afford to maintain his own private residence what on earth is doing bringing a "wife" to house and support from the Philippines?

I cant help but think that the Democrats who voted to keep him did so just to spite Stainbrook.

"Why did Mr. DeGidio have to go to the Philippines to pick up his 21 year old bride?"

So much for the "buy local" campaign.

"I cant help but think that the Democrats who voted to keep him did so just to spite Stainbrook."

Maybe they are hoping he will bring his new girl to a golf fund-raiser.

I cant help but think that the Democrats who voted to keep him did so just to spite Stainbrook.

Some thoughts:

1. The Blade has been propping up Stainbrook for his entire rise to power in the local GOP and the BOE, but why? Just so they can control him? I would think that Stainbrook is such an easy target with his checkered past that the Blade could crucify him if they wanted to, but they just choose not to.

2. DeGidio was the lawyer for Stainbrook in his legal fight to wrestle control of the GOP from Jeff Simpson a few years ago. Boy, how far has this relationship deteriorated? But, with Stainbrook evidently keeping a J. Edgar Hoover-like file on everyone (and not being afraid to use it), I wonder how tempted DeGidio is in breaking his attorney-client confidence and spilling some dirt on Stainbrook. It has to be close.

Or does some sort of a yuck factor turnoff any of the single females he is sure to have met with his wide geographical ( Youngstown - Toledo) stomping grounds.

The "yuck factor" does not apply only to one gender. Note the dainty "ladies" smokin' cigs & modeling cankles at various local establishments...

Yeah, tough decision.

A. Be 58 and alone
B. Be 58 with smokin' cankles "lady"
C. Be 58 and knockin' it with a nubile 21 year old who can put her sdfgua sidkjg dddi bbawkejfseakajfs................<oldhometown faints>

It may be crass to say so, but I'm betting on "C" winning out.

Oh God I love that. Just too darned funny. And yes, the yuck factor is not tied exclusively to the male gender.

Cankles are nasty. Rarely seen on 21 year olds so I understand Tony's choice.

Man sees cankles....man goes limp.

Maybe DeGidio was just trying to recruit new members for the Lucas County Republican Party. You know, like this from the Free Press:

Within the past year, a director and two board members resigned, at least three full-time employees quit and four were fired. Since firing the information technology manager, the board has yet to find a replacement. Tim Ide, who worked for the board for almost a year, was not fired. He just stopped going in.

“I could do whatever I wanted,” Ide said. “They referred to me numerous times and to other people: ‘He’s a time bomb, he’s a time bomb. We can’t hire him, we can’t fire him, what do we do with him?’ I wish I had a dollar for every time Jon Stainbrook came to me and said, ‘Don’t f*** me, man.’”

Ide ended up telling his secret. In a letter he sent to the entire board and to media outlets, Ide wrote that Republican BOE member Stainbrook and BOE Director Gallagher took him to lunch at San Marcos Taqueria and asked him to set up a laptop computer in the director’s office to recruit his Facebook friends to join the Stainbrook faction of the Lucas County Republican Party, on county time.

Ide said he said no.

“I said, ‘Oh my gosh, Jon — what are you doing? Why did you say that? That is a felony right there and now I’ve got to live with this.’ I have to walk around going, ‘I’ve got the goods on felony activity going on’,” Ide said. “Pay you to do Republican party business on the clock — that’s illegal. They wanted to set me up in their office and ask my Facebook friends, ‘Hey, any interest in becoming a Republican?’”

Rothenbuhler forwarded Ide’s letter to the Secretary of State’s office to seek advice on the matter. McClellan said staff from the office visited both former and current board employees, including Ide, to dicuss a gamut of problems. Ide’s letter was one piece of that.

Gallagher declined to comment. Stainbrook did not return several messages seeking comment.

Tony DeGidio, a Republican member of the Lucas County Board of Elections, will lose his law license for up to two years under a suspension handed down today by the Ohio Supreme Court.

Wow...

http://www.toledoblade.com/Courts/2013/04/18/Board-of-Elections-member-DeGidio-loses-law-license-for-up-to-2-years.html

This is not my father's republican party.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely, except if you're already corrupted, then it's just business as usual to use your power to corrupt those around you.

Jackie, I don't think crap like this is confined solely to the R's. I think the general ethical caliber of both parties has seriously eroded over the last 20 years.

I've got to sit in on one of these meetings, this has got to be some of the best free entertainment in town. The latest:

The Lucas County Board of Elections split 3-1 today on votes to prohibit employees or board members from secretly recording conversations and to ask the Lucas County human resources department to investigate an allegation of harassment in the office.

The second incident was March 21 when she said Ms. Gallagher walked up behind where she was sitting in the office, pushed her to one side, and physically took the computer mouse from her hand, which she characterized as "physical assault."

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2013/04/23/Lucas-County-Board-of-Elections-to-investigate-harassment-bans-secret-recordings.html

Anyone who has ever dealt with Mr. Stainbrook or his cronies is well aware of his fondness of hidden recording devices.

I don't know what I would do. Two thoughts:

1.) I would get my own hidden camera equipment and wait for the next insane blow up.

2.) The bitch needs to be tazed. Training video here.

Now if only many Republicans would wake up and realize this...

Perhaps Lucas county can suplement their budget by selling the reality TV show rights to this circuis.

as we watch the Republican Party being shredded right before our eyes.

Looks like everything is going according to their plan.

And seriously? The Republicans collectively deserve the blame for not stepping up to the plate and rectifying this when they knew what this was about to become.

And they can't say they weren't warned. If "The Crown Prince Of Pool Cleaning" and his rabid band of nit-wits and their antics slipped past the more astute members of the party, then know there wasn't much of one to save, because this drama came with a police escort.

this comment comes with no partisan ties

i'm just puzzled why other republicans haven't stood up to fight the goofballs currently running the party.

it's not like there aren't republicans in toledo
why are they all ok with what's going on? stainbrook is a fucking moron!

i'm just puzzled why other republicans haven't stood up to fight the goofballs currently running the party.

We have careers outside politics, and we stay pretty busy. Thanks for asking.

People complain about Democrats controlling Toledo, but these people are the alternative? Sadly, we could do worse.

What are the forces at work that have made Republican leadership weak in Lucas County for the last 40 years?

If you were a credible Republican with a solid track record in business and the security that comes with it, would you risk that in a Democratic controlled, Union steered, and Newspaper hypervetted county? In Lucas County, you can tell a smart Republican because you have never heard of them.

*Maggie Thurber excluded. :)

She's pretty smart.

Fighting for controlled of the LCRP is like running for team captain of the Washington Generals

In Harlem.

I don't know all the players from what used to comprise the Lucas County Republican Party, but my understanding was that this had a big effect:

Hindsight is 20/20.

There are far stronger Republicans in Lucas County that should have come forth and filled the void.

And if being worried about the local paper and their Democratic leanings as well as the drastically weakened Union Industry being the reason no one steps up to the plate, then not only is the LCRP spineless, they deserve "The Clown Prince of Pool Cleaning".

And this will never go away.

btw, I miss the "A"-team and "B"-team shenanigans lol

But now we see why it disappeared.

The "politics" in Lucas County has such a blurry face these days...

Maybe it looks spineless from Florida, but from Lucas County, it looks smart.

Volunteers to be cannon fodder are not brave.
They are stupid.

Maybe it looks spineless from Florida, but from Lucas County, it looks smart.

Nah, it looks pretty stupid from here, too.

Perhaps one needs to be a successful Republican to see it.

Bookmarking justread self-identifying as a Republican for future reference.

The real issue here is that anytime you try to fight with crazies is they bring you down their level and beat you with experience. It's hard to find anyone willing to deal with their constant court filings and harassment.

Thank you for your assistance in making my point. I did it on purpose to see how long it would take to get crap for admitting to being a Republican in Lucas County.

justread,

I do appreciate what you're wanting to say, I do.

And yes, being here is outside the bubble of fog that permeates the local political landscape.

But seriously, how it has been allowed to go this far, really?

Because back when there WAS an opportunity for the true Republicans to step forward to reclaim what so rightfully belongs, they just laid down and let it happen.

Again, Republicans have and deserve better. It's high time to get this fixed now before it just totally collapses and EVERYONE will be a Democrat.

oh, and Just?

Ask Paul Hem about working for The Blade.

Just the comments toward him because of that just shows how SERIOUSLY people look to the Blade for guidance. I don't think I recall seeing ANYONE come to his aid when the onslaught begins.

Taking crap means nothing when you provide RESULTS. (and yes, Paul, you do your job.)

And the "results" I am seeing from the present LCRP are not only laughable, but the credibility is non-existent.

_ "Because back when there WAS an opportunity for the true Republicans to step forward"_

There was a pretty good run between 1922 and 1947, I guess.

At this point, I think that the hijacking of the RNC by the religious right is a bigger problem than the fact that few qualified republicans choose to run the gaunlet in a county with UAW nurses and UAW sheriff's deputies. Not to mention the fact that our form of government is not actually "strong mayor," it's "strong publisher."

Yes. How dare you have a different perspective in Toledo.

How dare you look around Toledo at what one party control has wrought and say "Nope, this isn't for me."

How dare you pine for a better local two-party system.

How dare...you must be "bookmarked" and blasted.

That is funny. Toledo has a Strong Publisher form of Government.

Very Funny.

People still care what the Blade says? Personally, I want better Republicans, because I want better Democrats. Most the local Dems are train wrecks, but what’s the alternative? If the Republicans put strong capable candidates, the Democrats might have to actually try. Sadly, what passes as a Republican these days makes Copeland look like a genius.

Personally, I want better Republicans, because I want better Democrats. Most the local Dems are train wrecks, but what’s the alternative? If the Republicans put strong capable candidates, the Democrats might have to actually try.

"I hate local Dems, but I hate local Republicans more; therefore, it's the Republicans fault our local Democrats are train wrecks."

Am I mistaken, or is that your position, i.e. it's the Republicans fault that local Democrats are the corrupt, self-serving bunch they are. It's not their fault (or honor or consciences)--it's those Republicans?

Jeezus...a party so far out of power locally you need a Hubble telescope to find 'em is still to blame for Toledo's troubles. Please tell me I'm misreading this.

Or, is your point that a two party system brings out the best in debate. There, I'll agree with you. But it sounded like you are shifting blame for local (D)s being corrupt shitheads squarely on (R)s.

As much as Stainbrook is a POS, his actions have nothing to do with the actions of any (D) in office.

Today, together, as one nation, we celebrate and honor George W. Bush. All living former and current Presidents are in Dallas for the occassion.

Congratulations on the opening of your libray, Mr. President.

Actually, I think that Texans may pronounce it "Li-bray"

First time GW has been in a library, I'll bet.

Unless you count the school library where he enjoyed reading My Pet Goat.

At least Obama had the class to honor him today. Not all socialists, commies and liberals will, of course.

It's the same love Obama gets from the racists, fascists and conservatives, for the most part.

I think completion brings out the best. You don’t think the lack of viable or competent Republicans helps Democrats keep the bar set low?

HA! HA! HA! HA! Oh my God...so original. And timely. Haven't been hearing that one for a decade. Priceless...

Hmmm...I'll take that bet.

Fact: George W. Bush holds a degree from Yale University (B.A. History) and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Unless you're a complete kook who believes that every single professor and every administrator OK'd false academic records, it seems like GWB is a two-time Ivy League graduate. And I don't think you can achieve those degrees without being in a library (especially in the days before the Internet). Yeah, he partied through undergrad. So what? If you actually went to college, you probably know people you saw puking elephants into a toilet (or hedge) and skidded through who are now highly respected professionals. Happens at Yale...happens at UT, happens all over.

Please post your own education background so we can compare your own Yale and Harvard degrees. I am willing to accept other Ivys or any other school in the US News Top 20 as substitutes. Show us your superiority, since you're so certain (gleaned from John Stewart and others) Bush is dumb.

Coincidentally, there's an article out today titled George W. Bush Is Smarter than You. The writer is a former economic advisor for GWB and teaches at Stanford Business School, so he too must be an idiot and willing to compromise himself professionally to defend his former boss.

Idiots graduate from Yale and Harvard and teach at Stanford. Good to know. Hey, Obama graduated from Harvard....

What is wrong with setting the bar high despite lack of competition?

