"Every Other Monday" By John Kasich

Townhall.com ^ | June 18, 2010 | Hugh Hewitt

[Kaslin]

It is hard to find anyone who doesn't like John Kasich.  The ebullient former congressman from the Columbus Ohio area spent nearly twenty years making a mark in the House of Representatives as an expert of the budget, ran a principled campaign for the GOP nomination for president in 2000 to underscore his concerns on federal spending (prophets are never heeded in time) and then had a great run as a Fox News Channel host and commentator.

 

Last year Kasich decided to try and help his beloved Buckeye State and launched a run for governor against Ted Strickland, the affable but hapless career pol who has presided over an economic bleed out that continues despite promises of massive help by President Obama when, as a candidate for president, he stumped the key swing state asking for a chance to show what a united Democratic Washington could do for the industrial Midwest.

 

Kasich campaign is formidable, and the most recent polling puts him five points ahead. Kasich is teamed at the top of the Ohio GOP ticket with a former colleague from the House, Rob Portman, who is favored to keep George Voinovich's Senate seat in Republican hands.  The two of them present the GOP's best face to voters:  Earnest, smart, optimists who got into politics just as Ronald Reagan came to D.C. and who are now at the top of their games and ready to contribute urgently needed leadership at the state and federal level.

 

This is a great situation for a candidate like Kasich, and just as many candidates have done, he has authored a book.

 

Except Every Other Monday: Twenty Years of Life, Lunch, Faith and Friendship is unlike any other candidate's book that I have ever read.  Every Other Monday is Kasich's spiritual autobiography, or more accurately, a biography of the small group he and seven other men put together in 1987 to discuss the biggest issues of life using the Bible as their guide.  The group has grown over the decades into a cornerstone of the lives of the men who participate in it, a rock on which they have all stood through some very tough times and some deeply difficult circumstances.

 

It has also been the source of joy, friendship and meaning, and Kasich's "mere Christianity" has deepened and matured through the hundreds of sit-downs with ordinary believers grappling with both Old and New Testaments.  Kasich's spiritual journey began after his beloved parents were killed by a drunk driver a quarter century ago, and the path forward for him hasn't been easy or obvious.

 

I heard of the book this past Monday, ordered it up on my Kindle and read it over the next two days.  I asked Kasich to come on the radio show Thursday which he did, and my first question was probably the question most of my D.C. audience on WRC AM 1260 had even if not the first question all of the other listeners across the country would have had:  What did your campaign people think about putting out a book like this in the middle of the campaign?

 

"John," I said "this is a very good book that could be put to very bad use by political opponents.  I can see the direct mail now: 'Kasich an expert on greed and envy!  Admits to meeting with co-conspirators every other week."  I was laughing, but there was a point to the question --candidates don't often talk about their inner lives of faith because such disclosures can and have been used against them in the rough and tumble world of politics.

 

Kasich's answer was immediate: He'd agreed to write the book before he knew he was going to run for governor.  It was an important project to him and he wanted to honor his commitment.  He trusted readers and voters would understand.

 

I think they will.  Certainly anyone who has ever been in a small group will identify with the stories in Every Other Monday, and pastors will celebrate that a high profile guy like Kasich has endorsed the approach that has been near the core of American Christianity for many years.

 

Even cynics and non-believers will find it hard to fault Kasich's account of how life is lived over decades because everyone experiences the same set of ups and downs, great joys and sudden shocks, and Kasich's connecting them to Scripture is not shocking or salacious, only unconventional for a politician.  It is also inspiring and encouraging.

 

Every Other Monday may prompt many other men to seek out or form such groups, and if it does it will be a hugely significant book unlike most candidate books.  If it has any impact on the race for Ohio's statehouse, it will be positive, for it is impossible to put down without concluding that John Kasich is exactly who he says he is and that that guy is the same guy you have seen occasionally on your television screen for the past few years --open, energized and upbeat.  Every Other Monday is in fact an explanation for Kasich's approach and attitude, an unintentional but powerful marker of authenticity and humility in an age when very few elected officials have that particular sort of credibility.

