Ohio Educrats' Plan for School Funding: Feed the Addiction!

Ohio’s “never enough” crowd is at it again. You know the ones. The educrats and union reps surrounding Ohio’s public education establishment who believe (and say) that no matter how much the state legislature spends and allocates to education, it’s never enough. Motivated by the twin misconceptions that Ohio’s schools are under-funded as a whole and that more funding will lead to better schools, they’re proposing an amendment to the Ohio Constitution taking the form of a ballot initiative. This proposal will effectively write successive blank checks to the Ohio Board of Education which will be rendered untouchable by the state legislature and lead to unavoidable cuts in other state programs and Scandinavian tax increases to pay for them. In the meantime, however, nothing about Ohio’s schools or students will change.

The proposed amendment will effectively place K-12 funding in the hands of the Ohio Board of Education who would then dictate to the state legislature (you know, the ones who traditionally control the power of the purse in an electoral democracy) what that year’s education budget would be. Should the legislature dare to dissent, the Board’s plan could only be overridden by a three-fifths vote in both houses and even then would be subject to a ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court. Furthermore, the amendment to the Ohio Constitution classifies “a high-quality education” as an inalienable right, and one which doubtless would be open to interpretation by this unelected board and the Court. By daring to appose snowballing increases to education funding, the state legislature would therefore be denying Ohio children of this manufactured right.

With their hands tied by the “never enough” crowd and unable to meet their increasing demands, Ohio’s legislators would be faced with a choice between two bad options: cuts to vital state services like public safety and Medicare and increases in taxes to pay for it all. Proponents of this amendment have said quite plainly that they do not care about the very clear scarcity of Ohio’s resources or the competing demands of society for those resources. Instead, as William Phillis has said, “the amendment will put school funding on ‘autopilot’ in that the level of resources will be based on student needs and not residual budgeting.” For those of you who attacked the proposed Tax and Expenditure Limitation in such a manner, this should be your rallying cry. Mandated constitutional increases to state spending are just as dangerous for a state as mandated constitutional limits.

Of course, increased spending to Ohio’s broken-down, monopolistic, bureaucracy-choked public education establishment would provide no incentives whatsoever to reform the system. On the contrary, it would reinforce the educrats’ belief that more and more funding is needed in able to support this inalienable right to a “high-quality education,” whatever that means. Ohio’s public education system is in desperate need of real reform, and monetary needs are only the tip of the iceberg. Structural reforms need to be implemented. Local property taxes must be eliminated from the funding equation. Competition from private and charter schools needs to be introduced. Allocation should be shifted from buildings and artificial boundaries and unions to parents and students in the form of vouchers. Ohio’s educational establishment needs a twelve step program, not more and more booze to feed their addiction.

State of the Union Play-by-Play

You are looking live at the United States House of Representatives, where President George W. Bush is ready to deliver the 2007 State of the Union, Presented by Citi! Hello again, everybody! With Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit, I’m Brent Musburger. Now folks, the President is entering in to some unfamiliar territory this year, and with both Houses run by the Democrats, he’ll have to give a whale of a speech to win Americans back to his corner. Pardner, the gallery is ready, kickoff’s just around the corner, and folks, President Bush is here for The Thrill of It!

Welcome back to our nation’s capital, I’m Brent Musburger. This broadcast of the State of the Union is being brought to you in hiiiigh definition by Aquos. For those of you who just joined us, President Bush started the 2007 State of the Union, Presented by Citi by recognizing and praising Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the new Democratic majority in both houses. Now folks, this is the first time Mr. Bush has faced a hostile chamber since becoming President. And remember folks, in the State of Texas, both sides of the Statehouse were controlled by the Democrats at one time or another during Bush’s terms as Governor. You can tell that he’s got a lot of fire in his belly, folks, because he’s starting off strong with broad images of national unity and calls for continuing the fight against evil. Now Bob, what do you think of President Bush’s economic plans so far?

“A very conservative approach rooted in the fundamentals: a balanced budget, low taxes, and tight spending. All three of which Republicans struggled at last session. In order to be successful tonight and this season, he’s going to have to push these hard, especially against this tough liberal defense. I also liked the blitz on earmarks and the quip about C-SPAN. Social Security and entitlement reform has been a trademark idea of the Bush administration, you can tell he wants to run with it, but he’s struggled to get it going.”

Folks, he’s now in to the red zone needing important points on his health care and immigration reform. This is one of the many issues in the last election where the Democrats won without being able to offer anything coherent. Both of his proposals looked good, with tax deductions and federal funds for states covering their citizens, but these bold ideas might not make it against this stout defense. Folks, it looks like he may go three and out again on immigration, a move that cost him late in the last election season. Energy is another important set of issues and proposals that don’t look good against the Democrats’ prevent defense.

We’re in the money quarter of the 2007 State of the Union, Presented by Citi. The President has moved in to his foreign affairs agenda, and lucky for him, this doesn’t seem to be effected by the Democrats’ defense, which proved dominating in the past three quarters. President Bush has discussed the need for continued resilience in the War on Terror, support for our allies and pressure on our adversaries in the Middle East, and he stressed the importance of winning in Iraq with increased troop numbers. Now folks, the Democrats want very much to keep that from happening, but they can’t seem to be able to do anything about it with weak “symbolic resolutions” and feeble rhetoric about “a new direction” that’s being met on the line. It’s safe to say now folks that the most important part of the President’s game plan is working without much opposition from the Democrats. They can complain and protest as much as they want, but they won’t be able to beat America without pulling funding from the soldiers themselves.

Well folks, the President has entered victory formation with salutes to soldiers, entrepreneurs, and famous athletes in the gallery. It’s safe to say that he got the job done tonight. He didn’t do a lot right, but he didn’t do all that much wrong either. That’ll do it for the 2007 State of the Union, Presented by Citi. For Bob Davie and Kirk Herbstreit, I’m Brent Musburger. Stay tuned for the Democrat response given by a first-term Senator from the south with a pound of chewing tobacco in each cheek. So long, everybody!

Repealing the Freeness Doctrine

Well, the communists are back in power, and as we all know if there’s one thing they can’t tolerate it’s dissenting and differing points of view, especially on the public airwaves. Not surprisingly, they support reinstating the Fairness Doctrine- that relic of the 1940’s and agent of media control and suppression for nearly 40 years- as a means to that end. This should alarm not only listeners to Rush Limbaugh (who, by the way, number in the tens of millions per week) but anyone who truly values freedom of speech and a free (note: not “fair”) press guaranteed by the First Amendment, which judging by their speech codes on college campuses is another thing liberals have never been particularly fond of. They’ve already got your votes, now the left wants your hearts and minds as well.

Based on everything they’ve has ever said on the subject, the left longs for the bad old days when the American people had no choice as to where they got their news and information and no access to differing points of view. Media expert George Clooney, for example, expressed his nostalgia for domination by the three broadcast networks and the time where Walter Cronkite was “the most trusted man in America.” Traitor and liberal heroine Jane Fonda asserted that “a truly powerful media is one that can stop a war, not start a war.” Whether they want to accept it or not, the country has changed since 1973 and the media has changed with it. Today Americans can get their information from a wealth of sources ranging from traditional newspapers to radio stations to 24 hour television networks to the internet. In each and every medium, the left has lost their monopoly to more conservative voices and perspectives, and the ratings and circulations and hits reflect this.

So in order to regain their complete control over American thought, liberals in Congress are digging up the grave of this dead Doctrine. The cause is being championed in Congress by none other than the Keebler Elf himself, Dennis “the Menace” Kucinich. His desire is based on the belief of a far-left agenda that is being ignored in the mainstream media, which he seeks to thrust in to the spotlight, whether Americans want it there or not. Their charge is a corporately-owned media which serves only their own narrow agenda of shifting wealth from the poor to the rich. Yes, in an age of global threats from militant fundamentalist Islamic terrorists, Democrats remain focused on what really matters to Americans: redistribution of wealth.

Liberals see the successes of Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly and Matt Drudge as threats to their agenda that cannot be checked by market forces. Every attempt to counteract differing points of view have been colossal failures, the most recent of which being Err America Radio, now filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. They can’t compete with conservatives on the airwaves, so their remedy is to shut them down. This is a blatant assault on our Constitution beyond even the wackiest charges by the left of the PATRIOT Act. Free speech and freedom of the press were recognized by the founders as a central tenet to democracy itself. The moment the Democrats take this away is the moment our constitutional democracy begins to unravel.

Holding nothing back: Texas' Justin Jordan

(Note: The reason behind the delay in posting this interview is that I suck at life and accidentally deleted the file it was in and spent most of the day retrieving it. Luckily, I was able to pull it off, and put it all back in one piece. My most sincere apologies, but at least it is here, unlike Truth Caucus’ Who’s Next feature!)

