ohio4obama

Voting at Vets' Memorial

Lucie Pollard — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:09:16 EDT

Our family decided to make an occasion of it yesterday -- celebrated Claire's birthday with lunch at Latitude 41 (yummy, local food in an elegant setting), then on to Vets' Memorial, which Claire still remembers as the ACT staging area in 2004, when she was in charge of sending people out all over the west side that cold, rainy day. I think it was good to have a sunny day filled with positive experiences to superimpose on that bitter memory. As for me, I associate Vets' Memorial with the Eddie Bauer Warehouse sales staged there years ago (the girls always refused to come with us to those affairs -- back then they said it was one more place full of mulch colored clothes only parents would like!).

Today was different for all of us. Claire wondered aloud if she would cry (voting for John Kerry made her tear up because the election mattered so much).

My current thoughts on voting

4TheFuture — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 13:12:19 EDT

I have been keeping up with the 2008 election, and so far I am not impressed with Obama or McCain. If I chose between voting for Obama or McCain or not voting at all, I would choose not voting. I wouldn't consider myself Apathetic because I do care about who runs our country and I do know that my vote counts. I'm in the position where I don't think either candidate would put our country back on track and keep it there. Obama says that our country needs "change" when he hasn't explained in depth what he means by "change." I want a president who is very straight forward and says alright, this is what we're going to do and this is how we will do it. But, I know that will never happen.

Obama in Pittsburgh

User from Pittsburgh, PA — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:44:47 EDT

Come to Pittsburgh to volunteer on Election Day! Call 404-695-7260 and ask for Adam.

Blackwell & Brunner on tv at same time - OMG!

Lucie Pollard — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:38:51 EST

Sometimes living in the heart of it all is just too much. I was watching MSNBC and Chris Matthews brought Darth Vader, I mean Ken Blackwell, on to do commentary. I hope they aren't paying him! I watched as much as I could stand, and then switched to C-SPAN where they carried a live ONN feed with Jennifer Brunner at a press conference, responding to questions about the Obama law suit and extended poll hours.

Election Eve at Franklin County B of E

Lucie Pollard — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:02:55 EST

Dropped my daughter off to hand out literature for a candidate yesterday evening -- what a spectacle! Lots of Barack and Hillary supporters out on Broad Street waving signs at traffic (who honked happily in response). I noticed that the Barack signs were handmade, and my daughter said it seemed as if the Barack supporters were locals, whle the Hillary people were from out of state. She said some of the Hillary guys were a little confrontational, but pretty nice after she went over and said "Look, we all have to be on the same side after the nomination -- we're all Democrats!" They toned it down after that. Lines of voters were steady, even though the rain picked up and the temperature dropped.

A primary like no other! I voted early, but my daughter wants to go to our polling place. She loves that ritual.

Teamsters just endorsed Obama

Lucie Pollard — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:47:04 EST

I heard it on the Ed Schultz Show.

Notice: Obama in Columbus

DavidP — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 05:48:52 EST

Obama now has a HQ in Columbus OH!

They are having a kickoff canvassing and phonebaking event this Saturday Feb 16th. Starts at 9AM and you can show up all day.

They are located on 193 E Rich ST.
You can reach them at 614-224-8600 once they get their phone line installed.
They need volunteers, donations, food, office supplies, etc.
If you're attending, you can, but don't have to RSVP at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/meeting/4rsyc

Fired up.

The Myspace/MTV thing just got even cooler

Lorraine Bieber — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:47:34 EDT

When the presidential dialogue was over, the myspace page provided a flektor, enabling viewers to share the vote results (as well as one's own votes) on a blog, myspace, email, or elsewhere. The little star on the pie chart shows how I voted. While the event was going on, the pieces of the same type of pie chart (on the same screen as Edwards) were fluctuating as viewers changed their votes in response to what Edwards was saying.

They're going to do this for all the candidates willing to participate, both republican and democratic. I'll post again when the next one is scheduled.

45 minutes left of Myspace/MTV interactive dialogue with John Edwards

Lorraine Bieber — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 13:17:16 EDT

This is turning out to be super cool. I'm watching the Myspace/MTV interactive dialogue with John Edwards. As he answers questions, you rate his responses. Meanwhile, you can watch a pie chart showing everyone's ratings. It's fun to watch the pie chart change in real time as people change their responses.

Join in NOW - 45 minutes left. You don't have to have a Myspace profile to watch and participate.
It's at:
http://www.myspace.com/election2008

Happy Birthday Progress!

Eric Vessels — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:30:53 EDT

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!

