Republican Rob Portman is running ads saying that he will reverse the new Health Care law.  Since he is unopposed, he should be running to the center now, not running to the "right".

I think that Portman's opinion is probably in line with most level headed reasonable thinking Ohioians, so I guess that is a pretty centrist statement on his part.

While I would agree that the health insurance reform laws aren't that great, they are a start.  If he wants to repeal the entire thing, does that mean he opposes everything in the law?  Does he oppose prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions?  I would be against that.  It seems to me that there are plenty of "fixes" that need to be made, but the law will require more careful study to figure out what fixes really need to be made.

 

At our business, our insurance premiums have gone up 15-20% each year for the past ten years.  That is simply unsustainable.  At some point we will have to stop offering an insurance benefit.  Even if some new insurance plan cost 20% more than my current plan (ouch), if the costs would level off we'd at least be able to plan for it.

 

I think that Portman's opinion is probably in line with most level headed reasonable thinking Ohioians, so I guess that is a pretty centrist statement on his part.

 

Coming from someone on the right...

Republican Rob Portman is running ads saying that he will reverse the new Health Care law. Since he is unopposed, he should be running to the center now, not running to the "right".

 

Find me one, single Republican candidate nationwide who has not made that talking point part of his/her platform and I will show you a lame duck in the primary.  It's a pre-requisite to having a snowball's chance in hell, let alone thoughts of winning the election.

Coming from a level headed reasonable thinking Ohioan.

What are the qualifications for such a title?  Other than agreeing with you, of course.

you do not have to agree with me. You just have to be use well reasoned logic in forming an opinion and then understand why the opposition may think like they do instead of calling them a bunch of fools and morons because they do not feel the same way about the issue as you do.  (BTW, you does not mean you personally)

You just have to be use well reasoned grammar in forming a sentence and then understand why the ungrammatical may think like they do instead of calling them a bunch of fools and morons because they do not feel the same way about the English language as you do.

Fix'd

There are many well-reasoned people on both sides of the partisan aisle, and many who see partisanship as a convenient way to avoid thinking much about a problem. But those who have to go out of their way to inform others he/she is a reasonable and level-headed person probably should take more time to wonder why. My advice: Just be.

There are many well-reasoned people on both sides of the partisan aisle, and many who see partisanship as a convenient way to avoid thinking much about a problem. But those who have to go out of their way to inform others he/she is a reasonable and level-headed person probably should take more time to wonder why. My advice: Just be.

 

Well said

What the hell is this?

 

Job Czar Lee Fisher is Wrong for Ohio

 

It's kinda hot, actually...I think the only effect it might have is getting some women/gays to vote Dem.

 

Anyone think this is an effective attack ad?

I hope I'm in that good of shape when I'm 60.

Ohio's two US Senate seats are held by the moderate Republican George Voinovich who is retiring in 2010 and the first term liberal Democrat Sherrod Brown.

 

Fmr. US Congressman Rob Portman ® is running against Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) to fill the seat being vacated by Voinovich.

 

Rob Portman:

 

Lee Fisher:

Scrabble,

 

Did you click too soon on your post?

Lee Fisher, Rob Portman in Senateshowdown

 

By Howard Wilkinson • [email protected]

• May 4, 2010

 

Lee Fisher’s convincing win in Tuesday’s Democratic U.S. Senate primary sets up a confrontation this fall with former Republican congressman Rob Portman of Cincinnati that may play a huge role in this year’s struggle between the parties for control of Capitol Hill.

...

If Fisher defeats Portman, it would be the first time in 16 years that both of Ohio’s U.S. senators would be Democrats.

...

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted late last month showed Fisher with a three percentage point lead over Portman, just outside the poll’s margin of error.

 

more: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100504/NEWS0108/305040070

Scrabble,

 

Did you click too soon on your post?

 

No and yes.  I was going to follow up the first post with a news story that, as luck would have it, died while I was posting it.  It involved a Youtube video by the National Republican Senatorial Committee which was yanked while I was posting the article about it by an Ohio newspaper.

I saw the ad before it was yanked and I have to say, it was pretty uncomfortable.

 

Sexually suggestive ad attacks Fisher

By Laura A. Bischoff, Columbus Bureau

Updated 11:01 PM Thursday, May 6, 2010

 

Less than 48 hours after the primary election, Democrats and Republicans each launched attacks against one another in the race for U.S. Senate.

 

But only one used double entendres, smarmy lounge music and a screen shot of a shirtless Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.

 

The National Republican Senatorial Committee released a 53-second ad on YouTube and on its own website that gives the impression the Democratic Senate nominee is pleasuring himself.

 

The ad, released Thursday, May 6, uses a screen shot of Fisher, shirtless with one hand on his chest and the other hidden below his waist, and says “he didn’t get the job done” and “he was more concerned about his job than yours.”

 

more: http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/election/sexually-suggestive-ad-attacks-fisher-690638.html

Merged the Scrabble "Poll: Ohio's US Senators" thread with the older Boreas "Ohio Senate Race 2010" thread. 

 

Scrabble's poll on the 2010 election race between Fisher and Portman was included in the merge.

And an update on that National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) attack ad on Democratic candidate Lee Fisher which is fast disappearing from the internet.  You can't see on YouTube anymore "due to a copyright claim by BSB Media LLC".  The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) isn't even showing it anymore on their own website at http://www.nrsc.org/system/uploads/38/original/NRSC_OH_JobCzar_LOWRES.mov.  And this might be why:

 

From Buckeye State Blog:

 

NRSC Steals BSB Video To Attack Lee Fisher

Submitted by David Potts on Wed, 05/05/2010 - 8:49pm

 

"So I finally got around to watching the NRSC attack ad on Lee Fisher that went out this morning, and I found out that parts of it seemed very familiar.  And then it hit me, that’s our video.  Yes, the clips of Lee Fisher talking were ripped out of Nick’s video interview with Lee Fisher last year.  And of course, the shirtless picture was stolen from Jason Fisher’s movie.  The whole web ad was made with stolen material."

 

Hmmmm, it seems that this ad has been removed from Youtube and the NRSC website.  Anyone know another place to watch it?

Cousin Lee just needs to keep his shirt on or I'm taking the campaign sign down!

Ohio: Dead Heat For Fisher, Portman In Post-Primary Senate Poll

 

By Greg Giroux | May 7, 2010 12:32 PM

 

One day after Ohio Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher won Tuesday's Democratic Senate primary, a Rasmussen Reports survey found him in a dead heat with Republican nominee Rob Portman.

 

Of the 500 likely voters surveyed, Fisher was favored by 43 percent and Portman by 42 percent. Four percent chose some other candidate and 11 percent weren't sure who they would support.

 

more: http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2010/05/ohio-dead-heat-in-first-postpr.html

University of Cincinnati poll issued last week on the 2010 Senate race:

 

2010 Ohio U.S. Senate Election

Lee Fisher (D)    47%

Rob Portman ® 46%

Other                1%

Undecided          6%

 

Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/28/ohio-poll.html?sid=101

Portman, Fisher agree to 3 debates in U.S. Senate race

Thursday, September 2, 2010

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

 

Ohio's two major-party candidates for the U.S. Senate have agreed to three one-hour televised debates to be hosted by the state's eight largest newspapers.  Republican Rob Portman and Democrat Lee Fisher will debate in Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo, the campaigns announced yesterday.  The Cleveland debate will be held Oct. 8 at the City Club of Cleveland.  Dates and locations for the Columbus and Toledo debates have not been set.

 

The debates will be televised by the local TV partners of three of the eight newspapers sponsoring the debates, as well as by ONN, the statewide cable news network.  The City Club debate will be held in front of a public audience, as is tradition.  The debates in Columbus and Toledo will be studio debates, without a studio audience present.

 

Full article: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/02/copy/portman-fisher-agree-to-3-debates-in-u-s-senate-race.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

Another poll shows Portman leading Fisher for U.S. Senate

By William Hershey | Thursday, September 2, 2010, 11:45 AM

Dayton Daily News

 

Republican Rob Portman has an eight-point lead, 45-38 percent, over Democrat Lee Fisher among likely voters in a Public Policy Polling survey released on Thursday, Sept. 2.

 

The results show a change from a June PPP poll that had Fisher, the lieutenant governor, leading, 40-38 percent. Other recent polls also have shown Portman ahead.

 

more: http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/ohiopolitics/entries/2010/09/02/another_poll_shows_portman_lea.html?cxtype=feedbot

It appears that the dems have already written Fisher off in this one.

It is going to be very hard for the Dems to win in any swing state this Fall.  Their base is not very motivated, while the GOP's base is rabid at this point.  Voter turnout is going to be disproportionately in favor of conservatives.  Midterm elections always have lower turnout and the party out of power almost always does better in its get out the vote efforts.  With the vitriole being manufactured towards Obama by Fox, Limbaugh, Beck, etc., it's going to be a lot like 1994 and 2006.

 

The Senate needs to swing a few seats anyways.  The current make-up (59-41) makes it very difficult to get anything of substance done.

The Senate needs to swing a few seats anyways.  The current make-up (59-41) makes it very difficult to get anything of substance done.

Like ram healthcare down the American people's throats?

 

Like ram healthcare down the American people's throats?

Like "go home and die"?

The Senate needs to swing a few seats anyways.  The current make-up (59-41) makes it very difficult to get anything of substance done.

Like ram healthcare down the American people's throats?

 

 

Yeah.... my tonsils are still sore.  Is there any truth to the rumor that you had to have yours removed?  BTW, I think the proper GOP approved talking point is "jam", not "ram"

Just quoting your buddy Trumka.

I believe I would have to know someone's first name before I would consider us on "buddy" level.  I had to google the name to even know who you were talking about.  Sounds more like your buddy than mine.

Maybe you should have watched the youtube clip or read the post that you quoted and responded to.  Then you might not be so confused all the time.

It looks like Lee Fisher is toast.  He's down double-digits in just about every poll that has been taken in the past week or two.

Updated polls on the Ohio Senate race as reported by The Columbus Dispatch:

 

UPDATED: New polls show governor's race tight - but not Senate contest

September 28, 2010 - 11:45 AM

 

The latest surveys also show that Republican Rob Portman continues his commanding lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher.  The figures:

 

Fox - Portman 50-37%, keeping the same 13-point margin as last week.

 

Rasmussen Reports - Portman ahead 51-42%, the first time he has crossed the 50% barrier, with 6% undecided.  Two weeks ago it was 49-41% Portman.

 

Reuters/Ipsos - Portman 50-37%, up from 9 points in early August.

 

New York Times-CBS - Portman by 11, 45-34% among likely voters.  With registered voters, Portman is ahead 41-35%.

 

MORE: http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2010/09/strickland_within_margin_of_er.shtml

But Fisher was Stricklands jobs czar? What went wrong?

But Fisher was Stricklands jobs czar? What went wrong?

 

these claims of job losses are somewhat misleading. No, they're ridiculous. If we had gained 400,000 jobs his opponents would be saying it wasn't because of him, but because of the strength in the economy. We just went through a recession, and the entire country is losing jobs, but in Ohio it's strictly due to Lee Fisher (well, and apparently John Boccieri because he hates old people...and of course Strickland (he didn't get the jobs done!)...and maybe Kasich's board involvement wtih Invacare...and I guess Portman's actions during his stint in the Bush Administration, and Renacci and Ganley because they're rich....etc etc etc)

 

Let's not give much credit or blame to politicians when it comes to economic factors. They're all equally impotent when it comes to these things IMO.

Kasich's victory won't get me too down, even though I'd vote for Strickland if I were an Ohio voter, but Portman just depresses me.  92% congressional vote rating by Christian Coalition.  Brags about "presiding over" a 62% increase in Pentagon budget while at OMB.  He's "a strong advocate for Defense Authorization spending and subsequent Defense Appropriations bills." But don't worry, he thinks a balanced budget is crucial.

 

I know that Fischer doesn't really ignite a lot of enthusiasm, I just wish the GOP contender were a bit more tolerably centrist on some of these issues.

I think Portman may be Voinovich 2.0

^Yeah, I think you're right.  I guess I never noticed just how little I agree with Voinovich.  Not sure how well earned his "moderate" reputation is now that I look at his voting record a little. I guess temperament is a lot of it too.

Voinovich earned his "moderate" label due to his willingness to break from party lines, regardless of the pressure not to do so.  He was not "moderate" on every issue, for sure, but I truly believe that he made up his own mind on each issue and did what he thought was best.  I certainly didn't agree with him on several issues, but I appreciated his courage.

^His rep is probably legit; I'm just trying to jog my memory (with internet help) about which significant votes he actually bucked the partisan trend with.  I know the small business lending bill is one recent example.  He's also made some noise about siding with the dems about the Bush tax cuts.

I've recently admired his willingness to not play procedural games and allow floor votes to occur in the Senate (regardless of what HIS actual vote will be) by not joining the obstructionists who improperly use the filibuster to block such votes from occuring.

What's remarkable is how moderate the OH GOP is compared to how liberal the OH Dem party is. Sherrod Brown is a socialist crusader. And there is no conservative/liberterian counterpart to Kucinich

You're assuming that a libertarian would be on the far right side of the aisle, not more towards the middle.  Libertarianism is hardly a "far-right" ideology, whereas Kucinich is certainly a "far-left" politician.  And Sherrod Brown is a crusader for the middle-class... which the far-right has conveniently tagged as being a socialist anytime a politician does anything to stop the evaporation of that group here in America.

You're assuming that a libertarian would be on the far right side of the aisle, not more towards the middle. Libertarianism is hardly a "far-right" ideology, whereas Kucinich is certainly a "far-left" politician. And Sherrod Brown is a crusader for the middle-class... which the far-right has conveniently tagged as being a socialist anytime a politician does anything to stop the evaporation of that group here in America.

It's not left vs. right.  It's liberty and limited government vs. tyranny and big government.  You may call him a "crusader for the middle class" but by definition he has consistently sided with socialist principles. That's not an attack, just the facts.

 

It is remarkable that Ohio's senator Brown is the most liberal senator in America.

It's liberty and limited government vs. tyranny and big government. 

 

The propaganda machine has done an admirable job convincing you of that.

Here's video from the debate: http://www.c-spanarchives.org/program/id/234329

NBC News calls Ohio Senate race for Portman: http://elections.msnbc.msn.com/ns/politics/2010/ohio/senate