Emmy Award-winning Feagler & Friends is a lively, weekly half-hour television discussion of local and national issues impacting lives in Northeast Ohio. Hosted by award-winning journalist and former Plain Dealer columnist, Dick Feagler, Feagler & Friends explores the various issues behind today's news. With a changing ensemble of "friends" ranging from journalists to community and political leaders, Feagler & Friends takes on issues from many different perspectives. Always entertaining and never boring, Feagler & Friends is the program for people "in the know" in Northeast Ohio.

Friday, January 16, 2009

Topics: Politics
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Roundtable: Harry Boomer, reporter, 19 Action News; Bob Dyer, columnist, Akron Beacon Journal, Kevin O’Brien, editorial writer, The Plain Dealer.

Voinovich to Retire: Ohio Senator George Voinovich has decided not to seek a third term, opting instead to retire when his term expires in 2010. The former Cleveland Mayor and Ohio Governor said he wants to spend most of his remaining time enjoying his close-knit family. The Voinovich announcement is expected to jump-start the mid-term elections. In fact, former Cincinnati-area Congressman Rob Portman has already announced his intention to run.

2009 Inauguration: President-elect Obama takes the oath of office next Tuesday in Washington DC. Millions are expected to attend the ceremony and the parade in the nation’s capital. Millions more are turning out for remote inauguration-watching parties in cities across the country.

Bush Legacy: President George W. Bush concluded eight years in office with a news conference and a farewell address to the nation. Bush defended his record on fighting terrorism in a final meeting with White House reporters, but acknowledged mistakes such as that ‘mission accomplished’ banner aboard the warship where he spoke after the ouster of Saddam Hussein. Bush said history will be the best judge of his presidency.

Term Limits: No one’s introduced legislation yet, but term limits are the talk of the town in Columbus where a large crop of freshman lawmakers will tackle daunting budget problems. Turnover mandated by term limits means about a third of Ohio House members are new to the chamber. House Speaker Armond Budish is in his second term.

Recall Effort: Mayor Don Plusquellic is a proven vote-getter in Akron, easily winning re-election in 2007. But a recall effort is picking up steam. Former city council member Warner Mendenhall is collecting petition signatures and has launched a website aimed at recalling Plusquellic. Last fall voters rejected the Mayor’s plan to lease the sewer system to raise money for a scholarship program. While some of his ideas have failed to garner support, voters have still made Plusquellic the city’s longest-serving mayor.

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