The falling gas prices, I wonder why?

I'm sure most of you have noticed the falling gas prices across the country and especially in Northwest Ohio the past month or so. I'm sure it's merely a coincidence that this precipitous fall in price aligns very closely with the coming election season. That being said, I would suggest that folks fill their tanks on November 4 to take advantage of the election season sale.

In 2004, right before the election, I paid $1.32 and 9/10 a gallon and shortly after that the price took off, increasing in leaps and bounds. Who knows if the fuel price cut just prior to the election had something to do with the outcome, which was a very narrow victory for George Bush.

I'm sure the powers that be have systematically reduced the price of a gallon of gas over the last month so that voters will think, "Hey, things aren't that bad, I'm going to stay with the status quo and keep the GOP in power". Let's hope that we're not fooled again.

Vote for change, vote for the future. Let's turn Ohio Blue!

Contact the Ohio Republican Party

Today, after receiving another in a series of immature flyers through the mail from the Ohio Republican Party regarding the Ohio District 46 race, I contacted them directly and asked to be taken off their mailing list. I suggest that anyone else who is sick of the garbage that is filling our mailboxes every other day do the same and send them a message.

The specific flyers are negative towards Darlene Dunn and urge the reader to "Vote "No" On Dunn". As readers of this blog understand, I deplore negative advertising with a vengeance.

The phone number for the Ohio Republican Party is 614-228-2481. Call and send them a message that you're sick of this type of childish advertising. And vote for Darlene Dunn for State Rep in District 46.

Jackie Brown for District 2 State Senate

The following is a letter I have submitted to newspapers in State Senate District 2 asking voters to support Jackie Brown in her bid for the office. I have met with Jackie and find her to be a caring, compassionate woman who has the best interest of our region at heart. Most importantly, I believe Ms. Brown will serve with the integrity which I find lacking in many of our present governmental leaders. I believe she will work towards a solution to our school funding dilemma that the GOP legislature in Ohio (including the District 2 incumbent) has irresponsibly pushed off into the future for the past 12 years.

The letter follows:

I write this letter to urge citizens of Ohio State Senate District 2 to elect Jackie Brown as our new State Senator

As a resident of Senate District 2, I believe we need more people like Jackie Brown in public office. Her real life experience and commitment to public education as illustrated in her work with the Rossford School Board is exactly what we need down in Columbus.

Send a message to the power brokers in the state and support Jackie Brown for State Senate on November 4. She'll be a strong and effective voice for everyday men and women in District 2.

Sincerely,

Mark Dansack

Can you imagine Sarah Palin as President?

I was sent this link by a friend. http://www.palinaspresident.us/ Move your mouse around to different images and click. Pretty humorous although sad in a way. To any folks out there who get upset or uptight when viewing, I can only quote one of my favorite cruise ship comedians, George Cantor, when I paraphrase, "We've got to laugh at ourselves, folks".

Two weeks to go, and hopefully a change to a new progressive direction will be seen in this country. Keep working to get out the vote and run up margins that will be fraud proof.

Barack Obama at the Seagate Centre

I was able to attend the speech at the Seagate Centre yesterday after receiving tickets from the Obama campaign organizer I have been volunteering with in Monclova Township. Senator Obama outlined several new initiatives for helping out our economy which are well documented. http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081014/NEWS09/810140299 These proposals represent a framework for addressing some of our short term challenges with respect to our present financial crisis and these measures deserve careful consideration for timely adoption to aid some of our struggling citizens.

I took my 7 year old daughter who has walked door-to-door with me this fall for the Obama campaign. As it turns out, she is studying our government and election procedures and had the day off for teacher inservice training, so attending the speech turned out to be a great addition to the lessons she is already learning in her second grade class at Monclova Elementary. We got great seats and it was an exciting day for her.

I need to point out one more happening from the event. The one time Pres. Obama referenced the opposition, there was a smattering of boos which were immediately cut off by the candidate. It's a shame that we don't see that from the other side, whose main strategy in the past 10 days has been to whip their crowds into a frenzy, resulting in inappropriate shouts from the crowd which have NOT been addressed by the candidate. (especially Gov Palin) Just an important difference which I saw and heard and wanted to point out.

Three weeks to go and let's hope that both sides take an approach to the higher ground in politics, respectfully discussing our important issues and disagreeing with being disagreeable. I hope this is true in all our contested races in the area. The citizens of this area deserve a mature dialogue without misrepresentations, focusing on solutions to our problems and careful consideration of the major issues facing this region and our state.