What is wrong with setting the bar high despite lack of competition?

I can’t think of a single place in life, nature or business where this happens.

very true

Yeah, stupid idealistic me. How silly to demand more.

This is very un-American of you!

Damn OHT you're all fired up today. Not that I don't agree with what your saying though. Politicians shouldn't just do enough to get by (or reelected) but it happens. Complacency is a very real thing here only because local D's have no one to challenge them. I would love for a republican challenger to be on the ballot that was worth a shit. Hell, I'd vote for them just so a Copeland or a Webb or whoever else wouldn't hold an elected position anymore.

"Because back when there WAS an opportunity for the true Republicans to step forward to reclaim what so rightfully belongs, they just laid down and let it happen."

"There are far stronger Republicans in Lucas County that should have come forth and filled the void.

And if being worried about the local paper and their Democratic leanings as well as the drastically weakened Union Industry being the reason no one steps up to the plate, then not only is the LCRP spineless, they deserve 'The Clown Prince of Pool Cleaning' "

I'm sorry, but unless you were there in the trenches fighting this maniac, you can kiss my a$$, because I was, I worked with people all over the place to try to derail his train. Republicans did step forward and we fought for the party.

But when you have prosecutors - local and other counties - who won't prosecute clear violations of election law, what can we do?

When you have a publisher that literally tears apart any enemy deemed so by the Stain, what can we do?

When you have a state party that won't get involved even when state law says they have to, what can we do?

Too many people wouldn't follow the law, which left the lawless to win.

Sorry for being crass, but this pie-in-the sky, 20/20 vision about 'we should of' is just BS. We tried, we failed because we followed the rules, its over.

I said long ago let the Stain have it all ... eventually he will screw up and be caught. Its just taken longer than I thought it would, I will admit.

A quote from GWB today:

When it was his turn to speak, Bush opened by saying, “Oh happy day.” He joked that there was a time in his life when he “wouldn’t have been found at a library, much less found one.”

If you talk to anyone who attended an Ivy League school and they are being honest with you, they will tell you the hardest part is getting in. And Bush came from an era when attending Phillips Academy and having family connections were enough to get you in, no matter your grades.

Having already read this:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/04/25/george_w_bush_is_smarter_than_you_118125.html

I understand both his comment, and yours.

No one should confuse intelligence for wisdom or capability.

Oh, I don't think Bush is dumb. I was just saying that his Ivy League pedigree is not proof that he is smart.

Your location has nothing to do with it. Chill out, Francis.

The RNC was NOT hijacked by the religious right, and your attempt at revisionist history is duly noted.

Karl Rove wooed them into bed in order to get Dubya elected, that was a grand part of the Neocon plan for complete Republican control and they acknowledged as much. When it backfired in 2008, they ginned up the Tea Party.

Yeah.

We keep saying it, and the Republicans respond by going further off the deep end, instead of towards the middle.

They needed some place to house his coloring and comic books. I even hear they have a special exhibit of his Veto Crayon, which was only used to veto stem cell research.

By the phrasing of your comment, you just called Obama a socialist commie liberal.

I expected nothing less from a shining example of the Republican establishment like yourself.

And if you happen to be a Big Family Name who had a Big Family Name graduate from these institutions, you get admitted no matter what and your grades pretty much write themselves.

The only difference between the Ivy League and, oh, say the Big Teneleventwelve, SEC, PAC-10+ schools, is that you don't need a family name in the non-Ivy schools, you just need to be on the football or basketball teams.

Stack the decks by gerrymandering districts, thus you create a pile of "safe" districts with no competition.

We had our chance to fix this and blew it.

MrsArcher,

Thank you for your efforts.

It is a relief to see someone knowing the truth about what had happened and tried to stop it.

And you're right, a lot of what Stain did WAS illegal, but because of "who he knows", he was able to have a blind eye turned.

Jon has been well-known to illegally secretly record anyone, anywhere at anytime. He thinks he's cute trying to scrape together a smidgen of control over someone just to humiliate them should they not do Jon's bidding. And as someone that knows Jon's style, anyone is able to say anything at anytime under certain relaxed circumstances and you can't take that back with him around.

While I've never doubted President GWB is an intelligent man, that article is complete garbage.