O' Connor to run for Chief Justice of Ohio Supreme Court

With Chief Justice Moyer being forced into retirement because of age requirements, and the other Republican Ohio Supreme Court Justices - Evelyn Lundberg Stratton & Paul E. Pfeifer - declaring they will not be entering the 2010 race - Ohio Supreme Court Justice Maureen O' Connor has declared that she will be seeking the highest judicial position in Ohio.

Stratton has declined to enter the race to spend more time with her family and Pfeifer refuses to run against another Republican for this position. During her succesful '08 reelection bid, O'Connor was described in her PD endorsement as pleasant surprise on the court...

She has been an outspoken advocate for more transparency and has often brought an important voice of reason and moderation to a court whose members are all Republicans. She has earned re-election.

This should be great news right? Well, it is - but there is the usual but(t).... like a washed up, punch drunk, retired, has-been boxer wanting to make a comeback for his last shot of glory - Jim Petro, the political retread of Cuyahoga County, has thrown his hat in the ring for chief justice. I swear the guy is like gum or Rover's sidewalk remains stuck on the bottom of your shoe.

Yes, just when he should be throwing in the long over due towel for his political career, the loser in the GOP primary for Governor with Blackwell, Petro will place personal achievements agaisnt what is best for all voters in Ohio....

Petro said serving as chief justice is "one of those jobs I would love to have."

Petro said he has received encouragement to run from GOP activists worried that if O'Connor or another Republican member of the court wins the chief justice post, then Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland will name a replacement for that justice.

"Republican activists have been concerned about losing a seat on the court and that's what distinguishes me from all the other candidates," Petro said, referring to other justices who might run for chief justice. "If successful, I don't cause us to lose a seat."

There is that word I hate and Petro hangs his hat on - IF! Well, Mr. Retread - IF my mother had a "set" she could have been my father! But coming from the putrid pool of personal gain over party interest, Cuyahoga County Republicans - I would expect nothing less of Petro.

When O'Connor is successful in her bid to become chief justice - there would be a vacancy which Rev. Strickland would surely appoint a Democrat to fill the void. This appointment would not change anything and they would have to defend the seat in 2012, which as O'Connor points out - Petro can run at the time.

Are you now out of work?

If you woke up this morning thinking you had a job, you would be wrong. That's right, this last month every single American, including 200 million who don't yet exist, lost their job. That now puts 500 million Americans out of work.

Let the lampooning begin.

(Click below or pic for video)

CIA Director: Top Ten Terror Threats

Soon to be replaced with Leon Panetta, current CIA Director Michael Hayden outlines the biggest threats we face in 2009...

1. Al Qaeda: "It is the organization that has the capacity to most threaten the physical safety of America and Americans. So it remains job No. 1. And we have talked about some successes and so on, but it is resilient, and therefore we have to continue to keep an eye on Al Qaeda," he said.

2. Violence in Mexico: "Our good friend and neighbor Mexico had this horrible surge in violence that may cause -- in fact has caused -- us to talk with our Mexican friends, in more meaningful and deeper ways, to discover ways that we can cooperate against what we now view to be, and has always been, a common problem. ...

   "What you've got is President Calderon, very heroically, taking on drug cartels that I think everyone agrees threaten certainly the well-being of the Mexican people and the Mexican state, and taking them on in a very, very progressive way. Now, it is not quite the same thing as Colombia, where you had a politically motivated movement, the FARC, merging with narcotics organizations. Here it is largely in the business of crime but the effects could be just as dangerous, certainly to the well-being of the Mexican people."

3. Iran's nuclear program: "I included Iran, in terms of as they move forward in their own decision-making process, as they continue to churn out LEU, low enriched uranium, they do it at great cost, diplomatically and economically with regard to sanctions. They seem to be doing it with a purpose. As that quantity of that stockpile grows, you would think that at some point in that process, they are going to have to make a decision as to what it is they are going to do with it. So that is something we have to keep a close eye on as well."

