Ohio 2nd Blog

The Portsmouth Daily Times has an article on the Social Security Forum at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union Hall.

(Thanks to CCW for the tip.)

Dem Bloggers has up the lastest commercial from the Hackett campaign. This was made possible by massive online fundraising.

From the Cincinnati AFL-CIO:

Dear Editor,

Steelworkers Local 14340 will be hosting a Solidarity Rally this Saturday, July 30th, at Hartwell Recreation Center from 11AM-5PM. Please bring your family members and friends.

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS: (Beginning at 12:30PM)

2nd Congressional District Candidate – Paul Hackett
Former Senator – John Glenn
State Representative – Ted Strickland
Max Cleland

Hot Dogs, Brats, Mets, Hamburgers, and Soft Drinks will be provided. Volleyball, playground, horse shoes, corn hole, ball field, kiddy games, etc.

This is an event you don’t want to miss!!!

Crooks & Liars has the video.

The Dean of Cincinnati has the details.

Dear Editor,

Next Tuesday — five days from now — Ohio can make history in the special election in our state’s 2nd Congressional District by making Paul Hackett the first Iraq War veteran to serve in Congress.

Paul is a proud Marine who bravely volunteered to serve America in Iraq. Here’s one of the facts about Paul that impresses me the most. Paul didn’t just volunteer to go to Iraq. When he got there, he volunteered again. Only two months into his tour of duty in Iraq, Paul volunteered to go to Fallujah. Extremists and insurgents had seized the city and Paul knew they had to be stopped.

Now Paul is volunteering for another tour of duty, serving Ohio in Congress.

Believe me, at a time when Washington is making crucial decisions about U.S. policy in Iraq, we need the voice of a person who has lived through that experience — someone who knows what it’s like when the bullets are flying and the bombs are exploding.

I always used to say that “politics is supposed to be the personnel department of the Constitution.” Decades ago, you gave me the chance, as a veteran and an astronaut, to become a citizen soldier again serving our state. I look at Paul and I see someone who wants to serve our state with every fiber of his character. I hope you’ll help give him the chance you gave me- but it won’t be easy.

In this tightly-contested special election, the Hackett campaign is relying on an all-volunteer get-out-the-vote operation to pull this extraordinary American through to victory.

We’re still short of the number of volunteers we need to fully deploy the Hackett campaign’s field organization. You can fill the gap by volunteering now.

Volunteer for Paul Hackett in the next 5 days

Please volunteer a few moments of your time to help the Hackett for Congress campaign step up its vital voter turnout efforts in these critical closing days. We don’t have a moment to lose.

I can’t think of a better person to serve in Congress as the first veteran of active military duty in Iraq. We’ve relied on his leadership already — and I know we can count on his leadership again.

Time and time again, Paul Hackett volunteered for you and me. I hope you will act right now and volunteer for him.

Volunteer for Paul Hackett in the next 5 days

Please act right now. America needs Paul Hackett and Paul Hackett needs you.

Sincerely,

John Glenn

From Ann Driscoll’s Diary:

I called WLW and Mike McConnell put me on air. I was on for maybe two minutes. I complained about his questioning of Paul Hackett’s military service. McConnell basically made a ridiculous point that because of the time change, Paul Hackett was sleeping not fighting while Jean Schmidt was at the Bengal’s Game (receiving gifts from lobbyists). My point was: sleeping or fighting, Hackett was still over there in harm’s way. Then he said that afterall, his comments were all in jest, whatever that means. I said that something to the effect of “how can you joke about that?” McConnell also said that life in Fallujah was “business as usual.” I replied that people are getting their limbs blown off, and how can he say that? But then he got me off-message with irrelevant questions, and I became inarticulate. These guys know how to dominate the conversation. They’re bullies and they’re rhetorically gifted. Don’t give up calling WLW (513-749-7000) though with complaints.

Burnt Orange Report, Off the Kuff, PinkDome, and Greg’s Opinion have declared Paul Hackett an Honorary Texan and are working hard to help get him to Washington:

Paul Hackett is fighting exactly the type of fight that any “San Jacinto” Democratic candidate would do well to take note of. His success is our success, not just as Texas Democrats, but as Democrats period. _(link)

Just remember… don’t mess with Texas.

Eric Minamyer has posted answers to his questions on Hackett’s service in Iraq. We thank him for clarifying things and consider the case close.

Good Morning Ohio’s 2nd!

As Tom Delay’s Texas minions descend upon Schmidt HQ we here at the Ohio 2nd Blog are sending out positive energy to all of the people on the ground fighting the good fight to turn our country around. Just remember that no matter what, keep smiling It’s the dawn of a new age in Ohio and there is nothing that they can say or do about it. Don’t think that they won’t try. Oh boy will they try

Here’s the latest coming in on the race:

• Article on Hackett in Stars and Stripes. (NEW)
• Paul Hackett is the topic of the top 1 2 and 3 recommended diaries over @ Daily Kos.
  FYI: DKos gets mad traffic so this is huge. Shout out to Tim over at Swing State project for making that happen.
• Here’s a video [wmv] of MSNBC covering the race.
• Paul was featured in yesterday’s USA today.
• WKRC Channel 12 has video up from their newscast. (here’s how to get this to work)
• Howard Wilkinson of the Enquirer has the latest.
  This is a very strange report. We’re going to look into this more, especially with the FOP. If anyone can give insight it would be appreciated.

More as we find it.

ADDED: Can my spelling be any worst? 4 hours of sleep is not cutting it.