1 hour ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

 

 

Georgia's population is about 9.5% Hispanic.  Ohio's is under 4%.

 

 

 

Georgia is much more diverse than Ohio and a bit younger as well.  The Black % of the population is more than double what it is in Ohio.

Thanks for the statistics. Race only does not determine one's political ideology. What I was really trying to say was:

 if Georgia can go blue, then Ohio could too.

 

22 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

 

That's one way to look at it. Another would be to say that to some degree she has her current position because of who her parents are. She was born with significant privilege in that regard.

 

Certainly another way to look at it and something I definitely think is true in more conservative politicians (whether Republican or Democrat). Not being from the region, I don't know how much Sykes is a household name.

I did read that as Minority Leader she has nearly doubled the amount of bipartisan legislation passed by the State House. I think that's pretty admirable.

Right now I am most interested in Emilia, Nan, and Amy. I think the swinging (politically) suburbs could be activated by any of the three of them up against a Nino type. 

 

I am a rose tinted glasses person. I didn't post this for validation or reality.

 

 

1 hour ago, Chas Wiederhold said:

Thanks for the statistics. Race only does not determine one's political ideology. What I was really trying to say was:

 if Georgia can go blue, then Ohio could too.

 

Except the two states are trending in opposite directions.

17 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Except the two states are trending in opposite directions.

 

I wonder if Ohio will ever be able to attract a younger, more diverse population. As a lifelong Ohioan, it's been so frustrating watching the state flail for basically my entire life. I know I'm not alone here. We're all on an Ohio forum, after all, so seeing it be better is probably all our wishes and desires. 

 

Sorry. Just needed to rant. I just want Ohio to be a premier state sometime in my life. Is that too much to ask? : ppppp

4 minutes ago, Zyrokai said:

 

I wonder if Ohio will ever be able to attract a younger, more diverse population. As a lifelong Ohioan, it's been so frustrating watching the state flail for basically my entire life. I know I'm not alone here. We're all on an Ohio forum, after all, so seeing it be better is probably all our wishes and desires. 

 

Sorry. Just needed to rant. I just want Ohio to be a premier state sometime in my life. Is that too much to ask? : ppppp

On the bright side, Columbus is attractive (based on national articles written, growth momentum, etc). 

 

There's one  thing that is heavily against us becoming Georgia: we have a high "white working-class" population, and a huge legacy of those professions in all corners of the state.  That won't change anytime soon, despite population trends.

 

The only path to a "blue" Ohio is through them.  So, we need more "Sherrod Browns" that can speak to them and offer progressive solutions that actually reach their ears.  The path that other states take via urban and suburban growth is a long ways away.  It would have to be an absolute blowout in the cities and the rural populations would have to be disengaged/nonvoting for this to happen.

21 hours ago, Zyrokai said:

I wonder if Ohio will ever be able to attract a younger, more diverse population. As a lifelong Ohioan, it's been so frustrating watching the state flail for basically my entire life. I know I'm not alone here. We're all on an Ohio forum, after all, so seeing it be better is probably all our wishes and desires. 

 

Sorry. Just needed to rant. I just want Ohio to be a premier state sometime in my life. Is that too much to ask? : ppppp

 

A little bit off topic here, but I've seen some twitter users poking fun at the "$0 corporate income tax" billboard ads Ohio has apparently taken out in Chicago and New York (and perhaps other cities) as a way to try to entice people to move here.  Yes...spend ad money trying to recruit "coastal/liberal elites" about how you don't tax corporations (and thus, have less to spend on things like education and housing).  I'm sure that'll convince them!

Edited February 9, 20214 yr by DarkandStormy

6 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

A little bit off topic here, but I've seen some twitter users poking fun at the "$0 corporate income tax" billboard ads Ohio has apparently taken out in Chicago and New York (and perhaps other cities) as a way to try to entice people to move here.  Yes...spend ad money trying to recruit "coastal/liberal elites" about how you don't tax corporations (and thus, have less to spend on things like education and housing).  I'm sure that'll convince them!

 

Jokes on them. We aren't trying to attract the sort of person that gets mad about a billboard like that, we're trying to attract their boss. It's like a filter of sorts, for a smart growth strategy.

Josh Mandel is in.

20 hours ago, Ram23 said:

 

Jokes on them. We aren't trying to attract the sort of person that gets mad about a billboard like that, we're trying to attract their boss. It's like a filter of sorts, for a smart growth strategy.

 

 

 

You do realize the ads are targeted towards corporations, right?  Do you think those bosses simply don't know Ohio has a 0% corporate income tax rate (though we do levy a commercial activity tax, so...)?  And if they were so naive before about Ohio's tax rate, you think a billboard is going to get them to move here?

20 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

A little bit off topic here, but I've seen some twitter users poking fun at the "$0 corporate income tax" billboard ads Ohio has apparently taken out in Chicago and New York (and perhaps other cities) as a way to try to entice people to move here.  Yes...spend ad money trying to recruit "coastal/liberal elites" about how you don't tax corporations (and thus, have less to spend on things like education and housing).  I'm sure that'll convince them!

The corporate tax rate is compelling to corporations when weighing the pros/cons on moving. It was a key when GE Moved out of Connecticut a number of years back (was cited as such), but not as big of a key when they decided on moving to Boston over say Florida or Texas.  While important, it is not the only thing that matters and generally not the principal driver in corporate relocations.

 

Ohio's problem is not the corp tax rate or really corp taxes. The thing I hear from a lot of people about Ohio in regards to attracting businesses is that they have a very cumbersome taxing structure with all the tiny municipalities that make up an area and region. Each of them has their own tax structure and tax rates and that adds a bunch of admin expense amongst other challenges. Sometimes, paying a higher corporate tax does not outweigh the challenges with Ohio's system. 

3 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

The corporate tax rate is compelling to corporations when weighing the pros/cons on moving. It was a key when GE Moved out of Connecticut a number of years back (was cited as such), but not as big of a key when they decided on moving to Boston over say Florida or Texas.  While important, it is not the only thing that matters and generally not the principal driver in corporate relocations.

 

Ohio's problem is not the corp tax rate or really corp taxes. The thing I hear from a lot of people about Ohio in regards to attracting businesses is that they have a very cumbersome taxing structure with all the tiny municipalities that make up an area and region. Each of them has their own tax structure and tax rates and that adds a bunch of admin expense amongst other challenges. Sometimes, paying a higher corporate tax does not outweigh the challenges with Ohio's system. 

 

If anyone is making decisions about moving a business, they know the corporate income tax rate of each state.  They know Ohio levies a Commercial Activity Tax.  They know the municipality tax mess you mentioned.  Etc. Etc.  I'm not sure why our state thinks putting up some billboard ads is going to change anyone's mind.

Edited February 10, 20214 yr by DarkandStormy

3 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

If anyone is making decisions about moving a business, they know the corporate income tax rate of each state.  They know Ohio levies a Commercial Activity Tax.  They know the municipality tax mess you mentioned.  Etc. Etc.  I'm not sure why our state thinks putting up some billboard ads is going to change anyone's mind.

The billboards should highlight urban life in Ohio's cities. Show pictures of walkable neighborhoods and the median rent. That would be an effective campaign for billboards in NYC.

Just now, DarkandStormy said:

 

If anyone is making decisions about moving a business, they know the corporate income tax rate of each state.  They know Ohio levies a Commercial Activity Tax.  They know the municipality tax mess you mentioned.  Etc. Etc.  I'm not sure why our state thinks putting up some billboard ads is going to change anyone's mind.

I do not think that these billboards are geared at getting companies in New York to leave New York for Ohio. I think the idea is to create the awareness that Ohio does not have a Corp Tax Rate and when they are looking to move, they should look at Ohio instead of Texas and Florida.  I do not think the point is as much about saying Hey NYC corp, move to Ohio and save a boatload on taxes, but rather, making sure they think of Ohio in that conversation instead of just Florida and Texas. I bet it is more of that. How effective that is may be questionable, but I believe it is more about an awareness thing competing with Texas and Florida vs poaching NY companies.

9 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

I do not think that these billboards are geared at getting companies in New York to leave New York for Ohio. I think the idea is to create the awareness that Ohio does not have a Corp Tax Rate and when they are looking to move, they should look at Ohio instead of Texas and Florida.  I do not think the point is as much about saying Hey NYC corp, move to Ohio and save a boatload on taxes, but rather, making sure they think of Ohio in that conversation instead of just Florida and Texas. I bet it is more of that. How effective that is may be questionable, but I believe it is more about an awareness thing competing with Texas and Florida vs poaching NY companies.

 

Florida imposes a 5.5% tax on all corporations and Texas imposes a 1% corporate income tax.  Individual does not equal corporation for tax purposes, despite what Citizens United decided.  Anyway, I think we should probably move all billboard discussion to an Ohio Business thread.

 

 

Mandel kicks off his campaign running farther to the right.  Going to basically just run as the Trump candidate.

 

I'm curious to know about what caused his abrupt departure from the 2018 Senate race.  What was supposed to trickle out never really did.

 

EDIT - looks like he and his wife divorced in 2020.

Edited February 10, 20214 yr by DarkandStormy

Just now, DarkandStormy said:

 

Mandel kicks off his campaign running farther to the right.  Going to basically just run as the Trump candidate.

 

I'm curious to know about what caused his abrupt departure from the 2018 Senate race.  What was supposed to trickle out never really did.

He may win, but I just do not feel he is a strong candidate. There is something about him that people do not like (many GOP voters). I could see a competitive primary here. 

 

I am a bit surprised Cranley does not want to get into this race. I know he wants Governor, and certainly would be a viable candidate there, but at the same time, depending how the winds blow in 2021, Dewine could emerge as virtually unbeatable (not saying he will). The Senate seat presents a potential seat where a candidate like Cranley would not have to worry as much about the political winds propping up the incumbent. 

13 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

You do realize the ads are targeted towards corporations, right?  Do you think those bosses simply don't know Ohio has a 0% corporate income tax rate (though we do levy a commercial activity tax, so...)?  And if they were so naive before about Ohio's tax rate, you think a billboard is going to get them to move here?

 

Everyone knows Coca Cola exists, yet they still have some of the most robust advertising on the planet. Eventually, most people will crave a Coca Cola at some point.

Here are some Mandel high(low)lights:

 

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2017/08/for_josh_mandel_no_gutter_is_t.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/josh-mandel-taking-heat-from-the-in-laws/2012/11/06/f9721844-2821-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_blog.html

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2017/07/josh_mandel_sides_with_alt-lig.html

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/07/will-conspiracy-trial-figure-mandels-election/10190105/

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/02/ohio_taxpayers_spent_13_millio.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/moore-mud-splashes-gop-candidates-other-states-n821176

https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77509_Page2.html

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national-govt--politics/treasurer-mandel-under-scrutiny-for-hiring-practices/i0uipfUg0sXJcypuxtUO0I/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/big-raises-given-some-mandel-staffers/E6Brqzqj3X9zlXB4rc7IwN/

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180721/mandels-schedule-appears-light-in-110kyear-treasurer-job

https://radio.wosu.org/post/ohios-bitcoin-tax-program-was-illegal-state-attorney-general-says#stream/0

 

Summarized:

-Ran anti-Muslim ads against his Christian opponent in the 2012 Treasurer’s race. He eventually got shamed into pulling the bad-faith attacks.

-His wife’s family took out a full-page ad in the Cleveland Jewish News to trash talk him.

-Defended white supremacist Jack Posobeic and Pizzagate peddler Mike Cernovich from Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center attacks.

-Accepted $100,000 in illegal donations from convicted felon Ben Suarez, even going so far as sending a letter on official Treasurer’s office letterhead in Suarez’s defense to the presiding judge.

-Spent $1.84 million in public money on what amounted to a campaign ad featuring Urban Meyer.

-Refused to condemn pedophile preacher Roy Moore’s failed 2016 run for Senate in Alabama.

-“Became the only state treasurer in three decades not to attend a single meeting of the Board of Deposit, a monthly gathering of financial officials to determine billions of dollars of state investments.”

-Hired young, inexperienced flunkies to high-ranking advisory positions. One 26-year-old staffer had to take a beginner’s course into municipal bond law. He then promptly gave raises to his unqualified underlings.

-Worked six hours a week during his final year as Treasurer in which he drew a $110,000 salary.

-His final project, OhioCrypto.com, allowed businesses to pay their state taxes in Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency favored by criminals and nerds. The state received “fewer than 10 payments” before Attorney General David Yost shuttered the site after ruling it illegal.

 

EDIT - via https://rooster.substack.com/p/hey-rob-portman-adios-binch which is a subscription site, I believe this one is free, but if I'm breaking pay wall rules I'll take it down.  Was having a hard time copy/pasting over, so sorry for formatting issues.

Edited February 10, 20214 yr by DarkandStormy

47 minutes ago, freefourur said:

The billboards should highlight urban life in Ohio's cities. Show pictures of walkable neighborhoods and the median rent. That would be an effective campaign for billboards in NYC.

 

"Columbus: Show me where to get on the train"

1 hour ago, DarkandStormy said:

Here are some Mandel high(low)lights:

 

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2017/08/for_josh_mandel_no_gutter_is_t.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/josh-mandel-taking-heat-from-the-in-laws/2012/11/06/f9721844-2821-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_blog.html

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2017/07/josh_mandel_sides_with_alt-lig.html

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/07/will-conspiracy-trial-figure-mandels-election/10190105/

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/02/ohio_taxpayers_spent_13_millio.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/moore-mud-splashes-gop-candidates-other-states-n821176

https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77509_Page2.html

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national-govt--politics/treasurer-mandel-under-scrutiny-for-hiring-practices/i0uipfUg0sXJcypuxtUO0I/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/big-raises-given-some-mandel-staffers/E6Brqzqj3X9zlXB4rc7IwN/

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180721/mandels-schedule-appears-light-in-110kyear-treasurer-job

https://radio.wosu.org/post/ohios-bitcoin-tax-program-was-illegal-state-attorney-general-says#stream/0

 

Summarized:

-Ran anti-Muslim ads against his Christian opponent in the 2012 Treasurer’s race. He eventually got shamed into pulling the bad-faith attacks.

-His wife’s family took out a full-page ad in the Cleveland Jewish News to trash talk him.

-Defended white supremacist Jack Posobeic and Pizzagate peddler Mike Cernovich from Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center attacks.

-Accepted $100,000 in illegal donations from convicted felon Ben Suarez, even going so far as sending a letter on official Treasurer’s office letterhead in Suarez’s defense to the presiding judge.

-Spent $1.84 million in public money on what amounted to a campaign ad featuring Urban Meyer.

-Refused to condemn pedophile preacher Roy Moore’s failed 2016 run for Senate in Alabama.

-“Became the only state treasurer in three decades not to attend a single meeting of the Board of Deposit, a monthly gathering of financial officials to determine billions of dollars of state investments.”

-Hired young, inexperienced flunkies to high-ranking advisory positions. One 26-year-old staffer had to take a beginner’s course into municipal bond law. He then promptly gave raises to his unqualified underlings.

-Worked six hours a week during his final year as Treasurer in which he drew a $110,000 salary.

-His final project, OhioCrypto.com, allowed businesses to pay their state taxes in Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency favored by criminals and nerds. The state received “fewer than 10 payments” before Attorney General David Yost shuttered the site after ruling it illegal.

 

EDIT - via https://rooster.substack.com/p/hey-rob-portman-adios-binch which is a subscription site, I believe this one is free, but if I'm breaking pay wall rules I'll take it down.  Was having a hard time copy/pasting over, so sorry for formatting issues.

On the one hand, I’m glad Mandel is in, because he’s a clown and he makes it more likely that a Democrat could win. On the other hand, the Republican is likely to win. Meaning Mandel could be our very own Hawley. 
 

 

Oh man, haven't gotten a chance to goof on Mandel in a while.

Do we know of any non Trumper Republicans that are likely to run?

2 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

Here are some Mandel high(low)lights:

 

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2017/08/for_josh_mandel_no_gutter_is_t.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/josh-mandel-taking-heat-from-the-in-laws/2012/11/06/f9721844-2821-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_blog.html

https://www.cleveland.com/open/2017/07/josh_mandel_sides_with_alt-lig.html

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/elections/2014/06/07/will-conspiracy-trial-figure-mandels-election/10190105/

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2017/02/ohio_taxpayers_spent_13_millio.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/moore-mud-splashes-gop-candidates-other-states-n821176

https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0612/77509_Page2.html

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/national-govt--politics/treasurer-mandel-under-scrutiny-for-hiring-practices/i0uipfUg0sXJcypuxtUO0I/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/state--regional-govt--politics/big-raises-given-some-mandel-staffers/E6Brqzqj3X9zlXB4rc7IwN/

https://www.dispatch.com/news/20180721/mandels-schedule-appears-light-in-110kyear-treasurer-job

https://radio.wosu.org/post/ohios-bitcoin-tax-program-was-illegal-state-attorney-general-says#stream/0

 

Summarized:

-Ran anti-Muslim ads against his Christian opponent in the 2012 Treasurer’s race. He eventually got shamed into pulling the bad-faith attacks.

-His wife’s family took out a full-page ad in the Cleveland Jewish News to trash talk him.

-Defended white supremacist Jack Posobeic and Pizzagate peddler Mike Cernovich from Anti-Defamation League and Southern Poverty Law Center attacks.

-Accepted $100,000 in illegal donations from convicted felon Ben Suarez, even going so far as sending a letter on official Treasurer’s office letterhead in Suarez’s defense to the presiding judge.

-Spent $1.84 million in public money on what amounted to a campaign ad featuring Urban Meyer.

-Refused to condemn pedophile preacher Roy Moore’s failed 2016 run for Senate in Alabama.

-“Became the only state treasurer in three decades not to attend a single meeting of the Board of Deposit, a monthly gathering of financial officials to determine billions of dollars of state investments.”

-Hired young, inexperienced flunkies to high-ranking advisory positions. One 26-year-old staffer had to take a beginner’s course into municipal bond law. He then promptly gave raises to his unqualified underlings.

-Worked six hours a week during his final year as Treasurer in which he drew a $110,000 salary.

-His final project, OhioCrypto.com, allowed businesses to pay their state taxes in Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency favored by criminals and nerds. The state received “fewer than 10 payments” before Attorney General David Yost shuttered the site after ruling it illegal.

 

EDIT - via https://rooster.substack.com/p/hey-rob-portman-adios-binch which is a subscription site, I believe this one is free, but if I'm breaking pay wall rules I'll take it down.  Was having a hard time copy/pasting over, so sorry for formatting issues.

 

So you're saying he's completely in step with the 2021 GOP?  So that's why it's not surprising that his announcement revolves around his fealty to Trump, not to any sort of ideals?

Josh Mandel--what an @ssclown.  He uses a fake southern accent....

 

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/02/15/cleveland-area-man-showcases-horrible-fake-southern-accent-on-cable-tv

I think his accent matches his political prospects. #goinsouth

Maybe he is doing an undercover gig for the fbi to see if magas, proud boys, and oathkeepers are really ok with jewish dudes.   

Hi, I'm Josh MENDLE

9 hours ago, Pugu said:

Josh Mandel--what an @ssclown.  He uses a fake southern accent....

 

https://www.clevescene.com/scene-and-heard/archives/2021/02/15/cleveland-area-man-showcases-horrible-fake-southern-accent-on-cable-tv

 

I'd wager that some 75% of politicians have unnatural, carefully crafted speaking voices. Hillary Clinton is probably the most famous example - she was infamous for having different accents at different times and depending upon where she was and who she was speaking to. I don't know enough about Mandel to know if he has always spoken in such a manner or if he is evolving to appeal to his constituents. I do know that I am sometimes surprised by the "southern" accents I've encountered in parts of Ohio, even north of Columbus. In Cincinnati, an accent like that wouldn't stick out at all.

Southern and Appalachian accents stick out more in Cincinnati than they do in Columbus. People in Columbus literally do not notice them. Nobody goes "Are YEW from the Souff?" Now the clench-jawed universal conservative accent that's come around in the past 15-20 years does not stick out in Cincinnati and that's the best Mandel should hope for.

There are some areas in Northeast Ohio where you'll find Appalachian/Southern accents. However, Beachwood is not one of those places.

I lived there for 3 years; people in Lorain didn't even sound like that. Let alone...lol...Beachwood.. LOL!!! Hahahaha. That's pretty ridiculous.

(Refering to the second clip down.)

Edited February 16, 20214 yr by David

4 hours ago, freefourur said:

There are some areas in Northeast Ohio where you'll find Appalachian/Southern accents. However, Beachwood is not one of those places.

 

Where in NEO?

Lodi?

Btw, Joyce Beatty is out on the Dem side.  She was mentioned as a possibility as Ohio will lose a House seat in redistricting.

14 minutes ago, Pugu said:

 

Where in NEO?

You might hear it in some parts of Ashtabula, Trumbull, and Mahoning Counties and perhaps some other areas with recent appalachian migration. Additionally, you may hear southern accents and vernacular among African American populations. 

Old school, blue collar Lorain Co. communities like Lorain, Elyria, and Sheffield Lake for sure, and Tremont used to be a major Appalachian community, though they've dispersed to cheaper parts of the westside now.

 

Josh Mandel is trying to win the race to the bottom.

Hideous.  I'd like to think there's no way he'll win with this sort of hateful rhetoric, but recent elections show that we can't take that for granted.

Mandel is a vile human so I'd expect him to do quite well in terms of gaining support from the GOP base.

Without Trump on the ballot I don't think the Harley Guys are going to show up for this rhetoric. A lot of Seniors don't like this stuff because it scares them more than they are scared of Muslims and MS-13. Of course they don't use twitter much.

In a primary of Mandel vs. J.D. Vance, who comes out on top?  They both seem to lead towards populism and divisive politicking (though one more than the other).

6 minutes ago, plinth857 said:

In a primary of Mandel vs. J.D. Vance, who comes out on top?  They both seem to lead towards populism and divisive politicking (though one more than the other).

Vance will win, he is a better funded and more likable person. Vance will have a ton of Silicon Valley money behind him namely Paypal and Facebook money.

28 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

Vance will win, he is a better funded and more likable person. Vance will have a ton of Silicon Valley money behind him namely Paypal and Facebook money.

 

I agree - I think he'll win the primary and further - the general election. Theil's $10 million donation wasn't just big - it was the largest contribution ever made to a single Senate candidate super-PAC. The average successful Senate campaign spends $15 million total, so he's 2/3 of the way there with fundraising and he isn't even a declared candidate yet. He has the name recognition to draw support like that from outside of the state, and none of the other candidates do.

 

Aside from money, he seems more personable and down to earth. He isn't divisive at all - and while Trump did win Ohio twice by the largest margins in 30+ years, Ohioans tend to vote for moderate, modest candidates in liue of the loud ones.

 

And, of course, his biggest asset might be the likelihood that most people will reference the book or movie when they think of him, instead of whatever happens on the campaign trail. That's far less pressure on a campaign, and whomever he's up against won't just have to beat him, they'll have to beat the image he crafted of himself in a successful, popular, almost heroic biography.

3 hours ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Josh Mandel is trying to win the race to the bottom.

And it's gone
 

 

Hard to tell if J.D. Vance truly wants a bigger, more expansive government involvement in all of our lives, or is simply pandering here:

 

https://nationalconservatism.org/natcon-dc-2019/presenters/jd-vance/

28 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

 

I agree - I think he'll win the primary and further - the general election. Theil's $10 million donation wasn't just big - it was the largest contribution ever made to a single Senate candidate super-PAC. The average successful Senate campaign spends $15 million total, so he's 2/3 of the way there with fundraising and he isn't even a declared candidate yet. He has the name recognition to draw support like that from outside of the state, and none of the other candidates do.

