Perhaps you have never heard of State Senator Andrew Brenner. Read Denis Smith’s recent post about Brenner, and you will learn about an elected official who is “radioactive,” “disingenuous,” tone-deaf, and possibly the dumbest elected official in Ohio.
While chairing the education committee, he described public education as “socialist.”
But that’s only a small part of his infamy.
Smith writes:
Yes, the ever-radioactive Andrew Brenner who with his meanness and bountiful bile is capable of producing Strontium-90 by the megaton, set off yet another chain reaction through his defense of his wife Sara Marie Brenner and her comments about state policies intended to deal with the pandemic.
It was only fitting that Brenner, whose use of social media to heap scorn on his opponents and ridicule those not of the lunatic fringe, set off a barrage from critics when he responded to a posting by his wife:
“This actually feels like Hitler’s Germany,” Sara Marie posted on her Facebook page.
“Sen. Brenner responded: “We will never allow that to happen in Ohio.””
Brenner’s targeting of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and state health director Dr. Amy Acton generated this retort from Darrel Rowland of the Columbus Dispatch.
That the comments came on Holocaust Remembrance Day and that Acton is Jewish ensured their enshrinement in the crowded hall of fame for political stupidity.
With Brenner, the half-life of his tone deafness, aka political stupidity, is another measure of his increasing radioactivity among Ohio voters.
Lest we forget about Brenner’s serial bad behavior, let’s examine a few milestones in his less than illustrious history as a member of the Ohio General Assembly.
In 2014, as part of a blog post, Brenner made national headlines when he wrote that “Public education in America is socialism… Privatize everything and the results will speak for themselves.” He must have forgotten about other public functions, including our socialist public safety departments, socialist public libraries, socialist highway department, and the socialist state health department headed by Dr. Acton.
In 2015, Brenner compared Planned Parenthood to Nazis. (There’s something about Andy and Nazis, isn’t there?)
He is a pro-gun zealot, of course.
With a guy like this shaping education policy, you can understand why Ohio is in trouble.
When someone whose mind is saturated with transactional-capitalism anything that’s not for sale or suitable for selling is “socialist.” I’ll bet he and his wife go to funerals in order to pass out their business cards. Get your cards ready, guys, and wait around a bit–lots of funerals coming on the horizon. CBK
HARD reality, and we are seeing it grow bigger every day: “anything that’s not for sale or suitable for selling is “socialist.””
Ohio education has been captured by some lunatic legislators and the Thomas B. Fordham’s deep pockets and influence in placing key administrators in charge of “public education budgets.” Both wish to raid public funds for contract (charter) schools, private and religious schools, homeschooling, or NO schooling.
From afar, Brenner seems to be the leading lunatic legislator.
I lived in Ohio. My husband was born and bred in Ohio. He graduated from OSU. We both taught in the public schools of Ohio. He taught for the Toledo Public Schools and I taught for the Sylvania Public Schools.
We weep for Ohio.
So many questions:
Is there something in Ohio’s drinking water? Lake Erie? Run off from farm industry and other industries?
Opioid and heroine addiction?
Charters?
Brain drain?
And the other one…Brenner is being PAID OFF under the table.
I think it’s over the table and there for everyone to see. Indeed, as an immigrant from the South who chose to move here—I am not here because of an employer—it has been sad to see the state in race to the bottom with southern states.
Hey Andy.
You know, your right! The country’s crawling with Socialists!
Boo!
–Bob
I would have written “you’re right,” but I wanted to make sure that Andy could understand the note.
Remember, grammar is glamour.
The part that gets me is how useless they are at their jobs. Brenner contributed absolutely nothing while in state government, other than riling up the Right wing base.
I don’t know if Dr. Acton is right about the control of the virus- I’m not ashamed to say I’m relying on professionals because I personally do not know how one would control a virus, but I do know that Acton has worked harder over the last 4 months than Mr. Brenner did during his entire career in government.
They’re not just far Right nuts- they’re terrible at their jobs. They don’t do any work.
I got an “update” from my dentist (a large practice with several offices) – I thought it was interesting. They told patients they’re planning a new infection control protocol so won’t be re-opening until they’re confident they have the best process in place. No mention of state government restrictions- approaching it wholly on patient/employee safety.
That’s probably a good approach. I was impressed by it, anyway.
Brenner represents the wealthiest community and county in Ohio, a suburb north of Columbus. He is the perfect tool for the .001%. They could care less if he profits off of education because they have elite private schools and public schools, nary a charter to be found.
As for dumbest, it’s long line—Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, U.S. reps Steve Chabot and Jim Jordan, Lt. Gov. John Husted, and the winner of the Rob Portman duplicity award goes to Sec. of State Frank LaRose, one whose liquor distributorship family bought him a career. But actually the dumbest might be head of the state Democratic party David Pepper, another heir who I am convinced is part of a Republican sleeper cell.
Grotesque!