4. Europe and the War on Terror: Hayden said he believes that real substantive issues separate the U.S. and Europe in executing the War on Terror. He said "growing daylight" separates the allies and it's not a question of "personalities."

5. Instability caused by the low price of oil: "The price of oil is another thing that is not quite a crisis, but it is destabilizing," he said. "As oil goes under about $40 a barrel, it probably doesn't have a big impact in Russia, which has a large (economy) and frankly invested pretty wisely. I'm not sure that it doesn't have more of an impact in Iran and in Venezuela. When (global) oil is about $40 a barrel, their heavy crude is about $30 a barrel. And that really creates stresses inside the (Hugo) Chavez regime. So again, these are not threats, but they will create torque, and may then suggest some instability."

6. Pakistan: "I don't want to get into the business of commenting on the internal politics of a good friend. But Pakistan is in a very difficult circumstance right now," Hayden said. "You do have the after-effects of Mumbai. You do have what is happening in the tribal region. You do have the instability along the Afghan-Pakistan border. You do have very serious economic problems with the Pakistani state. And you do have a new government, attempting to establish its legs and to build a democratic Pakistan for the future. That is a real devils brew of issues. And President Zardari and Prime Minister Galani have their hands full trying to deal with that. You mentioned nuclear weapons, and clearly, should they ever fall into the wrong hands, it would greatly concern us."

7. Afghanistan: "The closer you get to that Afghanistan-Pakistan border area -- the factors of geography, of history, of culture -- all become more and more important, larger factors, in any kind of calculus. If you ask me if there is a disappointment in my time here, it is that we have not killed or captured #1 or #2 (of Al Qaeda). But there have been measurable successes in the war on terrorism."

8. North Korea: "North Korea is always a wild card. It's almost a gimme that sooner or later, they are going to try to stir the pot, and try to destabilize things."

9. China: China is the emerging superpower, and as such is in more influential economically. China has always been seen through the prism of expanding markets, Hayden said, and it remains to be seen how this communist nation will weather an economic downturn and what conditions global recession will create internally.

10. The Middle East: As instability continues in the Middle East over a Palestinian-Israeli peace most recently complicated by an Israeli offensive in Gaza against terror group Hamas, Hayden said the region will continue to be a flash point that can't be ignored.

Global Cooling

From Politically Incorrect Gazette

SC Governor tells Congress - "Take Your Stimulus Funds and Shove 'em"

Here is something we do not see all that often - a politician standing on principle! Not just talking a good game - but actually taking a stand in the face of opposition. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, a REPUBLICAN, has stated he will refuse the stimulus money.

In Gov. Sanford's State of the State speech he outlines measures that have been taken and can be taken to turn South Carolina around without accepting the stimulus funds.

If other Republican Governor's would stand up and join together with their fellow Republicans in DC maybe the stimulus package would not include every Democrat social program for the last 8 yrs.

But being the lone Governor in opposition, the Obamacrats in Congress, not standing for letting anything or anyone get in the way of President Pimp Daddy's hefty handout acted quickly by enlisting his enforcer in SC, Democrat and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn for some help....

From ALG

Perhaps one of the most straightforward ways to inflate the size and authority of the federal government is to diminish that of the states—the 10th Amendment notwithstanding.

As the $819 billion (Government) “stimulus” package marinates in Congress, a side campaign has been launched against the very states’ rights that were intended to keep an aggressive Federal Government at bay—and keep the Republic afloat. Now one particular individual is bearing the brunt of that assault.

Ever since the madness geared up last fall, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford R) has maintained a stalwart, no-nonsense opposition to the culture of bailouts and “stimulus” packages—particularly federal bailouts for states, especially the Governor’s own South Carolina. As he wrote in a Wall Street Journal piece last November:

“I find myself in a lonely position. While many states and local governments are lining up for a bailout from Congress, I went to Washington recently to oppose such bailouts. I may be the only governor to do so.”

