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Sunday, July 31, 2005

OH-02: Open Thread

Posted by Bob Brigham

Thanks for everyone for joining in the conversations on Swing State Project. Any good gossip on the race?

Posted at 07:28 PM in Ohio | Technorati

Comments

What do you mean "any good gossip" - it sounds like that all you disseminate and the facts be damned.

Posted by: VeritasOhio at July 31, 2005 08:31 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Another thing -- for all his boasting about "my Marines" and Iraq this and Iraq that, and I'm such an expert on fighting war, can someone tell me if Hackett was ever truly engaged in real combat - that is, did he ever fire a weapon at the enemy or did he simply sneak behind the mess tent and fire an M-16 so he could brag about being on the "front lines" of the war.

I have always found that when one has to constantly brag and talk about their military service, it usually means they are trying to create a false impression. (Just like high school, those who always talked about getting laid, etc., never really did.) True military or war veterans are very quite and humble about their service. Makes one wonder about Hackett?

Posted by: VeritasOhio at July 31, 2005 08:43 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Veritas, If you're trying to make a point -- or ask a question -- perhaps it would help if you used legible grammar? I'm just sayin'.

As far as Paul Hackett's military service, the only folks I've heard harping on it have been Jean Schmidtt and her people. Did you have a saying for that in high school?

Posted by: desi at July 31, 2005 08:57 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Jean Schmidt Knew About 9/11, Thirty Years Ago In College:

"Many, many years ago when I was in college, I learned so quickly that if we do not allow for the Middle East to have democracy, the seats of terror will get to the United States. It took thirty years from the time I was in college to now for that to happen."

republicanshateamerica.com

Posted by: Frankie at July 31, 2005 09:17 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

The comment Veritas articulated is emblematic of the kind of shrill rhetoric the Schmidt campaign must launch in order to gain a few votes from those susceptible to Republican scare and smear rhetoric. So much for vacuity.

More importantly, I telephoned constituents in Cincinnati, Ohio, today, and the response was very positive. Many voters, including independents, will flock to their polling places on Tuesday in order to vote for Hackett. Many I contacted are very excited about this race, asking how they can volunteer or donate to his campaign. Some have expressed major reservations about Schmidt's erratic behaviour, and others are simply sick of the corruption that courses through the veins of the Republican party. The vote, as far as I am concerned, is out, and the Schmidt campaign better visit a graveyard and register dead voters if they want to win this race. For it appears to me that constituents both on the telephone and on the ground are sick of her campaign's smear tactics. Let me site an example. I visited the home of a gay couple in Cincinnati. They are outraged by the automated telephone calls Schmidt's campaign has released that claim Hackett is an advocate for gay marriage. This, somewhat paradoxically, has compelled them to canvass their neighborhood and the gay bars to get the vote out for Hackett. Thank you Schmidt, and let us thank the homophobes in the Republican Party. They just earned us 30 or so votes.

I am in downtown Cincinnati typing away at my computer. I am proud of the service I have completed here on the ground in Ohio 02, and I hope my fellow bloggers will fly in and spend a day speaking with the kind people of Ohio's second Congressional district. This has been an invigorating experience, and I want to thank Bob Brigham for alerting us of this wonderful opportunity to experience politics first hand in a district that is finally liberating itself from the shackles of the Republican party's hatred and corruption.

The group at the downtown Cincinnati headquarters were very accomodating. I thank all of them for providing me with the opportunity to walk my talk.

With the very best regards,

Kenneth

Posted by: Kenneth Brummel at July 31, 2005 09:28 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

"Another thing -- for all his boasting about "my Marines" and Iraq this and Iraq that, and I'm such an expert on fighting war, can someone tell me if Hackett was ever truly engaged in real combat - that is, did he ever fire a weapon at the enemy or did he simply sneak behind the mess tent and fire an M-16 so he could brag about being on the "front lines" of the war.

How is THIS even germaine to the conversation or the campaign?

Besides the obvious idiotic trundling "...did he ever fire a weapon at the enemy or did he simply sneak behind the mess tent and fire an M-16...", Mr. Hackett's service was in I-R-A-Q. It wasn't in Baden-Baden. Regardless of WHERE in Iraq, it simply does not matter. There have been attacks within the Green Zone itself so no one spot is 'safe' as you erroneously hint.

Major Hackett did not enjoy the security detail that those frickin' chickenhawks, i.e., Paul Wolfowitz, Rumsfield, Cheney, & especially Bush had assigned. The name 'chickenhawk' is assigned to the likes of these because they did not serve but yet are quite cavalier about those whose service they require. (As for Bush's Nat'l Guard service - anyone my age knows the Guard was different then & it was a known 'out' to get into the Guard rather than regular Army or other corps membership.)

