Get Ready For A Political Cage Match

After much thought (okay, I admit, it was a bourbon influenced phone conversation), I've decided to move national political matters off CTCN and onto Political Cage Match.

With the most important presidential election, of our lifetime, just two years away, I'm enlisting the poison pens of other opinionistas to write the wild world of politics. Sure, we're wide eyed and idealistic, but that's what this country needs.

Of course, none of us are qualified to be a "real political pundit", but we do understand how beltway policies affect our lives and families. Seemingly, that's the one thing the Washington millionaires club has forgotten.

We'll present both sides of the spectrum. There'll be heated arguments, sarcasm and, hopefully, little rhetoric. This will be Heartland bare knuckled brawling outside the beltway.

We're hoping you'll subscribe or bookmark Political Cage Match. More importantly, we hope you'll give your opinions and ideas.

Busy Bees Bashing Republicans

Wow, the lumps just keep coming.

First, Donald Rumsfeld gets fired.

Next, Ken Mehlman, head of the RNC quits and gets outed on Larry King.

John Bolton is on his way out the door.

Wait a minute, this gets better, or worse, depending on your political affiliation.

A lawsuit will be filed next week in Germany seeking criminal prosecution of Rumsfeld, former CIA director George Tenet, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and a whole host of Bush buddies. Who knows where this lawsuit will go, but German's have war crime trial experience and it's not just Americans who are hopping mad over the out-of-control administration.

What's next? Impeachment?

Election 2006 Thoughts

Yes Virginia, there was a "Macaca" Allen and you sent him on a shell shocked extended holiday. The votes have been counted and Democrats assume majority in the Senate.

Around town, Coshoctonians handed Joy Padgett a solid whack of reality. It's tough to win a Congressional district when you can't prevail in your hometown. Let's face it, Joy didn't have a chance. Anti Republican sentiment, the "freedom fries" Ney albatross, and bankruptcy questions colored Padgett as another rubber stamp Republican't.

As the national races closed, the pundits began blathering about exit polls and voter motivations. Mostly, they proved themselves as out of touch with typical Americans as Republicans who were given the boot.

One thing I've not heard discussed are the pundits themselves. I can speak from personal experience that windbag, hatemongers like Ann "Mrs. Ed" Coulter, Rush "Oxycontin" Limbaugh, and Bill "Falafael Boy" O'Reilly turned my stomach to anything Republican. Their twisted rhetoric sounded like lap dogs yapping for big daddy Bush's approval and access to the White House doggy door.

In fact, Limbaugh's bellowing and Michael J. Fox nastiness probably tipped the Missouri senate race in favor of the Democrats.

I wonder if anybody, including Karl Rove, learned a lesson.

CNN Announces Rumsfeld's Resignation

Wow...can this day get any better?

CNN just announced that Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, has hit the skids. He's gone. Vamoose.

Hasta la vista, baby!

The story has now been posted on CNN.

Robo-Calls At A Telephone Near You

Certain Republican's prove again that if you don't like the rules, rewrite them. This ethically challenged group of power hungry mutts show nothing's shocking.

Once again, we're served a campaign of deceit, dastardly deeds, and outright voter manipulation. In an effort to suppress voters, they've stooped to Robo-calls.

You can view what Keith Olbermann has to say about this dastardly deed.

The Washington Post weighs in on the brewing Robo call scandal. Let's not forget the New York Times. Oh, here's TPM, too.

Let's face it. Democrats aren't saints, but this kind of crap needs to be stopped.

Time To End One Party Rule

Can you tell both political parties have dumped big money into the Ohio elections?

I'm amazed at the volumes of road garbage known as political advertising. Our phone rings incessantly. I won't venture into television wasteland where thousands of political ads air weekly.

In an effort to clean up my bookmarks, I'm going to purge the politics.

I'm convinced that tomorrow's election need to re-establish some type of balance to the political process. One party rule has failed miserably. Here's a big reason why we need balance.

Many people accuse me of Democrat politics, but I've always been an independent. Often, my thoughts fall toward the conservative, libertarian side of the spectrum. Unfortunately, both parties have fallen too far to either side of the political spectrum. But with tomorrow's election, I, like many Ohioans, have found numerous reasons, both nationally and locally to vote a straight Democratic ticket.

Hell, even The American Conservative says the GOP has got to go.

If you're not certain about the level of political corruption, then watch this video before you vote tomorrow.

Speaking of voting, there have been media reports about potential scandal in the voting process.
If you encounter anything unusual tomorrow, don't take it lying down.

Here are 12 ways to safeguard your vote.

Ney Sails While Padgett Bails

Say buh-bye to Bob "Freedom Fries" Ney.

Ol' convicted "Freedom Fries" finally decided to step down from his former Congressional seat.

Like a stinking albatross corpse, he hung around Joy Padgett's neck until voter's caught a big whiff of the stench. It's an odor that a truck load of baking soda can't cover up.

Factor in big questions about Padgett's financial disarray, with her questionable, vocal support for Ney until the moment he plead guilty, and you have a recipe for a huge Zack Space poll lead.

As I watched a Joy Padgett commercial this morning, she railed on Space's lack of plan to deal with job loss in the 18th. Job loss that has occurred under Republicans and Ney for twenty years.

In fact, almost everything on which she attacks, could be followed with the phrase "which happened under Bob Ney's twenty year term".

Padgett Behind Space In Polls

Coshocton's Joy Padgett continues to trail in polls (by as much as 25%) for the upcoming Congressional election.

She's counting on voter turnout to make up the huge difference (doesn't every politician?).

This recent Columbus Dispatch article has a telling comment which illustrates exactly why Padgett shouldn't get the job. Southeast Ohio continues mired in unemployment muck. Our country nation is stuck in a multi-billion Iraq slaughterhouse.

What does Padgett think will energize her base? John Kerry's bad joke.

Of course, she'll hammer Kerry's bad joke because she doesn't want to talk about things that matter. She's toeing the classic Karl Rove obfuscate and misdirect line.

What does John Kerry have to do with southeastern Ohio? Can she not think for herself?

Padgett Financial Woes Dogging Campaign

Joy Padgett continues to receive negative press concerning her finances. Her property transfer prior to the bankruptcy filing has drawn federal attention. If elected, how will Padgett focus on representing the Ohio 18th while she has lawsuits and investigations in process?

Why doesn't she take on the issue head on? Why not release the documents and clear up the matter? After all, it was taxpayer money which funded the SBA loan.

This is beginning to feel like more of the same old Republican song and dance. Is she receiving duck and cover advice from convicted criminal "Freedom Fries" Ney?

Why War Fails

I've oft maintained that if Americans knew historical truths, and not the text book mythologized versions taught in schools, our country would be a better place. Certainly, politicians wouldn't be able to conjure up past ghosts for rhetorical purposes.

For eye opening history, read The People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn. You can read excerpts here and here. Better yet, order a copy through your local library or bookstore and you'll gain insight into many of today's societal ills.

Which leads me to this recent article by Zinn, Why War Fails. He brings historical perspective to the Iraq failure and reminds us that these war moves have been pulled time and again. Like bullheaded, ignorant children, politicians continue putting our hand on a hot stove. We get burned and our children die. The politician playbook doesn't change, it's passed from generation to generation.

Here's another recent article, The Disneyfication of War Allows Us to Ignore Its Real Savagery, written by George Monbiot, shows us how war has been trivialized into entertainment.

Quick, Pull My Finger

Okay, I've dipped the Monday morning CTCN toe into the political cesspool. Time to go ankle deep.

Here are two Keith Olbermann pieces for your consideration:

Olbermann #1--Beginning of the End of America

Olbermann #2--Rumsfeld Gave North Korea Nukes

Salon Tallys 34 Bush Scandals

In case you've not been keeping tally, Salon magazine has listed out the 34 (!!) scandals which have occurred during the Bush administration's first four years.

Take this list in hand when you visit the voting booth in the upcoming election. It's time to restore balance to our political system.

Padgett Gets Pummeled By Press & Dems

Joy Padgett continues learning first hand about the glare of press and politics on a national level.

Questions about her bankruptcy are being hammered in the press and hounded by the Democrats. Of course, Republicans cry "dirty pool", but there are legitimate questions which need to be answered and Padgett's not talking.

As everyone knows, Padgett is the hand picked successor of Bob "Freedom Fries" Ney. She stood steadfast in her support for the soon-to-be prison bound congressman and that's poor judgement on her part.

To make matters worse, Ney continues hanging around Congress and collecting his paycheck until his fond farewell to the stripey hole. Where's the outrage? Where's action by the Republicans who control everything?

How many of Ney's constituents would continue to collect paychecks if they were found guilty, convicted, and headed for the big house?

I doubt Padgett can run an effective campaign with the "Freedom Fries" stench polluting the district.

The Culture of Corruption Spins Out of Control

The GOP is losing financial support in Ohio? Say it ain't so!

How many more scandals can the citizens of the U.S. endure? It's as though new scandals are appearing on a daily basis. In fact, there seem to be so many scandals that you need a scorecard.

I guess we're all learning what one party rule means.

Has anybody else noticed the rise of fascist factions within our country?

Will Zack Space Maintain The Republican Status Quo?

I have to shake my head in amazement.

In the mail, the past two days, I've received campaign literature from the RNC which attacks Democratic candidate Zack Space. One sentence, in particular, I found astounding, "Democrat Zack Space could continue with the status quo for Ohio families."

So, what established the status quo and how in the hell did we get there?

Well, let's see. Republican Bob "Freedom Fries" Ney has been our congressional representative since 1995. Are the Republicans saying that Zack Space would continue Ney's legacy of confessed corruption?

The brochure continues, "Zack Space...he'll do nothing to create jobs". Well, if he maintains Ney's status quo of taking trips to Scotland and peddling his vote for Indian casinos in far away states, I guess they have something about which to howl. We've watched jobs leave by the droves under Ney's reign. Are the Republicans, who've established the status quo, maintaining that they've done a better job?

