After reading the so called Troopergate report issued by Ohio's Inspector General I concluded quickly, like most other right leaning Ohio bloggers, that the Strickland administration was at fault. But now, like the Columbus Dispatch, I'm having serious second thoughts.

The simple fact is that something is starting to stink about this investigative report.  And his name is Ted Wendling.

For those of you who don't recall, Wendling is the former attack dog from the Cleveland Plain Dealer who hired on at the IG's office after a round of layoffs at the PD.  Many in the GOP view Wendling as some kind of liberal attack journalist, but I think they miss the point.

In reality, Ted Wendling's most successful work at the Cleveland Plain Dealer was in his efforts to tarnish the records and reputations of Ohio Republicans' more moderate officeholders and staffers.  These officeholders included Larry Householder and Jim Petro .  Staffers and consultants included Kyle Sisk, Brett Buerck, Tom Whatman, Sam Van Voorhis and myself.

Using both on the record interviews and off the record tips, conservative Republicans like State Senator Tim Grendell, former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, and others used the Cleveland Plain Dealer to bury their more moderate rivals.   The result was that Larry Householder exited public life.  Jim Petro was defeated in the 2006 primary for Governor.  The bogus investigations by the FBI, IRS, and Secretary of State faded away.  And Blackwell lost the general election.

Now it appears that Ted Wendling is being unleashed upon moderate Governor Ted Strickland and his top staffers.  The goal, to satisfy a personal grudge of IG Tom Charles and to once again benefit a conservative Republican running for Governor.  Ironic isn't?