 

Even if you are as far from belief in God as anyone you know, give Every Other Monday a shot.  We would all be much better off if more elected officials met in more such groups and asked more such questions.  In fact, send a copy via Amazon to your congressman or senator or state legislator.  It might be exactly what they, and we, so desperately need right

[Kaslin]

If you don’t live in Ohio I suggest you keep your nastiness to yourself.

Bump, and that should go for all that don't live in Ohio and make negative remarks about John Kasich because of rumors they heard or read

[Deadeye Division]

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/analysis/time/9610/14/tumulty.shtml

[Deadeye Division]

He’s getting static for being a hypocrite, from when he was a state senator running for Congress and voluntarily released three years of income tax returns and challenged his opponent to do the same.

[Kaslin]

Is that all you can come up with a rumor from the rats?

[Deadeye Division]

I recall him attending a Pearl Jam concert with Gary Condit, and that’s no rumor.

[Deadeye Division]

Maybe you should ask him out?

[chris_bdba]

Incase you folks missed it Gary Condit was found to be innocent of everything except possibly fooling around while he was married. BTW Kasich was single most of his time in Congress so unless you object to guys being straight and dating what exactly is your beef?

[hedgetrimmer]

Its history.

But the media has erased it.

How long have you been reading newspapers? Surely you read about it when it happened?

[chris_bdba]

I guess the non Ohioians would rather see us in the same position as Michigan is by re electing the feckless governor we have now?

[hedgetrimmer]

You make the orgies seem so innocent! Good job!

[Kaslin]

That must be it

[chris_bdba]

I suggest you worry about your own state since California is in such good shape. Personally I could care less if that is what he did as a single man. Not many single men out there that given the opportunity would pass something like that by unless of course they were gay.

[chris_bdba]

We have two choices in November either stay on the road that leads to h*ll or try to make a turn and save ourselves. These uninformed people would rather see us fail. With unemployment at 10.7% now ad knowing tht parts of Ohio have never recovered from the clean air act in the early 90’s they must want all of us on food stamps instead of the 1 out of 4 households that are now?

[nina0113]

Its history.

No link, no history.

But the media has erased it.

Oh, of COURSE they have. The media's been covering up for Republicans for years.

How long have you been reading newspapers? Surely you read about it when it happened?

I've been reading, newpapers and other things, long enough to know a gratuitous insult when I see one. What's your problem? Froggie made an accusation, I asked for evidence, he didn't provide any, and you're jumping in with STILL no evidence, just some snarky BS. Put up or shut up.

[NeoCaveman]

I recall him attending a Pearl Jam concert with Gary Condit, and that’s no rumor.

I believe that is accurate.

[hedgetrimmer]

Not many single men out there that given the opportunity would pass something like that by unless of course they were gay.

What an idiotic thing to say. You're maligning the character of all men. Why?

[Kaslin]

It sure seems that way, and I bet these same people are the reason the rats took the majority in November 2006 and that the arrogant p o s who currently resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave got elected

[HonestConservative]

I heard this interview last night and also saw him on Fox, I think on Hannity.

A real man, God Bless Him, who had more to do with balancing the budget than the Ed McMahon of politics, Newt Gingrich.

[hedgetrimmer]

Yep! Condit’s buddy Kasich was out here in Condit’s district campaigning with his friend.

Kasich dropped out of politics when a connection to Condit/Levy was discovered. Likely, much more to that story we will never hear.

22 posted on 07/21/2008 9:16:59 AM PDT

"Wasn't Kasich the guy with the dead girl in his office or something?"

No, that was Joe Scarborough. But Kasich was close buddies with Scarborough and Gary Condit, and was rumored to attend some sex orgies in Condit's apartment with young interns and staffers. The stories included some heavy DNA all over the apartment when they were searching for the missing Chandra Levy. 9-11 happened at the perfect time for all of the scandal to be swept under the rugs.

34 posted on 07/21/2008 9:47:32 AM PDT

Hannity and Colmbs Breaking news on Chandra

Condit Files: Related Contemporary Event

One of Condit's biggest bosom buddies and double-dating party animals in Washington was erstwhile Congressman Kasich, who quit and left DC in one hell of an unseemly and undignified hurry. He skedaddled home to beautiful Ohio and was married and the father of a family in what seemed like days. Although a shoe-in for re-election, he decamped DC faster than a whore from a bible class. Nobody knows why.

