[ken5050]

Not to throw a wet blanket on the idea, but isn't Blackwell also facing a primary...and even if he isn't, do we want to tear the state party apart..My take on DeWine, FWIW, is that he may have been led down the garden path by McCain and Graham..but he hasn't been that bad...if he does the right thing, and votes for the nuclear option when it is triggered, he deserves to be re-elected Am I wrong?

[Soul Seeker]

Yes, you are wrong.

The only way these republicans will get the message they cannot betray their constituents is if a few pay the price. DeWine's actions were unforgiveable. Even if he backtracked it would not be the result of principle. It would be to save his butt in '06. What happens after he wins a six year term? He'd feel free to be a maverick for six years with full knowledge we let him get away with it. this would embolden the others that would like to emulate his behavior to do so.

Just look at Voinovich to see what happens once a six year term is secured.

[Common Tator]

My take on DeWine, FWIW, is that he may have been led down the garden path by McCain and Graham..but he hasn't been that bad...if he does the right thing, and votes for the nuclear option when it is triggered, he deserves to be re-elected Am I wrong?

After what DeWine did with McCAin there is no way he can carry Southern Ohio. He is a fool. In 1998 Voinovich tried to run his RINO Lt. Governor for congress from my district. She was not pro life. Two years earlier Democrat Ted Strictland barely won the district over a pro life Conservative. But when the Marietta RINO ran two years later, Strictland won in a landslide. The religious voters refused to vote for a liberal Republican. I have talked to several religious leaders in the last few days. After what DeWine did with McCain on the Judges, Mike can't carry Southern or Northwestern Ohio in the General election. With out those parts of the state a Republican is toast. Put a fork in Dewine he is done.

Our choice for Senator in 2006 is either Kasich or Liberal Democrat Ted Strictland.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

"Am I Wrong?"

YES! DeWine has been a gun-grabber, a milquetoast, a thorn in the side of conservatives. He endorsed McCain in the Ohio primary in 2000 AFTER South Carolina.

In short, he's a weasel. Get rid of him!

[dutchess]

Not to throw a wet blanket on the idea, but isn't Blackwell also facing a primary...and even if he isn't, do we want to tear the state party apart..My take on DeWine, FWIW, is that he may have been led down the garden path by McCain and Graham

Actually, I doubt Blackwell stands a chance BUT...the party "leaders", in my opinion, have taken for granted the unconditional support of the right. The top four positions (governor, attorney general, treasurer) keep swapping positions (because of term limits.) Our current governor has big the biggest disappointment.

Re: DeWine...he is an advocate of gun control and was big on pro environmental issues which had farmers up in arms. He spoke at our Rotary Club right after the Owens judicial hearings, maybe 4 years ago...and I asked him about the ugly treatment she received and why she wasn't given more open support from he and others on the committee. He just stammered and looked away.

Kasich had huge support as representative and represented a much larger district in Ohio then DeWine. He's had enough exposure as a representative and now on FOX...(he does the "homeland" series...NOT really "just a "pundit" so I really think that race could be close) Plus, if the primary winner, I don't see him as "polarizing". And having followed both for years (I've followed DeWine since he was a county prosecutor) I really don't think the race would be a mudslinging thing that could hurt either candidate in the general election. I just think both DeWine AND Voinovich need to realize that Ohio is still a red state!

Your right about Blackwell, we're very involved in local politics and even my fellow party members (including my husband LOL) think I'm absolute nuts to even mention supporting Blackwell. (just a little "right wing maverick fantasy" coming out)

Appreciate your honest observation. Lurk alot and alway enjoy your posts (especially Clinton "watches".) Feel for you friend :o)

[ambrose]

Not to throw a wet blanket on the idea, but isn't Blackwell also facing a primary...and even if he isn't, do we want to tear the state party apart..My take on DeWine, FWIW, is that he may have been led down the garden path by McCain and Graham..but he hasn't been that bad...if he does the right thing, and votes for the nuclear option when it is triggered, he deserves to be re-elected Am I wrong?

You're wrong. DeWine is a traitor to the party. Traitors to the party must be vaporized. < / sarcasm>

[ruoflaw]

McCain and DeWine have been good friends for a long time and DeWine came out to back McCain in the Republican primary against G.W. Bush

He is not being led down the garden path...he is willfully marching down the garden path. We all call him a RINO for a good reason. He is part of the problem!

[CONSERVE]

Yes Ken you are wrong it is not known to the nation some of the proposals Dewine has supported here in Ohio.
Darby creek initative for one which would have made it so the farmers in that area could have farmed the land but not done any improvements to the buildings on said land.
That and his poor voting record on gun rights is more than enough for me but to be so gullible to be lead down a garden path.that is not the kind of leadership needed by anyone.

[Chef Dajuan]

Its VERY worth it to tear the statewude party apart.

We need true believers in the partyu, not RINOS, no matter what the cost.

If I still lived in Ohio I'd vote for a Dummycrap before I voted for DeWine or the mobster's friend Voinovich. At least I'd KNOW I was gonna get screwd in the rear instead of getting it by surprise from the enemies within, (all "moderate" Republicans are Fifth Columnists who should be purged from the party!)

[Gum Shoe]

"...if he does the right thing, and votes for the nuclear option when it is triggered, he deserves to be reelected Am I wrong?"

We'll see. Obviously, we haven't seen the last of the Dem filibuster on judges. All will be known then.