This hostility towards state bailouts is starting to infuriate certain members of Congress—particularly those who see Big Government and inebriated federal money dispersal as the end all and be all to every societal woe imaginable. For many of them, states’ rights—such as Governor Sanford’s right to reject a state bailout—are mere nuisance.

One congressman is dealing with this nuisance by throwing down the Big Government gauntlet of One-Party authoritarian bullying.

Trampling on the bedrock principle of constitutional federalism, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) is using the powers of the Federal Government in Washington to circumvent Mr. Sanford’s authority as Governor—all in an effort to force federal stimulus funds on South Carolina. According to South Carolina’s “The State” newspaper:

“Just before the House passed President Obama’s $819 billion economic-stimulus bill Wednesday evening, Clyburn inserted an amendment empowering state legislative leaders to accept the special federal aid if the governor fails to act within 45 days of the measure’s enactment…

“Clyburn made it clear his provision was aimed squarely at Sanford.”

Mr. Clyburn’s actions constitute the proverbial “double-whammy”: Not only is one Representative—out of 435, of course—using the powers of Congress to revoke a state’s right to be fiscally accountable, but he is also exploiting those same powers to carry out a personal vendetta against an obvious political rival.

Opening the door to let the federal government step into any state and start dictating policies is a dangerous precedent. Unfortunately, a lot of dangerous precedents have been set in recent weeks.

The degree to which the current Democrat-controlled government in Washington has gone to further their Big Government agenda is appalling at best and unconstitutional at worst. Going far beyond the “enumerated powers” granted by Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, the politicians in the capitol have begun to drift into the dark and desolate waters of Big Government authoritarianism.

Hopefully Governor Sanford and others of his ilk can anchor the nation in the unshakeable rock of constitutional limited government. But right now, the Ship of State is foundering badly, with many a loose cannon on a badly rolling deck.

Could you just imagine if every Republican Governor refused to accept any stimulus funds based on the way pork-fest was structured?

The guy just doesn't get it!

Obama just continues making it hard to support him. Again he proves that he just doesn't get it....

President Barack Obama said Sunday that the peaceful elections in Iraq are "good news" for U.S. troops and their families, and he agreed with the suggestion that a substantial number of those troops could be home within a year.

"I think that you have a sense now that the Iraqis just had a very significant election with no significant violence that we are in a position to start putting more responsibility on the Iraqis and that's good news not only for the troops on the ground but for the families who are carrying an enormous burden," Obama said in an interview with NBC's Matt Lauer before the Super Bowl. Lauer asked Obama if he could assure the troops "that a substantial number of them will be home" a year from now.

Obama said: "Yes."

Good news? Yes, but not time to come home.

I guess he already forgot what, as Obama puts it, the Generals on the ground told him. Obama was told do NOT remove too many troops and that our presence will be needed longer than his promised 16 months.

The reason the election went fairly smooth was because of our presence there. The election is a sign that "The Surge" worked. Now Obama needs to just sit there and smile, gives us an, "uhm," an "ahh," and a "hmm" every now and then and let his Generals on the ground continue their good work by letting our soldiers complete their mission.

BREAKING: Judd Gregg to Become Commerce Secretary

Quickly becoming a great source for info is Net Right Nation.

From Net Right Nation --

From a trusted source that is deeply entrenched in political operations in N.H. I have learned that Senator Judd Gregg has been offered the Commerce Secretary position AND HAS ACCEPTED. I have also learned that N.H. Governor John Lynch will be appointing a MODERATE REPUBLICAN to fill the vacated seat.

Gregg cut a deal with Governor Lynch that a Republican would fill the vacated seat for the remainder of the term if he was to accept the offer from Obama.

Gregg's record as a Republican can be questioned anyway. So on one hand, even being replaced by a moderate Republican is problably better. The scary thing is most likely Gregg's nomination will easily be confirmed.
j

More Missteps from Cuyahoga County Sheriff McFaul

Boy - the residents of Cuyahoga County are so lucky we have the public corruption watchdog Plain Dealer looking out for us....

