A reader recommended I cross post this, so here we go.  Crossposted from Plunderbund.

If winning elections in Ohio were as easy as blog-slamming the wingnut bloggers, we'd be in business!

Reminding Lincoln Logs The Year

I ask myself from time to time: "Eric, how the hell can these right wing folks be so misguided? How can it be that they appear to have no grasp on reality? Was it education? Lack of parental love and nurturing?"

Today I get my answer. They don't even understand what fucking year it is.

cross posted at www.plunderbund.com

1. No BS. Save your slick PR and spin for the masses. Those of us engaged and online typically know a bit more about current events than the average Jane. Not all of us, but most. I suggest you stick to the straight talk and cut the shit early and often.

2. Money - Don't ask for money. Have a place to do it. Make it prominent. But don't make it your primary mission in online strategy. It won't work. The blogosphere especially hates being seen as one big virtual ATM. Give us ideas, give us leadership and vision, inspire us. The money follows this...never before!

3. Ads - we don't buy `em. Neither should you. One of the beautiful things about being online is I can get software to block the things, even cool flash ones. The Internet and blogs are not an online version of the nightly news. Unless it is an issue that we care deeply about, we ain't lookin. Most likely you are wasting money on the ad buy, and quite possibly if you do it wrong it will cause more harm than good. Just enter the space and talk with us. Ads are a form of talking AT us.

Cross posted from Plunderbund (this post includes the audio)

OK, enough is enough. I sat back and watched while the state party and county parties stood around with their hands in their pockets on RON. I even listened to some Dems who wanted RON defeated - the reasoning of which always seemed to boil down to the same intellectually dishonest position of "...yeah, but once we are in power, we'll benefit from the status quo". When exactly the Dems plan on winning an election is quite beyond me. I will agree that the door is wide open, but I can't agree that you leave the playing field tilted in the hopes that you'll land on the right side at some point.

Dem in bed with Republicans after the fold...

Cross posted from Plunderbund

Ed Schultz, one of the most important progressive voices in talk radio, is being prevented from being heard on Armed Forces Radio. Due to start on October 17th, the deal that had been struck (broadcasting the first of 3 hours of the show) was summarily nixed. Please join me in sending letters to your Senators and Representatives urging them to pressure the Pentagon to hold up their end of the deal.

Go to Gen. Wesley Clark's site WesPAC and use their form letter tool. I recommend also saving them to print out and mail along with your emails. The GetActive tool is really nice and the letters come out formatted great!

Link to WesPAC

Ed's site has more news about this issue as well.

I have been in comlete shock for the last 2 days. The idea that our preparedness is this shoddy, our federal will to help this low, and the lack of leadership of this country has left my head spinning.

Is it NOT a part of a homeland security plan to have effective evacuation plans, even in the event of a terrorist attack? How long have we been planning and how much money have we used? What an absolute fucking disgrace!

What can we do?...

Cross posted at Ohio Watch and GrowOhio

Last night was a great gathering of Delaware Ohio progressives, veterans, anti-war activists, Sheehan supporters, and peace loving Americans...and one nutjob.

Some 80 people gathered in support of Camp Casey, Cindy, the troops, and the American Way. To my knowledge this is the largest gathering in front of Delaware, Ohio's City Hall. Plenty of horns from passing by vehicles in support, as well as a few disapprovals.

...More news and photos below the fold

I'm hearing a great deal about our efforts in Iraq being meant to "change the face of the Middle East", or "provide a foothold for democracy".  Nevermind that these were not the given reasons for going to war, they were and are underlying ones.

After the last post, I noticed on this site a button to send a letter to our troops supporting them.  

I did:

There has been a few stories about the upcoming America Supports You Freedom Walk from The Pentagon to the National Mall on 9/11/05.  

I decided to try to find out some more information on it by digging into PR already out there.  The DOD has contracted Susan Davis International to handle the PR for America Supports You and for the Freedom Walk as well.

While listening in to see what Rush's spin would be about the narrow OH-02 win, I felt compelled to jump in and defend Major Hackett.  I had spent Saturday on the ground supporting him and was sick of Rush bad mouthing the guy.  I was really surprised that they picked up on the second ring and I was on 1 minute later!  Here is how it went down with my commentary...that Rush would not allow on the air:

I was really glad to have been able to go down to Portsmouth and help out the Saturday before the election.  I travelled down from Delaware, Ohio and was able to meet some really great people and do some good work.  Hopefully Paul will continue to be active in politics as his voice is one that needs to be heard.  I got this email from him today: