Governor Ted Strickland made a call into Cincinnati's WLW 700AM this afternoon, and was quizzed by the show's hosts, Eddie and Tracy. He was asked about the proposed high speed rail system, as well as cuts to the state budget, including the proposed 50% reduction in library funding that has much of the state up in arms.

When posed the question, "Are you going to do away with 50% of the libraries?", Strickland responded:

Uh no, I'm I am not. But I can tell you what I am going to do. I am going to right size this government. I'm going to make sure that we don't continue to do everything that we've always done. There's a wonderful editorial in the Columbus Dispatch.. no, um, the Cincinnati Enquirer... today that lays it out. It doesn't take positions, it just lays out the options. And I am trying to deal with these options responsibly. But I can tell you I am proposing some significant reductions in state spending. It will not... you know there are some libraries that are saying things to people if you check out a book now you've got to have it back by July 1 in case Strickland's budget passes. That is so disingenuous, so manipulative, so in my judgment, dishonest. So we're asking for people to understand that we're in a difficult economy. Resources are restricted."

The tone of the Governor's voice, at times, during his response was clearly agitated.

"I believe there are some groups that are exaggerating, trying to convey a sense of desperation. It's not justified," said Strickland.

Although he did not specifically identify libraries in that statement, it was implied.

However, it appears that the tens of thousands of email messages, phone calls and comments on Facebook and Twitter have begun to rattle the Ohio governor. At the end of his interview, one of the hosts commented:

"Great call on the slot machines. Now let's make some serious money and put in the casinos."

Strickland chuckled and replied:

"Well you know, it is good to hear a positive comment. Thank you, I needed that."

It's likely one of the few positive remarks that he's received since announcing his support of slashing library budgets by 50 percent, and one of the few he may now ever receive after committing career suicide.

You can listen to an audio recording of the show right here.

A big thanks goes out to WLW 700AM for allowing us to redistribute the audio of this afternoon's broadcast and interview with the Governor.