(VIDEO): BOCCIERI'S ELECTION NIGHT PRESS CONFERENCE - EXPECT A 2012 BOCCIERI/RENACCI REMATCH

 

John Boccieri was in no mood to discuss his future political plans on Tuesday night at about 11:30 p.m . after he had conceded to Republican Jim Renacci, but make no mistake about it there will be a Boccieri/Rematch in 2012.

Word is now spreading that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is going to return in 2011 to be the minority leader of the House as the leader of the Democrats and it appears that she is bent on bringing the likes of 16th District Congressman John Boccieri back in November, 2012.

A frustrating thing for the Democrats was their inability to convince voters that they achieved some very significant legislative milestones in two short years.  The temperament of Americans these days is to expect results in a minute and a turnaround on a dime, however, unrealistic such expectations are.

Republicans will face the same phenomenon in two years when congressmen and congresswomen have to run for reelection.  Moreover, the likes of Oelslger, Schuring and Snitchler will be in the same position at the state level.

The expression is "what comes around, goes around."  And Jim Renacci, who The Report believes participated in and rode in on a Republican wave founded on tying Boccieri to Pelosi and Obama which, for the time being, Republicans successfully have cast as being negative, will likely have the same thing done to him come 2012.

Democrats will seize on particular national Republicans (e.g. John Boehner) who say and do things that can be be distorted and twisted into a sustained public negative perception to be hung around the necks of the likes of Renacci.

It was unfair for Renacci to do what was done to Boccieri in 2010 and it will be unfair for Boccieri to return the favor in 2010, but he will.

Though, as can be seen from the press conference video which accompanies this blog, Congressman Boccieri is not prepared to talk about his 2012 plans, the SCPR has no doubt whatsoever that there will be a revisitation of  Boccieri versus Renacci.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI/RENACCI DEBATE SERIES - ON THE ISSUES - RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT JOBS IN THE 16TH DISTRICT

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor in to voters' choices as to which will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

In the following video Boccieri and Renacci "debate" on creating new research and development jobs within the 16th Congressional District.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI, RENACCI & BLEVINS "ON JOBS" - 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SCPR "ON THE ISSUES"

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor in to voters' choices as to which will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

In the following video Boccieri and Renacci "debate" on creating new jobs.

(VIDEO) BOCCIERI/RENACCI ON FREE TRADE VERSUS FAIR TRADE - BOCCIERI & RENACCI: SCPR "ON THE ISSUES"

The Stark County Political Report has a lot of film footage of Congressman John Boccieri (Democrat - Alliance) and Jim Renacci (Republican - Wadsworth), Boccieri's opponent, speaking on the issues that voters of the 16th Congressional District care about in making their choice which of the two to vote for in the election that is now underway (early voting is in progress).

Between now and the actual general election day of November 2nd, the SCPR will be running excerpts of the film footage showing Boccieri's and Renacci's articulations of their positions on the many issues that will factor in to voters' choices as to which will be the 16th District congressman come January 1, 2011.

Check back to the SCPR frequently as The Report will be inter-splicing many such excerpts on a daily basis between now and November 2nd.

In the following video Boccieri and Renacci "debate" the issue of "Fair Trade" versus "Free Trade."

SCPR SERIES: CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES - RENACCI ON IMMIGRATION

With this blog the Stark County Political Report starts a series that will last through the end of October to let readers/viewers see the candidates (Boccieri versus Renacci - Ohio's 16th Congressional District)  "in their own words."

In this blog Republican Jim Renacci responds to a North Canton Town Hall question on immigration.

WHO IS WINNING IN THE 16TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?

Who is likely to win between Congressman John Boccieri and his Republican challenger Jim Renacci?

The SCPR believes that the race is too close to call with Renacci up by a little bit in the polls.

Readers of the SCPR will recall that The Report correctly called the Boccieri/Schuring contest of 2008 with the prediction that Boccieri would win about 10 percentage points.

While no one can call this race with any degree of certainty, it is clear that whomever wins from among Renacci and Boccieri will be the one of the two who can convince 16th District voters that he offers the best promise for producing jobs.

Charlie Cook, a highly regarded national pollster by Democrats and Republicans alike (author "The Cook Political Report"), has identified the jobs issues as the definer of the victor in the close congressional races spread across America this fall (reference:  Hardball, week of September 13, 2010).

But Cook's focus on jobs is nothing new for him.  In a piece on his website date October 10, 2009 (Putting Jobs First), Cook cites as follows:

a fascinating September 21-23 national survey conducted by Democratic pollster Geoff Garin of Hart Research Associates for the Economic Policy Institute. A whopping 81 percent of the 802 registered voters interviewed said that the Obama administration needs to do more about unemployment and disappearing jobs.

The SCPR buys Cook's argument and Garin's research and can now say that whomever wins in the 16th as among Boccieri and Renacci will depend on the "job productiveness potential" voter perception of each.

Notice that The Report does not say whom has the "objective" best job producing plan.

It will be impossible for voters to make such an assessment with all the political spin that both sides are spewing out these days.  But voters will be able to determine who is the more convincing of the two.

Indeed, a la James Carville (Clinton strategist 1992), "it is the economy, stupid!"  -  "de ja vu , all over again" (Yogi Berra).

WILL CONGRESS JOHN BOCCIERI RETURN TO THE SUNOCO STATION AT 1601 WEST TUSC ON JULY 1, 2010?

It was sort of a kickoff of Democrat John Boccieri's campaign to succeed Republican Ralph Regula as congressman for the 16th Congressional District against Kirk Schuring (then in mid-term as a state senator - the 29th).

Rahm Emanuel (now President Obama's chief of staff) was to be at the event, but got hung up in Chicago.

But local Republican hecklers did show up.  What was their heckle?

"Drill, baby, drill."  Gasoline prices were sky high and the hecklers were working Boccieri over.  Boccieri stood his ground condemning the oil companies for their record profits and urged that Americans develop alternative "green" energy.

Who were some of the local Republicans who badgered Boccieri?

One was Alan Harold who is now running for Stark County auditor against Democrat Kim Perez.  Another was Tina Hagan, daughter of former state Rep. John Hagan who had failed in her effort in the March, 2008 primary to follow in her father's footsteps.  The SCPR also remembers prominent Republicans Jan Kishman (a Minerva school board member) and her husband being there.

The Report's question is this.  If Boccieri were to repeat his July 1, 2008 event on July 1, 2010 (as sort of a kickoff of his campaign against Republic Jim Renacci) focusing, perhaps, on "green energy" - in the light of the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; would the throng of "Drill, baby. drill" local Republicans screamers of July, 2008 show up?

Hmm?

CONGRESSMAN BOCCIERI WORRIES ABOUT GOVERNMENT COSTS? SCPR READERS CAN HELP HIM FIND AT LEAST ONE WAY TO CUT COSTS.. TELL HIM TO STOP SENDING "THIS MAILING WAS PREPARED, PUBLISHED AND MAILED AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE" BOCCIERI PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS TO YOU. THE SCPR DID!

The word is that Congressman John Boccieri is concerned about the cost of providing health care to millions of uncovered Americans.

And, cost is a legitmate concern.

But Boccieri seems to have his priorities mixed up.

Within the last day or so, yours truly received a "puff" piece from the Congressman telling me how great he is.

So?

Well, he charges me - a U.S. taxpayer - to tell me how great he is as a congressman.

Who thinks that's an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars?

Yours truly doesn't and you probably don't either.

You might want to follow the SCPR's example.

For your viewing pleasure, here is a copy of  The Report's email exchange with the good Congressman via his communications director Jessica Kershaw:

BOCCIERI: FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT HE GOT A PASS FROM PELOSI TO VOTE "NO" ON HEALTHCARE REFORM?

The focus has been on Congressman John Bocieri's (D-OH/16th) vote against the Health Care reform bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday night last.

But there is more to this story.

