Ohio 2nd Blog

I’ve started a new blog that ’s focused entirely on the more philosophical end of the the work I’m doing involving software engineering, politics and the semantic web.

Where
20th Century Theater in Oakley, 3021 Madison Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209

Map
Google Map

When
Aug 28   starts at 6:30 pm

Learn more:  http://www.noiraqescalation.org/ 

Americans Against Escalation in Iraq is a group of independent entities, including the Service Employees International Union, MoveOn.org Political Action, VoteVets.org, Center for American Progress Action Fund, USAction, Win Without War, Campaign for America’s Future, the United States Student Association, Working Assets,  Americans United for Change, Campus Progress Action and Nation Security Network, that have banded together as a coalition to launch a multi-faceted, multi million dollar effort in fifteen target states to education the American public about the true costs of the war in Iraq, mobilize opposition against President Bush’s Iraq policy, as well as apply on-going pressure on members of Congress to oppose this failed policy.

Jerid, the new watchman over at Buckeye State Blog, has announced that it’s the last day of the New Hampshire Project, one of the most interesting ideas that I have seen come out of the progressive blogosphere this year.

It would be interesting to see a recap of his trip.

UPDATE: and here it is. The recap has something that is almost never seen in the wilds of the blogosbogs… a thread with nice comments from both Tim Russo, and Tim Tagaris. Catch it while you can.

(Lately I’m finding that my writing is being polluted more and more with unintelligible Wrestling lingo. I fear that if I don’t nip this in the bud eventually I’ll be writing the blog in Carny. We beg your forgiveness.)

Yesterday’s Plain Dealer has an interesting article on how Sherrod Brown’s victory has turned out to be a huge tectonic shift in American politics. Sherrod Brown’s issues are now the Democrats issues, and Democrats are the driving force in politics across the board.

What’s interesting is that in typical Sherrod fashion you’d never know it by watching him in action. He’s one of the worst workers (hype… working a crowd into a frenzy) I have ever seen. And yet somehow he’s quietly managed to completely change the debate with every person running for President doing the work for him.

My big problem with Sherrod Brown and other old guard Democratic Party loyalists has always been that they don’t know how to work. In the past they’ve been much better at being right than they have at moving the ball towards the goal posts. And yet all of a sudden Sherrod has seemingly turned political reality on its head. Could his quiet style suddenly have teeth now that he’s armed with the power the Senate? I’m thinking yes. The Senate is the perfect forum for behind the scenes hardball power plays and watching all the legislation that’s coming through with his hand on it, he certainly is working it.

The thing that I worry about is if it’s enough. The problems are so vast and the opposition forces so powerful that without a strong center of true believers keeping the debate honest it’s going to be easy for sell outs to coopt the debate passing themselves off as champions of issues like education, the environment, universal health care and fair trade; all the time making sure that Wall St. is given priority over Main St.

I’d like to see Ohio really own this debate, and rightfully demand the changes that Americans overwhelmingly want. As I keep saying, it’s not enough to be right, you also have to win. SF, LA and New York have gotten more than their fair share from the prosperity of the modern economy. It’s Ohio’s turn… it’s average America’s turn to reap some of the rewards.

I’m beginning to think that a big part of the problem is the huge riff that exists between much of the Ohio progressive blogosphere and Sherrod over the melodrama of the Senate primary. The reason why the blogosphere has become such a significant force in politics is because they are perfect for working. Unfortunately, many are busy licking their largely self inflicted wounds marking out to themselves (vain self obsession) instead of using Sherrod’s victory to leverage the power that every Ohio voter has in promoting progressive values.

(via DaytonOS)

UPDATE: Matt Stoller @ Open Left has an interesting diary that dovetails with this called ‘Betrayed Voters’: Preparing for a Landslide.

With the Enquirer’s Politics Extra “blog” putting up six posts on Roxanne Qualls returning to political life in the last fours days even I am starting to worry about there being a liberal bias in the media. I guess it’s good to see that veteran Democrats are returning to active duty in Southern Ohio now that the waters have become more inviting. Better late then never.

Also, Bill Sloat has an interesting post on the fundraiser being hosted by Vernal G. (Skip) Riffe III for newbie Democrat Steve Black. It would seem that like the Phoenix, the ghost of Vern Riffe has flown out of the ashes on wings of gold. Given the bizzaro power structures that make up the eastern portions of the fighting 2nd this is an interesting piece to add to the puzzle that is Stephen L. Black.

I will give one friendly warning to candidate Black. Scioto county is Jim Parker country. You’d better start knocking on a hell of a lot of doors if you want to have a chance against the Parkinator.

Note to campaigns: it’s not a blog if it doesn’t have an RSS or Atom content syndication feed.

The true power of the blogosphere comes from content syndication.

Word is that Jean Schmidt is turning monied heads thanks to an internal poll showing the Congresswoman holding a 68% lead over Phil Heimlich in next year’s Republican primary. They’re also pleasantly surprised that her negatives are starting to go down now that her minority status has relegated her to naming post offices, flying around the world on the tax payer’s dime, and bringing the bacon to downtown Cincinnati. Republicans losing power was probably the best thing that could have happened to her. I’m told that they’re planning on releasing it in a few weeks. Schmidt released a similar one last time around against McEwen.

We’re also waiting for the announcement from “Time Waster” Tom Brinkman to enter the race as well so that he can insure a Schmidt primary victory by splitting the anti-mean vote. Personally, we here at the Ohio 2nd sports desk would love to see a Schmidt Brinkman one on one right wingnut v. right wingnuttier death match just for the pure blissful carnage that would ensue. Surely there must be a job as Indian Hill dog catcher that can be pawned off on Heimlich so that we can get the blood fest that the voters demand. If I were a Republican I’d be contacting my Party chair now.

The Republicans have been pushing the message that taxes and government are inherently bad and since Reagan, they have been on a tax cutting spree for the extremely wealthy and cost cutting spree on budget items that directly effect the majority, average Americans.

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Toledo Blade > Brown pushes insurance plan for children at UT med school

From a global perspective, we have a society who considers children’s health care to be an expense rather than an investment.

Richard Stansley, chairman of the University of Toledo Board of Trustees.

I’ll confess that this blog really sucks of late. It’s been really hard to work up the energy to write about Jean Schmidt and friends. It seems like almost every week a story rolls by about our dear Jeanie screwing small farmers or trying to take away health care for little children or sponsoring legislation to outlaw teddy bears, and yet this site remains silent.

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