Mr. Freddoso,
I’m a lifelong Conservative born in Cincinnati Ohio. I’m a successful small business owner, despite my company being in Ohio.
The GOP problems here are totally self inflicted. The reason for the drop in the number of voters that identify themselves as Republicans is easy to see
if you lived here the past twenty years.
Case in point, my ex Governor, Bob ‘Tax Em!’ Taft. When he ran the first time, he had a platform of decreasing state taxes, decreasing state spending, and gaining passage of the long desired Concealed Carry Weapon legislation. What he did was increase state taxes (115 new or increased taxes on small business across the board) vetoed CCW twice, and a massive increase in state spending. His overt cronyism led to multiple scandals (Coingate being the best know) and then Bob Taft pled guilty to FOUR (4) misdemeanor charges, and then refused to resign.
The Taft Republicans (RINO Moderates one and all) became very upset with Ken Blackwell challenging the Governor’s refusal to keep his campaign promises, specifically on taxation, spending and CCW. When Taft’s time in office was mercifully coming to an end, Blackwell ran in the primaries, and was attacked by these same Taft Republicans with a series of overtly racist ads on behalf of Jim Petro. And then wonder why they lost the Governorship....
Add to it Jean Schmidt’s antics, and votes which irritated Conservatives here (she’s my district rep, replacing Rob Portman, and doing a poor job of it) and that’s where we are today as Conservatives here in Ohio.
Next up, Mike DeWine. Simply one of the most despised men in my fifty years living here, for a wide variety of reasons not limited to ‘Gang of Fourteen’ but that’s certainly a part of it. His son is perpetually running for office in the Cincinnati area, has a terrible reputation in the legal community - the firm he works for is my corporate representation. His (DeWine Sr) being on the ticket will drag it DOWN, bet on it. Add to it he was McCain’s campaign manager, and that campaign attacked Bill Cunningham after the radio talker was asked to ‘warm up the crowd’ for a McCain appearance...and you have another huge self inflicted wound to the Ohio GOP.
Things are growing much worse here from a business and employment standpoint, that will work in John Kasich’s favor, and Portman’s. I’ll be doing what I can to help them win when the time comes.
But as a business owner, I’ll tell you right now, this state is dying in large part because RINO’s ran the show, and the state isn’t in the mood for another round of RINO flue, via Mike DeWine or any Republican like him.
Sincerely, and as a NR subscriber,
(Badeye)
I sent this email after reading the thread to the author five minutes ago.
Spot on Badeye.
There is a glimmer of hope in Portman and Blackwell but that’s about it.
I’m moving to Kentucky anyway. ;)
Very good analysis! My husband and I are very seriously thinking about making a move out of this state (after living here all of our lives) precisely because of these situations.