State of the State of the State Address

"The state of our state is steadfast."

"Never, never underestimate the people of Ohio."

"The time has come for us to stare truth in the face."

"Our great state embodies the American experience. So too does our economy mirror the current American struggle."

"The people of Ohio have not failed, and in this moment of turmoil, we must not fail them."

Governor Ted Strickland had his rhetorical moments in his State of the State address yesterday.

Quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson, he said, "this is a very good time if we but know what to do with it."

I must admit, though, he had me holding my breath when he began his address with the story of OSU's football stadium.

During a "frightening" economic period, he noted, some visionaries built "... a stadium where [today] the eyes of the nation focus on fall Saturdays. A stadium that is the home of champions, the pride of our state, a living symbol of what we can accomplish together."

I thought, "My God, he's going to stimulate the state's economy by replacing the stadium with a domed facility!"

Hmmm. Home of a future Super Bowl? Perhaps the 2016 Olympics? A giant casino in the basement?

But I still think he could come to our rescue with some personal derring-do.