Pirro Quits Senate Race to Run for Attorney General (NYT). And the ONLY reason I’m posting on this is because this is just too much fun to watch:
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From the monthly archives:
December 2005
I’ve been trying to think of ways to articulate precisely why I support Hackett over Brown in the primary. Well, BSB went ahead and did it for me. I’m not sure I can say it any better (well, I know I can’t – different maybe, but not better).
The majority, the center, are seeing the failures of the rights ideology, either in Iraq, or Katrina or the economy. But neither are they looking for a left ideology – because the case for it has not been made effectively, the ground work is yet to be done.
If we pit our ideologue against theirs, Brown vs Dewine we will lose that battle, the middle will split and there are more right wing voters than left in Ohio. Our task is to put forward a candidate who can breach that divide and draw people together. Once we win those battles, then, and only then, the case can be made for progressivism.
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“I am the official vice chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party,” Portune said today.
It would have been nice to see a non-Redfern endorsee get a spot soon after the display of division at the vote, but to the victor the spoils I guess. I hope Todd’s experience with grassroots organizing does indeed trickle down into the counties – especially Delaware we need it!
Elsewhere: Hypo Speaking, Buckeye Senate, Buckeye Politics,
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From WaPo:
A federal judge in Pennsylvania today struck down a school board’s policy on including “intelligent design” in high school biology classes as an alternative to evolution, ruling that the requirement illegally promoted religion in public schools.
In his 139-page ruling, Jones wrote that intelligent design was essentially biblical creationism. He also harshly denounced the Dover Area School Board for its decision to promote intelligent design and said board members repeatedly lied in court about their motives.
Sounds about right. But of course he was accused of being an “activist judge”.
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via BFD and Micro Persuasion, a new extension for Firefox is a very handy way to blog as you browse without having to be in your admin screen. In fact, I’m using it now. I have been using Avant Browser for IE due mainly to some work stuff not being compatible with Firefox. I might have to begin using Firefox exclusively for blogging though. Thanks for the tip George!
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Buckeye Senate has some interesting audio clips up of the ODP meeting. I was able to get them all to amplify and export as MP3 (they are in .mov format and the level a bit low) – all but the last one, not sure about that one. I think I have it in the right order. Russell also replies to the Brown Camp rebuttal.
(24 min 54 sec)
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via email from Phil de Vellis:
Anyone who has met Sherrod knows that he deals with confrontation
well. As a congressman and a candidate for the U.S. Senate, people confront him with questions, accusations and complaints every day. Even when he strongly disagrees with somoene, he remains respectful and would never blow up at a blogger or anyone else in that type of situation.I went to the ODP Christmas party last night with several of my colleagues from the campaign. What we saw did not mesh with the story as described on Buckeye Politics and Buckeye Senate.
To be quite blunt — it simply did not happen the way it has been portrayed today. It’s a shame that an entire day’s blogging has been wasted on a story that simply is untrue. Connie and Sherrod stood a barrage of curse words and hostile language quite calmly — albeit with confused looks on their faces. The details of what was said simply are not worth printing. And the only manhandling going on was an agressive woman who either wanted a few choice words with Sherrod, or liked his coat an awful lot and wanted to keep some of it for herself.
The point here is that none of this is going to help Ohio move in the right direction. We should expect the same of ourselves as we do our elected representatives. Honest, open communication based on the facts and with progressive values in mind.
Sherrod has every intention to do Meet the Bloggers and talk about the issues with whoever will listen.
There’s been a lot of tough love in this primary between Democrats so far. I think that’s a good thing for the most. But let’s keep everything in perspective and beat the GOP 2006.
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Update: I’m hearing there may be more to this story, but until I hear it officially won’t comment on the Brown side of things. Meanwhile, Russell has his take.
OK, I promise not to use the cold sore thing again – I’ve officially worn that one out. No mention of Blogger Balm either. You might remember I recently applauded Sherrod’s effort to get engaged in the blogosphere. The Huffington post piece was cool and all, but what I really want to see – and what I deem crucial for him – is to engage Ohio bloggers in a way that I have not seen yet.
Engage yes. This? No. I will try to get the other side from the Brown folks today, but if this did happen it is not smart. I can fully understand wanting to dress down Tim (and some others for that matter), but I can’t see how it helps. They had to know that the word would spread – duh, it’s a blogger afterall!
So in disagreement to most commentors over at BP, I say STAY on the blogs Sherrod. Comment, engage, argue, show us you are a regular guy who has fought for us all your entire career, pursuade us. You had the time to call one two of us on the carpet, so don’t use that excuse again. Give up some of the control, sign up for that Dealing with Bloggers 101 course when Jill finalizes the curriculum. It’ll be worth it. Meet the Bloggers should be fun. Get your tickets early!
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Update: Editor has a compiled MP3 of the Russo voicemails.
Wins overwhelmingly according to Tim. I liked Lieberman and what he had to say, but hopefully Redfern will get the job done. Now to commit to being full time.
Russo’s impressions and some commentary over at BP.
I really hope it’s not more of the same. I don’t like wasting my time…
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Update: Doh! No Wifi at ODP – imagine that. But you can follow audio updates as it happens!
