Jean Schmidt

Another GOPer feeding the lunatic fringe, and this time it occurred about 10 miles from my house.

Schmidt’s district is next to mine and I have heard a lot of people complain that she wouldn’t hold a townhall on healthcare for OH-02. Instead she decided to come to OH-O8 and talk to people at a tea party. Someone should tell assholes like Schmidt that they don’t only represent the people who share their views – they represent the entire district. Jean Schmidt and John Boehner are both guilty of selective representation, as I like to call it, and it should be considered a dereliction of duty.

The right is going after lawmakers who are not holding townhalls during the recess. I believe there is merit to this charge. We have a representative government and townhalls are a perfect opportunity to make sure that representation is well shared. However the list compiled on Hot Air seems to be rather partisan. They have listed a couple of Republicans, but are missing some big names. I’ll take right here in southern Ohio. My own representative, and the House Minority Leader, John Boehner is not holding any townhalls. Add to that the district directly south of me, OH-02, which is represented by Jean Schmidt (R), and our Republican Senator George Voinovich.

The closest townhall the people of southwest Ohio have had is one held in Columbus last week by Senator Sherrod Brown, however Steve Driehaus (D-OH-01) is also planning an event.

I can fully get behind what the right is doing, but I can’t tolerate partisanship in such an endeavor. To me its amazing, yet not shocking that John Boehner isn’t holding one. Boehner is a pro at ignoring his constituency. A few years back during the Medicare debacle his office flat out refused to talk to seniors, even when there was a large gathering only a couple of miles from Boehner’s house.

Here is Worst Persons from April 22 of this year. Pay attention to the first person that Olbermann names:

Just some lonely county commissioner here in Ohio, but now he is planning on becoming a little bit bigger of a name:

Warren County Commissioner Mike Kilburn told an Enquirer reporter Friday that he’s considering running against U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt in the 2010 primary.

"I have always said it’s important to vote for Christians and conservatives," Kilburn said. "But the conservatives have lost their way and I’m not willing to fall into that trap."

The 55-year-old politician was first elected to the Board of Warren County Commissioners in 1983. He has been reelected seven times.

Kind of interesting how these things work out – isn’t it?

(wow I haven't had to pull that one out of the archives in awhile)

This is absolutely hilarious. Jean Schmidt has decided to give her campaign the back seat so she can focus on the bailout. Really? She is a junior Congressperson, doesn't sit on any committee that matters in this crisis and not a part of the leadership.

Hey - now is a time to give to a great candidate. Vic Wulsin almost beat her last time and now she has even a better chance. Help put her over the top.

That is the rumor with the announcement of Rob Portman leaving the Bush administration:

Rob Portman’s announcement Tuesday that he will resign as White House budget director puts the popular former Cincinnati-area congressman back in play as a force in Ohio politics – and as a potential statewide candidate in coming elections. For a political figure who’s maintained a reputation as an honest, skilled consensus builder while maneuvering through Washington’s power circles, it’s another well-timed move.

By returning to Cincinnati in August “to spend more time with my family,” as Portman said, he makes a graceful early exit from the troubled Bush administration while having helped steer the White House onto what he calls more “fiscally responsible” course. And Portman, who represented Ohio’s 2nd District in the U.S. House between 1993 and 2005, positions himself to be active in local and state Republican politics during the coming presidential election year.

Portman served as U.S. trade representative for a year before becoming budget director in May 2006. “I have been in the midst of the battle here on fiscal issues,” Portman said in a conference call with the Enquirer on Tuesday morning, before his resignation was announced.

OH-02 will be a very interesting race to watch next year. It is already filling up, and might even be a little heavier now.

Of course we have hope on our side of the aisle, and she will give a great run against whoever the Republicans throw up. You can still help her out:

Victoria Wulsin will be running against Jean Schmidt again next year. This is could lead to a great pick-up for the Democrats. Victoria lost by only a handful of votes last year. If you want to donate, you can do so on my ActBlue page. She is not yet listed, but you can donate to the OH-02 race and she will get the money.

Howie has more details.

UPDATE:

Thanks to KT from ActBlue, Victoria Wulsin is now listed. You can contribute using this simple form.