TWO STATE SENATORS SQUARE OFF IN OHIO 16-- BUT REGULA IS STILL BREATHING

John Boccieri and Gov. Strickland

We've mentioned before that doddering, senile old Ralph Regula (R-OH) is near the end of his trail, at least politically, and that he would probably retire "soon." He was hoping, like so many self-entitled Inside the Beltway hacks, to leave his district to his son, Richard. But the son was defeated in his attempt to be re-elected to the Stark County Board of Commissioners last year, short-circuiting that notion. Among the Democrats getting thinking of running in OH-16 are State Sen. John Boccieri, Alliance at-large Councilman Steve Okey, Canton councilman Bill Smuckler, and Ohio appeals court judge Scott Gwin.

The district leans Republican. Bush won in 2000 and 2004 with, respectively 53% and 54% and last year Regula won re-election to his 18th term with 59% of the vote (his smallest percentage in many years). Saturday's Beacon Journal makes it clear that Republicans are losing patience with Regula. Democrats are already coalescing around Senator Boccieri who has officially announced his challenge and is being backed by popular Governor Ted Strickland.

The wingnut most likely to throw Regula under the bus is a right-wing, anti-choice state Senator named Kirk Schuring. He doesn't have the cajones to challenge Regula in a primary but he says he wants to be ready in case... something happens (Regula is about to turn 83). He can expected to be a rubber stamp nonentity for a Bush/Cheney-like agenda. People who think America has been going in the wrong direction need to look in other directions than Schuring.

Today's L.A. Times published a poll reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the tepid response the Democratic majorities have had to the excesses of the Bush Regime. Democrats are sick and tired of symbolic, non-binding votes and are fed up with "impeachment is off the table." Most people are aware Bush is far and aware the worst occupant the White House has ever had. Voters repudiated him last November and elected majorities in both houses and now they expect results. A vote for Schuring would, of course, be a vote for more Bush. What about John Boccieri? He says things have to change and local Ohio bloggers seemed excited about him running. He's not some slimy Inside the Beltway Cheney-Dem and is opposed to Bush/Emanuel/Hoyer corporate trade legislation. He was deployed to Iraq 3 times as part of the Air Force Reserve so it's less likely that the GOP Cowardly Chicken Hawk Brigade will be able to swiftboat him successfully-- not that they won't try-- but we need to find out his stand on the occupation. (In his annoucement speech yesterday he called for an end to the occupation.)

WHY DOES RALPH REGULA HATE AMERICAN SOLDIERS? AND WILL OHIO VOTERS MAKE HIM WISH HE HAD CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE?

Ralph Regula is 82 years old and not in good shape. The most senior member of the Ohio congressional delegation, he's been muttering about retiring for years. Is this the year? No one knows for sure, but Democrats plan to take the seat regardless. Ohio's 16th CD is south of Cleveland, centered on Canton, and leans Republican but Regula-- with no substantial opposition-- has gotten a declining percentage of votes for several years now. In past years he had pulled in the high and then mid-60s. This year he won with 58% of the vote against an opponent who spent less than $5,000. Both Senator Sherrod Brown and Governor Ted Strickland stomped their Republican opponents in the district last year. The DCCC is targeting Regula's seat for a real race next year.

Regula serves on the House Appropriations Committee and he once made a losing bid for the chairmanship, beaten to the punch in a bitter and divisive GOP civil war by bribe-taking (and bribe-distributing) Jerry Lewis. But when it's come to rubber stamping the Bush Regime's most hideous agenda, Regula and Lewis have been like two peas in a pod. Their most recent team-up effort was in a plot by the GOP members of Appropriations to sabotage a proposal to force the Bush Regime to provide adequate training and equipment for American forces before they were sent to Iraq.

Regula, who voted for every Bush proposal regarding Iraq since the October 10, 2002 Resolution authorizing the use of force-- a record of utter disgrace-- is matched by his total unwillingness to take any responsibility for the well-being of America's military personnel. Again, his voting record on matters regarding our military servicemen and women is one of the worst in Congress, voting against our men and women in uniform every single time-- not even one exception-- there was a roll call in the House. And Regula's record on military veterans has been just as fiendish-- 12 votes on health care for our vets and Regular was 12 for 12 in voting against the interests of our former soldiers. He loves sending them over and yelling "support the troops," but doesn't want to protect them when they're there or care for them when they return.

Regula has been planning on "willing" his district to his son Richard but Richard was defeated for a re-election battle as a Stark County Commissioner last year and is no longer seen as a viable candidate for Congress. Among the strongest potential Democratic candidates are state Sen. John Boccieri, Alliance at-large Councilman Steve Okey, Canton councilman Bill Smuckler, and Ohio appeals court judge Scott Gwin. 2008 could be a good year for congressional Democrats in Ohio, with excellent shots to take out Regula, Mean Jean Schmidt and Deborah Pryce.