Jean Schmidtt is one rabid, close-to-psychotic, loose cannon and if she is indicative of the constituents in southern Ohio, then the long emergency can't come soon enough for the likes of her. Her behaviour & demeanor during the interview with WKRC was despicable.

Posted by: Kitt at July 31, 2005 09:40 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Kenneth-
I don't know who you are, but it is refreshing to hear someone who has gotten involved in the political "wars", if you will, and is helping to elect candidates like Hackett. Today, there are too many out there who only wish to trash their opponent (see above) rather than do the hard work of canvassing,etc. FOR their candidate.
And, Ken, I'm glad you're finding joy in doing so!! Keep up the good work!!

Posted by: PhilS at July 31, 2005 09:52 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I think Veritas has been squashed quite effectively, so i'll leave that one alone. As for some "facts", I canvassed in Portsmouth yesterday and got a really good response. Most seemed fed up with Jean and her tactics and parroting on the major issues.

One lady was pretty funny in that she did not know about the election or who Paul was, but asked who he was running against. When I told here Jean, she says "give me that" and took my information and said she'd be voting "against that woman".

I ended the day feeling as though we were doing great GOTV work and enjoyed meeting those from Indianapolis, Toledo, Youngstown, and many other places far and wide. Major energy going on down there. Win or lose, this is the type of stuff we need to maintain in order to take our country back from the Veritas-like.

Posted by: ericv at July 31, 2005 10:03 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Ken,

We already been through this... unlike Schmidt... Hackett is innocent.

Posted by: The Smoke eter at July 31, 2005 10:05 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

As to the person who said that Hackett wasnt actually in combat, read this story.

Even the guy shamefully swift boating him backed down and admitted that Hackett was in combat, at least, for a day.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/7/28/171246/061

Posted by: Jared86 at July 31, 2005 10:06 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Atrios has a post on a story in Editor & Publisher about Schmidt's media strategist, a former reporter for the Toledo Blade and social friend of Tom Noe.

Posted by: Christa Hupp at July 31, 2005 10:25 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

Dear Smoke Eater:

My name is Kenneth. And no, "we" have not been through this already. We are on the verge of winning a very important Congressional race, and we are very excited about winning Ohio 02. We cannot simply state that Hackett is innocent. Instead, we need to speak and collaborate with voters who believe Hackett is not the man the Schmidt campaign has portrayed him to be. This is just the beginning, and the momentum is pulsing through the air. And I must say I am glad I am finally breathing. Come to Ohio 02, befriend a few constituents, and you will see how powerful simple and candid conversation with everyday people can actually be. I am very excited about this race, and my excitement is shared by many residents of Cincinnati. We just completed Day 1. Day 2 and 3 are yet to come, and I am ready to fight this fight. Come join us.

Posted by: Kenneth Brummel at July 31, 2005 10:35 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

For the record, Rumsfeld (although he chooses to be surrounded by them) is not a chickenhawk. His service during war and peacetime has been documented and unquestionable.

I'm about 2500 miles away and pretty broke, but if I could, I'd be walking for Hackett. Schmidt sounds like a first-class nutjob, and an opportunistic liar to boot.

Curious - what kind of lawyer is Hackett?

Posted by: ExHack at July 31, 2005 11:16 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

First class nutjob? Opportunistic liar?

If Schmidt can add shamelessly corrupt to those two qualifications the Republicans will run her for the US Senate.

Posted by: James E. Powell at July 31, 2005 11:23 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

In 2000, our country was hijacked by a group of of immoral, dangerous political opportunists. In Ohio on Tuesday, we have an opportunity to begin to take our country back from George Bush and his band of liars, cheats and thieves.

We can start in the 2nd Congressional District in Ohio. If you know someone in Ohio - call or email them. Ask them to help Paul Hackett. Ask them to ask their friends to help Paul Hackett. If they live in the Ohio 2nd tell them how important it is that they vote. If they don't live in the Ohio 2nd ask them to call someone they know who does.

In 2000, George Bush stole our country. The man he will appoint as UN Ambassador, John Bolton helped him. The man he just appointed to the Supreme Court, John Roberts helped him. The man who outed Valerie Plame helped him. Do you see a pattern here? We can put an end to that pattern, but we have to do it on the ground where Americans live, not in Washington. Change begins in places like Portsmouth, Waverly, West Union, Milford, Indian Hill..... It ends in Washington.

An avalanche begins with a small pebble.

Posted by: Words Have Power at August 1, 2005 12:55 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I live in the Ohio 2nd.

Posted by: VeritasOhio at August 1, 2005 01:17 AM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment