Scandal, Job Worries Lift GOP Insurgents to Wins

The Toledo Blade ^ | May 4, 2006 | Steve Eder and James Drew

[madison10]

COLUMBUS - The rising tide against Ohio's Republican establishment on Tuesday swept away two of the party's biggest names and scored a victory for GOP candidates who challenged business as usual in Columbus...

[madison10]

The article is lengthy so didn't post all of it. Thought the headline was rather telling of the attitude of a liberal newspaper--owned by Liberal in Pittsburgh, PA who wants to run Toledo, Ohio in absentia.

[MikefromOhio]

you know, by the way they worded it, they can't or at least aren't trying to tie Blackwell into what Taft did.....

[Thebaddog]

As I understand things, Blackwell is a real standup Republican who stood up to the DEMOCRATIC machine in 04. He's a big reason that Bush won his second term. The slant of this article is a little tough to take, given it was written by a bunch of high school students.

[MikefromOhio]

He isn't the "big reason" President Bush won.

President Bush did that on his own. Blackwell just made sure that the rules in place were enforced.

[M. Thatcher]

GOP Insurgents???

Insurgents???????????

[NeoCaveman]

GOP Insurgents??? Insurgents???????????

I've seen the Mike Pence supporters referred to as an insurgency.

As a supporter of Blackwell and O'Brien I'm more amused than insulted or maybe I'm still buzzed on victory.

Given the party machinery was supporting the other guys, it's not innacuarte.

[CzarNicky]

GOP Insurgents???

Insurgents???????????

After how glowingly the media referred to insurgents in the past it makes me wonder.

[VOA]

In the Republican primary for treasurer, Ms. O'Brien won with nearly
52 percent of the vote, overcoming Ms. Bradley's $550,000 to
$4,702 fund-raising advantage.

I wonder if that's some sort of record ratio of campaign funds
for this sort of David v. Goliath upset.

[VOA]

Insurgents???????????

It might be an accurate media description.

It could be that they'd need help clearing a jam from an American
machine gun and have worn New Balance tennis shoes.
(Like Zarqawi, in today's newly released "Insurgent's Funniest Bloopers")

[starbase]

During the Republican Revolution of the 1994 elections, I believe it was Peter Jennings who said the voters had "had a tantrum".

Of course the voters are really the owners of this country, but pampered liberals view us as an inconvenience.

In this article the writers first point out a big message from the electorate here:

The prime example was little-known Ashtabula County Auditor Sandra O'Brien's upset victory over party-endorsed Jennette Bradley, the incumbent, in the GOP primary for state treasurer.

Then immediately try to neutralize it via a discounting comment a-la-Jennings here:

"The Ohio electorate is in a surly mood," said Herb Asher, an emeritus political science professor at Ohio State University.

Claiming the voters are just "surly", not the authoritative arbiters of power in this country! And a smarmy political science "professor" no less, is the source for this stunning commentary.

Let them keep trying to downplay voter discontent, it's offensive, but will contribute to the diminishing of the media/left wing on American culture.

[Holden Magroin]

The liberal media's use of the word "insurgent" to describe conservatives is far less offensive than its use of the word to describe terrorists. "Insurgent" is a pretty benign word to describe the bloodthirsty followers of the Islamic death cult. A terrorist should be called a terrorist, not an insurgent.

[M. Thatcher]

Totally agree. But since they've taken to exclusively using the word to describe terrorists, they can't pretend benign intent here.

[fromscratchmom]

This article got one thing right: "Republican voters embraced Mr. Blackwell's brand of conservatism, sending him to victory with 56 percent of the votes and toward a November showdown with U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, the Democratic nominee."

[kevkrom]

He isn't the "big reason" President Bush won. President Bush did that on his own. Blackwell just made sure that the rules in place were enforced.

Mike, the original poster said "a big reason" and not "the big reason". And I agree - Blackwell knew Ohio was being targetted by the DNC theft machine, and he made sure that the state ran a clean, uncontestable election and stood up to any 'rats (or their surrogates) who tried to create phoney controversy.

Bush won on his own (with help from the RNC and state organizations, of course), but Blackwell was a key guy in making sure the win actually counted.

[Non-Sequitur]

Ms. O'Brien trumpeted her social-conversative resume to mount an upset against Ms. Bradley, a moderate who favors abortion rights.

As admirable as those positions may be what have they got to do with her qualifications for the office of State Treasurer?

[Thebaddog]

Any way that you might characterize Blackwell, I would think that he's a guy that we want on our team.