Helen Thomas Stays In The Front Row

I was greatly pleased to hear that Helen Thomas is keeping her front row seat at the White House press room.

As a board, we decided to move CNN to the first row. This decision was based on CNN's 27 years of covering The White House, as well as the resources it brings to the in-town and travel pool, and its daily presence at the briefings. In addition, the board agreed to honor a previous commitment by our association to maintain Helen Thomas' seat in the first row. As the dean of the White House press corps, Helen is an institution. First with United Press International and now as a White House columnist for Hearst newspapers, Helen has covered every president since John Kennedy.

As I've mentioned before she was the speaker at my sisters graduation from Ohio University back in 2000 and I consider myself really lucky to have had an opportunity to hear her speak. My only regret is that I was still too young to fully appreciate it (though even at the time I was impressed with her ability to lighten up such a long and boring ceremony).

Source: mediabistro.com: FishbowlDC

My Initial Thoughts On The Delegate Selection Plan

I haven't read through the entire plan yet but I've probably read most of it. I knew next to nothing about how delegates are picked before I read through this and it's done a great job of explaining the process. I'll probably have a lot more to say about it in the coming days but right now I'd just like to share two things that stood out to me.

The plan calls for publication of caucus dates, deadlines, etc... and goes on to list, by category, the places it plans to publish these things. In the "Other Targeted Specialty Publications" category were these two entry's.

BuyckeyeStateBlog.com
AsOhioGoes.com

Sure the spelling might not be great but at least the blogs are represented.

The other thing of interest was the affirmative action goals. I was particularly interested in representation goals among younger Democrats. The goals went as shown.

Affirmative Action Goals

	Percent	Delegates	Alternates	Committees
African Americans	19.32%	32	5	5
Hispanics	2.47%	4	1	1
Asian Pacific Americans	1.46%	3
Native Americans	0.22%
Lesbians & Gay Men	6.16%	10	1	1
Young Democrats		6

Young Democrats are Democrats age 18-35. The goal for Young Democrats applies only to Congressional District Level Delegates.

I'm assuming that this means they would like to have 6 young Democrats as delegates for each candidate at the district level and I guess I'm satisfied with that.

John Kerry Want's FOIA Powers For Bloggers

Back to the question of citizen journalism once again. Should bloggers be able to get a press waiver on fees for Freedom of Information Act requests or should they be required to pay just like every other citizen?

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator John Kerry today announced his support for a legislative initiative designed to assist the freedom of the press. The bill would make the federal Freedom of Information Act more powerful, primarily by making it harder for the Administration to deny or delay the release of information. It does that by requiring that an agency respond to FOIA requests within 20 business days and establishes a publicly available tracking system for requests.

In addition, the legislation would help bloggers, because it would prevent agencies from denying them a waiver on fees just because they are independent or not affiliated with any institutional news organization. In the past, the need to pay fees for FOIA requests discouraged many bloggers or independent journalists from pursuing FOIA requests.

“There is no greater or more important watchdog today than our free press and we should all do everything we can to strengthen the ability of dedicated reporters to do their job,” Kerry said today. “Recent news reports on Walter Reed, the Big Dig, or even the US Attorney firings have reminded us just how important the press’s oversight is to our system of governance. In cases like those, exposure meant the difference between life and death. I am proud to sponsor this bill and look forward to voting on it when it comes before the full Senate.”

Personally I think that FOIA requests should be free anyway. Hasn't the government heard about Google Desktop yet? Yes, I am joking (well kind of).

Source: JohnKerry.com - Blog: JK Supports Strengthened FOIA for Bloggers via MYDD

Ohio Republican Latest To Call For Outing Gonzales

I'm giving Gonzales about 2 weeks at the most. The last thing Republicans want is talk of another scandal.

Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-OH) has become the fourth Republican to call for Alberto Gonzales to resign. Gonzales “has become a lightning rod and has distracted” from the Justice Department’s mission, Gillmor said in a statement.

Source: Think Progress » And then there were four.

Space Seeks To Honor Astronaut

How appropriate, a guy who's last name is Space is introducing legislation to honor the first American in space.

Press Release

Media Contact: Stuart Chapman
202-225-6265

SPACE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION HONORING NEW CONCORD NATIVE JOHN GLENN, JR.’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH ORBIT

Resolution Highlights Former Senator’s Distinguished Achievements in Military, Government, and Space Exploration

March 16, 2007

Washington, DC -- Resolution Highlights Former Senator’s Distinguished Achievements in Military, Government, and Space Exploration -

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Congressman Zack Space (D-OH) has sponsored a House Resolution today honoring America’s foremost space pioneer, the distinguished former Senator John Glenn, Jr. on the 45th anniversary of his historic 1962 orbit of the earth.

“John Glenn is known far and wide in this country, and Ohio’s 18th Congressional District is extremely proud to be home to this great hero,” Space said. “Perhaps no American in the history of our country has enjoyed such military, aviation, and civic achievements. Senator Glenn’s 1962 flight paved the way for our robust space exploration program. In fact, without his efforts, America’s space program would not be the premier program in the world.”

“Glenn represents a generation of men who gave everything for their country and asked for nothing in return. This resolution is the very least we can do to honor this great hero.”

Glenn is a native of New Concord, Ohio, where he attended New Concord High School and later Muskingum College, earning a B.S. in Engineering.

Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Glenn enlisted in the Naval Aviation Cadet Program and was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1943.

On February 20, 1962, Glenn flew the United States Space Program’s first manned space flight, orbiting the earth three times in approximately five hours. The historic flight was a major breakthrough for the United States space program, leading to a series of rapid advancements in space exploration.

Glenn served in the United States Senate from 1974-1999.

Space’s resolution is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of 10 members of the Ohio delegation.

The Senate has passed a similar resolution.

Source: Congressman Zack Space - SPACE INTRODUCES LEGISLATION HONORING NEW CONCORD NATIVE JOHN GLENN, JR.’S 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF EARTH ORBIT

Who Want's To Be A Delegate?

The Ohio Democratic Party has released their preliminary plan to select delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

I've always dreamed of being a delegate since the day I learned what they were (back in '92). It was even the first goal I ever added on 43 Things. I really should at least give it a try, I'm down with O.D.P. (Yeah, you know me).

Seriously though, what's the worst that could happen? Even if I don't make it past the first round I'll still have tried.

Source: ODP Announces '08 Presidential Delegate Selection Plan | Buckeye State Blog

Just What Is A Journalist?

How do you define who is and isn't a journalist? Am I a journalist (Easy answer to this one. No.) ? Is Matt Drudge? Who gets to decide who is and isn't?

Right now there's a court case going on Clermont County that could could answer that last question in Ohio. The case involves a group called Ohioans For Concealed Carry that's seeking to get access to records on who has a concealed carry gun permit. Here come the twist, the OCC actually doesn't want journalists to have access to these records. They claim one of their three main reasons for this request was "an effort to end the journalist loophole either through legislative reform or the courts".

I have several problems with this case. Is it really fair for a decision like this to be based on in part on the arguments of a group that wants to lose? I also don't really view the OCC as a blog. It's much more of a political action committee than it is a source of news.

Read More:

• Clermont County Determining Who's A Journalist | Buckeye State Blog
• Plain Dealer
• Daily Bellwether
• Pho's Akron Pages

Remember This?

Oh yes folks, it's back.

RAB Holds A Caption Contest

The folks a RABid have a caption contest going on right now for this picture.

You know what that picture reminds me of? This...


Which one do you think is worse?

Here's What I Missed

I've been really busy the past few days and it's probably only going to get busier as the temperature goes up (or if the Ohio River floods, it's supposed to crest right below flood stage on Saturday. Thank God I live on a hill, floods are a mess.). Anyway's here's some news from yesterday and today.

Mean Jean Falls in Vomit

It couldn't happen to a nicer person. You have to feel sorry for the pile of vomit though.

Marc Dann Blocks New Century Financial

You're gonna have to read this story because I haven't yet.

Okay, mid-post format change to bulleted list. I really just wanted to make fun of Jean Schmidt, not comment on everything.

• Small tornado causes damage near Cleveland.
• Rep. Paul Gillmore (R-OH) released an email that he claims shows Wal-Mart's plan to open a bank.
• A Nelsonville 13 year old has racked up 128 felony charges. Where are the parents?
• Ted Strickland did the whole State of the State thing and released a budget.

