(D) Governor Strickland, OH, vows new direction for state

[theHandpuppet]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070315/NEWS01/703150412

Guv changes direction
Governor wows some
BY JON CRAIG AND LIZ LONG

COLUMBUS - Gov. Ted Strickland's first State of the State speech Wednesday offered Ohio a revolution - a reversal of 16 years of Republican rule, from school vouchers to health care to energy policies.

To backers, it was idealistic. But to critics - including the Republican-led General Assembly - it was simply unrealistic. And unpaid for.

Strickland revealed dozens of sweeping promises, but gave few details on where the money to fund them will come from.

Several in the audience called it the most optimistic speech they'd heard at the Statehouse in years.

In fact, Strickland got 11 standing ovations during his 50-minute speech. (Last year, outgoing Gov. Bob Taft's only standing ovations came when he praised his wife, Hope, and the Ohio National Guard.)

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1. Ted Strickland amazes me

From his first day in office he has made me proud to be one of his supporters. I let out a huge cheer yesterday when he put a moratorium on charter schools; and an even louder one when he limited vouchers to the Cleveland experiment. Ted and his beautiful Frances are the true champions of Ohio children. They have what it takes to make a difference!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

2. From Wall Street: Snake Oil Futures Are Down

Charter schools have been nothing but a con job. The few charter schools that are actually providing a quality education could likely survive on their own merits without the use of vouchers. Charter schools are nothing but a method to enrich a few well-connected players at the expense of everybody's kids. Let's hope that next year he (and Governor Doyle here in Wisconsin) have the political muscle to pull the plug altogether.