As a public-spirited citizen of the great Buckeye State, I volunteer Mr. Kasich (who's not doing anything around here, anyway) for a thorough DNA test, against those mysterious samples found in Condit's foul lair. Now who else were Condit's friends in Congress?

Out Condit's Congressional friends now! Round up the dirty job people from his staff. Let the DNA tests begin!

17 posted on 05/30/2002 5:54:09 AM PDT

To: MississippiDeltaDawg

FOUND THIS ON GOOGLE! IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM A FR POST!

Just read through the latest issue of tabloid rag The Globe, which is headlining in million-point type CHANDRA BOMBSHELL on the cover.
The story features extensive quotes from Anne Marie Smith's attorney Jim Robinson. (AMS was a former Condit paramour; the stewardess) Robinson says that it wasn't necessary for Condit to kill Chandra himself, that others in the sex ring he was involved in ordered a hit after Levy threatened to expose the club. Robinson the club included among other two very prominent politicians: one currently the governor of a large state, the other a former presidential candidate. The club, codenamed TLG for The League of Gentlemen, also included a Washington-area Saudi with direct ties to the Saudi royal family.
Robinson says the sex ring provided young women for politicians and Arab businessmen, and also that the men frequently experimented with exhibitionism and homosexuality, keeping the young women around "to prove they're not gay."

Wonder how reliable all this is?

559 posted on 05/27/2002 6:37:37 PM PDT

I do believe Kasich. Scarborou and the Saudi Prince are the member of the Sex Club mentioned in Miss Smith's new book. I Don't know if they are mentioned by name. Kasich is "the former congressman who ran for president".
WIll see if I can google some accurate information on the book.

551 posted on 05/27/2002 5:36:47 PM PDT

"Wasn't Kasich the guy with the dead girl in his office or something?"

No, that was Joe Scarborough. But Kasich was close buddies with Scarborough and Gary Condit, and was rumored to attend some sex orgies in Condit's apartment with young interns and staffers. The stories included some heavy DNA all over the apartment when they were searching for the missing Chandra Levy. 9-11 happened at the perfect time for all of the scandal to be swept under the rugs.

Condit Files: Related Contemporary Event

One of Condit's biggest bosom buddies and double-dating party animals in Washington was erstwhile Congressman Kasich, who quit and left DC in one hell of an unseemly and undignified hurry. He skedaddled home to beautiful Ohio and was married and the father of a family in what seemed like days. Although a shoe-in for re-election, he decamped DC faster than a whore from a bible class. Nobody knows why.

As a public-spirited citizen of the great Buckeye State, I volunteer Mr. Kasich (who's not doing anything around here, anyway) for a thorough DNA test, against those mysterious samples found in Condit's foul lair. Now who else were Condit's friends in Congress?

Out Condit's Congressional friends now! Round up the dirty job people from his staff. Let the DNA tests begin!

FOUND THIS ON GOOGLE! IT ACTUALLY CAME FROM A FR POST!

Just read through the latest issue of tabloid rag The Globe, which is headlining in million-point type CHANDRA BOMBSHELL on the cover.
The story features extensive quotes from Anne Marie Smith's attorney Jim Robinson. (AMS was a former Condit paramour; the stewardess) Robinson says that it wasn't necessary for Condit to kill Chandra himself, that others in the sex ring he was involved in ordered a hit after Levy threatened to expose the club. Robinson the club included among other two very prominent politicians: one currently the governor of a large state, the other a former presidential candidate. The club, codenamed TLG for The League of Gentlemen, also included a Washington-area Saudi with direct ties to the Saudi royal family.
Robinson says the sex ring provided young women for politicians and Arab businessmen, and also that the men frequently experimented with exhibitionism and homosexuality, keeping the young women around "to prove they're not gay."

Wonder how reliable all this is?

I do believe Kasich. Scarborou and the Saudi Prince are the member of the Sex Club mentioned in Miss Smith's new book. I Don't know if they are mentioned by name. Kasich is "the former congressman who ran for president".
WIll see if I can google some accurate information on the book.

[nina0113]

Those are internet rumors, not evidence. The only fact involved is the fact that they were posted HERE, without a link back to any evidence even at that time. And that’s the reason I ask for evidence now. Starting or spreading libellous rumors is disgraceful, and we should be above it.