Unable to make it down to the meeting/party 
Tim over at Buckeye Politics is planning on live blogging it though, so you might check there. I’ll report any news I hear here as well, which should be around 6:45pm or so given the online agenda.
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…and I’m glad to see it actually. This is the kind of stuff I’ve been bitching about since the Blogad buy that he should be doing instead of buying ads – actually participate in the medium. Kudos for that step.
The post is at Huffington Post and is titled “Why I’m a Progressive“:
Sometimes – in politics and in life – we have to choose sides. We have to draw a clear line between what’s right and what’s wrong. Between what works for the people of our great nation and what works for only the privileged few.
The post talks mostly about worker’s rights (canary lapel pin story that I may have heard one too many times now), his announcement tour, and his progressive political heroes. So far no comments action, but talking to one of the Brown people he assured me Sherrod would try to get in on that a bit if he could. It is what I’ve been asking to see and a good step in the right direction.
Elsewhere: Grow Ohio, Buckeye Senate doesn’t think using “progressive” will skirt the liberal issue, and BFD has some comments flowing.
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(from an email):
In a new twist, Republican Gubernatorial candidate Ken Blackwell has distributed emails to his supporters using Libertarian candidate Bill Peirce’s campaign theme, “Freedom to Prosper”.
Check out Bill Pierce’s website to see for yourself. I thought it was the Dems standing around with no message? I guess the Blackwell folks are not content to stand around so they went out and stole a message.
Recent emails from Blackwell’s campaign team notes, “I believe that government should give people the freedom to prosper.” and continues to say “Ken Blackwell believes that no government has taxed their way into prosperity, and will seek an agenda that gives Ohioans the -freedom to prosper- by restricting government spending and letting you keep more of your own money.”
“We’re glad that Mr. Blackwell agrees so strongly with the Libertarian Party on this issue,” states a surprised Robert Butler, Executive Director of the LP of Ohio. “I just didn’t know he would take his campaign theme directly from our website.”
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This post by Ron Copfer got me thinking of something that happened around our dinner table recently. We were watching the news as dinnertime wound down and there was a story about the new wall being built between the U.S. and Mexico. After my wife and I discussed it for a bit we turned to Emma, our youngest who is 5, and asked her what she thought. Her answer:
We should just tell them to get their blankies and their bears and come over
How and when did we lose such innocence?
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Update: (from Forbes.com: The United Auto Workers said its 17 area councils and 10 at-large representatives had voted 26-1 for Hackett)
We’ve been hearing about this for awhile, but it goes official now. Ohio UAW is behind Hackett. This is surely a blow to the Brown campaign, thought how big electorally it remains to be seen given the weakened power of unions:
States Largest Union Comes Out Strong for Iraq War Veteran
Columbus, OH – Paul Hackett, Democratic Candidate for U.S. Senate, today received the endorsement of the United Auto Workers. The UAW is Ohio’s largest union with more than 175,000 members throughout each of the state’s 88 counties.
“I’m honored to have the UAW in my corner. Their fight is my fight. As Ohio’s next U.S. Senator I’ll stand up to the special interests and career politicians in Washington that have allowed thousands of good paying jobs to be shipped overseas,” said Hackett.
Hackett continued, “I look forward to working with the UAW and the working families they represent during my campaign to bring real change and leadership to Washington. The people of Ohio deserve a leader, not a rubber stamp for the failed policies of the Bush administration.”
Formal endorsement event to be held on Tuesday. Brown replied via Grow Ohio:
For almost 29 years I have fought for America’s working families and have enjoyed the UAW endorsement in every election I have run.
I will continue to speak out for worker rights, and to demand trade agreements that will bring good paying jobs with benefits to Ohio.
Union workers have built Ohio and our nation. I have been proud to call them friends while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives. I look forward to fighting for them in the United State Senate.
We are in this together.
Around the horn: Ohio 2nd UAPA Buckeye Politics
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Plunderbund Holiday Love
by Eric on December 23, 2005 · Comments
Well folks, it’s the time of year that we look back and begin to assess the past year’s activities and accomplishments. Wrap up the 365 day journey that was 2005 and put a nice bow on it for remembrance sake. I can’t quite do that here as only 3 months of the year was spent plunderbunding, but I can wrap up what was.
I began Plunderbund firstly because I wanted to blog and have wanted to for some time. I also wanted to inject my line of thinking into the political blogosphere. More than that, though, I sought to add something that might begin to be of value to those Dems and Progressives in Delaware County – a small lot. A kind of common ground meeting place or at least a place where I could inform others of opportunities to get involved locally.
This site has been that and more for me. Over the short course of 3 months I’ve met many online with blogs and others who visit and comment at them. I’ve found those I’ll now call friends. I want to send out great holiday cheer to those and let everyone also know that I find great inspiration in all of you. I hope to continue plunderbunding in the coming year and for years to come. Thanks for all who have made it really fun and worthwhile up to now. Have a safe and happy holiday season celebrating whatever it is you celebrate. At our house we celebrate peace and love, and I’d like to send some of that in all your directions.
I have plans for 2006 that include some things that may prove too daunting, but we’ll see. Details later.
Peace and Love,
Eric
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