Justin Jordan is surely the closest to a dynamo that we in College Republicans have, at least out of those that I have met or know of. There are very few people, not just in our organization, that possess strong moral fiber and great character, even an unwavering sense of right and wrong. Very few college freshmen make it out of their dorms for class on most days, let alone uncover and pursue corrupt administrators, even after being wrongfully arrested for doing so. There are also very few people in our organization, or in politics on the whole, that are as unabashed and forthright in offering their honest, candid opinions and answers. Very few have anyone in mind but themselves, as well, or care about results more than they do rhetoric. And even fewer would put their own political future on the line for what they believe is right.

Justin Jordan brings all of this to the table, plus a wealth of experience. Few have shot upward so quickly in College Republicans, going from founding a CR chapter to interim Texas Vice-Chairman in mere months. Next weekend, he will be up for special election in Texas to fill the rest of the current term as TFCR Vice Chairman, and some heavy hitters in Texas politics will be pulling for this young man. He holds nothing back, and if you do not like it, he is probably deservedly calling you out. So, without further pomp and circumstance, the much-anticipated Red State Rampage debut of Justin Jordan unleashed:

Red State Rampage: You are running to keep your job, in effect, as Vice Chairman of the Texas Federation of College Republicans, after you were appointed in the interim since Jason Fite of Texas A&M stepped down. Can you speak to why it is you were chosen to fill the role of Vice-Chairman, and why there was a vacancy?

Justin Jordan: Well the Chairwoman expressed her confidence in me after seeing that I am a hard worker. Jason Fite graduated in December so it left that vacancy within the organization. Eliza called me just as I was about to go and cut the yard and asked me if I would do it and I told her sure.

RSR: Since your appointment was temporary, you have to run in this special election to fill the rest of Fite's term officially. You are opposed in this race, by Ryan Murphy of the Colin County CC College Republicans, a chapter that has been involved in TFCR for almost three years longer than Texas Southern. What, then, uniquely qualifies you to be Vice Chairman instead of Ryan Murphy?

JJ: Well I have always believed that my relationship with various elected officials uniquely qualifies me to be Vice Chair. The Vice Chair's role is one of high importance because I am actually in charge of helping Republican candidates on the campaign trail and raising money-something i have effectively done at my own chapter.

RSR: Your candidacy has been endorsed by some heavy hitters in Texas politics, including Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, future Congressional candidate Paul Bettencourt, and the President of GOPUSA Dr. Bobby Eberle. How did you go about winning their support? How exactly can you capitalize on these individuals support to better TFCR for all of its members?

JJ: I won their support because they know how hard I work to keep Texas a red state every election season. These are respected folks around my state and in some parts of the country. With these guys behind me, it gives TFCR a chance to develop those relationships in other parts of the state and it will enable us to raise more money.

RSR: Corruption has been a hot button issue nationally, and you have been recognized for your efforts to battle corruption at your own university, Texas Southern. You and a couple of friends took on your school's President, and it certainly was not easy going at all. How has this experience affected your life, and would you do it all over again?

JJ: Well it lets me know that there should be a 2^nd Civil Rights movement started. One that frees blacks from Corrupt Ass Blacks who steal from their own children and people. It also showed me and the other 2 Gentleman that you have to be the change, you can’t just talk that talk and not walk the walk. If I had to do it all over again, I would in a New York Heartbeat! It was a challenge but it was also so much fun.

RSR: Did you ever consider backing down, especially when you were arrested during the ordeal?

JJ: No, it did scare me though. After we were arrested we went back to the Governor’s office then shortly after that we approached the Attorney General and his office who then introduced us to the Local District Attorney’s office. The DA’s office took the case and as a result of us turning over the evidence we had, Dr. Slade along with several other people have been indicted on numerous charges. Knowing many of them were indicted put a big smile on my face of course.

RSR: What advice would you pass along to someone in a similar situation as you found yourself in? What do you think can be learned by others from your actions?

JJ: No matter how much pressure is put on you always do the right thing. If you know you are right then what others say really means nothing.

RSR: Besides taking on corruption in your own backyard, U.S. Representative Tom Delay also represented your area until resigning amidst accusations of illegal activity. One of the pictures on your campaign Facebook group features you with Mr. Delay. Do you see Mr. Delay's situation as one he brought upon himself, or is it a mere political ploy, as some have suggested? And do you see his resignation as a good thing in the long run?

JJ: The accusations against Delay were like most lies, if you repeat them enough they start to sound true. Tom Delay was indicted by a backwoods hick Democrat named Ronnie Earle who has a record of going after Republicans with trumped up charges. I knew Congressman Delay and he was a great ally in terms of helping the CR’s in my area out. I volunteered on his campaign and we grew to know each other that way. I hated to see him resign, but what I can say is he is no Priscilla Slade.

RSR: You worked to found the College Republican group at Texas Southern, and you were successful in doing so. Texas Southern, as with other predominantly black colleges, presents a challenge to College Republicans, because of the perceived, and sometimes real, hostility to the Republican message. Do you see this as being a real issue, and, if so, what can College Republicans do to be successful in this area?

JJ: Well I think some black Republicans whine too much when they talk about the "hostility" they receive from other black people about being a Republican. Personally, I love the hostility from black liberals because usually I hate them just as much. However, the whole idea in recruiting minorities is that you don’t want an all black thing or an all white thing. I personally don’t think that all blacks should be involved in the GOP because we have some in the GOP now who are the biggest gate-keeping assholes. I can attest to that because they are in my state. These are your older ones mind you, but they are still narrow minded assholes and if they are reading this and are offended then I am talking about you.

RSR: There are some within the Republican Party who do not think Black Republicans can be successful in winning election. They often point to the recent losses by Maryland's Michael Steele, Pennsylvania's Lynn Swann, and Ohio's Ken Blackwell as evidence of this. In Blackwell's case, a race that I saw first-hand, this was even used against him in the primary, which he went on to win. What are your thoughts on the matter, and do you think they have a valid argument? Do you even think voters should consider race when choosing whom they will vote for?

JJ: No they don’t have a valid argument. First of all, who are “They”? Those in that “They” column are your cowards in the party, the ones who tear down and don’t build up. Black Republicans tend to do better with white voters and some black voters because they feel like that racial stigma will not be used (i.e the Jesse Jackson & Al Sharpton type of Bull Jive). Yes I think voters should factor race when choosing whom they vote for especially if Barack Hussein Obama is the Democrat Nominee. I hope that every white person and black finds that racist bone on Election Day and votes against him. He is not even black by the way, just ask Congressman Bobby Rush [RSR Note: U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Chicago) represents an urban district of Chicago, Illinois, and was challenged in the 2000 Democratic Primary by Obama]. I know I won’t be voting for him. Also, 2006 was a bad year for all Republicans and when you run most of your black candidates in blue states this is what happens. If they ran a black candidate in Texas or any other red state--in a district that isn't predominately black-- they would win, are you reading this ROVE?!?!?!?!

RSR: The national scene of College Republicans is, quite frankly, a mess. There is no semblance of cooperation, and many seem to have themselves at the heart of their interests. What are your thoughts on this situation, and what can you do as a state federation officer to help change this environment?

JJ: I don't have any thoughts on the national scene.

RSR: One question that I like to ask all College Republicans, especially leaders like yourself, is where you see the role of College Republicans being at: on campus fostering real debate on the issues of the day, or on the campaign trail getting results for Republican candidates?

JJ: Both.

RSR: What, if elected, do you see as being your biggest priority for TFCR? What would be one thing that you would advocate continuing in Texas, and where would you seek change from the status quo?

JJ: Getting Republicans elected statewide and at the local level too. I would advocate spreading the message of Republicanism across the state and to more young people. Well my mere presence is a change from the Status quo. Don’t you think?

RSR: College Republicans tends to be a rather hierarchical system, where one moves up the chain as experience is gained. You will be one step away from leading TFCR if you win this election. Are we going to see a Chairman Jordan in the future?

JJ: Who knows? Probably. Do you think I would make a great chairman? I may decide to throw my hat in for CRNC chair and go straight to the top from Vice Chair. I know I would have Yogi Bear and Fred Flintstones support; I haven’t heard back from George Jetson yet.

RSR: Your current state chairman, Eliza Vielma, seems to be a very polarizing figure among College Republicans involved at the national level. It appears that most either love her, or hate her. You get to work with Eliza on a more personal level than most, so what is your opinion of the job she has done? Can she really be as hard to get along with as some would say?

JJ: Honestly, from what I hear--depending on who you ask--everybody on the national level is "polarizing". This is one of those loaded questions. Well if I didn’t like Eliza I wouldn’t be answering these questions right now, because I wouldn’t be Vice Chair. So that should tell you something. No she is not hard to get along with and she is doing a great job leading TFCR. By the way she can cook some good Hamburger Helper with the tortillas on the side.

RSR: One of our shared personal heroes is J.C. Watts, of Oklahoma. How hard is it for a Texan to openly like a Sooner, first of all, and secondly, do you see Watts as having a viable future in politics if he chooses to seek it?

JJ: When Watts stops doing those damn infomercials he can come back to politics. But Watts is making too much money in the Private sector to come back to the public sector and who can blame him?

RSR: Why is it that people like Jesse Jackson and Donna Brazile have so voraciously attacked J.C. Watts for his views? Do you see the perception of the Black Republican as a negative one within the African-American community?

JJ: Look at the 2 people you gave me to choose from of course they attack him, he is smarter than both of them put together. The reason Donna attacks him is because she and other black Democrats can't control him like they control black Democrats. Jesse Jackson is an idiot and the fact that most black people will still line up behind the Rev. Baby Daddy should tell you a lot about the state of the black community. When the GOP starts targeting younger upwardly mobile Blacks like myself and others only then will they then see different results.

RSR: Obviously, there is a primary upcoming in early 2008 for President, and people are starting to line up behind candidates. Have you made your decision yet, or is there anyone that you would particularly like to see win the nomination?

JJ: I would love to see Justin Jordan win the nomination! But yes I have gave it some serious thought and I am just undecided right now.

RSR: We wish you the best of luck in next weekend’s election, and anxiously await whatever it is you do next! Thanks for talking with us, and we hope to do it again soon!

The rumors are true: Wilkins set to run in Kentucky

Former Leadership Institute field representative and noted College Republican Morgan Wilkins appears set to announce her campaign for Kentucky Federation of College Republicans Chairman in the coming weeks. A website, www.MorganWilkins.com, has been registered, and a greeting at the site promises a full launch soon. It is not known at this time who else will be entering the race, but speculation centers around a few likely candidates, most notably current KFCR Chairman Brian Weber, of Morehead State. Weber became Chairman following the resignation of Derek Hall last year. Kentucky's CRs will vote on their next slate of state leadership on April 13th, when the annual KFCR Convention is held.

PLAYOFFS??!! Don't talk to me about playoffs!

Another college football season is behind us and another torrent of BCS complaints and feeble demands for a playoff system are just beginning. Indeed, ever since the system was adopted prior to the 1998 season, such complaints from fans of Mountain West Conference teams and people who won’t admit that they prefer college basketball while pretending to follow the pigskin ensued almost as soon as the crystal football was lifted by the winning quarterback. To be sure, several of their anti-BCS grievances are spot on. The BCS isn’t perfect and no playoff system could ever pretend to be, but currently it’s the best among bad systems. Just like democracy.

One such criticism of the BCS is that it rarely determines a consensus national champion or even a national championship game everyone can agree on. Then again, neither did the Bowl Alliance, Bowl Coalition, and the anarchy that preceded it. Before the BCS was established, your only hope of getting a #1 versus #2 game was to hope that one of the contenders wasn’t contractually obligated to play in the Rose Bowl (as they were in 1994, 1996, and 1997). Prior to the Coalition, you often had to catch lightning in a bottle with perhaps an independent against a major conference tie in team. Never mind that the bowl system, with more than seventy years of established tradition, was never supposed to name a national champion in the first place. These were exhibition games held by chambers of commerce and local industries (you know, like cotton, sugar, and orange growers) to entice people to leave their cold, snowy towns for the fun and sun of California, Texas, and Florida. The national champion was usually named in advance.

Perhaps if there is one motto to the BCS it’s “Every Game Matters.” One could argue that college football already has a playoff system known to everyone else as “the regular season.” It is for all intents and purposes a double-elimination tournament, with one-loss participants being rare. Take the Ohio State-Michigan game on November 18 as an example. It was perhaps the most consequential game of the year, with #1-against-#2-winner-going-to-Glendale stakes added to what is already the most intense rivalry in the sport. The game came down to the final gun, with Ohio State edging out a 42-39 win in arguably the most thrilling game played at Ohio Stadium. Contrast that to any week seventeen match-up in the NFL, where starters are often AWOL. Already assured of home field advantage, a first round bye, a playoff spot, or a good spot in the draft, most late season NFL games are of little consequence unless you desperately need to win to see tomorrow. A trivia question I’d love to see the answer to is how many games Tom Brady or Peyton Manning started in week seventeen. NFL teams have the advantage of resting their starters in meaningless games. College teams either win their last game or make travel plans for Orlando and San Diego.

If there’s one thing playoff proponents have in common it’s that they can’t agree on what a playoff system would look like. Every professional league has a different system (and has changed their system at least once), so there’s really no telling what it would look like. Who gets in, how many teams, how long it would take, where it would take place, and what the bracket would look like are just a few unresolved questions. Keep in mind a team can only play one football game a week. Additionally, playoffs have the unintended consequence of not putting their best teams in the championship game. Just ask any AFC team from 1984 to 1996. Again, too little emphasis on the regular season results if a team can get lucky and win three games in a row. These are just a few reasons against a playoff system for Division I-A college football. I’m sure I didn’t touch on all of them, but stay tuned for next year when I’m sure I’ll get another chance.

Gov. Strickland lays out priorities in Inaugural Address

Earlier today, in a cold and wet Columbus winter morning, Governor Ted Strickland gave his Inaugural Address to Ohioans, and an interesting speech it surely was. Strickland quoted Winston Churchill, George W. Bush, the Bible, and told critics of Ohio to, "get thee behind me." The speech itself offered no real revelations on what Strickland intends to do while Governor, but it did offer much insight into the priorities and beliefs that he will bring to the Governorship. In this excerpt, Strickland talks about why Ohio is being held back, and high taxes and regulation are not the causes at fault in his mind: (Bolds are mine)

"Though significant, the road to our renewal is not blocked by overregulation or lack of infrastructure, or even high taxes. No, we are only being held back to the extent that our state fails, either from lack of investment or lack of innovation, to provide the opportunity for quality learning for every citizen."

Governor Strickland also spoke of Ohio's common values, and how he shares these priorities. Please note that the first value/priority listed in the speech is universal health care, and that the last priority in the speech is using wisely Ohioan's tax dollars, after protecting the environment.

"We all want health care for those who need it. We all want a solid education for our children. We want a system of higher education that is affordable and gives our kids the opportunity to remain in Ohio to raise their families -- strong families, where moms and dads can have living wage jobs. We all want to honor the contributions of our parents and our grandparents so they can feel secure in their retirement years. We want safe and secure neighborhoods. We want to protect our natural environment and to ensure the health and safety of our children. We all want a government that provides services that are needed, but we also want the government to stay out of our lives when it has no right or reason to be there. We want the price we pay for a civilized society -- our tax dollars -- to be used wisely -- with proper respect for the hard work that has made them available.

I am willing to, and going to, give Governor Strickland every chance to turn around Ohio, because Ohio most certainly needs turning around. However, it is going to take some hard realization to see that lower taxes and less restrictive government regulation should be on even footing with a better education system. If we simply educate our children without creating a good business environment, they will continue to move elsewhere to find work. Best of luck, Governor! The people of Ohio are counting on you.

4 More Years for Ohio Lawmakers?

Coming to a ballot near you next November, if Ohio's Democratic and Republican Chairmen have their way, will be an initiative to extend the 8-year term limits imposed in 1992 to 12-year limits. The Dispatch discusses the news in an article that merely puts an official sort of stamp on what has been rumored since the November 2006 elections: that ORP Chairman Bob Bennett and ODP Chairman Chris Redfern agree on the damaging effect of current term limits. Some would advocate term limits as a way to restrict and prevent corruption, but others see them as damaging to the legislative process in terms of the quality of laws enacted. Personally, I support the principle of term limits, but I would tend to agree that 12 years may better serve Ohio. Especially at the state level, so many incoming Assemblymen are rather inexperienced with the workings of state government, drafting legislation, and the working of the Assembly itself. It really takes a full term to get acclimated, in some cases more, and two more terms would only be four more years.

If term limits are extended, however, I would like to see a different way of drawing the districts. A Representative or Senator in the General Assembly should not be able to get elected once and coast for the next twelve years; districts should be at least competitive at the state level for no other reason than to productivity on the part of the elected. It seems that Speaker Jon Husted (R-Kettering) agrees with this notion, as he is quoted in the Dispatch piece as saying:

"It seems to me that we should have a fair way of drawing districts before we start talking about changing terms," Husted said. "The voters will be more receptive to it if they think elections really matter."

If you were reading Red State Rampage last week, we reported about Bennett, Redfern, and Husted all traveling together with the Ohio State University delegation to the BCS Championship Game last weekend. It is rather fair to assume this topic came up in discussion; it will be interesting to see what else, if anything, comes of that trip.

