Nosey Online

We're back in Ohio and still getting settled in. I'm getting my "Ohio-legs" back, so you'll see me a little more often soon. One thing I wanted to point out was this poll, via Kos.

It's better if you skip over the first table, listed alphabetically, and go right to the bottom one that ranks by percentage. Well, lookey here, good ole boy Bob Taft is THE WORST GOVERNOR IN THE UNITED STATES, according to this approval poll. You know, it makes me physically nauseous to think back to the debates of 2002, pitting this buffoon against Tim Hagan. Taft’s childish name calling (Taxin’ Tim, even though it was Taft who helped raise taxes in the Buckeye State after all) and bold face lies disguised as denials that there was anything wrong with Ohio’s fiscal future. It wasn’t until immediately after Taft’s election did the economy take center stage in Ohio. It’s unfortunate that Hagan was a virtual unknown outside the confines of the reality-based Northeast Ohio. What’s more unfortunate is that state Dems don’t look like they will be able to use this poll to their advantage next year (and that’s because we’re as organized as a convention of absent minded professors). Sure, we might have a chance at the governorship, but statewide it’s still going to be an uphill battle.

This poll should signal the beginning of the end of Ohio GOP political musical-chairs. Maybe, maybe not.

You know, we all realize that Drudge isn't much more than a link-whore for conservative rumor schills. But it really bothers me when all he does is link to a press release like it's an actual news story. Most people who read Drudge to get their daily news will probably skim the text within the link, if they bother to get past the headline on his site at all. So once again, actual news gets confused with "news".

Just saw that Atrios linked to this piece about new quotas imposed by the Bush administration on Chinese textile imports. Here's what Mr. Black had to say about it.

Without getting into a debate the broader issues, let's just remark that the modern Republican party apparently has absolutely no principles left, except cutting taxes for rich people.

Funny thing, I was thinking the exact same thought as I read it earlier. A common misconception about liberals or Democrats is that we're all against free trade. This is one area where I tend to tilt to the right. What really chaps my ass is the fact that there still are moderate Republicans in Congress. But what the hell happened to them? Imagine my surprise realizing that I'm actually longing for the days when Republicans were still Republicans; at least you know they stood on principle.

Deficit spending, growing the size of government, and intruding into the lives and personal space of citizens seems to the the GOP M.O. lately. Which, if I recall, happens to be opposite of long standing pillars of the Republican party. But it's not as if abandoning principles is relegated to the Grand Old Party. After all, Democrats used to be on the wrong side of slavery.

But at least we figured it out.

Or internet ordered wine?

An attorney says two Indiana wineries and some Ohio connoisseurs will ask a federal court to revive their lawsuit seeking to throw out Ohio's restrictions on shipments from out-of-state wineries.

That lawsuit had been on hold in federal court in Columbus during a related Supreme Court case on similar laws in Michigan and New York.

The justices ruled this week that it's unfair to treat in-state and out-of-state wineries differently.

Attorneys for the wine-lovers say they expect the high court's ruling to give them a victory.

Ohio liquor control officials say they would argue that Ohio's restrictions are different from the other two states.

Ohio does allow shipments when the wine is not sold in Ohio stores and the customer agrees to pay state taxes.

One thing that California did for us during our time there was turn us onto wine (yeah, I know, limos and dinner parties are next). One of our favorite labels is not sold in any store I've looked into. Hopefully, one day soon, cheaper wine prices will come to the Buckeye state.

I be thinkin' that I ain't trustin' Blackwell to get this done on time.

A spokesman for Ohio's chief elections officer says the state's county boards of elections have to be ready with federally compliant voting machine systems by January in case there's a special election for an empty congressional seat.

Spokesman Carlo LoParo says Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell is hoping most of the state's 88 counties will have new systems in place by November for municipal elections.

Many county elections officials say they would prefer using the equipment before the statewide primary next May, when federal law requires the systems to be in place, because of heavier turnout expected then.

The federal requirement, which calls for the removal of punch card systems, grew out of problems in the presidential election in Florida in 2000.

Wasn't 2000, like five years ago? It really is pathetic that we aren't reading stories about the success of a new voting system by now. Forget about the Diebold problem, it's just retarded that my current (new/old) polling place still has the butterfly ballot machines.

Where are we going?

I thought it would be a good time for a Nosey Online State of The Site (and Staff) address. No new site design on the immediate horizon, but hopefully soon. I really want to do a good job at it, so I'll be spending time on the new layout as soon as I get something like Go Live.

As for Christine and I, we're safely back in our old development (although in a bigger apartment this time). School actually starts for me next Monday - full time for the first time in years - and to tell you the truth, I can't wait. It'll take about four straight semesters of full time to finish my degree(s?...maybe a B.S. in Computer Information Systems in addition to a B.B.A.). Christine has jumped full force into her promotion. All the little details for the Wedding plans are being set (September 24th). So while I miss San Diego already, it's truly nice to be home.

Now that I've got a new laptop for school, I should be posting more often (gotta love WiFi, especially since I can type this sitting in front of the TV). I hope to see all of my friends back around here again soon; most hits I've had over the last few months have been from Google searches. You guys are all doing great.

See you back at the water cooler.

Looks like Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell is looking towards gambling as a way to save her floundering career.

Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell and fellow casino supporters kicked off a statewide scramble for signatures this week, aimed at a November referendum allowing big cities to vote on casinos.

Campbell and political adviser Jerry Austin announced Wednesday the christening of Ohioans for Local Option, a political action committee that hopes to gather 322,899 valid signatures by Aug. 10, to place a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution on the fall ballot.

The amendment would allow home-rule cities that are county seats, or that have at least 50,000 residents, to vote on whether they want casinos. Counties with an entertainment attraction that draws more than 1 million tourists a year - Cedar Point in Erie County and Paramount's Kings Island in Warren County - would also be allowed a casino vote. Campbell stressed that casinos are not a cure-all for America's poorest big city, but would generate jobs and strengthen downtown's package of entertainment venues.

Although I'm not holding my breath...

The campaign admits it will have a tough time gathering signatures by the August deadline. If signatures fall short, Ohioans for Local Option will shoot for the November 2006 ballot, Austin said.

Nonetheless...

If the issue qualifies for the ballot, Austin said he expects to spend at least $7 million on a campaign leading to a November vote.

The campaign will face fierce opposition, led by U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Gov. Bob Taft and other Republicans in statewide office opposed to expanded gambling.

Ok, I get Voinovich. Kudos to him (sort of) for the whole Bolton standoff thing. He's an opponenet on this issue I can deal with. But Taft? After all, it's been under his watch that the rare coin fiasco has unfurled.

So he's averse to gambling in Ohio? give me a break. During his term, Ohio has bled more people, jobs, and hope than any other. Taxes are higher and the cost of college tuition has skyrocketed.

So I ask, what is the big deal? If the southern half of the state wants to remain a religious holy land, then fine. But don't suck us in to your man-made debacle. Don't blame me, I voted for Hagan.

When I arrived back in Cleveland, one of the first issues that got my blood boiling was the effort to install red light cameras in the city. Now, we had those in San Diego at a few intersections. It really wasn't a big deal. But here in Cleveland, the cameras would catch speeders as well. These cameras are being touted as a safety precaution, with the added benefit of being a revenue generator. Unfortunately for political leaders in Cleveland, that just isn't the case.

By looking to add the functionality of cathing speeders, they got greedy. Don't try to blow smoke up my ass and say it's all about the common good. It's a revenue generator first, safety device second. Just another sad attempt to plug one of many wholes in the cracking dam holding back economic crisis.

I don't think we're necessarily heading back towards default-land, but it's not looking good.

Redevelop the East Bank of the Flats, bring casino gambling to the city, and strive to bring business back owntown. As Cleveland State marches towards forever abandoing it's commuter-only status, the city must be ready to keep the kids downtown after they graduate. That is the key to the future.

Let's not go after short term solutions. Leaders with vision wouldn't have to resort to extending the Big Brother system.

That said, I'm happy to read this...

Columbus- Traffic cameras positioned to snare motorists who speed or run red lights can be used only if a police officer is at the intersection to write the ticket, according to a bill passed Wednesday by the Ohio House.

Requiring an officer at the scene jeopardizes Cleveland's plan for installing 30 red-light cameras and a dozen speeding cameras, said Councilman Jay Westbrook. Cleveland City Council approved the idea this month.

"I wouldn't want to make a definitive statement, but I would certainly say this would impair the city's ability to move forward," said Westbrook. "This was a plan to augment our police services. Unless the legislature wants to send state troopers to enforce traffic rules, they ought to let us handle enforcement the way we choose."

House Bill 56 passed by a 72-23 vote. There clearly was not great support in the House for use of the cameras - with or without an officer present. The bill goes to the Senate for consideration.

And in the most rare instance where I agree with an Ohio Republican...

That seemed to be a welcome conclusion for many lawmakers in the GOP-controlled House who rejected the notion that the cameras enhance public safety. Instead, supporters of the bill argued that too many municipalities use the cameras only to generate revenue.

"It's clearly a money grab," said Rep. Jim Trakas, Republican of Independence. "I think it has nothing to do with safety."

Amen.

Callahan's Cleveland Diary. Another good local Cleveland blogger.

I've created a section on the left for Ohio blogs. My new friend at Callahan's pointed me in the direction of a new-to-me Cleveland Wal-Mart situation. Seems as if I haven't paying enough attention.

And this is what I've been missing. I have been wondering what's going to go into the empty space that once was LTV Steel. Bringing a Wal-Mart SuperCenter near the downtown area isn't what I had in mind. For a long time now, I've been saying that once a grocery store (Giant Eagle, Tops, preferably Heinens) come to downtown, you know development is going in the right direction. However, a WMSC does not fit into that idea. Read up on the situation at Brewed Fresh Daily, Democracy Guy, and Callahan's. I'll have more later.

I'm not sure where I come down on the Fillibuster Deal. Kos says yeah, Atrios says nah. My first gut reaction was one of negativity. Overall, some of the idealistic judges will get through. In the long run, that IS NOT a good thing. Although re-reading some of Frist's "No Compromise Whatsoever" quotes from the last few weeks, a smirk appears on my face.

Long term: Bad for progressive ideals.

Short term: Real bad for Frist and moderate Repubs in the '06.

UPDATE: The more I read about this, the more I get the feeling that McCain will come out on top when the dust settles. After all, it was McCain who took center stage at the press conference. Since Frist is positioning himself in opposition to the deal, and is by extention the voice of the White House, McCain is in effect slapping the administration on the hand. In my opinion, this is really about moderate Republican Senators exacting a little control over Bush and the Religious Righties.

To sum it all up? The next primary season for Republican presidential hopefulls is going to resemble the blood bath most were hoping for in the last cycle.

Watch video of the speech Frist gave immediately following the "Fillibuster Deal" news conference. (Via Crooks and Liars) Looks like Fristy isn't happy. Judging from the reponses tallied by Crooks and Liars, a lot of conservatives aren't happy either.

The desire for all or nothing was bound to come back and bite you in the ass.

According to analyisis by New York Times' Richard Stevenson, last night's compromise is a "limited victory." And the photo that accompanies the piece has both Reid and Frist smiling after the press conference last night. Now, my initial gut reaction last night was one of dissapointment. Some of the worst conservative judges are going to get through. This is exactly what Stevenson cites as proof of Bush's "limited victory." Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you watch the video of Frist's speech on the Senate floor following the fillibuster deal press conference, don't you get the impression that the majority leader didn't like the outcome? If anything, it's a win/lose situation for everyone. Definitely not anything close to a victory for Bush.

Liberal media my ass.

My favorite graf in the piece is an unattributed quote from a "veteran Republican with close ties to the White House."

"The only reason he's still up there in the 40's is that the Democrats are really brain dead and have nothing positive to put on the table," said one veteran Republican who has close ties to the White House, referring to approval ratings in polls that are at or near Mr. Bush's low points.

As if to say that it's only the Democrats fault that Bush's poll numbers aren't lower. How about the kool aid drinking Bush-lovers who would still support him even if things got worse? It is a bunch of bullshit to say that Democrats have nothing to offer. It's called doing the opposite. But before you can change course, one must be convinced that there is a reason to do so. Get it?

...is what does he want? Or rather, what is he doing?

WASHINGTON, May 24 - The Ohio Republican whose opposition to John R. Bolton as United Nations ambassador nearly stalled his nomination in committee took a new swipe at him today, circulating a letter urging colleagues to vote against Mr. Bolton when his name reaches the Senate floor, possibly this week.

The letter from Senator George R. Voinovich was sent to all senators, but it was aimed particularly at fellow Republicans in a chamber in which the party holds a 55-44 majority (with one independent). At least five Republicans would have to join Mr. Voinovich in opposing Mr. Bolton if the nomination were to be defeated.

In the letter, Mr. Voinovich said that while he had been "hesitant to push my views on my colleagues" during his years in the Senate, he felt "compelled to share my deep concerns" about Mr. Bolton's nomination.

"In these dangerous times, we cannot afford to put at risk our nation's ability to successfully wage and win the war on terror with a controversial and ineffective ambassador to the United Nations," Mr. Voinovich wrote. He urged colleagues to "put aside our partisan agenda and let our consciences and our shared commitment to our nation's best interests guide us."

The White House remains strongly in favor of Mr. Bolton's nomination, and it is unusual for a Republican to break ranks so publicly by circulating a letter opposed to a Republican president's agenda. A copy of Mr. Voinovich's letter, dated May 23 but not circulated until Tuesday, was provided by a Senate Democratic aide opposed to Mr. Bolton.

The Senate's Republican leaders signaled today that they would try to push for a vote on Mr. Bolton by the end of the week. Senate Democrats have strongly opposed the nomination, and at a lunchtime meeting today, Democratic leaders were weighing possible moves to defeat the nomination, or to use procedural moves to delay or prevent a Senate vote.

It is not clear whether any Republicans might join Mr. Voinovich in breaking ranks with the White House, which has strongly supported Mr. Bolton's nomination despite strong opposition from many critics, including senior officials who worked with Mr. Bolton at the State Department during President Bush's first term.

Voinovich -- along with DeWine last evening -- is really attempting to distance himself from the religious fringe-dwellers controlling his party. In times like this, one has to wonder about where Voinovich is going. If the opposition flank does not hold, all the GOP moderates will face strong opposition in 2006.

Possibly a leadership position if the religious right is tossed out next time around? One can only imagine.

If anyone doubted that Ohio Republican musical-chairs must end in order to save the state, read the following.

Taking classes at Cleveland State University just got more expensive.

The board of trustees agreed to raise tuition by 6 percent starting with the fall semester. The increase affects undergraduates, graduates and law students. Approximately 16,000 students attend the university.

The university has a two-tier tuition system for undergraduates. Full-time undergraduates who began attending CSU prior to summer 2002 will pay $6,972 for the academic year, while undergraduates who began their studies after that summer will pay $7,344. [...]

University officials say cuts in state funding are forcing them to raise tuition. In 2001, the university received $73 million in state funding compared to $67 million this year, an 8 percent decrease.

We need someone in charge who can erase these losses now.

What is it about conservatives and their obsessions with man-boy love and ass sex? Thanks, Jesse, for the reminder. Once again reading Townhall columnists so I don't have to.

For those who need to bone up on the Walmart situation here in Cleveland, here are some links you need to follow:

No Cleveland Walmart

Callahan's Cleveland Diary, especially this post.

Corporate media control? It's almost as if Hollywood is coming to life. Just as long as I can get my Rollerball season tickets first. (And no, this IS NOT a reference to the cheesy 2002 version. I'm referring to the James Caan bad-ass 1975 version)

Looks like political fallout from the Ohio GOP rare coin scandal is moving over Bob Taft's office right about now.

Columbus - The investigation into the influence wielded by politically powerful Toledo coin dealer Tom Noe landed at state government's peak Tuesday - right in Gov. Bob Taft's office.

Ohio Inspector General Tom Charles asked for telephone records, e-mails and personnel re cords of four of Taft's former and current top aides dat ing to 1999.

Noe, a major Republican fund-raiser, or chestrated and managed a $55.4 million investment in rare coins for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation since 1998. He has been the target of recent investigations by six government agencies, including the FBI, over campaign contributions and 121 missing coins.

"During the course of our investigation, information has come to light that certain members of the Governor's staff may have received lodging accommodations and other items by Mr. Noe," Charles wrote in a letter sent Monday.

