I'm Not Voting for Steve Chabot or Jeff Sinnard. But I am Going Green and Voting Rich Stevenson

While I know that most of the people who live in the First Congressional District of Ohio recognize the name of their current representative, I would venture to guess, that like me, they don't know who the hell Jeff Sinnard is or what he represents.

Chabot is the perennial representative, off and on, since 1994, who managed to sneak back into office in 2010, when folks simply decided not to vote thereby allowing for the teabag takeover that has wrecked Congress for the past couple of years. Chabot was a part of that.

His signs are up (same signs) and his television ads have started running again and other than the fact that he has changed the color of his shirt, nothing has changed. Same words, same GOP trickle down bullshit talking points. Same mom and apple pie, fake patriotic stance that motivates his base. Same comb-over. Same no show in the neighborhood.

The only time that you hear Chabot's name is at election time. Sponsoring legislation to help his district is apparently not a part of his job description. Although he has co-signed onto every single one of the 55 anti choice and anti women's health laws that have run through the 112^th. He has voted against all Veteran's Bills and all Jobs Bills. He sits firmly along side John Boehner and the other do nothings on Capital Hill.

One would think that this kind of record would motivate Democrats to find a viable candidate to oppose this walking waste of oxygen. So what do Dems do? They run a Jeff Sinnard, probably a party faithful, looking to go big time, with no skills and no track record. There are no yard signs or Sinnard bumper stickers in my hood. There have been no community meetings on this side of town. Nobody in the Obama office is blowing up my phone asking for votes for Jeff Sinnard.

They apparently expect those of us who are also Democrats to support this guy sight unseen. In Hamilton County, running a Jeff Sinnard against Steve Chabot is like throwing raw meat to a lion at the Cincinnati Zoo at feeding time. The Democrats have obviously ceded this election to Chabot. They gave up rather than represent their constituency.

So you know what....I'm not voting democrat in the first congressional district this year. I'm voting for Rich Stevenson of the Green Party. His platform more closely resembles what I would like to see worked on by Congress. 

I realize that a third party vote is more than likely a vote for Chabot, but frankly I'm tired of Democrats assuming what my vote is going to be. They haven't been there for me, for a very, very long time. So, I'm done being there for them, because they assume that Black folks like me will vote the party line regardless. 

I also like Jill Stein for president, but make no mistake about it, I am voting for Barack Obama for President because I think he deserves to attempt to finish what he has started and because Mitt Romney is a major, major mistake for the country.

However in 2016, Democrats better come correct, because I'm done with Democrats, with Republicans and anybody else who does not have my best interests at heart. 2012 is where I draw the line.

After Obama, I'm no longer a Democrat by default.

So my votes are as follows: Obama/Biden, Rich Stevenson in the First District, No on Issue 1, Yes on Issue 2.

Vote responsibly between now and November 6^th. 

2011 Ohio Election Results

Well, Ohio still can't seem to get it right on federal health care, but never the less Ohioans did get it right more often than not, in this off year election last night.  Issue 3, was largely a symbolic vote against what the GOP calls Obamacare. It was really on the ballot so that the GOP/teabags can mount a court challenge to health care. Issue 3 spoke to the mandate requiring that all Americans have health care.


If the federal health care mandate is wrong...then so is the requirement for having insurance, in general, Right? Think the business driven GOP is going to kill one its staunchest allies, the insurance industry? I think not, in the long run. So we will have these skirmishes until SCOTUS rules.


Ohio did get it right on SB 5, Kasich's first and blatant attempt at union busting. SB 5 or Issue 2, went down in flames, which was a good thing in particular for the LGBT community. In addition to union busting, if SB 5 had been allowed to stand all hard won domestic partnership rights would have been flushed down the toilet. This is because domestic partnership benefits are negotiated rights in Ohio and SB 5 would have turned back the clock and prohibited unions from negotiating for them in the future. This is what SB 5 said:

“The recognition or extension by the state of the specific statutory benefits of a legal marriage to non-marital relationships between persons of the same sex or different sexes is against the strong public policy of this state. Any public act, record or judicial proceeding of this state, as defined in section 9.82 of the Revised Code, that extends the specific statutory benefits of legal marriage to non-marital relationships between persons of the same sex or different sexes is void.”

Don't think Kasich is done. I'm sure he will now take a page out of President Obama's book and attempt to piece meal this travesty through the house, when he thinks folks are no longer paying attention.

Voters in Cincinnati elected a democratic majority to City Council. The field was led by Roxanne Qualls, followed by newcomer PG Sittenfeld, Wendell Young, Cecil Thomas, Charlie Winburn, Laure Quinlivan, Yvette Simpson, Chris Smitherman, and Chris Seelbach.

Incumbents, all of em GOP, were unceremoniously retired. Those would be the Bortz family scion, the immature and mean girl Ghiz, the Japanese speaking Murray and the very bland and vanilla Lippert.

The fact that voters returned Winburn and Smitherman to council means the city must still need some comedy relief mixed in with its politics in these dire economic times.

Another good sign that the city is waking up is the vote on Issue 48, which was a COAST driven amendment that would have destroyed all city development until 2020 if it had passed. It didn't, thankfully. The street car will go forward and that is a good thing.

Cincinnati's school levy failed....not surprised...there are not enough homeowners in the city to make this an equitable tax. This statewide taxing system is well past its expiration date and needs to be changed.

The war on women is still raging, but with a little less steam, today. The personhood amendment in Mississippi, failed by a wide margin. However, the papers to resurrect it have already been filed here in Ohio. This very bad law criminalizes sex, and pregnancy, putting all burden on the woman while exempting men and their sperm from all childbearing and child-raising consequences.

Overall a good night.... now if we can just get that Kasich recall going for real..

2011 Ohio Election, My Take

 For Cincinnati City Council: Wendell Young, Jason Riviero, Roxanne Qualls, Yvette Simpson, Laure Quinlivan, Chris Seelbach, PG Sittenfeld

These are the people for whom I intend to vote. There are 9 slots to be filled but I'm not happy with the rest of the candidates and their past performances, so I have included four newbies who, at least on paper, and in person, say the right things to get my attention.

Issue One: Mandatory retirement for Ohio Judges...If someone can do the job effectively, I personally don't think they should be forced to retire just because they've reached a certain age. Vote: No

Issue Two: Proposal to repeal SB 5, Governor Kasich's attempt at union busting in Ohio, like what went down in Wisconsin earlier this year. SB 5 makes it illegal for workers to speak up for themselves in negotiating better working conditions. It criminalizes free speech in this context, in fact. You can actually be fired from your job if Kasich prevails on this. Make no mistake about it..if SB 5 is voted down by the people, our slippery little governor will find other ways to impose his wingnut policies on the State. Vote: No

Issue 3: Proposal to write into the State Constitution, a ban prohibiting Ohio from abiding by the federal Health Care Law, approved by Congress a couple of years ago. Success of this law means insurance companies can return to discriminating against people with pre existing conditions or against women's health care in general. It reads: "no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer or health care provider to participate in a health care system." Vote No

Issue 48: A proposal to literally screw the City of Cincinnati until at least the year 2021. What it does is hinder any and all major development downtown along with the street car. This proposal is badly conceived, badly written and will keep Cincinnati the third rate backward city that it has become for years to come. Vote No

Issue 44: A plan to lower electric rates by forcing Duke Energy to the negotiating table....Two proposals on the Nov. 8 ballot promise Cincinnati residents and small businesses the chance for bigger savings on their electric and gas bills. These plans are already working in other parts of the state. What I've read about aggregation, sounds good on paper and I am all for anything that will rein in the arrogant Duke Energy. Vote Yes

Issue 32: Permanent Levy for the Cincinnati Public Schools. Money to be used for books, computers and building renovation...NOT SALARIES OR BENEFITS. The levy hopes to raise $49.5 million..meaning the owner of a home valued at $100,000 would pay an additional $243 per year in taxes.. Vote: Yes

Issue 37: Hospital renewal levy. Doesn't cost us any money and provides a much needed service. Vote Yes

Regardless of whether or not you agree or disagree...the important thing is to get off your ass and vote. It is the only weapon that you as a citizen have against mediocrity and stupidity in your government....

You stay home...we all suffer!

VOTE NOV 8TH!

Issues on Cincinnati November 3rd Ballot

Issue 7- Library Issue

Our libraries need more money because of a cut in funding from the State. State statistics show that Ohio libraries are loaning more videos and DVD movies than books, leading some critics to call them Blockbuster juniors.

Tom Brinkman is a critic...he is a founder of COAST...the anti everything people who want to destroy Cincinnati....In addition to killing public light rail...he wants to kill the libraries, too.

They won't shut down in his neighborhood, but they will be shutdown in mine...if the levy fails...

I live in Avondale, where state stats show that most people borrowing from the library are borrowing movies instead of books. In fact, most of the libraries that show this trend are lower income, urban neighborhoods with smaller libraries.

Regardless of what they may take home, I am not in favor of closing libraries, which is what will happen if this levy does not pass.

I spend time in my local library and it is always filled with young people, who may not be checking out books...However they are sitting there, reading and discussing books or doing homework in a quiet and drama free atmosphere...

For many of them this is the location of the only computer to which they have access...

And it's like that every time I go, no matter what day I go. Because of the internet, I rarely check out books either these days......I sometimes take my laptop to the library just to work...

I don't know the kids there, but they are fascinated seeing me write and will approach me to ask questions about what I do and what they are reading...Usually the questions concern..pronunciation of a word in a book or on its cover....like “chrysanthemum.”

It is a safe haven for these youngsters trying to make sense of the chaos in which they live...The libraries have already been forced to cut hours...