Man am I falling behind. I'll try and kick it up a notch next week.

McCain Madness!

I knew being a member of "Team McCain" would pay off! While most of the other candidates are off talking about health care and such McCain is taking time to share his NCAA bracket with everyone. Worse yet he has Ohio, a crucial swing state, down as losing in the Final Four? Come on. Personally if I were president the choice would be simple, a final between Florida and Ohio that somehow ends in a tie. It doesn't matter if either team even made the playoffs, that's just how it's got to be.

Jokes aside though (and this does call for jokes) I have to admire the technique to draw people to his site.

State of the State Transcript Online

The ODP blog has the full text of the state of the State address up.

Read More: Ohio Democratic Party - 2007 State of the State Address (Full text)

Ohio's Top 10 Employers

Bill over at "The Daily Bellwether" has tracked down the top 10 employers in Ohio. Go take a look, some of them are pretty surprising.

Read More: The Daily Bellwether: Ohio Is Wally's World: Wal-Mart Now State's Largest Employer

New Feature! Rate The Posts

I'm really excited to announce a new feature I've gotten in to a closed beta for a company called SpotBack for a widget allowing a quick and easy way for readers to rate my posts. You'll notice that beneath every post there is a little slide that you can drag to rate the post. That's all you have to do. There's no sign-up required (though the first time you use it there is a captcha that you'll need to enter the letters from that pops up on the page) or no going to another page, it's all taken care of right there.

There's also a box in the sidebar showing the top rated posts.

I invite you all to be as ruthless and honest as possible, you'll only be making me a better blogger.

Bobby Schindler Endorses Brownback

I know what your thinking, who is Bobby Schindler? He's Terri Schiavo's brother. Sure it's not a huge endorsement but the Brownback camp sure seems fired up over it.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
March 12, 2007
Contact: Bryan Sanders (703) 549-3050

Bobby Schindler Endorses Brownback for President
Terri Schiavo's brother thanks Brownback for his efforts to protect all human life

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – U.S. Senator Sam Brownback received an endorsement today from Bobby Schindler, the brother of the late Terri Schiavo. Schiavo died nearly two years ago from starvation and dehydration after a court mandated the removal of her feeding tube, sparking a nationwide bipartisan effort to save her life.

“My family will never forget Sam Brownback’s valiant efforts to save my sister’s life,” said Schindler. “Sam Brownback is the pro-life conservative we can trust to stand for all life, regardless of political calculations.”

This endorsement comes one day after Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stated his opposition to the efforts of Florida Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida legislature to save Terri from her court-ordered starvation and dehydration: "I think it's probably best to leave these kinds of matters in the hands of the courts," Romney said yesterday to Bay News Channel 9 in Florida.

“Mitt Romney’s alleged pro-life conversion evidently does not to apply to all human life,” said Schindler. “The pro-life movement needs a leader we can trust in 2008 and I know Sam Brownback is that leader.”

In 2005, Brownback joined the family of Terri Schiavo to launch the Terri Schindler Schiavo Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the rights of disabled, elderly, and vulnerable citizens against care-rationing, euthanasia, and medical killing.

Brownback commented, "Terri's plight highlighted the core question about the protection of human life: does the dignity with which we treat individuals depend on their physical or mental status as human beings? If a person's dignity depends only on his or her physical status, then life and death decisions about the most vulnerable among us become relative matters to be determined by doctors, judges, lawyers, and legislatures. Once we go down the path of valuing some lives more than others, of saying that people with disabilities don't have the same dignity and right to life as others, there are very few means not justified by the sinister end of a disability-free society. The way a society treats individuals with disabilities is a measure of the greatness of that society."

I have no clue what Terri Schiavo's wishes were but if it was me I'd want to die. People don't just snap out of vegetative states like that often.

My Email Is Down

I can't check my email at the moment as it appears to be down for maintenance. I apologize if I'm not able to respond to comments (I get notification of new comments by email) or emails quickly.

Update (6:16 P.M.): Pop access is back but I still don't seem to be getting everything. I'm also getting 4 or 5 copies of some emails.