Taft's former chief of staff Brian Hicks recently told the (Toledo) Blade that he stayed twice at a $1 million Florida home owned by Noe while he worked for Taft. Similar homes rent for thousands of dollars a week, but Hicks said he paid $300 to $500 for five nights.

Taft has said he knew Hicks had vacationed at Noe's home, but had assumed Hicks followed state law.

Noe also reportedly wined and dined the political elite regularly at Morton's, a tony steakhouse off Capital Square.

No word on whether the wine came from in-state or out-of-state distributors.

For those of us looking for the "glass is half full" part of the fillibuster deal, you need look no further.

Washington- Religious conservatives are furious that some of President Bush's judicial picks won't be confirmed under a deal that Sen. Mike DeWine helped broker, and some are calling for DeWine's ouster.

"I think Mr. DeWine needs to come on back home," said Phil Burress, president of Citizens for Community Values.

Burress in 2004 ran the successful campaign to ban gay marriage in Ohio, which some credit with helping Bush win a second term. Burress, based in Cincinnati, said he plans to hold a conference call today with other Ohio family-values activists to discuss recruiting a fresh conservative to challenge DeWine in a 2006 Republican primary.

While long term prospects for a conservative judiciary look swimingly good right now, the near future is bright for the other branches. Very puplic disagreements in the national GOP have been nonexistent until now. Can we expect this to continue? My guess is yes.

The split between social and fiscal conservatives is only going to get worse over the next twelve months. As we head into primary season, those Republican senators who truly represent more moderate states will be drawn into battle against moral crusaders of the right. This can only mean good things for Democrats in a state like Ohio.

And by the way, I'm sick of conservatives from Cincinanti running the show.

eRobin, writing over at The American Street, let's us know about a ten day fast she just completed. With all the things going on today, it's a good time to reflect on those less fortunate than us.

Take eRobin's advice, visit The Hunger Site.

After this, what will I do on Wednesday nights? Oh, that's right, I'll be studying.

Editor & Publisher has the dirt on how the rare coin scandal investigation came to be.

NEW YORK When someone at The Blade in Toledo, Ohio, heard that a local coin dealer named Tom Noe might be doing some business with the state, Jim Drew, the Blade's Columbus bureau chief, started asking around. After all, what business does a coin dealer -- one who is also one of the most prominent non-elected Republicans in the Toledo area -- have with the government?

After calling several state agencies to ask whether they were doing business with Noe, Drew found out that the Bureau of Workers' Compensation had invested $50 million of taxpayer money with a rare-coin business run by Noe, a major donor to the Republican administration in Ohio, and a "Pioneer" Bush fund-raiser. And so began the Blade's local probe, which has now drawn national attention and shows no signs of coming to an end.

"I've been in the business for 11 years here and 18 years total," said reporter Mike Wilkinson. "I've never worked on a story like this that's had this much impact and has been this much fun."

Even before it got national attention, the investigation was making waves locally, Wilkinson said: "In Toledo, you can't drop a coin on the street without someone making a joke."

In late 2004, after the initial tips, the investigation picked up steam as Wilkinson set out to survey about 20 states to see if any of them had ever invested in coins. When it turned out none had, the story seemed even more odd.

Read the whole thing. The Akron Beacon Journal adds a new twist.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, which gave $55.4 million to an Ohio coin dealer to invest, said it was surprised that an inventory of assets is turning up more than rare coins.

"We had not heard about being involved in any collectibles. Our expectation was that we have investments only in coins," spokesman Jeremy Jackson said.

Attorney William Wilkinson, who represents Maumee coin dealer Tom Noe, said coins were one aspect of the investment plan.

"The investments included non-coin collectibles, things like valuable letters and papers," Wilkinson said. "These are assets of the coin funds. There is an enormous inventory of non-coin collectibles."

This thing keeps growing and growing. At some point there has to be some serious scape-goating. Yesterday I pointed out that the scandal has reached Taft's office. Hopefully this investigative series actually goes somewhere. It is time for Ohio to return to it's blue roots and kick the Republicans out of office. Otherwise, rare coins and paper are going to be the least of our concerns.