 

Aside from money, he seems more personable and down to earth. He isn't divisive at all - and while Trump did win Ohio twice by the largest margins in 30+ years, Ohioans tend to vote for moderate, modest candidates in liue of the loud ones.

 

And, of course, his biggest asset might be the likelihood that most people will reference the book or movie when they think of him, instead of whatever happens on the campaign trail. That's far less pressure on a campaign, and whomever he's up against won't just have to beat him, they'll have to beat the image he crafted of himself in a successful, popular, almost heroic biography.

 

Vance is a more likeable Tom Cotton, imo. 

39 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

I agree - I think he'll win the primary and further - the general election. Theil's $10 million donation wasn't just big - it was the largest contribution ever made to a single Senate candidate super-PAC. The average successful Senate campaign spends $15 million total, so he's 2/3 of the way there with fundraising and he isn't even a declared candidate yet. He has the name recognition to draw support like that from outside of the state, and none of the other candidates do.

 

Aside from money, he seems more personable and down to earth. He isn't divisive at all - and while Trump did win Ohio twice by the largest margins in 30+ years, Ohioans tend to vote for moderate, modest candidates in liue of the loud ones.

 

And, of course, his biggest asset might be the likelihood that most people will reference the book or movie when they think of him, instead of whatever happens on the campaign trail. That's far less pressure on a campaign, and whomever he's up against won't just have to beat him, they'll have to beat the image he crafted of himself in a successful, popular, almost heroic biography.

 

Didn't Cruz/Hawley/Cotton just spend weeks telling us the GOP needed to pivot to being the party of the working people? LMAO

 

I also don't understand conservatives fascination with Vance...he's a venture capitalist, not from Appalachia, who's big claim to fame is writing a book on Appalachia.  Real man of the people.  

 

His twitter feed is full of his appearances on Tucker, Ingraham, etc.  He's as bad as Hawley, Cruz, and the rest...he just doesn't have as big of a following.

Edited March 18, 20214 yr by DarkandStormy

3 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Didn't Cruz/Hawley/Cotton just spend weeks telling us the GOP needed to pivot to being the party of the working people? LMAO

 

Lol! 

 

I actually like JD Vance - I think his intelligence leads to pandering, and I'm just concerned that could turn into a Hawley / Cruz sort of thing. 

 

Re: Money. Look at Georgia - it literally was the difference between stimmy and no stimmy - Senate races will only get more expensive as the country stays polarized

5 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Didn't Cruz/Hawley/Cotton just spend weeks telling us the GOP needed to pivot to being the party of the working people? LMAO

Last I checked, there were plenty of Democrat donors that write 7 and 8 figure checks for Dem candidates each election cycle. 

5 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Didn't Cruz/Hawley/Cotton just spend weeks telling us the GOP needed to pivot to being the party of the working people? LMAO

 

But only people who WORK, as in people who put in a lot of overtime in the skilled trades or own businesses in the skilled trades. Everyone else doesn't WORK.

2 minutes ago, YABO713 said:

 

Lol! 

 

I actually like JD Vance - I think his intelligence leads to pandering, and I'm just concerned that could turn into a Hawley / Cruz sort of thing. 

 

His vague statements about using "political power" to advance his religious social agenda are worrisome. But the acceptance of money from Thiel tells me he is not serious about actually pushing that kind of agenda. 

3 minutes ago, Brutus_buckeye said:

Last I checked, there were plenty of Democrat donors that write 7 and 8 figure checks for Dem candidates each election cycle. 

 

Cute whataboutism.  As Ram noted, none of those have set the single donation record, though.

19 minutes ago, DarkandStormy said:

 

Didn't Cruz/Hawley/Cotton just spend weeks telling us the GOP needed to pivot to being the party of the working people? LMAO

 

I assume Thiel gave Vance the money because he feels Vance is a perfect candidate to help steer the party to that goal. He's the epitome of "bootstraps."