Of course, I'd be neglect to mention how Joy Padgett stood by "Freedom Fries", which tells me one of two things about Joy Padgett. Either she's an extreme poor judge of character, who'll get bamboozled by the DC shark pool, or she stood by Ney to...maintain the status quo!

Now, you must understand; I'm an independent voter. I vote for who I think is the best candidate; but this kind of crapola just doesn't wash.

How can the RNC expect anybody to take Joy Padgett seriously when they churn out this type of election year bilge?

If anyone from Zack Space's campaign would like to talk, post a comment.

Bob Ney Congressional Pension Secure

The Columbus Dispatch reports that "Freedom Fries" Bob Ney gets to collect a nice fat pension courtesy of you, the taxpayer, even though he's plead guilty to a felony.

To be fair, "Freedom Fries" did attempt to install a section into a lobbying reform bill which would strip pension benefits from crooked Congressmen. Lucky for him, the bill hasn't yet passed.

Why Joy Padgett Loses My Vote

Bob Ney's hand picked successor, Joy Padgett of Coshocton, secured her spot for the Republican side of the Congressional ticket by winning a special election. I guess the election was special because not many Republicans showed up to vote.

Ms. Padgett faces an uphill battle although she's in a Republican heavy district. In an era of mudslinging politics, questions about her ties to Ney and a recent family bankruptcy will keep the Democratic spin machine busy.

I've talked with people, mainly Republican types, from around the community. Padgett's popular. Everyone says she's a nice person. Heck, I've seen her around town, grocery shopping at Buehler's, and she seems like an everyday Joe. But is that enough?

Not for me.

It's her staunch loyalty to "Freedom Fries" Ney that will cost her my vote. She stood by Ney, chin held high, and didn't waver in her support.

Yes, loyalty carries weight in my book.

But when blind loyalty to a political party and a confessed criminal outweighs the interests of her district residents, then I have to, regardless of her qualifications, withhold my vote.

It started becoming obvious months prior to Ney's confession that something was amiss. Her skewed loyalty should have been used to seek the truth regarding Ney. Yet, Joy Padgett put her party interests first and that loyalty earned "Freedom Fries" nod. Her loyalty to Ney will not earn a nod from me.

Coming To Your Community: Shouting Surveillance Cameras?

The world gets a little spookier every day.

If case you haven't noticed the vast number of surveillance cameras (public and private) throughout the U.S., just know the Brits have a leg up on us. Not only do the Brits have cameras everywhere, they're using methods I'm sure will filter into this country soon.

In one British community, not only are you being watched, but if you do something like littering, the ever watchful eye will shout at you.

Also, the Brits have surveillance throughout their highway system. Cameras are used to catch speeders, cell phone offenders, seat belt non users, and uninsured motorists. Those ever resourceful Brits are watching the how much mileage you drive and charge you accordingly.
Of course, the British wrote the book on taxation without representation.

Don't think it won't happen here. Oregon is testing a pay to drive system funded by the feds.

Keith Olbermann Seeks The Truth

Politics. Roll that word around in your mouth a couple of times. Doesn't taste too good, does it?

Yet, politics is a cornerstone of our society. From the workplace to PTA's to the halls of Congress, the unpleasant side of politics are unavoidable.

Regardless of what side of the spectrum you hail, it is commonplace to point the finger and cry foul when someone espouses a different view. We paint one another with names like "commie", "far left liberal", "fascist", "right wing nut job", and the forever popular, "nazi". I've oft wondered had there been no World War II, what names the politicos would hurl toward one another.

I feel this creates a huge truth chasm.

It's impossible to view a news report without someone tarring the network or reporter with a label. During the Iraq debacle, I've watched the New York Times be accused of pandering to the Bush propaganda machine's march to Iraq and, on the coin's opposite side, be attacked as a left wing, non-patriotic craprag that should be shut down for sedition. Which is it?

Of course, this had always been the modus operandi for politicians and their respective parties.

Which leads me to this...what happens when a news reporter steps forward with an eloquent story or broadcast which points out the truth? What happens when the voices of an Edward R. Murrow are silenced? Will our society suffer when people can no longer challenge the oft misguided status quo? I hope your answer was yes.

With this in mind, here are two pieces done by Keith Olbermann. The first, "We Have Not Forgotten, Mr President", addresses President Bush on 9-11.

The second, "Feeling Morally, Intellectually Confused? addresses Donald Rumsfeld's recent speech.

Both are eloquently stated and speaking a truth which is rare to find these days. I'm certain that people will brand these speeches as "liberal", but put your politics aside and study Olbermann's words. I suspect, in years to come, historians will look back at this time and recognize the importance of what Olbermann is saying. Let's hope so, anyway.

The Bastardized Voting Process

Voting has long been a cornerstone of our country. While politicians are passing laws to protect the flag, what they should be doing is protecting the voting rights of the citizenry.

I suspect the two parties in power have rigged the system to the point that other political parties can never present a serious challenge to the political status quo. But what's even more distressing is the disenfranchisement of numerous voters. Will voting once again become the domain of the rich and powerful?

Just how big is this problem? The following article outlines the ten worst places to vote.