Minimum Wage Hike Hitting Consumers in the Pocketbook

As we covered earlier in the week, the Ohio minimum wage hike, and pending federal minimum wage hike, are having unwelcome consequences to consumers. The restaurant owner that I spoke of in the previous post is definitely not alone, as the Columbus Dispatch has a story today about rising prices due directly to the increased minimum wage that took effect on January 1, 2007. I also talked briefly about the fact that employers will not be able to hire as many workers or give current workers as many hours as usual in order to offset the costs, and this quote from the article about Columbus-based Max & Erma's perfectly illustrates that.

"The company also plans to improve its scheduling to make up the remainder of the pay boost’s total impact, which is estimated at more than $1 million a year at the chain’s 33 Ohio units."

By the way, "improve scheduling" is corporate-speak for cut hours and staff, for anyone who did not catch that. Another portion of the article talks about another Columbus-based restaurant chain, Bob Evans, and the negative impact that the higher minimum wage is having already on their stores.

"Bob Evans, which employs tipped servers and hourly workers, operates on slim margins, so any significant cost increase has an impact on the bottom line, said Tammy Roberts Myers, spokeswoman for the Columbus-based restaurant chain."

Beyond not actually helping workers, and being bad for business and the customers of those businesses in general, this hike is hurting Ohio-based businesses as well. Nothing says, "Ohio is open for business," quite like killing your homegrown companies.

McTiernan Exploratory Committee hits the Net

A website for Erin McTiernan's CRNC Exploratory Committee went live this morning, in a sign that the New York State Chairman is more serious about her candidacy than first assumed by many. The placeholder page can be seen at One CRNC, a domain that was reportedly bought earlier in the week by McTiernan. Two other domains also redirect to the One CRNC site: The New CRNC and United CRNC. We will follow this as it develops, if necessary.

Karriker to run in North Carolina

University of North Carolina Charlotte student, and College Republican Chairman at UNC-Charlotte, Erin Karriker has announced his bid to be the next Chairman of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans. This appears to have the blessing of current NCFCR head Jon Thompson, as it appears Thompson will not seek another term at the helm. Thompson is the latest in a growing number of state chairmen stepping down at the conclusion of their terms, joining Michigan's Dan Carlson, Florida's Scott Wacholtz, Virginia's Andrew Lamar (term already concluded), Arkansas' John Burris, Colorado's Charlie Smith, and Missouri's Justin Smith (stepped down prior to completion of term), with more surely to follow.

Karriker, meanwhile, released a letter declaring his intentions to seek the post, in a move that coincided with the launch of his campaign website, www.ErinKarriker.org. He currently serves NCFCR as the Communications Director, and is running on a platform of streamlined organization, better communications, and more visible campus activism. The announcement also brought the launch of a coordinating Facebook campaign group, Erin J. Karriker for NCFCR Chairman. Karriker's chapter was awarded NCFCR Chapter of the Year, and he has appeared on FOX News for his efforts on the issue of illegal immigration. Here are some of the highlights of his announcement letter:

"Through vigorous recruiting, equipping new members and reviving the spread of conservative campus activism, we will ensure a successful outcome for the Grand Old Party in 2008.
...It is with sincere respect and humility that I announce my candidacy for State Chairman of the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans. As the chairman of the UNCC College Republicans, I have overseen the most active chapter in the state, enjoying many far-reaching successes. As your next State Chairman, I plan on continuing that level of commitment and dedication to true conservatism."

Bill Todd for Mayor?

According to today's Columbus Dispatch, the Franklin County Republican Party is set to put forth Bill Todd as their candidate for Columbus Mayor in 2007. I was hoping to see Jennette Bradley, but she is apparently not interested in the race. I will hold out hope for a City Council run or something, because she is very electable in Columbus. Anyhow, Bill Todd is a noted elections attorney, and has definitely paid his dues in Republican politics. The article talks a bit about his campaigning past, and definitely puts it in a negative light. I, however, think Todd will be a solid candidate, even if he is not my first choice.

It is good to see Franklin County GOP putting up a good candidate, and putting up a candidate at all is an improvement over 2003, when there was no GOP candidate on the ballot against two-term Mayor Michael Coleman. Coleman seems to be moderately popular, but he strikes me as a buffoon, especially whenever I have been around him in person. Most notably would be his explosion on The Glenn Beck Program, and, for me personally, his actions prior to the 2006 St. Patrick's Day Parade. For quite some time, WNCI's morning show poked fun at the Mayor, who was only too happy to oblige in participating in the show's bit pieces.

Most shocking in the Dispatch article, though, was that Jim Petro had been asked about running for the office. Petro is a competent manager, even if I don't always like his politics or personality, but he came to Columbus after being a Cuyahoga County Commissioner. I have no stats or records in front of me to know for sure, but I would have to say such a switch would be unprecedented, to go from elected in one major city to another.

$6.85 Not Enough for Ohio's Congressmen

Yesterday in the U.S. House of Representatives, under the steady guidance of newly-elected Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the Fair Minimum Wage Act was overwhelmingly passed by members of both parties. The Fair Minimum Wage Act, if it passes the Senate unchanged, will raise the minimum wage in three steps over the next 26 months to $7.25 an hour. While all Democrats voted for the bill, many Republicans crossed the line as well to support the measure. In all, only 116 Republicans voted against it, with 4 abstaining from the vote. It was no surprise that each of the Ohio delegation's Democrats voted for the wage hike, but six of the Republican members abdicated on the bill as well. Jean Schmidt (R-OH 2), Michael Turner (R-OH 3), Paul Gillmor (R OH 5), Steve LaTourette (R-OH 14), Deborah Pryce (R-OH 15), and Ralph Regula (R-OH 16), all were supporters of HR 2, and all should be on the receiving end of concerned e-mails, phone calls, and letters.

The minimum wage is an issue that is never given honest debate in the public arena, because anyone who wishes to speak against its merits is simply shouted down with accusations of hating poor people, when the opposite is actually true. Raising the minimum wage only affects workers in entry-level positions, a very small percentage of the workforce and an even smaller sector of workers supporting a family on that salary. According to Dept. of Labor statistics, a mere 479,000 workers were paid at the minimum wage last year, which does not even equate to 0.25% of the American population! Let us think logically then, considering the fact that most of the entry-level jobs in America (fast food, restaurant workers, grocery store clerks, and public recreation employees like lifeguards and YMCA referees) are worked by either high-school or college age students who are not relying on their part-time work as their sole means of income.

That leaves us with the very small group of workers who are relying on these jobs to feed their families. Raising their hourly wage feels good, doesn't it! Boy, it sure does! But, as with most government solutions in history, raising the minimum wage will create more problems than it is worth for these workers. The grocery stores they shop for food at will have raised their prices to offset the wage increases, the public recreation facility that they send their children to as a means of babysitting will charge more, the gas stations will raise their prices to compensate for their higher pay, and on and on. All of these factors will combine to eat away at most, if not all, of their pay raise, making it a moot point. Aside from price increases, firms will not be able to hire as many new workers, making jobs scarce as well for those who need them.

Who does the minimum wage help, then? Well, unions who operate on contracts with set pay raises certainly benefit. When it comes time to renegotiate their next deal, if they wait that long, unions can simply point to the unskilled laborers making $7.25 and demand more based upon their status as skilled labor. Then, the same thing happens to these firms as did the entry-level firms: they have to raise prices to make up for the wage increases.

In Ohio, voters recently passed an increase to the state minimum wage that raised it to $6.85, effective January 1, 2007. The law also increased tipped employee minimum wage to $3.43 an hour, and instituted an annual increase tied to the rate of inflation. Given a conservative, steady amount of inflation, 3%, in 2008 Ohio's minimum wage will rise over $7.00, and in another few years we will be talking about minimum pay near $10 an hour, as there is no cap written into the legislation.

Recently I spoke with a Columbus-area restaurant owner who estimated that the current wage hike in Ohio would require his business to make at least $0.30 more off of each customer walking through his doors. What do you think he is doing to keep his business from losing money? That is right, he is being forced to raise his prices to compensate. The kicker to this story is that he is not paying any higher wages to his kitchen staff, as they already begin at $9 an hour or higher, but simply to his serving staff for their mandated wage increase of over 61%. Even more ridiculous is that his servers receiving the wage increase typically garner around $10 an hour simply in tips and gratuity on a bad night. He told me, as well, that most other restaurant owners he had spoken with where in the same boat: raise prices to avoid losing money.

A friend of mine relayed this story about a major Ohio city's YMCA, where many inner-city youth are able to enjoy low-cost sports leagues, swimming classes, and after-school activities. They recently inquired about returning to work part-time while in college, and was told that the minimum wage increase had effectively prevented them from bringing on any extra help. The YMCA was also forced to drastically raise membership costs, as well as enrollment fees and league fees, in order to stay afloat. As a result of this, many of the inner-city children who are able to receive guidance and a safe haven to have a good time in through the YMCA will no longer be able to afford it.

