ProgressOhio

MoveOn, families, children rallied outside Pryce's office last night because she voted for the SCHIP Bill. We thanked her with our signs and called upon her to lobby more Republicans.

According to the press secretary MoveOn and everyone else out there are contrived and nothing we do is out of benevolence it is all political.

There were many families and children standing there last night. We were there in good faith and supporting her on an issue on which she, families of Ohio, and MoveOn agree.

This bill is about working across party lines, and bridging the ideological gap. The families and MoveOn were there last night to emphasize that very point: we will back Republicans like Pryce when they make good decisions, when they make value-driven decisions.

I am sorry that Rob Nichols did not see it that way.
I am left wondering if Pryce owns those comments or whether she would seek to distance herself from them if she knew about them.   Read More »

MoveOn and friends will be outside outside of Pryce's office on the street tonight--6:15.

500 S. Front St.
We will THANK HER for voting FOR the bill and call upon her to speak with other Republicans to over overturn the veto.

http://pol.moveon.org/event/events/event.html?event_id=40926&id=

I thought I had my retirement all planned - not that I'm ready to retire but age does march on. Imagine my horror when I was told by the Social Security Administration that my SS Retirement benefits would be "offset" by almost 2/3 by the meager pension I received from the State (I only worked for the State of Ohio for 10 years).

No one has been able to explain the rationale for this in a way that makes sense - I worked under the state system (PERS) and earned retirement crredit; I worked under Social Security and earned credits. What does one thing have to do with the other????

I'm told that there is legislation pending in Congress to correct this (both my Representative and my Senators think it is unfair) for retired Ohioans and 12 other states who have similar systems. The legislation has not moved and is not likely to because of the drain on the social security fund it would cause if it were changed.

Does anyone else think this is unfair? If so, contact your Congressman and US Senators and tell them so. Write letters to the editor. The change is not likely to come soon enough to help me but I'm sure there are many out there who it would help.

Below are details about the next DFA training session (and remember you can download their powerpoints and the audio sessions if you are behind or can't make the session).

Franklin County NEEDS precinct captains! Call the Franklin Party Democrats to learn more. There will be a training session the second week of October. Call to sign up now.

Tuesday evening, DFA Night School will discuss a number of ways you can make an impact next election by simply talking to the people on your block. We'll talk about canvassing, voter registration, early voting as well as a number of other organizing tactics you can put to use on the ground right now:

Precinct Organizing: Making an Impact
Tuesday, September 25th - 8:30pm Eastern
www.dfalink.com/makinganimpact

Imagine that it's the day before the 2008 election and everything is in place. Your precinct team has already contacted, registered and persuaded hundreds of your neighbors to vote for a new direction for our country. Now imagine that 203,000 precincts across the country have all done the same.

This is what's possible next November, but only if you begin organizing now. Tomorrow night you can join this growing movement to take our country back, precinct by precinct:

Precinct Organizing: Making an Impact
Tuesday, September 25th - 8:30pm Eastern
www.dfalink.com/makinganimpact

So it's been a year eh? Time does fly when you're having fun countering the right-wing smear machine with progressive voices.  They ended up being so diverse and powerful that many entrenched political figures cowered under the shadows on high.

What I remember is a left-wing crazy assed blogger hooking up with an established political communications professional in an unlikely synergy that would launch a powerful progressive force uniting activists of all types into one strong voice.

I remember strategy meetings in Starbucks. I remember going over website features and designs over a Bob Evans breakfast. I remember flying to Denver to learn from our colleagues (and now good friends) at ProgressNow. I seem to also remember a ton of snow and sitting on a plane for two hours, but thems the breaks in ski country I reckon.

I remember finally coming to light on South Third Street and shooting a video holding Deb Pryce and company accountable to our seniors while furniture was being moved in.  Hit the ground running - and haven't let up since. You might remember that video. They didn't care about our statement.

They care now.

Only now the statement is bigger.  Not many listen to a dozen voices as those are easy to ignore.  It's no longer feasible to ignore more than 250,000 voices all demanding an end to our failed foray into neo-conservatism.  The voices demanded an end to 16 years of corrupt one party rule.  The voices demanded to be represented.

They are starting to listen.

From the first day we countered the right-wing noise, and you were there.  You might have just sat back and read emails.  You might have cursed your screen as we all do at times.  You might have signed a petition thinking 'what good does this really do?'.  You might have signed up for a blog and began to speak out online.  You may have even attended or even organized a live event.  Whatever you did, you did it with ProgressOhio tools - and it mattered immensely.  I'm often asked what it is ProgressOhio does.  It's actually quite simple and the confusion amazes me.  PO is a toolset for countering right-wing noise and smears and for furthering progressive causes.  PO is a concentration of our power and voice.  PO works to make sure progressive voices are heard and progressive policies are fought for.

But most of all ProgressOhio was launched with the goal to be powered by and representative of you, the progressive activist.  I'm proud to have had a very small role in getting the ball rolling.  By the looks of it, the ball is not only rolling but picking up steam.  My last visit to the offices at PO was two doors down and double the space.  Each time I've been in there have been multiple people working to further the progressive cause, whether directly for ProgressOhio or for partner groups.  I've rarely recognized everyone in the office and that left me smilling.  It's what we were after.

So congratulations.  To YOU.  For one year of progressive work.  I hope we are able to get together soon and celebrate our accomplishments together.  I hope you feel as good about it as I do.

And finally some advice.  Whatever it is you do - DO IT!  Don't worry about how small it feels.  Together it is significant.  I think it was said best by a bespeckled bald Indian:

"Almost anything you do seems insignificant.  It is very important that you do it.  You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Progress Bombaye!

PS - I want a corner piece!

DFA is doing Precinct Captain training in 10 minutes

Calling info.....
Event Date: Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Event Time: 8:30 PM

Phone Number: 888-346-3950
Passcode: 852737#

Website...
http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=23014

To turn the country around- we need all 50 states. To keep Ohio on its new blue course--we need every precinct.

understand that state retirees investments are in iran..if Iran is bad as media makes it out why isnt PERSdivesting? they claim it would hurt their portfolio; we heard that re south africa --who r we supporting in iran--halliburton .....