This press release in from the Dunn for State Representative campaign

DUNN DEMANDS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT STOP SMEAR TACTICS AND FOCUS ON THE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO MIDDLE CLASS

Recent Attack Ads Include Misleading Statements To Distract from Sear's Failed Record
Sylvania, OH
-- Candidate for Ohio's 46th House District, Darlene Dunn demands that her opponent and the Ohio Republican Party immediately cease misleading statements and focus on the issues important to Ohio's struggling middle class. Dunn has run a positive, grassroots campaign focused on the concerns of the 46th house district residents since she declared her candidacy in January.

"There are serious challenges facing the middle class of Northwest Ohio, and the voters deserve to see vigorous debate on their most important concerns, not lies and misleading cheap shots from Republicans trying to hide the fact that they have nothing to offer to voters," said Dunn.
Dunn was surprised and disappointed to see attack ads and mail from her opponent, but even more shocked at the content. These are the facts:

1) TV ad
· False Claim: "So irresponsible, Dunn forgot to renew her law license"
· Fact: In thirty-one years of practice, Dunn has never had a grievance filed against her. Dunn left her private practice as she was helping her mother and family to cope with the deaths of her father, father in-law, and brother. Fees were paid and she was reinstated when Dunn was ready to resume her practice of law after caring for her family.

2) Mail
· False Claim: "Wrong Values of advocating on behalf of a deadbeat dad"*
· Fact: Attorney Dunn's role as a court-appointed attorney is to see that her client's right to representation in our American legal system is preserved. Dunn spent seven years in the Lucas County Prosecutor's office putting criminals in jail and prosecuting deadbeat parents who refused to pay their child support obligations.

*The Toledo Bar Association has recommended that this ad be investigated by the Ohio Bar Association.

"My opponent is unable to run a campaign on the issues because she is trying to hide the fact that she is a do-nothing legislator who is just collecting a paycheck," said Dunn "She has failed to pass a bill or to even sponsor any legislation to address the concerns of Ohio's struggling middle class—shame on her."

Dunn has knocked on thousands of doors across the district, talking with middle class Ohioans about the economy, health care, job stability, and job creation. Voters have told Dunn they want a representative who will attack these problems and not attack people.

Darlene Dunn is a candidate for the 46th State House District, which includes the cities of Sylvania and Maumee, the village of Ottawa Hills, the townships of Harding, Monclova, Providence, Richfield, Spencer, Springfield, Sylvania, Swanton, Waterville, and the villages of Whitehouse and Waterville.

Commentary

Maybe it is just the 46th District in Northwest Ohio that brings out the worst in the GOP. Or maybe the republican candidates utilize misleading, negative attacks since they have no record of accomplishment on which to run.

All I know for sure is I never see Edna Brown, Peter Ujvagi, or Matt Szollosi ,who all represent Northwest Ohio in the state legislature, resort to this sort of dirty campaigning. All I can say is shame on Barbara Sears and the Ohio Republican Party for attempting to use false and deceptive advertising. I believe the citizens of District 46 deserve better.

Illegally placed signs in Lucas County

As astutely pointed out by a commentor on this blog, there have been a plethora of illlegally placed political signs by (apparently) someone involved with the McCain/Palin campaign in Monclova Township. These have been placed in the public right-of-way along Monclova Rd, Maumee-Western, Albon Road and elsewhere. I'm not sure who is responsible for this violation, but if folks contact their local township or city officials, hopefully these signs, which in addition to being an eyesore are a safety hazard, will be removed.

I contacted the administration in Monclova on Friday, October 3 and it appears that some of the mess has been cleaned up by township officials. Thank you to those responsible for the prompt attention given to this situation.

Biden and Palin Debate: What did you think?

This was my brief take on the debate:

I thought that Biden was well-prepared and knowledgeable about the issues that were discussed. Gov. Palin was so well rehearsed she didn’t even bother to answer many of the questions, simply sticking to her simple talking points about how John McCain is a “maverick”.

If anyone out there saw the latest remake of “The Manchurian Candidate”, you’ll get this reference. It was almost as if they found and reimbedded the chip into the Governor’s head that was missing during the Couric interview.

A great drinking game would have been to take a shot every time Palin said “maverick”. The local hospital ER’s would have been overcome by victims of alcohol poisoning if that were the case, but when you have nothing else to say I guess you stick to what you think you know.

At any rate, the American people (according to two polls I saw) overwhelmingly thought Joe Biden won the debate and it was clear that he has a much greater command of the issues. Palin does score points for being more alive than McCain, but then again so does your basic garden slug.