I never thought I would see it -- the Treasury of the great state of Ohio raided by what appear to be a bunch of batman villains.
The plot thickens daily! First we learn that $50 million or more of the state workmen's compensation fund has been ''invested,'' if that is the proper term, in coins, baseball cards, historic banners, loans to coin dealers and joint ventures with heaven knows whom. Then we learn that $200 million of more of the same fund has been ''lost'' in highly speculative hedge fund ''investments'' (if, again, that is even the proper term).
What's next? Are we going to learn that another fortune has been lost in an ill-conceived attempt to corner the market for Elvis plates? I was almost relieved when The Columbus Dispatch cautiously reported this morning that the state's ''portfolio'' does not -- at least not yet -- appear to include any beanie babies.
Now it appears that our favorite coin dealer may have ''lost'' coins worth over $300,000 ''in the mail,'' that he may have sold coins to the state at an astronomical mark-up, and that, since commencing business with the state, he has developed a penchant for vacation homes and luxury cars. These are the sorts of things that happen when you move state funds from the bond markets to the flea markets.
Normally I would wait to pass judgment until all the facts are in. But does that really matter here? All of this is so totally looney that, at least for starters, one conclusion is unavoidable -- Governor Taft must resign, and the good and decent men and women who comprise the core of his own political party must make sure that he does so -- now.
Does it really matter whether Bob Taft was personally involved in this mess, or actually knew what stupidity was going on? Does it matter whether he was actually shovelling coal for these clowns, or only asleep at the switch? I think not.
No matter what happens, it will never again be possible to take seriously anything that Bob Taft says or does as Governor of Ohio. As a past admirer of Bob Taft, who always seemed to me to be a good and decent, if ineffective, person, I am very saddened that its come to this. But come to this it has.
The time has come, the time is now, Bob Taft, will you please . . . .
The plot thickens daily! First we learn that $50 million or more of the state workmen's compensation fund has been ''invested,'' if that is the proper term, in coins, baseball cards, historic banners, loans to coin dealers and joint ventures with heaven knows whom. Then we learn that $200 million of more of the same fund has been ''lost'' in highly speculative hedge fund ''investments'' (if, again, that is even the proper term).
What's next? Are we going to learn that another fortune has been lost in an ill-conceived attempt to corner the market for Elvis plates? I was almost relieved when The Columbus Dispatch cautiously reported this morning that the state's ''portfolio'' does not -- at least not yet -- appear to include any beanie babies.
Now it appears that our favorite coin dealer may have ''lost'' coins worth over $300,000 ''in the mail,'' that he may have sold coins to the state at an astronomical mark-up, and that, since commencing business with the state, he has developed a penchant for vacation homes and luxury cars. These are the sorts of things that happen when you move state funds from the bond markets to the flea markets.
Normally I would wait to pass judgment until all the facts are in. But does that really matter here? All of this is so totally looney that, at least for starters, one conclusion is unavoidable -- Governor Taft must resign, and the good and decent men and women who comprise the core of his own political party must make sure that he does so -- now.
Does it really matter whether Bob Taft was personally involved in this mess, or actually knew what stupidity was going on? Does it matter whether he was actually shovelling coal for these clowns, or only asleep at the switch? I think not.
No matter what happens, it will never again be possible to take seriously anything that Bob Taft says or does as Governor of Ohio. As a past admirer of Bob Taft, who always seemed to me to be a good and decent, if ineffective, person, I am very saddened that its come to this. But come to this it has.
The time has come, the time is now, Bob Taft, will you please . . . .