Voters went to the ballot box in Ohio on November 7, and in Congress yesterday, and made a decision rooted simply in making a good stage show. Raising the minimum wage sounds great, and, of course, if you vote against it, you hate poor people. Our kudos go out to the five Ohio Congressmen who stood up for what was right, rather than what was easy: Steve Chabot (R-OH 1), Jim Jordan (R-OH 4), David Hobson (R-OH 7), John Boehner (R-OH 8), and Pat Tiberi (R-OH 12). One of the quotes given by a Republican in opposition sums it up best. Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) said, ""In America we can either have maximum opportunity or we can have minimum wages. We cannot have both." This is a bad deal for the poor in America, and every single one of the Representatives, Republicans and Democrats alike, who voted for this hike should be ashamed of themselves for placating this small group of America's poor.

56th Carnival of Ohio Politics

The 56th Carnival of Ohio Politics is now up and ready for your viewing pleasure, so go check it out. Here are the three stories from Red State Rampage in the past week that are featured in the 56th Carnival:

Who's OSU taking to the Dance?

Rob Portman on Tour

Ohio Losing Two House Districts in 2012?

Red State Rampage welcomes new contributor, Holy Buckeye

Up until this point, there has been but one voice pontificating here at Red State Rampage, but that will soon be changing. Although yours truly will continue to lead the charge here, we are welcoming Oregonian native, and Ohio transplant, Holy Buckeye to the dais. Scroll below the just posted interview with Steve Japinga to see the inaugural piece from Holy Buckeye, one in which he comments on the recent removal of Air America from the Columbus airwaves. Holy Buckeye will be regularly opining on the pages of Red State Rampage, so keep an eye out for the keen analysis that was so notably lacking before his arrival. We are also in the process of recruiting a few more contributors to Red State Rampage, so be on the lookout in the coming months.

Next Up: Steve Japinga

Within the past few months, Steve Japinga has burst on the scene in Michigan, announcing his candidacy for Michigan Federation of College Republicans Chairman, putting forth a new plan for MFCR, and weighing in in support of Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis during his sometimes contentious battle to win re-election. At this point, Japinga is unopposed in his bid to succeed two-term Chairman Dan Carlson, but a fight is looming down ticket between his running mate, Co-Chair candidate Ryan Thompson, and independent Co-Chair candidate Jeff Wiggins, a fellow Michigan State CR of Japinga. As this has become public since this interview was conducted, we did not have the chance to ask Steve about it, but we will definitely be covering it as it develops. So, here it is, our interview with Steve Japinga, next up in Michigan:

Red State Rampage: You are running as a candidate for Chairman of the Michigan Federation of College Republicans. What do you think most qualifies you to be the next Chairman of MFCR, and why are you running for this position?

Steve Japinga: I believe what most qualifies me to be Chairman of MFCRs is my willingness to work with everyone and to have an open and honest dialogue with each College Republican chapter. I’m running for this position because I know I can take the MFCRs to the next level by creating new clubs at Michigan Colleges that do not have College Republican groups, to increase participation, to raise money to give back to the chapters, and to help every Republican candidate.

RSR: Your background in College Republicans has been at Michigan State University. What are you most proud of being a part of while in College Republicans there?

SJ: There are so many different moments that I have been proud of at MSU while participating in the College Republicans. The most honorable moment I can think of was the MSU CRs 9/11 event. We gathered at 8 o’clock the night before September 11 at the Rock, which is a place where fraternities, sororities, and student groups express a messages by painting the “rock”. We painted “9/11, We Will Never Forget” and then put one flag for every soul that died on that terrible day behind it in the ground. We stayed up all night to defend the Rock from groups that wanted to destroy this sacred monument. I will always remember that day.

RSR: Obviously, there is a Presidential race on the horizon, and every candidate is looking for support. A short while ago, a large group of MFCR leaders endorsed John McCain, including the present Chairman of MFCR, Dan Carlson. Do you think that an organization like MFCR should become partial in this primary race? Why exactly do you feel that way?

SJ: I do not believe that the MFCRs should be partial in a primary race. I believe that any Republican that wants to run for President should have a fair shot to show the people of Michigan who they are and what they want to accomplish. In this organization, there is a wide variety of different college republicans that like many different candidates; Tom Tancredo, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Sam Brownback, Rudy Giuliani or Newt Gingrich. College Republicans should be able to work for who they believe in.

RSR: In Michigan after the November elections, there was a push to unseat Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis. You signed on to a letter, along with many other College Republicans, showing support for Chairman Anuzis. This bid is no longer an active one, but why did you feel the need to support him?

SJ: There was no need to have Saul step down. I felt that Saul has done a great job as our Chair and he has always been helpful with the Michigan State College Republicans and other College Republican clubs. I will continue to support Saul as our Chairman and whatever he does in the future.

RSR: Speaking of the Michigan GOP, how would you work beside them as Chairman of MFCR to achieve victory for the Republican Party at the polls? Is this any different from how the relationship operates now or in the past?

SJ: It’s simple; open communication. I have made great relationships with many of the Michigan Republicans. I want to work with them as much as possible to find out what we need to accomplish so we can win in 2008.

RSR: Currently in your state there is a Democratic Governor and two Democratic US Senators, out of which the Governor and junior Senator were just re-elected. Do you think that College Republicans did enough to defeat them, or could more have been done? Was the onus on the leadership of MFCR or the individual chapters?

SJ: I believe that College Republicans worked their hearts out in this past election. The problem that we faced was that it was always the same people working and there were not enough new people participating. Also, we had no way of knowing that national issues would dominate in a State with the worse[sic] unemployment in the country. We have some of the greatest College Republicans in the country here at our universities and this is apparent with Western Michigan College Republicans winning the best chapter of 2006 in the nation. It is important that if elected Chairman that I work with each chapter so that will be even stronger for 2008.

RSR: If you are elected to a term as Chairman in Michigan, what will be your top priority? What would you most like to leave office having accomplished for your organization?

SJ: If elected as Chairman, my top priority will be to make sure that there is a College Republican club at each university and college in Michigan. When I leave this great organization, I really want to make sure that the College Republicans are ready for the 2008 elections.

RSR: I am sure that your detractors have said Michigan does not need change or that you are not qualified enough to lead MFCR. What would you say to them on these counts, and what makes these accusations false?

SJ: Well, the first thing is I am not a threat. I want to work with everyone, even those who do not support me. I want them to know that I am qualified to lead the MFCRs through my experiences with MSU CRs, my work on various campaigns, and my ability to work with College Republicans.

RSR: As you may well know, there is an election coming up in 2007 for Chairman of the CRNC. Dan Carlson has committed to support Charlie Smith, the Chairman in Colorado. Would you continue this support or would you examine other options before making your decision?

SJ: I support Dan for his national ambitions and believe that having Dan playing an important role in CRNC will be good for Michigan. I have not met Charlie Smith yet and I look forward to talking with him.

RSR: I think that your own state probably comes before the national scene, but do you think that the amendments passed recently in Denver are improvements for the CRNC? Are you happy with the current state of the organization nationally?

SJ: To be perfectly honest, my main focus is with Michigan right now. We need to get this State back to the color Red.

RSR: Within College Republicans, I see two main philosophical camps as far as tactics of operation: those who argue in favor of simply volunteering with candidates and campaigns, and those who are in favor of focusing on campus activism and fostering debate on the campus. Do you see this as an absolute issue, or is there instead a proper mix of the two? How, in your opinion, can CRs be most effective?

SJ: I believe that volunteering for candidates and campaigns, campus activism, and open debate is all important to the effectiveness of College Republicans. Obviously, College Republicans are at their best when they are active.

RSR: One of the biggest struggles that I see within College Republican chapters is not recruitment, but rather retention. Do you feel that retention of members is a difficult task in Michigan as well, and how would you suggest to go about improving the retention rates?

SJ: Yes, I do believe that keeping the members motivated and active is the hardest part in College Republicans. By improving this, I would suggest that College Republican clubs find new and creative ways of retaining members either by having their meetings at different locations other than on campus or holding social events after meetings. There are many different ways to keep clubs fun and exciting for college students.

RSR: Back in the fall, one of the field reps sent by the CRNC to Michigan planned an event called "Catch an Illegal Immigrant", and there was much attention given to the situation that developed from this. The field rep, Morgan Wilkins, was later fired. Do you agree with how the situation was handled? Do you think that CR chapters should push the envelope, so to speak with their own events on campus?

SJ: There was a decision from the national level to have her step down and I respect that decision.

RSR: Dan Carlson has served two terms as Chairman of MFCR, and has undoubtedly made an impact in his tenure with the organization. What is one thing Dan brought to MFCR that you would like to continue in? On the flip side of that, what is one thing that you would do differently?

SJ: One event that I will continue if elected as Chair is the “Resolution Weekends.” This was an idea that became a reality for College Republicans from all over the state to come to a certain college campus and help out candidates in that specific area. It is a great chance to meet new people from other College Republican clubs. On the flip side, I would have done more events to bring College Republicans together.

