Who are those guys (and gal)?

Republicans must think that U.S. Rep. Zack Space, D-Dover, is vulnerable. That's apparently why eight people are facing off in the Republican primary on Tuesday.

That's right -- eight people. You think they're smelling blood?

Here's the list:

Beau Bromberg, Newark;
Fred Dailey, Mount Vernon
Dave Daubenmire, Thornville
Bob Gibbs, Lakeville
Ron Hood, Ashville
Hombre Liggett, Dover
Jeanette Moll, Zanesville
Michael D. Royer, Malvern
According to the Columbus Dispatch, Moll is the favorite although Gibbs, a state senator, is the guy the party wants. The Dispatch says straw polls put Liggett in second place with Gibbs second from last.

Republicans should remember this when they go to the polls: More than anything else, Zack Space's residency -- Tuscarawas County -- will have a far larger impact on the results than his stand on cap-and-trade or healthcare reform. Tuscarawas County contains the largest pool of voters in the district and if Space runs well there, he will likely retain the seat if only breaking even everywhere else.

And voters traditionally have given passes to their congressmen while complaining at the same time how worthless Congress is.

That's not to say that Space will have an easy ride to re-election. He won't, but unless something unexpected happens between now and November, he should win re-election no matter whom Republicans nominate on Tuesday.

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Here's an easy prediction: former Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher will defeat Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Brunner recently called out Fisher for referring to her as "Jennifer" during a recent debate. She said Fisher was not respecting her by referring to her by first name.

That,. folks, is ridiculous.

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The state's voters are being called on to change the location of the Columbus casino (State Issue 2). That's what happens when we screw with the Constitution rather than legislating change. Should voters in Tuscarawas County care about where the folks in Franklin County put their casino?

No. Vote yes on Issue 2.

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Prediction: The Tea Party phenomenon will fizzle as soon as people realize that it really offers nothing but anger at the way things are going.

I think the main premise of  the Tea Party is that the government ought not to be spending money it doesn't have. OK, so what does it think we ought to cut? Medicare? Social Security? Defense? What?

Therein lies the problem. As far as I can tell, there is no consensus.  Except the anger thing. And the fact that its members don't like President Barack Obama.