The Fitrakis Files: The Brothers Voinovich and the Ohiogate Scandal

Bob Fitrakis is at his best when he writes about George Voinovich at his worst. Catching Voinovich at his worst was not that hard when the former "frugal" Cleveland mayor and future "moderate" U.S. senator held statehouse ethics hostage as Ohio's governor in the 1990s. So it's not surprising that The Fitrakis Files: The Brothers Voinovich and the Ohiogate Scandal -- the fourth compilation of the Columbus State Community College professor, lawyer, activist, and talk-radio firebrand's writings -- is probably his best.

That's not to say the first three Fitrakis Files -- Spooks, Nukes & Nazis, The Schoolhouse Divided and Free Byrd & Other Cries of Justice are not exemplary. How could I say otherwise when I co-wrote some of the entries in the Byrd book? But The Brothers Voinovich and the Ohiogate Scandal rises above the others because the Voinovich clan and the brownshirts who did their bidding made such easy targets as they turned statehouse sleaze into an art form.

Fitrakis gets off to a good start in this compilation of his writings from Columbus Alive and The Free Press with its dedication to "the exemplary

Boston awaits dead party

At convention time, in years gone by, pundits would decry with patronizing chuckles the supposed proclivity of the Democratic Party to "tear itself apart." Auto-rupture is actually a good thing. As Hegel once said, "a political party only truly exists when it is divided against itself." In Hegel's sense, the Democratic Party has ceased to exist. The pundits have had their wish. The party is united, in the peace of death.

        Let's start with the obvious. The central political issue in this first decade of the 21st century is the decay of the American political system and of the two prime parties that share the spoils. Wherever one looks, at the gerrymandered districts, the balloting methods, the fundraising, corruption fumes like vapors from a vast swamp. In the House of Representatives today, only some 35 seats are in serious contention. The rest have been gerrymandered into permanent incumbencies.

Not in this lifetime for Clinton

AUSTIN, Texas  -- I like Bill Clinton's book. I feel as though I should immediately apologize for saying that. I mean, it's gotten a bunch of bad reviews -- all sorts of superior people have peed all over it and pointed out he shouldn't have said this, or he should have said that.

        Let me get my claim to intellectual superiority in here right away: I was prepared to dislike the book. I was prepared to find it self-serving, inadequate, insufficiently groveling and all that other good doo. Actually, I think it's well written, interesting and informative. I'd recommend it to almost anyone who's interested in politics, including young people with any inclination toward public service.

        I started reading it just to make sure Bill Clinton is who I always thought he was. Yep, same guy. Superb politician with a zipper problem. Interesting case. But even I learned quite a bit along the way.

Protect US forests

They've finally done it. For the past three and a half years, I've been writing to you about the Bush administration's efforts to undermine the Roadless Area Conservation Rule that protects 58.5 million acres of America's wild forests. But yesterday, the Bush administration proposed to repeal the roadless rule in its entirety - and allow timber, oil, and mining interests to tear a spider web of roads through America's last wild forests.

Please take a moment right now to submit an official comment to Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth and let the Bush administration know that you oppose the wholesale destruction of America's last wild forests. Then - even if you've never done so before - ask your family and friends to help by forwarding this along; there is no more important time to act.

Take action now: wildforests.com/wildforests.asp?id=11&id4=OHFreep

Background

Our Media update

On April 16 and 17, concerned citizens gathered in Columbus to assess the state of media and learn skills for media activism and the creation of community media.

Columbus hosted “The Medium and the Message: A Community Hearing on Local Broadcasting and the Public Interest” on April 16. The panel discussion featured Johanna Shelton, Media Advisor to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. Adelstein cast a dissenting vote in recent FCC rulemaking that permits greater concentration of media ownership and has been outspoken on the need to establish substantive localism requirement for broadcasters.

Columbus’ People’s Agenda 2004, a draft

The battle for the soul of the Democratic Party continues. The supporters of Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich and Al Sharpton realized that the DLC (Democratic Leisure Class) that promoted John Kerry as the “alternative” to his Skull and Bones cohort George W. Bush, needed an actual people’s agenda in Democratic strongholds like Cleveland and Detroit.

People’s advocates met and crafted their own democratic party platform as printed below. Locally, City Councilperson Charleta Tavares led the effort to draft the Columbus People’s Platform. The People’s Agenda will be presented inside and outside the Democratic Party convention.

Let us know what you think and what should be included. Politics belongs to the people. Contact the Free Press with your input: truth@freepress.org or 253-2571.

Sealed

In response to terror warnings in 2003, many Americans wrapped their homes with
plastic and duct tape, some so completely that their families died of asphyxiation.

First the windows. If you see light, air can get in. Ah, the duct
tape rip, the stick that fixes
anything. Burn a match by any
cracks and watch for smoke to blow.

Tape shut our mouths, x-out
the children’s eyes. Refugees on TV
run from shells—one carries
a dead child. Another covers
the lens with his hand. Turn it off. Did you

sleep well, dream blithely through
or choke one another for the final breath?

Morality massacred at Mogr el-Deeb

Whether the US attack at Mogr el-Deeb slaughtered foreign fighters in their hideout or innocent Iraqis at a wedding is a diversion from the core moral issue…the attack itself.

The Bush-revised rules of engagement that led to the May 19 massacre and so many more are at the heart of the madness.

Whatever happened to, “Come out with your hands up!” ?

Even the Comics Code (which regulates comic book content) requires the good guys in war and action titles to give the bad guys their fair chance to surrender. Attack without provocation or regard for innocents is always the hallmark of the bad guys. And yet even the U.S. army’s version of Mogr el-Deeb events doesn’t say the victims were given a white flag option.

From a military standpoint, overwhelming force superiority not only affords but encourages the option of seeking peaceful enemy surrender. It is fundamentally the most desirable outcome. No bodies to count, no munitions wasted. And useful intel is far more likely gleaned from a living subject than a dead one. Plus, they just may be innocent.

Stand Up for Clean Air - Sierra Club Earth Day Rally

At this Tuesday morning rally, several people gathered together to “Stand Up for Clean Air.” The rally also focused on the effects that the Bush administration’s irresponsible environmental campaign is having on Ohio communities.

The evidence of Ohio’s degenerating environmental progress is concurrent with Bush’s lapse in ensuring environmental protection and enforcement of environmental laws.

“Bush has the worst environmental record in presidential history” said Trish Lanahan, an activist with the Sierra Club who is working to, “protect the Columbus environment from Bush.”

The “Ohio Communities at Risk” report addresses; increased mercury pollution in water, air pollution’s connection to increased asthma cases, sprawl and the increase of sewage in our rivers.

Speakers featured in the report came to the rally to share their personal experiences connected with these four issues that are affecting the livability of our communities. These true and sometimes heart-breaking testaments pegged the Bush Administration’s for putting “Ohio Communities at Risk.”

Take Back the Night

This year’s “Take Back the Night,” presented by the Feminist Students United, brought together an array of women, too few men, and a lot of feminine strength, support and education.

In a concrete courtyard on the Ohio State campus, “Taking Back the Night” spanned from twilight through late night with; performance art, music, demonstrations, speakers, a rally to prepare for the march, which was followed by a candlelight vigil and speakout.

“Taking Back the Night” is about standing up against the violence and sexual abuse that threaten women from feeling safe. It’s about taking back something that shouldn’t have been lost in the first place, the safety and confidence a woman should feel even if she is alone at night.

Speakers included Shawn Ireland, Dr. Paulette Pierce, Sarah Mahr, Deborah Schipper, and a demonstration by OSU Women’s Self-Defense and Martial Arts Club. Each speaker brought a different component of feminine empowerment to the gathering.

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