Tim Ryan (OH-17) takes the $21 Food Stamp Challenge

Lorraine Bieber — Fri, 18 May 2007 00:11:32 EDT

Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan joins Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO) in an effort to raise awareness for hunger and for their proposal to add $4 billion to the annual federal food stamp budget. Day one from Tim Ryan's blo g:

This week, I’ll be participating in the Food Stamp Challenge. For seven days, I’ll be living on three dollars of food per day, the same amount an average participant in the Food Stamp Program receives. The Challenge is an exercise aimed to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by millions of Americans, who live day to day, working to put food on the table.

Last Friday, my staff and I held a meeting plotting out how I would spend my $21.00. As we looked over food prices, we were struck by how anyone could expect a person to have a balanced, healthy diet on a mere three dollars per day. On a dollar per meal, a person can’t buy fresh fruit and vegetables. A person can’t buy the milk they need. The kids across the country who go to bed hungry on nights when the budget is stretched too thin deal with the reality of poverty every day, and I want them to know they aren’t forgotten.

There are over one million recipients of Food Stamps in Ohio, nearly 90,000 in the 17th District. I’m participating in this challenge because as Congress crafts this years Farm Bill, we’re going to have to take a hard look at the way the Food Stamp Program is administered. I hope that at the end of the week, I have a deeper understanding of the hardships of these millions of American, and a better idea of how to help them.

Eye on the Bloghouse: BI is not your friend!

Eric Vessels — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 10:14:03 EST

(X posted from Plunderbund) Let's cut to the point and get something straight here right out of the gate. The Buckeye Institute is not our friend - if you don't consider yourself a conservative. Put a nice little period after that one and you can go about your day unless you want to hear me pound Jill Zimon for the next couple minutes.

Jill posted a nice little note on her blog making us all aware that The Buckeye Institute has a new blog designed to alert us of any "wasteful spending" at The Statehouse. It's fun! It's exciting! We can make our government better and the flowers will smell rosier and the sun will shine brighter. Jill, dear, what the FUCK don't you get about the Buckeye Institute? First clue:

Right there above the link to your blog...see it? "...promoting free market ideas and limited government". That's code for "Right-wing intelligent design loving miscreants". Is this new to you? Thankfully Jerid hopped on this and outed Carlo and friends. You really want to point people there and have us all hop on this illusion of a bi-partisan trainwreck? You really hat tipped Matt Naugle? Did i really just see that? There is a reason Russell and I used to give you shit about being a closet conservative. Then you let Matt get away with slamming Policy Matters and pretending that Buckeye Institute is "completely unlike Policy Matters, which is a group of liberal smucks and union cronies". Pardon me, but What? The? Fuck?

Do some damned research. You normally do. Find out that while Matt is understandably trying to paint Policy Matters as partisan and Buckeye Institute as "representing the general interest", nothing could be further from the truth. Second clue? They hired his ass to put the blog together! Ding ding ding! I think there is a knob behind your left ear labeled "conservative misinformation bullshit meter". Turn that up to 11.

Business First got it right when they called BI "a conservative think tank in Columbus". Duh. You might also find out that in January Deborah Owens (aka DeborahLOwens or Deborah Owens Fink) was named to the board. Wanna guess who she gave money to? Yup. Wanna guess what else she is involved in? You know, right? You quoted her once and I think even pounded on her a bit. She's also the mouthpiece in Ohio for Seattle's Discovery Institute - a so-called "public policy think tank", but more aptly described as a "belief tank" (like a think tank without the doubt).

Blackwell, Loparo, Fink, Naugle. Yes! Let's get behind that! Make no mistake here: The Buckeye Institute is the enemy. If No one is more concerned about Ohio's future than you, then call bullshit on this instead of empower it. For the love of all that is good and right fight the good fight!

But hey, it's a rough and tumble world out there in this political landscape. Charlatans everywhere. Be careful, kid. You need something just come see me at the pub. I'll be in the back talking strategy with Vinnie.

On the 2008 Presidential Primary Schedule

Redhorse — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:46:44 EST

The 2008 presidential primary season and general election has already become a unique animal. On the Democratic side, we have the opportunity to nominate either the first female or black general election candidate. The campaigns are starting earlier and the media attention has either followed the candidates breathlessly or caused the early entries, depending upon your perspective.

The less frequently discussed issue is the primary schedule.

WH '08: Your Weekend Viewing Pleasure

Redhorse — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 10:36:06 EST

You might recall last month that Barack Obama gave himself until Feb. 10 to "explore" whether or not he'd run for president. Given his schedule this weekend, it's safe to say he's not announcing a bake sale fundraiser.

After his announcement in Sprinfield, Obama will finish the day in Cedar Rapids and Waterloo. Sunday, he'll visit Ames.

C-SPAN will cover the announcement beginning at 11am EST.

Highlights From Sen. Barack Obama's Speech to The DNC Winter Meeting Today

Dave Harding, ProgressOhio — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 14:23:55 EST