In a stunningly ludicrous move, Sir Bob Taft engages in flip-floppery. Oh yeah, and there's $12 missing from the state coffers.

Columbus- After learning Thursday that up to $12 million is missing from its rare-coin investments, the state said it will seek criminal charges and ask a judge to freeze all assets of investment manager Tom Noe.

The revelation effectively wipes out the profit that the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation had long been touting in defense of its $55.4 million investment in the risky coin funds.

Gov. Bob Taft, who until recently also defended the investment, said in a statement that Noe had acted irresponsibly and had mismanaged state money. He said it was "imperative" the state do all it can to keep the bureau solvent and strong.

"Such criminal action is outrageous and will not be tolerated," Taft said. "We will pursue all legal avenues possible to recover these funds for injured workers and employers."

Yeah right Bob. You have absolutley no credibility on the issue. If there was ever a reason to initiate a recall, you have it. At the very least, this must lead to the downfall of the Ohio GOP. Nothing's at stake here besides the future of Ohio and national presidential elections.

So now we know that the rare coin fund ran by Tom Noe is short by about $12 million worth of inventory. That sure is a lot of buffalo nickels and Federalist Papers. Where could it have all gone? I know where some of it could have went.

9/15/2004 $5,000 Ohio's 17 Star PAC
--A leadership PAC ran by Ohio Senator Mike DeWine. This page lists out recipients of funds from the PAC.

12/31/2003 $5,000 CARE PAC
--A leadership PAC ran by OHIO16 Rep. Ralph Regula. This page lists out recipients of funds from the PAC.

5/14/2004 $2,000 Diedrich, Larry William
--Lost the ND1 race to Stephanie Herseth.

8/16/2004 $2,000 Republican National Cmte

8/12/2003 $2,000 Bush, George W

2/6/2003 $1,500 Republican Party of Ohio
1/15/2004 $1,500
10/1/2003 $1,000

10/8/2004 $1,000 Pryce, Deborah
--Rep. for OH15.

9/11/2003 $1,000 Voinovich, George V
9/11/2003 $800

9/25/2003 $1,000 Kaczala, Larry A
9/25/2003 $1,000
6/22/2004 $1,000
--Lost the OH9 race to Marcy Kaptur.

4/14/2004 $1,000 Hobson, Dave
--Rep. for OH7.

7/23/2003 $1,000 Northpoint Technology
--Apparently a tech company with offices in New Hampshire and Texas.

9/11/2003 $800 Voinovich, George V

The two leadership PACs gave money all over the place. This could get real interesting. More later.

You can see all of Tom Noe's Ohio Statewide Campaign contributions from 1990 through 2004 at the Ohio Secretary of State website)

Totals over the years for some of the big ones:

Bob Taft (Various campaign for Secretary of State and Governor '98 & '02)
-$12,350

Attorney General Jim Petro (Various campaigns)
-$4,100

Ohio State Auditor Betty Montgomery (Various campaigns)
-$4,350

Secretary of State Ken Blackwell (Various campaigns)
-$2,000

The rare coin scandal seems to involve almost every major Republican in the state. We need to stretch this one all the way into 2006.

You'll get no ammo here.

LOS ANGELES - The former national finance director for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Senate campaign was acquitted Friday of lying to the government about a lavish 2000 Hollywood fundraising gala.

David Rosen was charged with two counts of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission about the cost of the star-studded gala, which attracted such celebrities as Cher, Melissa Ethridge, Toni Braxton, Diana Ross, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. [...]

Clinton was not charged, but Republicans closely monitored the trial, hoping fallout from it might damage the New York Democrat’s 2006 re-election bid and scuttle any hopes for a possible presidential campaign in 2008.

Not that I'm a big fan of Hillary '08, per se, but I just love to see Clinton-haters salivate over stupid crap like this.

For those of you unfamiliar with the area, let me explain the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood. It is a city born on Lake Erie by settlers looking to create a better life for themselves. Over the years, Lakewood has become a home for people of different socioeconomic backgrounds. The ‘burb is also known for having a very large gay population. A couple of years ago, Lakewood made it into the headlines with controversy surrounding a gay pride flag. Then-mayor Madeline Cain thought it wise to fly the rainbow flag over city hall, thereby showing solidarity with a very large section of the city’s voters. Most expectantly, a group of citizens were infuriated.

