Osborne's First Punch

I guess I always figured Representative/Coach Osborne would play this election as the elder statesman, coming back to govern with dignity. But darned it if ol’ TO hasn’t come out swingin’ at Governor Dave from the git go! Official Day One: GO NEGATIVE!

(Osborne officially files, vows to reduce spending – OWH – 2/14/06)

Not hearing the whole thing, I’m guessing he was responding to a question, but Osborne immediately sent a hard jab at the Governor over what he calls Heineman’s “roller coaster ride of tax cuts and tax hikes.” Ouch!

But TO has a proposal too, and it’s a doozy:

1) Have a statewide audit. (OK, fine, but that’s not exactly a plan, now is it?)

2) Reform statewide Medicare. (Beyond my pay grade. Could be a good plan? I really don’t know. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on this.)

3) Save loads of money by cutting down on meth use and underage drinking.

OK, on that last one: You’re kidding, right? Does ANYONE think A) you can really make a significant cut in underage drinking and B) save loads of money doing it? I don’t want to beat a dead horse, but how’d that plan work out with the Peter brothers?

And I don’t want to try to tackle the whole meth thing, but I’m guessing that there’s no great way to make a significant dent in that, any more than there is for any other drug. Are we talking about more “Real Men Don’t Use Porn Meth” billboards?

This is truly a ridiculous proposition from a serious candidate for the highest office in the state, let alone from the guy who’s probably going to be anointed to the job anyway.

Heineman and Nabity have plans that I’m sure have plenty of question marks in them. But the former Coach’s is so silly, I’m wondering what’s going on in his office.