Henry Kravis made $14 every second of every minute of 2006... and he probably paid a lower tax rate than you.
We will be meeting up at SEIU Local 3 at 100 N 5th Street in Columbus and then marching on Kravis's company, KKR Nuvox, this Thursday at 1.
Meet some great people and make yourself heard this July 17th, SEIU's Global Day of Action.
Click here to RSVP online and here for details on what private equity is and how it effects you.
Brian Rothenberg
Executive Director
ProgressOhio.org
Click to Subscribe to "Shadows on High"
Please forward to your friends and colleagues!
ProgressOhio - "We're Powered By You"
Don't see enough progressive candidates on the ballot?
How often have you been disappointed with the caliber of politicians on your local ballot? How often have you voted for the "least worst" candidate? Then it's time to help Progressive Majority find a new wave of progressive leaders!
Now is your opportunity to "BUILD" your ideal progressive candidate and then "DRAFT" progressives to run for office in your community. First, build your candidate and tell us what you are looking for in candidates with our simple and fun Build a Candidate tool. Whether it is vision, experience, character, background or progressive motive, let us know what matters to you.
Click here to get started and build your ideal progressive candidate.
Then we need your help to find and "DRAFT" as many as possible progressives to run for office around the country. Maybe you have a co-worker who is always talking progressive politics, a neighbor who's a great leader or a friend from school who would make the perfect progressive candidate. Sometimes all it takes to get great people to run for office is a little push from people they know. That's where you come in.
Go to DraftAProgressive.org and submit your progressive champions to be drafted today. It only takes a minute, and you'll join us in our everyday mission by identifying and recruiting potential progressive candidates today to develop and help tomorrow's progressive leaders WIN to advances our issues
This effort is sponsored by our friends at Progressive Majority, the nation's only national political organization dedicated exclusively to recruiting progressive champions at the state and local levels to run for office. They identify, recruit, train and elect progressive champions, and they need our help to find more of them!
Visit DraftAProgressive.org and take a look at the people who have already been drafted, and submit your own "slate." Your friends and family could make a great difference in our election of more progressives who are ready, willing and able to run and win.
You build and draft the candidates, and we along with Progressive Majority will take it from there!
Sincerely,
Jeff Lucas
Online Manager
Progressive Majority
Tonight the story with their video was on Olbermann.
Watch it:
You Can Help Out Here
Day of Action for an Oil-Free President Big Oil has a new candidate for president: their friend John McCain. With 21 oil lobbyists running his campaign, John McCain won't solve our energy crisis.
So July 9th is our National Day of Action for an Oil Free President.
At gas stations across the country, we'll reach out to local voters--and the media--with a clear message: the American people need an Oil-Free President -- and that is NOT John McCain.
Host your own local outreach event or sign up for an event near you.
Host your own Day of Action for an Oil-Free President
or
Sign up for an event near you.
Events in Ohio:
Click on an event name to sign up
Wednesday, 9 Jul 2008, 5:00 PM
BP on High street in Old Worthington
14 registered participant(s) (30 maximum)
7141 N High St & Wilson Bridge Rd
Worthington, OH 43085
Description We are going to link John McCain to big oil. We need to show that the only green McCain is interested in is more money for big oil.
oil free president
gas station
21 registered participant(s) (75 maximum)
main and stewart streets
dayton, OH 45419
Description passing out signs, leaflets
Rally for an Oil Free President
Shell station at 125 and 275
11 registered participant(s) (50 maximum)
653 Ohio Pike
Cincinnati, OH 45245.
Description Peaceful demonstration to show ties of McCain to
big oil.
Camp Wellstone Ohio: Citizen Activist track
Register today!
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to be trained and ready for 2008 elections! This 2.5 day training, running from 2-9pm Friday, 9am-6pm Saturday, and 9am-3:30pm Sunday, combines lectures from highly experienced trainers, stimulating exercises, and interactive simulations. We're counting on you to organize around issues that matter, help build campaigns for the future, and elect progressive candidates to office.
Camp Wellstone is divided into three tracks:
- Citizen activist track. For people interested in citizen lobbying, issue advocacy, and community organizing, this track provides skills in how to win on issues.
- Campaign track. This track focuses on how to be an effective staff or volunteer member of a winning progressive campaign.
- Candidate track. This is for people who have made the decision to run for office.
The cost of Camp Wellstone is based on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. We are committed to keeping this training accessible to all. If you are able to cover the full cost of your participation in this training, please do so as this will help us continue to train progressives across the country. Rates are as follows: $200 (full cost), $100 (50% of training cost), or $50 (25% of training cost). This fee covers our book, Politics the Wellstone Way, materials, and three meals during the weekend. We are not able to guarantee space at the Camp unless payment is received two weeks prior to the start date.
The exact location of this training will be announced to registered participants.
There's still space available for Camp EqualityTM the weekend of July 12-13 in Cincinnati and July 19-20 in Columbus. This is an exciting opportunity that will prepare you to help make 2008 the Year to Win for GLBT individuals across the country. Register now at www.hrc.org/campequality!
This year, elections will occur for a new president, all U.S. House members, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and thousands of state legislators.
Want to see what Camp Equality is like?
Check out the video!
The Human Rights Campaign will be on the campaign trail every step of the way - and we want you to be there, too.
That's why we're holding Camp EqualityTM - a two-day training session to develop and hone campaigning skills - in Cincinnati on July 12-13 and in Columbus on July 19-20.
Whether you are just getting involved in the electoral process or are a campaign professional, Camp EqualityTM can help you learn how to become more effective at advocating your causes and your candidates. We will offer two training tracks
Fundamentals Track: Designed to give you the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, recruitment, volunteer coordinating, event fundraising, earned media, and creating a local activist plan. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your issue campaign or local committee in the best position to win.
Advanced Track: For our more seasoned activist or campaign professionals. This track offers the fundamentals of political campaign management. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of fundraising, field organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, targeting, candidate relations, and the latest campaign technology.
If you have ever thought about volunteering for a campaign or already have experience in campaigns, we hope that you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge that you can apply to all aspects of campaign operations. Registration for Camp EqualityTM is $35 and includes a one-year HRC membership.
Over the past month, Ohio Senate Democrats have held several Listening Tour events focused on economic security issues. Each event has been convened by a member of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
“The Listening Tour is a statewide series of public forums designed to build awareness of and support for the legislative vision of the Senate Democratic Caucus through a comprehensive Economic Security Agenda. These public forums will serve as a catalyst to develop specific legislation to spur job creation, provide quality health care, advance clean-coal technology, reduce crime, invest in our urban neighborhoods, end foreclosure and promote affordable housing. The Listening Tour is an opportunity for the public to inform the Senate Democratic Caucus as it develops legislative solutions for issues relevant to local communities throughout the state of Ohio.”
The last scheduled event will be held from 1-4 PM on Friday, July 18 at the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus. This session, focused on affordable housing, will be convened by Senator Ray Miller.
"During the various Listening Tours that will take place throughout Ohio, Senate Democrats will share our vision for creating a more vibrant economic future through legislation that addresses the relevant needs of the communities that make our state great," said Senator Ray Miller, who will hold an event in Columbus July 18. "We look forward to better serving the public through informed, compassionate policies that will invest in our economic infrastructure to generate prosperity and opportunity for all Ohioans."
Complete list of Listening Tour events:
- Friday, May 30, 1-4 p.m.: Lorain County Community College (Health care) – Senator Sue Morano (D-Lorain)
- Monday, June 2, 1-4 p.m.: St. Clairsville (Clean-coal, energy) – Senator Jason Wilson (D-Columbiana)
- Friday, June 13, 2-5 p.m.: Akron, University of Akron – Martin Center (Transforming a local economy: The Akron Experience) – Senator Tom Sawyer (D-Akron)
- Friday, June 20, 1-4 p.m.: Kent State University-Trumbull (Home foreclosures and economic security) – Senator Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard)
- Wednesday, June 25, 5:30-7 p.m.: Cincinnati (Community-based strategies for confronting urban crime) – Senator Eric Kearney (D-Cincinnati)
- Friday, June 27, 1-4 p.m.: Cleveland, City Council chambers (Urban solutions for urban problems) – Senators Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland), Lance Mason (D-Cleveland) and Dale Miller (D-Cleveland)
- Friday, July 18, 1-4 p.m.: Columbus, Center of Science and Industry (Affordable housing) – Senator Ray Miller (D-Columbus)
6-8pm, America Votes Cincinnati Office
Help the America Votes coalition spread the word about great opportunities to get involved in meaningful ways this year. Join America Votes, Ohioans for Healthy Families, and Planned Parenthood to recruit activists to get involved. Enjoy snacks and meeting likeminded folks!