The debates at city council meetings often pitted gay-rights supporters against fringe conservatives. It was a picture of modern society. Broad support for progressive ideals versus a very vocal conservative minority.

Lakewood is a microcosm of America.

With that in mind, let me tell the tell of an observation I made this weekend. I observed a sign in front of the home belonging to a nice couple I know. Before this day, I thought they were run-of-the-mill Republicans. The sign was a George Voinovich for Senate 2004 placard that the couple previously had on their lawn during the last campaign. Although now it was markedly different. There is a hand-painted red circle with a line through it covering the front. It had become the opposite of what it was intended, thanks to fringe conservatives’ disapproval over Voinovich becoming a so-called “turncoat Republican”.(This term can be attributed to Rush Limbaugh’s view of the Senator over the Bolton U.N. nomination) I was immediately struck with a feeling of delight. For me, this represents the beginning of a civil war among Republicans.

For the last decade, GOP talking heads would point to Democrats’ supposed inability to form a cohesive ruling platform that appealed to main stream Americans as the number one reason they should not be in charge of the country. Intrinsically, liberals hold a belief that people have the right to think differently, and these differences are what make the country great. It was this basic tenant of the Democratic party that differentiated itself from the GOP; a party that held strict beliefs that were not typically stretched to encompass differing viewpoints. It was the ability of the GOP to toe the line that enabled Republicans to retake the House in 1994, the Senate in 2002, and give a rather weak president a second term. Unity ruled over common sense, and America followed.

However, it is this strict unity that is biting the Republican Party in their proverbial ass. Most main stream conservatives made a Faustian gamble with their support of Bush. If it took making deals with fringe religious conservatives in order to get Bush reelected, then so be it. This deal is now looking more and more like a lemon for those main-streamers. Dissatisfaction is now becoming common place.

So now here we are, licking the wounds over a lost presidential election and hoping for better times ahead. The light at the end of the tunnel can now be seen. Before the last six months, I would have never thought it possible. Republicans are falling victim to their own success. The GOP has revealed its true form thanks to Tom Delay and James Dobson. People will now realize that what they once thought was unity will turn out to be a blindfold.

Once it was un-American to buy an import, now you're a fag-lover if you buy a Ford.

A week after they declared victory over Walt Disney Co., Christian activists have fired another missile in their long war against companies they think are destroying traditional American values.

The target this time is Ford Motor Co., which Christians should boycott as “the company which has done the most to affirm and promote the homosexual lifestyle,” the American Family Association says on a Web site it put up Monday, boycottford.com.

The AFA, the nonprofit group run by the Rev. Donald Wildmon, criticized Ford for donating money to gay-rights organizations (Ford promises to give up to $1,000 to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Discrimination for every Jaguar and Land Rover it sells to gays and lesbians), sponsoring gay pride celebrations, advertising in gay-oriented publications and “redefining the definition of the family to include homosexual marriage,” Randy Sharp, the organization’s director of special projects, said in an interview Tuesday.

The "homosexual lifestyle." Right up there with S&M fetishists and ticklers.

Lifestyle? Jeeze. And doesn't the director of special projects sound like someone working in the Pentagon?

I'm sure that Ford isn't attempting to rewrite Webster's Dictionary. As always, this is less about family values and more about fear of what one doesn't understand. One day, I hope bigotry can be bred out of humans, kind of like the way the appendix has become an unused organ.

As for the supposed "victory" over Disney...

Most recently, the AFA ended a nine-year boycott of the Walt Disney Co., which it launched because of what it felt was the company’s “attitude, arrogance and embrace of the homosexual lifestyle.”

The AFA said it was moving on because “we have made our point.”

What did they get for nine years of effort?

Disney said it never changed any of its policies, but Sharp pointed to an executive shuffle and the sale of Disney’s Miramax studio, which seemed to specialize in films designed to get Wildmon’s goat, notably “Kids,” “Priest” and “Dogma.”

I don't claim to be a media analyst or anythng, but wouldn't the shake-up at Disney and sale of Miramax have more to do with dissident directors and pissed off Weinsteins? Sounds like victory to me.