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Apr
20
I wouldn’t have thought, originally, that Cordray’s session would be a two-part review, but my notes included so many more worthy observations, I just can’t help myself.
First, I’d like to refer people to this article about Cordray, because I said I would. And also because the piece, although tailor-made for a candidate, includes some good background info.
I’d also like to note the other participants today: George Nemeth, Tim Russo, Jeff Coryell and Bill Callahan.
Finally, I’d like to say that as I sat there, one seat away from Cordray, who arrived in an older model Jeep (right? – not quite olive green?) with a young male campaign aide (I assume – he didn’t really speak with us except to hand out very nice reproductions of aforementioned article), I thought,
“He’s trying a bit too hard, he is sitting – literally – on the edge of his chair. This must be very difficult or at least new. I mean, even though he’s run for a few offices, won some, lost some (most notably 1998 AG race and 2000 U.S. Senate primary, to Fingerhut I assume?), we’re grilling him, five on one, about issues, politics, himself, his record, the job.”
And I also thought,
“He’s been through the ODP finishing school. To wit, looks right at you. Calls folks like Jim Rokakis and Hugh Quill by their first names. Speaks in low tone, very careful to not let you interrupt him, very often talks back around to whatever the question or point was. Speaks first about the commonalities and the friendship or commeraderie before the differences re: Quill, being sure to laud where laud is due.
“And doesn’t miss a beat. Is sure to mention the article, more than once, that memorializes his ascension to being County Leader of the Year. I actually find that impressive, but I admit, I’ve not researched who votes for it and how many there are to choose from etc. Seems legit, and I’m guessing that it is more or less – because he presents as a very straight albeit polished or being polished up shooter.”
And I also thought,
“He speaks without stopping. Not over our heads and without a single %&#$^ umm or pause. That always amazes me.”
Now, some of the things that surprised me, that I knew going into this MTB I wanted to know more about:
1. Connect the dots between the treasurer’s office and the Noe Coingate scandal. Cordray’s answer didn’t come quite as quickly as I wanted it to, I’m impatient.
But eventually, his interpretation of what went down is that the treasurer’s office must sign off on every expenditure made by the state of Ohio and, Cordray said, in 1998, Ken Blackwell was the Ohio Treasurer in charge of that office when Noe got the money from the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation – which would have had to have gotten the money from the treasurer’s office – to make coin investments.
Shut my mouth. I haven’t been following anything, have I, if I didn’t know this. Did you know this? How did I miss this? Why are we not hearing more about this?
I just had too many questions to even continue along this vein, but I stopped because I assume that Dem strategists are saying, let’s wait and see if we’re up against a Blackwell or a Petro-led GOP ticket, not to mention that Jeannette Bradley came in late in the game so one wants to be proper here when impugning people.
Anyone care to add, please do.
This will make good fodder for a Bradley-Cordray debate, no?
2. Cordray has gobs of money in his till for running this year. I wanted to know how that happened. I confess, I kept interrupting not just Cordray, but myself, and I never got a satisfactory answer – satisfactory to me, that is. He says he’s done it the old-fashioned way – asking, campaigning. But I don’t know – people say this is such an unsexy race. People say the treasurer’s office, for whatever reason, is under the radar. How do people, races, so under the radar, get more than half a million dollars to run (and more, as Cordray corrected me that it’s well over that amount now)?
I don’t know, because I was a-gog. But hopefully I’ll learn more as time goes by.
3. I always like to talk about what personal effects the MTB participants sport, and Cordray did me proud.
First, he had on a well-pressed chalk-grey pinstripe suit with black socks and black wingtips. He entered the room wearing a tie but later removed it and it ended up on the floor for some reason (I was out of the room at the time that it went from being around his neck, undone, to being on the floor).
But the most interesting thing about the tie – it had bumblebees flying on it.
Now, Subodh Chandra talks about his tie with his triplets on it. My husband has a Looney Toons tie from our kids. I thought, this tie must be from his kids, must have a story. I thought, “Busy as a bee” or “Put a bee in your bonnet for Cordray” or some such cute thing.
Nope, he said, no such ties to the tie. Not a thing.
I was bummed. Totally bummed.
And then I thought, that is weird. Why would somoeone be attracted to and buy a tie with bumblebees on it? How odd.
So, me? I still think there’s something subliminal going on. But then I think Capri Cafaro needs to have a deathmatch with her dad for the tzuras he’s caused her, or she let him cause her, or what.ever.
But that’s just me.
4. Last but not least, I note this: Cordray, if not coached, had excellent instincts about staying on message, giving credit where it’s due, pointing fingers where they should be pointed without sounding too exalted, and staying on just the proper side of arrogant so that you perceive him as confident, but not overly so.
I hope he’s not played and we’re not played. I have moderate hope for those hopes.
But I’m keeping my skepticism too.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:04 am April 20th, 2006 in Politics
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Richard Cordray is the real deal. He understands issues at the micro and macro level. He cares about people and weighs his decisions carefully, with an eye on equity and fairness. While it is not something he plays up–in fact he goes out of his way to downplay it–his academic credentials are incredible. Top of his class at Michigan State. Two years at Oxford. Top student at University of Chicago Law School. Clerked at a place called the United States Supreme Court(I think for Justice Souter). Most impressive of all? A five-time Jeopardy champion!(No joke-back in the late 80′s) Seriously, I have seen him on dozens of occasions and have seen nothing but patience, humility and decency in his interactions with others. Running for public office is hard. Spending hours every day on the phone asking for money from strangers is brutal. We are fortunate to have somebody of his caliber in this race. I know people don’t trust public officials, and with good reason, but this is a guy who will earn your trust. You’ll see.
I enjoy your blog.
Mr. Rokakis-
Thank you very much for reading and commenting. I’m glad you enjoy the blog.
I suspect you’re right, and even when I read back what I’ve written, I think, oooo, I’m being awfully harsh.
But, to be fair, I think Ohio’s voters have many reasons for holding on to a modicum of skepticism, no matter who we’re talking about. Especially when someone seems so good and genuine. Look, if the worst thing I can say is that it sounds like he wants to be a career politician, that’s not so terrible, so long as he serves with integrity and gets each job done, constantly and consistently earning the voter’s trust that he is in fact a consummate public servant (I do hate the sound of that, but it’s what we call it, I guess).
Again, nothing I detected felt insincere. I was only noting that he has a steady style. Having been through law school myself, I’m certain that some of that steadiness – which as I mentioned before, surely must have helped him in Jeopardy – was perfected there too, and in the practice of law.
I look forward to watching Mr. Cordray’s campaign and hopefully nudge him past Jeannette Bradley.
Again, thank you for reading and commenting.
One last note: I think you, in your next entry, guessed Richard’s age at 38. I believe he is 46 or 47 as he was born in 1959, at least that is what his Franklin County web site reports.
I will take your word on that (and not distract myself further by checking up). Being in my 40s, I don’t blame him for not correcting that statement himself. Except that it would give us a chance to say, But you look so much younger. Something I enjoy hearing anyway, but maybe not if I were a politician?
Jill,
Bingo. My Dad is now 88 and looks “young” for his age — but I will appreciate this more when and if I make it that far.
Richard
88 – how prodigious.
Thanks to my mother, I know about good genes and age. Here’s to 88.
[...] Former Ohio AG Richard Cordray on Morning Joe var addthis_product = 'wpp-262'; var addthis_config = {"data_track_clickback":true,"data_track_addressbar":false,"ui_language":"en"};if (typeof(addthis_share) == "undefined"){ addthis_share = [];}What can I say. I’m biased. [...]