The story behind the story on the Boccieri vote is his earlier vote on the so called "Stupak amendment."

What is the Stupak amendment?

It is language that prohibits the federal government from funding abortions even if filtered through a private health insurance company health care plan except in the case of the life of the mother being in jeopardy, incest or rape.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed the bill to come to a vote so that "pro-life" Democrats could vote for the final health care reform bill.  The strategy worked.   Pro-life Democrats provided the margin of victory in the 220 to 215 vote.

But some Democrats were allowed to vote against the bill anyway in order to placate Republican oriented constituencies.  One such Democrat?  Stark County's John Boccieri.

Boccieri was one of 64 Democrats who voted for the Stupak amendment.

Okay.

So what is with the "C Street" stuff in the SCPR's presented graphic at the lead of this blog?

First, let yours truly (a la Richard Nixon) "make this perfectly clear:"  It is most likely  that Boccieri's voting for the Stupak amendment has nothing to do with Boccieri having any connection to Supak's (a Democrat from Michigan) association (he stays there when in Washington) with "The Family" with a house on "C Street" in the capitol.

However, one does have to ask the question.

The most likely explanation?

John Boccieri is a Roman Catholic.

It well known that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops is vehemently opposed to federal funding in any way, shape or form for abortions.

Apparently, Boccieri is a devout Roman Catholic and that his religion dictated his vote on the Stupak amendment.

TRACKING OUR LEGISLATORS SERIES - BOCCIERI: DEALING OUT YOUR TAX DOLLARS. DO YOU APPROVE?

Let's see:  7 attorneys and 11 social workers for temporary jobs (17 months at most, some only 12 months)  Is such a good use of your federal tax dollars in Stark County?

The SCPR thinks not.

Undoubtedly, Stark County prosecutor John Ferrero thinks so and Stark County Democratic Party chairman Randy Gonzalez will be cheered by the news.  A good chance to beef up political patronage, is it not?

Moreover, the one million plus should go to capital/infrastructure projects that local governments could not otherwise do (except for the likes of the "sewer/water line to nowhere in Canal Fulton).

Boccieri is very much a "let me get local government officials on my side" type of guy for they can help get me re-elected.  So if local officials determine that they want to use "temporary" money to "temporarily" employ or avoid laying off employees, "so be it" to consummate politician John Boccieri.

It is kind of like what the Stark County commissioners are doing with the 9-1-1 restructure.

A little different, but not much.

"We (the Stark County commissioners muse to themselves and to each other - with a "wink and a nod") will impose a 0.50 percent sales/use tax increase under the primary 'apparent' reason of fixing 9-1-1 (although beefing up general fund money is the bigger part of the deal), and, to gain support of the Stark County's township, village and city officials we will - in effect - "kick-back" to them for them to use the monies they currently use for 9-1-1 for other purposes.  Aren't we being cute?"

Of course, they are.

There is the political benefit to the commissioners and their effort to keep the tax.   The employees and officials of these Stark County communities - with new revenues at stake - are going to be out working hard to defeat the Stark Citizens Right for the Vote Committee effort to repeal the commissioner imposed tax.

Another result of the "cute move" by the commissioners?

Stark Countians are paying twice for 9-1-1.

So where are the similarities between Boccieri and his federal government largess to Stark County and the commissioners' 9-1-1 ploy.

Both the federal stimulus monies and the 9-1-1 sales/use tax collections are sort of like a "shell game."

How so?

They constitute a hiding of tax dollars being spent in terms of accountability as to "really" doing the "essential" services of government and preparing the community infrastructure so as to make a given Stark County community attractive to existing employer job expansion or to lure new employers to Stark County communities.

Both the federal stimulus monies and the 9-1-1 sales/use tax collections are being used to buttress the "staying in office" ambitions of the politicians who dole them out (the Stark commissioners) or have a hand in doling them out (Boccieri).

What the commissioners and Boccieri do not understand is that each and every act like these make ordinary voters just a tad more skeptical perhaps even cynical about the efficacy of government and over the longer haul less supportive.