In a bold move "to restore trust to elections in Ohio," Ohio's newly-elected Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner, has requested the resignation of all four members of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections. The two Democrats and two Republicans were formally asked to resign by the close of business on March 21. Cuyahoga County includes the heavily Democratic city of Cleveland. Brunner is a Democrat who was elected to be Ohio's Secretary of State in November, 2006.

Felony convictions have also resulted in 18-month prison sentences for two employees of the Cuyahoga BOE as a result of what the county prosecutor in the case calls the "rigging" of the outcome in the recount following the 2004 presidential election. Further problems surfaced in the conduct of Cuyahoga County's May, 2006 primary, in the wake of which Michel Vu, Executive Director of the county's Board of Elections recently resigned.

In tandem, the shake-up in Ohio's biggest county reflects a widening storm surrounding the outcome of the 2004 presidential election and the conduct of elections overall in the nation's most pivotal state.

It began with that monstrous young man so evil we needed to blindfold him and strap him to a board, that confusing young man who looked like Christ but cast us in the role of crucifiers, that treasonous young man who brought dark and heathen evils across linguistic and cultural borders and brought torture onto the list of accepted government actions.

When you hear the phrase "American Taliban" you probably think of a young American who betrayed his country, aided its enemies, and – like Saddam Hussein – was behind the attacks of 9-11.  John Walker Lindh was an American.  That part is accurate.  He converted to Islam at age 16 and traveled to Yemen to study classical Arabic and Islamic theology.  In 2001 he went to Afghanistan to join an ongoing battle between a political group funded by Russia and another group funded by the United States.  Lindh joined the group that was backed and funded by the Bush Administration.  It was called the Taliban.  Lindh trained to fight the Northern Alliance, not civilians, and not the United States.  But, after 9-11, the United States attacked the Taliban, and Lindh attempted to escape and return to America. 

They just wanted to protect the sanctity of the vote. That’s the administration’s pious explanation for why they fired eight U.S. Attorneys who were Republican enough for Bush to have appointed them in the first place.

"The president recalls hearing complaints about election fraud not being vigorously prosecuted and believes he may have informally mentioned it to the attorney general,” explained White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

How could you question such a laudable goal?

Of course the justifications keep shifting, as with the Iraqi war. First it was the general performance of the prosecutors. Then a preference for specific replacements.  Now it’s concern for the democratic process.

I spent the final paces of my walk back to the hotel with my head in the clouds, in awe of the city. I had gotten it. My spirit connected with the city and I found out on a very personal and internal level what makes this city important and great. It’s the people and the palpable spirit you feel here that makes this place like no other. The soul of New Orleans is absolutely enchanted. Imagine a modern day Stonehenge. The Druids and other mystical folk of yesteryear aren’t readily apparent on these streets, but behind the plain clothes of today’s average citizen the spiritual DNA is very close to those sages of times past, of that I have no doubt.

Ed Guide Training Set for March

We are looking for dedicated volunteers for Education Guides to lead a small groups of children on adventures around our farm and nature preserve on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings. No experience necessary.   Location:  Stratford Ecological Center, 3083 Liberty Road, Delaware, OH 43015 (located just south of Delaware, OH, west of the junction of State Routes 23 and 315.  Contact Jane at 740-363-2548 or SECVolunteer@aol.com

Trail Maintenance & New Trail Building

We are looking for volunteers who would like to help in the maintenance, reconstruction and new trail building.  Location:  Stratford Ecological Center, 3083 Liberty Road, Delaware, OH 43015 (located just south of Delaware, OH, west of the junction of State Routes 23 and 315.  Contact Jane at 740-363-2548 or SECVolunteer@aol.com for more information.

Invasive Species Teams