RSR: Thank you very much for your openness and honesty in answering my questions, and best of luck in the rest of your campaign for MFCR Chairman. One final question for you though: will Mark Dantonio be successful with Spartan football, even at a school where basketball reigns supreme?

SJ: Mark Dantonio will be very successful at Michigan State. We are very happy to have him!

WTPwnaGe

If there is any solace in the wake of the greatest catastrophe to affect the State of Ohio since, well, the November elections, it’s that Err America Radio is out of Columbus. After two years of getting their butts kicked in the ratings by the likes of WLW (who, by the way, don’t even broadcast from Columbus), WTPG 1230 decided to adopt a format more successful than the left-wing lunacy of Randi Rhodes. This is no different from station managers in larger markets around the country that have dumped Err America for formats people would be more likely to listen to- like music from the 1940’s. One of the many truths in this world liberals will never be able to accept (like how declassified Soviet intelligence documents proved Senator McCarthy was right) is that their brand of far-left hysteria never caught on with the American people and the numbers are there to prove it.

Unfortunately for the left, Err America was doomed almost from the start, failing even to meet their fundraising goals for startup money. Contract disputes, bounced checks, and lawsuits followed in the network’s first year. Some twenty-five markets have dropped Err America (including New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia) citing ratings that placed them just above dead air. Columbus is the fifth market in Ohio alone to drop the network for programming people actually listen to. Perhaps with fewer people listening nationwide to far-left garbage than they could be getting elsewhere from Radio Havana Cuba, it isn’t surprising that the company declared Chapter Eleven bankruptcy in October.

Here in Columbus, we’re told by the Columbus Disgrace that WTPG’s loyal listeners in the area (all five of them) weren’t taking their much-ignored format switch lying down. They formed the ironically-named Ohio Majority Radio to circulate an online petition signed by residents of Columbus and suburbs like Niagara Falls and Rochester, New York. They staged a gathering at the Capitol attended by tens of thousands (ok, maybe just tens) to save “Progressive Radio” from the forces of the market and the millions of people throughout the Columbus area who would rather listen to something entertaining or informative. They even staged a mock funeral procession for their beloved radio station. This was a typical liberal funeral in that it quickly became a political rally and forum for Bush-bashing.

What somehow didn’t come up at the protest few outside their own Yahoo group knew existed was that they were almost upstaged by conservatives! Sister station WTVN dropped the far more popular Glenn Beck at the same time and listeners- more numerous by about a power of four- were outraged. Fans of the show planned a similar demonstration of support for Beck- and in far greater numbers- for last Saturday. Thankfully for sick, twisted freaks who don’t have XM Satellite Radio, Beck was picked up by WTDA 103.9 FM. This is perhaps what is most infuriating among Ohio’s dyed-in-the-wool communists. They can win our votes, but they can never win our hearts, our minds, or our ears.

BREAKING: Florida's Wacholtz not seeking re-election; 2 candidates emerge to succeed him

As the spring months approach, many states will be holding elections in their respective College Republican federations, and each individual race will be of great import to the upcoming CRNC elections in June. It appeared just a few weeks ago that Florida's Chairman Scott Wacholtz would be seeking a second term, but it now is known that Wacholtz will instead step away from FFCR at the end of his term. Vying to succeed him are two members of his Executive Board, First Vice Chair David Stevens and Treasurer Tommy Keller. Stevens, hailing from Florida State University, was a past chapter Chairman at FSU, and served as Wacholtz' running mate in 2006. Keller, who is a student at Stetson, was elected as Treasurer of FFCR in November of 2005, and he has named Florida Atlantic University CR Stacey Chait as his running mate.

Both campaigns have set up Facebook groups, the campaign site of choice for College Republican elections everywhere, and have released letters announcing their intents to run for the open positions. Tommy Keller's group, Tommy Keller for Chairman, boasts 78 current members, and features a letter detailing some of the plans Keller has for FFCR leading up to the 2008 Presidential elections.

"It is too simplistic for any individual seeking Chairmanship of this organization to boast about supposed accomplishments that have recently been made. However, if we are to have the most influential impact, it is time to be honest. The question, “What is the purpose of our State Federation?” must weigh heavily upon the minds of the elect in this organization. And the current status quo cannot and must not continue into another term."

The group touting the candidacy of David Stevens, David Stevens for FFCR Chairman, also features a letter declaring his candidacy, but, in addition to that, features a list of Stevens' accomplishments as well as a couple of choice photos, while having slightly fewer members at 60.

"...we have worked hard to expand our federation and lay the foundation so that the FFCR will be the best in the country. While I was disappointed to hear that Scott would not seek a second term, I fully understand his reasoning and wish him well in his future endeavors. Scott has done a great job this past year, but there is much still left to do. After discussing the matter with friends and family, I have decided to announce my candidacy for Chairman of the Florida Federation of College Republicans. In order to take our federation to the next level, we need someone who is dedicated, organized, and experienced."

BREAKING: Stewie Griffin to run for CRNC Chair?

A source in Ohio just alerted me to a new Facebook group started in light of the circus that is the CRNC election pushing Stewie Griffin for CRNC Chairman. The group states that Stewie Griffin is the only man who can get the job done, and has already equaled the momentum driving the express train that is the Erin McTiernan for CRNC Chairman push at four members. The group is surely to catch on like wildfire and will probably force many a would-be candidate out of the race. Red State Rampage could not reach Mr. Griffin, most famous for his ongoing tenure on the FOX sitcom Family Guy as himself, or any member of his staff for comment at this hour. We will continue to develop this evolving and emerging story as it takes the College Republican world by storm. If Stewie Griffin is indeed formally declaring his candidacy, the dynamic of this race will change drastically, as it is almost sure none of the existing candidates are of equal, or even comparable, stock.

CRNC Election News & Notes

-We will be soon posting interviews with candidate for Michigan Fed. of College Republicans Chairman Steve Japinga, a Michigan State CR, and interim Texas Fed. of College Republicans Vice Chairman Justin Jordan in the coming days. The interview with Japinga should be up later this morning, and we are also in the process of interviewing Students for Brownback Chairman Billy Valentine. Stay tuned for these, and several more interviews in the pipeline over the coming weeks.

-In a move that has been expected for some time, Rhode Island's Ethan Wingfield endorsed Real Reform yesterday, releasing the following statement on his support:

“The biggest challenge the College Republicans face is not reforming its national committee. Our challenge is building an organizational infrastructure that will make it easier for Republicans to get elected. The common-sense goals of the Real Reform platform will streamline the organization, make it less succeptible (sic) to corruption, and will ultimately enable us to more effectively campaign on behalf of candidates we all want to see elected. That's why Rhode Island voted unanimously to support Real Reform.”

The endorsement makes formal what has been known for sometime, and there seems to be quite a bit of grassroots support for reform at the chapter level in Rhode Island. There are now 17 sitting state chairmen supporting Real Reform, and we keep hearing whispers of a major announcement coming from Real Reform principals Brian Siler and Brent Ludeman.

-Truth Caucus is reporting that New York's Erin McTiernan is exploring the possibility of the run for National Chairman. McTiernan is best known nationally for calling out Paul Gourley publicly over a few matters, most notably for the alleged subterfuge of a CRNC field rep in recruiting a registered Democrat to run a College Republican chapter in New York. New York has a long history of infighting, but it is a state who has been solidly in support of reform for some time. It, along with California, is a state notably absent from the supporters of Real Reform.

Students for Brownback Chairman issues statement on John McCain

With all of the buzz surrounding recent College Republican figures endorsing John McCain for President, and the donations given to some of the figures who endorsed Sen. McCain, Students for Brownback Chairman Billy Valentine has issued a brief statement in response:

"It is no surprise that College Republicans continue to sell out the conservative movement to moderate Senator John McCain considering the large sums of cash he has been offering for their souls. Unlike Senator McCain, Senator Brownback has been winning College Republican support through his consistent conservative record, something that money simply can't buy."

We at Red State Rampage have been very vocal in our criticisms of the McCain campaign for seemingly buying College Republican support, so it is refreshing to see another voice, especially one from another candidate's team, picking up on this. Back in the fall, Sen. Sam Brownback spoke to over 400 students and College Republicans in Ohio, and Brownback will also be a featured speaker at CPAC this coming March.

Red State Rampage in the 55th Carnival of Ohio Politics

The Carnival of Ohio Politics, now in the 55th edition, is rolling strong into its second year of providing a comprehensive weekly report on Ohio bloggers. In this edition, Red State Rampage has three featured posts, and if you have yet to read them, what are you wasting your time doing instead? Anyhow, check out the posts below and the 55th Carnival to see what else Ohioan bloggers have to say this week.

