2012 Election Reflections Part 3: Where do we go from here?

This is Part 3 of my speech to the Fallen Timbers Republican Club. Part 1 was "What went wrong" and Part 2 was "What went right."

Where do we go from here?

Nationally – we need to stop the idea of the ‘next in line.’

The Republican Party needs to learn from the left and build coalitions – focusing on where we agree rather than where we don’t. The party needs to embrace and welcome the Tea Parties – looking upon them as the conscience of the party rather than the challenger to power.

The economy will remain a key factor, especially if Pres. Obama continues his failed policies and we need to remember that minorities are as interested in jobs as non-minorities. But the way we communicate that message has to be better than the Democrats' message.

Kevin Williamson, National Review reporter, wrote:

"…offering Americans a check is a more fruitful political strategy than offering them the opportunity to take control of and responsibility for their own lives. This is what Oakeshott had in mind when he wrote that liberty was something that many people simply are not equipped to “enjoy as an opportunity rather than suffer as a burden.”

For many years, Republicans have relied on Jude Wanniski’s “Two Santa Claus” theory, the strategy of using the promise of tax cuts to compete with Democrats’ promises of cash and other benefits. In part as a consequence of that strategy, a great many Americans pay little or no federal income taxes, while many of the other federal taxes they pay are indirect or partly hidden. Mitt Romney was right: You can’t use tax cuts to buy off people who are net recipients of tax transfers. Figuring out what we can offer them that is consistent with our principles is the task of conservatives between now and the next election.

Rush Limbaugh also referenced the idea of Obama as Santa Claus. While many of us still believe in the concept of Santa, we know there is no army of elves working tirelessly day and night to magically create whatever toys or goodies are on wish list. The American public, as much as they might like to believe that, knows it as well. That is the analogy we use.

House Republicans need to continue to hold the line. We maintained control of the House in spite of being demagogued as obstructionists. We need to understand that our House wins are as valuable and as much of a mandate as Obama’s White House win.

We do not capitulate to Obama, but maintain our position as the loyal opposition.

We must also remember that all things political are cyclical. So we’re not on top right now. It’s natural to feel demoralized at what is occurred, especially because so many in the fight are actually new to it. But the fact that Obama won, or the levies passed, does not mean that our principles are any less valuable to the nation or the people that they were on Monday.

We just haven’t made the case as well as we could and should have.

People are forgetful and they’re becoming accustomed to having everything happen like in a 30-minute sitcom.

Erick Erickson of RedState.com wrote today (Thursday):

No immigrant comes to the United States wanting to be on welfare. They come for a better life of hard work and success. What conservatives forget is that people forget.

And conservatives have done a terrible job reminding people.

Since Ronald Reagan rose from the ashes of the Goldwater movement, Republicans have articulated a message of freedom and opportunity — a rugged individualism that says if you work hard you can be what you want and do what you want. But people forget.

In the last decade or so, Republicans began to assume everyone just naturally agreed. They stopped explaining. They stopped being evangelists. Worse, conservatism morphed into Republicanism and instead of being about ideas, both became about the acquisition of power for the sake of power. Republicans no longer articulated a core set of principles through policy, but policies designed solely to keep them in power. The party leaders and many of its candidates began to do the same — freedom became a platitude, not a policy.

During Barack Obama’s tenure, Republicans tried to blur every line, make every compromise, and often surrendered before a weapon was even pointed at them. They did not articulate a positive conservative vision, but a defensive position that Obama was bad and they were good with little to show for it. They cut deals that sold out their core to preserve their power. They do so even today.

Republicans assumed Americans got it. They assumed Americans and Republicans were still speaking the same language. But they weren’t.

Politics is cyclical and Americans are forgetful. Republicans forgot that. They failed to keep advancing. They failed to keep explaining. They relied on the tried and true that became the tired and stale.

Tax cuts? Yay!
Pro-life? Yay!

But what else? Under Republicans and Democrats alike, the tax code has grown more complex, the lobbyist class has grown richer, and the banks have gotten too big to fail.

Moving forward, the conservative movement from within the GOP needs to advance new ideas, not just dust off and repackage old ideas. The principles remain the same. The principles are fixed. But the ideas that advance those principles must fit into the twenty-first century.

Issues like education reform, tax reform, welfare reform, repealing Obamacare are all popular topics. Americans still agree with these things and, like I said before, talking about welfare reform did not hurt us with seniors and actually helps us with younger voters.

Erickson further explains that Conservatism’s ideas don’t just make people prosperous, they help the poor and the needy. People who need – and deserve – a helping hand are best helped by a limited government that lifts people up.

He also notes something very important: being an obstructionist is not a bad thing when we are preventing really bad ideas that history shows are failures. America is great and it is conservatism that helped make it that way.

Additionally, we have to challenge and end the careers of Republicans who claim to uphold our party’s principles and then vote otherwise – nationally, at the state level and at the local level.

We have to pick battles big enough to matter but small enough to win. We have to learn from the left in this regard. They are often willing to sacrifice a few elected offices to move their ball down the field, as they did with the passage of Obamacare. We need to be willing to sacrifice a few "Republican"-held seats when the individuals who hold them are not acting in concert with the core principles of the Republican Party.

Locally:

We need to re-take the Lucas County Republican Party. It has utterly failed. It raises no money to support candidates, it has no candidate recruitment plan, it does not espouse the principles of the Republican Party, and it does not speak for Republicans.

We need to stop supporting people simply because of their party designation and hold them accountable for their votes, comments and positions that are contrary to our Republican principles.

When democrats go against their party, they are crucified for doing so. There’s a lot to be learned from that tactic. Elected Republicans should feel more heat from us when they go against our principles than they do from Democrats for standing for them.

Let me repeat that: Republicans should feel more heat from us when they go against our principles than they do from Democrats for standing for them.

We need to be MORE involved. We need to attend school board meetings, township trustee, council and commissioner meetings. We need to record what is going on and share that with others.

And we need to take advantage of the tools available to us – the Internet, social media, and opportunities to talk to others – to share the message.

We need to counter the media – loudly. How many here still subscribe to The Blade or watch local TV news? Why???? Why are you supporting entities that directly go against your best interests? Did any of you see local media talking about the percentage increase in funding the levies were asking for?

They didn't - and it's our fault because we allow it to stand without rebuttal and then put money in their pockets to continue their biases.

We need to be the fact-checkers on everything local politicians say and local media repeats. And we don’t demonize the source in doing so - the facts will stand without personal attacks on the individual.

We need to strategize better – we as individuals, because that used to be something left up to the party and, well ... see above.

Right now, you may be discouraged, depressed or even heart sick as I was yesterday (Wednesday).

