The Great Debate

Actually, for two guys not known as stem-winding public speakers, it was, if not great, at least pretty good.

I refer to last night's first debate between Rich Cordray (D) and Mike DeWine (R) in the Ohio Gover-nerd's race.  There were no huge surprises or mistakes, but it was fairly lively.  Overall, DeWine seemed old and somewhat unprepared.  Cordray was on his game.  I thought he had the better night.

Their positions on the evening's topics offered a clear contrast.  No room for indecisive "independents" in this contest.  Pick a side.

Recap a la Buster:

ECOT -- Now out of business, the Electronic Classroom Of Tomorrow was the for-profit online charter school beloved by Ohio Republicans until its multi-million dollar fraud finally hit home.  DeWine and running mate Jon Husted received $40,000 in donations from ECOT officials.  Cordray would abolish all for-profit charter schools.

Abortion/Women's reproductive rights -- Cordray would veto any "heartbeat bill" passed by the legislature.  (Heartbeat bills are clearly unconstitutional and would effectively ban all abortions.)  DeWine says he'd sign it immediately.

Legalizing marijuana --  Cordray is in favor, DeWine is opposed.  DeWine even blurted out a bizarre assertion about Colorado toddlers OD'ing on gummie bears!  LOL!

Ohio Issue 1 -- Would eliminate jail time for most non-violent drug possession offenses, reducing former Felony 4 and 5 counts to misdemeanors, and mandating any resultant savings be directed to drug treatment.  Cordray says Yes on Issue 1, noting that our prisons are extremely overcrowded, and incarceration is costly and ineffective.  He wants more emphasis on treatment and rehab, not punishment.  DeWine says No on Issue 1, saying that druggies will never agree to treatment unless threatened with prison.  He says big-time drug dealers will flock to Ohio, and says Issue 1 shows that Cordray clearly intends to kill 10,000 Ohioans with misdemeanor quantities of fentanyl.  (Who'da thunk?  Killer Cordray.  And Rich seems like such a nice boy.)

Obamacare/ACA -- Cordray has always been a supporter, DeWine always an opponent.  On his first day as Ohio's Attorney General, DeWine brought a federal suit to overturn portions of the ACA.

Ohio's Medicaid expansion via the ACA -- Cordray has always been for it.  DeWine was originally against it.  Now he says he's for it, "but only if those deadbeats get a friggin' job!"

Health insurance with non-discriminatory coverage of pre-existing conditions per the ACA -- Cordray is a yes.  DeWine has never actively defended the right to pre-existing coverage, but claims he's "always" been for such coverage.  That's hard to believe, since he's always been in favor of repealing the ACA, and DeWine has never said just how he'd go about covering pre-existing conditions.

Gun control/School safety -- DeWine thinks the problem is crazy people, not guns.  He'd place a mental health "person" in every school, along with an armed cop/other "resource" officer.  DeWine is for red-flag laws to temporarily remove guns from dangerous people "as long as it's constitutional" (meaning he knows the NRA will allege it's a 2nd Amendment violation, so we can just forget about it!)  Cordray favors thorough background checks on all gun sales, no sales under age 21, no bump stocks and no high-capacity ammo clips.  He said DeWine has never done a thing to address gun proliferation.

Opioid epidemic -- DeWine would appoint an Ohio Opioid Czar.  Oh, great idea, Mikey!  That always works.  Cordray says he'll take criminal action against big traffickers, and enforcement actions against big drug manufacturers and big drug distributors.  He wants more treatment and rehab for users.  He said, "News flash:  We already have an opioid czar [meaningDeWine].  When you see him, tell him he's doing a horrible job."

Age -- DeWine 71, Cordray 59.

Height -- DeWine: "C'mon, that's not fair!"  Cordray: "Suck it, Shorty!"