I have to agree with Political Outcast to an extent. Mary Taylor belongs right where she is at. She does a great jon and serves Ohio best right where she is at – at least for now. For me this has nothing to do with her being a women.

No offense intended – but I think this might be one of your “I am Woman” posts. LOL With the sad state of the ORP – man or woman should make no difference. A blind, three-legged hunting dog with one ear would be aan improvement over the leadership we have now.

As for Voinovich’s seat… I doubt she would go against Portman in a primary race. Most likely, even as bad as Brunner and Fisher are, Portman will most likely lose that election. It would be best for Mary to sit tight and wait this one out. Same goes with Rev. Ted – as poor a Governor that he is, most likely he will be reelected.

I too like Mary because she is willing to buck the system. AS for as doing what is best for the party, because the ORP asks, well the ORP under Bennett, and I’m sure DeWine will continue the trend, has a known history of lying and making financial promises to candidates that never materialize.

It really is laughable to see Licoln replaced by Reagan, but it’s their game not mine. I could disagree with Goldwater pretty fundamentally and still respect him, this bunch is another story.

You guys really suck and there are other models but if you think louder and more of the same is the ticket, then you deserve what you get.

1. I definitely didn’t know a thing about the OH GOP in 1998. I could give you a zillion excuses but the fact is that I was undergoing genetic testing for having the breast cancer gene (I don’t) while trying to decide if I’d try to conceive a third child, we were looking for a house and I had two kids under five and was working full-time as a lawyer/social worker. Which is to say – I didn’t follow politics at.all. Ken Blackwell was not only not on my radar – if someone asked me if I knew who he was, I’d have said, nope. Clearly, you know more on this historical piece than me – so I will trust you there.

2. Saying in the same sentence that Taylor and Mandel are “rising stars” is a huge put down of Taylor if you’re equating them with each other.

In terms of political elected office, Mandel has been in the GA barely two years and served as a Lyndhurst city council member before that (starting in 2004 – elected in 2003).

When Mandel was starting the Lyndhurst role, Taylor was already seeking her second term in the Ohio statehouse (and was a city council member (Green) before that). She then won statewide for auditor in 2006, when no other statewide Republican won.

Taylor also has a CPA – Mandel has not taken the bar (to the best of my knowledge).

I really don’t see how they’re comparable in the least. And, I’ve written before – calling someone a rising star is a death knell and invitation to a fall. Yes, I’m very superstitious.

3) Are you that unsure of the bench the GOP has that you don’t think anyone else could win the auditor role? Now, seriously, you seem to like logic – so think about what you’re saying:

You think you have people who can win statewide, like a Portman, but you fear there is no one who could win the auditor role? See – that makes no sense. Why not run Portman for auditor – he was, after all, with the OMB? And run Taylor for Senate. Or make Husted or Kasich or DeWine or Coughlin run for her role? “Being in line” and the fact that she won statewide in 2006 would argue, based on logic, that SHE be the one at the top of the ticket – not these other minor players who’ve not run or won statewide.

Finally, when you write, “But there is nothing that says she’s better than Portman; most polls have them both getting 26-28% against any of the Democratic challengers.” – come on – you may feel you have to say that, but you know I’m not going to buy that, 20 mos. out. Means very very little.

Anyway – that’s obviously how I see it. And only worth…well – lol – not all that much.

You also forget that in 1998, Blackwell wanted to run for governor, but OHGOP Chair Bennett talked him into the SoS seat, which he ran for and won. In ‘06, they tried to talk him into running for re-election and Montgomery into the AG office while Petro (our strongest candidate) ran. Instead, they all lost.

If she runs, great. She, along with Josh Mandel, are rising stars in the state. But there is nothing that says she’s better than Portman; most polls have them both getting 26-28% against any of the Democratic challengers.

The fact is, 2010 is not ‘98 or ‘06. This state is unfortunately trending Democrat and she is our strongest chance to get the AB back, since she will a very good chance to win re-election.

1) I believe that as the only GOP statewide candidate who has won in the last three years, she’s the most viable for another statewide race both outright and in comparison to the others who want to run.

2) I like to see her buck the party “sit down and wait your turn” – why on earth do the other candidates have more of a right in line than her? Why? She’s worked plenty and won plenty? What have they done? Lost the majority in the house side of the Ohio GA? Lost the state for McCain? Made up voter fraud cases that didn’t exist? Seriously – I don’t think Ohio GOPpers are too thrilled with them, but I am not in the best position to say.

3) because she lends diversity to their ranks – yes – that includes being a woman.

Personally – it doesn’t matter to me per se, the longer these attitudes persist in their party system, the longer it will be until women in the GOP are elevated and the more outnumbered they will be by Dem women. If that’s what they want, hey – whatev. But I would prefer to push to reach the critical mass of women that we do not have in this country and my preference is for women who have shown some level of competence. If the GOP doesn’t feel Mary has that level, that’s something else. Looks to me like she’s got it.

But again – it’s not my party. I just think every spot on the spectrum should be diverse. That’s me.

I’ve voted for Republicans a couple times on pretty narrow issues, and boy was I sorry I’d done it as they went ahead and demostrated the rest of their agenda.

As an Oregonian and an over 30yr ex-Ohioan I have no dog in this fight, I just haven’t been able to quite figure out Your dog in this fight.

I support the idea of more women in politic, but to use the example of S Palin, I don’t want her loon brand of politics given any national authority, though if the Rs want to follow her lead, then the further thinnning of those kind of ranks pleases me no end.

The problem is that I’m a strong supporter of the idea of a atrong responsible and credible opposition Party.

You don’t read this blog very much, do you? Either that, or you are as delusional as the ORP’s leadership. But hey – whatev. Taylor is the best shot for the GOP to get that office, with or without Brunner sticking with it. As for telling Petro, Blackwell and Montgomery to sit, I don’t know what you’re talking about. They played musical chairs as often as they could – there were no open seats for them to try and get, unless you’re going back to when Voinovich first ran. Sherrod Brown knocked off DeWine – no one told him to wait for an open seat.