Note to BSB: Go ask the 6th District about the Govt. "Workday"

Update: Columbus losing "Progressive" Radio in 2007

Marc Dann: Providing Comedic Fodder Since Birth

Sports Night

Columbus sports fans and baseball fans across the nation mourn the loss of former International League President George Sisler, Jr., who passed away at the age of 89 on December 31, 2006. Sisler served as the general manager for two Columbus minor league baseball teams, first the Red Birds and later the Clippers. He also spent time from 1966 until 1976 leading the International League, which is based in Dublin, Ohio, a northwest Columbus suburb. Sisler was the son of Major League Baseball Hall of Famer George Sisler, Sr., who held the record for hits in a season (257) until it was broken by Ichiro Suzuki's 262 hits in 2004. Sisler, Jr. was part of four IL Championships while with the Clippers and was named IL Executive of the Year four times as well.

-In comments that are sure to gain Stuart Appleby both adulation and scorn, the PGA veteran suggested that teenage golfer Michelle Wie should improve her game on the LPGA Tour before continuing to play in men's golf events. Appleby did provide some basis for his comments, stating the facts that Wie has missed 11 of 12 cuts and has yet to win an LPGA event, but there is much doubt as to how his comments will be taken. Wie has went beyond simple novelty participation and straight to embarassing in my opinion, especially given the nature of her performances in both men's and women's events. Wie has shown flashes of brilliance, but she needs to build up some confidence and experience before continuing to try and swing it with the guys. If Wie continues to develop, and enrolling at Stanford to play golf is a sign that she is committed to improvement, there is almost no doubt that she can dominate the LPGA and someday compete with the man. Right now, though, she is undergoing a seeming exercise in futility. Meanwhile, Appleby will be gunning for a fourth straight win at the PGA's All-Star tournament, the Mercedes Championships, and this time he will not have to compete against Tour heavyweights Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

-It appears that the Cleveland Indians will soon be adding another late-inning option to their bullpen, as Red Sox pitcher Keith Foulke is in town for a physical. Foulke missed much of last season with injuries, and was supplanted by rookie sensation Jonathan Papelbon in the closer's role for Boston. Signing Foulke would be the latest move in a string of offseason signings and trades to improve the Indians; other acquisitions include 2B Josh Barfield, P Joe Borowski, OF David Dellucci, and P Roberto Hernandez. The Tribe has also invited two former MLB infielders to Spring Training who spent last year in the minor leagues, Luis Rivas and Keith Ginter. Both are expected to compete for the open utility infielder position and received minor league contracts with the Tribe. Indians GM Mark Shapiro has also been hard after St. Louis Cardinals P Mark Mulder, a 29-year old starter who will miss 2007 while rehabbing from major surgery. Any deal would likely be a two-year deal, with no expectations of major league production from Mulder until 2008. This move would appear to provide insurance in the case of two current Indians starting pitchers who will be eligible for free agency after the upcoming season, Paul Byrd and Jake Westbrook. Bryd is 36 years old, and Westbrook could price himself out of the Indians price range, especially given the large deals given to rather mediocre starters in this offseason. Having Mulder around would be a solid contingency plan, should the Indians win out in this bidding war against the Rangers and Cardinals, the other two possible destinations for Mulder according to his agent.

-ESPN's Bill Simmons is a phenomenal writer, and easily one of my favorite sports columnists. He is back at it this week with a piece in ESPN the Magazine, which is also featured online at ESPN.com, on the hypocrisy of Mark McGwire's exclusion from the Hall of Fame. Go check it out!

Who's OSU taking to the Dance?

When the Ohio State Buckeyes play Florida in the inaugural BCS Championship Game in Glendale, Arizona, on January 8, The Ohio State University will have a very large contingent of guests in attendance. The Columbus Dispatch has published the list of all official guests of the university, and there are no real surprises, simply a lot of the likely suspects (suspects may be a bad choice of syllogism when speaking of politicians, eh?). Ohio GOP and Ohio Democratic Party Chairmen are both on the list, with ORP Chairman Bob Bennett taking his wife Ruth Ann Bennett, and ODP Chairman Chris Redfern taking his fiancee Kim Kahlert. Among other Ohio politicians in the General Assembly attending include:
-Speaker Jon Husted (R)
-State Rep. Steve Reinhard (R)
-State Rep. Michelle Schneider (R)
-State Rep. Robert Hagan (D)
-State Sen. Steve Stivers (R)
-State Sen. Jay Hottinger (R)
-State Rep. Jim Carmichael (R)
-State Sen. Steve Austria (R)
-State Rep. Jon Peterson (R)
-State Rep. Tom Letson (D)
-State Rep. Jim Hughes (R)
-State Rep. Matt Barrett (D)
-State Rep. Ross McGregor (R)

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman (D) is attending, as is outgoing City Council President Matt Habash (D). Ohio Secretary of State-elect Jennifer Brunner (D) will be on the flight, as will Ohio 5th District Congressman Paul Gillmor (R). All of the politicians are paying their own way, at $2,100 per person. Other notables include ambitious OSU Student Senate President Nick Benson, whose trip is being paid for by the university from the bowl payout, and Undergraduate Student President Ryan Fournier, whose trip is covered because he is working on the trip. The Board of Trustees also is on the list, part of which will be paid for by bowl proceeds. Notable Republicans on the Board of Trustees include RNC Co-Chair JoAnn Davidson, outgoing Auditor of State Betty Montgomery, disgraced former Taft aide Brian Hicks, and GOP campaign treasurer extraordinaire Bill Curlis. Of these four, only Curlis is paying his own way.

One interesting side note to this list are the few Republicans who will get to spend a plane ride and a weekend with Chairman Bennett, no doubt discussing 2008 ambitions and beyond. State Sen. Jay Hottinger, rumored candidate for Congress in the 18th District is one of these to note, as are Speaker Husted and Rep. Hughes, who have both been rumored replacements for 15th District Congressman Deborah Pryce if she retires. State Rep. Steve Reinhard is also a rumored candidate to replace term-limited State Sen. Larry Mumper in 2008. It also is not known if Governor-elect Ted Strickland will be making the trip.

Rob Portman on Tour

In another sign that former Ohio 2nd District Representative and current White House Budget Director Rob Portman will be a candidate for public office soon once again, he is criss-crossing Ohio in the coming week, with stops in Cleveland and Columbus. The City Club of Cleveland is hosting Dir. Portman this Friday for a noon luncheon, where he will be the featured speaker. Next Wednesday, the John Glenn Institute for Public Policy at The Ohio State University and the Concord Coalition are hosting Portman at the Blackwell Inn (on OSU's campus) as a panelist on the Fiscal Wake-up Tour, put on by the Concord Coalition.

Three's Company Once Again: Derek Hall Dodges the Draft Movement

The field of potential candidates is back down to three tonight after Kentucky's Derek Hall opted not to seek a term as Chairman of the CRNC in 2007. Over the past few weeks talk had surfaced about Hall's national intentions at a fervor not seen since the summer of 2006, when a candidacy for Chairman by Hall was seen as very likely. With this announcement, the field is pared back down to include the team of Brian Siler and Brent Ludeman, Charlie Smith, and an ever looming bid by Dan Schuberth, who seemed very much a candidate at the December 2006 CRNC Board Meeting. Draft Derek Hall, the blog that really brought talk of a Hall candidacy back to the forefront of College Republicans, has the statement, as does Truth Caucus. Due to the eloquence of Hall's letter, it is being posted here also:

"The past two weeks have been quite a whirlwind experience for me. I have talked to many individuals about the possibility of running for the position of CRNC Chairman, but I felt it was necessary to officially announce that as of now I have decided not to run for the position. I have been extremely flattered by the outpour of support and kind words; I was not expecting to hear from so many individuals from across the country.

I have worked diligently for the College Republicans since stepping foot on the campus of the University of Kentucky, and I feel that I have an invested interest in the future of this organization. We all need to recognize its time to introduce sound, intelligent reform to the CRNC, and hopefully our candidates will continue to preach this message as they campaign over the coming months. At times, we over-complicate this organization, and I hope that our next crop of leaders realize its time to simplify each facet of the group. This means we need to put more emphasis on helping to win real elections and strengthening our local chapters. We need to stand together and proclaim that playing politics within the CRNC is the business of the past and promoting the Republican Party is the answer for the future.

Once again, I want to thank everyone for their support, and I hope we are able to come together to produce the best team for guiding the CRNC. Thank you and God bless."

Hall is still expected to find a place on someone's ticket, and a close relationship with Missouri's Justin Smith and Ohio's Brian Siler could play a large role in where Hall stands in the upcoming race. In the recent Truth Caucus poll, candidates from states supporting Real Reform, including Derek Hall, Brian Siler, and Brent Ludeman, won 78% of the vote, so a combination of the three on a ticket could prove formidable. It is also very refreshing to see someone talking of winning real elections and promoting the Republican Party over inter-organizational squabbles; for whatever reason this seems to have been absent for some time within the CRNC. We will continue to follow all of the potential candidates in the race, and have continuous updates on any decisions being made. No formal announcements are set as of yet, but it is rumored that all candidates are within days of making their final decisions.

