Hts121

^What date are you starting with? Kasich took office in 2011. And it is even questionable to attribute 2011 to him as his policies would not have made a state-wide impact on the GDP until 2012 at the earliest. What's somewhat comically ironic is that a lot of the 'recovery' during Kasich's early term, which he touts in his ads yet which has slowed over the past year, should be credited to stimulus funds which helped out in the manufacturing sector and, perhaps even more importantly, saved a ton of local government jobs which would have otherwise been lost due to his cuts of state funding to local governments. Putting aside all of this, this graph from your source indicates that the trajectory Ohio was on when Kasich took office has merely continued....... that is, the trajectory which Kasich painted during the 2010 election as being catastrophic - http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/OHNGSP

Can you cite a source for those figures? Something other than what Team Kasich has put out? I don't see the same numbers. In 2010, Ohio's GDP grew by 2.5%..... on par with the country's 2.5% growth for that year. Kasich took over in January 2011. In 2013, the last year measured, Ohio's GDP grew 1.8% http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/gsp_newsrelease.html... compared to 1.9% nationally..... which followed a 1.1% growth for Ohio in 2011 (compared to 1.5% nationally) http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/local/ohio-failing-to-keep-pace-in-gdp-growth/nPR7g/.... and 2.2% in 2012 (compared to 2.5% nationally) http://watchdog.org/91226/feds-gdp-report-exposes-ohios-mediocre-recovery/. I fail to see where you come up with that 14% Regarding the deficit, it wasn't as large as Kasich claimed - http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2011/01/14/10-states-with-the-largest-budget-shortfalls - and all he did was essentially transfer the deficit to the local communities..... some of which could not handle such a drastic change in policy. In other areas, he privatized certain services, allowing the 'books' to appear a little more balanced.

^Such as? Certainly, as with most States under GOP leadership, the top earners may be doing better, but the "Real Ohioans" are not..... Overall state income has risen, but real median household income — or the money coming into households at the midpoint of income distribution — fell at a steeper rate than the nation’s. Real median incomes dropped from more than $54,000 in 2007 to less than $45,000 in 2012, the latest federal estimates. That indicates that income gains tended to be in the top half, while some in the lower half had less income than before the recession. The number of people living at or below federal poverty levels continued to increase in Ohio, topping 16 percent in the last census estimates from 13 percent in 2007. In a measure of a middle class-defining goal, home ownership rates were at 68 percent last year, down from 71 percent before the recession’s onset. http://www.limaohio.com/news/news/50180126/Race-for-governor:-How-are-Ohio-households-doing#.U_tcxLywIbh There, of course, is a lot of context to those stats. It is nearly impossible to compare Strickland's term with Kasich's because Strickland's was marred by the worst part of the recession. Even still, the unemployment rate was dropping when Strickland left at roughly the same rate that it continued to drop under Kasich. The bottom line is still that no one with more than a pea brain could claim that Ohio is doing fantastic while, at the same time, allege that this Nation is struggling.

The ball only went ten yards due to the impact of the hit. Hoyer was not in a throwing motion so it was the proper call

I will be the 'equal opportunity' reporter if no one else wants to step up. The 'ghettofication' of North Royalton continues - http://www.cleveland.com/north-royalton/index.ssf/2014/10/two_men_charged_in_connection.html#incart_related_stories Lakewood's 'bend over backwards' diversity efforts seems to be backfiring - http://www.cleveland.com/lakewood/index.ssf/2014/10/man_charged_with_robbing_lakew.html#incart_river

^Back in the day, it was a regular thing. I don't think that it is accepted by the players now. With cameras focusing on every angle, if it happened regularly, you would see it regularly. Burfict's past doesn't give him any benefit of the doubt either.

Maybe Cincy uses a better brand of stickum

^He's turned out to be a very pragmatic governor after his first year or two in office....... or as the GOP would label him if he was not one of their own, a radical, jihadist, anti-Christianity dire threat to our once great Nation.

He's a good blocker on the edge. He showed some flashes as a WR, but was never anywhere consistent enough for me not to be screaming at the TV what you hear at 0:29 of this video.....

You guys signed "Catches"? :?

^^Just seems a helluva lot easier to not have voter ID laws, right? But, for the sake of argument, I would also add that IDs are regularly lost, misplaced, stolen, etc. The papers you need to obtain an ID are often lost, misplaced, stolen, etc. Obtaining both the papers you need to get an ID and getting an ID, putting aside any cost, is time-consuming as well. The state agencies which issue IDs are usually only open during the hours when most people work. For a large part of the country, there is not such agency within walking distance or along a public transportation route. Regardless, as Posner notes, all this debate is silly as the motivation for such laws is so obvious.

Ummm... no idea what you are inferring there. But, the same DB-on-WR contact can either be illegal contact or pass interference. The determinative factor is WHEN the contact occurs. If it occurs while the ball is in the air to that WR, then it is pass interference. If it occurs at any other time, then it is illegal contact.

LeBron will not play in tonight's home preseason game against Milwaukee. Giving him a one game rest this week was part of the plan. He chose tonight over tomorrow in Cincy. Smart move from a team marketing standpoint, I suppose.

^Hangin' with Josh Gordon lately?

Judge Richard Posner (7th Cir. Court of Appeals) strikes again. A few weeks ago during oral argument on a gay marriage case, he flat out embarrassed the AG's of Indiana and Wisconsin who were trying to defend their bigoted laws. Now, he has released a scathing indictment of Wisconsin's voter ID laws. This is noteworthy because Posner was the one who had written the Crawford decision, upholding such laws in Indiana not even a decade ago. Now, he is seemingly fed up with the pathetic attempts to justify these laws. Yet another (genuine) Reagan conservative shaking his head at the modern-day, self-proclaimed Reagan conservatives. "There is only one motivation for imposing burdens on voting that are ostensibly designed to discourage voter-impersonation fraud," he writes, "and that is to discourage voting by persons likely to vote against the party responsible for imposing the burdens." More specifically, he observes, photo ID laws are "highly correlated with a state's having a Republican governor and Republican control of the legislature and appear to be aimed at limiting voting by minorities, particularly blacks." In Wisconsin, according to evidence presented at trial, the voter ID law would disenfranchise 300,000 residents, or 9% of registered voters. Posner systematically demolishes every argument mustered in support of voter ID laws. Combating voter fraud? "There is compelling evidence that voter-impersonation fraud is essentially nonexistent in Wisconsin." Assertions about voter fraud are "a mere fig leaf for efforts to disenfranchise voters." He adds that "some of the 'evidence' of voter-impersonation fraud is downright goofy, if not paranoid, such as the nonexistent buses that according to the 'True the Vote' movement [a voter suppression organization originating in the tea party movement] transport foreigners and reservation Indians to polling places." Indeed, Posner writes, lists of the states that impose the strictest requirements "imply that a number of conservative states try to make it difficult for people who are outside the mainstream, whether because of poverty or race or problems with the English language...to vote." http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-why-voter-id-laws-are-evil-20141013-column.html#page=1

I assume Mack is done for the year. How long is Bryant supposed to be out?

It's playing state-wide. I don't vociferously disagree with the Kasich ad. It really depends on what lens you are looking at the situation from. I don't look so much at raw numbers and try to ignore the dumbed down talking points. You could argue that Ohio and the country as a whole is struggling. You could also argue that Ohio and the country as a whole are improving. What you can't do, IMO, is claim that Ohio is doing great and the country is struggling. If the metrics you are using says that Ohio is "on the right path" then certainly the same must be said about the nation. After all, Ohio is still lagging behind most states in job-growth, GDP growth, population growth, income, and nearly every other arguably meaningful metric. Am I wrong?

Back to back I saw two political ads this weekend. One was for Kasich, touting what a 'great turnaround' and 'strong recovery' we've seen in Ohio and how we are "on the right track." The next one was for a congressional candidate saying how the "Obama/Pelosi agenda" has led to 'economic despair' and has led our country away from the path of recovery. Wait...... since when did Ohio's recovery (relatively speaking) look stronger than the nation's as a whole? Do people actually buy into these false narratives?

44"121" 51% Rustbelt traditions 19% Family foundations 7% Modest income homes

The early diagnosis is 6-8 weeks. Some are saying as long as 12 weeks. Apparently, the injury was discovered before it became serious enough to threaten his season. That said, NBA teams are notorious for downplaying injuries and NBA players are sometimes in no rush to return....... see Derrick Rose.

Great win. But the loss of Alex Mack could be devastating. I almost would've preferred that Joe Thomas went down instead of Mack. Any update on the timetable for Mack's return from a broken leg? Do we know how bad Armonty Bryant was injured? Kaewon Williams? It was a costly win.

If the defender is 'playing the ball', he is free to jockey for position with the WR..... even when the ball is in the air. The new rule you are talking about is 'illegal contact', not pass interference. Pass interference occurs while the ball is in the air and is a spot foul, automatic first down. Defensive holding is essentially pass interference which occurs before the ball is thrown and is a 5 yard, automatic first down penalty. Illegal contact occurs when contact (something other than holding) is made beyond 5 yards which has nothing to do with playing the ball and is a 5 yard, automatic first down penalty. There was always a penalty for 're-directing' or jamming a WR beyond 5 yards..... the new rule, however, is applicable even if the defender did not impede or re-direct the route.

All I can say is wow. The final score from Rio last night is more than a bit deceiving. The Cavs won in overtime against the Heat in front of a sold out arena, but the game only went to overtime when the Heat closed the gap during the scrubs v. scrubs time in the 4th.... mostly with players who won't make either roster. During the meaningful parts of the game, we maintained a 10-20 point lead..... with Kyrie not playing..... and with LeBron not playing like greatest player in the world. KLove dropped 25 pts on something like 9-12 shooting. He showed his 3-point range, his mid-range game, and his post game. The Heat could do nothing to stop him. Wade looks old, but Waiters made him look even older...... totally outplayed him. Andy got the start and played really well. Tristan came in and wore the Heat bigs out. The added muscle on TT is noticeable, especially around the shoulders and he seems to have slimmed a bit at the waist. He is flying around the rim and perfectly playing the role of 'scrapper.' Delly started in place of Kyrie and did just fine, especially pressuring the ball on defense. The other notable in my book was Smokin' Joe Harris (at least that is what Fred and Austin are calling him.... we'll see if it sticks). That kid can shoot the rock and is not shy about it. The halftime stats told the tale...... Cavs were up double digits. Cavs shooting near 60% and the Heat near 40%. Cavs doubled up the Heat in assists, rebounds, and points in the paint. Total domination. The offense still looks clunky at times and there are some defensive breakdowns, but that has to be expected with new coach/system

As much as I hate these fools who grab for their cell to post a fight on youtube, often egging the fight on...... the video in this instance might've been the only way they were able to catch these A-holes. I don't know that to be a fact, but assuming they fled back into the stadium crowd, it would've been extremely useful to share via cellphone the video with the stadium security personnel and ushers in order to locate and arrest the attackers.

They are simplistic and reduce your carbon footprint by not expending the energy to shift gears. And everyone at the coffee shop will be impressed, especially if you tell them you are just stopping in for a quick shot of Joe on your way to go see the latest indie film from Tanzania with Norwegian subtitles.