Getting into the game
Thursday, July 24th, 2008
Just when it looked like the Ohio Republicans were determined to become the Ohio Democrats of the 1990’s, they’ve pulled together a serious candidate for attorney general. The Buckeye Institute crowd walked over to listen to former U.S. Attorney Michael Crites (not pictured to the left) say he expects to raise $2 million and more to campaign.
There wasn’t much in the way of ideology discussed, but that’s fine in the context of the attorney general’s office. In fact, it’s good. The late, great communicator Marc “Culture of Corruption” Dann pushed his ideology to the max, wanting to become the Michael Moore/Eliot Spitzer wielder of the big government club (you get your mind out of the gutter) to push his political policies. The AG’s office could do with someone who has the more modest ambition of enforcing the law.
What is most heartening is that it’s a sign that finally, and perhaps only for a moment, that the Republicans pulled together a message. Governor Strickland and Richard Cordray are excellent communicators of their ideas, and the state will benefit if both its major parties are at least competent in doing so. Elections will still be decided on nitty gritty and nonsense–anybody know who Mark Foley is?–but at least there’s a hint of substance out there that will give voters a chance, if they choose to take it.