I read a post by KrisAnne Hall who teaches the Constitution. She had some good quotes that should remind us about the real struggle for freedom – from people actively involved in the revolution:

John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail, wrote:

"I am wearied out with expectation that the Massachusetts troops would have arrived e’er now at headquarters. Do our people intend to leave the continent in the lurch? Do they mean to submit? … Do they wish to see another crippled, disastrous, and disgraceful campaign, for want of an army? I am more sick and more ashamed of my own countrymen, then ever I was before…I am a fool, if ever there was one, being such a slave. I won't be much longer. I will be more free in some world or other. It is not tolerable, that the opening spring, which I should enjoy with my wife and children, upon my little farm, should pass away…Posterity! You will never know how much it costs to the present generation to preserve your freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I ever took pains to preserve it."

And one from Mercy Otis Warren – do you know her? She was a poet and a historian, and one of the few women who wrote about the Revolution. Her brother was the noted patriot and lawyer James Otis, who is credited with the quote "taxation without representation is tyranny", the principal slogan of the American Revolution.

She wrote:

"I have my fears. Yet, notwithstanding the complicated difficulties that arise before us, there is no receding; and I should blush if in any instance the week passions of my sex damp the fortitude, the patriotism, and the manly resolve of yours. May nothing ever check that glorious spirit of freedom which inspires the patriots in the cabinet, and the hero in the field, with the courage to maintain their righteous cause, and to endeavor to transmit the claim to posterity, even if they must seal the rich conveyance to their children with their own blood."

I agree with Hall when she said (paraphrased), 'We don't do this for us. We certainly don't do this for the millions out there who obviously have no intent to think for themselves. We do this for liberty. We do this for our children.'

This reasoning is why our founders were able to pledge life and fortune and sacred honor for a generation that they would never know. They believed in their hearts and in their souls that without liberty, life was not worth living. Mercy said, "we will stand against tyranny today, or our children will bow tomorrow." How can we, have any less resolve? How can we even consider wavering in our stand, much less quitting altogether? What an insult to our framers.

As Andrew Breitbart preached, this is a war. It’s a never-ending, constant struggle for the hearts and minds of our fellow man - and it is not over with a single battle.

Now is not the time to give up… now is the time to lead. Are you ready to do so?

2012 Election Reflections Part 2: what went right

Yesterday I covered Part 1, What Went Wrong, of my three-part speech to the Fallen Timbers Republican Club. Today is Part 2: what went right. Tomorrow is Part 3: Where do we go from here?


On a national level, Michelle Malkin had a great list of things that went right for Republicans and conservatives on election. There's no need to re-invent the wheel, so here are a few of the items she listed:

1) Republicans retained control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
2) Voters in Alabama, Montana, and Wyoming all passed measures limiting Obamacare.
3) Tea Party candidate Ted Cruz, one of the conservative movement’s brightest rising stars, overcame establishment GOP opposition to clinch a U.S. Senate victory in Texas.
4) Despite entrenched teachers’ union opposition, a charter school initiative in Washington state triumphed.
5) Despite entrenched Big Labor support, a radical collective bargaining power grab in Michigan failed.
6) North Carolina Republicans claimed the governor’s office, congressional gains, and control of the state’s general assembly.
7) Paul Ryan will return to Congress after winning re-election and continue to carry the torch for entitlement reform and budget discipline.
8) Across the country, Republicans reached a post-2000 record number of gubernatorial victories. In fact, we now hold 60% of state governorships.

Another important things to note is that Obama got fewer votes than he did in 2008 (as of the time of the speech). We should also be aware that the ‘obstructionist’ House of Representatives is still in Republican control, even after opposing Obamacare, tax hikes and additional spending. This is a major win and it carries a message that even if Americans want Obama to remain president, they still want Republicans to oppose many of the terrible ideas Obama has put forth.

And, as Malkin wrote, "Conservatives who were devastated by the national election results demonstrated how to lose with dignity and grace."

In Ohio, State Issue 2 was defeated and we maintained control of state government.

LOCALLY:

1) TPS new levy failed – though they have another levy due for renewal next year and they may do what many did this year which is make it a renewal and an additional tax at the same time. But it only lost by 4,241 votes - not as much as it should have.

2) Toledo Parks and Recreation levy failed – not so much due to any organized opposition or understanding of the financial implications but primarily because Mike Bell gave pay raises to his administrators. The margin was 8,500 votes.

3) Imagination Station – after being voted down 3 times, they finally succeeded in getting a levy passed. This was a straight renewal and it lost by 2,075 votes – though they hope that provisional and late absentee ballots will make up the difference.

4) The Northwest Ohio Conservative Coalition took a strong stand and opposed the seven levies on the Toledo ballot. They also had significant wins in terms of equal access, setting the stage for the future. You can read the details here and here.

5) Individuals were the big winners – they took the initiative and didn’t rely upon the party to lead. They've moved from protesters to activists and that bodes well for our future and represents the truest demonstration of our conservative ideals.

Next: Part 3: Where do we go from here?

Where do we go from here?

Where do we go from here? That's the question I'll address tonight when I speak at the monthly meeting of the Fallen Timbers Republican Club.

I'll review what went right, what went wrong and what we need to do in the future - as conservatives who believe in the basic principles of the Republican Party. (Note that I'm talking about our party's principles - not the votes, comments and positions of party leaders and elected officials with an R designation after their name.)

We'll start with the national picture and end up on the local level.

Here are the details:

7:00 PM
Browning Masonic Community
8883 Browning Dr # 79
Waterville, OH 43566

If you can't make the meeting, I'll post comments here tomorrow.

Election Watch and election night reporting

The Franklin Center and WatchdogWire are teaming up to provide election day coverage from around the nation.

Tony Katz is hosting with a live stream beginning at noon and regular coverage starting at 6 p.m.

I'll be on at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. (eastern) to give updates on how things are going in Ohio - and maybe later in the evening as well, depending on the results.

You can watch it live here:

Election coverage and NO on all levies

I'll be participating in some upcoming election coverage and wanted to let you know, so you can - hopefully - tune in and join us.

First, today at 4 p.m. Eastern I'll join my friend and fellow blogger, Duane Lester (All American Blogger) for a discussion on Ohio on Liberty News Live.

Tomorrow, I'll be joining my friend and radio host Tony Katz for Citizen Watchdog live coverage of election day activities across the nation. But it isn't just a bunch of people talking at you:

Instead of being talked at, we invite you to join the conversation, along with thousands of citizens just like you. Your participation, tips, and insights will help with the analysis. You can tweet at us at @WatchdogWire, use the hash tag #ElectionWatch, send us an e-mail at CitizenWatchdog@franklincenterhq.org or participate in our live-chat function.

Our host, Tony Katz, will interview the following experts live:

• Michelle Malkin, Political commentator and author
• Dana Loesch, Talk radio host
• Jason Stverak, Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity
• Dean Clancy, FreedomWorks
• Jennifer Stefano, AFP State Director and FOX News Commentator

So don’t feel stuck with MSM election coverage. Watch with your fellow citizens starting at 6 pm ET and get the latest breaking news from around the country in real time -- no delays, no filters!

Register here to participate: http://webinars.watchdogwire.com/

Lastly, in case you've not yet decided how you will vote on any of the levy issues, please read this and remember your friends and neighbors who are out of work, on food stamps, having trouble paying their mortgages or, heaven forbid, already in foreclosure.

The five county-wide and two City of Toledo levies will suck $54.6 million out of the wallets of residents - $45.3 million of it NEW taxation.

Will your parents or grandparents who are retired and on fixed incomes end up having to choose between paying these additional taxes or paying for their medicines? A $300 a year increase in taxation (for a $100,000 home) has to be taken from somewhere - what will they choose to give up so they don't lose their home?

Because these are property taxes, the inability to pay these new taxes will result in the loss of a home. Are any of these 'quality of life' levies really worth a family losing their home over?

And do any of them really deserve a 45%, 67% or even an 85% increase? Did YOU get that kind of increase this year?

Just say NO.

Gas Can Man coming back to Toledo Monday 7 a.m.

Gas Can Man is coming back to Toledo Monday morning at 7 a.m. to roll back the price of gasoline for 100 Toledo area drivers at the True North Shell Station, 4581 Monroe Street in Toledo.

You'll be able to purchase gas for the price it was when Barack Obama took office in 2009...massive savings, though number of gallons per vehicle may be limited.

For more information, check out www.gascanman.com

4 in union truck charged with receiving stolen property

Early this morning, officers from the Perrysburg Police Department charged four men with receiving stolen property following several reports of missing political yard signs.

Perrysburg is a small town in Wood County just outside of Toledo, Ohio.

The stolen property was a truck bed full of Romney/Ryan yard signs, some measuring as large as 4 ft x 8 ft.

Also in the truck were tools such as drills, which might have been used to take down the large mini-billboard signs. The signs were allegedly removed from several private property and business locations across Lucas and Wood County.

Charged and summoned to appear in court were:

* John Russell, 39, of Eleanor Street, Toledo, Ohio
* Sean A. Bresler, 33, of Capistrano Drive, Toledo, Ohio
* Corey J. Beaubien, 37, of Kelsey, Toledo, Ohio
* Christopher Monaghan, 41, of Oak Street, Rossford, Ohio

The 2010 Ford pickup they were in was registered to the Sheet Metal Workers Local #33 on Corporate Drive in Parma, Ohio.

Interestingly, four individuals in the Toledo area with the exact same names are listed as officers of the Sheet Metal Workers Union, or sheet metal workers.

The website for Local #33 lists a John Russell and Christopher Monaghan as business agents for the Toledo District.

A John Russell is also listed as the Vice President of the Northwest Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, representing Local #33.

A Facebook page for a Corey Beaubien who lives in Toledo identifies himself as a Sheet Metal journeyman since 1999.

A Toledo Blade Log page from 2005 lists a Sean Bresler as a marriage license applicant. That Sean Bresler was listed as being 26 years old at the time - the same age as the one charged - and having an occupation of sheet metal worker.

Now, it is possible that the four men charged are not the same ones identified as union members and officers, but that would have to be a very large coincidence and would not explain how they got access to a truck registered to the Sheet Metal Union Local #33.

Below are screen shots of the references and the police reports.

The sweet deals that fund the Library and TPS levy campaigns

This is the first post taking a look at the sources of campaign funding for various property tax levy requests that are on the Nov. 6th ballot.


I previously documented donations to the 2010 Toledo Public Schools levies (here and here) and found that, unlike my expectations, businesses, not unions, were the major contributors.

Businesses, most of which are vendors of the school system (direct recipients of the tax dollars they seek to raise) and many which will never pay the tax themselves because of where they are located, want you to pay more so they can have access to the additional funds TPS will have to spend.

This year is no different.

Of the $53,196.95 raised and reported on the Committee for Schools pre-general campaign finance report, 60 percent comes from vendors of the school district.

When you think about it, it makes sense. If the school district has more money, it can pay these companies for more things. Unions have donated $12,000 through Oct. 17, the last day of the reporting period.

The largest contributor is the district’s law firm, Marshall & Melhorn, who gave the campaign $10,000. Four attorneys with the firm, including three who have represented TPS, each gave $500. That’s not bad considering that TPS has paid them $243,823.47 through September this year, according to documents on the TPS website.

Other large contributors included ProMedica, Buckeye Telesystems, Rice Securities and Squire Sanders, along with construction firms handling the school building program.

What is missing, so far, is a donation from the Toledo Federation of Teachers, the union representing teachers in the district.

Another interesting fact about the Committee for Schools report is the amount of donations coming from outside the city of Toledo. Nearly 52 percent comes from people who do not have a Toledo address on the campaign finance report.

They’re not going to pay the proposed tax, but they’re helping to pass a levy so others will.

What a deal!

But what about the library?

The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library has a sweet little system set up.

Their pre-general campaign finance report shows they've raised over $200,000 for this levy campaign. Added to the funds they carried over from their last levy, they have over a quarter of a million dollars to spend trying to convince you to give them a 45% raise in their income.

What's the sweet set-up used to raise that money?

They have a non-profit Library Legacy Foundation which lists such donors as the City of Toledo, the City of Maumee and Lucas County, along with individuals and businesses. This non-profit Foundation made a $40,000 donation to the levy committee.

Vendors also contributed, as did a few individuals, but the largest donations came from the individual branch Friends of the Library organizations.

Friends of the Library is a nonprofit organization that encourages, promotes and supports the ongoing development and use of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library. Friends of the Library offer support for:

* Brown Bag Concerts
* Authors! Authors!
* Summer Reading Club Programs
* Local branch activities
* Levy Campaigns

Each branch has their own group and they raise money for the organizations through memberships and book sales.

Since they're non-profits, their financials are not public records available for inspection, but they must be doing well for them to contribute $104,000 to the levy campaign.

Sanger Branch FOL donated a whopping $30,000. Kent Branch made two donations of $600 each, but the second $600 check had to be returned due to insufficient funds.

This means that the Kent Branch FOL zeroed out their account to help raise your taxes, instead of saving that money for local branch activities and their summer reading club.

Many people belong to the Friends of the Library chapters because they believe it's a way to help supplement the individual branch activities and provide funds - above and beyond the public funding the library gets - for library purposes. Do you think every FOL member realizes that their contributions are used to help raise their property tax bill?

I would love to compare the amount of money spent on the levy versus the amount of money spent on actual services or items for the branches, but since these are non-profits, their books are not public records.

That's not all. Online purchases also go to support raising your taxes. The library transferred $50,000 from an "Internet Sales Account" to the levy campaign.

All together, 93% of the money raised for this levy came from the non-profit organizations established by the library.

I can't help but wonder: Why don't they use that money and their fundraising techniques for the library instead of for a levy campaign? If they did, maybe they wouldn't need a 45% increase in income.



Tomorrow: Imagination Station and Toledo Parks and Recreation levies

Dana considering layoffs as Obamacare costs mount

Dana Holding Corp., recently announced their third quarter results, reporting a 12% decrease in sales and net income of $56 million, compared to with $110 million for the same period in 2011.

The global auto parts manufacturer properly characterized their earnings as solid, and several media outlets covered the details.

Most of the news reports also mentioned the letter President and CEO Roger Wood sent to employees that called for continued vigilance in light of falling commercial vehicle demand in North America and continued economic uncertainty.

The uncertain global economic environment continues to put pressure on production in Europe, China, and Brazil. In North America, as evidenced not only by our earnings release, but by many other companies as well, there is a looming concern in the economy. The threats of a fiscal cliff, along with increasing taxes on small businesses, are holding down job creation and optimism for growth in the United States. These economic factors affect Dana in that we must always be sure that we are keeping our costs in line with our revenue changes.

But that's where most media coverage stopped. The next paragraph in the letter told the real story:

We must also offset increased costs that are placed on us through new laws and regulations. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” is expected to cost Dana approximately $24 million over the next six years in additional U.S. health care expenses. This is a cost that our customers are not willing to cover, mandating that we reduce our overhead expenses to cover them.

Yes, you read that correctly: $24 million over the next six years. And they can't pass that along to their customers, so they have to reduce their overhead.

That means layoffs, because there's really no other way for a company to cover that much expense, especially in a recession.

In June, Dana employed 25,500 in 47 countries. By September, they'd shed 1,000 jobs, some of them from planned actions like their divestiture of their Fredericktown, Ohio, facility; the planned closures of their Longview, Texas, and Toledo, Ohio, facilities; and the consolidation of their Rochester Hills, Mich., and Milwaukee, Wisc., plants into other facilities.

But last Friday they laid off seven white collar staff at corporate offices here in the Toledo area. I've been told by company insiders that more are being considered.

So while President Barack Obama is campaigning on his auto bailout and the jobs it supposedly saved, his Affordable Care Act - Obamacare - is going to cost jobs ... in that same automotive industry.

Dana may be able to survive the increased costs of "affordable" care, but not without consequences for some of their employees. Other small businesses and their workers won't be so lucky.

Where will the jobs be then?


***Dana is a world-leading supplier of driveline, sealing, and thermal-management technologies that improve the efficiency and performance of passenger, commercial, and off-highway vehicles with both conventional and alternative-energy powertrains. The company's global network of engineering, manufacturing, and distribution facilities provides original-equipment and aftermarket customers with local product and service support. Based in Maumee, Ohio, Dana employs approximately 24,500 people in 27 countries and reported 2011 sales of $7.6 billion. For more information, please visit www.dana.com.

Here is the full text of the letter, confirmed as accurate and complete by Dana:

October 26, 2012

Dear colleague:

Today we announced earnings for the third quarter of 2012, and I want to thank all of you for your hard work in achieving solid results. We have seen volatility throughout the entire year, but in the third quarter we saw a rapid softening of demand in some of our key markets. Most significant was the decline in our North American commercial vehicle market, where production rates are now below those of last year.

Looking forward we see opportunity, and also continued headwinds. The uncertain global economic environment continues to put pressure on production in Europe, China, and Brazil. In North America, as evidenced not only by our earnings release, but by many other companies as well, there is a looming concern in the economy. The threats of a fiscal cliff, along with increasing taxes on small businesses, are holding down job creation and optimism for growth in the United States. These economic factors affect Dana in that we must always be sure that we are keeping our costs in line with our revenue changes.

We must also offset increased costs that are placed on us through new laws and regulations. For example, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as “Obamacare,” is expected to cost Dana approximately $24 million over the next six years in additional U.S. health care expenses. This is a cost that our customers are not willing to cover, mandating that we reduce our overhead expenses to cover them. On a positive note, we have made the decision to increase the investment in our global engineering spending to facilitate our growth plan. And we are committed to not allowing this increase to become an excuse for the earnings performance of our company. These challenges require all of us to be innovative and focused to meet the increased cost burdens with creative ways to accomplish our current performance expectations and future growth objectives.

To counter some of the challenges ahead, we have and are taking aggressive steps to manage costs in each and every aspect of the business. These actions include reducing material costs, taking the complexity out of our products and processes, and reducing our conversion and overhead costs. It is most difficult when our colleagues are affected, but we must take action now, with the outlook as we see it, to ensure that we are competitive in the future.

When I joined Dana 18 months ago, I saw the great potential of this company to move from a survival mode story to a profitable growth trajectory. We have made great strides in our vision to become the global technology leader in efficient power conveyance and energy management solutions. We are on our way to this vision, with a solid plan in place to get there. Working together as One Dana, we are becoming a lean, efficient, results-driven organization with a renewed sense of urgency. We are also investing in technology that supports our growth strategy.

This new Dana requires all of our ongoing diligence in reducing cost and complexity, which is essential to fueling our growth and mitigating mandated costs. Even amid volatile market conditions and increased cost mandates that are placed on our business, I am confident that continued discipline and flexibility will help Dana to remain strong. Consistent with our culture and operating model, I encourage each of you to bring forward your ideas to improve efficiency, eliminate waste, and move us forward.

Thank you for your cooperation, and I look forward to working with you as we meet these challenges together.

Sincerely,

Roger J. Wood
President and CEO

Just say NO to property tax levies - all of them!

Did you - or anyone you know - get an 85% increase in income this year?

How about a 67% increase? No?

Well, what about a paltry 45% increase?

I didn't think so. So why should public agencies?

Those are the percentage increases for three levies on the ballot November 6th.

The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library has a 2.0 mill levy and they want to renew that and add .9 mills. That's a 45% increase in income they're asking for - out of your pockets.

By the way - the Library's 2 mill levy gives them as much money as the county gets in property taxes. Got that? The library is already getting the same amount as county government and they want more - and they want this amount of funding each year for the next five years.

The Mental Health and Recovery Services board is asking for a new 1 mill levy. They already have a 1.5 mill levy so this is a second levy and it represents a 67% increase in income for them - coming from your wallet. This is a 10-year levy, so you wouldn't have a chance to modify it for a decade.

Children Services Board is the worst. They have a 1 mill levy and they want to increase it to 1.85 mills - an 85% increase. This is their second levy. They have a 1.4 mill levy that voters approved last year. Oh - and did you know they have $13,411,696 in their reserve fund???

Yep...sitting on millions and they want you to vote to give them 85% more than they're already getting from this levy. In this economy, that's shameful.

The MetroParks isn't any better. They are asking for a new .9 mill levy that would be in place for 10 years. Ten years ago, they asked for a .3 mill levy to purchase additional property. Voters gave them that levy, but many who opposed it, including me, said it would only lead to requests for even more money in the future because any new land purchased would need to be maintained and turned into parkland.

No, we were told, that wouldn't happen. They lied because here they are, asking for a new .9 mill operating levy to - you guessed it - pay for the administration of all the new land they now have.

Of course, these levies are only asking for 'pennies a day' compared to the City of Toledo and Toledo Public Schools, who want to add brand new levies to their income.

The city wants a 1 mill levy to fund Parks and Recreation, because they just don't have enough money and so all of you, who also don't have enough money, must pay more.

Remember back in the spring when council voted to install additional red-light and speed cameras? Do you also remember that the projected $320,000 revenue from those cameras was supposed to go to parks? You don't? Well, it's true.

But when council voted to put the levy on the ballot, no one even raised the point or questioned what happened to all that revenue money. No - they just want more, trying to justify a new tax on the poor and middle class as somehow being in our best interest because it will reduce youth violence, increase our quality of life and help our seniors. Oh - and it's "for the children."

Wouldn't your quality of life be better if you could actually keep the money you earn instead of being forced, by majority rule, to turn it over to government?

Besides, if the city has a $900,000 carryover and the mayor can afford to give raises totaling $295,000 a year (without counting pensions, taxes, etc...), do they really need a new levy that will be in place for a decade - or longer if the temporary 3/4% income tax is any example?

Then there is the TPS levy - a brand new 4.9 mill, 10-year levy. Where should I begin on that?

Let's start with reminding you that they already collect 64.39 mills!

I could remind you about their atrocious audit that no one in the main stream media covered. They were cited for 18 instances of material weaknesses, significant deficiencies, non-compliance and a finding for recovery.

Their management letter was even worse with citations for spending money without appropriating it and for appropriating money without first verifying they had any to appropriate. They failed to keep proper inventories not just of district property but of property purchased with grand funds. They also failed to follow their own reimbursement policies and reimbursed monies they shouldn't have - and without receipts. In fact, the management letter was so bad that it took me two blog posts to cover it! (you can see them here and here)

They could have done a performance audit before asking for more money, but they didn't. Other schools in the state (and many governmental jurisdictions) have found millions of yearly savings by doing performance audits. But not TPS. In August, they said there were pursuing it and an announcement would be made soon. However, emails to various board members asking for an update on their progress toward a performance audit have gone unanswered.

And in the midst of all of this, their school report card went down - with Pickett Elementary entering its 13th year in academic emergency. Every citizen should be outraged about Pickett!

Besides, with an $11.22 million carryover, they don't even need a levy this year. They could have removed the levy from the ballot, done the performance audit and, after implementing the recommendations, re-evaluated their financial needs and, if still necessary, asked for a levy then.

Instead, TPS wants a cushion so they don't have to cut their spending. Well, I'd like a cushion, too. Wouldn't you? Instead, you're looking at a giving TPS another $13.3 million a year for the next 10 years.

Imagination Station "is only" asking for renewal of their existing .17 mill levy. Voters rejected them three times and then their levy passed. A non-profit entity shouldn't be on the public dole, no matter how 'valuable' you think they are. They should be self-supporting - not taking money out of your pocket, preventing you from spending those dollars on your priorities.

These seven levies represent an increase of $45.3 million in taxation. All totaled, they take $54.6 million out of the pockets of residents.

And don't forget, money going to government really isn't economic growth, no matter what anyone tells you.

The worst part is that these are property taxes, which means that if you don't pay them, you can lose your home. With our high unemployment, continuing foreclosures and general economic malaise, can we really afford to tell friends, family and neighbors that they need to pay $45.3 million more???

As many Lucas County township elected officials recently asked:

“Is (any) levy so important that someone should lose their home if they cannot afford to pay it?”

None of these levies even remotely qualify.

This is not to say that they aren't good organizations doing good things. And opposition to increasing the amount of money they get doesn't mean you hate kids, hate the mentally ill, are racist, unkind, greedy, stingy, uncaring, etc... etc... etc... It just means you want them to live within their current means - just like you do.

Besides, if you really want to support the levies, there's nothing preventing you from going to the Auditor's AREIS website, looking up your own property and, under the data column, checking how much you'd pay if the levies passed and then writing a check to the organizations for that amount. Nope - nothing in the world. In fact, it's probably a better way to go.

But I bet you won't.

And that alone is another reason to vote NO on

* Issue 5 Toledo Parks and Recreation
* Issue 20 Toledo Public Schools
* Issue 21 MetroParks
* Issue 23 Library
* Issue 24 Mental Health & Recovery Services
* Issue 25 Children Services Board
* Issue 26 Imagination Station

Confusing reporting or backtracking on outsourcing Jeeps?

Fiat, the majority owner of bailed-out Chrysler, told Bloomberg that they were going to re-start production of Jeeps in China and perhaps move all Jeep production to that nation.

Here is the actual quote from Mike Manley, chief operating officer of Fiat and Chrysler in Asia (emphasis added):

“The volume opportunity for us is very significant,” Manley, who is also president of the Jeep brand, said in an interview at Chrysler’s Auburn Hills, Michigan, headquarters. “We’re reviewing the opportunities within existing capacity” as well as “should we be localizing the entire Jeep portfolio or some of the Jeep portfolio.”

I read the Bloomberg article and thought they were saying they were considering moving "the entire Jeep portfolio" to China, and reported that here on this blog.

To be clear, I didn't think that meant they would idle all the assembly lines and the U.S. work force; my point wasn't about the loss of jobs, but the loss of the Jeep brand being 'made in America' and the campaign implications if the iconic Jeep was outsourced to China.

Apparently, that's not at all what they intended and they're now 'clarifying' after Mitt Romney mentioned the article in a speech in Defiance last night. The Detroit News reports:

The Bloomberg story, though accurate, "has given birth to a number of stories making readers believe that Chrysler plans to shift all Jeep production to China from North America, and therefore idle assembly lines and U.S. work force. It is a leap that would be difficult even for professional circus acrobats," Chrysler spokesman Gualberto Ranieri said.

"Let's set the record straight: Jeep has no intention of shifting production of its Jeep models out of North America to China. It's simply reviewing the opportunities to return Jeep output to China for the world's largest auto market. U.S. Jeep assembly lines will continue to stay in operation."

The Bloomberg story, however, sparked the confusion in the first paragraph of the story, saying Chrysler planned to return Jeep output to China "and may eventually make all of its models in that country."

This may be a simple case of confusing reporting, but my distrust in this administration is so great that I couldn't help but wonder if someone didn't make a phone call to Chrysler to say 'hey - that's gonna hurt; make it go away.'

Jeep moving to China?

"Jeep, an Obama favorite, looks to shift production to China"

That's the Washington Examiner headline on a story that details the possibility that taxpayer bailed-out Chrysler might shift production of all Jeeps to China.

Yes, the iconic Jeep, symbol of Toledo, saying "Made in China" ...

So much for saving the auto industry in Ohio.

What possible comment could President Obama have if his campaign poster child outsources production to China???

Is this the push that moves Ohio out of 'toss-up' and into the Romney column?

The article says:

In another potential blow for the president's Ohio reelection campaign, Jeep, the rugged brand President Obama once said symbolized American freedom, is considering giving up on the United States and shifting production to China.

Such a move would crash the economy in towns like Toledo, Ohio, where Jeeps are made and supplied, and rob the community of the economic security they thought Obama's auto bailout assured them.

Obama is such a fan of Jeep that he included a picture of himself speaking at the Toledo plant in his newly released second term agenda binder. In his address to the plant in 2011, Obama said, "I just took a short tour of the plant and watched some of you putting the finishing touches on the Wrangler. Now, as somebody reminded, I need to call it the 'iconic' Wrangler. And that's appropriate because when you think about what Wrangler has always symbolized. It symbolized freedom, adventure, hitting the open road, never looking back."

Well it appears that the taxpayer bailed-out Chrysler is looking back and now considering cutting costs by shifting production of all Jeeps to China, which has a strong desire for Jeeps.

Read more...

TPS's Pickett Elementary: I'm outraged and you should be too

For years, I've been angry about Pickett Elementary being in academic emergency. Now I'm OUTRAGED and I want to know - why aren't YOU!?!

First, let's get some facts out of the way. I'm a proud graduate of Woodward High School, Point Place Junior High (no longer in existence) and Edgewater Elementary.

I had terrific teachers, caring and competent administrators and I believe I received a good education. It wasn't the best in the world, as I found when I started college and realized that many of my classmates were ahead in their learning, but it was good and it taught me not just facts and figures, but "how" to learn. And that has served me well throughout my life so far.

So this is not a criticism of public schools, but of a public school system that so completely and totally fails in its mission to educate kids.

Back to Pickett...

Here is a link to their 2010-2011 school report card, the most recent available at the Ohio Department of Education website.

It shows some very scary statistics, especially when you consider we're talking about children.

For instance, the 4th and 5th grade scores actually decreased in both reading and math compared to the 2009-10 school year.

And this is despite paying Susan Koester, principal, $87,893.00 - the 11th highest paid employee in the entire school district!

Under the No Child Left Behind Act, passed in 2001, there were supposed to be consequences when schools did not meet the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards, as Wikipedia explains:

* Schools that miss AYP for a second consecutive year are publicly labeled as being "in need of improvement" and are required to develop a two-year improvement plan for the subject that the school is not teaching well. Students are given the option to transfer to a better school within the school district, if any exists.
* Missing AYP in the third year forces the school to offer free tutoring and other supplemental education services to struggling students.
* If a school misses its AYP target for a fourth consecutive year, the school is labelled as requiring "corrective action," which might involve wholesale replacement of staff, introduction of a new curriculum, or extending the amount of time students spend in class.
* A fifth year of failure results in planning to restructure the entire school; the plan is implemented if the school fails to hit its AYP targets for the sixth year in a row. Common options include closing the school, turning the school into a charter school, hiring a private company to run the school, or asking the state office of education to run the school directly.

Koester was part of the replacement of the staff required under NCLB, rather than the other options of reopening as a charter school, contracting with someone else to run the school, or allowing the state to take over.

But note that this wholesale change should have happened after four years of failing to meet AYP.

The Toledo Public School Board waiting until eight years had passed before they made this change!

Eight years!

So Koester took over in the 2008-09 school year and while the school did meet the AYP 'participation' indicators, they did not meet their 'proficiency' indicators.

Basically, they got credit for showing up.

Here's what she had to say just before she started in her position as principal:

"I'm tired of people saying it can't be done," said Susan Koester, Pickett's new principal, who sought the job. "Wherever they are when they come here, we're going to get them where they need to be."

Apparently not.

In most of the tested categories, reading and math for third, fourth and fifth grades, only 1/3 of the students are testing proficient.

One-third!

In the 2010-11 tests, 59.6% of third graders managed to score proficient in math. That's great for the individual student, but that's still a failing grade overall. At least, it was when I was in school where a 60% was definitely an F.

The preliminary data for the 2011-12 is no better.

It shows that Picket AGAIN! failed to meet AYP and met zero of the performance indicators.

That's right: zero, zilch, nada!

This is not just unbelievable - it's a tragedy and a disgrace!

Are you outraged yet???

Somewhere along the way, the name of the school was changed to Pickett Academy and Koester is out and Martha Jude is in. The school has also been included in the new United Way Community Hub initiative.

The hub concept bring together multiple types of services - not just for kids - at the schools, including such things as

* Activities before and after school
* Tutoring and mentoring
* Medical, dental, and mental health services
* College-prep, GED, and adult education
* Free tax preparation
* Budgeting and saving classes
* Employment and housing resources

depending on the needs and desires of the community.

But is this enough to help the current students achieve success?

And what about the last 12 years of kids they've sent on to Scott High School, which only met the performance indicators in four of 10 tested areas (reading and writing in the 10th and 11th grade Ohio Graduation Test) in the 2010-11 school year.

For 2011-12, Jesup W. Scott High School met zero performance indicators and failed to meet Adequate Yearly Progress.

It's no wonder when the high school is getting kids from Pickett!

To it's credit, the Toledo Federation of Teachers had offered to try a new type of education plan at Pickett. It would have been a teacher-led school, but the board had to reject it because there wouldn't have been a principal in the school structure and that would have violated the contract TPS has with the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel, the union representing principals. (And why do the principals even need a union?!?)

I have no idea if it would have worked or not, but it seems like a pretty lame excuse to let kids continue to fail. (Tell me again how politicians and unions are all about helping the kids and not themselves?)

This is not the fault of the kids. And it's probably not entirely the fault of the teachers and parents, though I'm sure there is some blame for them to share.

This is the fault of the system, the administration, the unions, and the elected school board members, all five of whom are Democrats.

It's also the fault of people like our Toledo City Council and the editorial board at The Blade who continually push school levies, including the new 4.9 mill, 10-year levy that is on the November ballot, in spite of the gross and sickening failure of Pickett to actually provide an education to an entire generation of kids.

And yes, the community bears some blame as well for allowing this to continue.

Well, you have a chance on November 6th to make a difference. Tell TPS 'NO' on their levy request. Tell them you want to see significant improvement at Pickett and all the other schools before they get any more money.

In this case, it really is 'for the children.'

Husted sets early voting hours for 3 days before election

In light of the Supreme Court's rejection of his early voting appeal, Secretary of State Jon Husted has issued a directive to all Ohio Boards of Election setting uniform early voting hours for the weekend before the Nov. 6th election.

The hours are:

* Saturday, November 3, 2012 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

* Sunday, November 4, 2012 – 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m

* Monday, November 5, 2012 – 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Had he not issued the directive, boards of elections would have been able to set their own hours, resulting in no uniformity across the state.

The director also reminds boards that "any voter in line when that day’s hours for in-person absentee voting ends, may remain in line to apply for and receive an absentee ballot in person."

BREAKING: US Supreme Court rejects Husted appeal on early voting weekend hours

Gongwer Ohio is reporting that the U.S. Supreme Court has rejected Secretary of State Jon Husted's request for stay of a decision regarding in-person voting during the three days before the Nov. 6th election.

The decision means that individual county boards of elections will be able to decide whether or not to open early vote centers those days.

This also means that there could be no uniformity of voting hours in Ohio if individual boards decide make different decisions regarding those hours of operation.

The decision of some counties to open their early vote centers while others were closed those three days is part of what sparked the lawsuit in the first place. Democrats claimed that Republican-leaning county BOEs voted to be open while Democratic-leaning counties were not. Obama for America, the National Democratic Party and the Ohio Democratic Party filed the suit against Husted.

Looks like we're back where we started....

Hey Ohio, Obama IS waging a war on coal; billboard campaign begins

Yes, the President, his administration, his bureaucrats and his party are all waging a war on coal, as these new billboards demonstrate.

These words, from Barack Obama, V.P. Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu prove it - no matter what Sen. Sherrod Brown claims.

“There is no war on coal. Period,” Brown said during a debate Monday with Republican rival Josh Mandel sponsored by the City Club of Cleveland, the first of three scheduled over the next two weeks.

I can't help but wonder what Brown has been smoking to make such a claim! Or is he just that stupid? Perhaps he's just that partisan!

I'm sure he'd rather ignore the comments and pleas of Ohio coal miners who Friday called on Pres. Obama to stop his false ads about them and the war on coal. You, know, the same miners who, in this video, called Brown a "job killer."

Here is the Press Release from the Ohio Coal Association:

Coalition Launches Billboard Campaign in Ohio After Biden, Obama, Chu Comments

COLUMBUS - The Ohio Coal Association joined today with four other state coal associations to launch a billboard campaign highlighting the anti-coal positions of the Obama Administration. These billboards contain actual quotes from Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Energy Stephen Chu regarding their disdain for American coal.

“The Ohio Coal Association wants people in the Buckeye State to know the truth about President Obama and his war on coal, which is undermining low-cost electricity and destroying tens of thousands of jobs.” said Mike Carey, Chair of the Ohio Coal Association.

“This billboard initiative is supported by the state coal associations of Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania,and West Virginia, and is funded by the Ohio Coal Association. These coal-producing states have felt firsthand the economic damage that this Administration has caused. It is time to stand up and stop the war on coal."

Images of the three billboards can be found by visiting www.ohiocoal.com and below.

Coal miners fight back against Obama lies

President Barack Obama has earned the wrath of Ohio coal miners who don't like it when his campaign lies about them.

I count at least 100 miners in this video, but the spokesman said more would have been present if not for the fact that they were still (for the time being) working.

Watch the entire thing...it's worth it!

Difference between Rs and Ds on charity in 4 lines

The striking difference between Republicans and Democrats (or conservatives and liberals, if you prefer) when it comes to charity was on display last night in the Vice Presidential debate between V.P. Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan.

As the discussion on unemployment, jobs and the economy progressed, Biden brought up the 47% comment Romney made at a fundraising event.

In response, Ryan tells a touching story about Mitt Romney designed to show Romney's compassion, kindness and how he lives the principles of his faith in caring for others. It is also a perfect set-up for Ryan's zinger on the 47% comment.

Here is the transcript:

RYAN: He talks about Detroit. Mitt Romney’s a car guy. They keep misquoting him, but let me tell you about the Mitt Romney I know. This is a guy who I was talking to a family in Northbourough, Massachusetts the other day, Sheryl and Mark Nixon. Their kids were hit in a car crash, four of them. Two of them, Rob and Reed, were paralyzed. The Romneys didn’t know them. They went to the same church; they never met before.

Mitt asked if he could come over on Christmas. He brought his boys, his wife, and gifts. Later on, he said, “I know you’re struggling, Mark. Don’t worry about their college. I’ll pay for it.”

When Mark told me this story, because, you know what, Mitt Romney doesn’t tell these stories. The Nixons told this story. When he told me this story, he said it wasn’t the help, the cash help. It’s that he gave his time, and he has consistently.

This is a man who gave 30% of his income to charity, more than the two of us combined. Mitt Romney’s a good man. He cares about 100% of Americans in this country. And with respect to that quote, I think the vice president very well knows that sometimes the words don’t come out of your mouth the right way.

(LAUGHTER)

Biden's response:

BIDEN: The idea — if you heard that — that little soliloquy on 47% and you think he just made a mistake, then I think you’re — I — I think — I got a bridge to sell you.

Look, I don’t doubt his personal generosity. And I understand what it’s like. When I was a little younger than the congressman, my wife was in an accident, killed my daughter and my wife, and my two sons survived. I have sat in the homes of many people who’ve gone through what I get through, because the one thing you can give people solace is to know if they know you’ve been through it, that they can make it. So I don’t doubt his personal commitment to individuals. But you know what? I know he had no commitment to the automobile industry. He just — he said, let it go bankrupt, period. Let it drop out. All this talk — we saved a million jobs. Two hundred thousand people are working today.

And I’ve never met two guys who’re more down on America across the board. We’re told everything’s going bad. There are 5.2 million new jobs, private-sector jobs. We need more, but 5.2 million — if they’d get out of the way, if they’d get out of the way and let us pass the tax cut for the middle class, make it permanent, if they get out of the way and pass the — pass the jobs bill, if they get out of the way and let us allow 14 million people who are struggling to stay in their homes because their mortgages are upside down, but they never missed a mortgage payment, just get out of the way.

Stop talking about how you care about people. Show me something. Show me a policy. Show me a policy where you take responsibility.

There was some more and GM did go bankrupt, but never mind that fact...

It is the last four sentences that really struck me and it perfectly epitomizes the difference between the parties and their two philosophical positions.

Stop talking about how you care about people. Show me something. Show me a policy. Show me a policy where you take responsibility.

Biden thinks that charity should be a government policy.

He also thinks charity should be seen, preferably in a law or bill.

He obviously believes that something you do individually should be transported into government doing it too - or instead. He seems to be saying that unless you make your personal commitment to charity (or caring for others) into a government policy, it doesn't mean anything.

He's completely wrong, but too many people seem to agree with him.

As I always say when people challenge me and others on government charity, in my Christian faith, Jesus commanded each of us to care for the poor. He didn't tell us to pay taxes so the government could care for the poor instead. He gave the instruction to us as individuals.