Contact: Gina Tyus, 513-481-7100, Gtyus@americavotes.org
Upcoming Events: Sign up early!!!
6-8pm, America Votes Cincinnati Office
Help the America Votes coalition spread the word about great opportunities to get involved in meaningful ways this year. Join America Votes, Ohioans for Healthy Families, and Planned Parenthood to recruit activists to get involved. Enjoy snacks and meeting likeminded folks!
Contact: Gina Tyus, 513-481-7100, Gtyus@americavotes.org
10am-2pm, America Votes, Location TBA in Cincinnati
Canvass and phonebank with America Votes partners.
We'll gather at 10am, get trained and hit the neighborhoods, talk to voters about the issues that matter, and return to enjoy lunch with likeminded activists!
Contact: Randy Wilson, 513-481-7100, Mwilson@americavotes.org
Thank you,
Gina, Randy and The America Votes Ohio Team
5 - 8:30 PM America Votes Columbus Office
This will be a great chance to recruit other people in Central Ohio to come out and canvass voters this summer! Come meet people, snack on food, and encourage your fellow Columbus-ites to get involved in this critical election year for progressives. RSVP to Katie Corrai at (614) 236-3410 or kcorrai@americavotes.org
11 AM - 2 PM Park St and W. Goodale St., Columbus, OH 43215
Meet at the Gazebo at Goodale Park, near the intersections of Park and Goodale Streets The Doo Dah Parade is a wonderful tradition in Columbus where people celebrate July 4th with silly, political costumes and a big parade though town. Join America Votes, NARAL, and Planned Parenthood in talking to the parade crowd about all the ways to get involved in the issues we care about during this election year, especially women's rights!
RSVP to Katie Corrai at (614) 236-3410 or kcorrai@americavotes.org
Thank you,
Katie & The America Votes Ohio Team
From our friends at Wellstone Action:
Camp Wellstone is on the road again! We're ready to win big in November, and to do so, we're training candidates, campaign workers, and community activists across the country in key states. Our next stop--Columbus, OH.
WHEN: July 11-13
WHERE: Riffe Center, 77 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43215
COST: Sliding scale $25-$200 includes book and three meals
REGISTER: Click here
QUESTIONS: contact Jen Haut at 651.414.6037 or jennifer@wellstone.org
Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to be trained and ready for 2008 elections! This 2 ½ day training combines lectures from highly experienced trainers, stimulating exercises, and interactive simulations
Camp Wellstone is divided into three tracks:
- Citizen activist track. For people interested in citizen lobbying, issue advocacy, and community organizing, this track provides skills in how to win on issues.
- Campaign track. This track focuses on how to be an effective staff or volunteer member of a winning progressive campaign.
- Candidate track. This is for people who have made the decision to run for office.
We're counting on you to organize around issues that matter, help build campaigns for the future, and elect progressive candidates to office.
I'm at the ProgressNow Technical Retreat in Seattle Washington again today where we're reviewing the best practices in the use of technology to facilitate particpatory democracy.
Coming to the Short North this Friday during ComFest!
The Bush Legacy bus is a 45-foot, biodiesel-fueled museum on wheels, featuring several interactive exhibits documenting the failures of the Bush administration and his congressional allies like Senators John McCain and George Voinovich, and the Short North's own Representative Pat Tiberi (OH-12).
Visitors to the Bush Legacy Bus will see how President Bush and his enablers in Congress misled the American people into Iraq, stood idly by while Gulf Coast residents lost everything during Katrina, and allowed trickle-down economics to help the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Click here to see footage of the inside of the bus
WHAT: The Bush Legacy Bus
WHEN: Friday, June 27, 10 AM-6PM (stop by on your way to ComFest!)
WHERE: IBEW Union Hall Parking Lot at 23 W. 2nd Ave., Columbus, OH 43201. The lot is accessible from W. 2nd Ave. or Price Ave., just off High St. and within walking distance of ComFest.
President Bush didn't "accomplish" this record on his own -- it took dozens of members of Congress to rubber-stamp his conservative agenda. At the Columbus stop this Friday, local speakers will highlight the voting record of Ohio Republicans like Rep. Tiberi (voted with Bush 93% of the time) and Sen. Voinovich (90%). Tiberi and Voinovich enabled disastrous policies that have weakened America's security abroad while undermining important priorities here at home.
