REPUBLICROOK TAFT INDICTED ON 4 CRIMINAL COUNTS

Ohio's disgraced Governor, Bob Taft, who has presided over the looting of the Ohio State Workmen's Compensation fund, allowing it to be turned into a honeypot for GOP politicians and donors, was finally indicted today, albeit on the least serious of all the investigations pending against him. And with no one charging him-- at least not yet-- with conspiring with Ohio's crooked Secretary of State, Ken Blackwell (who was also Bush's campaign chairman for Ohio) to fix the 2004 presidential election in favor of Bush. So far Taft is only facing 4 criminal charges, one for each of the last 4 years (not for each gift; there were unreported gifts which violated specific state laws, laws the Ohio Ethics Commission advised Taft and other Republicans about on May 15, 2001). Taft is required to appear in court with his lawyers tomorrow at 11 A.M.

The culture of corruption in Ohio, founded on long-term one party Republican rule, has ensnared the entire state GOP. Taft's disapproval rating-- AMONG CONSERVATIVES-- has skyrocketed and 71% of people who identify themselves as conservatives disapprove of him. His statewide approval rating, by FAR the lowest of any governor in America, is 17%. Republicans are in danger of losing a U.S. Senate seat, held by DeWine, who, like Taft and Blackwell, was also taking stolen money from GOP kingmaker/county chairman/looter Thomas Noe. Half a dozen House seats are also in danger and it is likely that the next Governor, Secretary of State, and Attorney General of Ohio will be Democrats.