And He certainly didn't tell us to force other people to be charitable, which is what results when such thinkers impose taxes on all to pay for the charity they personally believe is needed or desired.

Additionally, Jesus teaches us that our charity is not something to be done in public and bragged about. In Matthew 6: 1-4 He says:

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

This is exactly opposite of what politicians do. They take our money and then brag about all the 'good' they're doing and all the help they're giving to the poor, underserved and needy.

That's not charity.

And people who believe the Democratic position - or advocate it, as some preachers today are doing - are not only abdicating their obligation to care for others, they're expecting you to do the same.

I don't believe God is pleased by this.

Best VP debate question that didn't get answered

I think the best question in last night's Vice President debate came not from the moderator, but from Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican candidate.

Martha Raddatz asked about religion - and the answers included the issue of abortion and contraception.

From the transcript:

RADDATZ: ...We have two Catholic candidates, first time, on a stage such as this. And I would like to ask you both to tell me what role your religion has played in your own personal views on abortion.

Please talk about how you came to that decision. Talk about how your religion played a part in that. And, please, this is such an emotional issue for so many people in this country…

Ryan went first in his answer:

RYAN: I don’t see how a person can separate their public life from their private life or from their faith. Our faith informs us in everything we do. My faith informs me about how to take care of the vulnerable, of how to make sure that people have a chance in life.

RYAN: Now, you want to ask basically why I’m pro-life? It’s not simply because of my Catholic faith. That’s a factor, of course. But it’s also because of reason and science.

Ryan had some more to say, then V.P. Joe Biden answered (my emphasis added):

BIDEN: My religion defines who I am, and I’ve been a practicing Catholic my whole life. And has particularly informed my social doctrine. The Catholic social doctrine talks about taking care of those who — who can’t take care of themselves, people who need help. With regard to — with regard to abortion, I accept my church’s position on abortion as a — what we call a (inaudible) doctrine. Life begins at conception in the church’s judgment. I accept it in my personal life.

But I refuse to impose it on equally devout Christians and Muslims and Jews, and I just refuse to impose that on others, unlike my friend here, the — the congressman. I — I do not believe that we have a right to tell other people that — women they can’t control their body. It’s a decision between them and their doctor. In my view and the Supreme Court, I’m not going to interfere with that. With regard to the assault on the Catholic church, let me make it absolutely clear, no religious institution, Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic Social Services, Georgetown Hospital, Mercy Hospital, any hospital, none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact.

Biden added some more comments and the moderator turned to Ryan to reply. Here is the exchange, which resulted in the best question of the night (my emphasis added):

RYAN: All I’m saying is, if you believe that life begins at conception, that, therefore, doesn’t change the definition of life. That’s a principle. The policy of a Romney administration is to oppose abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.

Now, I’ve got to take issue with the Catholic church and religious liberty.

BIDEN: You have on the issue…

(CROSSTALK)

RYAN: … why would they keep — why would they keep suing you? It’s a distinction without a difference.

Sadly, the moderator, whose objectivity was questioned prior to the debate, did not turn to Bide for a response, but instead moved to the subject of abortion, court cases and a litmus test for judges.

Now, some will disagree with me as to my definition of 'best' but debates are supposed to draw out the positions of the candidates, allow them further explanations as well as provide a chance for direct (but polite) confrontation when they disagree.

This was the perfect question for Ryan to ask - and for Biden to answer - since it presents an opportunity for a statement (religious organizations are not required to "be a vehicle" for contraception) to be challenged and defended, especially in light of what many people understand regarding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and the regulatory mandates imposed under it by the Department of Health and Human Services.

Unfortunately, this perfect opportunity for discussion and explanation was missed - and voters were left without additional insight on the candidates and issue as a result.

Overall, Ryan was not as strong as Mitt Romney was in his first debate with Pres. Barack Obama, but he didn't hurt the ticket in any way in his performance. Biden was better than many expected, but his smirking, laughing and interrupting hurt his performance and the impression he left with the viewers.

My impression: Ryan was calm, articulate, respectful and presented a demeanor that I'd like to see in the person who is a heartbeat away from being the leader of the country. Biden was arrogant, condescending and disrespectful - an attitude that reminds me of what you see in tyrants and dictators across the world.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Biden is a tyrant, but the attitude he displayed is not what most people look for in their elected representatives - unless you're a Democrat, it seems.

SOS appeals Obama v. Husted to U.S. Supreme Court

Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted will appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court a court ruling overturning the ban on in-person early voting during the three days before Election Day.

The case was brought by Obama for America, the Democratic National Committee, and Ohio Democratic Party after Secretary Husted issued a directive closing polling places that weekend in order to ensure uniform voting hours across the state.

Last Friday, a federal appeals court ruled that local election boards have the authority to open their early vote centers during those disputed days if they so desire. But part of the original lawsuit was the lack of uniformity in voting hours with Democrats complaining that their votes were being suppressed because some traditionally Democrat-leaning counties had voted not to be open those days while several Republican-leaning counties voted to have early voting hours those days.

Here is the Press Release:

SECRETARY HUSTED TO APPEAL FEDERAL COURT DECISION TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

Pledges that whatever the outcome, Ohio voting hours will be uniform statewide

COLUMBUS - Secretary of State Jon Husted today announced that he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to make the final determination on whether the General Assembly of the State of Ohio or the federal courts should set Ohio election laws. Husted will be appealing the Friday decision by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Obama v. Husted. Regarding this decision, all of the following may be attributed to Secretary Husted:

"This is an unprecedented intrusion by the federal courts into how states run elections and because of its impact on all 50 states as to who and how elections will be run in America we are asking the Supreme Court to step in and allow Ohioans to run Ohio elections.

"This ruling not only doesn't make legal sense, it doesn't make practical sense. The court is saying that all voters must be treated the same way under Ohio law, but also grants Ohio's 88 elections boards the authority to establish 88 different sets of rules. That means that one county may close down voting for the final weekend while a neighboring county may remain open. How any court could consider this a remedy to an equal protection problem is stunning.

"As a swing state, we in Ohio expect to be held to a high standard and level of scrutiny when it comes to elections. However, it's troubling that the federal courts have failed to recognize that there isn't another state in the union which can claim Ohio's broad menu of voting options and opportunity to vote. In Ohio, ALL voters already have at least 230 hours available to vote in person prior to Election Day, ALL registered voters received an application to vote by mail and ALL voters still have the ability to vote during the 13-hour window on Election Day itself.

"While I will be asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Ohio law through the appeals process, the last thing I want to see is a non-uniform system where voters will be treated differently in all 88 counties.

"Since some boards of elections have already started to take action on hours of operation for the three days before Election Day, I am going to take time to consult with all 88 counties before crafting a directive to set uniform hours should the state not be successful upon appeal."

-30-