Tell Us What You Think The Bush Legacy Will Be
The Bush Legacy tour will travel coast to coast throughout the summer, making nearly 150 stops in the hometowns of Bush's allies in Congress, both national political conventions and symbolic and historic locations like New Orleans and Crawford, TX.
Scheduled Ohio stops:
Dayton-Wednesday, June 25th
Columbus-Friday, June 27th
Canton-Saturday, June 28th
Join us in Cincinnati the weekend of July 12-13 for an exciting training that will put you in position to help make 2008 the Year to Win for GLBT individuals across the country. Register now at www.hrc.org/campequality!
This year, elections will occur for a new president, all U.S. House members, one-third of the U.S. Senate, and thousands of state legislators.
The Human Rights Campaign will be on the campaign trail every step of the way - and we want you to be there, too.
That's why we're holding Camp EqualityTM - a two-day training session to develop and hone campaigning skills - in Cincinnati on July 12-13.
Whether you are just getting involved in the electoral process or are a campaign professional, Camp EqualityTM can help you learn how to become more effective at advocating your causes and your candidates. We will offer two training tracks:
- Fundamentals Track: Designed to give you the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, recruitment, volunteer coordinating, event fundraising, earned media, and creating a local activist plan. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your issue campaign or local committee in the best position to win.
- Advanced Track: For our more seasoned activist or campaign professionals. This track offers the fundamentals of political campaign management. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of fundraising, field organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, targeting, candidate relations, and the latest campaign technology.
If you have ever thought about volunteering for a campaign or already have experience in campaigns, we hope that you will take advantage of this excellent opportunity to gain valuable knowledge that you can apply to all aspects of campaign operations. Registration for Camp EqualityTM is $35 and includes a one-year HRC membership.
Cincinnati Camp Equality Partners:
Morning Edition, June 25, 2008 · The 2008 presidential campaign began with predictions that outside groups would play influential roles. So far, though, none has thrown a roundhouse punch like the one Swift Boat Veterans for Truth delivered when it attacked Democrat John Kerry's war record four years ago. But nonprofit organizations are quietly mobilizing, especially on the left.
One network of liberal activist groups, Progress Now and its eight affiliates, is trying to shape the debate with a streamlined operation of small staff, low budgets and the Internet.
Michael Huttner, Progress Now's director, says the Colorado-based group is taking advantage of old media and new technologies to gin up interest for an issue.
The groups' high-tech, low-cost approach seems to be working, says Progress Ohio director Brian Rothenberg.
"You know, we're in an instant news kind of world now, where you walk downtown even in Midwestern cities like Columbus and there are streaming things on the side of buildings that give you news," Rothenberg says.
But in the digital world, he says, it's hard to know for certain how well any new strategy works. For instance, he says, Progress Ohio signs up 150 new activists per day.
"You see exactly who comes to your site. You see exactly how many people click on your issue, you see exactly how many people open an e-mail," Rothenberg says. "So in that respect, it's very measurable. In the respect of, is 150 people a day good? I don't know."
More Images Here Latest Column: Countering Race With Class
In our us-versus-them culture, every political campaign is a battle to define who exactly the "us" and "them" are. Republicans typically say it is natives versus immigrants, Christians versus non-Christians and heartland folks versus Hollywood elites. At their most effective, Democrats parry by defining the "us" as the majority of working people, and the "them" as the tiny group of plutocrats who control the country. In recent years, Democrats have stopped making this case for fear of offending their big donors. But this is exactly the argument they must make if they hope to defeat John McCain.
Read the rest of Sirota's newest nationally syndicated column here...
In what supporters of the President have dubbed his "legacy year," Americans United for Change, the progressive issue-advocacy group best known for leading the successful fight to beat back President Bush's effort to privatize Social Security in 2005, has hit the road its latest effort, the Bush Legacy Bus. The bus is a 45-foot long, 28 ton, bio-diesel-powered museum on wheels featuring several interactive exhibits on how two terms of failed conservative policies supported by Bush and his allies, including Sen. John McCain and Rep. John Boehner, have weakened America's security abroad while neglecting and undermining important priorities here at home.
The first stop on the national Bush Legacy Tour will be at Court House Square, Third and Main Streets on Wednesday, June 25th at 12:00 PM ET, where local Ohioans will hold Rep. John Boehner will be held to account for voting in support of this President's failed policies 96 percent of the time, according to Congressional Quarterly. The bus will then be opened to the public where Ohioans will be given the chance to reflect on the Administration's tragically inept response to Hurricane Katrina, the mismanaged and endless war in Iraq, 'trickle-down' economic policies that favored the wealthiest Americans and more.
