The severe and historic dysfunction of the GOP in Washington might lead many to wonder whether Republicans and Democrats can ever work together to get things done. They really should hear about what just happened in Ohio. The Ohio legislature, due to a severe gerrymander, has a Republican supermajority. Of the 99 general assembly seats, Democrats only control 32 of them. To give context to what they’re up against, the assembly district map of the latest vote looks like
From what I have read, there is a more to this story than some Ohio Republicans working with Democrats to select a "moderate" in the spirit of bipartisanship (which I would hope had occurred) According to Craig Calcaterra, an Ohio resident (in his Cup of Coffee substack) relying in large part on The Rooster, an Ohio newsletter written by Columbus resident D.J. Byrnes:
So why did Merrin get tossed aside? If you read the Associated Press or the mainstream Statehouse news outlets, you’d believe it was because Stephens is a “moderate” who will foster “bipartisanship” and all of that. But don’t believe that for a second. Merrin was rejected because of The Rooster.
The Rooster, as I’ve mentioned here before, is an Ohio politics newsletter written by Columbus resident D.J. Byrnes. Byrnes is an unapologetic, bomb-throwing lefty
* * * *
But like I said, The Rooster doesn’t have those kinds of rules. He just puts it all out there. And, on New Year’s Eve, he put a thing out there about Derek Merrin that is likely the real reason the GOP abandoned him yesterday: a photo featuring disgraced former Ohio State Representative named Wes Goodman rubbing sunscreen lotion on Merrin’s back at a resort down in Florida. The implication of the photo — which matches gossip which has swirled around the Statehouse for a while — is that Merrin, like Goodman, is gay. It also implies that Merrin was much closer with Goodman — who was forced out of office in an ugly sexual abuse scandal — than he had claimed.
That post, if you read it, is not without controversy, of course. Basically The Rooster outed a guy. The Rooster followed that up, however, with an explanation for why he felt justified in doing it. The short version: he acknowledges that people may not like him outing a guy and that, in the normal course, it’s a shitty thing to do but, he says, Merrin’s sexuality has been circulating but unreported for a while, the job of Speaker of the House in Ohio is super powerful, and Merrin’s rise to power has come via the strong support of virulently anti-gay interests and that he himself has supported hateful anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. That, The Rooster argues, makes Merrin’s sexuality — and his hypocrisy and his association with a known sexual predator — fair game.
* * * *
The Ohio GOP threw a guy over the side who, a month ago, they unanimously supported. They did not do that because of some newfound love of “bipartisanship.” They did it because they think it’s bad for their brand to have a gay man in charge.
I would remark only that, even if true, Merrin still received 2/3rds of the GOP voters in the assembly for Speaker. That is a commanding number, but not enough to stave off a coalition of Democrats working with more moderate Republicans (which they are, as you can see from the map). It also doesn’t change the fact that to get their support, Stephens needs to keep the Democrats happy and make concessions. We’ll have to see how that works, but he certainly took advantage of Merrin’s position, whether political or sexual.
Praying that this will happen. To that point, I just read (Jennifer Rubin in WaPo) that Jeffries has said that Democrats are willing to negotiate with a prospective coalition candidate. But that there has, as yet, been no willing partner on the other side. I hope one emerges.
OFF TOPIC: Per CNN, the FBI, ATF & Capitol Police have raised the reward for information on the slender Perp with high end running shoes who planted Pipe Bombs in the early hours of J6 to $500,000.00.
I would add Dan Newhouse of Washington and David Valadao of California, who might attract sufficient Republican and Democrat support to be viable compromise candidates for Speaker, in addition to Upton. They are the other remaining R members of the House, in addition to Upton, who voted to impeach *trump, although neither of them voted for the Omnibus Spending Bill. Upton is the only potential R candidate who can check both of those key bi-partisan criteria boxes that would please Dems. Just sayin'. . .
I actually think that's how things are supposed to work. Something forgotten by many with all of the crazy stuff happening over the last few years. Lets hope it catches on again.
I just sent this email to Pramila Jayapal (my rep):
"The Republicans are having a hard time (!) electing a Speaker of the House. Seems like we have an opportunity to fill the gap. I hope this is already being discussed in back rooms, but just in case…
Isn’t there a moderate Republican the Dems could get behind? If so, wouldn’t it take only a handful of Republicans plus all of the Dems to get the person elected? I think that’s what just happened in Ohio. And wouldn’t that put us all in a good position for legislating together?"
It seems logical to me. If you agree, consider promoting it to your representatives.
It’s good to hear of some politicians working together. I miss the days of “crossing the aisle”.
From what I have read, there is a more to this story than some Ohio Republicans working with Democrats to select a "moderate" in the spirit of bipartisanship (which I would hope had occurred) According to Craig Calcaterra, an Ohio resident (in his Cup of Coffee substack) relying in large part on The Rooster, an Ohio newsletter written by Columbus resident D.J. Byrnes:
So why did Merrin get tossed aside? If you read the Associated Press or the mainstream Statehouse news outlets, you’d believe it was because Stephens is a “moderate” who will foster “bipartisanship” and all of that. But don’t believe that for a second. Merrin was rejected because of The Rooster.
The Rooster, as I’ve mentioned here before, is an Ohio politics newsletter written by Columbus resident D.J. Byrnes. Byrnes is an unapologetic, bomb-throwing lefty
* * * *
But like I said, The Rooster doesn’t have those kinds of rules. He just puts it all out there. And, on New Year’s Eve, he put a thing out there about Derek Merrin that is likely the real reason the GOP abandoned him yesterday: a photo featuring disgraced former Ohio State Representative named Wes Goodman rubbing sunscreen lotion on Merrin’s back at a resort down in Florida. The implication of the photo — which matches gossip which has swirled around the Statehouse for a while — is that Merrin, like Goodman, is gay. It also implies that Merrin was much closer with Goodman — who was forced out of office in an ugly sexual abuse scandal — than he had claimed.
That post, if you read it, is not without controversy, of course. Basically The Rooster outed a guy. The Rooster followed that up, however, with an explanation for why he felt justified in doing it. The short version: he acknowledges that people may not like him outing a guy and that, in the normal course, it’s a shitty thing to do but, he says, Merrin’s sexuality has been circulating but unreported for a while, the job of Speaker of the House in Ohio is super powerful, and Merrin’s rise to power has come via the strong support of virulently anti-gay interests and that he himself has supported hateful anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. That, The Rooster argues, makes Merrin’s sexuality — and his hypocrisy and his association with a known sexual predator — fair game.
* * * *
The Ohio GOP threw a guy over the side who, a month ago, they unanimously supported. They did not do that because of some newfound love of “bipartisanship.” They did it because they think it’s bad for their brand to have a gay man in charge.
I would remark only that, even if true, Merrin still received 2/3rds of the GOP voters in the assembly for Speaker. That is a commanding number, but not enough to stave off a coalition of Democrats working with more moderate Republicans (which they are, as you can see from the map). It also doesn’t change the fact that to get their support, Stephens needs to keep the Democrats happy and make concessions. We’ll have to see how that works, but he certainly took advantage of Merrin’s position, whether political or sexual.
To all Ohioans: Listen to Michael Moore’s Blue Dots in a Red State podcast series!
Intriguing...
Praying that this will happen. To that point, I just read (Jennifer Rubin in WaPo) that Jeffries has said that Democrats are willing to negotiate with a prospective coalition candidate. But that there has, as yet, been no willing partner on the other side. I hope one emerges.
OFF TOPIC: Per CNN, the FBI, ATF & Capitol Police have raised the reward for information on the slender Perp with high end running shoes who planted Pipe Bombs in the early hours of J6 to $500,000.00.
I live in SW Ohio. Our state rep is pretty much a more smiley, less aggressive MTG. He’s also wildly popular. It’s depressing.
"An interparty struggle for power within the Ohio GOP" should be "intraparty"…
~retired printer
I would add Dan Newhouse of Washington and David Valadao of California, who might attract sufficient Republican and Democrat support to be viable compromise candidates for Speaker, in addition to Upton. They are the other remaining R members of the House, in addition to Upton, who voted to impeach *trump, although neither of them voted for the Omnibus Spending Bill. Upton is the only potential R candidate who can check both of those key bi-partisan criteria boxes that would please Dems. Just sayin'. . .
I actually think that's how things are supposed to work. Something forgotten by many with all of the crazy stuff happening over the last few years. Lets hope it catches on again.
I just sent this email to Pramila Jayapal (my rep):
"The Republicans are having a hard time (!) electing a Speaker of the House. Seems like we have an opportunity to fill the gap. I hope this is already being discussed in back rooms, but just in case…
Isn’t there a moderate Republican the Dems could get behind? If so, wouldn’t it take only a handful of Republicans plus all of the Dems to get the person elected? I think that’s what just happened in Ohio. And wouldn’t that put us all in a good position for legislating together?"
It seems logical to me. If you agree, consider promoting it to your representatives.