OH-02: Close the Book on this election, Schmidt is likely to be re-elected

By On November 24, 2009 · 5 Comments

State Representative Todd Book announced that he was withdrawing from the race citing his growing legislative duties (he’s shepherding the legislation that is implemented the legislation to enact both Issues 2 & 3), but it likely has more to do with his less than impressive fundraising last quarter and the growing consensus that next year will not be a favorable environment for Democrats nationally, let alone in the Second Congressional district where Republicans outnumber Democrats.

Geoffrey Sea, Krikorian’s blogger, advisor, and biggest backer, is doing a victory lap.

Good for him.  He backed the candidate that will now be the likely Democratic nominee now.  A candidate who’s own campaign poll shows him losing to Schmidt by her largest margin of victory ever and taking counties that she’s never carried before.  Great.

But, what if Krikorian beat Schmidt?  Then we’d get a self-described “Blue Dog Democrat” who’s pro-life, who believes in “Drill, Baby, Drill”, wants a “simpler tax structure” (i.e. “flat tax”), and is opposes to gay marriage or civil unions.  In other words, Schmidt-lite.  Again, I don’t understand why any progressive could get excited over this race now.

Enjoy your victory, Geoffrey.  And keep telling yourself that Krikorian, despite the fact that just a year ago was championing John Boehner as someone who agrees with Krikorian’s plan to eliminate the capital gains tax, is really a champion for Obama and his policies.  Say it enough and you may even convinced yourself.

Jean Schmidt has primary opposition, but even if he’s embraced by the usual suspects in COAST, unless he can crack Schmidt’s base in Clermont County, she’s likely safe.  Her primary opponent, Warren County Commissioner Kilburn could actually give Schmidt a run for her money in ideological idiocy, but that’s it.  In fact, the main reason he’s running is because he was facing his own primary challenge due to his reckless comments he’s made in his current position.   So…. maybe that will give us some entertaining value?

Evangelize!
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  • ryanfissel

    I'm not even sure that Todd Book could have won the 2nd. It's not a race that it winnable for a Democrat of any stripe. Heck, even Jean Schmidt – someone who wanted to dump toxic waste IN THE DISTRICT – was reelected.

  • Bemused

    Well, since you were SURE that Todd Book was GUARANTEED to win the primary, I suppose we can take your new prediction that Schmidt will win the general as a bankable forecast of a Krikorian victory. You did call me “INSANE” for saying that Todd Book would not sweep to victory on the basis of his stunning “POPULARITY” in Scioto County.

    And how convenient that you totally neglect the fact that the Tri-state Building and Construction Trades Council RESCINDED its endorsement of Book six days before he quit the race, a fact reported by me last Friday, and now reported by the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Chillicothe Gazette. They rescinded their endorsement because Book was CAUGHT filing as the legal agent for a non-union construction firm in Georgia. Might that have influenced his withdrawal, which I said was coming three days ahead of time? Hmmmm.

    The unions of his own party told him to skidaddle. He skidaddled.

    See http://www.progressohio.org/page/community/post… Links to the other articles there.

    Why doesn't Brian Hester just start his own party? He can call it the Infantilist Party.

  • modernesquire

    Because you're already the chairman of that Party.

    I'm tired of responding to you, Geoffrey. You never admit when you're caught red-handed lying about Krikorian (you're newest one is that he's not a “Blue Dog Democrat” even though he has a twitter account screenname “BlueDogOH2,” and you never listen to what I've ever actually said.

    Did I say that Book was a lock? No, I said that as long as he was in the race, he's got the best shot because he's won elected office in the district and has legislative experience. The part about Scioto County was about your nonsense about how Krikorian was going to carry every county even though his own polls shows him losing more counties to Jean Schmidt than any Democrat ever has.

    You make what Book did sound illegal. It wasn't, not at all. It just upset the unions and, therefore, was not politically wise.

    How many unions have endorsed Krikorian? None. Nobody has. Nobody still has. Heck, CQ is considering upgrading Schmidt's chances now that Book is out of the race.

    You keep doing your victory lap while ignoring the fact that flat-tax, pro-capital gains tax repeal, pro-drilling, pro-life, pro-nuclear and self described “Blue Dog” “Reagan conservative” like David Krikorian is just the kind of guy we don't need in Congress. Good luck getting turnout with that.

    I'm not alone in thinking that Krikorian cannot beat Schmidt. His own campaign pollster has said the same thing. A fact you keep forgetting… Then again, you've had a very distasteful relationship with the truth.

    You got your candidate. Congratulations. I would love to see Jean Schmidt gone, but I'm unconvinced that Krikorian is any better policy wise or has any chance.

    And when Krikorian loses, I'm sure we'll all have to suffer through your spin about how its not because Krikorian's views were too conservative to motivate progressives in the race, or the national election environment. Nope, it'll be yet another conspiracy screed.

    You know, for a guy who swears he never reads me, you sure follow me around like a puppy alot.

  • Bemused

    “…too conservative to motivate progressives in the race.”

    Yes, we all get that you are trying to rally “progressives” to shun Krikorian and thus assure a Schmidt victory. You've made that abundantly clear, Brian. I mean, you've done such a good job at dividing any effective opposition in your own district, where John Boehner rules.

    And yes we understand that you are such a “progressive” that you worked for the most arch-conservative newspaper in Ohio, the Portsmouth Daily Times, and then worked for an arch-Republican law firm — Sams, Fischer, and then supported the union-busting Todd Book who was the lead sponsor of Issue 2. Such a proud progressive history, Brian.

    Let's just make a deal, Mr. Hester. You stay out of OH-02 politics and I'll happily stay out of OH-08 politics. We'll take care of our issues here, and progressives here will decide how we want to go, thank you very much.

  • Bemused

    “…too conservative to motivate progressives in the race.”

    Yes, we all get that you are trying to rally “progressives” to shun Krikorian and thus assure a Schmidt victory. You've made that abundantly clear, Brian. I mean, you've done such a good job at dividing any effective opposition in your own district, where John Boehner rules.

    And yes we understand that you are such a “progressive” that you worked for the most arch-conservative newspaper in Ohio, the Portsmouth Daily Times, and then worked for an arch-Republican law firm — Sams, Fischer, and then supported the union-busting Todd Book who was the lead sponsor of Issue 2. Such a proud progressive history, Brian.

    Let's just make a deal, Mr. Hester. You stay out of OH-02 politics and I'll happily stay out of OH-08 politics. We'll take care of our issues here, and progressives here will decide how we want to go, thank you very much.

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