Completely shutting their doors would be a travesty....

Issue 7 needs to pass

-0-

Issue 3- Casino in Cincinnati

Issue 3 is one of those issues that is going to come down to who shows up at the polls to vote. Well, this is no time to support the issue and not take the time to vote for the issue...Casinos and gambling have been voted down six times prior to this....

It is one of those issues where opponents are again attempting to legislate morality...people are going to gamble....whether they do it in state or out....

Because of Ohio's financial situation....they should gamble closer to home...Keep the money and jobs in Cincinnati and Ohio..

Issue 3 needs to pass

-0-

Issue 9-Restriction on Light Rail

Issue 9 Hamstrings the city of Cincinnati. It is not just a matter of taking an issue to the people for a vote. It is a blatant attempt to block progress in the city and keep it in the dark ages.

Issue 9 is being sold as a way to keep City Council from arrogantly going against the will of the people and passing a plan to build a budget busting street car system that benefits only a few people downtown...

The proponents of issue 9 says these types of things should be put before the voters...because that what you do in a democracy....

Word to the people....America is not a democracy...it is a Republic....where the people elect people to look at the issues and handle them for us....We already have a way to handle out of control officials...we vote them out of office...

Issue 9 is flim flam from flim flam artists who egotistically think they are smarter than the rest of us..

The truth of the matter is the creators of Issue 9 have written a convoluted amendment that will block all attempts at putting light rail anywhere in the area...

Obama has already said he wants to build bullet trains like they have in Europe and Asia..Issue 9 would prevent this in Cincinnati....

We would be left out of the loop......in a similar fashion as when then Mayor Roxanne Qualls went to Europe to bring restaurants to Cincinnati....and because of the backwardness of this city...the restaurants ended up in Covington and Newport after she left office....

Northern Kentucky continues to benefit from the neanderthal thinking of many in this city..such as those opposed to light rail....

And I'm sure if Cincinnati drops the ball again....Northern Kentucky will figure out a way to pick it up....

Issue 9 should be voted down..

-0-

Issue 8-Cincinnati Water

This issue is yet another badly written proposed amendment brought to you by the backward looking cabal of COAST and it's boy Chris Smitherman and his gang of mini me's...

This issue is another attempt to micromanage the system.....Again...America is a republic...not a democracy....and in a republic...we elect officials to handle the issues....We vote for the officials...we have public hearings to tell them how we want to vote.....

This issue is not about privatizing the water...it is about hamstringing our legally elected officials..

Make no mistake about it.....I am totally against privatizing water.....and will happily lead the march on City Hall...if they ever consider it.......

But this issue is something else....it is not what was sold to the people who signed the petitions....

They lied to the petition signers...they....meaning COAST and the NAACP are attempting to manipulate voters...

This is another one that will come down to who shows up at the polls....

If COAST and company wanted to do something positive...they would have written an amendment that honestly states what it does....in other words....they should have written....” ban privatizing water in Cincinnati”......simple.....no confusion....

Issue 8 needs to be voted down...

-0-

State Issue 2-Livestock Board

After reading this issue it looks as if Big Agra is attempting a coup...trying to take over the livestock control in Ohio....Their supporters are trying to create a board to control farming and farm animals in Ohio...

Most other states are moving in the opposite direction....

We are living through an economic situation, wholly created by corporate America and their bought and paid for politicians who allow the corporations to Self Regulate....meaning they operate with no control or anyone looking over their shoulder...

Issue 2 is setting up yet another useless board of paid bureaucrats that looks like its doing something when in actuality it is just another puppet organization of Big business..


Issue 2 should be voted down..

-0-
Issue 6- Union Terminal

This is an issue to maintain the Union Terminal...Cincinnati needs to keep this building in good repair...
It can never be rebuilt....so it should be taken care of....doing repairs as needed..

Issue 6 should be approved

-0-
Issue 5- MRDD

This is a renewal to continue funding the county to enable it to keep helping the mentally and developmentally challenged residents become more self sufficient..

Issue 5 should be approved.

-0-

Whatever you decide....you should vote on November 3rd....

UPDATE.....Even after writing a post, I continue to look at the issue at hand, continue to learn and to tweak my knowledge, so to speak....Sometimes....my first judgment and pronouncement is wrong....and I will admit that.... I was wrong for saying that I will vote for Kevin Flynn...

I will not....Even though he is endorsed by the Charter Party....His endorsement by Right to Life made me look closer......He's just not my kind of guy...because he chooses to relegate me and other women to second class citizenship....We are not equal in the eyes of Mr Flynn when it comes to making decisions that impact our lives as human beings....

Since he won't recognize female cognitive abilities....He cannot represent me in government or anything else for that matter...... So I'm sorry......My bad.....I ain't votin' him...not never.....not nohow.....

My new revised list is...

Qualls.....Young....Quinlivan.....Fischer.....Bortz.....Berding?.....

Watson.....Thomas...and Greg Harris

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