The Bush Legacy tour kicked off in Washington D.C. on June 24th and will travel coast-to-coast throughout the summer, making nearly 150 stops in the hometowns of Bush's allies in Congress, both national political conventions and symbolic and historic locations like New Orleans and Crawford, TX. Click here to visit the Bush Legacy Tour homepage.
WHO: Americans United for Change & Local Ohioans
WHAT: 45-foot, 28 ton Bush Museum on Wheels to be Opened to Public. Local Ohioans to Hold Rep. Boehner Accountable for Enabling Disastrous Bush Policies That Have Harmed Our National Security, Sacrificed So Many Domestic Priorities.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 25th at 12 p.m. ET
WHERE: Court House Square
Third and Main Streets
Dayton, OH
ProgressOhio.org is proud to host syndicated columnist David Sirota.
His new book The Uprising is currently a NYT Bestseller.
Buy online here or stop by Tuesday at ProgressOhio's offices (251 S 3rd St Columbus, 43215) between 12:30 & 3:30 to meet the man himself and get a signed copy.
Brian Rothenberg
Executive Director
ProgressOhio.org
Click to Subscribe to "Shadows on High"
Please forward to your friends and colleagues!
ProgressOhio - "We're Powered By You"
For this year's ComFest, Progress Ohio, America Votes and the Sierra Club are teaming up to let ComFest-goers know about the ways to get involved in the issues we all care about during this election year - healthcare, the environment, the economy, and more.
We need your help!
Can you join us by signing up for a shift at our ComFest table?
Click here to sign up for a shift
We'll have a great time meeting new people, listening to great music, and working for the causes we care about.
The shifts:
- Friday, June 27: 10am - 1pm, 1 - 3pm, 3 - 6pm, 6 - 9pm
- Saturday June 28: 10am - 1pm, 1pm - 3pm, 3 - 6pm, 6 - 9pm
- Sunday June 29: 12 - 3pm, 3 - 6pm, 6 - 9pm
Click here to sign up for a shift
ComFest is at Goodale Park in Columbus' Short North neighborhood. After you sign up, we will contact you with more detailed directions and instructions.
Thanks!
Progress Ohio, America Votes, and Sierra Club
Gas prices have hit an all-time high. Our country is in the midst of a recession, thanks in part to our crippling dependence on oil. Here in Ohio, families are struggling with the impact of $4-per-gallon prices.
But maybe John McCain has been too busy fundraising with Texas oil billionaires lately to hear about it.
Click here to tell John McCain how much you're paying, and how gas prices are hurting your family.
- McCain Voted Against Taxing Oil Companies to Finance a Tax Rebate For Consumers. McCain voted twice against a measure that would have provided an income tax rebate to Americans by temporarily taxing enormous oil company profits.
- McCain Voted Against Reducing Dependence On Foreign Oil. He voted against legislation calling on the President to submit a plan to reduce foreign petroleum imports by 40 per cent.
- Since launching his campaign in 2007, Senator McCain has skipped out on every key environmental vote the Senate has considered. In one instance, his absence killed the rollback of billions of dollars in tax breaks for the oil and gas industry to invest in renewable energy tax credits. McCain was the one senator not voting.
Let us know how much you're paying at the pump, and the impact it's having on your family. We'll compile those responses and send them to McCain's Senate office.
Click here to tell John McCain how much you're paying, and how gas prices are hurting your family.
The Cities For Peace coalition needs your help!
To build evidence of public support for a Peace Resolution by Columbus City Council, we will be collecting petition signatures at several booths at this year's Community Festival, June 27-29.
Click here to find out more and to let us know when you can help
The signature gathering is just one strategy in a multi-pronged effort to get a Peace Resolution passed in Columbus, but it's an important one.
By passing a Peace Resolution built on widespread public support, we will send the message that Columbus stands with over 200 other cities across the country in the call for change.
Columbus taxpayers have spent $1.1 billion on the Iraq War - money that could have provided:
- 643,219 children with health care for one year
- 1.2 million homes with renewable electricity for one year
- 17,046 elementary school teachers for one year
Citizens, community leaders, and elected officials agree: INVEST IN COLUMBUS, NOT WAR IN IRAQ.
ComFest is June 27-28-29. Can you help?
Click here to find out more and to let us know when you can help
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