Columbus well prepared for emergency communications and planning; Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo lag behind

In a new report released by the Dept. of Homeland Security, Columbus was one of only six U.S. cities given an advanced rating in all three categories, making it, on paper, one of the most well-prepared cities for emergency planning and communications. The report also ranked Cleveland as one of the worst cities in emergency management, citing the still informal and unorganized status of the area planning groups. Cincinnati and Toledo were graded only slightly higher due to an improving performance in organizing those same area planning groups.

The report graded the cities in three major areas of communications preparedness: Usage, Governance, and Standardized Operating Procedures. The Usage category was evaluated on how effectively first responders actually were in cooperating and communicating during drills and emergencies requiring interorganizational cooperation, essentially how well the plans are currently implemented. Columbus was rated as having advanced usage, while the three other Ohio cities rated were given only an intermediate ranking on usage and implementation. Governance ranked the organization of emergency planning groups, the existence of definite protocol, and the active funding and constant updating of this planning. Cleveland was cited for not having a definite strategic plan or formal planning group in place, while Columbus was again rated advanced in the area. Toledo and Cincinnati were given intermediate rankings in this category as well, given the improving nature of their plans and the formality of the planning groups. Standardized Operating Procedures encompassed the actual effectiveness and implementation of the plans themselves in exercises and actual emergencies, with Columbus again being advanced to the other three Ohio cities intermediate ratings.

Ohio Losing Two House Districts in 2012?

(UPDATED 1.3.07: Commenter Kelly has pointed out that the Congressional redistricting takes place in the Ohio General Assembly and is simply a bill the Governor at that time will sign into law. The Apportionment Board draws the lines for both houses of the Ohio General Assembly, although both processes will be occurring at roughly the same time. My apologies for getting my facts mixed up there, but it is corrected in the post below now.)

When reapportionment comes around next in 2012, current population and migration trends indicate that Ohio will likely lose at least one Congressional district, and possibly two. This would continue a trend of lessened national influence, leaving Ohio with just 18 electoral votes and 16 U.S. Representatives to complement the two Ohioan U.S. Senators. With redistricting due in 2010, Ohio appears to be in for major changes on the statewide political scene. The two districts to be eliminated would be chosen by the party controlling the Ohio General Assembly, although with the current map, it would be tough to eliminate two seats currently held by the same party. For something so earthshaking, the story is drawing almost no coverage, even in the blogosphere.

Obviously this will not take place for another few years, but it is most certainly on the horizon. The rapidly shrinking population in Ohio loses an average of 250 residents each day to Florida alone, and the onus is most definitely on the governing body to reverse this trend. Governor Bob Taft failed to do so during his eight years, but regardless of party affiliation, we would be happy to see Gov.-elect Ted Strickland do well in this regard. Ohio must keep its young talent, the thousands who graduate every year from Ohio's higher education system, and even those who have just received their high school diplomas. We must also create a more business-friendly environment, in order to bring in new jobs and keep the jobs already in Ohio home. However, if we hope to reverse the trend, we need to be concerned with effecting that change now, and not in five years.

Red State Rampage joins with State of Ohio Blogger Alliance

Red State Rampage is the newest member blog of the State of Ohio Blogger Alliance, a conservative-leaning and generally Republican association of bloggers. A new live feed of posts by other SOB Alliance members has been added to the sidebar below the Links portion, and a blogroll will be forthcoming. This group includes some of my favorite blogs, and ones that I read everyday, such as BizzyBlog, Right Angle Blog, Lincoln Logs, Viking Spirit, and Weapons of Mass Discussion. I would most definitely suggest checking them out, and I am glad to be joining such an esteemed collective of established bloggers in Ohio.

Editorial: The Many Faces of Charlie Smith

Just who is Charlie Smith? Why is he running to be the next Chairman of the CRNC? What exactly does Charlie Smith stand for? For the casual follower of College Republican politics, those who simply read the headlines and look no further into them, these are questions that cannot be answered. To the average onlooker, they may even think there are three separate Charlie Smiths in our organization: the Charlie Smith who voted for Paul Gourley and was vying to be the heir to his throne, the Charlie Smith who was vowing to Unite the CRNC just weeks ago, and the Charlie Smith that now wants to bring you, Joe CR, a New CRNC by embracing reform and an agenda he once opposed. That average CR would be right, too, in thinking that three separate versions of Charlie Smith exist, because within the past six months each face of Smith has been worn publicly.

There really is no true way to tell where Charlie Smith does, in fact stand, and this is not a good place for a politician of any level to be. Fresh in American minds is the image of a flip-flopping John Kerry, a man who measured the changing winds of opinion before making his choice. In the 2005 CRNC election, Charlie Smith publicly endorsed the current Chairman of the CRNC, H. Paul Gourley, and Colorado cast its electoral votes in favor of Chairman Gourley. This past summer, and into the early fall, Smith was maneuvering to succeed the wounded Chairman in 2007 and be anointed heir to the relative dynasty that is the Establishment within the CRNC. He held at least two separate conference calls discussing the possibility of him running in place of Gourley, in order that the Opposition may not become victorious in the next go round. There was no doubt, until very recently, whose side Charlie Smith stood on.

Then came a couple of amendments, one proposed in 2005 and pulled from the floor and the other a new idea. Both involved making the elections process more accountable, and both were seen by some as a vengeful act by holdovers from the 2005 campaign. Charlie Smith signed on as a sponsor, and Charlie the Uniter was born. In the run-up to the 2006 CRNC Winter Board Meeting, held just last month in Denver, both sides bickered back and forth regarding the merits and intent of the amendments, but by December when state chairmen gathered to vote in the Rockies, both would pass with ease. Some still in the CRNC office were not happy with them, nor with Charlie for playing a role in their passage. Smith's former patrons were none too pleased with their protege, and this is why Charlie Smith did not announce his candidacy at the Board Meeting.

Now playing cowboy, and rounding up all of his straying cattle, he was on the defensive. No solid platform had been proposed, and so Ohio's Brian Siler and Brent Ludeman of Washington, two other rumored candidates, put forth an all-encompassing slate of ideas for reform, under the label of Real Reform. Nearly every supporter of Real Reform initially, and to this day, has been an unquestioned supporter of reforming the CRNC, so it was somewhat surprising to see Charlie's response to the move. Charlie Smith was so brash to welcome proponents of Real Reform to the debate, a debate that Charlie himself was more than fashionably late to. He released his own list of supporters, and it was noticeably heavy on Gourley supporters, especially for a group posing as one of reformers. What he could not admit, however, was that his letter brought no substance to the debate, but merely rhetoric.

Still portending to wish a coming together, a unification of the CRNC, Charlie Smith purchased a domain to back up his Unite the CRNC platform, which never went live (and no platform ever emerged). Shortly after this was discovered, just in the past few days, Smith shifted his focus yet again. After receiving a mere 22% of the vote in a Truth Caucus poll, he wrapped himself in a new banner: a New CRNC. Another domain was bought, and College Republicans were left wondering what this Smith guy stood for.

As a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, I am all for conversions in faith and beliefs. One of the biggest goals of College Republican organizations across the nation should be winning hearts and minds with our proven message. True conversion is something that must manifest itself in concrete actions and not mere words. So when I see politicians converting from pro-life to pro-choice, and back again, simply for the purpose of winning votes and support, it disgusts me. I have seen this same convenient conversion, still a false change, in the evolving stances of Charlie Smith.

This pandering nature is something I have noticed for some time, and have remained quiet. Everyone should be given a chance to show themselves true, and so I have allowed this chance multiple times in Charlie Smith's case. Time and time again, we have seen him change his foundations to what is currently popular, seemingly for his own benefit. Though I have not met him, Michael Davidson appears to me to be a great diviner of character. You will recall that Davidson recently met for dinner with Charlie Smith, purportedly to discuss Smith's intentions of running nationally. You will also recall that Smith was sent away for want of solid evidence of his reformer stance. If Michael Davidson did not see him as a true reformer, I remain hesitant to as well. This upcoming CRNC election is far too important to choose a new Chairman based solely upon what a man may say. No, we must follow those who have backed up their words with actions, like at least three other possible candidates have. We cannot, and must not pick a man who does not even know where he himself stands. Charlie Smith, a man of many faces, is most definitely not the man for the job.

From here on out, Red State Rampage will pull no punches, because Charlie's third change was the charm. We need leadership with clear direction, not someone who is heading down three separate paths. We need a man who will stand up and fight for his beliefs, not a man wishing to be everything to everyone. The answer to the question, then, is that no one really can know who Charlie Smith is. One thing is certain though: until he makes up his mind, we should not be trusting him to lead us.