The PD --

Sheriff Gerald McFaul Sr. made his son a special deputy in 1998 so the younger McFaul could get part-time security work while wearing a Cuyahoga County sheriff's uniform.

Gerald McFaul Jr. completed a police academy and state certification test at Cuyahoga Community College in December 1997 but did not immediately land a police job.

"He was looking for a job," McFaul Sr. said Friday.

McFaul Sr. said his son had the state certification to be a police officer but needed permission to carry a weapon, so he deputized him.

"I am not going to deliberately violate any laws," McFaul Sr. said. "I am a straight shooter. I am told it's not illegal. It's a matter of judgment." More...

The first thing I will say - it is 2009! How many elections has McFaul had since 1997? The waste of a dead tree that the PD really is, is only now reporting on this. I guess when they wrote about McFaul's son - Kevin The Crackhead - in 2007, they conveniently forgot about his namesake.

It also appears had the Feds not raided Cuyahoga County - the enablers at the PD would not be playing "cover your ass" reporting in uncovering McFaul's hiring of friends and relatives and allowing a culture of favoritism dating back who knows how long.

Addressing McFaul's deputizing of Jr., the article notes that with Jr. using his being deputized as a way of carrying a weapon, he later became a part-time Ranger for the Metroparks. Being commissioned as a law enforcement officer in overlapping jurisdictions has been frowned upon by the Ohio Attorney Generals office as it may cause of conflict of interest.

Furthermore, not one Sheriff interviewed for the article said they would have deputized their own son and that it is common knowledge that officers cannot carry dual commissions within the same county.

Finally, did the Democrat McFaul break the law and will he be charged with a crime? Only if Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, a Democrat, requests an opinion from Attorney General Dick Cordray - a Democrat!

With Mason's obvious lack of respect for the law, especially when dealing with other Democrats, want to bet what happens with this one?

Back on Track

From Net Right Nation

Taliban tell Obama - "Bring It On"

For all my ranting about Obama's breaking of campaign promises and as shown by his Cabinet selections - his continued poor judgement of a persons character - he is still our President.

This being said, Obama will have no choice but to deal with the overall problems facing the Middle East and he is walking into a minefield. As our President, Obama has failed on his first foray into the Middle East - that would be his reaching out to Iran and getting bitch slapped.

Seeing that he failed his first test in our War on Terror, the Taliban leaders in Afghanistan have recently responded to Obama's increase of US troops in Afghanistan by telling him - "bring it on - we are waiting..."

In remarks broadcast on Al Jazeera on Saturday, Mullah Mohamad Rasul, a Taliban leader, said that fighters of the group were ready to take on the US troops.

"Just as they are bringing more troops, so too the Taliban will have more troops," Rasul, a former governor of Nimruz province, told Al Jazeera.

"During the Bush administration the suicide bombers were registering individually, but now they are coming in groups. The whole nation is ready for the fight," he said, referring to the administration of George Bush, Obama's predecessor.

"Every year our military power gets stronger and stronger and our forces are getting bigger and bigger and we are heading towards success," Rasul said.

I applaud Obama's continued use of unmanned Predator attacks taking out terrorist leaders in Afghanistan I also applaud Obama for his willingness and ability to recognize the problems we face in Afghanistan. But I question his ability to fully understand the big picture in our War on Terror.

I am very concerned that due to the obvious fact that there will be civilian casualties -Obama will be able to dismiss them as collateral damage and will eventually allow this to formulate his policies of engagement.

As we witnessed in Vietnam and the Iraq War - our enemies know civilian & U.S. casualties are the easiest way to turn the American public against our President. We Republicans, must stand vigilant with President Obama and not allow the peaceniks in our country to dictate the outcome in Afghanistan.

By forgiving his first mistake in Iran as a learning experience and barring policies of appeasement, President Obama must know that unlike the liberal "loyal opposition" President Bush was subject too, we will stand with him and support him in our War on Terror.