FEMA Acts Fast... To Evict

FEMA seems to have learned the wrong lesson from its slow response to Hurricane Katrina. FEMA recently evicted around 58 families living in a FEMA trailer park by telling residents that they had to pack up and move within 48 hours.

HAMMOND, La. - Shortly after noon, FEMA agents began rapping on the trailer doors, their knocks resounding inside the tinny white homes. Everyone in the park, the agents announced without warning, would have to pack and leave within 48 hours.

Source: WP: FEMA quickly empties trailer park - washingtonpost.com Highlights - MSNBC.com

Can Giuliani Win The Conservative Vote? Probably Not Now.

This really should make conservatives flock to Rudy...

"There must be public funding for abortion for poor women."
-- Rudy Giuliani (R), quoted by The Hotline, in a 1989 speech.

Source: Political Wire: Quote of the Day

Edit (1:17 P.M.): Don't believe he said it? Here's the video...

Google Is Getting Fired Up Over Mountaintop Removal

Google has partnered up with Appalachian Voices to show just how damaging the process of mountaintop removal mining really is.

The first time I flew over southern West Virginia and saw mountaintop removal coal mining from the air, I knew that if everyone could see what I had seen—mountain after mountain blown up and then dumped into streams in the neighboring valleys—they would think twice about where their electricity came from the next time they flipped a light switch.

That's why we at Appalachian Voices, and our partner groups, created the National Memorial for the Mountains, using Google Earth to tell the stories of more than 470 mountains that have been lost, as the centerpiece of our website www.iLoveMountains.org. We never imagined that those stories would now be available to over 200 million people as part of the latest release of featured content in Google Earth.

If you have Google Earth (or want to download it) I'd highly recommend checking out this feature (find out how by clicking the source link). Not only do they show you the current state of the mountains but they have image overlays from before the mining started.

I've heard a few horror stories from friends and family in southern West Virginia caused by mountaintop removal. There are all sorts of side-effects to this type of mining that really don't make it worthwhile.

Source: Official Google Blog: A bird's eye view of mountaintop destruction with Google Earth

The Statehouse Goes Modern

The Statehouse is getting an upgrade in an effort to increase tourism.

COLUMBUS (AP) - A new plan to increase tourism at the Ohio Statehouse calls for interactive multimedia presentations to replace some of the more traditional and static behind-glass exhibits.

The board responsible for overseeing tours at the 146-year-old Statehouse is expected to reveal details of a $1 million plan on Tuesday. The money was raised with private donations.

The updated, high-tech approach to displaying historical items is part of a trend at museums nationwide, and planners say it will increase the Statehouse's appeal to visitors.

The idea is to make the Statehouse a special place for generations to come, said Gregg Dodd, spokesman for the Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board.

I've never toured the Statehouse before, maybe I should do that this summer.

Source: Times Recorder - www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com - Zanesville, OH

79% of Government Not Ready For Online FOIA

A 1996 expansion (E-FOIA) to the Freedom of Information Act that calls for government agency's to post records online has mostly been ignored according to a recent study.

A study (.pdf) released today by an independent research group at George Washington University shows that 79 percent of federal agencies are in violation of an amendment to the Freedom of Information Act that requires agencies to post records online and help citizens make information requests via the Internet.

To give you an idea of just how little some agencies care about FOIA the study found one agency's FOIA fax number actually went to a "maternity ward of a military base hospital".

Source: WIRED Blogs: 27B Stroke 6

Could This Be Goodbye For A.G. Gonzales?

Alberto Gonzales doesn't seem to have been doing a good job. With stories of unethical firings of U.S. Attorney's and widespread abuse of power at the FBI coming to light recently some people are beginning to question whether Gonzales deserves to keep his job. Democrats are already calling for his resignation and even some Republicans are showing concern. Could this be the end of Ashcroft's replacement?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should resign following disclosures of mass firings of federal prosecutors and a report the FBI improperly obtained information on private citizens, top Democratic senators said on Sunday.

In addition, a key Republican voiced concerns about Gonzales and his embattled Justice Department, although he stopped short of calling for a resignation.

Source: Democratic senators say Gonzales should go | Politics News | Reuters.com

I'm Planning On Sticking Around A While

I just renewed the leftofohio.com domain name for anther two years. That means I now own the domain until December of 2009 so plan on putting up with me for another few years yet.