Strickland's checkmate. Dann vs. the world

I know, I'm biased, but I just have to say this is brilliant political move by the Governor to get the entire statewides, Sherrod Brown, and Chris Redfern on board. Instantly, they have distinguished our party from the Republican Party in how it handles its own. No longer can Kevin DeWine credibly link Dann to the rest of the party. We've divorced him. And we were willing to go where the Republicans, for purely political reasons, would not go-- impeachment. The fact is that it was the Democratic Party, not the Republicans, who were the first to say that if Dann would not resign, then he will be removed from office involuntarily.  Had the Republicans just said that this weekend.  Had they not tried to be cute by calling only for special prosecutor while talking about the political ramifications in the fall for all races, Strickland wouldn't have had the opening he seized this morning.  The Republicans played the wrong hand, and Strickland & Co. outplayed them.

The Republicans thought they could investigate the hell out of Dann so long as they didn't impeach him or he resigned.  Now, Strickland has forced their hand.  Husted cannot sit on any impeachment resolution for Dann, or else the Republicans will look like they were grandstanding.  Those Republicans genuinely interested in getting Dann out of office have the cover of the House Democratis to support it without being accused of being partisan.

And every incumbent Democrat in the General Assembly can now publicly divorce themselves of Dann and hold our party as one that policies its own with pride. 

Dann is a former legislator, so he should know how to count votes.  The Republicans would look fooolish now to oppose impeachment.  The Democrats are going to side with the Governor.  Because, let's face it, Dann didn't have any coattails even before the scandal.  And Strickland looks like he's still at the inaugural ball he's so formally attired.

Where does Dann go for votes to keep him in office?  There's nowhere he can go.  He simply never had the political capital to compete with Strickland even before the scandal.  What can he deliver now to get a House member's support?  Not much.

Dann says he's in the office today, rolling up his sleeves.  Too late for that.

Dann has got to realize now, that unless the entire Democratic Party establishment is bluffing, there is no way for him to ride this out until November 2010.  It's over.

All he has in his corner is the Youngstown Vindicator and the Toledo Blade.  It ain't enough.  The unions won't back Dann over Strickland and Brown.  The party is against him, and the Republicans have already committed too much.

Checkmate.